Chapter 38
XunMi averted her eyes for a quick moment before standing next to An wang, not saying a word or reacting at all.
Shangguan Yan received her daughter’s instructions and, along with the fact that she had truly fallen out of love, stepped forward to kneel down.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, this madam would like to beseech Your Majesty to be my witness.” Zongzheng Muye looked at Shangguan Yan with interest. They could be considered childhood friends. Her soft temperament was well known. This was the first time she had requested anything of him.
“What does Prime Minister Madam request so solemnly of me?” Shangguan Yan knocked her head to the grounds a few times, her eyes steady as she said, “I would like to request to divorce my husband.”
She didn’t care how astonished by these words the rest of the people were and instead proceeded to speak, “I have married into the prime minister estate for almost 20 years. At that time, the prime minister was nothing but a candidate applying for the imperial examinations. It was because of my father’s help that he’s climbed so far up. Yet the prime minister does not feel a bit of gratitude. In these years, he’s used concubines and maids to suppress me, I could bear that. But now he’s now intensified his ambitions, wanting to conspire against my son and daughter. I am but a woman, my courage is small. All I want is to give my son and daughter a peaceful life. If I can’t even accomplish that much, then what was the purpose of all my years of enduring?” Shangguan Yan’s face was covered in tears. It’s been twentysome years. If she hadn’t stubbornly wanted to marry Wenren Xiang, then she wouldn’t have fallen like this. She even almost caused her daughter to become the butt of every joke. At least it wasn’t too late now.
When Shangguan Yan started speaking, XunMi and Wenren Lu had already kneeled at their mother’s side.
Wenren Xiang was once again frozen in spot after yet another provocation, his angry eyes protruded as he stared at the kneeling Shangguan Yan. He would have never thought that after so many years, a weak person would dare to request such a shockingly offensive thing.
“Your Majesty, please bare witness. As of today, I, Shangguan Yan and my son and daughter will no longer be associated with the Prime Minister estate.” Receiving the paper and ink that An wang had called over, she quickly wrote down a divorce book. She pressed down her fingerprint and handed over the book to the person of higher position.
Even though she was doing this to find justice for herself, she also enjoyed giving the Prime Minister a slap in the face. If he dared to scheme against her daughter, then he can’t blame her for biting back against them.
Her father wasn’t dead yet, so what audacity does the prime minister have to think that they can bully them. Perhaps she has truly accepted the situation. After seeing the light, Shangguan Yan abandoned the womanly virtue of prizing harmony above all else. Reality was telling her that even if you choose not to fight, it doesn’t mean others will treat you the same.
XunMi’s eyes’ brightened. Seeing her mother like this, she could breathe a sigh of relief. Only this would ensure that her mother wouldn’t be taken advantage of when she and her little brother weren’t by her mother’s side.
Zongzheng Muye was truly astonished by Shangguan Yan. This must be the first time in the millennium hearing a wife request to divorce her husband. In an era where the man was the head of the house while the woman was just a dependent of the man, no one could maintain their surprise when facing such a bewildering case like this.
“Hahaha, alright. Alright, since this is the first time little sister Yan has requested anything of me, so how can I not agree? Bring my jade seal over.”
Zongzheng Muye delightfully pressed the seal onto the divorce book. He followed this by writing two imperial edicts. “Since crown prince feels no regret, then you can still at the crown prince estate and reflect by rewriting the Confucius classics. Wenren XunMi is beautiful, thoughtful, and loyal, deserving of the title Princess RuoJia.” He waved his hand, letting them know it was time to retreat.
As for his little brother’s glaring, he’ll pretend he didn’t see it. Zongzheng Mufeng wasn’t happy. He had already so obviously hinted to his brother yet his brother dared pretend to not to notice. Even if his brother wouldn’t help him, he’ll just help himself.
The crown prince was flabbergasted, only able to stare helplessly at his departing father. Looking at his lover by his side, his eyes flashed with a moment of anger. Although he didn’t regret marrying the woman he wanted, that didn’t mean that he was willing to give up power. The emperor had so clearly confined him without mentioning the period of time the imprisonment would last. He didn’t want to think about what this meant.
Wenren Yunfei also suffered losses today. A person that had been oppressed by her had suddenly flipped the situation overnight. Not only did she gain the emperor’s good graces, she had attracted that handsome, entrancing An wang.
How hateful, when Wenren Yunfei had approached An wang, she hadn’t received even one glance from him. Why was it like this? That was just an ancient girl, and she was the female lead, she should be the Heaven’s favorite. Isn’t that what all the online novels say? The transmigrating one should be well-off, not lacking fame or money. Since she, Wenren Yunfei, obtained this opportunity, didn’t it mean she was brought to this world to enjoy the everyone’s praise? A demon inside her was being provoked, twisting and almost shattering the way she looked at the world.
XunMi happily led her mother and little brother back to the Duke’s estate. When leaving, she didn’t even spare a glance at the scum still stuck in shock.
Zongzheng Mufeng was feeling resentful but couldn’t do anything about it. He could only send his belle to the duke’s estate and sadly leave alone. He decided that he would prepare the betrothal gifts when he got back and return tomorrow to propose marriage.
Duke Shangguan Lian was already 70 years old, spending his years cultivating and relatively removed from political affairs. His lifetime was spent in the military, with two sons and a daughter. Towards his daughter, he had always tried to spoil her. He never opposed whatever his daughter wanted. This was also why a insignificant candidate for the imperial examinations could marry the duke’s legitimate daughter.
His two sons were all stationed at the borders. After hearing about his granddaughter’s news, he had been infuriated. He wasn’t dead yet, so how dare they abuse his Duke estate’s young miss? But before he stepped up, his men came back to report that his daughter had divorced the prime minister.
After freezing for a second, he slapped the table laughing loudly, praising her. o(*≧▽≦)ツ┏━┓
“As expected, she is my daughter. Good, good. Go prepare the rooms. Young miss, younger miss and younger master are coming back to live.”
After he had just finished preparing everything, Shangguan Yan had brought her son and daughter to the Duke’s estate.
The Duke hadn’t seen his daughter and grandchildren in years. At night, the whole family sat together, a comfortable environment after years of longing to be together.
On the other side of town, Wenren Xiang returned home muddleheaded before finally coming to his senses. Him, a prime minister, had actually been divorced by his wife. If this news spread, how could he even face the rest of capital city? But even if he harbored a grudge in his heart, he couldn’t let it out. The emperor had already agreed to it.
He tightly squeezed the papers in his hand, wanting to rip it all up. Staring at the red words on the page, he could only endure it.