Chapter 38: Divorcing the Husband

For the next few days, Liu Changning did not see her convenient husband again.

He seemed to have vanished into thin air. For a full three days, he did not return to the old house in the west of Xiqiao Village, and the divorce speech she had prepared could not be used.

On the third day after returning from the back mountain, Liu Changning went to town and sold the ginseng she had dug to Jishi Hall, earning a full five hundred taels of silver.

She exchanged the silver on her body for banknotes and a few pieces of loose silver.

When she walked out of the money house, it was raining. Because she was carrying banknotes at the moment, it was not convenient to travel in the rain.

She patted off the rain on her body and quickly stepped into the neighboring teahouse to drink tea while waiting for the rain to stop.

Inside the Mingyang Residence, there were more people than usual at this time.

With the northern war at a lull, carriages heading to Langhuanjun were coming one after another. Now, with the weather not cooperating and the roads slippery in the rain, many merchants temporarily stopped here to rest and take shelter from the rain.

Inside the building, the waitresses were busy running back and forth.

The number of people drinking tea and resting was countless.

The entire building echoed with the waitresses’ calls of “Coming!”

Liu Changning found an empty table by the window in the main hall.

As soon as she sat down, just as she had barely poured herself a cup of tea, two female guests came to share the table.

The waitress stood by with a smile: “Honored guest, would you mind if these two ladies share your table for now? At the moment, there are no empty seats in the building, only the space at your table is available. Could you please be so kind?”

Liu Changning put down her teacup and observed the newcomers without showing any expression.

The two people not far away were an old and a young woman, dressed in luxurious clothes. The young woman was supporting the elder, standing not far in front.

The elder was in her sixties, with a slightly hunched back.

She met Liu Changning’s gaze, and a flash of sharp light passed through her spirited eyes.

Liu Changning nodded to the elder, neither humbly nor arrogantly, and said in a slow voice, “Please, go ahead!”

After speaking, she did not continue to observe but turned her gaze to the rain outside.

The rain was getting heavier, the downpour surrounding the entire teahouse in a hazy curtain.

There were many people in the teahouse, and the air was humid.

Liu Changning sipped her tea leisurely, her tea-colored eyes calm as still water.

The two who shared the table were clearly well-mannered. After the young woman helped the elder sit at the head of the table, she stood properly by her side.

At the neighboring table sat several merchants.

Being traveling merchants, they lacked the etiquette of scholars, drinking tea from large white porcelain bowls, talking excitedly.

“You don’t know, but something big has happened in Jinling City recently! The Emperor’s Husband fell seriously ill some days ago. It’s said he’s now barely hanging on with medicine, and his life might not last much longer.”

“The Emperor’s Husband? He came of age just last year, still young. We’ve never heard of him being unwell before. How could he suddenly fall so ill?”

The woman drinking tea in big gulps put her porcelain bowl heavily on the square table and raised an eyebrow, saying, “Ah, Qi Jun, you’ve been in the north for years, so you don’t know. A few days ago, a scandal broke out in Jinling City…”

The originally noisy teahouse suddenly fell silent, with almost all the tea guests pricking up their ears.

The merchant curled her lips and chuckled, “On the day of the Peony Festival in the palace, the Emperor’s Husband had a secret rendezvous with the eldest daughter of the Minister of Justice at Huaqing Pool. Who could have guessed, with one misstep, he fell into the water. It’s rumored that the serious illness is fake, but the heartache is real…”

“Silence!” The one who scolded was the young woman standing behind the elder. She was now gripping the hilt of her sword at her waist, glaring angrily.

“Qin Qing…” For the first time since entering the teahouse, the elder opened her mouth to reprimand, but it was directed at the young woman beside her: “Watch your words!”

After speaking, she pointed at the lower stool, her aged eyes flashing with a trace of sternness: “Sit down!”

The young woman stomped her foot but lowered her head when she met the elder’s piercing gaze. She opened her mouth, then dejectedly sat down on the wooden stool.

The merchant, suddenly interrupted by this young woman, was about to lose her temper.

Her companion, perhaps knowing that discussing the Emperor’s Husband in public was inappropriate, pulled at the merchant’s sleeve and whispered a few words in her ear, causing the person to fall silent.

The elder gazed at the young woman who was sulking alone, her hoarse voice carrying a metallic taste: “How has your mother taught you all these years? One moment of patience can prevent a hundred days of sorrow, one moment of calm can overcome a hundred moments of chaos. Your words just now were rash. Where is the ladylike demeanor I’ve taught you?”

The young woman frowned and retorted in a low voice: “But that woman was talking nonsense, spreading rumors and vilifying brother… the Emperor’s Husband, making him sound so despicable…”

The elder heavily placed her teacup on the table, scolding with a cold face: “You never learn. Once this matter is settled, you will go to White Deer Academy for three years and let Minzhi teach you proper manners. Your mother loves you dearly, but I didn’t expect to only teach you how to read books while letting you develop such an impetuous temperament.”

The elder’s face showed disappointment. The young woman belatedly realized her previous behavior was inappropriate. She lowered her head, refilled the elder’s tea, and dared not argue further.

After this small interlude, the entire teahouse became somewhat quiet.

Outside, the rain continued unabated.

It had been raining for nearly half an hour with no sign of stopping.

With nothing else to do while sitting, the elder ordered her servant to bring a white jade Go board.

The young woman took the black stones, while the elder took the white ones.

The two began to play, but unfortunately, the young woman’s Go skills were too poor. The elder’s white stones landed on the board with a “pitter-patter,” and in less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, she had utterly defeated her opponent.

The game ended quickly.

The young woman’s face was full of frustration. She complained woefully: “Mother, your Go skills are already superior, yet you won’t even give your daughter a single concession. How could I ever win against you?”