Jin Wang still had that unsatisfied look on his face.
Yaoniang looked at his face screaming āstill not satisfiedā, then looked down at how far sheād gone. Since she had already taken ninety-nine steps, it wouldnāt hurt to take one more. She closed her eyes and reached behind her neck to untie the strings. Since he was the one who insisted, she might as well show him something worthwhile.
Suddenly, she felt her shirt being pulled up. Then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. A heated palm was rubbing and kneading her waist.
Jin Wang thought to himself that he mustāve turned stupid to go seeking trouble like that.
Her foolishness was contagious!
He bit her ear fiercely. His breaths shallow, he said āNow isnāt the right time to divorce her. Today, thereās a young miss from the Wang Family, tomorrow thereāll be a miss from the Li Family. Wait for a bit.ā
In an instant, Yaoniang understood. Even though she shouldnāt, a flower bloomed inside her heart.
As soon as Jin Wang and the others were sent away, Qing Wang heard about what had happened in the backyard.
But what he heard was only the shortened version. All he knew was that Consort Qing didnāt show up and it wasnāt until Side Consort Han invited her over several times did she appear. Yet when it was the second young masterās turn to Zhua Zhou, she immediately tossed away her face and left.
Many ladies from noble families were present at the time. The scene was extremely humiliating.
Qing Wang was immediately annoyed. But after seeing Jin Wang and the others off, there were still other nobles and officials to entertain. As the host, he couldnāt leave the table. He could only press down the fire in his heart and wait until the end of the banquet. Once everyone is gone, heāll sort out the matter.
After the banquet was over, despite being a little drunk, Qing Wang remembered the incident from earlier and headed to the main courtyard.
Qing Wangās chest felt stuffy. Because of what happened with his cousin, he always adopted a meek attitude before Consort Qing.
The two did have real feelings. Back then, his fifth brother had left for his fief while he remained in the palace. Although he had a grand wedding, his position as a prince was almost meaningless.
When he still lived in the palace, the food that should be given, was given, so one couldnāt say that he was mistreated. But there was still dissatisfaction and disappointment to a certain extent. During the two years he spent in the palace, Jirou accompanied him. He cherished her company and was willing to live a good life with her. After the grand wedding, their feelings were very strong and when they went to live on his fief, there was even more freedom. Then his cousin came along.
Qing Wang was reluctant to think about the details from that year.
He did make a mistake, but he had to bear the responsibility. Jirouās unwillingness to accept, he could also understand. But no matter how understanding he was, when faced with the other partyās continuous rejection, it was inevitable that heād feel exhausted.
Caught between the two women, Qing Wang was very tired. His cousin was weak and not in good health. She had also left her hometown, but Jirou was unwilling to treat her well. In this manor, those below all look at the person in charge. With the main consort in charge of the backyard unwilling to treat her well, if he didnāt look after his cousin, who knows what would happen to her?
Regarding the various actions of Consort Qing, Qing Wang was aware, but most of the time, he simply turned a blind eye. Since sheās angry, then let her vent her anger, as long as no one is hurt.
But because of his tolerance, she ended up hurt again and again. Even if she were to disregard the monkās face, she still needs to consider Buddhaās face. Now that matters have come to this, does Qing Wang Manor still have any face left?
With these thoughts in mind, when the maid next to Consort Qing arrived, saying she had something to report, the fire in Qing Wangās heart immediately rose. He kicked the maid aside and stormed into the room with his eyes red, breaths heaving.
On the big Kang near the window, Yan Geāer and Zhuzhu were sitting side by side. Consort Qing was reading the Book of Songs to them.
Consort Qing had a smile on her face, and her voice was soft and gentle. The two babies were fair and tender, very well-behaved. The warm scene of a kind mother and filial children was shattered by the sudden interruption of Qing Wang.
Qing Wang was stunned on the spot. Consort Qing glanced at him and asked, āWhatās the matter?ā
The anger in his heart suddenly melted away. He remembered back then, after the wedding, someone had infuriated him and when he returned home angry, sheād ask him whatās the matter in the same manner. He was like a beast licking his wounds as he approached her, before talking about what had happened. Then sheād comfort him and coax him. By the next morning, he had regained his confidence to face everything.
Qing Wang walked over with lighter steps and sat down on the edge of the Kang. He couldnāt help feeling a bit embarrassed.
āLook at how much alcohol you drank!ā Consort Qing frowned before calling a maid to serve him some sobering tea. She also ordered a maid to help him get washed and changed out of his clothes. Once it was all done, Qing Wangās anger had grown even weaker. As soon as he sat down again, Xiao Zhuzhu pounced on him. Hugging her fatherās neck, she told him how much Zhuzhu missed her father. She also asked where father went these days and why didnāt he come to see Zhuzhu.
To be honest, Qing Wang didnāt go anywhere. That day, he and Consort Qing had a conflict over the matter of Cheng Geāerās birthday celebration, so he stayed in the front yard ever since. Side Consort Han had sent someone to invite him over several times, but he didnāt go. Later, seeing how she had ignored him as if he didnāt exist, he finally went to Side Consort Hanās yard out of anger. But it was only one night. During this time, the only connection between the husband and wife was when he sent a message asking her to entertain little fifth sister-in-law.
Seeing his daughter hugging himself and venting her grievances, Qing Wang also blamed himself a lot in his heart. No matter what, he shouldnāt have gone for so long without seeing his daughter. Zhuzhu was still young, so her grievances came and went quickly. After a while, she forgot everything and clamoured for Qing Wang to let her ride on his back like a horse.
So Qing Wang put Zhuzhu on his neck and walked around the room while making sounds of a horse. Sitting on top of his neck, Xiao Zhuzhu said giddyup, so he sped up. Then Xiao Zhuzhu said slow, so he slowed down. The father and daughter pair had a lot of fun with bright smiles on their faces.
Consort Qing watched them and couldnāt help feeling a little envious.
She felt that her fifth sister-in-law was right. She had accompanied this man for so long, so why should she push him to others?
After playing for a while, Qing Wang pretended and told Zhuzhu he was tired. Zhuzhu also stopped clamouring to play and the father and daughter went to the Kang and sat down.
The maids brought over some fruit and tea. Qing Wang took a sip of the tea and looked at Consort Qing. He hesitated before saying, āI heard the servants say that during Cheng Geāerās Zhua Zhou, you disregarded your face and made a lot of trouble. Many of the ladies from noble families were present and saw everything.ā
Consort Qing thought to herself, indeed. But outwardly, she said with a calm expression, āDid the servants not say why I left, throwing away all face?ā
Qing Wang was taken aback and didnāt speak.
Consort Qing chuckled softly. āWith what happened, I really couldnāt bear to stay. Everyone was staring at me and Yan Geāer. I am an adult and a mother, so I can bear it, but Yan Geāer is no longer an insensible infant. You gave her your golden seal for Cheng Geāerās Zhua Zhou, and he did end up choosing it. Tell me, under those circumstances, how can I bear to stay with Yan Geāer and Zhuzhu?!ā
Qing Wang was completely stunned. He reached towards his pocket and took out a pouch.
A gold chain was tied to the pouch, and the other end of the chain was tied to the inside of his shirt. Qing Wang never lets the pouch leave his body. This was because not only did it contain his golden seal, but it also contained several other personal seals that he often uses. These seals were all very important and could not be taken lightly.
He opened the pouch and poured out all the seals inside. Only a few personal seals the size of her thumb were left. The golden seal was gone.