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Chapter 52: Dealing with a Green Tea Bitch
Chapter 52: Dealing with a Green Tea Bitch
What an honor it is to be bestowed with the title of Guifei (Consort of the First Rank)!
Moreover, it seemed that the entire harem would be contributing to Lin Wan'er's dowry. That would be an enormous sum!
Although the Old Madam didn't understand the intricacies of the Black Armored Guards and the Twelve Guards, she knew that Lin Wan'er was no ordinary woman, or else her grandson wouldn't have brought her alone to meet a noble person.
As the mother of a general, she felt that her grandson should marry a woman of a military family like Lin Wan'er!
The Old Madam patted Lin Wan'er's hand and sighed regretfully, "Alas, if only Xiao'er had met you sooner."
Lin Wan'er shook her head and gestured.
Lu Luo interpreted, "My lady says that the First Young Mistress has wealth and status, while she is just an orphan. She dares not compete with the First Young Mistress in any way."
The Old Madam, recalling the conversation the servants had overheard in the courtyard, scoffed, "Her family's fortune has long dried up! She's hidden it from me all these years, how vexing!"
Lin Wan'er remained silent and glanced at Lu Luo, who quickly added, "Old Madam, the General visited Feng Yard earlier and said... that the First Young Mistress wants a divorce. My lady feels guilty and has come to apologize to you. She is willing to temporarily move out of the Lu family residence, as long as the First Young Mistress and the General can live in harmony."
The Old Madam immediately replied, "You're carrying my precious great-grandson in your belly. No matter what, you're not leaving this house!"
Lin Wan'er lowered her head.
The Old Madam harrumphed, "A divorce is out of the question. I won't agree to it!"
After leaving Fushou Yard, Lu Luo supported Lin Wan'er as they walked back.
Turning her head to ensure they were alone, Lu Luo asked, "My lady, what does the Old Madam really mean? She clearly dislikes the First Young Mistress, yet she won't allow her to divorce the General?"
Lin Wan'er gestured: The Old Madam hopes that the First Young Mistress will voluntarily leave.
A divorce is a mutual decision to end the marriage amicably.
To dismiss a wife is when the wife has committed one of the Seven Outcasts and is expelled from her husband's family.
However, to voluntarily leave implies that the wife has made a mistake and chooses to depart on her own accord, without coercion from the husband's family. This would reflect most favorably on the Lu family.
Lu Lingxiao had just established a great merit at the border, and the news of him bringing back a woman had spread throughout the capital. If he were to dismiss his wife or agree to a divorce now, he would appear heartless and ungrateful.
Only by having Meng Qianqian voluntarily leave could all the blame be placed on her.
It would be seen as her own decision to leave, a sign that she lacked the magnanimity of a principal wife, and that she couldn't tolerate another woman...
Lu Luo understood, "But, will the First Young Mistress agree to this?"
Lin Wan'er paused in her steps.
Haitang Yard
After breakfast, Meng Qianqian sat in her room examining the account books that Tan'er had brought back from the matchmaker's.
Since her last visit, the matchmaker had found several more accountants to handle the books. One of them had done an excellent job, not only balancing the accounts but also correcting the deliberate mistakes Meng Qianqian had made.
The handwriting was neat and clear.
Meng Qianqian was very satisfied.
He would be the one.
Putting down the account book, Meng Qianqian spread out the map of the capital city.
Now that she had proposed a divorce, she needed to make plans for her life after leaving the Lu family.
The most urgent task was to find a residence to settle down in. It didn't have to be large, but it should be on a clean street and not too remote, as she intended to continue her business.
However, land in the capital was expensive, and she wasn't sure if her 10,000 taels would be enough to buy a decent house in a prosperous area.
The matchmaker used to run a brothel and now operated a matchmaking business. Perhaps she knew of suitable locations. Meng Qianqian decided to ask her the next time she visited.
Just then, Wan Ma'am's coarse voice rang out from outside, "Who are you? What business do you have here?"
"My lady wishes to meet with the First Young Mistress. Please trouble yourself to pass on the message."
It was Lu Luo's voice.
"That vixen?
"You—"
"Just pass on the message and wait!"
Nanny Wan swaggered into the courtyard and as soon as she reached the door of the main room, her attitude changed drastically. She asked respectfully, "Miss, someone from Feng Yard is here to see you."
"Let her in," Meng Qianqian replied.
"Hey!"
Nanny Wan acknowledged and went to the courtyard gate, instructing Lin Wan'er, "You may go in."
Green Lotus supported Lin Wan'er as she stepped over the threshold.
Nanny Wan blocked Green Lotus, "Let her go in. Are you deaf?"
Green Lotus glared at Nanny Wan angrily.
Lin Wan'er shook her head at Green Lotus, who reluctantly stayed outside.
Lin Wan'er entered the room, pushing aside the beaded curtain.
Ban Xia was taking a nap, while Li Mama was calling out to Tan'er for lunch.
The only person in the room was Meng Qianqian.
Lin Wan'er did not perform a greeting.
Meng Qianqian was already accustomed to her two-faced behavior and was neither surprised nor inclined to initiate a conversation. She simply ignored her.
Passing by with a basin of washed clothes, Hu Pozi glanced at Nanny Wan, who was eavesdropping with her ear pressed against the beaded curtain. She asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Then she looked down and saw that Nanny Wan was holding an ax!
Nanny Wan whispered, "If that vixen dares to do anything disrespectful to Miss, I'll chop her into pieces!"
Hu Pozi's mouth twitched: "..."
Lin Wan'er turned her head and glanced at the beaded curtain with her peripheral vision. She took a couple of steps forward and reached for the teacup on the table.
Meng Qianqian blocked her hand with the account book, her gaze sweeping over Lin Wan'er's stomach, "Don't. What if you drink something wrong and it affects the baby? I can't afford to take that risk."
Lin Wan'er moved closer to the brazier.
"That's red lotus charcoal from the Palace of Internal Affairs. Remember to inform them if you use it up," Meng Qianqian said.
Lin Wan'er closed her eyes, intending to sit down.
"Wait!"
Nanny Wan flung open the beaded curtain and rushed in, pulling away the stool behind Lin Wan'er. With a clatter, she placed a large block of ice under Lin Wan'er's bottom!
"There are no hidden needles or poison, it's all out in the open! Check for yourself. After you sit down, don't blame my young miss again!"
Lin Wan'er's face turned green with anger.
Lin Wan'er gestured coldly: Don't pretend. I know you're playing hard to get and you don't really want to leave the Lu family.
Meng Qianqian laughed, "You're right. I don't intend to leave the Lu family. After all, I've just become a general's wife, and with the rate of promotion for military officers, if I endure for another year or two, he might be able to earn a title for me."
Nanny Wan nodded, giving a thumbs up, "As expected of Miss, so clever!"
Lin Wan'er: You've offended the Imperial Consort, and you still want to be granted a title?
Meng Qianqian fearlessly said, "If I can't get the title, then we'll all go down together. A husband shares the consequences of his wife's actions. Whatever trouble I stir up, he'll have to take responsibility for it."
Lin Wan'er gestured sternly: So, you're that kind of person? Aren't you afraid I'll tell the General?
"You can go ahead and tell him if you dare," Meng Qianqian replied.
Lin Wan'er clenched her sleeves and left without another word.
Nanny Wan shouted at her retreating figure, "I won't see you out! I've swept the snow off the ground, so don't you dare pretend to slip and fall!"
"Miss!"
Outside, Green Lotus supported Lin Wan'er, whose face had turned ashen.
Lin Wan'er held her stomach; this time, she was truly angry enough to feel pain.
She was both angry and aggrieved, yet she couldn't voice her grievances!
Inside the room, Nanny Wan carried the block of ice out and then returned to ask, "Miss, are we... not leaving?"
She had already packed her bags!
Meng Qianqian picked up a fried fruit snack, "Let's go."
Nanny Wan scratched her head, "But just now..."
Meng Qianqian tilted her head, "Oh, I was just teasing her."
(End of Chapter)
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