Chapter 66: Divorce or Bereavement

"Divorce by mutual agreement?"
Qi Jinshan furrowed his brow slightly, released the person in his arms, and considered the matter seriously.
"That is quite difficult."
How could Xie Mingyue not know it was difficult?
Her mother had been married for so many years, her maternal family had long since passed away, and since her mother remained perpetually unconscious, there was no one who could bring up the matter of a formal separation.
"Let Gou Zihan examine and treat Mother first. In any case, Mother's health comes first."
The two fell silent for a moment. Unable to bear Xie Mingyue's sadness, Qi Jinshan spoke in a gentle, comforting tone.
"Once Mother regains consciousness, the matter of the separation can be put on the agenda."
"Alright."
The gloom in Xie Mingyue's heart dispersed. She picked up a long, beaded back-pendant again. Seeing this, Qi Jinshan asked, "Is this prepared for the Spring Flower Banquet? Why didn't you have the servants make it?"
The back-pendant was a long string inlaid with various gems, the largest of which was a lustrous night-shining pearl gleaming softly in the dark.
Xie Mingyue's fingertips had been rubbed red, but she shook her head. "I enjoy making this. It doesn't strain my eyes, and it's a wonderful way to pass the time."
She loved beautiful things. Holding up the long string for Qi Jinshan to see, she asked, "How does it look?"
"This malachite should be replaced with pomegranate red."
Thinking Qi Jinshan would offer blind praise, she was surprised when he scrutinized it and actually gave a genuine opinion.
When Xie Mingyue followed his suggestion and made the switch, the effect was indeed much more pleasing.
"Oh?" she said in wonder. "You even understand women's attire?"
Seeing that Qi Jinshan usually wore dark robes outside of his court attire, swapping them back and forth in private, she had assumed he paid no attention to such matters.
Qi Jinshan lapsed into a momentary trance, then curved his lips into a faint smile. "My wife, who do you think moved those clothes into your wardrobe?"
"You?"
A flash of an entire wardrobe filled with dark-colored garments crossed Xie Mingyue's mind. Though the colors were subdued, the embroidery and tailoring were of the absolute finest quality.
Wutong had told her that she herself had refused brightly colored clothes and had rejected the ones sent from Qi Jinshan's courtyard. Therefore, after her preferences had changed, Qi Jinshan had specially taken charge of stocking an entire wardrobe of dark clothes for her, yet disguised it as her own choice.
She pressed her lips tightly together.
To think that he managed an entire department and office, surely burdened with heavy official duties, yet he even took the time to mind such details...
It truly was... remarkably like a wet nurse, personally overseeing every single stitch she wore.

"You don't find it exhausting."
Having figured out the crux of the matter, she softened her expression and looked at him tenderly.
Qi Jinshan cupped her palm, lowering his gaze with a soft laugh. "My wife is exceptionally picky. If I hadn't supervised, I'm afraid you'd be standing in your room bare-bodied waiting for me right now..."
Xie Mingyue's expression shifted, and she sprang off his lap instantly. "Y-you! Why must you be so vulgar no matter what you say!"
It wasn't that she hadn't felt it—just the moment he was speaking earlier, something hard had been pressing against her underneath...
"I spoke nothing but the truth."
Qi Jinshan took her back-pendant into his hand, pressing it against the brilliant pearl, rubbing and kneading it with his fingertips.
"If my wife refuses to listen to such words, it simply means I haven't said enough. From now on, I shall definitely speak to you of such things much more often, until you gradually grow accustomed to it."
She certainly would not!
Xie Mingyue glared at him. "Are you like this in the imperial court as well?"
Watching Qi Jinshan toy with her back-pendant, her cheeks inexplicably flushed, making her feel as though it were her own self being held and kneaded in his palm.
Qi Jinshan set the back-pendant aside, stood up, pulled her into his arms, and pressed her down.
"Naturally, I am only like this toward my wife..."
That night, Xie Mingyue naturally spent it sleeping in the Qihai Courtyard.
Perhaps mindful of Gou Zihan's instructions, Qi Jinshan no longer pushed her to the absolute brink, yet he teased and fondled her with slow, exquisite torture until she cried out in entreaty several times, before finally showing mercy and granting her release.
Through a blur of tears, Xie Mingyue gazed at his handsome face, finding his smile increasingly detestable—resembling a fox that had successfully caught a chicken, its entire face brimming with smug triumph.
After a night of unbridled indulgence, she once again slept until mid-morning the next day.
Meanwhile, in the Fuliu Courtyard, Madam Yun had cast aside her mild demeanor and sat gloomily in her room.
Tian Fang had changed into a silk gown, wearing a gold hairpin with filigree pearl-and-jade tassels in her hair. Sitting beside Madam Yun, she began to rail aloud.
"Aunt Yun, you simply spoil this daughter-in-law of yours too much. When I was in my husband's household, was there ever a day I didn't rise before dawn to pay my respects and wait upon them? How is it that this Xie Mingyue doesn't come to pay her respects even on a single day? She doesn't hold you in the slightest regard!"
Listening to this, Madam Yun felt a fire burning in her heart.
Yesterday, after reminiscing in detail with Tian Fang and hearing about how dutifully she served in her husband's family, and then thinking of Xie Mingyue, Madam Yun felt that her role as a mother-in-law was utterly meaningless.
When other people raised their sons to adulthood, they would marry a wife to return and collectively honor their elders. In her case, even her son had been bewitched by that woman, let alone any filial piety.
She completely failed to reflect upon the heartless deeds she herself had committed. Hearing Tian Fang's words, she only found Xie Mingyue intensely irritating.
"You don't understand, this isn't the first time. It's just that my unfilial son indulges her and turns around to find fault with me instead. Am I supposed to make a huge fuss and quarrel over this? Let's not speak of it anymore; I shall simply pretend I have no such daughter-in-law."

Madam Yun was choked with stifled rage, her complexion looking rather unsightly.
Ever since Xie Mingyue had crossed the threshold, she had tried to establish her dominance right away, only for Qi Jinshan to retaliate by refusing to acknowledge her as his mother for half a year.
Now that her son had witnessed her several attempts to torment Xie Mingyue, she dared not make a rash move again.
Tian Fang, however, felt differently.
She had never heard of any daughter-in-law daring to disrespect her mother-in-law, especially in a noble household of high standing where rules outweighed the heavens. Moreover, Xie Mingyue had no prominent maternal family background; most likely, Madam Yun was simply too soft-hearted.
Besides... she herself had been ruthlessly tormented by her mother-in-law in her husband's home, so why should Xie Mingyue be allowed to sleep lazily until mid-morning? They were both women, so why should the other have it so easy?
Thinking thus, Tian Fang's eyes burned with jealousy. Without leaving a trace, she prompted, "This is merely the Old Madam's fondness for the younger generation. If the younger generation pushes their luck and acts presumptuously, then they truly do not know what is good for them. Furthermore, our dynasty governs the realm through filial piety. If a bad reputation of hers spreads out, how can she still show her face in society? I simply refuse to believe she isn't afraid."
Madam Yun had initially wanted to drop the matter, but upon hearing this, the embers kindled in her heart once more.
Indeed, she was now the equal-rank wife of the Marquis's Estate; why should she always be suppressed by Xie Mingyue?
She would never lower her head to Xie Mingyue again, but...
Thinking of the matter of Xie Wanqing, which had been quietly hushed up within the household, Madam Yun narrowed her eyes.
Over these past few days, Madam Luo had been secretly drawing up rosters and screening suitable young ladies in the capital, waiting only for the conclusion of the Spring Flower Banquet and Xie Wanqing's funeral before beginning to find a new wife for Qi Xiuyu.
If her own daughter-in-law were also to be replaced...
Once this thought took root, it could no longer be suppressed.
Seeing that Madam Yun had taken her words to heart, Tian Fang felt rather smug for a moment.
That afternoon, taking advantage of Madam Yun's nap, she went strolling through the Shunqing Marquis's Estate.
Wherever her eyes fell, there were carved balustrades, painted pillars, and luxuriant rare flowers. A single plant or blade of grass cost more than what an ordinary household outside spent in an entire year.
The more Tian Fang looked, the more envious she became, resenting the fact that back then, when Qi Jinshan and Madam Yun were living next door, the person who had managed to win him over hadn't been herself.
Still, it was not too late now.
Catching her reflection in the pond, adorned in gold and pearls, she indulged in a blissful, daydreaming reverie.
Madam Yun liked her, and Qi Jinshan had no concubines. If she could latch onto such a prominent figure through this, it didn't seem like a bad outcome at all.