WBSGVS Chapter 3

At this moment, the Zheng family was in a scene of paternal kindness and filial piety, with the mother looking exceptionally pleased.

Zheng Father, who usually refrained from smiling and prided himself on his scholarly restraint, never intervened in the affairs of the rear court. He ignored his wife’s and son’s troubles with his daughter-in-law, pretending not to see.

However, on this day, his smile was exceptionally bright.

The fact that his supposedly dead son had returned was a tremendous joy. He carefully examined his son and asked in detail about everything that had happened since his disappearance.

Upon learning about Su Tingxue, Zheng Father hesitated. The Ji family had said that a son-in-law could not take a concubine, and a scholar should keep his word, right?

But before he could voice any objections, Zhang Mother shouted, “This is a good thing! The Ji family can’t bear children, so we can’t let Han’er die out, can we?”

When it came to descendants, Zheng Father could not say anything against it and only said, “As long as you are sensible.”

Zheng Yihan was not as resolute as he had been at the gate. He felt guilty after making his wife, who had waited for him for half a year, vomit blood. He merely pursed his lips and said, “I will discuss it with the Ji family.”

Zhang Mother was displeased. If it was to be discussed, the matter of taking a concubine would surely be off the table. Just as she was about to speak, a servant rushed in to report, “Not good! Young Master Ji’s fifth son has brought people and broken down the main gate!”

“What?!” Zhang Mother shrieked.

The servant looked pained and said, “Young Master Ji’s fifth son went to find the eldest young master’s wife and brought many people with him.”

Zhang Mother’s anger grew. The Ji family was always so domineering!

In the capital, no family dared to directly state the rule that a son-in-law could not take a concubine, except for the Ji family. No matter who came to propose, the first question was always about this rule. If they agreed, the proposal would continue; if not, they would be chased away.

Ten years ago, when Ji Qingli’s uncle’s family thought the Ji family was just speaking offhand, they went ahead and took a concubine after not having a child for two years. The Ji family then brought Ji Qingli’s aunt back and directly divorced her!

Since then, that family has been targeted by military officials and gradually marginalized. Last year, before Ji Heng went to the border, he recommended that person to a very cold place as a governor.

This was also the main reason Zhang Mother dared not directly force her son to take a concubine.

She had originally planned to take advantage of her son’s unexpected return to force him into a difficult position and then coerce him into accepting a concubine.

Now that she had failed and had her gate broken by the Ji family, it was simply…

Zheng Father’s face turned dark with rage as he shouted, “The Ji family has gone too far! Eldest Son, hurry and make them come over to apologize. To publicly break our Zheng family’s gate is an extreme humiliation!”

Zheng Yihan’s expression was also grim. Hearing this, he quickly bowed to his father and left in haste.

When he reached the courtyard, before he even approached the main courtyard, he faintly heard Ji Shuxin saying, “Sister, since Zheng Yihan wants to take a concubine, why don’t you come back with me?”

Zheng Yihan’s eyelids twitched. He scolded Ji Shuxin in his heart for being more domineering than a bandit despite being just a scholar. He came up and immediately changed the subject, “Shuxin! Why are you here?”

Ji Shuxin looked at him coldly, remaining silent.

Zheng Yihan felt uneasy under this gaze and awkwardly turned his eyes away, looking at his wife. He asked with an attempt at being polite, “A Li, are you thirsty? Your lips look dry.”

Qing Li had indeed dried out from her previous emotional turmoil. She nodded.

Without speaking, her expression remained indifferent. Fortunately, she nodded, indicating that she was willing to let it go. Zheng Yihan was overjoyed, diligently poured tea, and brought it to her lips. “Is it too hot?”

Qing Li ignored him, took a sip, and felt a bit more comfortable. She then showed a faint smile and said to Ji Shuxin, “It’s nothing. You should return now.”

Ji Shuxin frowned in dissatisfaction, “Sister!”

Why should she stay here when the man wants to take a concubine?

Qing Li’s brow furrowed slightly, “Shuxin!”

Ji Shuxin pouted, knowing his sister was resolute and could only step back, “I’ll leave Ah Bin and them here. Don’t let yourself be bullied. Otherwise, don’t say it’s us, the Ji family!”

“Got it,” Qing Li said with a wry smile but with soft eyes. The original family had always been kind, but unfortunately, in her past life, she had fallen into her trap.

When Zheng Yihan wanted to take a concubine, the Ji family knew about it, and Ji Shuxin was the first to come and suggest a divorce. Later, the Ji family sent letters, all with the same intention.

However the original owner was stubborn and unwilling to part with the years of feelings with Zheng Yihan. She did not want to give him up easily, so she never agreed.

In fact, before her death, Zheng Yihan had not taken a concubine. It was only after she was divorced that he formally took one.

But what use was that?

Now Qing Li did not want a divorce, just not to let this situation benefit those two. If she had to leave, it would have to be at the best possible time.

Ji Shuxin turned and left, not sparing Zheng Yihan even a glance.

Zheng Yihan, knowing he was in the wrong, was reluctant to demand anything. However, after everyone left, he remembered he had rushed over to settle accounts with Ji Shuxin for breaking his gate!

As Zheng Yihan was about to chase after him, a cold voice behind him called out, “Shuxin left money for the repairs. You can take it.”

Zheng Yihan was speechless.

He choked up, feeling anxious due to her tone, and forced a smile, “A Li, I’m sorry for what I did.”

Qing Li raised her eyes, her lips curling into a faint smile, looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile and did not speak.

Zheng Yihan felt even more uneasy. Seeing his wife’s pale face and thin figure, his guilt surged, and he lost his confidence. He only wanted to seek his wife’s forgiveness, so he spoke softly:

“Here’s the thing. In the beginning, I was saved by her, but the people chasing me were still around. At that time, I had lost my memory and didn’t know how to find help. She claimed to be my wife to protect me. We lived together, and to outsiders, we were already a couple. A Li, I only have you in my heart, but her reputation has been damaged. What can I do if I don’t marry her…”

It seemed this explanation was not quite enough, so he added, “A Li, I promise I won’t touch her. I will treat her as a sister. Apart from the necessary decency, there will be nothing else!”

Qing Li’s eyes fluttered. The little smile disappeared, and her black eyes fixed on him. She asked, “How many people know about her damaged reputation?”

Zheng Yihan was flustered under her gaze and only realized after a few seconds, “There is a village at the foot of the mountain, and over a hundred people there know.”

Qing Li asked again, “What about other places?”

Zheng Yihan was stunned, thought seriously, and shook his head.

Qing Li smiled, thinking as expected. Her expression softened a bit. “Husband I have a method. Since her reputation was damaged, except for that small village and you two, no one else knows. We can treat it as if it never happened. We find a family with a clean background for her to be the wife. Isn’t that much better than being your nominal concubine?”

Qing Li’s voice was gentle and her words were well-organized. Zheng Yihan instinctively listened and thought about it. He found her reasoning quite sensible in the end.

Being a legitimate wife and a concubine were two different concepts. Although he felt somewhat uncomfortable, he knew rationally that being the main wife was better. He said, “But what if her future husband knows about this and feels uncomfortable?”

Qing Li maintained her smile, “I think you’re overthinking. A man of integrity won’t mind this. Moreover, we will find her a family with a modest background, and if we help her husband, even if he learns about it later, don’t you think the Zheng family and my Ji family can handle her future husband?”

Zheng Yihan was moved by her words, especially after his wife had vomited blood. He was truly embarrassed to insist on taking a concubine. He therefore relented, “Alright, I’ll tell her about it. Tingxue will surely be very grateful to you, A Li.”

Qing Li looked displeased and scolded, “Still calling her Tingxue?”

“Yes, yes!” Zheng Yihan suddenly realized something, playfully tapped his forehead, and quickly changed his tune: “Miss Su will have to trouble Ah Li a lot.”

Qing Li smiled, her expression very warm and pleasant: “Not at all. She saved my husband’s life, so of course I should take care of her.”

Zheng Yihan was deeply moved and moved forward to hold her hand over his heart: “I’ve wronged you, wife. I was foolish before…”

Qing Li quickly pulled her hand back, her expression growing colder: “Husband, since you know you were foolish, why haven’t you set things right?”

Zheng Yihan felt somewhat dejected, but seeing his wife’s expression, he realized that bringing up the concubine matter right after returning had hurt her. Feeling distressed, he didn’t dare say anything more and said, “I’ll go right away, right away!”

Su Tingxue had been arranged in a small side courtyard in the East Main Courtyard.

The sudden changes at the gate had been too abrupt. Zheng Yihan was preoccupied with his wife and had no time for anything else. Zhang Shi, however, was focused on having her son take a concubine to go against Ji Qingli. Therefore, she paid special attention to Su Tingxue, placing her next to her courtyard.

If she weren’t afraid of a stranger being too close to her husband, she would have preferred to place Su Tingxue in a more remote room so that her son would see her every time he came to pay respects, hoping it would be beneficial.

The courtyard, though small, was well-equipped with everything. The maid Zhang Shi had specifically assigned was surrounding Su Tingxue, speaking highly of her. A round-faced maid showed exaggerated envy.

“Miss Su, the madam likes you. As soon as she saw you, she gave you such a fine gift,” the round-faced maid said in a very soft voice. “The eldest lady has been married for five years, but she hasn’t received such good treatment from the madam…”

“Is that true?” Su Tingxue, already shy from the flattery, blushed even deeper at these words, her eyes sparkling with deep expectation.

The events at the gate had already made her extremely anxious. As an orphan, she was thrilled to finally meet someone she liked, especially someone from a prestigious family. This was even more thrilling than in storybooks.

As for this nobleman having a wife in the capital, Su Tingxue hadn’t thought much of it initially. In such families, marriages were often about mutual benefit rather than genuine affection.

But seeing Zheng Yihan’s anxious behavior toward Ji Qingli, she realized it was not just a simple exchange of interests.

Su Tingxue was very nervous, but the round-faced maid’s words hit the mark for her. A woman who doesn’t gain her mother-in-law’s favor after marriage would likely have an unhappy married life, especially if this mother-in-law liked her…

Another maid immediately echoed, “Of course it’s true. Who doesn’t know this in the household? When we arrived, the madam even told us to take good care of the young lady. In the future, Miss Su will be part of the Zheng family. Perhaps the little master will even come from you.”

Su Tingxue, no longer just shy but now blushing from her ears to her neck, couldn’t handle such teasing. Acting angrily, she glared at them: “You two, enough already!”

Just then, a voice with a hint of amusement said, “What’s enough already?”

Su Tingxue instinctively stood up and wanted to go over, but when she remembered how he had abandoned her at the door, she stopped. Her eyes filled with tears, and her face tightened with a mix of indignation and vulnerability: “What are you doing here? Didn’t you abandon me?”