The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

Those ladies had not expected Xia Mianwan to confront them so directly. They were so embarrassed that the whole hall fell silent for a moment.

Seeing this, Madam Qian hurriedly pulled Xia Mianwan and said, "Madam Pei, today is a happy occasion. Don't treat others as if they are just being mean."

Xia Mianwan nodded seriously and said, "Mrs. Qian is right. If I am interested, I will have to talk to my husband. After all, my husband dotes on me very much."

The ladies who were gossiping just now were even more furious when they heard what Xia Mianwan said. Is she the only one who has a husband? Pei Yanxu has gone to suppress the bandits, and he is still using it to suppress them.

Mrs. Qian smiled and said, "Of course, let's go sit down."

"it is good."

After sitting down, Qin Qinqing pulled Xia Mianwan and said, "Sister-in-law, I know you are doing this for the sake of the sisters' reputation, but if you act so tough, it will only make others think that the Pei family is not easy to deal with, which will affect the marriages of our sisters."

Xia Mianwan raised her eyebrows and asked, "Oh? Then what do you think I should do?"

Qin Qinqing said earnestly, "Being a mistress requires generosity. Let others say what they want. The mouth is on others. Besides, my cousin, these noble ladies are not wrong. You are indeed a divorced woman. That Madam Cen is the wife of the Minister of Personnel. The promotion of officials depends on her family."

Xia Mianwan looked at Qin Qinqing's self-righteous expression and shook her head helplessly, "Ah Qing, do you know why your cousin refuses to marry you, not even as a concubine?"

"Why?" Qin Qinqing asked, but she didn't realize it was wrong until she said it. How did Xia Mianwan know what she was thinking?

Qin Qinqing's face turned blue and red, and she was sweating all over.

"Cousin, I..."

Xia Mianwan smiled and took a sip of tea. "Nothing, I'll tell you. Ah Qing, it's true that you are ambitious, but you don't have a sense of the overall situation. Based on this point, neither Pei Yanxu nor my mother-in-law will consider you. You won't be the main wife, and you won't be the concubine. Of course... the reason why I can't be a concubine is naturally because of your father. Ah Qing, your cousin has really been to the battlefield and has a natural respect for soldiers. How could he take the descendant of a dead officer as a concubine? Even if your father is dead, you are still his daughter."

"The overall situation..." Qin Qinqing muttered silently.

Xia Mianwan nodded and said, "Ah Qing, if you are really smart, don't make trouble or talk too much. Just follow me and I will try my best to find a good husband for you. But if you insist on doing something unrealistic, you will only disappoint your mother's love for you, but it will not be a loss to me or the Pei family. You should know that you are not a member of the Pei family..."

After Xia Mianwan finished speaking, she stopped looking at her and started chatting with the two little girls.

Pei Yanyue was indeed not used to such occasions and was a little timid. Xia Mianwan frowned slightly. It seemed that she still had to teach them some other things in advance.

Pei Yanyue noticed Xia Mianwan's gaze on her, and asked in frustration: "Sister-in-law, are you disappointed in me? I really didn't do well."

Xia Mianwan gently patted Pei Yanyue's shoulder and said, "Sister, sister-in-law is thinking about something else. It's rare to have a first time in life. Why don't we treat this time as the beginning?"

When Pei Yanyue heard Xia Mianwan say this, she became happy again and said, "Yeah."

Xia Mianwan sighed slightly in her heart. They were all little girls. Pei Yanyue and Pei Yanqi, the two girls from the Pei family, were very well protected by Madam Pei and Pei Yanxu.

Although Yu Jie'er is still so young, she does things in a much more organized way than the two older ones.

"Madam Pei, I have always heard of your great name, but this time I am lucky enough to meet you." The person who spoke was Madam Liu, the wife of the chief academic officer of the Imperial College.

Lord Liu, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, is a wonderful person. Before Xia Mianwan came, he had inquired about the family backgrounds of the guests, otherwise it would have been a shame to make a fool of himself.

When others saw this, they also planned to secretly laugh at Xia Mianwan's joke.

Xia Mianwan smiled slightly, "Mrs. Liu."

Madam Liu was surprised that Xia Mianwan recognized her. The smile on her face deepened. "Madam Yang and I used to be close friends."

"So that's how it is. What a coincidence. Cousin, elder sister, and second sister, you have all come to meet Madam Liu." Xia Mianwan knew that this was a real marriage proposal.

"Hello, Madam Liu."

Madam Liu's legitimate daughter and illegitimate daughter also came over to greet Xia Mianwan.

Madam Liu said, "Madam Pei, your daughter is really well raised."

The two chatted for a few words and then returned to their seats. At this time, Mrs. Zheng and Princess Yi'an arrived together.

Xia Mianwan and Madam Zheng had not met each other since they parted in the north. Today was the first time they met.

Madam Zheng had heard that the new bride of the Pei family would also be coming this time, and she hated it to death in her heart. Although she seemed to be chatting and laughing with Princess Yi'an, her eyes had already scanned the entire room.

Princess Yi'an also knew about her family's past, so she asked with a smile, "What do you think about meeting your former daughter-in-law later?"

Mrs. Zheng's face fell at this moment, "I must see what she looks like now."

"You can look, but don't go too far. Master Pei is a big shot in front of the emperor, and now Xia is the apple of Master Pei's eye. You mustn't go too far." Princess Yi'an and Madam Zheng have known each other for many years, so they speak with less scruples and more sincerity.

Madam Zheng nodded absentmindedly and said, "Am I the ignorant one? But how do you know that she is the one that Master Pei loves the most?"

Princess Yi'an saw that the old sister still couldn't figure it out, so she said, "If it wasn't someone you loved dearly, why would you go to the emperor to ask for his permission?"

"You mean, it wasn't the emperor's order, but Pei Yanxu who asked for it?" Mrs. Zheng didn't know all this and was surprised.

Princess Yi'an nodded, "Of course it is."

Madam Zheng was disdainful and said, "If that's the case, why don't you return my brother Chen and sister Yu to me?"

Seeing that her old sisters were still so persistent, Princess Yi'an had no choice but to let it go.

Princess Yi'an had the highest status in the entire banquet, so she was arranged to sit at the top. Madam Zheng was arranged to sit below Princess Yi'an, and as luck would have it, she happened to sit opposite Xia Mianwan.

The moment Princess Yi'an and Madam Zheng sat down, everyone's eyes fell on Xia Mianwan.

Xia Mianwan calmly nodded slightly and greeted Princess Yi'an, then went on talking to her two sisters.