Chapter 66

  Xian Yi didn't say that she really wouldn't see Meng Hui Lan, although Jin Fenghua's overbearing manner made her think that she could do whatever she wanted. However, Meng Hui Lan was a relative of the Jin family in Lin Qing, and even though she had no legal relationship with Jin Fenghua, they were still blood relatives. Now in Heng City, Xian Yi didn't have many good friends, and before the first and third branches fully recognized Jin Fenghua's value, it was unlikely that the madams of the two branches would bring her to attend high-society banquets. So Meng Hui Lan's arrival became a kind of test; if she really didn't want to see her, there were people who would slander Jin Fenghua for not cherishing old relationships. Moreover, given Xian Yi's background, if this matter was used as gossip, it would add more trouble for her in the future. It was better to just meet and be polite, letting some boring people shut their mouths.

  Meng Hualan's eyes widened as she ascended the mountain, and before she could fully process the breathtaking views below, she was struck by the sprawling gardens and forests above. This was probably the most magnificent estate she had ever laid eyes on, surpassing even the grandeur of the Jin family's compound in the capital city. She adjusted her exquisite silk dress and gold-encrusted nine-jeweled hairpin, trying to maintain an air of haughtiness as she entered the gardens. However, upon catching sight of Xianyi, all her composure dissipated, replaced by a wave of intense jealousy that coursed through her entire being, leaving her with a deep sense of regret and anguish that gripped her heart tightly.

  Xian Yi didn't dress up much either. For a woman like Meng Hualan, she didn't need to dress up too elaborately. She just changed into a moon-white silk long skirt with large peonies embroidered at the hem. The skirt was not too plain or too luxurious, but it was said that the fabric was imported from abroad by Jin Fenghua, and it looked light and breathable. He personally made clothes for her, and even made a set of hair accessories to match the skirt. Today, Xian Yi didn't wear the full set of hair accessories, only wearing two pairs of small peony gold pins, and a pair of earrings in the same style. She didn't wear any other hairpins, combs, or headpieces. In this hot summer weather, if everyone dressed up like Meng Hualan with a full head of flowers, they would not only be weighed down but also feel sweltering. However, Xian Yi's four small hairpins still caught Meng Hualan's eye, because Xian Yi's hair accessories were one-of-a-kind in the market. Moreover, from any angle, the decorations on Xian Yi's head were all made of pure gold, not just gold-plated.

  "Liu Er Nai Nai is a rare guest." Meng Hui Lan married Liu Jia Di, the second son of a pharmaceutical merchant, and was ranked as the second child.

  Meng Hualan suppressed the urge to rush up and pull out the golden hairpin on Xian Yi's head, why, why was she so lucky? Gold Wind Flower was also a distant relative who had been sold out, but what about Yao Xian Yi, this woman? She was just a servant girl brought from the Chen family, serving tea and water before marrying into the Jin family. Now she lived in such a good house, wore such good clothes, and wore such good jewelry, her status had also become the widow of the late general's grandson and the wife of the new champion scholar. It was unbearable to think that she might even go further in the future, getting an imperial edict or something. All these... all these things that were originally supposed to be hers.

  "It's also my husband coming to Heng City to take a look at the new store location, so I just came along with him." Meng Huilan smiled stiffly, her heart thinking one way but having to consider Xian Yi's current identity and the warning her husband gave her before she left.

  "So Liu's family is going to open a herbal medicine store in Heng City, congratulations indeed." Xian Yi said with courtesy.

  "Why say such distant words? No matter what, we are still relatives." Meng Hualan pointed out stubbornly.

  Xian Yi bowed her head and took a sip of tea, replying in a bland tone: "Liu Er Nai Nai, it's better to be cautious with your words. Family matters are best kept in one's heart. After all, this is the Xiang Cheng Jin family, even if our second house can't claim the title of General's Manor, the first and third houses have official ranks. Once it's recorded in the family tree, it's a matter of fact. We don't encourage going back on one's word, nor do we dare to."

  Meng Hualan swallowed her words, not daring to say anything too unpleasant. She also knew that this garden wasn't just filled with people like Jin Fenghua. If her words were leaked out, she didn't care about Jin Fenghua's reaction, but if it affected her husband's business, she would be in trouble when she got home.

  "Oh dear, it's just a casual conversation, but Old Lady Jin is being too cautious."

  Xian Yi also knew that one shouldn't speak in absolutes, and people ultimately have no eternal enemies. So she smiled and said: "Not to mention anything else, we're old acquaintances now. If Young Master Liu has any business, my husband has already spoken about it - just go find him, he won't stand idly by."

  Meng Hualan felt a sense of relief after receiving the message. Although opening a shop in Heng City wouldn't bother the Gold family, everyone knew that having connections with officials made doing business easier. Even though Jin Fenghua had changed his surname and joined the Gold family, he still treated his original relatives kindly. The Liu family now had some backing in Heng City, which would have a deterrent effect even if they didn't use it in the future. This was harmless to Jin Fenghua but beneficial to the Liu family. However, since Meng Hualan came to visit instead of the second young master of the Liu family seeking out Jin Fenghua personally, it showed that the second young master had some brains and was testing the waters. If Jin Fenghua avoided meeting him, it would reveal his attitude, and the Liu family wouldn't force themselves on him. A woman visiting a relative might be laughed at, but it wouldn't bring shame to the Liu family. But if the second young master of the Liu family went to find Jin Fenghua and was rejected, that would be utterly humiliating, leaving little room for future reconciliation. Maybe even opening a shop in the future would cause some trouble. Jin Fenghua knew this and liked dealing with clever people, so he decided to meet the second young master of the Liu family.

  The two of them had nothing to talk about after discussing that matter. Meng Hualan looked down on Xian Yi, and Xian Yi felt that this young lady had a strange temper, with a hint of acidity from the moment she entered. However, Meng Hualan lingered on, even finding fault in nothing, which made Xian Yi very curious. At first, she thought Meng Hualan wanted to see Jin Fenghua, after all, in the capital city, Meng Hualan was interested in both of the two young masters, but didn't give up her infatuation with Jin Fenghua. But just as she casually informed Meng Hualan that visiting friends would take until evening, Meng Hualan still sat there sipping tea, showing no intention of leaving.

  After another awkward silence, Meng Hui-lan finally couldn't bear it anymore and said softly: "I have something to tell you in private."

  Xian Yi was stunned, and then sent the people down outside and said: "Speak, what's the matter?"

  Meng Hui Lan no longer concealed her disgust towards Xian Yi, raising her chin high and saying with disdain: "Do you think I'd be willing to talk to you? If it weren't for my husband telling me to come tell you, I wouldn't have bothered. It's about time you had some bad luck, so you can stop being so foolish and lucky."

  Xian Yi didn't show any surprise at Meng Hui Lan's change in expression, she just straightened her back and listened attentively, believing that Liu Er Ye wouldn't possibly pass on any uninteresting messages.

  Meng Hui-lan didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Do you know that your family's first wife has been looking for a girl born out of wedlock among her relatives recently?"

  The old lady of the main house liked to invite girls from relatives' families to play at home, Xianyi had already heard about it. The girls who came to stay would often marry well in the future and bring benefits to the family, such as the two daughters of the main house. Therefore, the girls favored by the old lady generally rose significantly in status within the household. However, the old lady rarely favored children born out of wedlock, but unexpectedly, this time was an exception.

  Xianyi was unmoved, and Meng Hualan continued: "Originally, the second wife of your three families also found a girl from her own family, but for some reason, she sent that girl back. Recently, she arranged a good marriage for that girl to marry out. My husband has many connections in business circles and hears a lot of news, although it's not entirely reliable, but it's probably true that he wants to find a concubine for your husband."

  "What?" Xian Yi said with a puzzled expression: "In the state of Pei, there is a law that stipulates that only when there is only one son among the paternal uncles and no descendants on the other side will the sole heir be allowed to marry two wives, one inheriting one household and the other leading another household. Our second house has only my husband, while the other two houses have sons and grandsons. Why would my husband take a concubine?"

  "Mind your own business." Meng Hualan sneered, "Haven't you heard that some families arrange marriages from a young age? After the couple gets married, if the husband becomes successful but the wife remains unrefined and he can't divorce her, he'll eventually take in a concubine to manage the household. This concubine is considered a secondary wife under the law, but in the family genealogy, she's actually the second wife. Get it?"

  "But in recent years, the Tian family has gradually prohibited such marriages because some have seriously affected the status of the legitimate wife." Xian Yi had read many historical books and laws before marrying, so no matter what, even if she got divorced, she couldn't be fooled by people.

  "Yes! Royalty is not allowed, but it also depends on who it is. You're just a poor, unsupported concubine-born girl, while the other side has connections to Duke An's family. Whose maternal family has power? If you want to accuse someone, you'll have to be able to walk out of this door! Who knows, soon enough you won't even be able to keep your position as a proper wife and will have to make way for others." Meng Hualan sneered, waving her handkerchief.

  This statement is not an exaggeration, even if the law is strict and respects the first wife, there are still many ways to get rid of her. Otherwise, how could Jin Fenghua's father have divorced his previous wife and remarried? It's just a matter of finding a loophole. In this era, there is no human rights, without the support of the maternal family, the first wife has nowhere to go even if she is in the right. This concubine, Fu Tong, is not an ordinary concubine, if handled properly, it is possible to replace her with another woman. Moreover, as long as she is gone, who becomes the wife is up to these elders to decide.

  "I understand." Xian Yi stood up and bowed to Meng Hui Lan with a serious expression: "Thank you."

  Meng Hualan immediately stood up and avoided saying: "Don't try this trick on me, I'm also entrusted by my husband, otherwise if you're being calculated by others, I'd be too lazy to care, and might even applaud and praise. Your good luck will eventually come to an end."

  Xian Yi only smiled without refuting, and no matter what, at this time someone came to remind her of something, which was also worth her gratitude. It had to be said that Meng Hui Lan was indeed the granddaughter of Lady Gou, even if she liked to take advantage of small benefits and wanted to climb up to wealth and nobility, but deep down she wasn't bad at all, and besides, she was married to a clever husband. Moreover, during the time Meng Hui Lan had been here, Xian Yi had also seen her greed and jealousy, but towards Jin Fenghua, even though Meng Hui Lan had once coveted him, she resented Jin Fenghua's sudden increase in value, yet didn't harbor any intentions of seduction, instead maintaining a defensive stance for her husband's household and clearly expressing her dislike for Jin Fenghua. In this way, this woman wasn't as detestable as Xian Yi had originally felt.

  "Although I don't like you, I dislike even more the idea of Jin Fenghua marrying some high-born woman, no matter if she's a concubine or not. You're all just matching pots and lids." Meng Hui Lan said with a sudden twist before leaving, her husband had once said that if Jin Fenghua were to change wives, this marriage would be even more hopeless in the future.