Chapter 14: Stood Up [4]

“Perhaps it was a mistake to have you marry Jing Nuo in the first place. It may have been a disservice to you,” Elder Jing said, watching the tense standoff between the two, feeling a twinge of regret for imposing his own will.

“Dad, how can you say that? You’ve only ever had my best interests at heart, always thinking of me. But Jing Nuo’s heart isn’t something that can be controlled by others,” Wen Xiaorou replied, firmly believing in Elder Jing’s kindness toward her; otherwise, he wouldn’t have designated her as the young mistress of the Jing family.

Sighing, Elder Jing said helplessly, “Now, all I hope is that you and Jing Nuo will have a child soon. That way, Jing Nuo won’t dare to act recklessly.”

He had already scolded Jing Nuo earlier that morning. Although he could deceive the matriarch, Elder Jing knew in his heart that their marriage was merely a formality, a performance Jing Nuo was putting on for his sake.

Wen Xiaorou nodded silently, but inside she was struggling. The task was immense—how could she possibly accomplish it? She couldn’t resort to tricks or manipulation with Jing Nuo. Yet seeing Elder Jing’s hopeful expression, she couldn’t admit that she might fail. After all, bearing an heir was part of her duty as the young mistress of the Jing family.

As she left the study, Wen Xiaorou sighed deeply, only to almost immediately run into Mrs. Jing. It was unclear whether it was bad luck or if Mrs. Jing was deliberately waiting for her.

“Have you and Jing Nuo been sleeping apart since last night—or have you always been sleeping apart?” Mrs. Jing looked at Wen Xiaorou with an expression that was difficult to read. As a woman herself, she felt some sympathy for Wen Xiaorou; marrying her son was like living a widow’s life—he was never around, and when he was, it was almost worse than not seeing him at all.

“Mom…” Wen Xiaorou was at a loss for words, the topic too blunt. She couldn’t even finish calling her “Mom.”

“You should be more proactive, or else some other woman will steal him away. When that happens, don’t expect me to side with you,” Mrs. Jing said, her gaze mingling pity and disdain. Between her grandson and this daughter-in-law, her loyalty was naturally with her grandson.

“I understand,” Wen Xiaorou nodded, relieved she hadn’t been scolded.

Mrs. Jing sighed, shaking her head as she left. She hoped Wen Xiaorou would understand and take her words to heart. By appearances, Wen Xiaorou was a top-tier beauty. Few men could resist such allure. Their strained relationship surely wasn’t all Wen Xiaorou’s fault. If she were to seduce Jing Nuo just a little, he wouldn’t be able to hold back. Conceiving a child wouldn’t be difficult at all.

Back in her room, Wen Xiaorou wrestled with her thoughts. Elder Jing wanted her to have a child; Mrs. Jing urged her to be more forward; Jing Nuo said she didn’t even have the right to choose to be apart. Was this a slow death sentence? Was she truly to live the rest of her life like this, adversarial with Jing Nuo? Would having a child make him treat her better? Would he become more attentive to the family?

She had no confidence that Jing Nuo would change. If anything, she doubted herself—and even more so, her child.

After much deliberation, Wen Xiaorou finally resolved to try—to take the initiative to seduce Jing Nuo. But inexperienced, she didn’t know how to begin or how to entice him. So she turned to watching TV dramas at home, hoping to learn how cunning women ensnared their leading men. Yet after watching for a long while, she realized she couldn’t imitate them. She even wished she lived in ancient times, where she could simply wrap herself in a blanket and be carried in, without worrying about any of it herself.

As the sun set, Wen Xiaorou’s heart tightened with anxiety. She was uncertain how to carry out her plan, and more afraid that Jing Nuo might not even come home, denying her any chance to seduce him.