The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 587: After All These Years, How Can We Divorce?

Chapter 587: After All These Years, How Can We Divorce?

Elder Cao’s eyelids twitched slightly. It seemed he had used a lot of effort but still couldn’t open his eyes. His lips were dry, and he mumbled something.

Nanli leaned in, finally catching the words: "Food... food..."

"..." Nanli’s mouth twitched. She couldn’t just let a loyal minister starve on the street, so she sent Zhixi to buy a bowl of plain congee.

Seeing her trying to move Elder Cao aside, the onlookers offered to help. Nanli shook her head. "I can manage."

Elder Cao’s clothes were filthy, and he carried a strong odor, as if he hadn’t washed in days. Disgusted, she placed a handkerchief under him and dragged him to the side.

Elder Cao leaned against a shop’s post, still looking half-dead. Zhixi quickly returned with the congee. Not being good at taking care of others, Nanli motioned for Zhixi to assist.

"Sure, Sister," Zhixi said, using a small spoon to feed Elder Cao the lukewarm congee, one spoonful after another.

Elder Cao sniffed and opened his mouth slightly, slowly consuming the congee. After half a bowl, he didn’t look rosy, but he regained some strength and managed to open his eyes.

He glanced at Zhixi, then turned his head to look at Nanli, his eyes instantly misting up with various emotions.

Although Nanli found him stubborn and prideful, neglectful of his family, seeing him in such a pitiful state made her feelings of disdain fade away. Look, without a virtuous wife or devoted children, he’s struggling to survive!

"Eat up. If one bowl isn’t enough, have two," she said.

Elder Cao shook his head. "No... the Ninth Princess, I... I don’t want congee. I want... meat."

Nanli rolled her eyes. "Though you have no money, your demands are high." Despite this, she went to buy him a bowl of wontons.

After finishing the congee, Elder Cao looked at Nanli eagerly, clearly wanting more.

"You’ve been starving for at least two days, right? You can only have a little to fill your stomach; don’t overdo it," she said.

Elder Cao realized this and swallowed his disappointment. He still wanted to save face, saying, "The Ninth Princess, I promise to repay you next month for today’s expenses."

Nanli sighed. "Come on, today’s on me. Didn’t you take a hundred taels when you divorced? How could you have spent it all in just a few days?"

A hundred taels could last an ordinary family for half a year. Elder Cao, always frugal, shouldn’t have run out of money so quickly. Could he have been robbed?

As if reading her thoughts, Elder Cao started crying, "I donated ninety taels for disaster relief! I thought it would be enough, but my servant stole the rest and ran away! He’s truly despicable!"

Nanli’s expression soured. "A hundred taels, and you donated ninety? Didn’t you save anything for yourself? That servant seemed honest; how could he steal? Is there a misunderstanding?"

"No misunderstanding!" Elder Cao wiped his tears. "He asked me to hire a couple of women to wash and cook, and I was left with only ten taels! I had to be frugal, and he resented that! He should’ve talked to me about it, not be so cruel and steal my money!"

Zhixi, standing by, murmured, "He’s just overworked. That’s treating him like a beast of burden! With just two hands, how could he do all that?"

Realizing he had been too harsh, Elder Cao’s face flushed, and he no longer sounded as indignant. "He signed a contract; how could he do this...?"

Nanli said, "Anyone who works for you is unfortunate; if I were him, I’d run. No, I’d beat you up first before leaving."

Elder Cao glared at her. "Ninth Princess, don’t be so mean."

"Mean? Fine, I won’t treat you. A bowl of congee and a bowl of wontons cost eighty wen. Please pay up."

Elder Cao’s face stiffened. He finally managed to squeeze out, "I said I’d pay you back next month."

Nanli asked, "Do you have any jade pendants or valuables?"

"None," Elder Cao replied, acting as if it was perfectly reasonable. "I’m clean-handed and dedicated to the people, unlike your Second Brother, who wears gold and silver!"

Nanli chuckled. "You’re mistaken; my Second Brother only wears gold."

Elder Cao was too tired to argue and forced himself to stand. "Never mind, I’ll pay you back later. Please take me a short distance."

Nanli quickly stepped back. "No way. You haven’t bathed in days, and your clothes are filthy. You can’t ride in my carriage."

So he really was just trying to scam her! Her impression of Elder Cao changed rapidly.

Elder Cao, frustrated, said, "I’m in this state, and you won’t help me? Do you have no compassion?"

"Not for you," Nanli replied bluntly.

"..." Elder Cao was momentarily at a loss for words. But Nanli’s intuition kicked in. "You’re not planning to borrow money from Lady Madam Li, are you?"

Coughing, Elder Cao stammered, "Ah, no! What borrowing? I’m going to have a good talk with her. After all these years, how can we divorce?"

Nanli couldn’t help rolling her eyes again. She crossed her arms. "Elder Cao, it won’t help to go. Lady Madam Li and Young Master Li have been through life and death together; they won’t turn back."

"I haven’t said anything yet; how do you know it won’t work?" Elder Cao leaned against the wall, trembling.

Zhixi noticed he was swaying and quickly supported him. "Sister, he looks too pitiful. Shouldn’t we take him?"

Nanli sighed, "Zhixi, you don’t know the details. It’s better not to get involved."

"There’s a saying: Better to teach someone to hit their child than to teach them to divorce their wife. Since he regrets it, why not help him out and accumulate some good karma?" Zhixi’s innocent face radiated sincerity.

Quite frankly, it was foolishness. Nanli felt helpless and ruffled his hair. "Fine, let’s see what it looks like when someone has no shame and feels invincible."

Zhixi beamed and helped Elder Cao into the carriage.

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