Chapter 1488 – Defeating Nie Liang, Attacking Yang Tao, Aiming for the World (Twenty-Seven)
Wei Ci let out a bitter laugh.
Later on, he vaguely heard the reason from the Emperor.
Bai Yuexia chose Shi Zhong for three main reasons.
First, Shi Zhong knew how to please his father-in-law and thus raised Bai Ning’s favorability significantly.
Second, Bai Yuexia felt she should have a child to continue her lineage, easing her father Bai Ning’s worries in his old age.
Third, Shi Zhong was a man, and not just any man, but one without much ability, easy to control—no matter how much he barked, his behavior was just that.
【Men are just husbands; fathers are one and the same. Ancient wisdom does hold some truth.】
In summary, Bai Yuexia was willing to end her single life primarily for the sake of her old father, Bai Ning.
There were plenty of men who could be husbands in the world, but only one father—one could hardly compare the two.
Wei Ci felt it inappropriate to share these details outright, so he simply spoke vaguely about the circumstances.
He said, “Bai Yuexia was nearing thirty in her previous life and still refused to marry, causing General Bai Ning much anxiety. Shi Zhong was pushed by his mother into a corner and somehow ended up eyeing her, hoping Bai Yuexia would promote him in his career. Shi Zhong had enough self-awareness not to approach the young lady directly but instead sought out General Bai Ning. Through some back-and-forth, they developed a bit of mutual affection. Shi Zhong pretended well before marriage, but within a few years of being married, his true nature was exposed; he couldn’t tolerate his wife’s high position, seeing it as a humiliation to his dignity as a husband.”
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “That’s quite amusing. On one hand, he hopes his wife will help him, and on the other, he can’t stand her being in a superior position. What does he mean by that? Does he really think that if Bai Yuexia promotes him, he’ll rise to the top on her coattails?”
Doesn’t he realize his own potential?
Wei Ci replied, “There are many ambitious people in this world; perhaps that’s exactly what he thinks.”
As a result, after several years of marriage, with two children in the picture, Shi Zhong still remained an insignificant official, whereas Bai Yuexia’s career flourished, and she became the Minister of the Ministry of Works, one of the six departments. Everyone knew Bai Yuexia had a useless husband; at colleague gatherings, there were always jabs or mockery at Shi Zhong, asking why he couldn’t keep his wife in check as the head of the family.
Shi Zhong had long been resentful of Bai Yuexia’s unwillingness to support him, and now his anger had escalated into jealousy.
Not sure where it all began, Shi Zhong became accustomed to visiting the pleasure quarters, and his first trip was leaked to Bai Yuexia by a colleague.
When Bai Yuexia questioned him upon his return home, Shi Zhong, aware of his colleague’s carefulness, felt both shame and anger, losing control and attempting domestic violence.
It goes without saying, as the daughter of a military general, Bai Yuexia would not be a pushover. Instead, she beat Shi Zhong until his face was bruised and his mother-in-law was weeping inconsolably.
Once his mother learned of her son’s beating, she secretly incited and pressured Bai Yuexia to resign and take care of the household, believing that was the right course. Eventually, through this commotion, Bai Yuexia suffered a miscarriage—she had only just discovered she was pregnant.
Jiang Pengji said, “Apart from blood-related males and married men, what man can’t be a husband? How could she endure this?”
Wei Ci responded, “Of course, she didn’t just endure. Coincidentally, with the Emperor advocating for a dual household system, she used her official position to pressure Shi Zhong into agreeing. She originally planned to have both children entered under her name before preparing for a divorce, but the Shi mother and son refused, and the law did not support Bai Yuexia taking both children, so she took her eldest daughter instead. This daughter turned out to be quite distinguished, while the son was spoiled by the Shi family.”
Bai Yuexia’s eldest daughter was chosen to be the companion to the Crown Prince Jiang Yan. Looking at their relationship, it was obvious she would be the Crown Prince’s right-hand aide in the future.
On the other hand, Bai Yuexia’s son was raised by the Shi mother and son in a way that made him arrogant. After Shi Zhong remarried, his new wife maliciously spoiled him.
When that boy was fifteen, he got into a quarrel, raced his horse, and trampled six people to death, ultimately receiving a death sentence.
Jiang Pengji was not surprised, “The Shi mother and son were no good. How could they teach a child properly with such influence?”
Wei Ci remarked, “That child probably wasn’t cut out for it from the start; he took after his father. Before Bai Yuexia’s divorce, she was the one raising the child. Not long after the divorce, she learned about her son’s situation at the Shi residence and initially wanted to fight for custody, but to her shock, that boy pointed at her with his finger, spitting insults and equating her to a courtesan. This infuriated Bai Yuexia, leading her to completely abandon her son and never acknowledge him again.”
Of course, in the end, it was still she who sent someone to retrieve her son’s body from the market.
Motherly affection only stretched as far as that.
“Shi Zhong is truly incapable. Even after his divorce from Bai Yuexia, he still likes to present himself as the ‘husband of the Minister of Works,’ often drinking and reveling with his friends while gossiping about Bai Yuexia’s private matters. He frequently loiters at brothels, and his mother goes around slandering her—”
Officials care deeply about their reputation. Regardless of their personal affairs, their public image must remain untarnished.
If it weren’t for Bai Yuexia being highly trusted by the Emperor and conducting herself with caution, she would have likely faced immense critique from the officials.
Wei Ci sighed, “I thought Bai Yuexia would avoid encountering Shi Zhong once she entered the Lord’s court, but I never expected it would happen in this manner.”
Jiang Pengji said, “Perhaps this is what fate is.”
“Even if it is fate, it’s a curse.” Wei Ci lamented, “Compared to Shi Zhong, I think Xi Heng is much better. It’s just a pity that although Xi Heng has worked with her for years, they still refer to each other as colleagues, and it seems there’s no romantic feeling. If they could become a couple, it would be a perfect match.”
Zhang Ping was destined to be a solitary man in his previous life—that was his pursuit, and Wei Ci found it difficult to persuade him otherwise.
In this life, he didn’t seem too set on remaining single, so perhaps there’s hope.
Jiang Pengji remarked, “If you were the Ice Person, you’d probably starve to death.”
Wei Ci: “Why?”
Jiang Pengji responded, “Playing matchmaker is also an art; you can’t be haphazard like you!”
Wei Ci couldn’t help but chuckle, “I hope the Lord gives me some guidance.”
Jiang Pengji took on a mentor’s tone, “For situations like this, you should be direct—don’t play any coy games. Just ask them how they feel about each other, and if they’d be willing to lie in the same coffin after a hundred years. Isn’t that straightforward enough?”
Wei Ci: “…”
That seems a bit too blunt and crude.
“Go back and maybe you’ll manage to set something up. It’s been ages since I’ve attended a wedding banquet.” After a moment’s pause, Jiang Pengji added, “Wait—why do you want to match Xi Heng with Yuexia instead of someone else? It’s not that I’m biased, but Xi Heng is quite handsome. If he has any intention of marrying, his family’s doorframe might end up flattened by the Ice Person. It seems unlikely he’d choose Yuexia?”
Wei Ci couldn’t stifle a laugh, “Xi Heng doesn’t judge beauty by looks, but by hands.”
Due to his peculiar condition, others thought Zhang Ping was obstinate and difficult to deal with, leaving Wei Ci as one of the few friends he had.
He befriended Wei Ci primarily because of his pair of charming hands.
Besides, Bai Yuexia wasn’t ugly—she just had a birthmark on her face, but having gotten used to it, she still looked quite beautiful.
