05. No, thank you!

Xiaoqing turned her head and saw her mother rushing out and pointing at servants. "Let her go, I order you."

They looked at their master that just rose his eyebrows. "Do as I said. I am the master and that place no one can take away from me."

Hearing his words they swiftly dragged the struggling woman away while her father patted her head and took his young son into his arms. "You are good older sister. For a while, I was afraid you would dislike your brother, but I was wrong. You are Lee, after all."

Her mother stood frozen stiff in the middle of the yard as he passed her completely ignoring her. Xiaoqing took Zhenzhens hand and smiled at her. "Some servant doesn't, some do deserve punishment. Come, let's look for butterflies. I saw some pretty ones in a big garden."

Zhenzhen just shrugged and they rushed away, leaving the woman standing there completely alone as her face became pale in desperation.

In a child's bedroom, Lee Mingli held his son and slowly put him into his bed. Looking at him sleeping like a small pig he smiled and then turned his head towards nearest servant girl.

"Your name is Rouxi?" He saw shy girl nodding. "Rouxi, from today on your only duty is to take care of him. No matter who says what, your duty is to be around him constantly. Understood?"

Rouxi bowed deeply. ''It's going to be my honour." She stood next to the bed and watched him in sleep while Lee Mingli walked to his study.

Just as he started reading some scrolls, the door was pushed open and furious woman walked in. "How can you do that to me? She is my only servant I can trust."

He rose his head and then continued reading while answering to her. "She tried to seduce me in mid of everything, how ridiculous."

His wife just shrugged. "I told her to take a chance with you. She is pretty and served me good. If you need concubine I wanted to appoint her to..." But then stopped as his face became darker and darker. "Husband..."

"Get out. It seems you don't like me enough. We have already two children and your heart is still with that man. Are you that disgusted with me that you want me to appoint another woman for me? Wife, you know me well. The moment I touch the other woman, I will never come back to you. Can you handle that?" He still tried to explain to her, but her face just remained empty. This time he gave up.

For eight years he was married to her. At first, she hated even him being near her, but from one day to other she chose to become his real wife. He was so happy until recently when he found out about her old love that was of lower standing. That was not a problem. She found out he was getting married soon with a woman his parents choose and turned the half house in it.

No one knew what happened until one day he came a bit earlier and heard her and her servant talking about it while she cried sour tears. When he came inside she admitted all to him and didn't even repent.

Looking now at her cold face her realized that last eight years meant absolutely nothing to her.

He took one paper and pointed at it. ''I found out his father was fooled of his whole money as his servants run away with everything. He is now penniless and soon will end on the streets. Song Roulan, I am giving you one last chance. Will you finally become wife and mother to the children, or do you want to be free and go to his side. But in that case, you have to die. I can't divorce you. Our Lee family never divorce. I can't do that to my family. If you let me officially burry you, I promise to give you enough money so you and that man can go away and live somewhere else comfortably.''

She stood still and shook uncontrollably. ''My children... You can keep the girl. She never really liked me. But the boy, I will take him with me.''

With a low growl, he started approaching her and was about to get near when a voice resounded on the door. ''If I knew that Song would send me such person I would have never taken her. I am sorry my son.''

Suddenly an outside rush of steps could be heard and no other sounds. All servants were gone. Song Roulan stood there shakingly and as the heavy silence fell over the room. Elder Lee sat down at one of the chairs and as the silence spread more and more a sound of tapping could be heard from him. Deep in thoughts, he tapped the armrest on the chair and stared coldly at Song Roulan.

A long time passed and on her forehead, small drops of sweat appeared when his voice suddenly could be heard. In pure silence, it was like a shock to her as she shook violently as he hit her. ''Song Roulan. My son gave you two options. In both options, you won't be anymore his wife and mother of the children. You can do it this way or another way. We can gather him from street and hang him in front of your eyes or do you want me to tear him apart.''

With horror in her eyes, she stared at the man that stood there with a straight back and cold smile. He smirked at her. ''You forgot something. I was a general, a long time ago and fought battles on Emperors side. A man that lost everything because one woman and life because the other, how tormented his soul might be? What do you think?''

With a pale face, she stared first at the man who actually treaded her very kindly all the time. But looking at his face now she knew that there was no other way. She bowed deeply at him. ''I would prefer to get divorced. Then I can take my dowry with me...''

Both men stared at her with a blank expression. "What about Qingqing? Don't you want to leave dowry for her to have when she gets married later on?''

''No, thank you!'' A voice could be heard on the door and both men paled as they saw who came in...