Chapter 22: Auspicious News

Chapter 22

Auspicious News

That evening, Song Qilin took a bath and then headed to the Lian Fang Quarters as usual . While waiting for Xiao Tong to prepare the meal, he narrowed his eyes, gazing at Nie Shuang. She noticed his stare, feeling somewhat self-conscious, but pretended to remain nonchalant.

“I heard you visited your father today?”

He asked in a low, deep voice, sounding as if he was genuinely interested in her affairs. But to Nie Shuang, it felt more like he was fishing for information.

“I went to congratulate my father and inform him that I will be accompanying you to the border.”

Upon hearing that she had decided to join him at the border, Song Qilin’s demeanor softened, though he still couldn’t resist adding,

“Good. That will give him time to accept the situation. He should know that once something is given to me, it will never be returned.”

Nie Shuang felt a sudden chill at his words, but she forced a laugh to brush it off.

“You mean me? When did I become an object?”

“A wife is not her husband’s property?”

Nie Shuang furrowed her brows. She couldn’t accept such an old-fashioned notion. She was a person with her own thoughts, emotions, and life. If he only saw her as property, there was no way they could understand each other. Her decision to leave him felt even more justified.

“I believe that a husband and wife are partners who should stand by each other, growing old together, taking care of one another. If I were to say that you were my property and I took on three or four more male concubines, would you be pleased?”

Song Qilin frowned. Her thinking was strange to him. What she said was absurd. The meal was ready, and they didn’t continue their conversation. They ate quietly.

After the meal, Song Qilin sipped his tea, showing no intention of leaving. Nie Shuang felt uncomfortable and wanted to bathe, so she left him sitting there and headed to the bedroom, not caring about his presence. The servants brought in hot water, while Xiao San stood by to attend to him. Xiao San felt uneasy when she saw Song Qilin’s expression.

Song Qilin was indeed upset. What did she mean by her earlier comment? Did she really think about having male companions? Even now, with him still sitting there, she ran off to bathe without a care. What kind of wife behaved this way? He had always had women chasing after him, and here he was, giving in to her whims, holding back his desires, and she had the audacity to ignore his efforts. How could he tolerate this?

With a huff, Song Qilin swung his sleeves and left. Xiao San rushed to see him off and then quickly reported to Nie Shuang.

“Young Furen, how could you leave the General sitting alone like that? He left in anger just now. What will we do?”

“If he’s angry, that’s his problem, not mine. He comes whenever he pleases without asking how I feel. This is my residence; do I need his permission to take a bath?”

Nie Shuang replied, indifferent. Xiao San could only make a helpless face.

The next day, the General’s manor welcomed Master Chen, the Minister of Works. He was Chen Yuelan’s father and had a long-standing friendship with Yong An Hou. Ever since Yong An Hou was injured and retired, he rarely received guests. He usually stayed in the manor and did not pay attention to the outside world. He was known for his temper, and only old friends like Chen Yifang occasionally visited to help ease his mind. Today, Chen Yifang came with important business.

After Chen Yifang left, Song Qilin was summoned by his father. When he returned, he looked troubled. At Lian Fang Quarters, Nie Shuang heard about the goings-on in the manor through A’Yi. Initially, she didn’t pay much attention, but after lunch, the Elder Furen called her for a meeting.

"Nie Shuang...today, Master Chen came to speak with the Hou. They have been old friends for a long time. Today, Master Chen made a request that the Hou could not refuse."

Nie Shuang already knew who Master Chen was—Chen Yuelan’s father. His appearance at the General’s manor was certainly not good news for her. Nie Shuang remained quiet, just looked at Xu Shi with wide eyes and listened calmly.

"Chen Yuelan is not young anymore. She has refused to marry anyone, waiting only for Qilin. While neither family has formally arranged anything, it was once thought that they might join in marriage. But you ended up marrying Qilin first, becoming his principal wife. Though Young Miss Chen has never said anything, she has firmly decided not to marry anyone else. Just now, Master Chen came to ask for Qilin to marry her as his principal wife as well. The Hou has already agreed, and I wanted you to be aware of this."

Nie Shuang listened calmly, and after Xu Shi finished speaking, she nodded obediently. Xu Shi tried to read her expression, but there was no trace of sadness or disappointment. In Xu Shi’s heart, which had begun to grow fond of this daughter-in-law, she now felt pity. On the very day Nie Shuang was married, Qilin had taken in two concubines. Now, not even half a year later, he would take another principal wife, who would have an equal standing to her. If this situation had happened to herself, Xu Shi wasn’t sure if she could endure it.

Xu Shi didn’t dare to tell Nie Shuang how harsh the Hou’s words had been. Since the day she married into the family, the Hou had never cared for this daughter-in-law—he hadn’t even looked at her. When he summoned her to inform about this, he had even warned, "If that lowly woman refuses, then Qilin should divorce her under the seven grounds for expulsion!" Naturally, one of these seven grounds includes a wife’s jealousy and refusal to allow her husband to take concubines to expand the family line. While no woman would willingly allow her husband to take another woman, they were often forced to endure. It was rare for this particular rule to be invoked.

"Nie Shuang...are you alright? Don’t worry too much. You’ve met Young Miss Chen before; she is a good woman. Once she joins the family, you’ll be able to live in harmony. Qilin won’t ignore you,"

Xu Shi consoled, though even she wasn’t entirely sure. Her son’s feelings were hard to predict. He and Chen Yuelan were like green plum blossoms and a bamboo horse[1], and they had been close since childhood. Even though Nie Shuang was beautiful, it wasn’t certain if that alone could keep his heart.

Nie Shuang smiled sweetly and responded,

"Don’t worry, Elder Furen. Nie Shuang is not concerned in the slightest. Life in the General’s manor has been happy for me. Soon, the General will return to the border. I wonder if he will take Young Miss Chen with him? If so, Nie Shuang would gladly remain here in the capital."

When Xu Shi heard about returning to the border, she recalled that Song Qilin had already informed her that he planned to take Nie Shuang with him. Now that Chen Yuelan was to be married into the family, she wasn’t sure how they would handle the situation.

"Let’s leave this decision to Qilin. Don’t worry too much. Young Miss Chen’s marriage won’t affect you in any way."

Xu Shi spoke with certainty, unaware that Nie Shuang wasn’t concerned in the slightest. In fact, she thought this auspicious event came at the perfect time. With this, Song Qilin and the entire General’s household would be preoccupied, no one would have time to pay attention to her. This would make her escape plan even smoother. The young woman smiled reassuringly at Xu Shi.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder Furen, but Nie Shuang has nothing to worry about. With you, a capable and virtuous elder handling everything, Nie Shuang can rest assured."Xu Shi looked at her daughter-in-law’s bright smile but couldn’t help sighing in frustration.

[1] A proverb means a man and woman who had known each other since childhood.