Favoring Concubines and Neglecting the Wife? The General’s Wife Calls it Quits and Divorces! – Chapter 83

Ch 83: Not as Good as Song Ge’er

Yuan Xueyue took his hand and held it protectively in her palm.

She said, “With Mother by your side, you don’t need to be so sensible.”

At these words, a few hot tears blurred Song Ge’er’s vision. He saw Yuan Xueyue’s loving appearance reflected in his eyes.

“Yes… Your son just doesn’t want to trouble Mother.”

Yuan Xueyue breathed a sigh of relief. “How is this a trouble?”

“Cuiping.”

Cuiping quickly brought the ointment, heated it briefly over the charcoal fire, and then handed it to Yuan Xueyue.

Yuan Xueyue gently and evenly applied the soothing ointment to the backs of both of Song Ge’er’s hands. “Don’t write any characters today. Wait until tomorrow, write for half a day, and I’ll have Teacher Wan apply this for you.”

Song Ge’er was slightly surprised. “Won’t Teacher punish me? This will delay my studies.”

Yuan Xueyue said, “I’ll talk to Teacher. After you finish writing your scrolls, you need to rest. You don’t need to practice so diligently.”

“Besides, in this cold winter, why should Ge’er work so hard?”

The General’s Residence was not unable to support him, this child was trying too hard.

Song Ge’er lowered his head in shame. “Your son doesn’t want to worry Mother. Your son will study hard.”

Yuan Xueyue released his hand and shook her head helplessly.

“You.”

You are working so hard, how can the two brothers next door compare to you?

Cuiping laughed heartily beside her. “Third Young Master is always so sensible and well-behaved.”

After the maid had finished serving Song Ge’er his meal, Yuan Xueyue had also finished eating. The two of them sat in the room, warming themselves by the charcoal fire.

Yuan Xueyue was reading farming anecdotes, and Song Ge’er was also reading books to prepare for the entrance examination after the new year, hoping to show his talent!

Outside, heavy snow was falling, covering everything in white!

It was past Si Shi （9-11 AM）, and neither Xing Ge’er nor Ji Ge’er had come to pay their respects.

Aunt Yan had been pregnant for several months and was still confined to Yanling Courtyard, which was understandable. Aunt Niu was also pregnant and did not need to come to pay her respects. But the two new aunts, who took turns serving the General, were also relying on his favor and arrogance, and did not come to pay their respects.

The rules were not being followed, and Yuan Xueyue was too lazy to bother with it.

Worrying about unimportant people would only tire her heart and spirit.

Cuiping was indignant for her. “Madam, are they planning to come and pay their respects to you at noon?”

Yuan Xueyue looked up at the slightly closed window, where some snowflakes were drifting in.

“The weather is so cold, even Mother-in-Law doesn’t require me to pay my respects to her, so let them be.”

Cuiping was helpless. “This servant just feels it’s unfair to Madam.”

Yuan Xueyue smiled. “There’s nothing fair or unfair about it.”

In the previous life, none of it was worth it!

Now, she didn’t care anymore. What was wrong with just waiting and seeing?

It was better than before, when she was in turmoil and suffered abuse.

Cuiping didn’t understand, but she still dutifully went to prepare more charcoal ash.

It was noon.

Both mother and son had finished reading. Yuan Xueyue took Song Ge’er’s hand and prepared to go to Zhongsi Hall to visit Madam Nian.

In this kind of weather, who else would be walking around the residence, inside or out, besides servants and some commoners?

Cuiping had wanted to follow, but Yuan Xueyue didn’t need her. She held an umbrella herself, sheltering the path for her and Song Ge’er.

Song Ge’er turned his head to look at her and said, “Mother, I heard that Father has recently taken new concubines, is that right?”

Yuan Xueyue nodded. “Yes.”

Song Ge’er was puzzled. “Why isn’t Mother angry at all?”

Yuan Xueyue smiled. “Why does Ge’er think I should be angry?”

Song Ge’er said, “The books say that a wife and husband share concubines. If a concubine is favored exclusively, the wife will resent it.”

“Your son doesn’t understand, so I’m asking Mother.”

Yuan Xueyue smiled. “Song Ge’er actually knows how to seek the truth. That’s commendable.”

Song Ge’er said, “Teacher taught us that what we know is not necessarily the truth, and what we see and hear is not necessarily the truth either. We must truly feel and understand it ourselves.”

This resonated deeply with Yuan Xueyue.

◈◈◈

Even though the General’s Residence was covered in white snow, the road to Zhongsi Hall was still full of leisure and joy.

Before long, the two new concubines from Pear Garden finally came to pay their respects.

Cuiping put her hands on her hips and said, “You’re late. Madam has already gone to pay her respects to Old Madam.”

The two new concubines were indifferent and even retorted lightly.

“If we had known, we shouldn’t have come.”

Watching their retreating figures, Cuiping stomped her feet in anger.

Inside Zhongsi Hall, the fragrance of sandalwood permeated the air, swirling and lingering, creating a unique atmosphere.

Madam Nian sat quietly on a prayer mat, her eyes closed, holding a muyu （wooden fish） in one hand and gently tapping it with the other, accumulating her seemingly nonexistent merit.

Mama Cui stepped forward and reported, “Madam is waiting outside.”

Madam Nian’s eyes opened slightly. She put down the muyu and shifted to a comfortable position, leaning lazily on the support frame prepared by Mama Cui.

“Let her in,” Madam Nian said.

Mama Cui went out with the order. “Madam, please come in.”

This was the first time Yuan Xueyue had come alone with Song Ge’er. In the past, she had always brought the three young masters. Today, it made Madam Nian slightly surprised.

Madam Nian frowned slightly and glanced over. “Where is Xing Ge’er?”

Yuan Xueyue led Song Ge’er in a slight kneeling bow.

Yuan Xueyue said, “Only Song Ge’er came to pay his respects to your daughter-in-law this morning.”

Her words countered Madam Nian’s question.

Madam Nian’s eyes turned slightly cold, but she stopped questioning the matter and waved her hand to give them a seat.

A maid served teacups, and the lingering fragrance of tea mixed with the scent of sandalwood, refreshing the heart.

Song Ge’er was nervous inside, but he remained calm and composed on the surface.

Madam Nian first glanced at Song Ge’er. She didn’t know much about this unfamiliar grandson, and since he was still young, she didn’t bother to discipline him.

Madam Nian said, “Teacher Wan has been teaching at the residence for more than two months. I wonder how much progress Song Ge’er has made?”

Yuan Xueyue looked at Song Ge’er. “Replying to Mother-in-Law, Song Ge’er has good comprehension. He has completed all the assignments set by Teacher very well and has also received top marks.”

“Top marks?” Madam Nian chuckled.

“Are you saying that Xing Ge’er is not as good as Song Ge’er?”

Madam Nian didn’t want to admit this. She didn’t expect that the first time she asked, he would be better than her own grandson. It was absurd.

No matter how good Song Ge’er was, how could he compare to Xing Ge’er’s status?

In this residence, the only grandsons Madam Nian acknowledged were Guo Xing’er and the unborn children of Aunt Yan and Aunt Niu.

A child adopted from a relative’s family could never be brought to the table.

Madam Nian had let go of the selection in the first place, simply to give Yuan Xueyue face. How could she have known that she would choose two!

Fortunately, the large General’s Residence was not unable to support them. At worst, she could just ignore them.

Fortunately, Ji Ge’er was also difficult to teach and could not surpass Xing Ge’er.

Unexpectedly, she had missed the young Song Ge’er!

Yuan Xueyue said truthfully, “Your daughter-in-law doesn’t think so. Teacher said that everyone has their own strengths. Xing Ge’er may not be suited for studying.”

Once again, Yuan Xueyue reminded Madam Nian.

Unexpectedly, Madam Nian still clung to her own opinion!

“Nonsense! Xing Ge’er must take the imperial examinations! He can only focus on studying!” Madam Nian scolded sharply, her eyes fixed on Yuan Xueyue’s indifferent face.

Madam Nian knew very well that with two new young masters in the residence, this daughter-in-law’s heart was no longer on Xing Ge’er.

Coming here, she only brought Song Ge’er.