The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

Mrs. Pei finally stayed in the capital. Pei Yanshu and Li Yaoyuan bought a house on North Street, where the price was lower. After this separation, even if Pei Yanxu and Xia Mianwan returned to the capital later, they would not live together.

Xia Mianwan had to check for omissions and fill in the gaps every day, and was very busy. But this time when he went to Xiyang, everyone in the court knew that it was because Pei Yanxu had displeased the emperor, so no one came to see him off, but Madam Yang, Madam Sang, and Nanny Yuan came to visit every day.

This time, Xia Mianwan separated from them late at night, and she didn't know when they would see each other again. Everyone felt sad when they were together.

As they were about to leave, Xia Mianwan set up a banquet at Pei's residence and only invited Madam Yang, Madam Sang, and Madam Yuan. The scene was just like when Xia Mianwan left Yanzhou.

“I didn’t expect that we have already established ourselves in the capital, and in the blink of an eye, you, Mianwan, are leaving again. The situation in Xiyang is not good at all, and the people there have a hard life. I don’t know if you can bear it. You have to take the children with you, too, and I don’t know if they can adapt…” Madam Sang felt a little sad holding the wine glass, her eyes full of worry.

"Sister Sang, please don't be sad. It's not like we won't see each other again in the future." Xia Mianwan raised his glass, clinked it with Madam Sang, and drank it all in one gulp.

Madam Yang was also a little upset. "Sister, did you know you were going to leave a long time ago? That's why you disposed of all your assets in advance? Actually, you don't have to worry. If anything happens, we will help you take care of it."

Xia Mianwan's beautiful eyes were filled with tears. "Good sisters, I'm just preparing for a rainy day. You also know the situation in the capital. Look... didn't it fail this time? There's nothing else to worry about. Please take care of Xiaowu. Pei Ling is fine. As for Pei Xia, I think my mother-in-law and uncle are unreliable. Sisters will have to take care of her."

Madam Yang said seriously: "Don't worry, Mian Wan, I will take care of you."

Xia Mianwan naturally believed Mrs. Yang and was just saying some polite words.

Nanny Yuan thought for a moment and took out a copper object from her purse. She rubbed it for a while and handed it to Xia Mianwan, "Mianwan, keep this."

Xia Mianwan took the copper object and asked curiously, "What is this, Sister Yuan?"

There was a hint of nostalgia and relief in Nanny Yuan's eyes. "This was given to me by an old friend. In addition to the military guards, there are also many ethnic minorities living in Xiyang. They have different living habits, and some even live in the mountains. Each tribe has its own clan rules, and the government can't control them much. The closer to Tongyu Pass, the more military guards there are, but in the whole of Xiyang, there are not many military guards. These ethnic minorities don't really obey the government's control. Over time, the government and the local big tribes have formed a delicate balance. This copper flower coin I gave was given to me by the chief of the Tuyi tribe, the most powerful tribe there. If you need it, you can go to him for help."

Xia Mianwan asked in surprise: "Sister Yuan has actually been to Xiyang?"

Nanny Yuan nodded and said, "That happened when I was young. It's not worth mentioning."

"Thank you, sister." Xia Mianwan and Pei Yanxu once discussed the current situation of Xiyang together. The large number of ethnic groups is indeed a big problem. If they can get help from the native people, it will indeed be a lot of help.

Nanny Yuan smiled and clinked glasses with Xia Mianwan, and everything was said without words.

After the four of them drank to their heart's content and their faces were flushed, Xia Mianwan asked the maid to take out four brocade boxes, "Sisters, I asked someone to make these brocade boxes for me. Each brocade box is unique, but if they are put together, they can form a larger brocade box. Now that we are parting, we don't know when we will meet again. This brocade box is the thought I left for you. If any of us four gets into trouble but can't say it clearly, we can take out the brocade box. The brocade box has a layer and a mechanism, and only we can open it. I hope we will never have the chance to use it."

The brocade box was very delicate. Madam Yang was amazed at the ingenuity of its craftsmanship. "Mianwan, you always have these wonderful things here."

……

On the second day, Xia Mianwan went to Pei Yanyue's place. Pei Yanshu and Li Yaoyuan were unreliable. Although Pei Yanyue was soft-hearted, she was not confused. She also had Qian Mingzhang's support. She thought that she could persuade Mrs. Pei when she was confused.

After the two of them finished their discussion, Xia Mianwan took Pei Yanyue to Huazhenge to buy some jewelry, which would probably be useful when they arrived in Xiyang.

It was just such a coincidence that Xia Mianwan and Pei Yanyue had just chosen the jewelry and paid the bill when they saw Madam Zhao and the wives of several other scholars standing at the door.

"Oh, isn't this our Madam Pei? Tsk tsk tsk, how come she still has the leisure to come to Huazhenge to buy jewelry?" One of the ladies said sarcastically.

Madam Zhao smiled and covered her mouth. "I dare not say it. Madam Pei is very eloquent, but why does Madam Pei look so bad? Is it because Lord Pei was demoted and left the capital, and she is worried? I really thought that Lord Pei was in the emperor's favor, but now it seems... not entirely true. If I had known this, Madam Pei should not have looked down on my family. Otherwise, my master could have said a good word for Lord Pei in the court this time."

"That's right... Madam Pei has always been noble, but now she looks like a stray dog. Oh, this is not a good sign!"

Pei Yanyue was so angry that her face turned pale. She was about to step forward to argue with them, but Xia Mianwan stopped her, "Forget it, don't cause trouble."

When Madam Zhao saw Xia Mianwan stopping Pei Yanyue, she looked even more proud. "This is Madam Qian, right? I have to say something about you. A daughter who is married off is like water spilled. Lord Qian's mother is a widow, and it was not easy for her to raise Lord Qian. Don't just focus on your mother's family. It would be bad if Lord Qian suffered the consequences."

After Mrs. Zhao finished speaking, one of the ladies accompanying her laughed out loud, "Oh my, I wonder if this counts as a tiger in dire straits being bullied by a dog?"

Xia Mianwan burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at!" The accompanying lady felt the ridicule and shouted angrily.

"I just think that you are right. It's just like a tiger in dire straits being bullied by a dog... It's really... What a big vicious dog, and its barking is quite loud!" Xia Mianwan couldn't stop laughing.

Pei Yanyue couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh...

This is really... How can someone say that he is a dog...

Mrs. Zhao also figured out what was going on. She glared at the lady who had just spoken. If you don't know how to speak, then don't speak. Now they are all going to be laughed at.