My wife wants a divorce; if she ruins my life, I'll leave.

The banquet prepared by Meng Ruohua was neither overly extravagant nor shabby, which was very fitting for Song Chen'an's status as an eighth-rank official.

But fewer people came today than when Xuan Ge celebrated his one-month birthday. Some families had other commitments and couldn't come, while others sent their young wives. Apart from a few aunts from the main family and Meng's mother and sister-in-law, there was no one of high status among them.

Everyone gathered around Xuan Ge and Yu Ge, praising them and exchanging compliments before preparing to start the banquet.

At noon, after the guests finished their meal and rested for a while, they took their leave one after another.

Meng Ruohua barely ate a few bites of food before rushing off to see the guests off.

Meng's mother walked last, stroking her hand with heartache, "Have Aunt Li make you something easy to digest. I see you've been so busy you haven't even had a sip of water."

“Aunt Li has already made preparations,” Meng Ruohua reassured her.

Fang Ling glanced around and saw Li Mama, who was standing not far away from the Second Madam. Recalling their conversation in the room that morning, she deliberately said loudly, "If you're not happy, just go home. Our Meng family won't miss your meal."

She was also a woman from a scholarly family, and was taught at home to be virtuous, gentle, dignified and elegant. However, a year after marrying into the Meng family, she began to manage the household and also supported dozens of disabled soldiers, widows and orphans outside the mansion. Even the most virtuous person became much more shrewish.

She wasn't an naive young lady; she knew the hardships of being a daughter-in-law, and therefore felt even more sorry for her younger sister.

The Song family isn't exactly a noble household; they only have one illegitimate son. Is it really worth throwing a banquet for him? There's no one else in the entire household who can do anything. It's all up to my sister to organize things. And that second wife complains that my sister can't have children. I think she's just too idle!

Meng Ruohua held her sister-in-law's hand, a hint of tears welling up in her eyes. "Sister-in-law, I know."

She is not alone; she has family!

After seeing off all the guests, Meng Ruohua informed the Second Madam before returning to Qingfeng Courtyard, exhausted.

After drinking a bowl of winter melon and pork rib soup cooked by Aunt Li, I finally relaxed.

Today, Chunxiu stayed in the courtyard to watch over the house, while the rest of the people were sent out to help entertain guests. Everyone was quite tired.

After she finished eating, she called in the stewards and gave them instructions, telling them to tidy up their respective belongings and make sure nothing went wrong.

Meng Ruohua leaned back on the soft pillows, secretly thinking that this should be the last banquet she would host, and whoever wanted to host it could host it from now on!

Coral peeked in through the doorway, and only came in when she saw that she wasn't asleep.

"Aunt Lü scolded the maid in Lianxiao Courtyard, saying that she was dissatisfied with the fact that the full moon banquet was not grand enough and that the second young mistress looked down on her."

Looking down on her? She was actually right, but it wasn't that she looked down on her!

Meng Ruohua said casually, "Isn't it grand enough? It's already good enough to hold a full moon celebration for a son born out of wedlock. How many families in the whole capital hold a full moon celebration for a son born out of wedlock?"

"I heard a lot of things were smashed, there was a lot of crashing and banging, you could hear it outside the yard."

"Oh?" She smiled calmly. "Pass a message to Sister Ding, saying that whoever broke a teacup or other teaware today must pay for it."

Meng Ruohua gently tapped the smooth, autumn-colored brocade cushion with her fingers. "Now that you're out of confinement, I'll add fuel to the fire for you."

Coral smiled and agreed. She could imagine Aunt Lü's angry but unable-to-express-it-out look. She dared not smash anything and would have to pay compensation.

She smiled and said, "Today in the garden, the Third Miss looked down on the young ladies from the clan and was quite neglectful. The Fourth Miss was much more considerate, taking them for a stroll in the garden and then arranging tea and snacks for them to play in the pavilion for a while."

Fourth Miss Song Xi never uttered a word in front of Second Madam, behaving as docilely as Aunt Sun. But as she grew older, she could no longer remain invisible; she had to consider her marriage. Aunt Sun must be secretly anxious about it.

Meng Ruohua didn't mind helping them out; after all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. She didn't ask for anything else, as long as Aunt Sun could keep the Second Madam occupied.

She's really too lazy to manage the Song family's affairs anymore.

Outer courtyard.

Song Chang invited several friends and guests to appreciate calligraphy and paintings in his study, leaving the guests to Song Chen'an.

There were relatively few male guests in the outer courtyard. Those with official positions had to work, and those without official positions were busy supporting their families. Those who came were mostly people with leisure time.

There are also Song Chen'an's classmates and friends who failed the imperial examination two years ago and are still studying hard to prepare for next year's spring examination.

When Song Chen'an saw Xuan Ge and Yu Ge come out together, these were his eldest and second sons. Needless to say, he loved them dearly. It was also the joyous occasion of Yu Ge's one-month celebration, so he excitedly called them over to introduce them to everyone. Everyone said a few auspicious words and then put them aside. After all, sons shouldn't be spoiled too much.

After seeing it, he instructed the wet nurse to take good care of it and bring it back to the inner courtyard.

With wine and banquets, scholars naturally compose poems and couplets.

Everyone was in high spirits and drank until they were all dizzy. In the end, they were helped into carriages by their respective servants and sent home.

Song Chen'an didn't return to the inner courtyard; instead, he haphazardly fell asleep in the study.

He was half asleep when he opened his eyes and felt unbearably thirsty. Just as he was about to call someone in to serve him, he heard voices outside the door.

"Second Master is asleep," Mo Yu said.

"The second young mistress asked me to bring over some hangover soup and to serve it to the second master."

Song Chen'an felt that the voice was gentle and melodious, like a cool stream in summer, seeping into his heart and soothing the heat. He called out in a hoarse voice, "Come in."

Pearl, dressed in a light blue gauze dress, entered the room with a graceful figure. She then turned back and said, "Brother Moyu, please close the door so the wind doesn't blow on Second Master."

Mo Yu looked up at the cloudless sky. Where was the wind?

The study window is still open!

However, he obediently closed the door.

It was late autumn, and he was already wearing a padded jacket, while his sister was still wearing a thin summer dress. The implication was all too clear.

He tiptoed to the tea room, thinking that he wouldn't be needed for a while!

Pearl placed the hangover soup on the table, then walked lightly to the bedside. Seeing that the Second Master was awake, she gently lifted her wrist and helped him up.

"Second Master, have some hangover soup. You'll have a headache tomorrow if you sleep like this." Her voice became even more gentle and sweet, making him feel weak all over.

"it is good."

Upon receiving a response, Pearl smiled charmingly, her eyes radiating boundless allure. Her supple waist swayed gracefully, and her light blue gauze dress fluttered and danced with her movements, outlining a captivating figure that made her appear even more delicate and graceful.

Song Chen'an's throat bobbed, his mouth was extremely dry.

The herbal soup, meant to sober him up, made him feel even more feverish after drinking it. He looked at her lips, which resembled ripe cherries—vibrant, moist, and slightly parted, as if inviting him to taste them.

There are flowers that can be folded and must be folded.

Song Chen'an reached out and put Pearl on the couch.