The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 578 - 545: Provocation

The Blood Jade is rare, and such a high-quality piece is even more scarce. Once carved into a Jade Pendant, the chances of finding two identical ones are almost negligible. Wen Wan was afraid Xu Jia might miss out on something important to her, so she reminded her, "Why don’t you take a closer look? What if it really is yours?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Jia examined the Jade Pendant several times, the more she looked, the more deeply her brow furrowed. "Why do I feel like this is the one my grandmother left me? But it’s been so many years, how is that possible?"

Wen Wan analyzed, "Could it be that it was picked up by a guest at today’s banquet, and accidentally left behind?"

"That’s possible." Xu Jia nodded, handing the Jade Pendant back to Wen Wan. "You’d better ask the other guests; maybe someone is looking for it."

Wen Wan put the Jade Pendant back in the box and asked her, "You’ve been in the Tang Family for more than half a month. How do you feel?"

Xu Jia feigned a few moments of shame, lowering her head, "Such words, madam, leave one unsure where to begin."

Wen Wan rephrased the question, "Is Second Young Master Tang treating you well?"

Xu Jia blushed and said he was quite good.

"I heard you were given the household authority just after entering the gate; are you getting used to the affairs of the mansion?"

Xu Jia dared not expose her secret of reincarnation, deliberating, "At first it was a bit unfamiliar, but with time I’ve gradually gotten the hang of it. Before leaving my family, I learned household management from my mother, so it’s not too difficult."

Wen Wan nodded, "If you encounter any difficulties, don’t shoulder it alone. You have the General Mansion as your backing. Your parents and siblings won’t ignore you."

Xu Jia recalled that in her past life, to prevent her family from worrying, she said nothing, which eventually led Jiang Qingyu to easily lead her to her death. Now, having another chance, she still wouldn’t say anything.

Marriage is like drinking water, only the drinker knows if it’s hot or cold.

Not all problems can be solved by turning to one’s family. Parents can decide whom she marries, but they can’t live out the rest of her life for her. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Learning to stand firm and not be bullied in her husband’s family ultimately depends on herself.

While the two were talking, Yun Cai entered from outside, "Madam, Second Young Master Tang is looking for Second Young Madam; it seems urgent."

Wen Wan looked at Xu Jia.

Without needing to think, Xu Jia knew Tang Yuan was flustered. She smiled ironically and stood up, "Since Second Young Master has business, I’ll take my leave."

"Go ahead." Wen Wan nodded.

Xu Jia straightened her dress and had just stepped out of the Hanging Flower Gate when she saw Tang Yuan and his nephew.

Tang Yuan looked at her with a very complicated expression.

Xu Jia pretended not to see, asking coldly, "What does Second Young Master need from me?"

Tang Yuan wasn’t foolish enough to confess everything blindly. He probed, "What exactly did you mean by what you said earlier?"

Xu Jia smiled brightly, "My memory’s not great, which sentence do you mean, Second Young Master?"

Tang Yuan’s eyes darkened, "We’re not children, let’s not play this game of twisting words."

Xu Jia looked at him.

Tang Yuan loved Jiang Qingyu deeply, but he loathed her identity because it constantly reminded him that Jiang Qingyu was the woman his elder brother snatched away from him. There stood an irreparable uncle-nephew relationship between him and Jiang Qingyu; society wouldn’t permit them to disreguard morality.

Now, the relationship between him and Jiang Qingyu might "get exposed," and Tang Yuan was already inwardly frantic, though he managed to appear composed, obviously fearing she would detect something amiss.

Xu Jia aimed to expose him, "Before me, Second Young Master had never married, hence you have no late wife to reminisce over. However, since our wedding half a month ago, you first used the excuse of your grandmother’s mourning period to avoid conjugal matters and moved to the study, then claimed you needed to care for Young Master Yong and moved to his courtyard. These self-deceptive excuses can only fool yourself."

"I..." Tang Yuan wanted to argue.

Xu Jia interrupted him, "You have someone in your heart—I have no words about that. If you want to revise your irresponsibility towards your legal wife as a deep-rooted affection for another woman, I won’t criticize. In the worst-case scenario, let’s go before Madam and clarify things. You can explain to her that marrying me was only for appearances, and that your heart belongs to someone else. Hence, you can’t consummate the marriage with me, sparing me from being blamed solely for not producing offspring, and preventing outsiders from pointing fingers, accusing me of failing to extend the Tang Family lineage.

As a proper man, should you stall others’ lives for your ’deep-rooted affection’? Do you dare to take responsibility for your actions?"

Xu Jia said he was interpreting his irresponsibility towards his legal wife as a deep-rooted affection for another woman. Tang Yuan felt very conflicted hearing this.

The last sentence hit his sore spot directly.

Tang Yuan, mind in turmoil, pressed his lips, "I admit, I do have someone in my heart. As to who, I assume Second Young Madam has no interest in knowing. But this matter can still be negotiated. Can it not be taken to my mother?"

Xu Jia stood on the steps, looking down at him, "Oh? How shall we negotiate?"

Tang Yuan swallowed hard, as if finally making a difficult decision, "Once the full moon banquet is over and we return to the mansion, I’ll have my things moved back and live with you."

After a pause, he added, "I have indeed wronged you. I promise you heirs, but you cannot interfere with the fact that there’s someone else in my heart."

Xu Jia: "..." In her past and present lives, she had never encountered someone so shamelessly unscrupulous.

The provocation was merely to spur him to move back, thereby forcing Jiang Qingyu to reveal her tail, like a fox.

In her last life, she died an unjust death, and now, given the chance to regain control, how could she ever consider having a relationship with him? Knowing Tang Yuan often met Jiang Qingyu secretly before his wedding, Xu Jia found him utterly filthy from head to toe, feeling sick to her stomach and desiring to keep as far away from him as possible.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Jia smirked, "So you’ve said."

Tang Yuan closed his eyes briefly, his tone hoarse, "Yes, I said it. As long as you don’t see my mother or mention this matter to her, what I’ve promised will be upheld."

He wasn’t confident in Jiang Qingyu becoming part of his household so long as Xu Family made a commotion before his mother. Should Xu Jia step before his mother and stir the pot, Jiang Qingyu couldn’t possibly be retained, and even survival in the Capital would be uncertain. Mother might even have someone eliminate Jiang Qingyu.

He and Jiang Qingyu had waited years for each other—they absolutely couldn’t fail because of Xu Family.

"Alright." Xu Jia agreed immediately, "As long as you move back to Zilan Courtyard, I’ll act as if I know nothing, won’t concern myself about who’s rooted in your heart, won’t interfere in your private affairs with her, and will not mention a word in Madam’s presence."

Tang Yuan showed gratitude, "Thank you."

Xu Jia curled her lips, "Thanking me now is premature. Once everything is settled in the future, that will be the right time."

There was something off about that statement, Tang Yuan felt, but he didn’t dwell on it. He just nodded and then turned to leave with his little nephew.

Xu Jia stood where she was, watching the man’s retreating figure, her smile gradually turning cold.