inspire-indiana Chapter 177 Divorce Him
Chapter 177 Divorce Him
Just as Ye Beichen and Su Yuning were joyfully planning how to purchase a cozy love nest of their own in the bustling capital, a letter from the distant northern desert shattered their tranquility like a sudden bolt of lightning. The news inside the envelope was like a bombshell, instantly shattering their happy mood—the concubine was ill, and her condition seemed quite serious. The letter earnestly requested that the young lord return to the northern desert as soon as possible to visit her. Even more surprisingly, the letter specifically emphasized that only Ye Beichen could return alone.
Ye Beichen gripped the thin letter tightly in his hand, his fingers turning slightly white from the force, his face a complex mix of astonishment and confusion. This unexpected letter was like a riddle before him, and he couldn't decipher its hidden meaning no matter how hard he tried. Especially since the sender was Xiao Doukou—the seemingly gentle and charming woman—what was her intention? This question, like an invisible hand, constantly tugged at Ye Beichen's heartstrings, making him restless and uneasy.
Standing to the side, Su Yuning witnessed everything. Although a faint worry arose in her heart, reason told her that Ye Beichen had no other choice at this moment. Whatever awaited them ahead, they could only grit their teeth and face it. Thinking of this, Su Yuning took a deep breath, gently patted Ye Beichen's shoulder, and said softly, "Things have come to this, let's set off as soon as possible."
Ye Beichen nodded upon hearing this. Without further hesitation, he turned and nimbly mounted his horse. With a sharp crack of the whip, his steed shot off like an arrow, kicking up a cloud of dust. All the way, Ye Beichen rode tirelessly, traveling day and night, hoping to unravel this mystery as soon as possible.
Several days later, after a long and arduous journey, Ye Beichen finally returned to the land he had longed for. When he saw his familiar home in the distance, an indescribable surge of emotion welled up within him. However, this excitement was quickly overshadowed by the sight before him. In the courtyard, his concubine, Xiao Doukou, lay quietly on an exquisite couch. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her beautiful face. Strangely, the usually vibrant Xiao Doukou was now pale, her eyes lifeless, and she appeared incredibly weak, as if a gentle breeze could knock her over.
Ye Beichen strode into the courtyard and stood before Xiao Doukou, his brows furrowed. His voice was low and menacing as he asked, "What's wrong with you? Why did you call me back alone?" His tone clearly betrayed a hint of displeasure and confusion. Hearing Ye Beichen's question, Xiao Doukou was initially startled, but quickly recovered. She nimbly sat up from the bed, a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint of cunning flashing in her previously dull eyes.
“Young Lord, actually… I’m not sick. I did this simply because my longing for you is overwhelming and I can’t control it. Furthermore, there’s something of utmost importance weighing on my heart, as heavy as a boulder, and I must tell you the truth today.” As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Beichen’s already furrowed brows deepened, and his expression was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Then, as if summoning all her courage, Xiaodoukou took a deep breath and spoke again: "Look, ever since my sister came to the manor, you have devoted all your time to her alone. Not only that, but you have also long intended to pass on the title of lord to the son born to my sister. So tell me, what am I in this vast manor? What will become of me in the future? Am I destined to spend the rest of my life alone and destitute?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Beichen's face instantly darkened. His sharp eyes stared directly at Xiaodoukou, and he questioned her in a harsh tone with a hint of impatience, "Hmph! Then tell me, what exactly do you want? Money? Jewelry? Or something else? As long as this lord can satisfy you, just name it!"
Faced with Ye Beichen's questioning, Xiaodoukou was not intimidated by his imposing manner. Instead, she responded slowly in a gentle yet firm voice, "No, Young Lord, these material possessions are not what I seek. What I truly desire is for you to spare some of your precious time to be by my side and raise our children with care. After all, they are your own flesh and blood!" However, Ye Beichen remained unmoved and directly rejected Xiaodoukou's request without hesitation: "Nonsense! I have been busy with affairs lately; I have no time to accompany you in caring for those children! Let this matter not be mentioned again!"
"Alright, I hope you won't regret it!" Xiaodoukou frowned deeply, looking at the person in front of her with a serious expression. She gently raised her hand and handed over the divorce papers she had prepared beforehand without hesitation.
Ye Beichen looked at the thing Xiao Doukou handed him with some surprise, his eyes revealing a hint of doubt and confusion. He reached out his slightly trembling hand and hesitantly took the thin piece of paper, as if it bore a thousand-pound weight.
"What is this?" Ye Beichen asked in a low voice, a hint of unease in his tone. He slowly unfolded the letter, his gaze falling on the densely packed characters, trying to decipher the true meaning of this mysterious document.
Seeing this, Xiaodoukou's face flashed with displeasure, and she coldly replied, "See for yourself." She turned her head away, no longer looking at Ye Beichen, seemingly unwilling to say another word.
Ye Beichen carefully read the contents of the letter, each line and each word piercing his heart like a needle. However, after some thought, he found nothing amiss. So, he silently got up and went to his study, took out an exquisite seal from a drawer, and carefully stamped his mark on the divorce papers.
After completing all this, Ye Beichen returned to Xiao Doukou and handed her back the now-effective divorce papers. Xiao Doukou quietly took the papers, clutching them tightly in her hands, as if they were her last resort. At that moment, her eyes gradually welled up with tears, but she stubbornly held them back. Through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, Xiao Doukou's gaze still shone with stubbornness and determination.
"From now on, my children and I will live well, so please don't worry, young lord." Little Bean took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm. As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around, picked up the few simple pieces of luggage beside her, and resolutely walked towards the gate of the manor.
Ye Beichen stood there, staring blankly at Xiaodoukou's receding figure. For some reason, an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart. Was it a sense of loss, regret, or something else? He wanted to reach out and stop her, but in the end, he didn't take that step. Because at this moment, there were too many busy matters waiting for him to deal with, and these emotions could only be buried deep in his heart for the time being.
Months later, Ye Beichen gradually noticed that the servants in the manor were becoming increasingly lax and lazy, and were perfunctory in their duties. Moreover, the manor's accounts were frequently riddled with errors, causing him considerable headaches. After a careful investigation, he was shocked to discover that, although Xiao Doukou was a concubine of high status, she had been quietly managing the many complex and trivial matters of the manor behind the scenes. She had arranged everything meticulously, ensuring the smooth operation of the entire residence.
However, Little Bean had already left. With her intelligence and wit, she successfully opened a small shop. At first, the shop's business was unremarkable, but as time went on, thanks to Little Bean's skillful management and warm hospitality, the number of customers gradually increased, and the business flourished. Meanwhile, her children also grew up healthily under their mother's loving care, each one innocent, lively, and adorable.
By chance, Ye Beichen passed by this small shop while running errands. Through the window, he saw Xiao Doukou bustling about inside, her face beaming with happiness, and the children playing and laughing around her. At that moment, Ye Beichen's heart was filled with endless regret. He began to reflect on his past neglect and indifference towards Xiao Doukou, realizing that it was because he had not cherished the woman who had given so sincerely that he had ended up in this state.
So, Ye Beichen decided to humble himself and try to win back Xiao Doukou's heart. When he reappeared before her and explained his purpose, Xiao Doukou simply glanced at him calmly and said softly, "Before, all I asked for was for you to spend more time with me, but you stubbornly refused. Now, I have found my own path and am living a stable and fulfilling life, so there's no need to look back." Hearing this, Ye Beichen stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. He finally understood that some things, once missed, can never be regained. In the end, he could only leave with a heart full of regret, continuing his arduous journey through life.
Upon returning to the Song Dynasty, Ye Beichen solemnly informed Su Yuning of some news: his concubine had divorced him and moved out of the mansion. Hearing this sudden turn of events, Su Yuning's face showed worry, and she hurriedly asked with concern, "Does she have a place to stay with the child? Does she have enough money to cover her daily expenses?"
Ye Beichen's face remained calm and composed as he slowly replied, "You don't need to worry about this. I've already given her a considerable allowance, enough to support them for a while. Besides, I heard she's opened a shop on her own, and business is booming; she's doing quite well." Despite this reply, Su Yuning still sighed softly, murmuring to herself, "Although it was all her own choice, I still feel a little guilty." At this moment, Ye Beichen gently reached out and held Su Yuning's slightly cold hands tightly, softly comforting her, "Don't be too hard on yourself. Everything in this world is governed by fate; we just need to go with the flow."
Time flies like an arrow. Before she knew it, Su Yuning was surprised to discover she was six months pregnant. Upon hearing this news, Ye Beichen was overjoyed, his happiness overflowing. From that moment on, he cared for Su Yuning with utmost tenderness and attention, fearing that the slightest negligence might affect the health of his beloved wife and the unborn child.
However, as the pregnancy progressed, Su Yuning's once healthy body grew increasingly weak. Seeing his beloved wife's face growing paler and her figure becoming thinner, Ye Beichen was extremely anxious and hurriedly summoned a renowned doctor from the city to treat her. After a thorough examination, the doctor shook his head helplessly, indicating that due to the baby's breech position, this delivery would likely face significant risks.
Ye Beichen ran anxiously through the streets and alleys, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His steps were hurried and disordered, as if each step carried a heavy burden of worry and unease. He kept asking passersby about the whereabouts of the renowned doctor, while also searching everywhere for any possible effective remedies. However, as time passed, hope flickered weakly like a candle in the wind.
Just as Ye Beichen was feeling hopeless, a mysterious figure appeared before him. The person lowered their voice and told Ye Beichen, "I've heard that there's an extremely rare herb in the Northern Desert, said to have miraculous effects on many intractable diseases, perhaps even saving the life of someone you care about. But that place is fraught with danger!" Hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Ye Beichen's eyes. Despite knowing the perilous journey ahead, he would never give up as long as there was a glimmer of hope. Thus, without hesitation, he embarked on his journey to the Northern Desert.
Along the way, howling winds and swirling sandstorms made Ye Beichen suffer greatly. But he had only one thought in his mind—to find the life-saving herb. After countless days and nights of travel, Ye Beichen finally arrived at the legendary Northern Desert. Just as he was about to venture deep into the mountains to search for the herb, a familiar figure came into view. It was Xiao Doukou! It turned out that Xiao Doukou had also come in search of precious medicinal herbs. When she heard about Su Yuning's condition, her face showed worry. After hesitating for a moment, she carefully took out a long-treasured pill from her bosom and handed it to Ye Beichen, saying, "This is a spiritual medicine I obtained by chance. Although I don't know its specific effects, it might be helpful to you, sister." Ye Beichen accepted the pill, his gratitude overflowing, tears instantly blurring his vision.