Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 98

Shen Tangning tilted her head slightly, her expression calm and unruffled as she looked at him. Her eyes were clear but cold. “Is there anything else, Young Master?”

Under her distant and polite attitude, Chi Jingyu inexplicably felt a flash of irritation. He furrowed his brows and said, “If I agree to your terms, does that mean we’ll have nothing more to do with each other afterward?”

He mulled it over carefully. Since he had been dreaming of Shen Tangning all along, perhaps the root of the problem lay with her. If she agreed to sever ties with him, maybe those dreams would stop.

She almost wanted to laugh — clearly, it was he who had come looking for her, but he spoke as if she had been the one pestering him nonstop.

Shen Tangning had no desire to argue. She said straightforwardly, “Exactly.”

Chi Jingyu’s gaze settled, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. “Alright, I’ll agree.”

He pressed his lips together, seeming a little reluctant to say it, “But I don’t have that much silver on me right now. In a couple of days… I’ll have someone deliver it to you.”

With that, he refused to spare her another glance, swept his sleeve, and turned away.

Shen Tangning rested her chin on her hand and watched him leave, eyes thoughtful.

Clearly, Chi Jingyu had been shaken — probably some condition in his head.

Three thousand taels… He must not understand how big the Hou family’s wealth really was!

But a freebie is a freebie — why turn it down?

She curled a small smile and turned back — only to unexpectedly bump into a solid chest. Startled, she stepped back, but a hand steadied her shoulder.

Chi Yan, eyes half-lidded with amusement, stared at her intently. His voice carried a teasing tone: “Madam, you’re amazing — you earned thirty thousand taels in less than a single incense stick’s time. Truly a business genius!”

Shen Tangning looked up at him, slightly stunned, her cheeks flushing. She quickly regained her composure. “Why are you eavesdropping?”

Seeing she was steady on her feet, Chi Yan released her shoulder, folding his arms with a half-serious sigh. “Can’t help it. You almost got kidnapped just now!”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Shen Tangning shot him a glare, curious. “If you heard it all, why didn’t you speak up before?”

Chi Yan raised an eyebrow, voice teasing, “I didn’t want to interrupt your business negotiations.”

Shen Tangning laughed, her eyes shimmering with warmth.

Suddenly, Chi Yan cleared his throat awkwardly, as if trying not to draw attention, “Actually, I’m pretty well off, too.”

She looked at him, puzzled.

He coughed softly, serious in tone, “If you like silver, I’ll put my little stash under your management from now on.”

Shen Tangning blinked, meeting his sincere and fervent gaze. In that moment, something brushed lightly across her heart. Her pulse quickened.

Her lashes fluttered twice. Nearby, the faint sound of footsteps on dry leaves approached. Chi Yan glanced up but said nothing.

Shen Tangning also stayed silent.

After a moment, Jiang Qingyue came out from behind the crescent moon door, her eyes glinting mischievously. “Why are you two running off from the guests to hide here?”

Shen Tangning smiled faintly. “Qingyue, what a surprise.”

Jiang Qingyue blushed, stammering, “I drank too much tea… and got a bit lost.”

Chi Yan nodded understandingly, “You two talk. I’ll head back first.”

Shen Tangning understood and smiled at Jiang Qingyue, “Let me show you the way.”

Walking side by side, Jiang Qingyue’s gaze flickered, her voice tinged with melancholy, “Ningning, I really envy you.”

Shen Tangning paused and looked at her. “Why do you say that?”

Lowering her eyes, Jiang Qingyue’s face showed a trace of envy. “Everyone said the second young master Chi was useless. When you married him, no one had any hope for you. But who would’ve thought he’d turn out like this? It’s clear you’re the lucky one.”

Lucky?

A faint emotion crossed Shen Tangning’s eyes. She suddenly smiled wryly, “Luck is such a vague thing. You only see the shine I show the world — but how could you know the hardships behind it?”

The first half of her life had indeed been smooth: family background, beauty, a good husband — all gained effortlessly. From the outside, no one could claim she had it worse than anyone else.

But in the latter half, she lost everything important one by one, paying a terrible price.

She glanced meaningfully at Jiang Qingyue. “If you ask me, your fate isn’t bad either.”

Jiang Qingyue blinked, not quite understanding, and forced a bitter smile. “Don’t tease me.”

Shen Tangning didn’t explain. She brushed aside trembling flower branches and said, “But your stepmother is giving you trouble again, isn’t she?”

Jiang Qingyue’s background was complicated. Her father was a fourth-rank official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, overseeing rituals and palace music — a position with little influence and no hope of promotion. Her mother died when she was young, and her father remarried within a year. Her stepmother’s behavior made life difficult for Jiang Qingyue.

Tears flickered in her eyes as she bit her lip hard. “You don’t know. She’s forcing me to marry Xiao Yu — that scoundrel! If I marry him, it’s like jumping into a pit of fire!”

Shen Tangning’s eyes flickered, and she spoke slowly, “Xiao Yu is reckless, but not a bad man at heart. I heard his mother is kind. He won’t treat you too harshly. If you can take control at home, it won’t be hard. Overall, this marriage isn’t that bad.”

She spoke the truth. Xiao Yu’s father was a mighty general with a second-rank official title. The Jiang family was already reaching high by this alliance. Jiang Qingyue’s stepmother had obvious ambitions, but it wasn’t unfair to Jiang Qingyue.

Xiao Yu himself had a bad reputation among the noble sons, but he didn’t drink, gamble, or womanize — his only flaw was chasing after Miss Pingting. But Pingting had passed away, so that wasn’t an issue anymore.

Jiang Qingyue’s eyes darkened. She sobbed softly, “Do you really think this is a good match? If this were your fate, would you accept it?”

Resentment welled inside her — Shen Tangning spoke with ease because she wasn’t the one suffering. She could afford to be aloof and cold!

Shen Tangning calmly countered, “When I married Chi Yan, wasn’t I also in dire straits?”

Honestly, not knowing Chi Yan’s nature at the time, she had no other choice but to take a gamble.

And in the end, Chi Yan didn’t disappoint her.

Jiang Qingyue truly hated the marriage, and Shen Tangning felt no need to push further. She said evenly, “I’m just analyzing. If you don’t want it, you don’t have to force yourself.”

Jiang Qingyue was strong enough to become the favored concubine of the Third Prince; she didn’t need Shen Tangning’s concern.

“The quiet room is ready.”

Jiang Qingyue’s palm suddenly hurt. She looked at Shen Tangning’s graceful, serene profile, and her eyes darkened imperceptibly. That emotion, called jealousy, took root deep inside.

Why was Shen Tangning always so lucky?

Even the scoundrel she randomly picked was a genius with great potential!

If only she could fall from her high perch and struggle in the mud for once — wouldn’t that be wonderful?