Chapter 64: Chapter 64
Chapter 64
The young woman herself was surprised. Normally, children in her era couldn’t sit still like this, suggesting that people in this era had better concentration.
Children in her time had too many distractions, whether it be various media or a plethora of toys, making it quite challenging for them to stay still for long. It seemed like they had too short an attention span, though it was just a product of different societal contexts.
Like her in the past, she couldn’t meditate well, except when she was engrossed in novels. She could read through the night and still was fully focused, sometimes felt as if she were in the fictional worlds, so she didn’t consider herself to have a short attention span; it was just that her interests lay elsewhere.
Reading was another way for her to concentrate.
Now in this world, although she still enjoyed reading, there weren’t many novels available. From being just a reader, she had to become a scribe to disseminate works. Thus, she had enough time to meditate.
Moreover, the customs here were quite archaic but peaceful; there were no outings, no movie dates, no bars at night. Going out was only possible during festivals, especially difficult for women to leave home daily. Ultimately, meditation became another form of relaxation for her.
The children also seemed much better after meditating. They weren’t sullen or filled with anxiety anymore. Their faces brightened up, so Yue Qian invited them to warm up the food together.
After spending some time preparing and eating lunch, Yue Qian encouraged them to prepare desserts while waiting for Mu Heng to come back, opting to make rainbow Thai glutinous rice balls because it was sweet and could also include eggs.
A bag of flour was brought out, along with various food colorings—red, green, purple, orange—all looked appetizing. She spent the afternoon making these sweets, with the children happily assisting.
As the water boiled and the scent of coconut milk wafted through the air, a call came from the front of the house. The beautiful woman paused, her heart racing with fear that someone might bring news of Mu Heng’s misfortune. The children were also startled. They rushed to the front of the house in panic, leaving behind their color mixing tasks.
The visitor was Liu Sun and a group from the capital, filled with resentment but not daring to show it too openly.
Because just days ago, the Young General had announced that he would take Yue Qian back as his wife, elevating her to the principal wife as previously agreed with the Qin family.
These visitors were merely children of low-ranking nobles or children of concubine from lesser families, with Liu Sun being the most prominent lady among them. Yet, she still couldn’t match Yue Qian’s status.
Despite their displeasure, they couldn’t voice their objections, so Liu Sun spoke on their behalf.
"Miss Qin, there has been an incident with the troop accompanying your husband. They encountered bandits and were quite injured. Other groups were affected as well, more than 300 people were injured, some severely, so we’ve come to ask for everyone’s help. I’ve already informed the other villagers, and they are now gathering at the village square."
Liu Sun spoke with a tone filled with sorrow and melancholy.
"And how is my husband?" Yue Qian didn’t care for the rest.
She had no interest in Liu Sun’s pretense of righteousness. All she wanted to know was the condition of her husband.
"Your husband is not gravely hurt. He has only a minor wound on his hand. A young girl from the village is taking care of him so closely," Liu Sun said, with a hint of mockery in her eyes.
Everyone awaited Yue Qian’s reaction upon hearing that her husband, whom she believed was solely devoted to her, was now close to another woman. Surprisingly! Yue Qian displayed nothing more than concern for Mu Heng.
"Children, follow me to prepare. We are going to see your elder brother," she said with a worried tone, without a hint of displeasure, only genuine concern showing.
"You don’t need to hurry. He is already well taken care of. Worry about the other soldiers who protected your husband."
A young lady from the capital could not help but burst out. They did not see her screaming. How could that be possible? What was the purpose of their gathering here, then?
Yue Qian paused briefly, realizing what these people wanted, and then smirked in response.
"Are you referring to Yu’er? She’s been in the village for many years and knew my husband long before I did. If my husband had intended to take her as his wife, he would have done so already."
"If you’re trying to instigate... watch out for your own husbands first. Check if there’s still room at the back of their houses for expansion before you marry."
Yue Qian spoke like a villainess, sarcastic, slapping the young women from the capital in the face with a single line.
To conclude without wasting time beating around the bush, the meaning was... don’t meddle in other people’s business and take care of your own matters first!... That was it.
"You! How could you know? Perhaps they had feelings for each other, but you came between them."
"Indeed, Miss Qin, you should not overlook this matter."
Even Liu Sun couldn’t believe her own ears and was irked by the other’s confident demeanor, thus trying to make her feel worse.
"You all seem to know so much, and you, Miss Liu, what benefit do you get if I despise my husband? Instead of helping me and my husband get along, which would keep me from interfering with your beloved Young General, why be so foolish?"
"I seriously ask you, do you want me to return as the principal wife of your husband? I am from the mighty Qin family, after all. If you want me in the Young General’s manor, you’d have to wait for the Qin family to fall, otherwise his principal wife position remains unchanged no matter how much he loves you."
Yue Qian waved, wishing she could split open Liu Sun’s head to see what this heroine really thought.
Liu Sun’s body stiffened slightly upon hearing this, her mind not really on elaborate plots but merely envious of Yue Qian’s happiness.
She wanted Yue Qian to struggle and grieve so she could feel victorious, forgetting that if Yue Qian decided to divorce her husband, there might still be a chance she would become a minor concubine to the general she loved.
Moreover, this was the issue the Young General had openly declared, so Yue Qian becoming the principal wife in the general’s manor was not something unexpected.
Does this mean she is hurting herself?
Seeing Liu Sun fall silent, Yue Qian knew she had realized, thus she seized the moment to continue speaking.
"You should save your energy to contend with others in the capital. You have many enemies there. With me no longer wishing to interfere, wouldn’t it be better for you to let me live in peace?"
"It would be wise... for you to also obstruct the general’s plans. I don’t want to leave Mu Heng, but I don’t know what the Qin family or your general might think. If you agree with them, it means you want me to return and take my place as his principal wife."
She spoke these words before calling the children to follow her inside.
Yue Qian had prepared medical supplies for healing the wounds, including iodine, alcohol, and various ointments. She even brought out bandages.
She didn’t take many out because she wasn’t planning on helping others. If Mu Heng wasn’t severely injured, she wouldn’t use them. However, if he was badly hurt or had wounds that needed attention, Yue Qian would use them.
The beautiful woman and the young siblings followed the young women from the capital in a line to see the sick. Other ladies, daughters of nobles, refrained from touching anything, merely walking about with a look of deep concern and leaving their servants to take care of the soldiers. Compared to them, the villagers who came to help were doing a far better job.
"Brother Heng, don’t be concerned about appropriateness between man and woman now. Let me look after your wounds. Your wife, a lady from the capital, wouldn’t know how to treat them. You’re bleeding from your arm right now; if it’s left unattended, it could be dangerous."
The young girl said with her sweet voice. Yue Qian heard it when she approached where her husband stood.
The group of beautiful women should have been the center of attention for the brave soldiers, but not now. With their pain, they lay moaning, waiting for treatment, too occupied to pay attention to the wandering women.
"It’s not necessary. I’m not so badly injured," Mu Heng waved off, not wanting Yu’er to come any closer.
"Yu’er, wait until Yue Qian arrives. She wouldn’t let her husband suffer like this. Better you help me over here," Aunt Liao, having overheard, could no longer hold back, and spoke out.
The man repeatedly rejected her niece like this, how could she still cling to him? Kept being around him like that, instead of helping her here.
"Aunt Liao, should Brother Heng suffer until she comes? I don’t want to see Brother Heng endure anything for her, he endured once about the marriage. I also heard the announcement made by that general. She will leave Brother Heng for that general one day. So, Brother Heng shouldn’t have to wait for her now, should he? Why keep rejecting me? I.... I...."
Yu’er burst out. It’s not like she never heard of Yue Qian’s matter. Villagers talked about it, seemed like Yue Qian will soon become a general’s wife in the capital.
Many said it was because she was a good person who helped the villagers, which is why a man like the general loved her wholeheartedly. Even after marrying another man, he still wants her to return and be his wife.
Although Yu’er initially felt jealous and irritated, now that feeling was gone, she felt more hopeful. But who would have thought that Mu Heng still wouldn’t even give her a chance?!
