Chapter 756: The Emperor Isn’t Anxious, but the Eunuchs Are

"Yeah, don’t let your pride get in the way of the money. It’s a ton of cash—we could work ourselves to death our whole lives and never earn that much. Just put up with it."

"Pardon my French, but if my man had that kind of money, I’d let him go out and sleep around every single day. I wouldn’t even care if he never came home at night. The best-case scenario? He fools around so much his kidneys give out, then he kicks the bucket, and my good life can finally start.

Sylvia Swann’s shocking words left everyone stunned. But they quickly recovered and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Exactly! That’s the spirit! Rosalind, you should take a page from her book. Don’t fight with your husband. Just let him go out and sleep around. The more, the better—let him work himself to death!"

Outside, Mrs. Green’s face lit up as she listened. ’What a brilliant idea!’ she thought. ’A bull can be worked to death, but a field can’t be over-plowed.’ If Ethan Hawthorne didn’t learn some restraint, he’d tire himself out sooner or later, and her daughter’s suffering would finally be over.

"No, that’s no good. If his kidneys fail, what’s Rosalind supposed to do? What will she have then?" Phoebe Huxley shook her head, disagreeing. She wasn’t about to do something that was like cutting off her nose to spite her face.

"What’s so great about that sort of thing, anyway? I’m up at the crack of dawn and work myself to the bone all day. By the time I get into bed, all I want to do is sleep. Who has the energy for that? And I don’t care if you laugh, but ever since I had my child, I haven’t thought about it even once. I almost wish my husband’s kidneys would fail too. Then he might finally stop bothering me."

Fiona Rhodes lowered her voice, and the other women nodded in somber agreement.

"It’s the same for me. Ever since having kids, I haven’t had a single night of uninterrupted sleep. How could I possibly be in the mood for that? The only ones who want to do it are the men. They work in the fields all day, and they’re not idle at night, either. It’s so damn annoying."

"It’s the same for everyone. There’s an endless amount of work to do every day. Even when we do *that*, I’m too tired to even move. It’s just like completing a chore."

As the women aired their grievances, they grew closer, realizing they were all in the same boat. Only Phoebe Huxley didn’t quite agree. She didn’t feel as tired, and she still had an appetite for things in the bedroom.

"You all have meat to eat, yet you complain that it stinks. Let’s see if you’re still saying that when you’ve got no meat at all."

"Sounds like Aurelia and Felix are keeping busy every night! Felix is such a big guy, he must have a ton of energy for that sort of thing. Aurelia’s definitely enjoying herself!"

"No kidding. Why else do you think she has such a big appetite?"

The women started telling bawdy jokes, and Rosalind Green’s face flushed bright red. Phoebe Huxley, however, was unfazed. Her expression didn’t flicker as she shot back, "If you all don’t have an appetite, how did your kids get here? You have one after another—you think they’d be born if you weren’t doing the deed?"

"Let’s not talk about us. We’re here to talk about Rosalind’s situation," Juliana Rhodes said, changing the subject. "Rosalind, what are you thinking?"

Rosalind Green’s expression grew somber. She spoke in a small voice, "I... I’m heartbroken. And I’m disgusted. The thought of sleeping in the same bed with him again... it makes me feel sick."

Just the thought of Ethan Hawthorne and that woman tumbling together in bed made her chest tighten. She felt it was impossible to continue living with him. And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. He was, after all, the only man she had ever been with, and the father of her son.

"When you feel bad, just think about the money. All that lovely, green cash. So pretty, so appealing. Think about that, and you won’t feel so bad," Juliana Rhodes coaxed.

Rosalind Green tried to do as she was told, then said honestly, "I still feel awful. Money isn’t everything."

"But without money, you’ll have to live a hard life! Stop thinking like some naive little girl and think about Kenneth. That money should belong to him. What if that vixen gives birth to a son? As his mother, you have to fight for your son’s sake." Juliana Rhodes was about to faint. ’Rosalind is still as naive as an eighteen-year-old.’

"Kenneth said I should decide for myself."

Juliana Rhodes slapped her forehead, speechless. She stopped trying to persuade her. ’The emperor isn’t worried, but the eunuchs are losing their minds,’ she thought. ’It’s not my money. Why am I getting so worked up over it?’