Chapter 54: Coercion

Chapter 54: Coercion

Jiang Shu asked Chuyu to retrieve Bubai's fur from the kitchen courtyard and personally dug a grave under the tree where Bubai often perched.

After burying Bubai, Jiang Shu was washing her hands when she heard Chuyu report.

"Lady, Young Master Lu has arrived."

Jiang Shu was surprised: "Why has he come?"

"Young Master Lu said he invites Lady to have a meal at Shouyong Hall."

Jiang Shu did not want to go, but out of respect for the slap, she felt she owed Lu Mingke some face.

Her delicate brows slightly furrowed, Jiang Shu changed into a casual outfit and slowly descended the stairs.

"Eldest Sister-in-law." Lu Mingke, who had been waiting, greeted with a bow, showing no impatience.

Jiang Shu bowed in return, her attitude cold: "Young Master Lu, please."

Lu Mingke did not mind; it was enough that he had managed to invite Jiang Shu.

The atmosphere in Shouyong Hall was heavy, even two-year-old Lu Xingyuan sensed something was amiss and sat quietly.

"Son-in-law and Lady have arrived." A maid announced as they entered.

Lady Shen and others looked toward the door, seeing Jiang Shu and Lu Mingke walk in one after the other.

"Shu'er has come, sit quickly, the food is getting cold." Mother Shen forced a smile and invited them to sit.

Jiang Shu took the empty seat to the right of Shen Changze, while Lu Mingke sat beside Shen Qingrong.

Lady Shen's face was full of displeasure, suppressing her anger, she said, "Let's eat."

Everyone picked up their silver chopsticks and ate in silence.

After waiting so long, the dishes on the table were already somewhat cold. No one had much appetite, taking only a few symbolic bites.

Lu Mingke instructed the maid to take the three children away.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, what happened today was Qingrong's fault. I will have her apologize to you." Lu Mingke broke the silence, giving Shen Qingrong a meaningful look.

Hearing this, Jiang Shu put down her chopsticks and looked at Shen Qingrong with cool almond eyes, waiting calmly.

Shen Qingrong reluctantly stood up, feigning sincerity, "I was wrong, I'm sorry, please forgive me, Eldest Sister-in-law."

Lady Shen and others looked at Jiang Shu, waiting for her response to put the matter to rest.

Meeting their hopeful gazes, Jiang Shu's cherry lips parted, and she spoke each word clearly: "I do not forgive."

What?

Lady Shen suspected her old ears had deceived her.

But seeing the stunned faces of Mother Shen and others, Lady Shen knew she had heard correctly.

Shen Qingrong, humiliated in public, glared at Jiang Shu: "Don't be ungrateful."

For her to lower herself and apologize was already a great honor, and yet Jiang Shu dared to refuse.

On what grounds did she refuse!

Feeling deeply humiliated, Shen Qingrong was about to lose control when Lu Mingke stopped her.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, what must we do for you to forgive us? We will not shirk if it is within our power." Lu Mingke asked sincerely.

Jiang Shu sneered, "A life for a life, that would show true sincerity."

She knew they could not do it, which was why she said it deliberately.

"This..." Lu Mingke looked at Mother Shen, uncertain.

Snowball belonged to Mother Shen, and he could not make the decision alone.

Mother Shen's face was filled with sorrow, "Shu'er, your rabbit is already dead, killing Snowball will not help. Can you let it go, after all, it is also a life."

"Is Mother's dog's life a life, but my rabbit is not?" Jiang Shu retorted sarcastically.

Mother Shen was speechless, her voice sad, "But Snowball has been with me for many years, and you know how close we are. Without it, how will I go on?"

"Has Mother ever thought about how I will go on without Bubai?"

"Or does Mother think that because I've had Bubai for a shorter time, my feelings for it are not as deep as yours for Snowball?" Jiang Shu asked coldly.

Mother Shen opened her mouth but could not find an answer.

Seeing Mother Shen in a difficult position, Shen Changze intervened, "If you like rabbits, I can find another one just like it for you, would that be acceptable?"

"Why doesn't His Excellency ask Mother if finding another Snowball for her would be acceptable if Snowball were gone?" Jiang Shu's tone was icy, not even bothering to look at Shen Changze.

Shen Changze was embarrassed, his face turning red with shame and anger. Being publicly humiliated by Jiang Shu without mercy made him resentful.

Shen Qingrong could not bear it and tried to speak up several times, but was held back by Lu Mingke.

As for Cheng Jinchu, she hoped the conflict would escalate, making Shen Changze despise Jiang Shu so she could benefit from the situation.

Finally, Lady Shen could no longer stand it and, with the authority of an elder, pressured Jiang Shu, "You defy your mother-in-law, contradict your husband, and treat guests rudely. What do you intend?"

"I only want justice." Jiang Shu met Lady Shen's gaze, unyielding.

Old Lady Shen was momentarily speechless, then angrily said, "Qingrong has already apologized to you, and Changze has promised to find another rabbit for you. What more do you want?"

"It's just a rabbit; could it possibly be more important than blood relatives?"

Jiang Shu was amused by Old Lady Shen’s shameless attempt to shift the topic.

All she wanted was for the dog to pay with its life, not for Shen Qingrong to do so.

Clearly, she was the victim here, yet they were not only refusing her justice but also condemning her.

Words failed to bridge their differences, and Jiang Shu no longer wished to argue with them.

She shifted her gaze to the fish before her.

In a moment of tranquility, she had an epiphany.

She and Shen Changze were like this fish—forced to consume something they did not desire would only lead to nausea and vomiting.

From the beginning, she should not have compromised and endured such humiliation.

At this moment, Jiang Shu finally understood; she wanted a divorce!

After making up her mind, Jiang Shu pretended to yield, saying, "I can let it go, but I have one condition."

The sudden change left everyone stunned and at a loss, all turning to look at Jiang Shu, curious and puzzled.

"What condition?" Shen Changze asked.

Jiang Shu sat up straight and spoke clearly, "Give me a divorce decree."

"Did I hear that right?" Shen Changze suspected he had misheard.

Lu Mingke and the others were so shocked they were frozen in place, unable to react.

Jiang Shu remained calm and composed, "Since His Excellency returned to the capital, our relationship has been strained. If this continues, we will become bitter enemies. It would be better to end it now and part ways amicably."

"Do you know what you're saying!" Shen Changze was furious, his face cold and terrifying.

Mother Shen and the others were too frightened to speak, even the bold Shen Qingrong felt a twinge of fear.

"Nonsense!" Old Lady Shen, having weathered many storms, assumed the authority of an elder.

"A lady from an official family is only ever heard of as dying of illness or hanging herself; there has never been a case of divorce. Have you considered the consequences of your rash words today!"

"Even if a separation is necessary, it should be through a formal divorce initiated by the husband, not mutual agreement," Old Lady Shen warned.

Jiang Shu pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

She knew everything Old Lady Shen said was true, but she refused to accept it.

Her eyes darkened, and Jiang Shu argued her case, "When the Marquis Manor sought my hand in marriage, they concealed many facts, which is no different from a fraudulent marriage. As a woman, I have endured all this for the sake of marital harmony. But how has His Excellency treated me?"

"On our wedding night, he left me alone in an empty room, secretly marrying and having children at the border. Upon returning to the capital, he further humiliated me by taking a concubine and allowing her to take charge of Lanyun Courtyard... These actions should be judged by the elders of both clans."

Jiang Shu met Old Lady Shen's gaze without fear.

Having made her decision, she was unafraid of any obstacles.

Old Lady Shen trembled with rage, her finger shaking as she pointed at Jiang Shu, "Look at this, the result of being raised in a merchant family, lacking any sense of propriety or virtue."

When her preaching fell on deaf ears, Old Lady Shen resorted to insults, even implicating Jiang Shu's parents, completely losing the dignity expected of a high-ranking family.