RATMOFANF: Chapter 100

 Glossary

·Li Xian (李显): The eldest son of the Zhenguo Duke Manor, Xu Wanning's husband.

·Xu Wanning (徐婉宁): Li Xian's wife.

·Meiniang (媚娘): Li Xian's favored concubine.

·Li Ling (李陵): The Male Lead, Shen Jingxiu's husband.

·Zhenguo Duke Manor (镇国公府): The estate of the Duke of Zhenguo.

·Chenxi Ge (晨曦阁): Meiniang's residence within the manor.

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Chapter 100: Meiniang Refuses to Become an Outside Concubine

Some households are joyful, others are sorrowful. Since marrying his beloved wife, Li Ling grew more content by the day. However, Li Xian's rear courtyard was in constant turmoil, plaguing him with endless vexation.

The first lunar month was about to end. He had promised Xu Wanning that once the month was over, he would move Meiniang out of the Zhenguo Duke Manor. He had already purchased a new residence for Meiniang in the city, but he simply couldn't muster the resolve to broach the subject with his beloved concubine.

As long as Meiniang remained, Xu Wanning would not let him off the hook. The prolonged domestic unrest had left Li Xian physically and mentally exhausted.

The moon had set, and crows cawed. Burdened with a heavy heart, Li Xian once again made his way to Chenxi Ge.

Meiniang was doing needlework in the warm chamber. Seeing Li Xian push the door open, she set down her work and, not even bothering with her shoes, threw herself joyfully into his embrace, her voice as melodious as an oriole's chirp: "My lord, you haven't come for several days. I thought you had forgotten me."

Li Xian patted her back, giving an awkward smile. "How could I forget you? It's just that the New Year period has many social engagements. I've been tied up these past few days."

As he spoke, he noticed Meiniang's bare feet and immediately bent to pick her up, scolding, "The floor is so cold. Why don't you wear your shoes?"

Meiniang's eyes sparkled with delight. "Seeing you arrive, I was so overjoyed I forgot everything else."

Li Xian looked at the beauty in his arms. "You, you... you're always like a child, needing someone to worry about you at every turn."

Li Xian carried Meiniang to the bed and had just set her down when she softly called "My lord, my lord," her face half-flushed, reaching to untie his robes.

Li Xian pressed down on her hand, took a deep breath, and said, "I have something to discuss with you today."

He was determined to have it out with Meiniang this time. If he let her remove his robes in this muddled way again, he would end up like the previous times—unable to bring himself to utter the words asking her to move out.

Meiniang stopped her hands, gazing at Li Xian with seductive eyes, pouting, "My lord is being so solemn. What is it, exactly?"

Li Xian reached out to straighten the peach-red robe draped over Meiniang, then sat down in a nearby chair by himself. He remained silent for a long while before finally lowering his head and speaking with difficulty. "I've arranged a new residence for you outside the manor. In a few days... you should move there."

Hearing Li Xian's words, Meiniang was momentarily stunned. Then, her large eyes quickly brimmed with shimmering tears.

Li Xian looked up, hardened his heart, and persuaded, "The residence is on Shui'er Lane, off Chang'an Street. It's an excellent location, very spacious. All the furnishings are newly acquired at my command. You—"

Before Li Xian could finish his lengthy persuasion, Meiniang wiped her tears, twisted her body off the bed, and, barefoot, started walking out angrily.

Li Xian quickly stood up and blocked her, frowning as he asked, "What are you doing?"

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Meiniang sobbed, "Since my lord has grown tired of me, I'm not one to overstay my welcome. I don't need any residence you've prepared. I'll leave you right now."

Li Xian held her. "In this freezing cold, where could you possibly go?"

Meiniang struggled. "Since you have grown tired of me, I'd rather die, and die outside at that."

Li Xian picked up the wildly struggling woman, placed her back on the bed, and grasped her ice-cold feet, sighing as he explained. "How could I be tired of you? Don't let your imagination run wild."

Meiniang sobbed, "My lord promised to protect me for a lifetime. How can you turn against me so quickly?"

She clung to Li Xian, pressing her face against him, crying as if her heart would break. "I don't believe my lord is such a heartless person."

Li Xian held Meiniang, coaxing her, "Rest assured, I will not abandon you."

He looked at the weeping figure in his arms and sighed, explaining, "But you also know the current situation here in the western compound. Xu-shi and I have been at odds for over half a year. I am now nominated for the Grand Secretariat. Having the rear courtyard in such an uproar is bad for my reputation."

He stroked Meiniang's back, coaxing her, "She is unreasonable, but you are a sensible one. For my sake, move out and stay for a few days. I promise you, once I officially enter the Grand Secretariat and Xu-shi's anger has subsided, I will bring you back."

Meiniang shook her head, crying, "I won't go out. I can't bear to be apart from you."

Li Xian replied, "I will visit you whenever I have a free moment. Please be obedient."

Meiniang still wouldn't agree. One moment she threatened to hang herself, the next she made a fuss about bashing her head against the wall, and then she would cling to Li Xian again, crying as if her heart would break.

Li Xian felt his head swell to twice its size, thoroughly exhausted and sweating profusely from her antics. Seeing his beloved concubine in such a pitiful state, he couldn't help but soften his heart again.

Just as the two were locked in their heated dispute, a servant announced from outside to Li Xian, "First Master, the Young Master is departing tomorrow. He is waiting for you in his study now, saying he has matters to discuss with you."

His younger brother would be gone for about a month. This was a critical period for his own official career, and Li Xian indeed had many matters waiting to discuss with his brother.

Women were important, but official business was even more critical.

He looked at Meiniang. "I have business to attend to. I must go out for a while. Don't make any more fuss. We'll discuss this matter later."

Meiniang was not without perception. Her fuss was primarily for Li Xian's benefit. Seeing that Li Xian had urgent business, she dared not continue acting up recklessly.

She knew well that Li Xian was a man who valued his career, and she feared truly annoying him.

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Meiniang gradually stopped crying and making a scene, merely lying listlessly on the bed, using a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Seeing she had finally stopped threatening suicide, Li Xian used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead before turning to leave. Before going out, he still worriedly instructed Meiniang's maid, Little Hong: "You must take good care of the concubine, understand?"

Little Hong hurriedly replied, "Please rest assured, First Master."

Only then did Li Xian leave.

After Li Xian departed, Meiniang stopped talking about hanging herself, stopped threatening to bash her head, and ceased her crying and fussing. She leaned dazedly against the headboard, beginning to calculate her next move.

Her maid, Little Hong, approached with a bowl of hot tea. After all that crying and fussing, Meiniang's mouth was parched. She took the tea, tilted her head back, and drained it in one gulp.

Little Hong knew this young concubine was a woman with her own schemes. Taking the empty bowl from Meiniang, she asked with concern, "Concubine, since the First Master wants to move you out of the manor, what are your plans from now on?"

Although Meiniang was of lowborn status and not a proper mistress, there was a world of difference between being kept within the manor and being kept outside.

Within the Zhenguo Duke Manor, her status was Li Xian's concubine. Any children she bore in the future, though born of a concubine, would be entered into the family genealogy and would be rightful masters of this household. If moved outside, she would become an outside concubine. Not only would she herself be without name or status, but any children she bore would also go unrecognized—what people in crude terms called "bastards."

She had enjoyed Li Xian's deep favor ever since entering the Zhenguo Duke Manor. How could she possibly be content with such a fate?

Meiniang used her handkerchief to dab the corner of her mouth. "Don't I know the First Master's nature? It's not that he wants me to leave the manor."

She snorted coldly. "The one who sees me as a thorn in her eye is that Xu-shi."

Meiniang's eyes narrowed slightly. "Since she won't let me live in peace, don't blame me for being ruthless. Since I could make her lose the First Master's heart, I certainly have the ability to make her become the divorced wife."

"Xu-shi, just you wait!"

(End of Chapter)

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