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墨書 Inktalez
Beside the Teahouse, the fragrant grass stretched endlessly, flowers bloomed in clusters, and the shadows of trees swayed gently. A row of passersby or vendors wore simple smiles on their faces, while a fortune teller stood by the side of the bluestone path, alongside a scholar who made a living selling calligraphy and paintings. Occasionally, bursts of thunderous laughter could be heard, drawing the attention of the idle onlookers.
"You wouldn't believe that Ye Guanmei's wife is actually a concubine from the Shangguan Family! It's absolutely ridiculous! Ye Guanmei treats her like a treasure, but she's just someone nobody else wanted!"
"Isn't that right... In my opinion, the one who got the best deal here is Shangguan Shaoying. His wife is beautiful, and even her maid used to be General Jiang's concubine. Tsk tsk..."
"Alright, keep your voices down. The highborn families are quite chaotic; we common folks can't possibly understand their complexities. I suggest you stop talking before you attract unnecessary trouble."
His words silenced everyone, and they turned back to their tea.
Such gossip echoed throughout the city and eventually reached Jiang Shanghao's ears.
Madam Jiang was getting ready in front of the mirror, holding a fragrant powder that her friend had just brought back from France. The incense had been specially changed to a lavender scent. She wore an orange mandarin-collared Qipao, and her delicate eyelashes shimmered faintly in the dim room. She lifted her eyes to disperse the mist and instructed her maids to draw back the curtains. As sunlight poured in, she couldn't help but smile slightly, revealing a perfect grin.
"What have you used that makes such a delightful fragrance?" Jiang Shanghao stepped into the room and smiled at her.
Madam Jiang shot him a glance. "Do you still have time to worry about fragrances? If I were you, I'd be checking when Feng Yin that deadbeat will come back."
Jiang Shanghao's expression froze for a moment; he frowned and his voice was not as usual. "Feng Yin left on her own; she's just a concubine. What's there to look for?"
"True, but have you heard what people are saying? And those newspapers are writing all sorts of nonsense about you two; it's truly embarrassing for our Jiang Family!” Her water-red nails dyed with phoenix flowers lightly swept across the table, scattering all her cosmetics onto the floor. She stared at Jiang Shanghao, her voice growing colder. “You send someone to bring Feng Yin back; I don't believe Shangguan Lin would dare refuse!"
Jiang Shanghao looked at her calmly. Through this beautiful woman before him, he seemed to recall her youthful warmth and elegant composure. Yet now... He had been lamenting how much the world had changed him lately but hadn't realized that this predatory world had long since devoured her spirit as well.
"Now that the Foreign Enemy has invaded, we may face the worry of losing our country. At this critical moment, we shouldn't stir up trouble. After all, Shangguan Lin is indeed talented in leading troops into battle. I don't want to offend him over trivial matters; otherwise, we would be losing a valuable asset," he sighed lightly.
Madam Jiang gasped, her voice tinged with a hint of anger. "Are you really willing to let our family be shamed?"
"What does family mean in front of Country?" Jiang Shanghao looked at her deeply. "I always thought you were the most sensible, but now you can't even understand this? If we lose our country, won't our families be scattered? Moreover, it's not just about losing the country; it involves losing the world. My beliefs compel me to act this way, so please refrain from saying more."
Madam Jiang was taken aback, furrowing her beautiful brows and falling silent.
The blue brick walls were adorned with climbing vines, and in front of the door was a light yellow puppy barking at passersby. The gnarled ancient tree witnessed the vicissitudes of wind and rain, the changes of power in the world, obscuring the heat of Sunlight and leaving only mottled shadows. The weathered ancient red door blended seamlessly with this scene, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and haze.
Xia Yixiang took one last look at the door. After returning home last night, Ye Guanmei had completed the divorce procedures with her, casting her out. A hint of sarcastic amusement lingered at the corners of her lips, whether directed at herself, others, or this world remained unclear.
A graceful figure leaned casually against the doorframe, deliberately feigning calmness but unable to conceal the smugness in her eyes. Xia Yixiang turned around and said irritably, "Gu Xiyue, don’t just mock me; your day will come too."
Gu Xiyue raised an eyebrow, looking down at her already rounded belly. The Sunlight illuminated her dark eyes, giving them a captivating allure as she slightly curled her lips. "Madam, as the saying goes, thirty years in the east river and thirty years in the west river. Your time in the east has passed, while my thirty years in the west will be particularly long."
"Hmph, then I wish you well," Xia Yixiang picked up her luggage by her feet and hailed a Rickshaw. She got into the vehicle but was unsure where to go. Her family was now in Yuzhou, and perhaps staying there would be better, but how could she explain this situation to her parents...
Gu Xiyue saw through her thoughts and pulled out a wad of cash from her handbag to give to the driver. "Take this lady to the Train Station."
"Yes."
As Gu Xiyue watched Xia Yixiang's figure grow distant, the sparkle in her eyes faded away, replaced by a shrewd glimmer that was deep and inscrutable. Ye Guanmei slowly stepped out of the door and looked at Gu Xiyue's back, calmly asking, "Has she left?"
Gu Xiyue turned around, her back straight and a gentle yet striking smile on her face. She chuckled lightly, "I will see the lady off, so you can rest assured." She linked her arm with his, and Ye Guanmei sighed, saying, "All I know about this lady is that her family runs a pharmacy in the north and has some assets. That's why I married her; I had no idea..."
"You don't need to feel regretful." Gu Xiyue reached out to grasp his large hand, placing it over her slightly rounded belly. She covered her lips with a light laugh, her eyes sparkling. "Look, we are about to have our own child, so we need not worry about others. What do you think we should name it? By the way, my family was once a prestigious clan in Suzhou, but my father squandered our fortune. However, my uncle still holds a position in the government. If I write to him for help in naming the child, that would be wonderful."
Ye Guanmei's eyes brightened as he tightly held her hand. "So your family used to be like that."
"Yes, but we have fallen on hard times," Gu Xiyue smiled along with him, though she felt a chill inside.
Ye Guanmei sighed and said, "It really is unfair to you. Now that Xia Yixiang is gone, someone has to take her place as the lady of the house. I think it should be you, Xiyue."
Gu Xiyue smiled faintly, yet she appeared as radiant as a peony flower. She slowly wrapped the embroidered light pink handkerchief around her fingers and lightly touched her forehead, pretending to be elegant. Ye Guanmei no longer looked at her; he simply adjusted his clothing and said, "Tonight Ruan Shaoshuai is coming from the southeast. I need to go welcome him; you should accompany me."
She paused slightly and then laughed heartily.
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