Insufficient balance

  Although Ma Lian'er returned, the atmosphere was somewhat suppressed after this commotion. Minister Min and Ma Yi also lost interest in chatting idly and instead discussed official matters. Huang Xian only smiled and listened, rarely chiming in on official business.

  As a subordinate and younger generation, Yang Ling naturally had to take on the task of persuading others to drink, making toasts, and harmonizing the atmosphere. He himself also couldn't help but have a few more cups, until late at night when they finally bid each other farewell and left.

  It started snowing again in the sky, and the cold wind blew the snowflakes straight into his neck. Yang Ling was drunk with a flushed face, he put his hands in his sleeves, humming a modern song whose name he had forgotten, and swaggered into the alley where he lived.

  He arrived at the door and was about to knock when he found that a gentle push opened it. He saw only one lamp, like a bean, and Han Youniang sitting in front of a low table with her hands supporting her chin, looking as if she were dozing off. As soon as she heard the sound of the door, she lifted her head and saw him enter, and immediately welcomed him with great joy.

  Yang Ling said in surprise: "Niang, it's so late I thought you... had already gone to sleep".

  She looked around and saw that there were still some faint embers under the stove, and a pot lid was still emitting a faint mist of heat. Han Younang came forward to brush off the snowflakes on his body and said softly: "Sir, are you too busy with official duties? I wanted to go to the yamen entrance to ask about it, but I'm afraid people will laugh at me, so I can only wait for your return like this."

  Yang Ling felt a bit ashamed after hearing this, and hummed: "Ah... Mr. Min had an engagement and asked me to go with him, but I was in a hurry and didn't have time to tell you. You silly girl, why did you wait for so long? Just take care of yourself and rest. Have you eaten yet?"

  Han Youniang smelled the wine on his breath and knew he had gone drinking. After hearing his words, she felt relieved. She helped Yang Ling to sit down by the kang, squatted down to remove his shoes, tapped off the snow, took them to dry by the stove, then went to pour a bowl of warm water and brought it back saying: "Master, this water is warm, drink some to moisten your throat. I'll wait for you to fall asleep before I go eat."

  Yang Ling heard her words, thought of the play he saw tonight, and couldn't help but grab her hand, saying: "Young lady, you are my wife, not my servant, you shouldn't serve me like this. Alas! You're so young and lovely, you should be pampered, loved and protected by people."

  Han Youniang's face turned red, and she struggled slightly in his grasp, but couldn't free herself. She looked up at him with shining eyes and said, "Husband is very...very..." The word 'love' was too embarrassing for her to say out loud, so she continued, "Husband is very good to me, besides, as a woman, I should do my best to serve my husband well. What does it have to do with being a slave? Husband loves Youniang, and Youniang understands in her heart, but husband shouldn't spoil me like this, or you'll ruin me."

  Yang Ling couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. This was the way things were now, and if he tried to force-feed her some 21st-century ideas, he might just scare her off. The traditional teachings that men used to poison women with had been passed down for thousands of years, and not only did women willingly submit to these ideas, but they also thought it was natural and even went so far as to promote them.

  What "Nü Jie" and "Nü Xun" are mostly written by women, used as a model for all the women in the world. Young girls who work outside and earn their own living are already very rare, most modern women only stay at home to take care of their husbands and children, they don't need to serve their husbands, do they need to pursue their own careers? Thinking this way, it seems that enjoying her gentleness and service is also a comfortable thing.

  Yang Ling, with a drowsy expression, yawned and stretched. Han Youniang quickly helped him remove his outer garment and said: "Master, why don't you take off your clothes and rest for a while?" Yang Ling sleepily murmured in agreement, letting her help him undress, then pulled over a pillow, turned over, and lay down to sleep, mumbling: "I really can't hold on any longer, hurry up and eat something, and go to bed too."

  Han Youniang responded with a sound, picked up the hem of her robe and patted it, intending to fold it up neatly. Suddenly, there was a "clink" sound, and an object fell out from under her robe. Han Youniang curiously picked it up and took a look. Under the light of the oil lamp, she saw that it was a beautifully crafted women's purse, not only made with fine materials and exquisite workmanship, but also emitting a subtle fragrance. Her small face suddenly turned pale.

  Her hands were shaking violently, she wanted to open it and take a look, but at the same time, she seemed to be unsure, not opening it, so that she could deceive herself into thinking that this thing had never happened. After hesitating for a long time, she finally couldn't resist her curiosity, and gently opened the purse, taking out a crystal clear and lustrous pearl from inside.

  The light reflected on it, the color was really beautiful, Han Youniang couldn't help but widen her eyes: "This thing is so pretty, is this the pearl that people have mentioned? How can Master have such a thing, and it's even in a woman's purse, he...he has a woman outside?"

  As soon as she thought of this possibility, Han Youniang was heartbroken. No wonder her husband hadn't consummated their marriage even after he recovered from his illness. When she was about to leave the boudoir, her aunt had taught her that for a couple to truly become husband and wife, they needed to... The white handkerchief her aunt had given her to test for the red stain was still pressed in the box.

  Her heart began to panic: "Could it be that her husband not only had an affair outside, but also... wanted to find an excuse to divorce himself? Looking at the handbag and jewelry, that woman must not be an ordinary housewife. If her husband liked her, he would not take her back as a concubine. She thought that since he was still recovering from his illness, he wouldn't think about this matter. As a young girl, she didn't dare to mention it herself, but unexpectedly... he..."

  Yang Ling vaguely pulled over the quilt, feeling uncomfortable sleeping in long socks. He untied the straps on his socks and threw them aside. Noticing that the lamp was still flickering, he turned back to take a look and saw Han Youniang sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to him, her small shoulders shaking slightly, with faint sounds of sobbing.

  The wine's effect was somewhat dispelled, and he hastily sat up, turning over to face Han Youniang. He saw that her small face had tears falling like a string of broken pearls, crying so pitifully that it hurt his heart. He quickly leaned in and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, coaxing her with concern: "Youniang, what's wrong? What's made you so sad?"

  Han Youniang hastily wiped away her tears and turned her head to whisper: "Is the master dissatisfied with my service, wanting to... wanting to divorce me?"

  Yang Ling saw her crying bitterly, and his heart was both pitiful and painful. He hastily said: "Young Niang, where did you get this from? These days you've been following me through thick and thin without complaint or regret. Yang Ling is grateful in his heart, how could he do such a thing?"

  Han Youniang opened her palm and said softly: "Husband, if it wasn't for this, where would this pearl come from? You... don't deceive me again."

  Yang Ling saw the pearl and suddenly realized, he chuckled and hugged Xian Niang's thin shoulders, Han Youniang stubbornly struggled free from his shoulders, she had learned a set of martial arts since childhood, if she really wanted to resist, Yang Ling couldn't hold her back.

  Yang Ling thought she was obedient, and she had always been gentle as water, never having any disobedience towards herself. It didn't seem like she was a lively and spirited woman. Now that he saw her throwing a small tantrum, he found it quite interesting. He smiled and wrapped his arms around Han Youniang's shoulders again. Han Youniang struggled twice, Yang Ling added more strength, and Han Youniang stopped using force, only turning her head away from him with a twisted expression.

  Yang Ling picked up the pearl and chuckled: "Niang, isn't this pearl pretty? The Lunar New Year is approaching soon, I'll find a craftsman to string it with colored thread and make a necklace for you, how about that?"

  Han Youniang turned her head in surprise and exclaimed: "This pearl... is for me?"

  Yang Ling blinked and said with a pretentious tone of surprise: "If I don't give it to you, should I give it to myself? Have you ever seen a man wear a necklace?"

  Han Youniang's face turned red, but thinking of the handbag, she couldn't help but smile and say: "But...but this handbag..., isn't Master having an affair outside?"

  Yang Ling's heart skipped a beat as he thought of Ma Lian'er's lovely face, which was both happy and angry. Although the two didn't have any secrets between them, Ma Lian'er had some feelings for him, and he also liked this beautiful girl very much. He felt a bit guilty in his heart, so he picked up his robe from the edge of the bed, rummaged through the lining, and pulled out two silver ingots. "Oh... you're talking about this? I was drunk and tired, just wanting to sleep, so I didn't have time to tell you. Today is actually the day when Ma Yicheng invited Minister Min and me to dinner as a thank you for helping him with his lawsuit. At the banquet, he gave me 40 taels of silver as a gift, and this purse and pearl are gifts that Miss Ma brought over to our house especially for you. Don't misunderstand."

  Han Youniang had never seen such a large piece of silver in her life, forty taels of the finest silver thread, it was simply an astronomical figure. She widened her eyes in surprise: "Good heavens, husband just helped him think of a way and there's this much thank-you gift?"

  Yang Ling stuffed the silver into her hand and smiled: "Madam, take it well, are you relieved now? Not sad anymore?"

  With the silver in hand, icy and heavy, Han Youniang's face turned red with shame from his teasing. She bit her lip, and her restless heart had already calmed down by 80%. Thinking to herself, taking advantage of her husband's intoxication, he might not remember what was said tomorrow, it wouldn't hurt to ask clearly about some things, and also avoid being anxious in her heart all the time. With a plan set, she suddenly put down the silver, raised her sleeve to cover her face, and shyly said: "Youniang... Youniang has something to ask Master, please don't tease Youniang".

  Yang Ling said strangely: "What's the matter? Alright, today Young Lady asks questions in court, Yang will speak without hiding anything and say everything, please ask, Your Honor".