Favoring Concubines and Neglecting the Wife? The General’s Wife Calls it Quits and Divorces! – Chapter 7

Ch 7: Family Servant

Prince Xian said he would submit the request, and the General had confirmed it; some of his battlefield valor would be taken into account.

So why is there no news at all?

“Liangxian, please don’t let this opportunity slip away! The last time, you received no commendation for two years, only a meager reward. This time, you risked life and limb for three years. I, your mother, have spent every day anxiously awaiting your return. Why are there no further rewards?” Madam Nian was worried.

She had already boasted, and all the neighbors knew that the Little General of their household was to be promoted to Upper General, a momentous event for the northern part of the Capital City.

But unexpectedly, while others had received their rewards, there was silence on their end!

“Son… I do not know. I shall visit Prince Xian’s Residence tomorrow to inquire.” Guo Liangxian was also breaking out in a cold sweat from anxiety.

He had no appetite for his Evening Meal.

He stumbled to the Back Courtyard early, intending to visit his unfamiliar wife in the Pear Garden. However, the thought of her cold gaze filled him with anger! What made her so special! What gave her the right to act so superior? She was a Prefect’s daughter, yes, but he was now a Little General, and soon to be an Upper General. Who was truly looking down on whom? So, Guo Liangxian turned and headed for the Side Courtyard, where some of the key household servants resided.

He was seeking Yan’er Lin for some comfort.

But as soon as he arrived, he heard a commotion! “Ah! Get away!”

Yan’er Lin’s scream startled Guo Liangxian, prompting him to rush over. He saw several servants surrounding Yan’er Lin, including Mama Cui’s daughter, Ju Niuer.

“Brother Liangxian! Look at her! She does nothing, and now she demands the best food, taking our portions!”

Ju Niuer immediately tattled upon seeing Guo Liangxian.

Unfortunately, Ju Niuer hadn’t recognized Yan’er Lin’s position. Mama Cui hadn’t been explicit, merely stating that she was temporarily residing there as a family servant.

Ju Niuer had assumed she was just another maid expected to work alongside them.

“General~”

Yan’er Lin didn’t back down. She immediately flung herself into Guo Liangxian’s arms, looking pitiful and teary-eyed.

“What is going on?” Guo Liangxian ignored Ju Niuer, naturally embracing the aggrieved, weeping Yan’er Lin.

Ju Niuer was furious. How could Brother Liangxian treat her this way?

“It’s not their fault. It’s the baby in Yan’er’s belly. He’s almost three months old, and when he doesn’t get enough to eat, he takes it out on others.”

Yan’er Lin deflected the blame, claiming it wasn’t Ju Niuer and the others’ fault, but her own child’s.

How could one blame an unborn child?

Guo Liangxian glared at the maids and rebuked them, “Are you trying to start a rebellion? If anything happens to the child she’s carrying, who will be held responsible?”

The other maids knelt, apologized, and quickly dispersed!

Only Ju Niuer remained. Her mother was Mama Cui, who attended to Old Madam in Zhongsi Hall in the Back Courtyard, a position of considerable influence.

Ju Niuer, therefore, felt entitled to shirk her duties and act as a petty tyrant within her small domain!

She still harbored hopes of one day becoming Guo Liangxian’s Concubine.

But Yan’er Lin, that wretched girl, had unexpectedly stolen a march on her! “Brother Liangxian!”

“Silence! You lowly family servants dare to disrespect Aunt Yan? I will hold you accountable!” Guo Liangxian was truly enraged.

This outburst revealed Yan’er Lin’s true status to Ju Niuer.

“Very well, it is Niuer who is ignorant of the rules. I did not realize this was the future Aunt Yan!” Ju Niuer’s tears flowed freely, deeply aggrieved.

They were both family servants, yet someone of Commoner birth had directly surpassed her in status? Yan’er Lin nestled in Guo Liangxian’s embrace, a smug expression on her face, though her voice remained gentle, “It is Yan’er’s fault for not telling Niuer directly. General~ is she merely a family servant in your household?”

Guo Liangxian nodded, “Yes, she is Mama Cui’s daughter, who attends to my Mother.”

Yan’er Lin scoffed, “Just a family servant, yet she dares to be so arrogant and bully others? General, I am so pitiful. You must stand up for me!”

“Yes, I will instruct everyone in the household to treat you with more respect. After all, you will soon be Aunt Yan.”

“General, you are so kind~”

The two embraced, causing Ju Niuer to run off in tears.

The household servants, seeing her crying, whispered amongst themselves, unsure of what had transpired!

Soon, Ju Niuer found herself at the entrance to the Pear Garden and rushed inside.

◈◈◈

Cuiping summoned the Wife. Yuan Xueyue, observing the weeping Ju Niuer, fell into contemplation.

“Wife! That Yan’er Lin isn’t even a Concubine yet, and she already dares to behave this way. If she becomes Aunt Yan, won’t she be even more unrestrained?” Ju Niuer said, wiping away her tears.

Cuiping was also at a loss, “Wife, what should we do?”

Yuan Xueyue, “…”

She also harbored deep resentment towards Yan’er Lin. If not for her arrival, the General’s Residence wouldn’t have fallen into such disrepair, and Yuan Xueyue wouldn’t have felt the urge to flee.

But it was too late.

The General, just as in her previous life, was utterly besotted with her.

Yuan Xueyue inhaled deeply and smiled, “Niuer, go and rest. This matter will be dealt with. She is, after all, the beloved woman the General encountered outside. She will inevitably become a Concubine. You must simply be more patient in the future.”

Ju Niuer questioned, “Why? Isn’t she a family servant now? Why is she entitled to fine food and drink without having to work?”

Cuiping explained, “What do you expect Wife to do? Offend the General? For the sake of your pride?”

Reprimanded by Cuiping, Ju Niuer fell silent.

Yuan Xueyue said, “I understand Niuer’s feelings. Do not worry, you too will soon receive better treatment.”

At this, Ju Niuer’s eyes lit up, “Does Wife intend to help me?”

Cuiping was astonished, “Wife!”

Wasn’t one Aunt Yan enough? The General hadn’t even received the imperial decree for his reward! “Let us simply ignore her for now. She possesses the General’s affection, so it is unwise to antagonize her, is it not?” Yuan Xueyue stated.

“Very well.”

Ju Niuer nodded, understanding, and departed.

Wife’s words echoed in her mind: she would soon receive better treatment too?

Did that mean she also had a chance to become a Concubine?

Excitement overwhelmed Ju Niuer, banishing the unpleasantness from her mind as she skipped off to chat with her mother.

Cuiping said discontentedly, “Wife, with so many Concubines, will you be able to manage?”

Yuan Xueyue smiled, aware that Cuiping didn’t grasp her intentions.

She replied, “Hasn’t Old Madam always desired for the General’s Residence to prosper and expand? Let us simply grant their wishes.”

Cuiping responded helplessly, “But the General is your husband! Does Wife not care?”

“…”

Yuan Xueyue’s steps faltered.

She had long ceased to care. The grievances of her past life were erased. In this life, she would forge her own path!

“What is there to care or not care about? It is of no consequence. Cuiping, let us go and see Old Madam.”

With that, Yuan Xueyue proceeded towards Zhongsi Hall.

Cuiping, with no other recourse, followed.

Mama Cui emerged and encountered them, “Wife, what is this about?”

“I seek an audience with my Mother-in-Law.”

“Dong, dong, dong!” Zhongsi Hall was filled with smoke, the fragrance of sandalwood heavy in the air.

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