Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 26 - Commandery Princess Gaoyang, Whose Married Life is Not Harmonious

The night was deep, but Huaiqing Street in Song Prefecture was still brightly lit. The lanterns on the street were like a tapestry, like a vast and never-extinguishing firework display. Hawkers shouted loudly, and some people were beating gongs and drums—it was street performers and acrobats.

The liveliness and revelry would probably continue until the early morning before dispersing. In addition, the Jade Gathering Garden had opened today. That was a brothel renowned throughout the country, which attracted even more literati and poets, all wanting to taste how soul-stealing the 'Dongling service' was.

Almost every prostitute already had a customer, and this kind of thing wasn't really suitable for group buying.

Many people could only sit in the main hall, listening to the songs of the graceful silhouettes behind the curtain.

Those were the 'pure courtesans' who sold their art but not their bodies.

Some talented young scholars would give their newly written verses to the performers to sing, which often drew a round of praise. The scholars competed with each other, which was rather elegant.

If one could truly write a good poem, they would be treated with courtesy and respect wherever they went. Although some people said that poetry was a minor art, useless for governing the country and pacifying the world, it could not be denied that without those poems that have been passed down through the millennia, the civilization of the Han people would also lose a few wisps of its fragrance.

Opposite was an inn.

After getting tired from going in and out of the Jade Gathering Garden, it wasn't a bad idea to go across the street to sleep... After all, not everyone who enters a brothel has the money to book a girl for the whole night.

A window of the inn facing the street reflected two figures. They were two young women. One of them had a slender figure, wore a white robe, and held a longsword, looking every bit a female martial hero.

The other was twenty years of age, her three thousand strands of black hair coiled up in the style of a married woman.

Her features were like a painting, her waist slender, but her chest and hips were very full. Her thighs were also rounded and long. Even though she was wearing relatively loose clothing, one could still see her full curves from behind.

The woman in white was, of course, Luo Tianyi, who had hitched a ride. As for the other person, she was Fang Jun's wife, Commandery Princess Gaoyang. Beautiful as she was, there was always an inextinguishable trace of sorrow in her eyes. Especially when she saw her husband's figure below, the sadness intensified.

Perhaps their married life was not very harmonious.

In terms of seniority, the two were considered cousins. It's just that Commandery Princess Gaoyang had genuine imperial blood, while Luo Tianyi was adopted. But Gaoyang showed no sign of looking down on Luo Tianyi.

The Fang family had not attended the Luo family's wedding ceremony, so their relationship seemed average, but it was unknown how these two had met. Their relationship seemed to be quite good.

"That must be my younger sister's husband, then?"

Because Gaoyang was a year older than Luo Tianxuan, she called him 'younger sister's husband'.

"He's quite a formidable character."

"Formidable?" Luo Tianyi raised her eyebrows.

"Being bullied like that and not daring to fight back, I don't see how he's formidable at all."

Commandery Princess Gaoyang covered her mouth with a light laugh.

"Do you think everyone is like you, drawing their sword to injure people at the slightest disagreement? He just provided a trigger, and he completely brought down the reputation the Song family had worked so hard to maintain, and even made Song Yun lose a fiancée."

"I'm afraid that from the moment Song Yun called out to him, he had already guessed what the Song brothers would do and say, and had already thought of a way to deal with it."

Saying this, Commandery Princess Gaoyang's brow furrowed. She saw Fang Jun, downstairs, make a move.

Ever since Song Zhen had personally admitted the Duke's mansion's dirty laundry, Fang Jun had looked down on the three Song brothers. Although they were a Duke's family, they ultimately came from a humble background. Compared to a truly prestigious family, they lacked a certain foundation.

It's just that Fang Jun was quite cunning and didn't show it. He even had a gentle smile on his face. Despite the rain, he was still waving his folding fan.

In the pavilion upstairs, Commandery Princess Gaoyang could no longer bear to watch. His posturing appearance filled her heart with shame. Even one more glance felt awkward.

Fang Jun, naturally unaware of his wife's thoughts, just cupped his fists towards Song Yan.

"Brother Song, greetings."

"Greetings."

"Brother Song, you are all brothers of the same family. Why has it come to this? If there's an issue, the family can just close the doors and discuss it. Why make a scene in public?" Fang Jun said, trying to smooth things over with a chuckle.

Although he looked down on the Song brothers, they were, after all, the companions he had brought out. At this time, it was natural to help them with a few words... Of course, this help was just a superficial gesture, just enough so that others wouldn't think him disloyal, without getting too deeply involved.

After a brief pause, his gaze once again fell on Gu Banxia.

"Is this young lady Brother's handmaiden?"

That gaze made Song Yan feel disgusted in his heart, but he still patiently asked: "What is it that Brother wants?"

Fang Jun paid it no mind. He turned and pointed to the four young women behind him and said: "I wonder what Brother Song thinks of these four handmaidens of mine?"

Song Yan glanced over casually. The four young women were dressed quite gorgeously, and their figures were not bad. Their skin was fair, and they were all sixteen or seventeen, the most beautiful age for a young woman. However, no amount of rouge could hide their inner weariness. Their eyes were all dim, empty, and without light.

Fang Jun's expression was a little smug.

"To be honest, I've taken a great fancy to Brother Song's handmaiden. I am willing to trade my four handmaidens for her. I wonder what Brother Song thinks of the offer?"

Upstairs in the pavilion, hearing her husband's words, Commandery Princess Gaoyang's face had already turned ashen. Her small hands gripped the windowsill so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Even though she had long known of her husband's absurdity, she still felt shame, anger, and disappointment.

"Aren't you going to control your man?"

"What 'my man'? Have you ever seen a man who makes his wife spend her wedding night alone in an empty room? I lay on the bed, he sat in a chair, and that's how the night passed." Commandery Princess Gaoyang sneered self-deprecatingly.

I actually have seen one, for example, brother-in-law? But that was a special situation, Luo Tianyi complained in her heart.

"He can't perform?"

"He performs just fine with other people's women." Commandery Princess Gaoyang pursed her lips:

"He really likes to exchange concubines and handmaidens with others. If this world allowed wives to be exchanged like concubines, I believe he would trade me away without hesitation."

To be married to such a man is a woman's tragedy.

Gaoyang was very repressed, but this repression was something she couldn't speak of to her mother-in-law, her mother, or even the handmaidens around her. Only Luo Tianyi was the best listener. She knew it was best not to let others know about these things, but if she kept bottling it up like this, she would go mad.

"Tell me, will he trade?" After a pause, Gaoyang asked.

The corners of Luo Tianyi's mouth curved up slightly: "He won't."

In front of the Jade Gathering Garden, it was bustling. Many young scholars were watching this scene with great interest. There were hisses and catcalls, but not a single person rebuked Fang Jun for his moral corruption.

In the eyes of scholars, entertaining a guest with a beautiful concubine was quite normal. If the guest took a fancy to her, it wasn't out of the question to gift her directly or exchange her. It might even be passed down as a fine tale.

From a modern person's perspective, this is naturally difficult to understand. But in this era, women's social status was low. It was fine if one could become the main wife. But if one was just a handmaiden or a concubine, then to the master of the house, she was no different from an object.

Song Yan knew that the ancients 'played hard,' but he hadn't expected to encounter it himself.

Many women also silently turned their gazes towards Song Yan. Even Meng Lingling and her brother Meng Tongfu, who had already taken a few steps to leave, stopped in their tracks.

Although the woman by Song Yan's side is more beautiful, it's... one for four!

As they spoke, the four young women opposite also subconsciously looked at Song Yan. A little bit of light appeared in their dull, empty eyes. Looking at the woman by the young man's side, as women themselves, they could tell at a glance that this woman was living a very good life.

Those pairs of eyes couldn't help but hold a bit more expectation.

Gu Banxia's body trembled slightly, her small face a little pale.

The two of them were standing close together, so Song Yan could naturally feel Gu Banxia's reaction. He smiled gently, and although he was younger than Gu Banxia, he seemed like an adult.

He gently stroked Gu Banxia's head, giving her a reassuring look, and only then did he look at Fang Jun opposite him.

"Apologies, I don't have this kind of habit."

Fang Jun was taken aback, then his brow furrowed tightly:

"I am being sincere. Why must Brother Song be so standoffish? To be honest, my father is the Provincial Governor of Song Prefecture. If Brother Song is willing to help me fulfill my wish, if there is any matter in the future, your brother here will certainly do his best to help."

This tone had a certain feeling of 'I'm done pretending, I'm laying my cards on the table.'

Of those who knew his identity, who knows how many eagerly wanted to send their concubines to his bed. He believed Song Yan would be no exception. This was a discussion, and also a threat.

Song Yan smiled and shook his head, then took Gu Banxia's small hand: "Let's go."

Fang Jun was stunned, not expecting that in this small Song Prefecture, there would actually be someone who dared to refuse him.

Seeing this, Song Lu frowned and quickly walked up to Song Yan, saying in a low voice:

"Song Yan, we must build a good relationship with the Fang family. This is Father's arrangement. Don't you dare ruin Father's important plans. She's just a handmaiden. If you trade her, you trade her. It's one for four, you're not losing out..."

After all, this was somewhat shameful, so Song Lu's voice was very quiet.

Song Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. He lowered his voice and said:

"Trade your old mother.”