Su Hele snatched the booklet and flipped through it quickly.
Sure enough, it was full of the names of young ladies, some marked prominently.
Su Hele's mind went blank for a moment, and then a towering anger welled up inside her.
She flung the booklet away, then swept all the things on the table to the ground. Even so, she still felt far from relieved. She pulled out the scrolls on the bookshelf one by one and threw them on the floor.
She repeated this until she was exhausted, her hands shaking so much that she could hardly hold a book. Then she slowly slid down against the bookshelf.
Su Hele's face was flushed red, her chest heaving violently, and her ears were filled with a buzzing sound.
She had almost spent all her fortune to help He Jin regain his official position, and in return, He Jin wanted to take a concubine. How dared he treat her like this!
Just then, Su Mo pushed the door open. Seeing the mess in the room, she couldn't help but be stunned.
The usually straight - backed Su Hele was now sitting slumped on the floor, looking utterly unkempt. There was a large black stain on her moon - white skirt, extremely conspicuous.
A writing inkstone had rolled to her feet, and the not - yet - completely dry ink was oozing out, slowly spreading on the floor.
Before Su Mo could react, Su Hele suddenly looked up, her voice shrill:
"Get out!"
Su Mo quickly lowered her eyes and retreated, not daring to even breathe loudly.
She stood outside for more than an hour before she heard Su Hele call her in.
When she reopened the study door, Su Hele had returned to normal. Her hair was neatly done, her expression calm, except for the stain on her skirt.
"Clean this up."
With that, Su Hele held her head high and walked out of the door, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
...
When He Jin returned to the guest room, he found Su Hele sitting on a mahogany chair with her back to him, constantly rubbing something in her hand.
"What are you doing here?"
Was she here to apologize to him? But every time before, she had waited outside the door.
Su Hele slowly stood up and showed him what was in her hand with a smile:
"Husband, I've had the painting we made together that day framed. Take a look and see if you like it."
Seeing her acting like this again, He Jin felt extremely annoyed and said coldly:
"Just put it there. I don't have time to appreciate such useless things now."
Hearing this, Su Hele tightened her grip on the scroll suddenly, then quietly loosened it. She hung the scroll on the wall beside on her own.
"Then I'll leave it here. Husband will be able to see it as soon as you wake up."
After hanging the painting, she took a small step back, carefully examining it, her tone full of admiration:
"Husband painted really well."
He Jin was too lazy to respond: "Get out after hanging the painting. I'm tired."
Su Hele's body stiffened, and she didn't say a word for a long time.
Just when He Jin was about to urge her again, he heard her say softly:
"Husband, you've collected the names of unmarried young ladies in the capital. What do you want to do?"
Su Hele didn't turn around, and her voice was no longer as gentle as before.
He Jin was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood. He frowned and said:
"Who allowed you to break into my study without permission?"
Su Hele didn't answer, but just insisted:
"Husband hasn't told me yet. What do you want to do by collecting the names of unmarried young ladies in the capital!"
She didn't believe that He Jin would treat her like this. He must have some difficulties.
As long as he told her, she would surely find a way to solve them for him.
Wasn't it because of her reminder that He Jin had thought of a way to regain his official position before?
It was rare to hear Su Hele speak in such an aggressive tone, which made He Jin feel a bit guilty.
When Nanny Wang had brought the booklet that day, he had just flipped through it casually. He hadn't really intended to choose a concubine so soon.
After waiting for a while and not hearing He Jin speak, Su Hele finally turned around, her voice returning to its gentle tone:
"I knew this wasn't husband's intention. It must be some vulgar person who wanted to sow discord between us, so they put that booklet there."
Hearing this, the last bit of He Jin's guilt disappeared:
"Is taking a concubine vulgar? Well, I'll just tell you. You've been in the mansion for half a year and still have no children. You can't carry on the family line for our Marquis Mansion, so I should naturally take a concubine."
"I've only been in the mansion for half a year. How can you say I can't carry on the family line? I won't allow you to take a concubine!"
Su Hele's voice suddenly rose. He Jin actually dared to admit it!
Looking at Su Hele's resentful face, He Jin sneered:
"You won't allow it? If you weren't so useless and kept causing trouble and embarrassing me, why would our Second Branch be suppressed so badly? You still dare to say no. Where do you get your confidence from!"
"When have I ever embarrassed you? All those things before were just because those vulgar people didn't understand me. Now even you don't understand me. Have you forgotten your promise to me before?"
"I kept my promise and married you, but all you've done is embarrass me. Even now, you still don't know your mistakes. If you were really innocent, why would your reputation get worse and worse every day? You're not even as good as Su Nansheng, a concubine."
It was fine that He Xun always outshone him, but now even his family members had to outshine him. He was naturally not willing to accept this.
"I'm not as good as Su Nansheng? You actually say I'm not as good as Su Nansheng? I'm noble in character, dignified and virtuous. Where am I not as good as that vulgar Su Nansheng!"
Su Hele flew into a rage, suddenly taking a step forward. Her face was flushed red, and her voice was so shrill that it was hoarse.
Seeing her like this, He Jin looked even more impatient and scolded:
"Look at yourself now. Where is there any trace of nobility? You're clearly a crazy woman!"
Hearing this, Su Hele's expression froze for a moment, then she gritted her teeth and said:
"Anyway, I won't allow you to take a concubine!"
"I'm too lazy to watch you go crazy here!"
He Jin snorted coldly and slammed the door as he left.
Su Hele stared fixedly at his back, her whole body trembling.
That night, He Jin stormed out of the mansion in anger and didn't return all night. The candle in Su Hele's room burned all night.
...
The commotion between the two was so great that it was impossible to hide it from others. So Su Nansheng heard the news from Bi Tao as soon as possible.
Although she had long known that He Jin was a heartless and ungrateful man, his idea of taking a concubine at this time still surprised Su Nansheng.
Su Hele had just spent money to help him regain his official position, and now he openly wanted to take a concubine?
Sure enough, he was a heartless and cruel person.
Su Nansheng was still sighing when she saw Bi Tao looking hesitant to speak.
Su Nansheng shook her head helplessly. Here she goes again.
"Just say it. What's the matter?"
"Mistress, do you know the reason why the Second Young Master wants to take a concubine?"
Bi Tao was being mysterious.
Su Nansheng shook her head. She was too lazy to think about it. No matter what the reason was, it was just an excuse.
"The Second Young Master said that the Second Young Mistress has been in the mansion for half a year but still hasn't given birth to any children, so he wants to take a concubine."
Bi Tao said carefully and meaningfully.
Su Nansheng paused in her movements and immediately understood what Bi Tao meant.
She and Su Hele had both been married into the Marquis Mansion for half a year.