Niu Yanghui didn’t know why he felt guilty and said, "I had no choice..."
Yueyao shook her head and replied, "Don’t tell it was unavoidable. Even if you had refused to accept this woman back then, I don’t believe the Provincial Governor Zeng would dare do anything to you?" Niu Yanghui’s greatest backing wasn’t Marquis Jingning’s Residence but his own father, Old Master Niu.
Lord Niu is a close minister of the emperor, a Second Rank Official wielding real power. Although the Provincial Governor Zeng is a mighty figure in Jiangnan, with many people trying to curry favor with him, he ans nothing before Old Master Niu. Not to ntion Old Master Niu suppressing him, just making things difficult for him in so matters would be enough for him. Unless the Provincial Governor Zeng lost his mind, he wouldn’t suppress Niu Yanghui over such a trivial matter and make an enemy out of Old Master Niu without any conflict of interest.
Niu Yanghui’s face stiffened. In fact, when he accepted Maternal Aunt Gao that day, it was not because he feared the Provincial Governor Zeng, but because he had consud a potent tonic that day and accepted Maternal Aunt Gao. The following day, the Provincial Governor Zeng sent this woman to his residence. For years, folks in Suzhou City have said he is afraid of his wife and thus doesn’t dare take a concubine; behind his back, many mock him, saying he relies on his wife’s family hence doesn’t dare take a concubine. Those rumors would be nothing if unheard, but if he dared not accept a woman he had already been with, he would indeed cent his reputation as a henpecked husband.
Yueyao didn’t want to seem too aggressive, lest it becos counterproductive: "Brother-in-law, you should have heard from my sister that I’m particularly afraid of dying, right?"
Niu Yanghui didn’t know how to respond to this. He often heard Mingzhu say Yueyao is afraid of dying, and he knows why. It’s because Yueyao is particular about what she eats, refusing to eat many things, and stops after a taste claiming overeating is bad for health.
Yueyao laughed and said, "Actually, many tis, people face nurous choices, and the choice depends on what one values most. For , my health is most important, so I can control my appetites; for my cousin Ma Peng, it’s undoubtedly his wife and children, so he can withstand all pressure and resist all temptations." Yueyao knows very well that a husband not taking concubines brings imnse pressure to the couple. The husband will be criticized for being henpecked, while the wife will be dubbed a jealous woman.
Niu Yanghui understood. Although Yueyao’s earlier words seed unrelated, they were ant to lead to the last sentence. Niu Yanghui asked, "Besides your cousin, has Heyue not taken a concubine either? How do you think he manages that?"
Yueyao repeated her conversation with Mingzhu.
Niu Yanghui was shocked: "If Heyue took a concubine in the Northwest and returned to the Capital City, would you really move to another residence?"
Yueyao’s lips curved into a peculiar smile. Couples sure are alike; Niu Yanghui asked the sa question as Mingzhu. Yueyao said, "Brother-in-law, why should won stay in the Capital City managing household affairs and raising children, worrying about their husbands’ safety, while husbands enjoy comfort in their posts?"
Niu Yanghui was stunned; he had never considered this issue.
Yueyao’s voice was sowhat cold: "I cannot control others, but I certainly won’t endure such humiliation. If he dares break his promise, I’ll move out with the children. Without him, my children and I will live perfectly well." To think she would endure such grievance is simply impossible.
Niu Yanghui, considering Yueyao’s current achievents, fell silent. Given Yueyao’s circumstances, she indeed would live well without An Zhichen. Niu Yanghui felt marrying such a capable wife was quite stressful!
After a mont of hesitation, Yueyao said, "Brother-in-law, initially, I shouldn’t have ddled in affairs between you and your wife, but seeing my sister cry so heartbreakingly and despairingly that day, I couldn’t bear it. Brother-in-law, what I’ve said today is in hopes that you can return to those happy and joyful days, and not beco strangers due to inexplicable reasons."
When Niu Yanghui heard the words "strangers," his face changed dramatically.
Yueyao said no more and took her leave to revise her morial to the emperor. However, upon returning to the backyard, she went straight to find Mingzhu.
Mingzhu was looking at the ledger. Despite being a pampered daughter in the Marquis’ household who doesn’t touch household chores, Mingzhu was a very capable steward.
Looking at the arrangent of Mingzhu’s room, Yueyao sighed lightly, "I just had a few words with brother-in-law." She then briefly told what had happened.
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