Today's second update.

  －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

  Mei Zi returned to the hut, learned a few meows of a cat, lured Xiao Yi over, and then followed the same method to climb over the wall.

  At this time, the sun is about to set, steaming the clouds and mist into a fiery red, outlining a golden edge.

  She entered the courtyard and walked into Qiang Sanniang's house, where she saw both Bai He and Lü Jing. She thought to herself that this was just right.

  "Mei Zi, how did you spend the whole day? The young lady has asked several times." Bai He's face was full of worry.

  Qiu Sanniang was still afraid she would run away? Mozi smiled, "Went to Wang Qiulou for a trip, there were some problems with the account, just help Cen Er take a look."

  "What's wrong?" asked Qiu Sanniang as she came out of the inner room, more concerned about her own livelihood than the news from above.

  "There are three thousand taels of silver in and out, I've checked it. It's the new accountant who doesn't have experience, recording the purchase of the girl's estate as an expense, but not recording the land deed obtained." Mozi added, "Huang Ergou just returned from Shangdu, and hasn't had time to clear it up yet."

  "So you're speaking for him?" Jiang Sanniang saw that Mozi's hands were empty, and she knew she hadn't brought the account book. "You went there but didn't even bring the account book back for me to take a look?" The young lady had few hobbies, but looking at account books was one of her favorites.

  "Miss, I'm afraid you won't be able to extricate yourself." What Mozi meant was that they should settle the matter of marriage first.

  "Emptiness is originally extracted." Biased and difficult to serve, San Niang.

  "Then I'll go get it for you now?" Mozi said, and was met with a cold stare from Qiu San Niang.

  "Alright, tell me what you've found out today and I'll decide whether or not to let you go get it." Zhū Sān Niáng's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, making it impossible for others to take them lightly.

  Bai He watched as the two of them spoke in a you-one-I-follow manner, because after going through three hundred taels and that one ruthless move, now it's all just a natural give-and-take.

  Mozi recounted the words of Gao Daniang in great detail, and finally mentioned Wang Qiulou, "I wanted to ask Xun if he had heard any rumors about Jingwang Fu when he went to Shangdu two years ago."

  "Can't be true, right?" Green Chrysanthemum's eyes blinked in alarm.

  "Although what Old Man Gao said is somewhat different from what Erniu said, it's a fact that the third young master of Jing Wang Fu has married and divorced twice. The difference lies in the fact that according to Old Man Gao, the third young master had bad luck and married women with ulterior motives. However, Erniu heard that it was because the third young master doted on his concubine and their twin children, which the first wife couldn't tolerate." Mozi recounted both versions.

  Baihe listened and was also excited like Lüju, "Miss, we can't choose this person. No matter which statement is true, the fact that he has divorced two wives is true, and the fact that he dotes on his concubine and illegitimate children is also true. If you marry him, I'm afraid..." She didn't dare to continue speaking.

  "Don't even think about firing me." Qi San Niang's eyes blazed with anger, "I said, the king of Jing Wang Fu's own son, what kind of noble daughter wouldn't do, yet he ran all the way to Luo Zhou to propose on his behalf. It turns out that his reputation is rotten. He thinks we don't know and wants to cheat a foolish and ignorant girl into marrying him to save face for the Wang family."

  "Girl, such a person cannot be married." Green Chrysanthemum supported White Lotus, listening to it and feeling that he was not a good man. No matter how high his status or family background was, "A man can divorce and remarry a good one, but when a woman is divorced, she can only bear the shame on her back."

  "Mozi, why don't you object?" The flames in Qiang Sanniang's eyes suddenly went out when she saw Mozi's calm expression.

  "The girl's marriage is her own business, I shouldn't say more." Mozi thought to herself, she just listened and it was up to Qiu San Niang to decide after all.

  "If I must hear your idea?" Jiang Sanniang wouldn't let Mozi get away with it.

  Mozi gazed at Qiu Sanniang and slowly said, "I can say it, but please don't take my thoughts too seriously either, because in the end it's still up to you to think carefully."

  "Speak." The more Mozi said this, the more Qiu Sanniang wanted to hear.

  "Pros and cons."

  As soon as the four words "Mo Zi" were spoken, Qiu San Niang calmed down. Her fierce temper had been indulged by her father in the past, and others had tolerated her because of her father's face. Now that her father could no longer support her, she had to rely on someone like Mo Zi who was rational and wise to prevent her from acting impulsively.

  "Keeping a concubine and dismissing a wife, after asking the two of them, there are already two different opinions. The real reason may not be either of these, but it probably won't deviate too far from them. After marrying in, you will inevitably conflict with the concubine, and your husband will not stand on your side. Shutting the door, it's possible that except for our few maidservants, you won't find anyone to help or trust. Generally, servants are most likely to follow the wind. The master of the house naturally leans towards the favored one. Miss, after marrying in, more than half of your days will be spent worrying. Moreover, that concubine already has a son and daughter. Although they are illegitimate children, being the eldest, they will be valued somewhat. According to what High Dame said, the princess dotes on these two children. The degree to which the children are valued will inevitably affect their birth mother's status."

  "Let's change the subject and talk about the benefits. Miss, from a small courtyard like the Qiu family to a larger one like the Wang family, it's all just a matter of size. In the Qiu family, you had to deal with your mother-in-law, but in the Wang family, there might be more people to contend with. But if we look at the bigger picture, who cares about being part of a group of women causing trouble? You don't have time for that nonsense. If your husband doesn't care, and his concubine is happy to see you treated coldly, maybe they'll even give you a small courtyard to live in by yourself. Wouldn't that be a good thing for you? In the Wang family's Autumn Building, you can watch over everything personally, and all those businesses you wanted to start can finally take off. It's not your natal family, it's your husband's family. Even if people find out about your assets, we can just say they're part of your dowry. The Wang family can't take them away from you, and even if your natal family gave them to you, they can't be taken back. It's all perfectly legitimate, and it's all yours. As for divorce, maybe he'll divorce you. If he does, you'll be free as a bird, soaring through the skies. Women are more convenient than men when it comes to business, and they have more freedom of movement too. And let's not forget that Third Master is so enamored with his concubine that he's already divorced two wives for her sake, but his elders still insist on finding him a third wife. If you can gain the trust of your elders, who knows what might happen? In any case, whether or not he divorces you, the road ahead of you is wide open. As you always say, it's better to rely on yourself than on men, and you've also said that you don't need someone to share your life with. I think that with your intelligence and talent, why bother getting bogged down in one man's cold treatment and neglect? Do you really want to be like those ladies who never leave the house, only thinking about finding someone to rely on for the rest of their lives, and getting trapped in the petty squabbles of the women in the back courtyard just to fight for their husband's affections? And didn't you also say that you wanted to make a scene and leave the Wang family?"

  Mozi knew that Qiu Sanniang had always regretted not being a man, and after entering the suitable age for marriage, she was confined to her home by Zhangshi. Although Xiao Yi often managed to sneak out, it wasn't a long-term solution.

  Many words no longer need to be said, Mozi believes Qiu San Niang understands in her heart.

  Qiu San Niang remained silent.

  The white lotus and green chrysanthemum were originally so opposed, yet remained silent.

  Xiao Yi and Mo Zi, one in front of the other, like two shadows that know both cold and warmth, standing straight as a pen.