Wang Xifeng knew Lady Wang's character all too well. Despite her managing the Jia household affairs, Lady Wang's authority was immense.
Composed, reserved, and never one to act rashly, but once she did, it was a matter of life and death, far beyond mere punishment.
Therefore, the servants of the Jia household only feared Wang Xifeng, but held Lady Wang in the highest esteem.
"Has Aunt also lost her chastity?" Wang Xifeng asked blankly, seemingly unconscious. She found it hard to believe.
"It's because of Baoyu, isn't it? If Baoyu can gain some merit, perhaps he can gradually regain his title. It's better than a slow decline. Fengjie, you should rest well. Your uncle is right. Even if the Wang family is wiped out, there are other Wang families. Don't worry." Aunt Wang's words were truly insidious, each one designed to plunge Wang Xifeng into self-reproach.
Is a woman's body so precious?
In her eyes, nothing was precious; only what could be exchanged for profit was precious, and even the most precious things couldn't put food on the table!
Not long after Aunt Wang left, Jia Lian entered.
He looked at Wang Xifeng expressionlessly, and Wang Xifeng looked back at him expressionlessly. They stared at each other for a long time without speaking.
Did Jia Lian like Wang Xifeng?
Yes, because Wang Xifeng was intelligent and capable. To say he didn't like her was an understatement; he even felt a bit disgusted!
Simply because Wang Xifeng was too capable, making him seem like a fool.
Men need dignity and need to show it. He actually disliked Wang Xifeng because in her presence, even though he was the most highly regarded among the young men, he looked like a pile of dog shit!
"You accepted the letter of divorce? My mind is made up, you need not say more. Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. You cannot bear a son, and you have made things difficult for me at every turn. Now I have reported to the authorities, and they have granted my request to divorce you. You will leave the Jia family with nothing!" Jia Lian closed his eyes, feeling humiliation, relief, and a sliver of secret joy.
By divorcing Wang Xifeng, Jia Lian could obtain a substantive position as a registrar in Jiuquan Prefecture. After three to five years, he could be transferred back. If nothing went wrong, he could be granted a baronial title. Even if he returned to Chang'an, he could continue his official duties. With promotions every five years, if he died, he could at least reach the rank of Marquis within the Passes. Although he wouldn't have a fief, at least he would have an official position and a title, which would give him hope of joining the Jia family. Besides, who knows what other good things might happen along the way.
Wang Xifeng smiled bitterly, knowing her fate. "Jia Lian," she said, "we've been husband and wife. I'll ask you one last question. Did you do this willingly, or were you forced?"
Jia Lian was startled. He knew Wang Xifeng was determined to die. If she died, forget about going to Jiuquan to become an official; he'd be forced to sell his body and live like Lingguan!
So, his face turned cold, and he said, "What I hate most is your self-righteousness. Do you think I like you? It's only because of the Wang family that I had to marry you. Humph, Wang Xifeng, you overestimate yourself! I've wanted to divorce you for a long time. Now that I've finally got this opportunity, I'm overjoyed! How could I be forced! Foolish woman, I don't want to see you for a second!"
Watching Jia Lian turn and leave, Wang Xifeng felt a chill in her heart. She wasn't forced into this marriage like other couples. She married Jia Lian and loved him. It was precisely because of her love for him that she kept a close eye on him, preventing him from taking concubines, fearing she would lose him.
Sometimes, things are like that, especially in ancient times. A wife who didn't allow her husband to take concubines was bound to cause problems, and that's exactly what happened now!
If Lu Ming knew what Wang Xifeng was thinking, he would definitely scoff. Love, indeed.
He used to yearn for love, but as a time traveler, he scorned all women. Love might exist, but it couldn't compete with money, the basic necessities of life!
Therefore, power and money were paramount; everything else was secondary.
Once he'd slept with them, they'd slowly fall in love with him. So-called love was less real than the power of sex!
No one knew what had happened to Wang Xifeng, only that after two or three days without food or drink, she finally fainted.
Her maid, Ping'er, hurriedly summoned a female physician to treat her. After taking some medicine, Wang Xifeng recovered. Having a profound realization, she chose to nourish herself and then sent someone to contact her aunt, saying she was willing to serve Lu Ming.
Perhaps disillusioned with Jia Lian, or perhaps laughing at her past foolishness, Wang Xifeng had decided that she would serve Lu Ming well, gain power, and then exact revenge on Jia Lian!
She didn't care how Lu Ming manipulated her; she only knew she had to avenge herself on Jia Lian, that heartless beast!
Meanwhile, Lu Ming continued to go to the palace every day to report to the Empress.
He had bribed all the palace maids and eunuchs. Bribing the eunuchs was simple: he had some orphans from the soldiers chosen to be adopted by them. What did eunuchs need most?
Offspring!
And since they were impotent, they were destined to be barren, so anyone who could be adopted was a source of great excitement and surprise!
Bribing the palace maids was even simpler: he promised to find them good families afterward.
Those who didn't want to could become his mistresses, with houses outside the palace, bearing him children and living as wealthy wives.
Whether man or woman, eunuch or palace maid, everyone had their own selfish motives and interests.
Being assigned to them meant being abandoned.
Furthermore, Lu Ming possessed another advantage: the system.
While the system couldn't determine their true obedience, it could discern their attitudes: green for friendly, yellow for neutral, and red for hostile.
Therefore, he only needed to eliminate the red members, monitor the yellow members for two days, and if there was no change, simply have them killed and replaced with his own men.
Thus, one could see that in the Weiyang Palace, where the emperor had previously summoned his ministers, on the dragon throne symbolizing the Son of Heaven,
a voluptuous, naked body lay sprawled, thighs full, calves long and straight, delicate feet resting on the armrests, trembling with each thrust of the man pressing down upon her!
Her exquisite face was flushed, her eyes filled with a hazy, pleasurable gaze, and a hint of tender affection!