Gai Shi was taken aback. This seemingly delicate, smiling woman spoke with such biting words! She retorted, “Your Wang Fu indeed didn’t come to make trouble! Otherwise, how would it differ from a common courier house? Why was the vacant position in the Ministry of Revenue, meant for my son, filled by someone recommended by the Huaiyang Wang? Her jealousy has ruined her husband’s prospects. Which noble house would want her now?”
Liu Miantang pretended not to understand the mockery of her background but no longer concealed the sharp glint in her eyes. She glared directly at the old shrew: “The Qingguo Gong Furen dares to speak so boldly! Your household has so many disgraceful matters, yet our Huaiyang Wang Fu hasn’t said a word. How dare you insult the Wang ye for loyally recommending talent to His Majesty? Everyone at court knows of Li Guangcai’s exceptional talents. He only retired due to a momentary desire to withdraw from public life. Now, inspired by the new emperor, he wishes to serve the country again – a praiseworthy act. As for where he serves, that’s for His Majesty to decide. Are you suggesting that my brother-in-law’s abilities surpass Li Guangcai’s simply because of his connection to Wang Ye? Are you dissatisfied with His Majesty’s edict and wish to change his appointment?”
Her words made Guo Yi break out in a cold sweat. He had initially opposed his mother confronting this Wang fei, and now she had fallen into the trap of appearing to challenge the imperial decree.
Although the current emperor was under the Empress Dowager’s control, he was still the supreme sovereign. How could they handle it if his mother’s disrespectful words reached His Majesty’s ears?
Thinking this, Guo Yi quickly tried to smooth things over: “What are you saying, Wang Fei? My mother simply thought Cui Fu was staying away out of spite. We shouldn’t conflate family matters with state affairs. If she enjoys staying with her brother, let her stay longer.”
Meanwhile, the Qingguo Gong Furen, feeling increasingly stifled by Liu Miantang’s words, huffed, “If she doesn’t want to return now, it might be difficult for her to come back later when she wishes.”
Liu Miantang’s face now showed no trace of a smile: “I’ve long heard that the Qingguo Gong Furen is strict, but seeing is indeed believing. The future isn’t solely for your family to decide. Your Guo family may be an illustrious clan, but our Cui family isn’t of common stock either. The men in our household have also braved battles for Da Yan’s sake. We won’t stand idly by when our married daughter is mistreated. It seems no one sensible from your household has come today. When someone more reasonable arrives, they can discuss matters in detail with our Wang ye.”
Without waiting for Gai Shi’s response, Liu Miantang swept her long sleeves and left with her maids, not looking back.
This minor conflict soon spread through whispers at the banquet.
Although the Qingguo Gong Fu seemed to have deeper roots than the Huaiyang Wang Fu, it couldn’t compare to the truly wealthy and powerful families of the capital.
The Guo family looked down on the Cui family’s crudeness, but their actions revealed their provincial lack of refinement.
Especially the matter of taking a concubine without informing their daughter-in-law – this was a major taboo for the principal wives of various households. They didn’t see anything wrong with the Cui family’s actions. To anger a pregnant daughter-in-law into returning home – the Qingguo Gong Furen was indeed no pushover!
After confronting the Gao mother and son, Miantang bid farewell to Jing’an Hou Furen and returned home.
The Jing’an Hou Furen, aware of Miantang’s pregnancy, didn’t insist on her staying longer. Instead, she had two additional jars of new tea from Diannan’s tea gardens prepared for Miantang, saying, “With two pregnant women in your household now, you can’t drink strong teas. These two jars of specially made green tea aren’t too strong. They’re perfect when brewed with black wolfberry.”
Miantang examined the soft clay seals on the tea jars, knowing this Diannan tea wasn’t cheap. She smiled, “The Hou Furen is very thoughtful.”
The Jing’an Hou Furen smiled faintly, “A distant nephew of mine is coming to the capital soon. He arranged for this tea to be sent from Diannan’s tea gardens via northern merchant ships and stored at my residence. I’m merely passing on his gift.”
Miantang raised a delicate eyebrow, “May I ask which nephew this is?”
The Jing’an Hou Furen replied with a slight smile, “You’ve probably heard his name – it’s Li Guangcai, the newly appointed Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.”
Miantang knew this Li Daren well, as he had been a witness at her wedding. However, he had seemed quite frugal when serving in Xizhou, not even keeping his carriage but renting donkeys from post stations to ride.
Now, before even arriving in the capital, he seemed to have adopted the capital’s gift-giving customs, being so generous.
When Miantang returned home, she told Cui Xingzhou about Li Guangcai sending tea as gifts. Cui Xingzhou examined the tea jars and commented, “Brother Guangcai has spent a fortune this time… My sister loves this tea. Keep some for yourself and send the rest to her.”
Miantang, who was removing her hairpins, paused in surprise at these words. She felt there was more to it and turned to ask, “Did Li Guangcai send this because he knows Jiejie loves it?”
Cui Xingzhou didn’t respond directly. He lazily reclined on the soft couch, flipping through a book, and casually said, “Perhaps it’s just a coincidence…”
Miantang didn’t quite believe this but knew better than to press further. Cui Fu was a married woman, pregnant no less. The thought that had flashed through Miantang’s mind was too outlandish to voice.
This incident effectively severed ties between the Cui and Guo families. If it had been up to Miantang, she wouldn’t have been so decisive. But Cui Xingzhou seemed intent on not giving the Guo family any face, nor leaving his sister a way back to her marriage.
The next afternoon, while the maids were in the garden helping Jinr chase butterflies, Miantang recounted yesterday’s conversation with the Guo mother and son at Jing’an Hou’s residence to Cui Fu.
Cui Fu’s complexion had improved noticeably over the past few days. In her brother’s house, she spoke with more confidence, no longer having to constantly mind her words to avoid offending Gai shi, nor watch her husband dote on a young girl. She was undeniably more at ease.
After listening to Miantang, Cui Fu sighed deeply, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten how stifling my mother-in-law is. When I was far from you all, with nowhere to escape her bullying, I just endured it. I’d forgotten how outspoken I used to be at home. If it were just my stubborn mother-in-law, I could bear it – she won’t live forever. But now, Guo Yi has extinguished all my hopes… Once this child is born, I’ll ask Xingzhou to arrange for me to divorce the Guo family.”
Miantang was startled, not expecting Cui Fu to come to this decision so quickly. She carefully asked, “Jiejie, you’re not just saying this out of anger, are you?”
Cui Fu smiled faintly, “Yesterday, while you were out, Xingzhou came back early and we talked. The Guo family’s entry into the capital was actually through the Empress Dowager’s connections. Their ancestors had a life-and-death friendship with the Empress Dowager’s family. Marrying me made it seem like Qingguo Gong Fu was trying to play both sides… That’s the main reason Guo Yi’s promotion hasn’t been smooth. Do you think my mother-in-law elevated a favored concubine just for more offspring? It’s Qingguo Gong Fu’s way of showing loyalty to the Empress Dowager – although they married the Huaiyang Wang’s sister, their hearts are with the Empress Dowager. The daughter from the Cui family is inconsequential!”
Miantang frowned, seeming to understand. She asked, “Then, jiejie, you…”
After talking with her brother, Cui Fu’s melancholy seemed to have dissipated. She calmly said, “Without the support of one’s natal family, all talk of marital affection is nonsense! I may be a woman, but I understand that Xingzhou’s current hidden struggle with Sui Wang is fierce. If he can’t give it his all, the disaster of Zhenzhou’s breach might repeat itself. Since the Guo family is eager to take sides, how can I hinder the Qingguo Gong Fu’s pursuit of glory and wealth?”
Seeing Miantang’s silence, Cui Fu asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Liu Miantang picked up a grape and began peeling it, saying, “I’m still no match for those raised in noble households like you. I hadn’t considered this aspect…”
Cui Fu smiled bitterly, “If Xingzhou hadn’t analyzed it in detail, I wouldn’t have thought of it either, let alone you! Others envy us nobles, but they don’t understand that with every shift in the court, even seemingly divine couples can lose all affection in an instant, and entire families can fall apart…”
That afternoon, after parting with her sister-in-law, Miantang returned to her chambers, feeling dejected. She lay on the bed, lost in thought.
Cui Xingzhou, noticing her entry without speaking to him, found it strange. Seeing her motionless on the bed, he lay down beside her and whispered in her ear, “What’s wrong?”
Miantang was silent for a moment, then said directly, “It’s nothing… I just suddenly realized that regardless of whether Guo Yi took a concubine or not, you had planned for your sister to divorce him all along, didn’t you?”
Cui Xingzhou raised an eyebrow, “Why do you say that?”
Liu Miantang slowly turned her head, looking into Cui Xingzhou’s calm, handsome eyes, “Because the Qingguo Gong Fu’s political views differ from yours, so your sister needs to take a stand in time, distancing herself from them. This also saves you from a difficult position later. You’ve even… meticulously planned your sister’s future marriage, haven’t you?”
Cui Xingzhou didn’t deny it, merely saying calmly, “What’s wrong with doing so?”
Miantang found herself speechless, only managing to say softly, “At first glance, there’s nothing wrong. You’ve planned everything so thoroughly… How could there be anything wrong?”
Cui Xingzhou looked down at her face, his long eyelashes casting shadows on his high nose bridge, hiding the cold glint in his eyes. He asked gently, “If that’s the case, why do you look like you’re angry with me?”
Liu Miantang opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words.
Indeed, Cui Fu’s marriage was unhappy, and if given the choice, Miantang would also choose to leave the Guo family.
In truth, she wasn’t angry, but suddenly afraid.
If one day she were weighed against immense power, would Cui Xingzhou handle her as he did his sister’s marriage – with an iron fist and ruthless efficiency, discarding her like an old shoe on the road to his ambitions?
This man’s unintentionally revealed cold-blooded scheming was truly frightening. But Cui Xingzhou looked helpless as he gently caressed her face, saying, “What are you overthinking now?”