Lihoumen

Chapter 73 Leaving the Hou Mansion
When Qingqing entered Chunxi Hall, Lin Ruoqing was there as expected. Her eyes were red, obviously she had just cried. When she saw Qingqing coming in, Lin Ruoqing quickly stood up and bowed to her respectfully.

"Hello, cousin." Her voice was very soft, with a hint of tears, and she looked humble and pitiful.

"My cousin is an honored guest, no need to be polite."

Qingqing said perfunctorily, then greeted the old lady and said, "Mother, did you ask your daughter-in-law to come here? Is there something wrong?"

The old lady smiled and said, "I was just about to say it, but you can resist Ruoqing's gift now."

Qingqing raised her eyes and looked at the old lady above her, with confusion in her eyes: "What do you mean by this, mother?"

"I have decided to take Ruoqing in as Han'er's concubine."

After hearing this, Qingqing stood still with anger on her face. Before she could speak, the old lady said, "Han'er also agreed to this matter. Why didn't he tell you?"

"He didn't say." Qingqing said coldly: "I won't agree to it either."

The smile on the old lady's face faded, she snorted coldly and replied: "He, don't be ungrateful. You are a commoner, and you can marry into a family as high as ours only because you did a little favor to Han'er. Ask yourself, can you bear the burden of being a wife of a noble family? Every time you are in front of outsiders, you embarrass Han'er."

"Aunt, please stop talking." Lin Ruoqing came forward crying and comforted the old lady, saying, "Since my cousin's wife doesn't agree, I think we should just give up on this matter."

Qingqing raised her head, looked directly at the old lady, and said slowly: "I am not trying to marry into a high-class family. I am your son's legitimate wife. If he regrets it, he can give me a letter of divorce and we will part ways. I will never say a word. But as long as I occupy the position of the legal wife, no other woman can be allowed to enter the house, even if it is a concubine."

The tone of her voice remained the same as usual, sounding soft and weak, but every word was full of stubbornness, leaving no room for compromise.

The old lady had never expected that her always docile daughter-in-law would be so tough. She frowned and said sternly, "What an uneducated woman! What do you think the Marquis' Mansion is that it allows you to be so unruly?"

"It's not that the daughter-in-law has no rules. A concubine must get the mistress's approval before she can enter the house. I don't agree with my husband taking a concubine, but it doesn't violate the country's laws and family rules."

Qingqing replied word by word, neither humble nor arrogant.

The old lady was choked for a long time before she came to her senses. She rolled her eyes fiercely and said to the nanny beside her: "Go and get the concubine letter."

After a while, the nanny brought something back. The old lady pointed at Qingqing, who was sitting at the bottom of the table, and said, "Give it to her and ask her to sign it."

The nanny handed Qingqing the prepared letter of acceptance as a concubine. The moment Qingqing saw the paper, all the courage in her heart collapsed in an instant, and her tears burst out.

Shen Han had already signed the letter regarding taking a concubine.

"He, this is indeed my idea, but Han'er also agreed. What's the point of you still holding on like this?" Seeing Qingqing still didn't move, the old lady softened her tone and continued, "Han'er is not irresponsible, and I won't force him to divorce you. Although Ruoqing has entered the family, the position of the legal wife is still yours. You are not good at socializing, and Ruoqing can make up for this shortcoming. From now on, the two of you will support Han'er on the left and right. If his career goes smoothly, you will also benefit from it. I advise you to know the current situation and don't be so stubborn."

Qingqing waved her hand: "Please don't say anything more."

As she spoke, she picked up the pen and signed her name on the concubine letter, then looked up at the old lady and said resolutely: "Shen Han promised me not to take a concubine. Since he broke the promise today, please give me a letter of release from my wife. From now on, we will go our separate ways and have nothing to do with each other."

After returning to Lan Ya Ju, Qing Qing ordered Grandma and Ling Zhi to pack up. She did not bring any extra things, so she only packed up the clothes and medical books she had brought with her.

"Young lady, if you really want to make a fuss, you should wait until your husband comes back." Seeing that she was about to leave, the old lady advised her earnestly.

What if Shen Han comes back?

He probably wouldn't allow her to leave. Since he married her, given his personality, he would definitely take responsibility to the end. But he wouldn't ignore Lin Ruoqing and her son. She didn't know what kind of entanglement there was between Shen Han and Lin Ruoqing. She had persuaded herself again and again to believe in Shen Han and comfort herself not to have wild thoughts. But Shen Han's repeated pity for Lin Ruoqing and her son eventually wiped out all her patience and hope for him.

Qingqing had calmed down by now. She pulled the old lady over and said, "Grandma, he and I are not a good match. I was blinded by love and didn't see the reality clearly. Now I have come to my senses. Even if Lin Ruoqing hadn't happened, I know that I can't stay in this mansion for long. Even if I force myself to stay here, I will never be happy."

The old lady was puzzled and sighed, "Why do I feel that you have changed since you dated Doctor Xiaorong a few times? Is that right? Doctor Xiaorong has instigated you to do something. She is an orphan without a father or a mother, and you are a lady of a noble family. Don't be fooled by her."

Perhaps, Doctor Xiaorong was the spark that ignited her desire for freedom. Qingqing's determination to do so was naturally related to her disappointment in Shen Han, but it was also because she was touched by Doctor Xiaorong.

Her repeated disappointments with Shen Han finally made her determined to break free from the shackles of this high society and regain her freedom.

"Grandma, please don't forget that I am also an orphan without a father or a mother. Although I have the status of a noble lady, how can this family really accept me? Grandma, please don't deceive yourself. I also think clearly that this is not a place for me to stay for long." She smiled bitterly and murmured, "I am really tired too."

Qingqing did not take the carriage of the Marquis' Mansion. She only took her grandmother with her. The two of them carried simple luggage and left the Mansion.

No one stopped her, and no one came to see her off.

Perhaps, ever since the moment she stepped into the Marquis' Mansion three years ago, the people here have been looking forward to the day she would leave.

At this moment, Qingqing did not feel the slightest bit of reluctance, but instead felt relieved from a heavy burden in her heart.

The moment she stepped out of the mansion, Qingqing looked back and glanced at the four large gold-plated characters "Xuanping Marquis Mansion" on the door. She recalled how nervous she felt when Shen Han brought her into the mansion for the first time. The past three years or more seemed like a big dream.

Fortunately, I am awake now.

Qingqing adjusted the package on her shoulder and strode forward.