Prince Jinnan followed You Heng’s gaze towards You Yuji, frowning slightly. At least in that moment, he did not appreciate You Yuji’s temperament. If she were not a woman from the grasslands but a lady from Chen Kingdom or a daughter of the Su Kingdom, she would certainly not cause such a commotion. Wasn’t her mother from a prestigious family in Su Kingdom? Why couldn’t she inherit more of the gentleness of the women from the water towns of Su Kingdom?
There were some things that Prince Jinnan found inconvenient to say, so he glanced at the princess.
The princess sighed softly in her heart, looking at You Yuji with a gentle expression. “Yuji, Mother knows you feel wronged. Anzhi was indeed foolish, but has Mother ever treated you harshly during this period?”
“Of course not,” You Yuji replied.
Harsh treatment? Of course not. It was precisely because the princess was not a troublesome wicked mother-in-law that You Yuji felt pity for her and couldn’t bear to let Fang Qingyi’s plan harm her. Although, as far as You Yuji knew, Fang Qingyi had only tampered with Chen Anzhi’s drink, she vaguely felt that Fang Qingyi’s real target might be the princess’s unborn child.
“You know, back then, I forcefully made my sister divorce her husband. It was because her husband’s family was about to be punished, and divorce was the only way to escape. My maiden family is the Marquis of Yuande’s residence, and even such a noble family could not stop those rumors.” The princess sighed, thinking of her sister’s hardships over the years. “Yuji, you are still young and don’t understand that rumors are like knives; they can kill.”
You Yuji looked calmly at the princess, her expression unchanging, clearly unmoved by the princess’s words.
The princess sighed, “Child, we plan to send Anzhi to the military camp in a few days, where he will train for a year. He will grow up and mature.”
You Yuji spoke, “Princess, when I signed the divorce paper with the young master, you asked me to reconsider.”
The princess nodded.
“I have never wavered,” You Yuji said firmly, though her tone was gentle. “All things and people in this world can be divided into those that matter and those that don’t. If I don’t care, rumors can’t hurt me at all.”
The princess frowned.
You Yuji placed the divorce paper they had signed on the table and said calmly, “Princess, I am not an impulsive person. When I wrote the divorce paper that day, I was resolute. The reason I agreed to reconsider was merely a pretext, waiting for the Empress Dowager to return to the capital.”
The princess’s frown deepened.
Today was precisely the day the Empress Dowager was returning from the palace.
Prince Jinnan listened for a while, his expression growing more serious, and he couldn’t help but speak, “If this were an ordinary marriage, I wouldn’t interfere in the affairs of children. But this marriage was personally arranged by the Empress Dowager. The Emperor values filial piety, and a divorce might anger him.”
He narrowed his eyes, staring at You Yuji with a warning in his tone, “Can you bear that consequence?”
You Yuji remained composed and asked in return, “Are you also worried about being blamed by the Emperor?”
This marriage was complex, and if it ended in divorce, it would not just be the You family that would suffer the Emperor’s wrath.
“If we receive forgiveness, it would naturally be good. If the Emperor is displeased…” The faint smile on You Yuji’s lips slowly faded, “My father died in battle. According to our laws, if a general of the third rank or above dies in battle, his wife and children are exempt from the death penalty, unless they commit treason. Besides, the Emperor cherishes talent, especially from conquered subjects.”
The arranged marriage was originally intended to foster integration among the conquered nations. However, the only person from a conquered nation who was married into the prince’s residence at a high status was You Yuji. It was precisely because her father had died in battle that this high-status marriage was a reward.
Prince Jinnan laughed and said, “What, does your You family believe that annulling this marriage would bring more harm to my Jinnan Prince’s Residence? Don’t forget that the Jinnan Prince’s Residence bears the surname Chen!”
You Yuji replied almost without pause, “Spring will mark His Majesty’s sixtieth birthday.”
There were some things that You Yuji couldn’t say too clearly, lest she be accused of discussing state affairs inappropriately.
—His Majesty would not want to appoint a new emperor who mistreats the conquered nations.
Prince Jinnan understood. He laughed heartily and retorted, “That’s interesting. I agree. But if the Emperor’s arranged marriage for the daughter of a fallen general from a conquered nation ends in divorce, what good reputation would that bring to me?”
From the beginning, Prince Jinnan understood that he could not let You Yuji go. He had to keep her well-dressed and well-fed in the residence. Chen Anzhi could act recklessly and at most be labeled as a young, ignorant wastrel. However, the Jinnan Prince’s Residence could not mistreat You Yuji.
The Jinnan Prince’s Residence and Chen Anzhi were closely related, yet not completely the same.
For the Jinnan Prince’s Residence, keeping You Yuji in the residence and not agreeing to the divorce was the most beneficial approach.
Faced with Prince Jinnan’s questioning, You Yuji did not answer immediately but instead said, “The Western Empress Dowager is a kind old lady.”
Prince Jinnan was momentarily stunned before he responded, “That is true.”
His Majesty was not a favored prince in his youth. His biological mother, now the Eastern Empress Dowager, had a low status and was not favored, which led to him being bullied. Fortunately, the Western Empress Dowager, out of kindness, pleaded with the late Emperor to take him under her care. Before His Majesty ascended the throne, he was always cared for by the Western Empress Dowager. This is why, after His Majesty ascended the throne, he established two Empress Dowagers.
“Previously, I told the princess that I was waiting for the Western Empress Dowager to return to the capital. It is because, although the marriage was His Majesty’s idea, it was the Western Empress Dowager who arranged it. The Western Empress Dowager is kind and compassionate. It is better to explain the situation to her first than to report directly to His Majesty.”
Prince Jinnan frowned, disapproving of what You Yuji said, “You are still disregarding the honor of both families and insisting on divorce. Isn’t this behavior a bit selfish?”
In Prince Jinnan’s view, keeping You Yuji was the best outcome. Even if His Majesty did not blame them, it was still an additional matter.
“I am waiting for the Western Empress Dowager to return, not just for myself, but also for the Jinnan Prince’s Residence,” You Yuji said.
Prince Jinnan chuckled, finding You Yuji’s words interesting. He picked up the teacup on the table, gently swirling the two tea leaves floating on the surface with the lid.
You Yuji’s voice remained gentle, but there was a firmness in her tone, “Throughout history, there are three ways for a marriage to end. If the Jinnan Prince’s Residence does not wish to peacefully divorce, and also does not wish to abandon me, then there is only the third way.”
Prince Jinnan’s motion of swirling the tea leaves paused. The princess’s eyes widened in surprise, and even Chen Anzhi, who had been hanging his head listlessly, suddenly looked up in disbelief at You Yuji.
You Heng, who had been sitting sideways, listening to his sister speak, showed little expression on his face, but he couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.
You Yuji continued in a calm tone, “I do not wish to make enemies with the Jinnan Prince’s Residence. Yuji and the young master are not a good match; parting ways is the best option.”
Even at this point, You Yuji did not wish to blame Chen Anzhi.
Because she did not care, blaming him was meaningless.
“All I ask is to wait for the Western Empress Dowager to return, so that both families can amicably annul this marriage. If the Jinnan Prince’s Residence insists on refusing, I will have no choice but to don plain clothes and present the divorce paper, signed by both the young master and me, to the court.”
You Yuji looked firmly at Chen Anzhi, “If the Jinnan Prince’s Residence insists that this divorce paper is invalid, then we will have to resort to Yi Jue.”
Yi jue, the third way to dissolve a marriage, involved bringing the case to court, where it would be documented, resulting in the complete and permanent severance of relations between the two families, leaving no possibility of reconciliation.
“You!” Prince Jinnan suddenly stood up.
Yi jue would not only mean completely tearing the relationship apart but also making it known to the world, becoming a topic of public gossip. The Jinnan Prince’s Residence could not afford such a disgrace.
The usually composed Prince Jinnan was now visibly angry. He pointed at You Yuji, his voice trembling with rage, “Are you really willing to make this personal matter a source of ridicule and shame for both families in the eyes of the world? Do you really have no consideration at all?”
Chen Anzhi listened in a daze, fully aware of what this meant. No, he didn’t want to become the subject of others’ jokes. He knew all too well how those young nobles in the capital would mock others for entertainment.
He regretted it, deeply regretted having been provoked by You Yuji into signing the divorce paper in a moment of impulse!
Suddenly, he rushed forward, grabbing the divorce paper on the table and tearing it apart with all his might.
You Yuji did not stop him, nor did she even look at him.
Chen Anzhi tore up the paper, only to realize it was not the original divorce paper he had signed that day.
“This is not the divorce paper!” Chen Anzhi exclaimed, looking at You Yuji in shock.
You Yuji had no desire to speak with Chen Anzhi. She knew that the real authority in the Jinnan Prince’s Residence was Prince Jinnan, and this was not merely about her marriage to Chen Anzhi. She calmly looked at Prince Jinnan and said, “For the prince’s residence, the best option is for me to stay quietly in the residence. The next best option is to resolve this matter amicably between our two families. The worst option is Yi Jue.”
“The best option is impossible unless I die,” You Yuji said as she stood up. “The divorce paper signed by the young master is in a very safe place. If I were to die in the prince’s residence, someone would present it to the Emperor, dressed in plain clothes, to file a complaint.”
In that case, even Yi Jue would be a lesser evil for the Jinnan Prince’s Residence.
You Yuji, being generally kind-hearted, did not wish to drive others to the brink, as long as they did not try to kill her. However, kindness did not mean she would allow herself to be bullied.
As her father had taught her—Yuan Yuan, the premise of kindness is sufficient strength. Your leniency should come from disdain, not helplessness. Otherwise, it’s not kindness but cowardice.
You Heng stood up as well. His tall stature instantly brought a sense of pressure to everyone in the room.
You Heng had a hint of a smile in his eyes. After listening to You Yuji speak for so long, it was his turn to talk.
“There is a saying, ‘Those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who do.’ No matter how much we offend the Emperor, what punishment can we receive? But for Prince Jinnan, who is close to the Emperor, caution should be your watchword.”
Prince Jinnan looked at Chen Anzhi with a complex expression for a moment before closing his eyes in resignation.
The princess sighed softly, knowing there was no other way. You Yuji had laid out all the options, even selecting the best path for the Jinnan Prince’s Residence.
The next step was for the two families to discuss how and when to explain the situation to the Western Empress Dowager.
You Yuji and You Heng returned to Tanxiang Yingyue just before noon. Prince Jinnan had wanted You Heng to stay in the front courtyard for a meal, but You Heng declined.
You Jiamu looked at You Yuji with eager eyes, studying her expression.
You Yuji placed a piece of braised pork in his bowl, and only then did the child relax and smile, eating heartily.
After lunch, You Heng, Jiao Yushu, and You Jiamu left the Jinnan Prince’s Residence. You Heng had matters to attend to, and Jiao Yushu naturally had no reason to stay longer, so he left with You Heng. Although You Jiamu was reluctant to leave his sister, he was still carried off by You Heng, slung over his shoulder.
You Yuji personally escorted them to the main gate of the residence before slowly walking back.
The snow from the previous night had not yet melted, leaving the world covered in white. You Yuji looked at the distant snow-covered mountains, and suddenly her body wavered.
“Madam, are you alright?” Zhenxu, who was following behind her, quickly stepped forward to support her.
Several household servants shoveling snow by the roadside looked over curiously.
“It’s nothing,” You Yuji smiled and continued walking. She returned to Tanxiang Yingyue at a normal pace. As she was about to enter the door, she said wearily, “Zhenxu, please fetch a doctor for me.”
“Yes!” Zhenxu responded and quickly ran off.
Si Que stood at the window, watching You Yuji. He saw her frown, a look of pain flashing across her face, before she resumed her usual expression and pushed the door open to enter the room.
Si Que also frowned.
Once inside, You Yuji closed the door and immediately collapsed to the floor, her back pressed against the door. She stiffly raised her hand, the back of it touching her burning forehead.
She truly felt as if she couldn’t hold on any longer.
Her second brother said she was pretending to be strong, but ever since the day their father passed away, she had forbidden herself from shedding tears or showing any sign of weakness in front of others.
