Chapter 871 - 826: Trading Secrets (Third Update)

Chapter 871: Chapter 826: Trading Secrets (Third Update)

Wen Wan sneered, "What explanation?"

Song Fang was trembling with anger, "At the time my third brother needed you most, you brought up divorce. Don’t you think that’s too much?"

Wen Wan sat in the armchair opposite, her expression calm, "Does the Heir’s wife feel that I shouldn’t have proposed divorce, or that I shouldn’t have raised it at your mother’s memorial hall?"

Heir’s wife, your mother...

Such an unfamiliar address was like a steel needle, deeply piercing Song Fang’s heart; she only felt excruciating pain.

Seeing Song Fang silent for a while, Wen Wan curled her lips, "If it’s the former, and you think I shouldn’t propose divorce, then I believe that marrying into your Song family for nine years, supporting my husband, raising children, honoring in-laws, I have never missed a day and owe nothing to anyone. So there’s no reason for you to question me proposing divorce. If it’s the latter, you feel I shouldn’t raise divorce at your mother’s memorial hall..." Wen Wan picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said lightly, "Then I can only tell you, at this moment, I am willing."

"You!" Song Fang’s vision went black, nearly losing her balance.

"Sister-in-law, sit down first, don’t get upset." Xu Jia caught hold of Song Fang.

Song Fang was both angry and furious, but faced with Wen Wan’s nearly callous gaze, she knew the other party was resolute. Soft persuasion was the only option, as hard coercion would not work. Wiping her tears, she pleaded, "After weathering so many years together, what grudges can’t be resolved, must lead to divorce? Sister-in-law, I’m begging you, go back and be with my third brother. He carries too much on his shoulders, the pressure on his mind is greater than anyone, if you leave him at this time, he will completely collapse."

Song Fang cried as she spoke, even attempting to kneel before Wen Wan.

Wen Wan’s hand tightened around the teacup, she lowered her lashes without looking, her tone cold, "The divorce papers are signed, there’s nothing more to say. From now on, both he and I will marry separately, unrelated to each other."

"Sister-in-law!"

Even her own kneeling was useless, Song Fang didn’t know how to sway Wen Wan’s stone-heartedness, crying uncontrollably.

Xu Jia persuaded Song Fang for a long time before finally helping her up from the ground. She looked at Wen Wan with conflicted expressions, "Commandery Princess, can I talk to you alone?"

Wen Wan raised her eyebrows, "Say whatever you have here; the Heir’s wife is your sister-in-law, she can hear too."

Xu Jia glanced at Song Fang, then at Wen Wan, "If the Commandery Princess doesn’t mind, I can say it in front of my sister-in-law."

Wen Wan’s eyes flickered, "Hold on!"

After speaking, she stood up and walked out of the verandah, "Follow me."

Xu Jia secretly breathed a sigh of relief; she knew.

Song Fang saw the two playing charades, her crying halted for a moment, "What can’t you say in front of me?"

Xu Jia said, "It’s a private matter between me and the Commandery Princess, unrelated to others. Sister-in-law, please wait a while, I’ll be back soon."

Without waiting for Song Fang’s reaction, Xu Jia walked out of the verandah, following Wen Wan to the octagonal pavilion with a gabled roof in the back garden of Changning Marquis Mansion.

The weather was gradually cooling; golden thread vines and red lacquer bamboo curtains hung around the pavilion. Inside was a small stove warming wine, and on the stone table were two crack-patterned Ge glaze octagonal goblets.

Wen Wan sat on the stone stool cushioned with flower-and-bird embroidery, politely gesturing for Xu Jia to sit.

After Xu Jia sat down, her expression tensed, "I want to ask, Commandery Princess, is it because of what I said that day that the divorce happened today?"

Wen Wan picked up the dipper, poured wine into the octagonal cup, and pushed one cup to Xu Jia, "The divorce matter is settled; I don’t want to talk about it further."

"But..." Xu Jia was anxious, intending to help, but feeling as if she was making things worse.

"This is Fragrant Spring, specially brewed at my mother’s residence; it tastes good, have a try." Wen Wan pointed to the wine in the octagonal cup.

Xu Jia swallowed back her words, reaching to raise the cup while her sleeve slipped slightly, revealing the quality bracelet on her wrist that Wen Wan saw clearly.

Actually, at Fahua Temple, Wen Wan had noticed it, but Xu Jia had deliberately covered it with her sleeve so Wen Wan didn’t see clearly and assumed it was a jade bracelet. Now, seeing it up close, she realized it was Jade Marrow.

"Blue Jade Marrow, that’s a rare treasure," Wen Wan said.

Xu Jia was surprised that Wen Wan focused on her bracelet, but she forced a smile, "Didn’t expect the Commandery Princess to understand these things."

Wen Wan only smiled silently. After following Song Wei for nine years, her treasure appraisal skill might not match Song Wei’s, but she counted as half an expert.

The bracelet on Xu Jia’s wrist, Wen Wan could tell at a glance, was a veritable treasure.

At least, she had never seen Blue Jade Marrow among Song Wei’s collections, indicating the preciousness of such a thing.

"How does it feel?" Wen Wan asked.

Xu Jia carefully removed the bracelet, "I think your bone structure is similar to mine, why don’t you try it?"

Wen Wan readily accepted, sliding the bracelet onto her wrist.

In an instant, countless images flooded into Song Fang’s mind; some of the people in the images were familiar, others were not, and they flashed by too quickly for Song Fang to recognize who was who. All she felt was a splitting headache.

Xu Jia initially wanted to ask Song Fang how she felt, but when he looked up he saw her clutching her head, seeming to be in excruciating pain, with cold sweat all over her forehead, and her face extremely pale.

"Commandery Princess, Commandery Princess, what’s wrong?"

Xu Jia was shocked and rushed over to support her.

Song Fang propped her head with one hand and handed the hand with the bracelet to Xu Jia.

Xu Jia quickly understood and helped her take off the bracelet.

Song Fang gulped down a cup of warm wine, finally calming down.

Xu Jia was quite frightened by her, "Is the Commandery Princess feeling unwell? Should I send for a doctor?"

Song Fang raised her hand to stop him, "I have occasional headaches; perhaps it just flared up, but it’s nothing serious. I’ll be fine after a bit of rest."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the bracelet that Xu Jia had already taken back, "What’s the background of this thing?"

Being asked this way, Xu Jia’s face warmed slightly, "To be honest, it’s an engagement gift from Sixth Son to me."

Song Fang remembered that the Yun Family had a treasured heirloom, reportedly a bracelet, traditionally passed down to the family head’s wife.

Xu Jia was about to marry Yun Huai, so it was no surprise that the bracelet would be given as an engagement gift from them.

Song Fang was just a bit puzzled as to why wearing it made her see so many strange images, and who were the people in the images, from where?

"Does it have a name?" Song Fang asked.

"Yes, it’s called Blue Sea and Sky," Xu Jia explained, "It’s said to be created from Chang’e’s tears shed in Guanghan Palace, hence the name. It supposedly has a therapeutic effect."

Then, Xu Jia smiled, "There’s another legend about Blue Sea and Sky—that those who wear it will have the ability to foresee. I’ve worn it for quite a while; I indeed feel calmer and less prone to anger, but as for foresight, it seems too absurd and fanciful. It’s likely a rumor spread by the Yun family’s ancestors to exaggerate the value of Blue Sea and Sky."

Song Fang fell into deep thought.

She remembered that when she visited Master Xu Yun at Fahua Temple, he said she needed to succeed, despite facing great difficulties; getting the new emperor to appoint her openly was one challenge, and lacking an assistant was another.

Song Fang had always thought that the "assistant" mentioned by Master Xu Yun was a person, but now it seemed it might be a treasured object.

But Blue Sea and Sky is a token passed to the Yun family head’s wife, so how could it be easily given to her?

Song Fang was troubled; she was a Commandery Princess after all and couldn’t just send someone to steal it. If stealing wasn’t an option, she’d have to ask for it outright, but then Yun Huai and Xu Jia would definitely question the reason.

Being able to foresee is inherently fantastical. Even if she told them, would Yun Huai believe it? Would Xu Jia believe it?

Even if both believed, why would they give her the engagement gift used for their upcoming wedding?

Xu Jia didn’t notice Song Fang’s distraction; she recalled her purpose for coming here, her expression gradually becoming serious, "Since there’s no one else here, could the Commandery Princess tell me why you want a divorce with Mr. Song? My sister-in-law’s emotions are a bit unstable regarding this, I intend to go back and comfort her."

Song Fang sipped her wine, half-jokingly, "I can tell you, but you have to trade it for the bracelet you’re wearing."

Xu Jia showed a difficult expression.

If it were hers, it’d be another story, but it was an engagement gift from Yun Huai. If she gave it to Song Fang, how would she explain its absence to Yun Huai later?

Song Fang knew Xu Jia wouldn’t likely give it to her, so she said, "Being married for a long time, once the novelty wears off, feelings naturally fade. Nine years together, it’s no surprise Song Wei and I have reached this point."

"But you have two children," Xu Jia commented, "Can you leave Mr. Song and them behind?"

Song Fang smirked, "I can calmly leave the Song Mansion to return home and sit here chatting and laughing with you, how else do I need to prove it?"

"I don’t think you’re that kind of person," Xu Jia sensed there was more to the story, yet their acquaintance wasn’t deep enough for Song Fang to reveal to her deeply.

"Then you misunderstand me deeply," Song Fang finished her last sip of wine and directly lifted the curtain to leave.

Watching Song Fang about to leave, Xu Jia bit her lip, "I can’t give you Blue Sea and Sky, but I have my own secret. If I share the secret with you, would you tell me the real reason for the divorce?"

Song Fang laughed, "Why do you think I’d be interested in your secret?"

Xu Jia took a deep breath, "What if I say I know a lot about the past life, especially regarding the Song Mansion?"

Song Fang’s eyes narrowed, she turned back to look at her, "What did you say?"