Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The major incident, which should have caused an uproar the moment it was revealed, passed by seemingly without a ripple, and the dark clouds hanging over the Chen family appeared to dissipate along with it.

The four people in the main room each harbored their own thoughts, yet every one of them was satisfied with the outcome, believing it to be the most advantageous for themselves.

Madam Chen would soon hold her grandchild in her arms; Ya Yun had achieved her wish of entering the household; Chen Wenyao would enjoy the harmony of a virtuous wife and a beautiful concubine; and Ming Tang was more than pleased with the current resolution.

A happy outcome for all—a true win-win.

However, the servants, upon learning that the household had suddenly gained a pregnant concubine, were unanimously uneasy.

—A childless wife and a pregnant concubine—who would believe the household would remain peaceful in the future? If the masters were to stir up trouble later, they might very well be used as scapegoats.

The young maid Taohua, assigned to serve Ya Yun, was filled with regret.

Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? She shouldn’t have been so kind as to explain the household rules to the maid brought by that Concubine Ya.

Now, as expected, she had been casually assigned by Shu Ma to serve the concubine.

The main courtyard was the largest in the Chen residence, with plenty of rooms. After much deliberation, Madam Chen decided to settle Ya Yun in the east wing, forcing the original occupants to move out immediately.

Taohua, neither high nor low in the household hierarchy and earning a second-class maid's wages, naturally couldn’t escape this fate. After a full day of exhausting work, before she could even catch her breath or eat dinner, she received this devastating news.

She could only drown her sorrows in food, eating a few extra bites while she still could. By evening, she went to report to her new mistress.

Concubine Ya, now residing in the east wing of the main courtyard, was remarkably pleasant. Upon seeing Taohua, she showed no condescension despite the maid’s youth, wearing a gracious smile. She modestly admitted she was new and unfamiliar with the household rules, asking Taohua to point out any missteps in the future.

Taohua bowed nervously, but inwardly, she scoffed. A pregnant woman who could enter the household was clearly not to be trifled with. She resolved to stick strictly to her duties and find a way to transfer elsewhere as soon as possible.

Sure enough, after gifting Taohua a small silver trinket, Concubine Ya dismissed her, keeping only the maid who had entered the household with her inside the room—clearly, they had matters to discuss.

That maid, named Little Red, was admiring the gold bracelet gifted by Madam Chen earlier, her voice full of admiration: "This bracelet must weigh at least three or four taels. You’re so fortunate, mistress. The mistress is clearly generous. Once you give birth to the eldest grandson, she’ll surely bestow more gifts upon you."

Ya Yun was also quite pleased. Whether the bracelet was beautiful or not didn’t matter—what mattered was that it was real gold, a valuable item.

Little Red carefully placed the bracelet back into the jewelry box, then turned to criticize Ming Tang: "I’ve long heard that the first wife comes from a wealthy family, but she’s so stingy—just a silver hairpin, and hollow at that. I’ve never seen such a wealthy person act so cheaply."

Ya Yun glanced at the long hairpin. Though she also thought it too plain, she refrained from speaking ill of Ming Tang: "She’s a pitiable woman. She probably only just learned of my existence today—she must be resentful."

The first wife’s wealth was undeniable. The hairpin alone that Ya Yun had seen in her hair today was likely worth as much as the small courtyard she had lived in before. This silver hairpin seemed out of place in the first wife’s collection—she must have specially dug it out after learning about Ya Yun, simply to slight her.

Yet, thinking of the concubine's deed delivered to her that afternoon, she was puzzled again.

That single document was worth more to her than two gold bracelets.

Could it be that, in the first wife’s eyes, having a legitimate concubine in the household was more important than saving a bit of silver? Was this her way of showing generosity?

Little Red, of course, couldn’t guess Ya Yun’s thoughts. Instead, she voiced a fanciful notion: "Mistress, since it’s your first day here, do you think the young master will come to see you tonight?"

Ya Yun carefully put away the silver hairpin and gave Little Red a withering look: "What married man spends the night in his mother’s courtyard? Think properly."

Little Red was stunned: "Then what should we do?" Did this mean the young master would never visit in the future?

Ya Yun gently stroked her belly: "What else can we do? Just focus on giving birth safely." For someone of her status, a safe delivery would ensure her future security.

And if the first wife remained childless forever—well, that would be an even greater blessing.

A sly smile played on Ya Yun’s lips as her mind wandered to future possibilities.

*

In the eastern courtyard, Ming Tang sat before her dressing table, slowly combing her hair.

If there was one thing she was most satisfied with in this life, it was finally growing a head of beautiful hair—jet-black, lustrous, soft yet resilient, effortlessly smooth, and most importantly, luxuriantly thick.

It was nothing like her past life, where hair seemed to be everywhere except on her head.

Chen Wenyao leaned against the headboard, idly flipping through a book. After hesitating for a few moments, he couldn’t help but speak up: “You Niang, aren’t you going to rest yet?”

Reluctantly, Ming Tang stroked her hair once more before rising and walking to the bedside. She picked up a small pair of scissors and lightly trimmed the candlewick. The flame dimmed momentarily before flaring up even brighter than before. “Husband, weren’t you reading? I thought you’d sleep a little later.”

Taking off her shoes, she climbed over Chen Wenyao and settled into her side of the bed. Just as she was about to close her eyes, a hand reached over and firmly grasped hers.

Then the bed curtains were drawn, the warm yellow candlelight filtering through the blue fabric, softening into a dim glow that instantly lent an air of intimacy.

“I’ve missed you. Does You Niang truly not know?” Chen Wenyao entwined his fingers with hers, rising to lean over her, gazing down at her from above.

*Whether you miss me or not, I certainly don’t miss you.*

Ming Tang frowned slightly, putting on a show of reluctance. “Husband, I’m tired today.”

Chen Wenyao stiffened, the fire in his heart doused as if by icy water. He lay back down, visibly deflated, though his hand stubbornly clung to hers. “You Niang, we are meant to grow old together. Believe me—one day, I will ensure you live in honor and wealth, granted an honorary title.”

“Mm. Let’s sleep.”

*Dreams come easiest in sleep.*

The night passed without incident. By dawn, Ming Tang opened her eyes to find Chen Wenyao already gone.

After rising and dressing, she gazed pensively at the small courtyard she had lived in for three years. She greeted Mrs. Chen in the main house before leaving the manor with her maids.

Since the first year of Ming Tang’s marriage, when Mrs. Chen had twice tried—and failed—to control her movements, she had long since stopped interfering in Ming Tang’s affairs.

Upon hearing Ming Tang had left again, Mrs. Chen didn’t even bother asking where she had gone. Instead, she turned her full attention to Ya Yun, beaming with satisfaction. “Since it’s your first day here, is there anything you find uncomfortable? If anything is amiss, you must tell me—I won’t have my precious grandchild suffering any grievances.”

Ya Yun lowered her head demurely. “Everything is perfect. The mistress is so kind, and the lady of the house so generous. From the moment I stepped through the door, it’s as if I’ve fallen into a haven of blessings. How could anything be less than ideal?”

Mrs. Chen felt as though she had met a kindred spirit. *Exactly!* She, too, believed the Chen household was a place beyond ordinary dreams—truly a haven of blessings!

If only her son could rise another rank in office, perhaps even that daughter-in-law would come to see it the same way. Then she, as the mother-in-law, could finally flaunt her authority properly.

At the Ming family residence, Mrs. Ming held Ming Tang close, making a final plea. “You Niang, are you truly certain about this?”

Though life in the Chen household was clearly turbulent, it was hardly unusual. With a little effort, You Niang might yet find a peaceful ending there.

If she returned home after a divorce, the gossiping tongues alone would be unbearable. And once she and her husband passed away, You Niang would have to live under her brother and sister-in-law’s roof—bound to bring inconveniences. If she remarried... For one, Ming Tang was no longer a maiden; for another, she had fertility issues. Any remarriage would mean marrying beneath her station, likely as a second wife.

The sons-in-law Mrs. Ming had once approved of were either the eldest sons of noble families or up-and-coming scholars. Even now, facing divorce, she couldn’t deny that Chen Wenyao hadn’t entirely fallen short—it was simply that her daughter no longer wished to stay with him.

Given the current circumstances, if they sought a lesser match for Ming Tang, not only would Mrs. Ming struggle to accept it, but even if every condition were met, Ming Tang herself would likely scoff at it.

“Mother, my decision is final. I won’t change my mind, nor will I regret it.” Ming Tang understood her mother’s worries. She couldn’t promise a better future, but she was certain she would never regret this choice.

Mrs. Ming sighed, deciding it was best to bide her time. She led her daughter back to the Serene Pavilion, where Ming Tang had grown up.

The Serene Pavilion had remained untouched in the years since Ming Tang’s marriage, as the Ming household was small and space was never an issue. Mrs. Ming had kept it spotless.

Now, as mother and daughter returned together, Mrs. Ming couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. Her beloved daughter, raised with such care, had been married only a few years before being driven to return home divorced.

Spotting the peach tree in the courtyard—its blooms long faded, now thick with shade—she forced a cheerful tone. “Now that you’re back, we won’t need to send you fruit from this tree anymore.”

Ming Tang looked up at the small, unripe peaches on the tree, her mouth watering instantly. She couldn’t help but complain, "Mom, really, why bring up peaches now? They’re just taunting me—can’t eat ’em yet. Now I’ll be obsessing over them all day, wishing they’d ripen sooner."

"Still such a glutton," her mother joked. The two laughed together, reminiscing about old times while sharing small stories from the years Ming Tang had been away.

As mother and daughter basked in their warm reunion, the atmosphere in Vice Minister Ming’s study was thick with tension.

Ming Rang, the eldest son of Vice Minister Ming, frowned deeply. "Is You Niang dead set on this?"

He had known for some time that Ming Tang intended to divorce, but he’d figured it was just heat-of-the-moment anger—that she would calm down in a few days and things would return to normal.

Yet today, their father had summoned both brothers and, cutting to the chase, he showed them the Divorce Agreement—already signed and sealed with his personal stamp.

Though Ming Rang had never seen a Divorce Agreement before, he knew it required consent from both the husband’s and wife’s families. With their father’s seal affixed, as far as he was concerned, it was a done deal.

—After all, Chen Wenyao could refuse all he wanted—the Mings had the clout to make him fold.

"You Niang’s always been stubborn as a mule," Vice Minister Ming mused, unsure whether spoiling her in her youth had been the right choice.

"Leaving is for the best. Without the Chen family, can’t we still provide for You Niang? It’s just one more mouth to feed," Ming Li, the second son, said bluntly.

"It’s not that simple," Ming Rang frowned. "You Niang is returning without children. Some things… just don’t sound good, no matter how you spin it."

Ming Li grinned, pulling a childish face. "I get it, I get it. Just spread some rumors—easy enough."

Ming Rang couldn’t bear to look at him. "Third Brother, you’re thirty-four, not fourteen." That kind of goofing off didn’t suit him.

The two brothers, their combined age well past fifty, nearly started bickering right there in the study—until Vice Minister Ming, himself long past fifty, effortlessly silenced them.

"Since Third Brother finds it simple, he can handle it. First, deliver this Divorce Agreement to Zhengming. Second Brother, draft a memorial in preparation."

Snapping to attention, the two accepted their tasks and left.

Once they were gone, Vice Minister Ming straightened his robes, stroked his beard, and headed toward Anle Residence.

Truth was, he’d missed his little girl something fierce.