To divorce his wife, the top scholar preferred being cuckolded to wearing a red hat.

The carriage slowly made its way towards Kyoto.

Both Ms. Qian and Ms. Fu Jingying were very excited along the way.

Thinking of the unresolved matter concerning Su Mingyue, Madam Qian couldn't help but sigh softly: "I originally thought that if we pinned those charges on her, she would obediently divorce you. Now it seems that it's impossible for her to be obedient. Jingsheng, in half a month, if we really bring her over, knowing that you have a wife, will Miss Su still be willing to marry you?"

“This matter cannot be rushed. You need to go to Wantong Money House first to confirm whether Su Mingyue really has money there. If she has indeed deposited money in Wantong Money House and cannot withdraw it for the time being, then we cannot do anything to her for the time being.”

"That's true. Divorcing her is easy, but getting her to hand over the money is the real issue. Without money, how will our family survive in the capital?" Madam Qian was used to a life where everything was done for her, and she couldn't bear to go back to farming on her own.

No, her son is now the top scholar in the imperial examination, and no matter what, he will never go back to the way things were before.

“Brother, why go through all that trouble? We can just tie her up and make her take out the silver. She’s an orphan, and even though she has some money on her, it’s not impossible that she might be targeted by thieves on her way to the capital. Don’t you think so?”

"Don't talk nonsense. Your brother is now a top scholar, how could he do such a thing? She's been in our Fu family for three years without bearing a child, she's disrespectful to her mother-in-law, and she even hired a man outside to frame me. We, the Fu family, will definitely divorce such a woman. All the money she has belongs to our Fu family, she can't take it away." Madam Qian agreed with Fu Jingying's suggestion. But she also understood that her son was about to become an official, and there were some things she could think but couldn't say.

Fu Jingying hadn't considered this. She said anxiously, "Mother, there are no outsiders here. What are you afraid of? If we don't do this, do you really want Miss Su to find out that my brother had a wife back home and make a scene in the capital? Miss Su is a noblewoman, unlike an orphan like Su Mingyue. If she's unhappy, she might not marry my brother."

They both have the surname Su, but they are worlds apart.

One is the daughter of the Grand Secretary, the other is an orphan with no parents, and a lowly merchant. How could such a woman be worthy of my elder brother?

"I have my own arrangements for this matter." Fu Jingsheng glanced out the window, recalling the prosperity of the capital, and instructed the mother and daughter: "When we get to the capital, don't say those things casually. If anyone asks, just say that you have a cousin who has lost both her parents and will be coming to the capital to stay with you soon."

……

Su Mingyue didn't care at all about what Fu Jingsheng planned to do. Soon after the price of the Fu family mansion dropped to five thousand taels, people came to inquire about it.

Hongxiu was efficient and quickly transferred the house to the other party. Everyone knew that Fu Jingxing had left Su Mingyue behind when he left, to help him settle things at home before heading to the capital. Everyone knew about Su Mingyue selling the Fu family house, but no one said anything.

In just three days, Su Mingyue had taken care of everything.

She gathered up the silver in her hands and asked Hongxiu to keep it safe, leaving herself with only a few hundred taels of silver.

Before going to the capital, she returned to the Fu family's old residence.

In her past life, her soul was trapped in the Fu family's old mansion, only able to move a hundred meters. In this life, she has been able to wake up again and be reborn as a human, but it's uncertain whether she will be controlled by this place.

She stood once more beside the well that had suppressed her soul in her previous life. The well water was now clear and clean; standing at the well's mouth, she could still see her beautiful reflection.

She stood by the well for a while before leaving.

Before leaving, she burned some incense for her past life by the well, praying that in this life she would have a smooth life and no longer suffer from oppression.

She came back this time under the pretext of packing her things. The well was in the Fu family's backyard, so no one saw her.

Just as she was about to leave, the clan chief saw her and approached her to say a few words.

“Mrs. Su, although you are a merchant’s daughter, the Fu family has not treated you badly since you married into the family. Now Jingsheng is the top scholar in the imperial examination and will become a high-ranking official in the future. When you get to the capital, listen to Jingsheng more and show your face in public less, so as not to embarrass him. There is one more thing I have to say: you are now the wife of the top scholar and Jingsheng’s first wife. Everything should be based on having children. If you cannot have children yourself, you should arrange for a few concubines who can have children to take back to Jingsheng.”

Previously, the clan chief was not allowed to speak to Su Mingyue like this.

When the clan asked her for money, they all expressed their gratitude to her.

The clan chief said, "Su, although you are an orphan, you are a good person. You have earned so much money at such a young age and are supporting Jingsheng's education. We have witnessed all of this. When Jingsheng becomes successful, we will make sure he remembers your kindness and will never let you down."

Looking at their past words and their current attitude, Su Mingyue suddenly felt that some people's words were like farts, utterly stinking.

She took a few steps back without moving, and said with a light laugh, "The clan chief is right. I understand without you reminding me. Our Jingsheng is going to be a high-ranking official in the future, and I am an orphan. If not him, then who should I prioritize? Don't worry, when we get to the capital, I will listen to Jingsheng in everything and will not embarrass him."

Seeing how sensible Su Mingyue was, the clan leader nodded with satisfaction.

Su is indeed a sensible person.

Although she was an orphan, she understood the situation clearly.

Before Jing Sheng became successful, she wholeheartedly helped him with his scientific research.

Even after Jing Sheng became successful, he did not forget his identity and knew that everything should be put first for Jing Sheng.

"It's good that you have Mingyue in your heart. Remember to pass on a message to Jingsheng, telling him to do well as an official in the capital and to come back to the clan often when he has time. Everyone is thinking of him."

"Clan chief, before Jingsheng left, he asked me to sell all the businesses and houses in the capital, leaving only this old house. Since we're not home, we'll have to trouble the villagers to keep an eye on it. If there's any emergency in the clan, remember to write to Jingsheng." Everyone knows how to say polite things.

As long as she doesn't have to spend any money, she can talk a whole lot about it.

As Su Mingyue left the village, she leaned against the carriage and looked out at the scenery, feeling quite calm.

In this life, she is no longer anyone's wife, nor anyone's woman; she is simply herself.

"Master," the maid Xingchun whispered, "Do we really have to leave early? Didn't the young master say he'd come to pick us up in half a month?"

"Some things are just meant to be heard, but don't take them seriously." They agreed on half a month, but she was sure they would drag it out for half a year.

Six months later, they took her over and let her withdraw the money.

Who knows what will happen after the silver is withdrawn?

Perhaps we'll run into thieves, and we could easily meet our demise.