20demayo Chapter 155 Do you want a divorce?
Chapter 155 Do you want a divorce?
The next day
When Pei Rujing arrived at the main courtyard, she found Wen Shuxuan there as well.
Seeing Pei Rujing walk in, Wen Shuxuan stood up and said, "Third Sister-in-law, how have you been lately?"
Pei Rujing nodded: "Everything is fine. Didn't you bring Rou'er?"
Wen Shuxuan shook her head: "I came here today on important business. My mother-in-law wanted to get closer to Rou'er, so I sent Rou'er to her place."
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang asked, "I heard that Zhao Hongrong has been much more well-behaved since being disciplined by Young Master Pei. How is he treating you in the manor?"
Wen Shuxuan said gently, "It's fine."
Madam Jiang smiled and said, "You are still young. If he is willing to change his ways, you should live your lives well and try to give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible."
Wen Shuxuan smiled without saying a word.
Jiang turned to Zhong and asked, "I heard that Concubine Liu in your courtyard is pregnant?"
Mrs. Zhong nodded: "I had a doctor come to check yesterday, and she is indeed one month pregnant."
Madam Jiang smiled and said, "The eldest son only has Wen-ge'er now, which is too few offspring. It's time to add some more people to liven things up."
Since Wen Ge'er was born, the concubines in the courtyard stopped taking the contraceptive soup. Madam Zhong was prepared for this, since she had the eldest son of the legitimate wife by her side and her position was as secure as a rock.
With her position secure, Madam Zhong was happy to be a magnanimous principal wife: "I have already instructed the kitchen to be extra careful with Aunt Liu's meals from now on, and to have a doctor come to check her pulse every few days."
Hearing this, Madam Jiang was even more pleased: "You are good, I know that."
Mrs. Zhong said, "It's all thanks to my mother-in-law's guidance."
Pei Rujing listened to their conversation and suddenly found it extremely boring.
Wen Shuxuan noticed Pei Rujing's expression and whispered, "Third Sister-in-law, are you bored?"
Pei Rujing looked at him: "Can you really live with Zhao Hongrong without any resentment?"
Wen Shuxuan's expression changed slightly.
Even Jiang Shi was urging Wen Shuxuan and Zhao Hongrong to get along, but Pei Rujing asked her if she was willing.
"What are you saying, Third Sister-in-law?"
Wen Shuxuan, accustomed to suppressing her emotions, asked calmly.
Pei Rujing rested her chin on one hand: "I just think a leopard can't change its spots."
"So what does Third Sister-in-law think I can do?"
Pei Rujing said, "If you insist on getting a divorce, your father-in-law and mother-in-law should support you."
According to Pei Rujing's observation, neither Wen Chuanhong nor Jiang Shi seemed to be the kind of people who would disregard Wen Shuxuan's wishes for the sake of profit.
Wen Shuxuan shook her head: "Third sister-in-law only mentioned our parents. Is the Duke of Zhao's mansion willing? After all, it's not wrong for men to be a little philanderer. If we get a divorce over this, others will only say that I'm jealous, and they might even say that our Marquis's mansion doesn't know how to raise its daughters. It will inevitably affect the reputation of the women in the Marquis's mansion. Second sister isn't even married yet."
Pei Rujing frowned: "Do I need to think about all this? It's exhausting."
Wen Shuxuan said, "That's just how life is."
Most people are powerless to control their own lives.
Therefore, she always envied Pei Rujing, who didn't need to think so much and whose troubles were always solved for her.
After Jiang and Zhong finished speaking, they noticed the two women whispering to each other and asked, "Xuan'er, what are you talking about?"
Wen Shuxuan said, "My third sister-in-law asked me what she needs to do on my second brother's wedding day?"
Madam Jiang said, "Princess, don't worry. You just need to stay in the bridal chamber and chat with the bride for a while. You are sisters-in-law, and you'll need to get to know each other better in the future."
Pei Rujing asked curiously, "This marriage was chosen by my mother-in-law. What kind of person is Miss Liu?"
Madam Jiang said, "Miss Liu is well-educated, gentle, and a good person. With her managing the household affairs for the second son, he can focus on preparing for the exams."
"It seems her mother-in-law likes her very much."
"She's a cute little girl."
Even if it's a concubine's son marrying, she's still her daughter-in-law, so naturally Madam Jiang wouldn't choose someone who would cause her trouble.
Both the Zhong and Liu families share a common trait: they are content with their lot.
As for Pei Rujing, the only one she wasn't allowed to choose?
Jiang glanced at Pei Rujing and then looked away. In any case, she didn't intend to put on airs as a mother-in-law in front of Pei Rujing, and Pei Rujing didn't cause any trouble for her, so that was enough.
Madam Zhong said, "Princess, let's go to the bridal chamber together and see if the bride is as good as your mother-in-law says."
Pei Rujing nodded: "Okay."
Afterwards, Madam Jiang told them some details about the wedding ceremony. Since there weren't many women in the household, Madam Jiang called Wen Shuxuan back.
After discussing the wedding, Madam Jiang inquired about Wen Zongji: "Even I, a woman confined to the inner quarters, have heard about the news from the capital. Zongji has been making quite a splash lately, and the Marquis has been drinking with him in high spirits several times."
Wen Shuxuan also said, "I've heard my husband mention my third brother several times. He said that although the Capital Gazette Office is under the Ministry of Justice, it is under the jurisdiction of the Crown Prince and has a very special status within the Ministry of Justice."
Pei Rujing nodded: "Even the Commissioner of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices cannot directly order the Capital Gazette Office to do anything."
Lady Zhong asked curiously, "Doesn't my third brother wield considerable power as he's in charge of the Beijing Gazette Bureau?"
Pei Rujing said, "If it's limited to the Capital Gazette Bureau, then his power is naturally great, but outside of the Capital Gazette Bureau, he can't command anyone else."
Wen Zongji held a low-ranking but powerful official position, but his power was limited.
Of course, he could do some things under the crown prince's name, but Wen Zongji was not stupid and obviously would not do such a foolish thing.
Wen Shuxuan smiled and said, "You can't say that. Now the Beijing Daily is famous in the capital, and I heard that it has also started to appear in the surrounding prefectures and counties. Third Brother controls the Beijing Daily, and he makes all the decisions on what to publish. The Beijing Daily is so influential, I believe that others will give Third Brother some face when they see him."
Jiang agreed: "That's right. It's not that you have to be a level above others to be respected. Zongji has only been in charge of the Beijing Gazette Bureau for a short time, yet he has already achieved such results. Everyone has seen his abilities, and his future career will be bright. No one would want to offend someone with such a promising future."
Pei Rujing smiled: "My mother-in-law and younger sister trust my husband more than I do."
"Third Sister-in-law just doesn't care about these things."
That's true, ever since she stopped wanting Wen Zongji to save face for her.
Pei Rujing didn't care much about what position Wen Zongji would climb to in the future.
She was still happy when people praised Wen Zongji.
It was a rare occasion for the four of them to get together. After finishing their business, Jiang asked someone to bring out mahjong, and the four of them immediately set up a game and started playing mahjong.
Wen Shuxuan asked, "I heard that my second sister has joined a mahjong club?"
Pei Rujing nodded: "Find her a place to relieve her boredom."
Madam Jiang laughed and said, "That's great. A woman's life before marriage is the most free time. She should enjoy herself while she can."
Pei Rujing turned to Wen Shuxuan and asked, "Is our little sister joining too?"
Wen Shuxuan said, "Sister Rou is keeping me occupied, so I'm afraid I won't have much time to attend the gathering."
Pei Rujing waved her hand: "It's alright, I'll go when I'm free, and I won't go when I'm not. We're an association, not a government office, so we don't have to be on time."
Wen Shuxuan didn't mince words: "Then I'll trouble Third Sister-in-law to make the introduction."
"It was just a small favor."