Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 331 Towards the Golden Palace (35)

Having figured this out, Meng Zhenyue gave a light sneer.

Madam Cao was incredibly insightful; it seemed she could take advantage of this opportunity to "do whatever she wanted" with Xie Zhao and the Xie family.

"Since you think I'm right, what are you still standing there for?" Meng Zhenyue said, "Kneel down and admit your mistake, and I'll go back with you."

Xie Zhao: "..."

"Don't want to kneel?" Meng Zhenyue stood up and said to the maid, "Cuilan, see the guest out."

"Wait!" Xie Zhao immediately called out to her. After hesitating for a long time, he slowly knelt down in front of Meng Zhenyue.

As he watched his knees touch the ground, Meng Zhenyue narrowed her eyes, feeling an indescribable sense of comfort from head to toe.

Xie Zhao, you've finally met your match!

Although this punishment was nothing compared to what he had done, Meng Zhenyue knew when to stop.

To ensure the smooth progress of the next plan, she stepped forward to help Xie Zhao up, her tone softening as she said, "Since my husband knows he was wrong, I will forgive you."

Xie Zhao's face was tense, and the veins on his neck and forehead bulged as he knelt down.

Hearing Meng Zhenyue's words, he felt as if he had been slapped hard in the face, but he had no choice but to smile and say, "Thank you, my wife."

Meng Zhenyue was coaxed back to the Xie residence by Xie Zhao.

Having received Xie Zhao's instructions, Cheng Qingshuang knew that Meng Zhenyue played a crucial role in whether or not Luo Yun could be brought into the household as a concubine. Now that Meng Zhenyue had returned to the manor, she and her two children could not provoke her again.

After all, the laws of Daji state that the male head of the household must obtain the consent of the mistress before taking a concubine.

Moreover, after his promotion was blocked, Xie Zhao was also worried that his overly assertive attitude in demanding to take a concubine would anger Meng Zhenyue, and if she complained to his father-in-law, he would be in deep trouble.

The best course of action now is to first win Meng Zhenyue over, and then discuss this matter with her in a gentle and patient manner.

Fortunately, having been married to Meng Zhenyue for six years and spending every day with her, Xie Zhao knew that she was a soft-hearted person who was easily influenced. As long as he humbled himself and coaxed her, it wouldn't be difficult to get her to agree to this matter.

With this in mind, after Meng Zhenyue returned to the manor, Xie Zhaocheng and Qing Shuang, as well as Xie Zhaolin and Xie Wanfang, who had received instructions, all treated her with utmost obedience.

At the Xie residence, Meng Zhenyue sat in front of her dressing table, her maidservant styling her hair behind her, while she stared blankly at her reflection in the bronze mirror.

Not long after, the door opened, and Cuilan came in from outside, carrying an oil paper package and a brocade box: "Madam, these are the hibiscus cakes and jewelry that Master sent back. Did you throw away the hibiscus cakes like you did yesterday?"

Upon hearing that it was related to Xie Zhao, Meng Zhenyue snapped out of her reverie and said with a slightly cold expression, "Yes, throw it away."

After she returned to her residence, Xie Zhao, in an effort to please her, would have people buy her all sorts of snacks and treats every day, or search for out some ingenious little trinkets to give her.

He did the same thing six years ago when they were newlyweds, and she appreciated it then.

Six years have passed, but Xie Zhao's perception of her remains the same as when she first married him.

Meng Zhenyue couldn't help but laugh at himself. He didn't know if it was because he was too stupid or because he seemed too easy to coax, that he didn't even bother to put in the effort.

Cui Lan responded, looking at the brocade box in her hand, and then said, "Then this jewelry..."

Meng Zhenyue glanced at it: "Open it and let me see."

Cui Lan opened the box as instructed. Inside was a gold hairpin, which, judging from its craftsmanship and quality, should have come from Jin Yu Lou.

"Leave the hairpin."

Xie Zhao is spending her own money now, so there's no need for her to be at odds with it.

This gold hairpin isn't cheap. Xie Zhao's sudden gift of such an expensive item suggests he intends to bring up the matter of taking a concubine.

The thought of Xie Zhao's anger and embarrassment at her refusal to take a concubine for him filled Meng Zhenyue with a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

-

In the evening, after finishing his shift, Xie Zhao returned to the Xie residence as usual.

When he entered, the gatekeeper saw him and immediately said, "Master is back."

Xie Zhao paused in his steps.

The doorman was impeccable in both attitude and manners, but Xie Zhao always felt that there was a hint of contempt in his eyes when he looked at him.

Not only the gatekeeper, but ever since Meng Zhenyue left home with more than thirty servants and returned, all the servants were no longer as respectful to him as before.

Because his master looked down on him, the servants also looked down on him?

These snobbish, contemptible slaves!

Xie Zhao secretly made up his mind that once Luo Yun entered the household, he would hand over the power of managing the household affairs to her and have her replace all the maids and servants in the entire mansion.

Xie Zhao put aside these chaotic thoughts and quickly walked towards the backyard.

He planned to bring up the matter of taking a concubine with Meng Zhenyue tonight; he couldn't delay any longer.

By not taking Luo Yun into his household before she became a royal merchant, he had already missed the opportunity to be promoted to Salt Commissioner, allowing Xue Lin to take advantage of him.

Now, Meng Zhenyue and the Meng family are like a mountain pressing down on him. Only by taking Luo Yun as a concubine can he find balance.

Xie Zhao had considered all the pros and cons, but the thought of bringing it up with Meng Zhenyue made him inexplicably nervous.

Although Meng Zhenyue has returned to the manor, despite his best efforts to befriend her these past few days, she has remained cold and even refused to share a room with him.

She showed no emotion on her face, but Xie Zhao could tell that she hadn't forgiven herself yet.

Upon entering the backyard, dinner was already prepared. Xie Zhao washed his hands and sat down. Without waiting for the maid to do anything, he, who never served others, took the initiative to pick up a soup spoon and serve Meng Zhenyue a bowl of lotus seed soup.

"The weather has been getting hotter lately, lotus seed soup is good for cooling down, Madam, please have more of it."

Meng Zhenyue did not refuse, took the lotus seed soup and took a small sip: "Hmm, not bad."

Xie Zhao then served her food attentively until he had served Meng Zhenyue half of her dinner. Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, he said, "Madam, there is something I would like to discuss with you."

Meng Zhenyue picked up a handkerchief and elegantly wiped the corner of her lips: "Go ahead."

Xie Zhao paused for a moment, then said, "I want to take a concubine."

Meng Zhenyue paused, looked up at him, and asked, "What did you say?"

Xie Zhao thought she hadn't heard him clearly, so he added, "I want to take her in..."

“Heh.” Meng Zhenyue interrupted him.

Xie Zhao sensed sarcasm and opposition in the monotonous syllables, and his heart tightened slightly.

"Xie Zhao, do you still remember how you earned your reputation in the capital?" Meng Zhenyue said coldly. "The fact that I am infertile was originally a secret between the Xie and Meng families. It was you who spread this news to improve your wife's reputation, telling everyone that you would not take concubines or maids, and that you would only love me in this life!"

You've gained a reputation for virtue, while I've become the laughingstock of the entire capital! What, are you going to use me and then retract your promises?

Seeing this, Xie Zhao quickly explained, "Yue'er, don't misunderstand. I'm not taking a concubine because of lust, but for the sake of the entire Xie family."