It had been a long time since he had faced Meng Fu so calmly. It was just that now, he had nothing more to say to her.
In fact, even in the past, he had not spoken much to Meng Fu.
“I’ll be leaving. Rest well tonight.” He turned and left.
Back at Songxuan Hall, Xie Wenzhao was still thinking about what Meng Fu had said—the caged bird. He didn’t believe that was Meng Fu’s true words. Meng Fu had always had a seven-orifice exquisite heart. [七窍玲珑心 : idiom meaning someone is clever, sharp, and perceptive.]
She knew exactly what would benefit her most. It wasn’t possible for her to act without considering consequences. He recalled how Meng Fu had been going out frequently in recent times—could it be that she had met another man outside?
Perhaps because Xie Wenzhao himself had someone else in his heart, when he thought of this possibility, he didn’t feel particularly angry. He even found a reasonable explanation for Meng Fu’s erratic behavior from before—maybe it was just to provoke him into divorcing her. And he had always endured her. She had no other choice, so she brought up divorce herself.
If Meng Fu knew what was going on in Xie Wenzhao’s mind, she would probably find a doctor for the Marquis of Xuanping to have his head checked properly.
The sky had long turned dark. Meng Fu lay on her bed, holding in her hand the small jade pendant she had just taken out from the box. She was wondering—what should she do in the future? The dowry she brought to the Marquis Manor would all have to be returned to the Meng family. She had to find a way to make a living for herself.
Actually, there were many ways for a woman to earn money. It was just that she didn’t really like weaving and embroidery, nor did she like cooking. How about writing books? But that would probably bring in money too slowly. She also had to first find a place to settle down.
Meng Fu thought for a long while. When she turned over, she saw the bunny doll beside the pillow. The doll’s long ears drooped down, looking very well-behaved and cute. Meng Fu smiled, raised her hand, and rubbed its head.
She placed the jade pendant under the pillow and closed her eyes.
Everything will be fine.
A peaceful dream through the night.
The next morning, the Imperial Capital was raining again. The rain wasn’t heavy, but lingering and continuous—it was unclear when it would stop.
Meng Fu and Xie Wenzhao went to the Meng residence together. When Meng Yanxing heard that Meng Fu had come, he thought she was here to admit fault for the matter from the other day and even planned to give her the cold shoulder. But not long after, a servant entered his study and told him: the Eldest Miss and Young Master were in the main hall waiting for him to sign and press his fingerprint on the divorce agreement.
Upon hearing this, how could Meng Yanxing still sit still? He quickly went to the main hall and sternly questioned what was going on.
When he heard that the divorce was initiated by Meng Fu, Meng Yanxing’s face sank, his hair bristling in fury.
He said to Meng Fu: “That day, it was you who wanted to marry Xie Wenzhao, and now you want a divorce? Meng Fu, do you think this is a child’s playhouse game?”
Meng Fu was not frightened at all by Meng Yanxing’s manner. She countered: “I never wanted to marry Xie Wenzhao. It was you all who decided and arranged this marriage. You never once asked for my opinion.”
Standing at the doorway, Meng Yu heard this and quickly carried a tray of tea over to stand beside Meng Yanxing, trying to calm him: “Father, calm your anger. It’s not a big deal. Elder Sister and Brother-in-law just had a fight, that’s all.”
Hearing this, Xie Wenzhao’s expression involuntarily dimmed.
Meng Yu then walked over to Meng Fu and said to her: “Elder Sister, you really are too much. Father was already angry, and you still speak like that. Father is doing this all for your own good.”
Meng Yanxing angrily said: “There’s no need for you to speak up for her. If she hadn’t deliberately acted as she did, how could there be all those rumors reaching my ears!”
Meng Fu did not respond to Meng Yanxing’s words. She looked at the Meng Yu in front of her and softly asked:
“A’Yu, since back then you and Xie Wenzhao had feelings for each other, then when you knew our parents were going to marry me to him, why didn’t you speak up?”
Meng Yu lowered her head, seemingly a little ashamed, and said, “I… I thought you liked him, Elder Sister. I wanted you to be happy. I’m sorry.”
“Is that so?” Meng Fu gave a light laugh. In fact, many things become clear once strung together. She asked, “Mother said that a servant saw a bracelet in my room—one that Xie Wenzhao bought. But I’ve never seen it before. Do you know what happened with that?”
Xie Wenzhao suddenly turned his head to look at Meng Yu. That bracelet was something he had once had custom-made for Meng Yu at a high price. It wouldn’t fit most other people. And even after he had married Meng Fu, he had still seen Meng Yu wearing that bracelet.
Everyone present turned their eyes toward Meng Yu. Meng Yu began to regret coming to involve herself in this mess. She bit her lip and said, “Perhaps the servant took the wrong one by mistake.”
“Really?” Meng Fu didn’t care whether Meng Yu was willing to tell the truth or not—just that the matters of the past needed to be clarified today. She continued to ask, “Mother also said a servant saw me meeting with the Marquis in secret. Now, right in front of him, you can ask him—did I ever meet with him privately at that time?”
No one opened their mouth to ask Xie Wenzhao, but his face had already darkened, not much better than Meng Yanxing’s. Back then, it had been Meng Yu who told him how much Meng Fu liked him, and had begged him, for her sister’s sake, not to reject this marriage.
Looking at it now, it was all just one-sided words from Meng Yu.
Did she truly like him?
Xie Wenzhao was uncertain—he didn’t know if the sincerity he had offered was truly worth it.
Meng Fu asked softly: “A’Yu, tell me—who was it that the servant actually saw?”
Meng Yu lowered her head even more, speaking in a small voice: “Sister, you’re not suspecting me, are you?”
“You know in your heart.” Meng Fu sighed lightly and looked at this younger sister before her with a touch of affection. She asked her: “A’Yu, it’s not wrong to think for yourself. But why did you have to drag your sister down with you?”
Meng Yu clutched the handkerchief in her hand tightly and played dumb: “Sister, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Meng Fu still wanted to say a few more words, but Madam Meng suddenly stepped forward and shielded Meng Yu, saying:.“A’Fu, what’s the point of talking about these things now? If you hadn’t married into the Marquis Manor back then, who knows what your situation would be like today.”
Meng Fu nodded and admitted: “Yes, it’s meaningless now. But many things should still be spoken clearly.”
On the other side, Meng Yanxing gave a cough and said: “No matter what happened before, if you dare divorce Xie Wenzhao, then you are no longer my daughter, Meng Yanxing!”
Meng Fu turned her head and swept her gaze across each of their faces. Some were angry, some sad—but none of them cared about how she felt. No one was willing to express even a bit of apology for that marriage arrangement back then. Even now, not one person had asked why she wanted a divorce. All they had said was: “You cannot divorce.”
What Meng Yanxing cared about was only his pride—only the Meng family’s reputation.
So Meng Fu laughed softly. She said to Meng Yanxing:.“When have you ever really seen me as your daughter? You’ve only ever treated me as one of your works.”
A piece he could show off at any time, and once this piece had a flaw, or no longer conformed to his ideals, he could destroy it and toss it out the door.
Meng Yanxing instantly became angry out of humiliation and shouted: “What nonsense are you spouting?!”
“I am absolutely going to divorce Xie Wenzhao,” Meng Fu said calmly.
Meng Yanxing’s face turned extremely ugly. His voice squeezed out from between his teeth as he threatened Meng Fu: “I said it already—if you insist on divorce, then don’t ever come back to the Meng family again!”
This outcome was already within Meng Fu’s expectations. But hearing Meng Yanxing say it out loud still brought a trace of disappointment. She said to him: “Please put your pen to paper.”
Meng Yanxing was practically furious to the point of passing out. Enraged to the extreme, he let out a laugh instead, slapped the table, and shouted: “Fine! Very well! I want to see where else you think you can go!”
He swiftly wrote his name on the divorce agreement, then flung the brush aside and said to the servants:
“Send the guests out!”
This was the first time Meng Fu had fought for something on her own despite everyone’s opposition. Now that she had won it, there was nothing left here for her to feel attachment to.
She stepped out of the Meng residence. The autumn wind lifted the sleeves of her robe—she seemed like a bird that had always been spreading its wings in flight.
Next, Xie Wenzhao would take this divorce paper to the government office. From then on, their marriage and betrothal would have nothing more to do with each other. Xie Wenzhao thought of the suspicions he had last night and tightened his grip on the divorce document in his hand. Though Meng Yu might have deceived him, he still couldn’t let go of that person. And even without this matter, the person he had wanted to marry had never been Meng Fu.
Yet, after much hesitation, Xie Wenzhao still said to Meng Fu: “Meng Fu, you better think it through—within the noble households of the capital, no one would want a woman who has already been married.”
Meng Fu didn’t quite understand why Xie Wenzhao would suddenly say this. Then, she pressed her lips together and smiled lightly. She said: “What does whether or not they want me have to do with me?”
After saying this, she turned and walked away first, stepping into the misty drizzle.
There were few pedestrians on the street, all hurrying along. Countless dead leaves had fallen into the water channels on both sides, covering the surface of the water. Between the cracks of the stone slabs remained a trace of greenery that the autumn wind had not yet swept away.
Meng Fu walked aimlessly along the long street. She hadn’t yet decided where she ought to go next.
Should she find a teahouse to sit for a while, or should she look for a room?
Just like that, she had cast off everything. From now on, she was alone in the world—with no house and no home.
Oblique winds and fine rain, the sky dim and overcast.
All of a sudden, a thirty-two-rib paper umbrella landed above her head, shielding her from the wind and rain that filled the skies. [thirty-two ribs implies a traditionally crafted umbrella—fine and elegant, likely symbolizing care and thoughtfulness.]
A familiar voice sounded beside her ear:
“It’s raining and you’re not even using an umbrella—are you trying to anger me to death?!”