Xia Xing’er looked at him with eyes full of coldness. He could criticize her, but he could not criticize her Changxin Marquisate.
“The upbringing of my Changxin Marquisate is not for you to question. At the very least, our marquisate does not have the notion of concubines and wives being treated as equals.”
Helian Zhi felt somewhat uncomfortable under her gaze, but he still spoke coldly, “Xia Xing’er, I have already done everything I can for you. This imperial marriage was granted based on my military achievements. It is not something you can stop just because you want to. If His Majesty were to withhold the marriage decree because of your interference, it would demoralize the soldiers. I will let today’s matter slide.”
“As long as you behave properly in the inner residence and do not cause trouble, I will grant you the dignity befitting a wife. After Qingyu and I are married and have children, I will adopt one out to you. Or, if you want a child of your own, I will consider it as appropriate. Do not hope for anything else.”
Xia Xing’er was utterly stunned by his words.
He actually expected her to raise their children for them? What kind of wishful thinking was this? This was beyond absurd—it was absurdity taken to the extreme. She had seen shameless people before, but never anyone as shameless as this.
And he even put on such a condescending act, as if he were bestowing a favor. Who did he think he was fooling? He really had some nerve.
Xia Xing’er stood up, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on him, and asked word by word, “Helian Zhi, in your eyes, am I, Xia Xing’er, only able to survive by relying on the offspring of your Helian family? Do I not have my own aspirations, my own life to live? Am I destined to be your foil, to waste my life away in this inner courtyard? What kind of person do you take me for?”
“Let’s get a Divorce Decree. There is no need to say anything else. Let us part on good terms.”
Helian Zhi had not expected her to say this. He was first startled, but then he understood—she was trying to retreat in order to advance.
“Are you trying to threaten me with a Divorce Decree? Do you think I would yield to your threats?” His face was full of disdain.
“If you want to make a scene, go ahead. Let’s see who will be more affected when this blows up.”
He knew how much women in the capital valued their reputations, especially those from noble families like theirs.
“Xia Xing’er, I will not agree to a Divorce Decree with you. This is for your own good.”
Xia Xing’er said coldly, “You don’t have to pretend. The reason you refuse to grant me a Divorce Decree is because you fear others will say you are heartless and fickle. You keep claiming it is for my own good, but your hypocrisy is truly nauseating.”
Helian Zhi sneered and shook his head. “I genuinely have your best interests at heart, yet you misunderstand me to this extent. After a Divorce Decree, you would be a discarded wife. Even if the Changxin Marquisate is willing to take you back, your life there may not be as comfortable as it is in the General’s Manor. Why make things difficult for yourself just to spite me?”
Xia Xing’er shook her head, finding it laughable. “You may leave. There is no point in continuing this conversation. I do not wish to speak harshly to you.”
Her upbringing prevented her from uttering ugly words, and she did not want to entangle herself further with him.
“Chunliu, see our guest out.”
No one saw the icy coldness that flickered in her lowered eyes.
Chunliu had long been unable to bear listening any further. Hearing her mistress’s order, she immediately stepped forward and said coldly, “General, please.”
Seeing that Xia Xing’er had already issued the order to see him out, Helian Zhi snorted coldly, turned around, and left.
Chunliu spat in disdain, went over to shut the door firmly, and then returned to Xia Xing’er’s side.
“Miss, that man is truly disgusting. How come we never noticed before? It’s fortunate you’re getting a divorce.”
Xia Xing’er found her amusing. She wondered when the Empress Dowager’s Divorce Decree would arrive today.
After leaving Zhai Xing Yuan, Helian Zhi went to Old Madam’s courtyard.
Although the imperial decree for the marriage had not yet been issued, Old Madam was already busily preparing the betrothal gifts for Ye Qingyu.
Looking at the betrothal gift list Helian Zhi brought over, she couldn’t help but frown.
The General’s Manor had long been spending more than it earned. For the past three years, they had relied entirely on Xia Xing’er’s dowry. Now, having to come up with ten thousand taels of silver, she truly couldn’t manage it. Once again, she turned her attention to Xia Xing’er and sent Granny Hua beside her to summon her to Zhai Xing Yuan.
“Miss, why is Old Madam calling you over again? Didn’t we make it clear today that you won’t be managing household affairs anymore?” Chunliu didn’t understand their intentions, but Xia Xing’er certainly did. As she was still Helian family’s daughter-in-law, she had to comply when Old Madam summoned her. She wanted to see just how shameless they could be.
“Let’s go. We’ll find out what it’s about when we get there.”
Seeing Xia Xing’er arrive, Old Madam smiled and beckoned her to sit beside her, as if the unpleasantness from the morning had never happened.
“Xing’er, you’re here. Come quickly and sit by Mother.”
Xia Xing’er had no intention of continuing this charade with them. She spoke directly, “May I ask why Old Madam has summoned me?”
Old Madam wasn’t displeased by her attitude. She took out a list and handed it to her, still smiling as she said, “Xing’er, take a look at this betrothal gift list for Qingyu.”
Xia Xing’er looked at Old Madam with a mocking expression and did not reach out to take it. “Old Madam, I recall saying this morning that I would no longer involve myself in household matters. Could it be that Old Madam’s memory is failing with age?”
Only then did Old Madam notice that Xia Xing’er was addressing her as “Old Madam” instead of “Mother.”
Though uncomfortable, she didn’t want to make an issue of such a small matter.
“Xing’er, you are Zhi’er’s principal wife. Arranging for him to take a concubine should naturally be your responsibility. Now, since it’s an imperial marriage, we cannot slight her. It’s not that the General’s Manor can’t afford these expenses, but having you contribute is simply to demonstrate the capability of the principal wife. It will help you establish authority when she enters the household.”
Amused, she took the list and read: “Ten thousand taels of silver, two pairs of jade bracelets, one pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets, one set of red gold hair ornaments, two pairs of gold bracelets, fifty bolts of silk and satin…”
It was exactly the same as in her previous life. Thinking back now, it was truly laughable. Back then, out of consideration for the General’s Manor’s difficulties, she had accepted a betrothal gift of only five thousand taels, while her own dowry included over a hundred thousand taels of silver, along with numerous estates and shops. And now, for an equal wife…
She turned to Helian Zhi beside her. “Does the General also believe I should provide these?”
If he had any shred of decency, he wouldn’t expect her to use her dowry to fund his taking of a concubine!
Before Helian Zhi could speak, Old Madam interjected anxiously, “Xing’er, you and Zhi’er are one as husband and wife. His affairs are your affairs, and yours are his. Why distinguish between yours and mine?”
Helian Rong chimed in from the side, “Sister-in-law, you’ve always been virtuous and considerate. Surely you’ll provide these.”
She really wanted to slap her—they were all talking without feeling any pain themselves.