Chapter 1703 – Hua Yuan’s Conclusion (12)
“What kind of look is that?”
Receiving Mi Hua’s “I get it” gaze, the man felt annoyed. Was she questioning him or looking down on him?
“If it weren’t for my generosity, do you really think you’re something special?”
This woman actually dared to roll her eyes at him; what guts! Was she planning on stepping all over him in the future?
Mi Hua coldly snorted, slowly placing her chopsticks down, and gracefully taking the napkin from the concubine to dab at the corner of her mouth.
“With such confidence, Young Master should just wait to eat bamboo scrolls off the table. We’re not that poor; we can afford a roll of bamboo and a table. If the kitchen’s cooking isn’t to your liking, I’ll have them try more dishes until you’re satisfied.”
The man nearly choked on her words, pointing at Mi Hua with shaking fingers.
Mi Hua stood up from her seat, not looking back as she returned to her room.
The concubine hesitated for a moment but firmly followed the steps of the primary wife, leaving the angry man behind.
Mi Hua, the talented scholar, was her source of livelihood; why should she cling to that unreliable man?
The man slammed his fist on the table, hurling insults, but alas, his target had already left. No matter how harsh or ugly his words were, the only listeners were a few servants.
Not only did it fail to affect Mi Hua, but it also made him lose face and hurt his own feelings.
“What a shrew! It’s infuriating!” he growled, slapping the table. “I will definitely divorce this shrew, mark my words!”
The nearby servants merely rolled their eyes in secret.
If he had the courage to divorce her, he would’ve done so ages ago. Why would they torture each other for years?
He couldn’t understand; Mi Hua was beautiful and talented, and if she divorced and remarried, she’d have plenty of options. Why cling to this crooked tree and hang in vain?
Not only him, but the concubines in the rear courtyard also didn’t understand.
Mi Hua was probably the ideal primary wife of every man—serving in front of her in-laws, raising children, managing the household flawlessly. She never cared where her husband spent the night and even supported him if he wanted to take in concubines; she made the money for them, providing a one-stop service. The man did nothing but produce heirs; his brain didn’t need to work at all.
What man wouldn’t like such a virtuous wife?
The only difference was that this virtuous wife not only wouldn’t fawn over him but could also infuriate her husband to the point of rage, gaining the support of the concubines. It was a mystery indeed; outsiders couldn’t comprehend it at all.
In the study.
The concubine used her delicate hands, the kind that men adored, to massage Mi Hua’s shoulders, applying the right amount of pressure with practiced skill.
Mi Hua leaned against the table, flipping through her books, her brows occasionally furrowing and then relaxing.
The concubine couldn’t help but suggest, “Why don’t you talk to the Young Master?”
Mi Hua turned a page without lifting her gaze and replied, “What is there to discuss with him?”
Pushing against mud that wouldn’t rise—talking would only frustrate herself. Anger harms the liver; harming the liver shortens one’s lifespan.
She wasn’t going to slowly poison herself over that man.
The concubine said, “The Young Master always makes the lady angry. Since you’re both troubled, wouldn’t it be better to calm him down so he doesn’t distract you from your studies?”
Mi Hua chuckled coldly, “Does he even qualify?”
The concubine: “…”
Recalling her own husband’s qualities, fine, he indeed didn’t qualify.
“There’s one thing I’ve never understood. If you’re willing to answer, could you enlighten me?” the concubine asked.
Mi Hua replied, “What is it?”
The concubine continued, “You’re talented and beautiful and still young. If you divorce and remarry, you wouldn’t have trouble finding a good match. Why waste your time on the Young Master? If you’ve treated me well, I would never be ungrateful; I naturally want the best for you. The Young Master isn’t all bad, but he can’t compare to those young gentlemen. How many others have so many concubines in their rear courtyard?”
Being the primary wife of a scoundrel and having to put up with a fool parading in front of her daily—how frustrating!
Mi Hua smiled slightly, “For me, anyone in the world is just not him. It doesn’t matter who I marry.”
Back then, if it weren’t for shameful relatives using underhanded methods to force her to marry, she would have intended to remain a widow for life.
Now that her husband’s antics didn’t bother her, what difference would it make whether she divorced or not?
So many years had passed; she had accepted reality and didn’t want to stir things up anymore.
Divorcing might also mean being coerced into marriage again by those relatives looking for benefits.
Of course, she wouldn’t give them the opportunity to harm her.
When Mi Hua mentioned “him,” the concubine knew she referred to Mi Hua’s ex-husband, rumored to be a gentle man.
“Besides, his taking more concubines isn’t necessarily bad.”
This statement surprised the concubine.
“Eh?”
Could a primary wife actually be okay with her husband taking concubines?
“Beauty in the world is plentiful but can’t compare to a charming face. Each one is more lovely than a flower—just standing there is a painting,” Mi Hua said with a smile. “You all have your own talents. For example, you can massage shoulders and knead backs perfectly. Sitting and reading for long periods can cause neck and shoulder pain, but just a little relief makes life so much better. Yun Niang has a delightful singing voice; I love waking up to her singing in the yard. It brightens my day, and Xiao Hong can dance; her figure is enchanting…”
The scoundrel loved his skillful concubines; he had spent a fortune saving several from brothels, and Mi Hua didn’t mind.
Rather than saying these concubines belonged to him, it would be more accurate to say they were cared for by Mi Hua.
“Of course…” Mi Hua’s voice turned self-deprecating as if recalling something. “In this world, women have it the hardest. If he takes another concubine, doesn’t that just mean another woman has a place to live? There are pros and cons; fortune and disaster depend on how those involved perceive it.”
No one knew that when she was younger, she despised the existence of concubines and scoffed at such logic.
But times had changed. After so many years of war in the south, how many unfortunate women were there?
She had seen many women stripped and left on the wilderness, covered in worms and rotten from the sun and wind.
For the vast majority, simply surviving was tough enough; there was no room for picky living.
“Lady, will Young Master Lan Ting really issue a summons?”
Mi Hua replied firmly, “He certainly will; he needs me.”
The concubine laughed, “If so, then what about the Young Master…”
Will he really end up eating bamboo off a table?
“Hmph, a gentleman’s word is worth a thousand horses; if he says ‘eat,’ then I’ll watch him kneel and finish it!”
Before the summons was issued, Jiang Pengji received several messages.
Many common people claimed they had seen someone resembling Hua Yuan.
Jiang Pengji connected the locations and discovered a secret: Hua Yuan was actually heading north toward Ningzhou.
Ningzhou?
Isn’t that Hua Yuan’s ancestral home?
Recalling Wei Ci’s past words, it seemed the last time Hua Yuan was seen was also in Ningzhou.
