Chapter 2: There Is Only One Outcome—Being Cast Aside
Autumn Paulownia Courtyard.
As soon as Yun Wei arrived, Old Madam Li beckoned to her with a warm smile.
“Weiwei, come sit beside me.”
Yun Wei obediently walked over and sat down.
“Mother.”
Old Madam Li smiled kindly and instructed a maid,
“Quickly, brew a cup of the new Biluochun tea I just received for Madam Heir to taste.”
“Yes.”
The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew to prepare the tea.
Yun Wei was slightly surprised.
The monthly allowance for every courtyard in the residence was fixed. Unless the Old Madam had spent her own private savings, she could never have afforded such premium Biluochun tea.
So who could have been so generous as to present such an expensive gift to an elderly woman who rarely left the inner residence?
Could it have been…
Chen Yuniang?
Yun Wei already had her answer, though she revealed nothing on her face.
She accepted the teacup from the maid and took a careful sip.
“It truly is excellent tea.”
Hearing her praise it, Old Madam Li couldn’t help feeling a pang of reluctance.
This tea had been sent by her future daughter-in-law, and she herself had been too reluctant to drink it.
But when she thought of her future chubby grandson, her smile immediately returned.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Then Old Madam Li patted Yun Wei’s hand and sighed.
“Three years ago, on the night of your wedding, Yaoting followed General Xu to the battlefield, leaving you to suffer alone.
“Fortunately, Yaoting has now returned victorious and earned great military merit. General Xu has already submitted a memorial requesting that he be rewarded. Before long, His Majesty’s imperial rewards will arrive.
“The hardships the two of us have endured are finally over. From now on, with Yaoting here, you won’t have to shoulder everything by yourself anymore.
“Also, you and Yaoting have been married for three years now. I’ve already spoken with him. In a couple of days, he’ll consummate the marriage with you so that you can bear a child as soon as possible.”
“Very well, Mother.”
Yun Wei answered perfunctorily.
She didn’t believe the Old Madam had summoned her merely to say these things.
Sure enough.
When Old Madam Li saw that Yun Wei remained silent for quite some time and made no attempt to mention Chen Yuniang, she finally lost her patience and brought up the matter herself.
“Weiwei, regarding taking a concubine… Yaoting has indeed wronged you. But he is still a young man in the prime of his life. Yuniang comes from a distinguished family, is well-educated and sensible, and willingly lowered herself to endure hardships alongside him. It’s only natural that he fell in love with her.
“For the past three years, the two of them have relied on one another at the border. Yuniang followed Yaoting without caring about status or title and even gave birth to his child. Now that they’ve returned together, our Li family cannot be so cold-hearted as to deny her a proper position. Don’t you agree?”
Yun Wei remained silent.
Just as she had expected.
Old Madam Li had called her here to act as a mediator.
Seeing that Yun Wei still said nothing, the old lady continued,
“I know this may make you unhappy, but don’t worry. No one can take away your position as the principal wife. Chen Yuniang will be the concubine while you remain the mistress of the household. After she enters the family, you may establish whatever rules you wish for her.”
Watching the old lady speak so earnestly, a trace of mockery appeared on Yun Wei’s face.
“Mother, when did you first learn that Husband and Chen Yuniang were together?”
Old Madam Li hadn’t expected such a question.
Her eyes flickered.
“I… I only found out recently.”
“Is that so?”
Yun Wei slightly raised an eyebrow. Looking steadily at the old lady, whose expression had grown visibly uneasy, she spoke in an unhurried tone.
“Three years ago, when the entire Duke Chen household was convicted and exiled to the frontier, the news spread throughout the capital. Soon afterward, Mother began looking everywhere for suitable young ladies. Could it be that you feared Yaoting would make a fool of himself over his affair with Chen Yuniang and drag the Li family down with him, so you hurriedly arranged a marriage for him?”
“N-No, that’s not it!”
Old Madam Li had never imagined Yun Wei would be so direct.
With a single sentence, Yun Wei had exposed the ugly truth she had tried so hard to conceal.
She hurriedly denied it.
But Yun Wei gave her no chance to recover.
“At that time, I had only just been brought back to the Yun family. My father didn’t care for me, and my mother showed me no affection. Didn’t you choose me precisely because of my circumstances? You knew my parents were eager to marry me off, and since I had only just arrived in the capital, I had no connections, no source of information, and no one to stand up for me. Wasn’t that why you came to the Yun family to ask for my hand?”
“W-Weiwei… don’t… don’t say such things. I truly liked you. I truly pitied you.”
Old Madam Li’s heart trembled.
She deliberately avoided Yun Wei’s gaze, refusing to answer her accusations directly.
“Weiwei, I know this news has been difficult for you to accept. But don’t worry. You are the wife Yaoting married through proper rites. Chen Yuniang is only a concubine. She will never surpass you.”
Yun Wei’s earlier aggressiveness suddenly disappeared, replaced by a calm, almost guiding tone.
“Mother, the Duke Chen household will soon be fully exonerated. When that happens, Chen Yuniang will once again be the legitimate daughter of the Duke Chen Manor. She’ll have the Duke’s household supporting her, and she’ll also have Yaoting’s eldest son. Under those circumstances… do you truly believe she’ll be content remaining a mere concubine?”
Believing that Yun Wei’s only concern was losing her position as the principal wife, Old Madam Li visibly relaxed.
“Then you’ve misunderstood. Chen Yuniang is a sensible woman. She has already made her intentions clear—she won’t compete with you for the position of principal wife. For Yaoting’s sake, she’s willing to become a concubine.”
Yun Wei feigned surprise.
“So… Mother has already met Chen Yuniang?”
Old Madam Li’s expression froze for an instant.
“This Biluochun tea… it wouldn’t happen to be a gift from Chen Yuniang, would it?”
“Weiwei…”
Caught red-handed, Old Madam Li’s face became extremely awkward.
Yun Wei simply rose to her feet.
“Mother, since that’s the case, I won’t hide my thoughts any longer. I didn’t come here to seek your sympathy.
“Since Husband and Chen Yuniang truly love each other, I have no wish to separate a pair of lovers. I only hope Mother will persuade Husband to agree to a divorce.”
“What? A divorce?”
Old Madam Li looked as though she had received a tremendous shock.
She sprang to her feet with a loud thud.
“Yes. A divorce. I ask that Mother persuade Husband.”
Seeing that Yun Wei refused to yield despite all her persuasion, Old Madam Li’s chest rose and fell violently with anger.
Her son had only just earned distinguished military merits and restored the Li family’s standing.
If a divorce happened now, it would only give others something to gossip about.
As expected of someone raised in the countryside.
She truly had no sense of propriety or the greater good.
To think she actually believed she could threaten the Li family with divorce.
Old Madam Li let out a cold snort.
All the kindness and warmth she had displayed until now vanished in an instant.
With a dark expression, she declared,
“As the mistress of the household, you should know how to put the family first. Jealousy and petty squabbles are things only women from insignificant families concern themselves with.
“Whether you agree or not, Yuniang has already borne a son for the Li family. She will enter this household.
“Furthermore, the Li family has never had a precedent of divorce. If you insist on leaving, then there is only one path left for you—
to be repudiated.”
