Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 344 - 199 Qu Hongling Visits_2

Chapter 344: Chapter 199 Qu Hongling Visits_2

Jiang Shouzhong left, and Ran Qingchen returned to the courtyard.

Seeing Jinxiu sitting on the threshold, resting her chin on her hands and looking downhearted, the woman approached with a smile, "Regretting now, aren’t you? I told you to be bold. Or maybe tonight, you should shamelessly offer to warm our son-in-law’s bed?"

Jinxiu responded in a muffled voice, "Miss, you’ve changed."

"How have I changed?"

Ran Qingchen sat beside the young girl, gently embracing Jinxiu’s plump body.

Inhaling the refreshing fragrance of her lady, Jinxiu pondered for a moment before saying, "I don’t know exactly, but I feel that you have changed, like you truly don’t care about our son-in-law anymore. Before, you seemed to care a bit."

Ran Qingchen smiled faintly, "Jinxiu, do you think I liked our son-in-law before?"

Jinxiu moved her lips, unsure of how to answer.

If she said yes, it would seem too false.

Ran Qingchen gazed at the distant, azure sky and said softly, "I indeed used to care a lot about Jiang Mo, but this care wasn’t affection; it was a brutal possession."

"You’ve been with me long enough to know my character. Although I sometimes say I don’t care and appear open-minded, deep down, I am someone with a strong desire to possess."

"If it’s not mine, even if I like it, I don’t want it. If it is mine, even if I don’t like it, I won’t let anyone take it away.

I never planned to marry Jiang Mo. It’s not that I looked down on him. Of course, at the beginning, I indeed felt he wasn’t worthy of me. But as I got to know him, he proved to be remarkable, different from other men."

"Furthermore, I misjudged him; his talent in cultivation is actually quite good. Last night, his sword practice truly shocked me..."

At this point, Ran Qingchen’s cheeks turned pink, slightly warm.

The woman then recalled the intimate embrace she shared with him.

Ran Qingchen composed herself and continued, "But I chose a path meant to be walked alone, afraid it might harm him. I wish to learn from Li Guanshi, to view everything as nothing. In such a state, if he and I truly became husband and wife, it would end up hurting him in the end."

"A few days ago, I found myself in a very ethereal and profound state, which allowed me to more rationally inspect my past actions. You know, Jinxiu, when I saw myself acting like that, I truly felt disgusted, just like a white lotus pretending to be noble yet acting foolish and cheap."

Ran Qingchen tucked a slightly curly strand of hair behind her ear, but more loose strands fell in front of her face, revealing an indescribable melancholy and desolation.

She gently patted Jinxiu’s shoulder, "So, you see, one shouldn’t hold on to things unwillingly; it’s not right.

"In any case, I will fulfill my duties as a wife, protect my husband, and sincerely wish him happiness.

"The moment I grasped my mother’s sword, I felt, as if predestined, that I was going to lose something, so I had to make a decision, to strive for... I don’t know if my choice is right or wrong, but having chosen, there’s no point dwelling on it anymore."

"What if, I mean, if... you end up falling for our son-in-law?" Jinxiu asked.

Ran Qingchen looked lost for a moment, then said self-mockingly, "Then I guess I’ll just have to bear the consequences of my own actions, as I’ve always done since I was little."

Jinxiu clenched her fists and said seriously, "Miss, you must never write a divorce letter! Once it’s written, you become an ex-wife, and if you then fall for our son-in-law, you can only be a concubine."

"As long as the title of wife remains, even if the son-in-law has many wives and concubines, your position as the main wife never changes."

"I’m telling you, Miss, once you become an ex-wife, the status difference is truly like heaven and earth. I’ll listen to you in other matters, but on this subject of the divorce letter, you have to listen to me!"

Ran Qingchen laughed, pinching the girl’s rosy cheeks, "My Jinxiu has a point, then we won’t let him write that letter."

"Hehe."

Jinxiu hugged her lady, her lips curling up into a smile.

The maid actually harbored little schemes of her own; if her lady became a concubine in the future, then as a maid, her status would be even lower.

Only if her lady maintained the position of the main wife could she walk confidently.

...

After dismissing the scheming maid, Ran Qingchen returned to the study.

Just as Ran Qingchen lightly touched the door, about to push it open, an inexplicable alertness shot through her spine like electricity.

The woman’s nerves tensed suddenly, her eyes sharpening in an instant.

She hesitated for a moment, then gently pushed the door open.

At the same time, her other hand quietly slid towards her waist, securely grasping the handle of her sword sheath, her fingertips lightly poised, ready to strike.

In the study, a burst of bright red caught the eye.

A young girl in red was standing prettily in front of the desk, carefully tending to a vibrant orchid.

The sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting mottled patterns on her, coating her slender figure with a layer of soft golden glow. The interplay of light and shadow made her look even more ethereal and beautiful.

Ran Qingchen gazed at the woman who had twice fought with her in a "clothes-tearing" brawl, her phoenix eyes slightly squinted.

"Hello, Danai," she said.

The girl turned gracefully, like a lotus blossoming, lighting up the room.

Qu Hongling greeted her warmly, her smile sweet, "Let’s not start fighting just yet. I have some important clues to discuss with you."

Ran Qingchen hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the study.

The door closed by itself.

Ran Qingchen stared coldly at the other party, "You’re bold to have sneaked into the Liushan Division."

"Sneaked?"

Qu Hongling blinked her playful eyes, her smile brimming with craftiness, a sly twinkle flitting across her eyes and brows,

"Danai, I visited quite openly. If you have doubts, you can ask the guard at the gate. I merely casually mentioned that I am a colleague friend of Lord Ran, just here to discuss some official business, and they let me in readily," she explained.

Ran Qingchen’s brows furrowed slightly, not believing that the woman was lying.

Because this young girl, with her seemingly innocent and harmless appearance, showed not a trace of demonic aura, like a natural, pure spring... It was hard for ordinary people to recognize her as a demon.

Had she not revealed her identity voluntarily last time, even she would have been unable to determine it.

However, what annoyed her was, even if they couldn’t identify a demon, didn’t those guards check the Identity Token? Didn’t they know to report it?

Apparently, their brains shut down at the sight of a beautiful girl.

"I have a question for you," she said.

Ran Qingchen scanned the surroundings with her Divine Sense, confirming that the other had no accomplices, and a trace of curiosity arose in her astonished heart.

"Please ask, sister," Qu Hongling replied, her tone cheerful and polite.

Ran Qingchen stared intently into her eyes, asking, "Are you the new Sect Master of Sky Demon Sect... Qu Hongling?"

"What do you think, Danai?"

Qu Hongling gently placed an orchid pot by the carved wooden window, not waiting for a reply, she parted her red lips lightly, "If Lord Ran wants to talk to our Sect Master, I can introduce you, but Lord Ran would have to personally make a trip into the Ten Thousand Mountains."

"So you are not?"

Ran Qingchen’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, somewhat disappointed.

"Why would a Sect Master wander around so casually," Qu Hongling teased, "Lord Ran, if you think so, then I can represent the Sect Master."

Ran Qingchen, unable to decide and not bothered to guess, asked coldly, "Say it, what are you here for."

"Regarding the earlier investigation at Mengyao Pavilion, has Lord Ran made any progress?" Qu Hongling asked, hands behind her back.

Ran Qingchen’s eyebrows raised, "Why should I tell you? Besides, with your protector Jin Ao of Sky Demon Sect still at large, aren’t you just here to show off?"

"I’m not that bored," Qu Hongling said with a smile, "I just want to see if you’re worth collaborating with. If you are, I’ll share with you a crucial clue I know, a clue that could even save many lives in Qingzhou."

Ran Qingchen’s face showed scorn, "Hmph, why should I trust you?"

"Because I called you ’Danai,’ see, I’m showing such sincerity, shouldn’t you reciprocate?"

Qu Hongling laughed playfully, her words tinged with cheekiness and banter.

Seeing the woman’s face stern and silent, Qu Hongling’s face flashed with a hint of disinterest, and she waved her hand, "Forget it, so boring. To get back to the point... There will be a demon dragon appearing in Qingzhou in the next few days."