52: Chapter 52

Chapter 52

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Jing

guifei

makes her move. The love of a mother is wonderful.

Chapter Fifty Two Jing

Guifei

's Strategy

The news that the Wei Family's

guniang

went to the

wang fu

to offer herself on a pillow had somehow passed into the ears of Jing

guifei

. Originally, she felt that Wei Ran Shuang was an indecisive person, but now she believed that this was a

guniang

who had no sense of conduct and has subsequently dirtied the Wei Family's reputation. Thankfully, they didn't share the same grandfather. Otherwise, even she would be compromised.

"Ding

mama

," said Jing

guifei

in a cold voice and a dark expression on her face: ""You go with

ben gong

's sign to personally visit Wei

lang zhong's

[i]

fu

. Just say that Qin

shi

's moral conduct is lacking and she has improperly educated her daughter. I hope that he can admonish his wife and daughter so that the reputation of the Wei Clan is not adversely affected. If he cannot, then there will be no interactions between the two

fu

in the future." This

tang ge

of hers was mediocre with no great ability. He had properly fulfilled his duties outside and once he'd returned to Jing, it was only because of Heng'er's efforts that he'd received the position of a fifth-grade

lang zhong

in the Ministry of Revenue.

No mother liked a woman who recommended herself to be a bed-warmer for her son. Jing

guifei

was no exception. Even if this woman was a relative of her maternal family, and that as a

guifei

, she had no power to send a decree, she could still lecture on any inadequacies found within the clan. Many

fei

in the past had been accused and imprisoned for not effectively controlling their clans' behavior.

Ding

mama

was the most favored among Jing

guifei

's servants. When she arrived on a green-clothed carriage at Wei

lang zhong

's residence, the servants at that

fu

were very courteous to her. Wei

lang zhong

himself even went to the gate to greet her and he ushered her into the main hall which was used to receive valued guests.

Ding

mama

courteously bowed to Wei

lang zhong

and rejected Wei

lang zhong'

s offer when he told the servants to bring in refreshments: "Wei

da ren

, this old one has come today to pass on some words from

guifei niangniang

."

"What does

guifei niangniang

have to say?" Wei

lang zhong

rose from his seat and lifted his hands to perform a bow in the direction of the palace, "Please,

mama

, tell me."

Ding

mama

looked at the honest and sincere Wei

lang zhong

and sighed for him. This distantly related

biao ge

of

niangniang

was a good man. It was a pity that he had such a troublesome

di

[ii]

wife. He was only a small fifth-grade

lang zhong

in the Ministry of Revenue. It seems he wouldn't get a chance to climb any higher.

She bent at the waist as she spoke: "A few days earlier,

niangniang

heard some vague rumors and felt worried. She then requested this old one to send word to

da ren.

" She raised her head to look at Wei

lang zhong

and saw his face was full of concern. It was clear that he was still in the dark as to what had happened, "

Niangniang

said that Wei

furen

's moral conduct is lacking, and she has improperly taught her daughter. She's afraid that the reputation of the Wei Clan would be affected and hopes that

da ren

would be able to advise her."

After hearing Ding

mama

's words, Wei

lang zhong

's face turned dark and then white. A while later, he finally forced some sound out of his throat: "I hope

mama

can clearly explain what my wife and unfilial daughter have done?"

Ding

mama

looked at him in sympathy. She made a bow, saying: "This matter,

da ren

should ask your

furen

. This old one has to return to the palace to serve

niangniang

. Goodbye."

Wei

lang zhong

didn't know what happened but he understood that

guifei niangniang

was feeling discontent with his family. His heart started to tremble as he waited for Ding

mama

to enter the carriage before he turned to walk towards the

neiyuan

.

Because he was only a fifth-grade

lang zhong

, his residence was just a two-entry compound but it was located at a very good area. Because the seller had favourably considered his familial connection to His Highness Duan Wang, it was easy for him to purchase the compound. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to live at that location. In the city of Jing, the location of residence was a symbol of status. It wasn't possible to buy a house with just money.

When he came into the courtyard, he saw that Qin

shi

was chastising a servant. His face was dark as he motioned for the punished servant to retreat. He asked icily: "What good deed did you do recently?"

"What did I do?" Wei Qin

shi

had a bad expression on her face as she looked at Wei

lang zhong

. Her voice rose in pitch as she demanded, "Wei Ru Zhi, speak clearly. What have I done that warranted such an expression on your face?"

The servants, who were standing nearby, saw the situation escalating and carefully retreated to the corners, trying to bury their heads deeper.

"If you didn't do anything,

guifei niangniang

wouldn't have sent someone to express her displeasure," Wei Ru Zhi's face was ashen as he saw Wei Qin

shi

's shrewish manner, "All these years, I've always endured your behavior, but I cannot allow you to ruin the reputation of my Wei Family."

"Wei Family?" Wei Qin

shi

sneered, pointing at Wei Rui Zhi as she scolded, "You think you are so important! Go see if

guifei niangniang

would look favourably upon you. That branch is one family, we aren't anything. You are yelling at me because you want to boast that your Wei Family has a

guifei niangniang

. My Qin Family is an educated noble family. Who knows how many

niangniang

were my ancestors. I don't want you showing off in front of me!"

"Stupid woman!" Wei Rui Zhi was so angry that he threw his hand at Wei Qin

shi

's face. His personality was usually gentle but now he was furious enough to threaten, "How did I marry a woman like you? If you really feel that the Qin family is good, I'll help you. A letter of divorce

[iii]

doesn't require much effort. Don't keep telling me about how great the Qin Family is. I didn't say anything in the past because you raised my children. Since you have become so shameless, I don't have to cover for you anymore. You can go to the main Qin Clan to complain and see if they will recognize you. You're just a distant side branch, don't think you're somebody!"

Wei Qin shi opened her mouth but couldn't say a word. She was so used to being the sole decision maker and Wei Ru Zhi rarely interfered. Now he was saying he would give her a letter of divorce. She felt as if cold water had been poured over her head. She was furious yet afraid.

Acting as if he had reached the end of his rope, Wei Ru Zhi became angrier as he spoke: "Now that the children are grown, you don't have to worry about me slighting them. I won't marry again in the future. As soon as you say the word, I'll give the divorce to you immediately, and avoid wronging you."

"Wei Ru Zhi, I've raised your children. I have put so much in. Now you want to kick me aside?!" Wei Qin

shi

grabbed a reason out of thin air and instantly shrieked, "Now that the children have all grown up, you don't need me anymore and you despise this old woman. It won't be that easy!" She surged forward to scratch Wei Ru Zhi's face.

Wei Ru Zhi pushed her aside. He icily retorted: "If it wasn't for the children, I would have divorced you a long time ago. If you don't want me to divorce you, then just quietly stay in the

fu

. Your Qin Family is educated and noble so they're not worried about tarnishing their reputation. But my Wei Family is smaller in comparison and they cannot afford to lose theirs." He left the courtyard with a swish of his sleeves.

Wei Qin

shi

sat on the floor, tears and snot running down her face. After crying for a long time, she used her sleeves to wipe her face clean. Thinking about her husband had said to her, she understood that Jing

guifei

was displeased about her trip to Duan Wang Fu. She uttered hatefully: "You really believe that your family's son is the greatest in the world? When another

wang ye

succeeds the throne, let's see how arrogant you are then!"

Wei Ran Shuang stood at the window and watched as her father and mother fought in the courtyard. She couldn't help but start sobbing. Father was usually gentle. He must have gotten into such a vicious fight with mother today because of her. She started sobbing harder.

"

Guniang

, don't cry," Her

yahuan

carefully comforted her, "If

furen

saw, she would be worried."

Wei Ran Shuang stilled and stared in shock at Wei Qin

shi

standing in the middle of the courtyard. Mother was in a dishevelled state. Father had humiliated mother in front of all the servants. How could mother run the household in the future?

"It's all my fault. Otherwise, it wouldn't have ended up like this," Her tears ran down again.

The news of Wei Qin

shi

being harshly scolded by Wei Ru Zhi hadn't spread beyond the walls but Jing

guifei

knew. She understood that this was Wei Ru Zhi's way of expressing his resolve and decision. After she finished listening to what the servant reported, she nodded: "This should have been done earlier.

Ben gong

's distant

tang xiong

just was too soft." She turned to look at Qu Qing Ju sitting beneath her, "You don't have to worry any longer. Wei Ran Shuang, that

yatou

, won't be entering the

fu

."

Qu Qing Ju blinked her eyes. A beat later, she said: "Thanks

mufei

,

erxi

had been worried about on how to treat her if she had entered the

fu

."

"What treatment, she's just a

qie

," Jing

guifei

drank a mouthful of tea, her tone icy, "This kind of person wants to enter the

wang fu

. Did she really think that any kind of toy could serve my son?"

Qu Qing Ju slightly lowered her head. Her attitude revealed that she didn't really hear nore understand these words.

Raising her head and seeing her

erxifu

's naïve manner, the corners of Jing

guifei

's lips jerked. A smarter person would've been saying some good words right now to make her happy. Why was her

erxi

just sitting there?

"You have been married to Heng'er for half a year now," Jing

guifei

changed the topic abruptly, "

ben gong

was the same age as you when I entered the palace that year. It took almost four years after I entered when I had Heng'er. At that time, the position of the fetus wasn't right and it wasn't easy giving birth. The midwife

mama

said that it was lucky that

ben gong

was almost twenty when giving birth. The bones in the body had matured. Otherwise, it was quite possible that both of us would have died. Even though I couldn't have any more children,

ben gong

has no regrets since Heng'er is a filial child ."

Qu Qing Ju stilled. She hadn't thought that Jing

guifei

would say such a thing to her. She looked at the beautiful matron in front of her. She always had the bearing of one high in status, but these words revealed the feelings that a mother had for her son.

Jing

guifei

wanted her and her son to have a good relationship and even hinted that she didn't have to be in a rush to have children. It didn't matter if only a fraction of the concern was for her well-being. At least, the other hoped that she would survive labor so she can raise her own children.

She carefully digested these words. Maybe her

popo

really was telling her not to be in any rush, and let it occur naturally?

"

Mufei

must have had a hard time raising

wang ye

in those years," Qu Qing Ju smiled and remarked, "No wonder

wang ye

always remembers

mufei

. He even knows what desserts

mufei

likes and dislikes."

The smile on Jing

guifei

's face became more prominent. A hint of mirth made its way into her voice; "As a mother, one always wants the child to be well. Nothing else is needed."

Qu Qing Ju thought of her deceased parents. When they had been alive, they had protected her like she was the apple of their eye. When she had wanted to learn dancing, they put all their effort into supporting her. They treasured all the pictures of her performances. But when they died, no one else had treated her as well as they did.

Seeing her

erxifu

's mood had become somewhat downcast, Jing

guifei

remembered that her

erxi

's birth mother was deceased. For some reason, she felt that the other was quite pitiful and patted the back of her hand: "Just recently,

ben gong

's kitchen created a new type of pastry.

Ben gong

has found it quite delicious. You should have a taste too." She ordered a servant to get some pastries from the kitchen..

Qu Qing Ju looked up at Jing

guifei

. She smiled and said: "Thanks

mufei

."

Jing

guifei

looked at her sparkling eyes and smiled. She said: "For such a minor thing, there's no need for thanks. You've brought so many things into the palace today. It's fine if

mufei

gives you a plate of pastries in exchange."

"The food at

mufei

's palace is so delicious. If it weren't for gossipmongers,

erxi

would be coming here to eat everyday." Qu Qing Ju wrinkled her brow, "The stuff made in the

fu's

kitchen doesn't compare to what

mufei

has here."

The corners of Jing

guifei

's mouth trembled. You are scorning the

wang fu

in front of your

popo

. Did you even think of how

ben gong

would feel? Even if you were trying to purposefully flatter me. But seeing that honest gaze made Jing

guifei

believe that this

erxifu

of hers really disliked the

wang fu'

s kitchen.

"That's fine,

ben gong

will let someone copy the dishes and pastries you like and deliver it to the

fu

." Jing 2

guifei

smiled as she reassured her. She didn't want the others to assume that the chefs in Duan Wang Fu were useless.

Such a stupid

erxifu

, she definitely was not feeling sorry for her!

[i]

郎中: title of an official

[ii]

Legitimate/first wife. The original spouse of a man. In many cases, the second wife, if the original di wife had died, would not be from a family higher in rank than the first wife.

[iii]

休书: literally cease letter. A letter that a man will give to his wife to end the marriage which has to occur for one or more of seven reasons (childlessness, adultery, unfilialness, chattiness, stealing, jealously, and serious illness.)

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