Chapter 58 Your Riches and Glory Await

Chapter 58: Your Glory and Wealth Await

Xi Jiaojiao finally lifted her veil. She'd put extra care into her makeup, and the face staring back from the mirror was absolutely stunning.

She waited and waited, until after the evening meal, before Yang Xingxian finally showed up, late.

He'd been running around helping Bai Zhining find a doctor and then took her out to eat.

Even though he hadn't touched a drop, he looked like he was already drunk.

When he saw how gorgeous Xi Jiaojiao looked, a weird sense of satisfaction hit him, and he went right up and pulled her into a hug.

"Husband, didn't you say you were going to buy a carriage? Why'd you come back so late?"

"Yeah, I bought the carriage, but then I had dinner and hung out with my classmates, which is why I'm late. What, you miss your husband after just half a day?"

Yang Xingxian's teasing made Xi Jiaojiao blush, adding to her charm.

The two of them shamelessly got up to some unspeakable business.

"Husband, today my big sister's maid said that since I'm a concubine, it's not proper for me to go out, but now that we've got our own carriage, can I get out more?"

Yang Xingxian frowned. "Jiaojiao, with a face like yours, wouldn't going out just stir up trouble? If I've got the time, I'll take you out myself. Besides, it just doesn't look right for a concubine to be out and about."

Xi Jiaojiao felt somewhat disheartened. Being a concubine really meant no freedom—her whole world was just this little courtyard.

"I'm just scared some fox spirit outside will steal your heart and you'll forget all about me, and forget everything I've done for you," Xi Jiaojiao said softly.

"Your husband is a scholar—how could I be so easily led astray? But it's normal for a man in this world to have three wives and four concubines. Don't you go acting like one of those jealous wives. What I hate most is pointless jealousy. Got it?"

Then Yang Xingxian's mind drifted to Bai Zhining—so cool and elegant. If only he could one day bring her into his household too.

If he had money and a title, he could divorce Xi Qianyue and marry Bai Zhining instead—that would be perfect.

With that thought in mind, he hit Xi Jiaojiao up for more money.

"You must understand, a man's got a lot of social obligations out there—mentors above, classmates below—and you've got to keep everyone happy. If your husband's short on silver, I can't take the imperial exams or even step foot outside. I'd just have to stay home, eat, and sleep all day."

When her husband put it like that, what could Xi Jiaojiao do? Of course, she had no choice but to hand over more silver.

"Husband, I don't have much dowry money left, and I already paid my big sister back several thousand taels... We need to tighten our belts. If we blow through all the money, what are we gonna do?"

That was Xi Jiaojiao's fear—she'd never imagined they'd just eat through their savings with nothing coming in.

Her big sister already had so much money and so many shops—money just multiplied while she sat at home.

But she was different—every bit of silver she spent was gone for good. She wanted to start some kind of business, but she didn't know the first thing about it and didn't dare try.

And if she tried and failed, then what?

"I know all this. You think other households don't have it hard? They do. But we've got to push through. Once I pass the exams and get the title, won't the good times roll? Don't worry, your riches and glory are coming."

Yang Xingxian pocketed another three hundred taels and, for once, actually had the patience to sweet-talk her.

Now that the household had a carriage, Lady Wu was over the moon.

She still hadn't gotten over the ordeal of walking several miles of mountain road back from Daimiao Temple—it had scared her so bad she barely dared leave the house.

Now with a carriage, whenever it wasn't being used, she could take her daughter out again.

Xi Jiaojiao was pretty annoyed—she'd paid for that carriage with her own money, but she couldn't even use it herself!

It suddenly hit her that her life was even worse than Concubine Yu's.

Xi Qianyue flipped through a storybook and sighed, "So boring."

The maids shook their heads. Before, the mistress could sit still for ages—embroidering, reading storybooks, chatting with them, handling household matters—and the day would just fly by.

But now, she was always bored stuck in the mansion.

The maids had no idea what kind of life wouldn't be boring.

Han Xiang offered a suggestion: "Mistress, why don't we go stay at the estate for a couple of days? The countryside smells like ripe fruit and melons this time of year—it's a whole different vibe."

"Now that's a great idea. Why wait? Let's pack up right now."

The maids were all excited and quickly packed up food, drinks, clothes, and everything else—they were ready to head out in half an hour.

When Lady Wu and Xi Jiaojiao found out Xi Qianyue had gone off to the estate, they were green with envy.

The marquis's household didn't have any estates or shops like that...

"Which daughter-in-law behaves so improperly? Abandoning the family and running off on her own. Who knows what she's doing out there? Whether she's up to something improper, we can't see!"

Lady Wu grew angrier as she spoke, more convinced she was right.

"No, this life is unbearable. My son must divorce her!"

What she didn't say aloud was that since they couldn't use Xi Qianyue's money anyway, and Xi Jiaojiao's silver could supplement the household, why let Xi Qianyue occupy the position without contributing?

However, Yang Xingxian warned her with displeasure: "Mother, how many times must I remind you? She holds leverage over us. Even if we divorce her, we must wait until I pass the exams or am named heir."

Lady Wu remembered and regretted it: "We are jade, and she is rubble. Alas. She has nothing to lose while we have everything to protect!"

Xi Qianyue's carriage left the city, and only then did she feel how fresh the air was and how vast the outside world was.

She simply pushed aside the curtain, letting the wind fill the carriage—it was utterly delightful.

Xi Qianyue reclined alone while the maidservants sat on either side. Her luxurious carriage was large enough, pulled by two horses, and ran quickly. The interior was spacious, with a securely fixed small table holding a teapot, and not a drop of water spilled.

The estate was just outside the city, about thirty or forty li away.

Upon entering the estate, the estate steward and his wife hurried over to pay respects, and the rooms had already been prepared.

The maidservants arranged the bedding and supplies, making the rustic house considerably more refined.

Xi Qianyue enthusiastically inspected the rice paddies. The rice and wheat had already been harvested, and she didn't know much about crops—perhaps the north had one harvest per year.

The vegetable garden, however, was full of fresh produce.

There were also fish ponds and a river. Xi Qianyue cheerfully called the maidservants to go fishing with her. Naturally, having no fishing experience, she caught nothing.

She spent a leisurely day like this, and the next day, the estate steward mentioned there was a hot spring not far away that she could visit.

Xi Qianyue was overjoyed—a hot spring, meaning a natural thermal bath!

She quickly called her maidservants, packed a change of clothes, and headed toward the hot spring.

The original mistress had been truly wealthy. Enjoying all this herself felt a bit embarrassing.