SFT 16

Chapter 16

“If Your Lordship has nothing else, please take your leave.”

He Fangting sat upright, making a gesture of seeing a guest out.

Jiang Zhixiu looked at her calm, gentle brows, and the anger in his chest surged uncontrollably. “He Fangting, what exactly do you mean by this?”

He Fangting replied evenly, “What I mean—Husband, you cannot possibly not understand.”

Jiang Zhixiu sneered, “In the end, you’re just trying to control me. I suppose if I refuse to share the lineage, you’ll take over the household affairs?”

He Fangting answered frankly, “Yes.”

But she would no longer be as generous as before.

What should not be spent—she would not spend a single extra coin.

The old patriarch once said that ginseng and bird’s nest were not as practical as radishes, didn’t he? Then everything would be replaced with radishes.

Radishes were good too.

After a pause, she added, “If you are fond of Miss Xie, you may take her as a noble concubine. I guarantee I will not make things difficult for you. You and her can still live together in harmony.”

She had once held deep affection for Jiang Zhixiu—after all, they were young husband and wife who grew up together day and night. He was handsome and talented, and her lawful husband; it was only natural she once adored him.

But that affection had slowly worn away.

The first time she was truly disappointed in him was when she was pregnant with Yao’er. Madam Pan, with a mother’s heart, felt sorry for her son having no one to serve him, and bought him a concubine maid.

Jiang Zhixiu accepted it half-willingly. After sleeping with the girl, he came to inform He Fangting, saying it was an unavoidable gift from elders, and that it was just a young maid—if she disliked her, she could simply send her away.

Perhaps he had forgotten that before their marriage, he had sworn in front of his grandparents that he would have no other women in his life.

That day, she thought about many things. In the end, she concluded it was not that she was lacking—but that Jiang Zhixiu was merely an ordinary man, unworthy of her entire devotion.

From then on, she treated it simply as a marriage. Like other noble couples in the capital: the husband served in court, the wife managed the household, and together they maintained wealth and honor.

She thought this was their silent understanding—but while she fulfilled her duties, Jiang Zhixiu broke his promise halfway and wanted to elevate another woman.

How could that be allowed? It made no sense.

When she said she would make Miss Xie a concubine, Jiang Zhixiu felt deeply insulted and immediately refused. “Meiying could never be a concubine!”

He Fangting’s expression remained cold. “If she cannot be a concubine, does she intend to steal someone else’s husband instead?”

Jiang Zhixiu heard a trace of concern for himself in her words, and his anger faded slightly. He leaned forward, trying to grasp her arm.

He Fangting quickly avoided him, not meeting his eyes—not out of fear, but disgust.

Jiang Zhixiu did not mind. Instead, he spoke sincerely, “Fangting, Meiying and I are bound by fate from a past life, reunited in this one. She is where my heart belongs; it is beyond our control. If I lose her, I will have no joy for the rest of my life. If she loses me, she will be like a drifting reed in water. But rest assured, even if I marry her, I will not neglect you. We can all live together in harmony. What you deserve will not be reduced by even half. Each month, I will spend at least ten days with you.”

He Fangting felt like vomiting upon hearing this. “No need. You can spend every day with her—as long as she is a concubine.”

Jiang Zhixiu said sorrowfully, “Why must you force such an innocent woman? Fangting, you were not this vicious before!”

Even He Fangting’s excellent self-control was strained. “Who exactly is forcing whom? Bringing someone back and planning to marry her is not me! If refusing you makes me vicious, then I will be vicious!”

What she hated most about him was that he clearly wronged her, yet still spoke as if she were at fault.

Jiang Zhixiu said irritably, “Why don’t you understand? Meiying is pure of heart, never competing or scheming. Her entering the Jiang household will not threaten you in the slightest!”

“No threat?” she sneered. “Then let’s imagine this: if you were me, would you agree to your husband sharing another woman from a collateral branch of the family?”

Jiang Zhixiu opened his mouth, but she cut him off again. “Answer honestly! If you lie even about this, you’ll only make yourself look down upon.”

So Jiang Zhixiu hesitated.

He Fangting looked at him, her eyes full of meaning. “So you also wouldn’t agree. Only when the knife cuts into your own flesh do you feel pain.”

Jiang Zhixiu flushed with embarrassment and anger. In frustration he blurted out, “If I were you, I would happily welcome Meiying into the household and earn a reputation for generosity, so the Emperor would know that the daughter of Princess Fuzhuang has not shamed the royal family—that she is a universally praised virtuous wife!”

He Fangting’s gaze sharpened. “Are you threatening me with His Majesty?”

And his disrespect toward Princess Fuzhuang also enraged her.

Many might criticize Princess Fuzhuang, but he was not among those qualified to do so.

Jiang Zhixiu realized he had spoken out of turn and fell silent for a moment before lowering his stance to plead, “Fangting, we are husband and wife. Husband and wife are one body; we should share each other’s joys and burdens. I love Meiying—please fulfill me!”

He Fangting said calmly, “No. I will not fulfill you.”

If she fulfilled him, who would fulfill her?

Jiang Zhixiu looked at her unchanged, beautiful face over the years, only feeling a chilling cruelty. Compared to her, Meiying was so gentle, so understanding, so considerate.

It was no wonder he would fall in love with Meiying.

He asked again, “You will not agree?”

He Fangting’s expression remained cold and detached.

“No.”