After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 6 will probably disappoint you.
Bai Wanqing shook her head slightly, "Mother, I have never heard him mention it, and I do not know what kind of official position he obtained."

When Chen heard Bai Wanqing's reply, she was displeased. However, she did have a distant relationship with Bai Wanqing. But the girl was lucky; she married a poor scholar who actually passed the imperial examination and became an official. Meng Zhan was so young and had a promising future. Now that Bai Wanqing was rejecting her so politely, she couldn't make a scene. For the sake of her two children, she had no choice but to suppress her temper.

Madam Chen smiled awkwardly, "Qing'er, no matter what, you are still a daughter of the Bai family. No matter how high or far you go in the future, you must not forget your younger brothers and sisters. You must help each other out."

Bai Wanqing smiled secretly, then nodded and said repeatedly, "Mother is absolutely right. We are all members of the Bai family. No matter what happens to anyone, we should support each other."

Seeing Bai Wanqing's softened attitude, Madam Chen was secretly pleased. With the connection to Bai Wanqing's husband's family, her daughter might also have a chance to marry into an official's family. Perhaps then, they could also help her son. The Bai family's lowly position in the business world might finally change.

Thinking of this, Chen was no longer annoyed by Bai Wanqing's still aloof face; instead, she became happier the more she looked at her.

Just then, two girls came running into the flower hall one after the other. As soon as they entered the room, they greeted Bai Wanqing politely, "Hello, elder sister."

Bai Wanqing smiled and stood up to return the greeting, "Hello, both of you sisters."

The two young ladies in front of me are the second and third young ladies of the Bai family, born to Concubine Chen. After Concubine Chen was elevated to the position of principal wife, they can be considered her biological sisters.

"Big sister, you haven't been back for so long, Lian'er missed you so much!" The first person to hug Bai Wanqing's arm was Bai Qinglian, her third younger sister, who was fourteen years old this year.

Standing before them, head bowed, was Bai Furong, her second younger sister. She looked at Bai Wanqing, her face flushed, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Madam Chen glared at Bai Furong, then began to speak up for Qinglian, "Qinglian, didn't you prepare a gift for your eldest sister? Hurry up and take it out so your eldest sister can see it."

Qinglian nodded obediently, then took out a blue embroidered pouch from her body, which was embroidered with the peony flower that Bai Wanqing loved the most. "Big sister, this is a new embroidery technique that I learned. I know you like peonies, so I specially embroidered one for you."

Bai Wanqing smiled as she accepted Bai Qinglian's embroidery pouch. The stitches were fine and the peony flowers were lifelike. In particular, the stamens of the peony flowers were replaced with some brightly colored pearls, showing that she had indeed put some thought into it.

Bai Wanqing accepted the gift with a faint smile, "Thank you, Third Sister."

Bai Furong was unaware that Bai Qinglian had prepared a gift for Bai Wanqing. Seeing her third sister giving her a gift, she felt a little embarrassed and could only lower her head even further. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out, "Big sister, I'm sorry, I didn't prepare anything."

Bai Wanqing smiled and said, "Second sister, there's no need to apologize. If that's the case, then when I go home, I should bring you all some gifts. It's me who was impolite first."

Seeing that the topic had gone off track, Madam Chen interjected, "Qing'er, look at your two younger sisters in front of you, one is fourteen and the other is sixteen. They are also of marriageable age. I've already started looking at some families in Furong. We've found a few suitable candidates, so it's about time we got engaged."

"As for Qinglian, she hasn't found a suitable family yet. Now that your son-in-law has an official position, he'll probably make friends with other officials' sons. Why don't you ask him to help your third sister find a suitable match? That would be a good match for her."

Bai Wanqing sneered inwardly. Aunt Chen had put in a lot of effort today to say those words, both by smiling obsequiously and by giving her pearls.

She had heard about Furong's marriage, which was arranged not long after she got married. Originally, Qinglian's marriage was also to be considered together, but she was too picky and looked down on several families she was considered for, disliking them because they were all sons of ordinary merchants.

Her father had mentioned this matter to her before, hoping that she could help find a suitable match. She did indeed look for some families, all of whom were scholars studying at the academy like Meng Zhan. Although their family backgrounds were average, they were all promising young men. However, Bai Qinglian rejected them all, complaining that she couldn't bear the hardship and that those poor scholars would never pass the imperial examinations. She felt that she, as the older sister, was pushing her into a pit of fire.

That's how Bai Qinglian's marriage was put on hold. But unexpectedly, now that Meng Zhan has obtained an official position, Chen Shi has come to her again for help.

"Mother, I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you." Bai Wanqing sighed softly.

Thinking that Bai Wanqing was still holding grudges about the past, Madam Chen's face immediately darkened as she said, "Qing'er, what do you mean by that? Don't let a little resentment prevent you from helping your sister!"

Qinglian, who was standing to the side, could no longer sit still. "Yes! Eldest sister, now that you are an official's wife, you can't forget your younger sister. If I could also marry into an official family, wouldn't that be a good thing for you too?"

Madam Chen was very pleased with Qinglian's cleverness and agreed wholeheartedly. "Your sister is right. If she can become an official's wife in the future, she will definitely help her out of consideration for the sisterhood of the Bai family." Bai Wanqing shook her head again, which made Madam Chen and her daughter unable to keep up the pretense any longer.

"Bai Wanqing, don't think you're so great just because you're now an official's wife. You've only married a poor scholar, haven't you? Even without your help, I, Bai Qinglian, can still marry into a high-ranking family. Don't regret your behavior then." Bai Qinglian was furious, completely losing her previous obedient demeanor.

Madam Chen immediately rebuked, "That's right, Bai Wanqing, you've really gone too far today. My daughter and I tried to persuade you with kind words, but you wouldn't listen. So don't blame us. When Lian'er marries into a wealthy family, you'd better keep a low profile and don't even think about letting Master Meng benefit from it."

Seeing her mother and sister being so aggressive, Bai Furong couldn't help but interject, "Mother, Qinglian, what are you doing? Whether or not eldest sister helps must be her own consideration. Why are you making things difficult for her like this!"

"Considerations?" Bai Qinglian said indignantly, "What considerations could she possibly have? She's just afraid that I'll marry into a family of higher social standing than hers, and she's just jealous."

Bai Wanqing sneered, "Third sister, you really are my good sister. Originally, I was worried that my matter would delay your marriage, but now it seems that I don't have that burden anymore. However, I'm afraid your wish to marry into a high-ranking family cannot be fulfilled."

Both Chen and her daughter were stunned, and Bai Qinglian angrily questioned, "What do you mean by that?"

Bai Wanqing looked at Bai Qinglian and said calmly, "I have already discussed a divorce with Meng Zhan. I came back today to tell my father about this."

What? Divorce?

When Chen and Bai Qinglian heard that Bai Wanqing wanted a divorce, they jumped up from their chairs.

"Why? Why do you want a divorce?" Madam Chen demanded angrily. "If you divorce me, what will happen to the Bai family's daughter! Your sister Qinglian isn't even engaged yet!"

Bai Wanqing smiled and briefly told Chen Shi about Meng Zhan and Liu Qianjin's affair, as well as how Meng Zhan immediately threw the letter of divorce at her. Chen Shi gradually lost her previous momentum.

Bai Qinglian was visibly panicked. Bai Wanqing had become a divorced woman and offended the Meng and Liu families. She had no hope of marrying into a high-ranking family, or even a slightly prestigious merchant family. She turned and glared fiercely at Bai Wanqing.

"I never thought my eldest sister was so useless. She's been married for half a year and still hasn't been able to keep her husband's heart."

"Now your husband is even considering divorcing you for another woman. You are a disgrace to the Bai family sisters."

Bai Qinglian yelled at Bai Wanqing, who helplessly tugged at the corners of her mouth, but she did not forget to remind her, "Mother, Third Sister, things have come to this point, and divorce is an irreversible outcome. I advise you not to go to the Meng family or make a scene outside. This matter can be big or small, and it all depends on Prefect Liu's decision."

Chen cursed angrily, "You're a daughter of the Bai family, and now you're siding with the family that wants to divorce you to threaten us?"

Bai Wanqing said frankly, "I am a daughter of the Bai family, so naturally I am considering the interests of the Bai family. If Mother is not afraid of offending the Liu family, Wanqing can choose not to divorce. At worst, she can fight the Meng family to the death, even if it means mutual destruction."

Mrs. Chen was shocked, then fell silent. How could she not know the implications?

Seeing that she had said everything she needed to say, Bai Wanqing didn't linger any longer. "Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now." With that, she and Ruixin left.

Inside the house, Bai Qinglian, sobbing, threw herself into Chen's arms. "Mother, what am I supposed to do with Bai Wanqing like this? If she really divorces me, my life will be over. I'll have to go to a nunnery to become a nun!"

Seeing her daughter so heartbroken, Madam Chen felt a pang of sympathy. She pressed her brow, silently cursing Bai Wanqing a thousand times over. But that was the Liu family! If it were just the Meng family, the Bai family might be able to put up a fight. Good heavens! Why was her daughter so unlucky to have such a useless older sister?

She needs to think of another way.

(End of this chapter)