The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

Pei Yanxu pulled Xia Mianwan over and hugged her tightly, "Fortunately you're okay. It's my fault that I put you in danger."

Xia Mianwan smiled and said, "My husband, what's the matter? This road is full of blood and corpses. If I don't even have this awareness, how can I be your wife? How can I stand shoulder to shoulder with you?"

Pei Yanxu buried his head in Xia Mianwan's shoulder and nodded, his voice hoarse, "I understand."

Seeing Pei Yanxu calm down, Xia Mianwan continued, "Husband, let's continue. If someone has suffered a loss at my hands and wants me to die, it should not be the Zhao family, but the Xu family. Although at the beginning, I did think it was strange that the Zhao family held a banquet under such circumstances and specially invited me. But... if it was really the Zhao family, why did they do it so conspicuously? Why do they have to become mortal enemies with us when it is obvious? The fisherman benefits from the confrontation between the snipe and the clam. If it is the Zhao family, it really doesn't make sense."

"But if it's the Xu family, it's too reckless. The Sixth Prince is still young, so even if they want to take action, it shouldn't be now." What Xia Mianwan said does make some sense, but...

Xia Mianwan smiled and said, "Husband, there is a kind of people in this world who are always arrogant and think they can plan everything out. We think the Xu family is being reckless, but maybe the Xu family doesn't think so. The Xu family just thinks that once things are done, you will blame the Zhao family for everything. If it is really the Xu family, the Zhao family should also have an insider to ensure that if I show up at the banquet, something will happen. This is what makes the Zhao family unable to explain even if they have time..."

"I'll send someone to the Zhao family to inquire right away." Pei Yanxu said.

"Don't worry, husband. I told you that your husband's battlefield is in the court. I will find out about the affairs of the inner house. I will ask Yan Niang to find out." Xia Mianwan held Pei Yanxu down.

"it is good!"

"My husband, have you eaten? There will be a tough battle to fight in the court tomorrow, so you can't not eat well." Xia Mianwan looked at Pei Yanxu with a smile. The calmness in her eyes calmed Pei Yanxu's anxious heart.

"I didn't eat." Pei Yanxu's voice actually contained a hint of grievance.

Xia Mianwan smiled and asked Ruzhu to bring the food that Wen had prepared in the small kitchen. "Although the harvest was not good, I, your wife, am a good manager of the household."

Then, Pei Yanxu saw braised pork elbow, braised beef, stir-fried asparagus, crystal shrimp, a tray of shrimp dumplings and half a dish of vinegar being brought to the round table.

"It's so rich, I feel like I'm a gigolo." Pei Yanxu joked.

"Just don't rely on others for free." Xia Mianwan said with a smile.

Pei Yanxu had been busy with refugees and rumors these days and rarely had a hot meal. Today was the first hot meal he had in a long time.

"Delicious!" Although he ate very quickly, Pei Yanxu's movements were really beautiful. Xia Mianwan propped up her chin and looked at Pei Yanxu with a smile.

"Does my husband look good?" Pei Yanxu felt Xia Mianwan's gaze and asked with the corners of his lips raised.

"Very good, very good!"

After dinner, Xia Mianwan and Pei Yanxu went to bed together. The two of them put aside their tasks and went to bed early, as tomorrow would be a tough battle.

At three quarters past the hour of Mao, Xia Mianwan was awakened by Ruzhu.

"Madam, my brother and sister are waiting at the door."

Xia Mianwan rubbed his brows and said, "Let them come in!"

"Mother!" Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er looked worried. Chen Ge'er got the news from the Prince's Mansion yesterday and was so worried that he couldn't sleep well all night.

"Mother is fine, don't worry." Xia Mianwan knew that the two children were uneasy.

"Crown Prince specifically asked Chen'er not to go to the East Palace today. Mother, if you are in a bad mood, we will accompany you." Yu Jie'er said seriously.

Xia Mianwan smiled and touched Yu Jie'er's head, "What else did your prince brother do to you?"

Yu Jie'er lowered her head and stopped talking. She knew that her mother didn't like her to be too close to the prince. Although she was not yet old enough to discuss marriage, she knew a lot about love between men and women as discussed by the adults. She had read many storybooks and plays. She was not sure what her feelings were towards the prince, but she often felt that he was very pitiful and lonely, and she couldn't help wanting to see him smile.

"Mother, this matter is not a trivial matter. Father will have to go through a debate in the court today." Chen Ge'er said.

Xia Mianwan thought for a moment and said, "Brother Chen, you are older now, and I can discuss some things with you. Do you know why I told you not to worry?"

Brother Chen shook his head. The people he cared about most were his mother and Yu Jie'er, and it was not something that could be solved by just saying "don't worry".

"In the past, the emperor's power was granted by God, but now, the so-called Son of Heaven is the son of God, and is above God. So... although the rumors or frame-ups this time can cause unrest in people's hearts to a certain extent, it may not be the case for the emperor. In Dachen, the so-called Mandate of Heaven is not a mission given by God, but a Mandate of Heaven in the hearts of the people.

Brother Chen, do you think that an emperor who is supported by the people will be held hostage by the will of heaven?

Wherever he is, that is destiny!

So… this matter is difficult and not difficult to handle. The boiling public resentment is caused by natural disasters, but the emperor must not make a decision because of being held hostage. If he is held hostage once, he will be held hostage every time, and it will never end from now on. Don’t underestimate the prince, and don’t underestimate the current emperor. "

Chen Ge'er looked at Xia Mianwan in shock. This was the first time that Xia Mianwan analyzed the affairs of the court with him so frankly. Not only was his frankness but also bold. He had never heard these words from his teacher or father.

He knew that his mother was a very capable woman, but it was not until this moment that he realized that his mother was much more powerful than he thought.

"Mother, how do you know all this?" Chen Ge'er murmured. It was not just... a keen political awareness and a simple understanding of human nature that could explain it.

A trace of nostalgia appeared on Xia Mianwan's face. "Mother naturally has her own ways. Mother didn't just pop out of a crack in a stone, right?"

Brother Chen accepted Xia Mianwan's statement, "Will everything really be alright?"

"Perhaps your father's expression is different from mine, but the meaning should be the same. The emperor will stand on our side, but your father has little time left."

"What time?" Brother Chen was puzzled.

"Your father doesn't have much time left to resolve the public grievances caused by the natural disaster, nor does he have much time left to find out the mastermind behind the scenes. But things have to be prioritized. Chen Ge'er, can you guess what your mother means by saying this to you?" Xia Mianwan looked at Chen Ge'er solemnly. She didn't say this to Chen Ge'er on a whim.

Chen Ge'er is a very smart and perceptive child, "I understand. I will choose some things to tell the prince."

Xia Mianwan was very pleased, "Brother Chen, you must remember that the king is ruthless, and so is the prince. You must not trust him too much."

Yu Jie'er's face turned pale. She knew that her mother's words were also directed at her.