Chapter 65: The Grand Gift

Chapter 65: The Grand Gift

After hearing Yu Lan explain the ins and outs, Lady Zhuang cast a deep glance at Jiang Shu and said displeasingly, "Just to help her get a divorce, you dared to deceive me into filing an imperial complaint. That’s too reckless!"

Yu Lan tried to appease her, "Mother, don’t be angry. My father and mother are also in the dark, and I don’t plan to tell them. Let them stay in the dark."

Lady Zhuang was even more furious after hearing this: "Do you know that this is deceiving the emperor?"

The crime of deceiving the emperor could bring disaster to the entire clan.

Yu Lan nodded, indifferent, "If Father wants to punish me, he must punish himself as well."

Lady Zhuang and Jiang Shu were shocked by Yu Lan’s disrespectful words.

Yu Lan smiled and gave Jiang Shu a look.

Jiang Shu understood and presented the brocade box to Lady Zhuang, opening it.

"This is a white jade statue of Guanyin. Please calm down for the sake of Guanyin Bodhisattva’s compassion."

Lady Zhuang glanced at the white jade Guanyin in the box and snorted coldly, "Do you think sending a statue of Guanyin will placate me?"

Lady Zhuang, the matriarch of a military family, though she had never been on the battlefield, exuded a stern and formidable presence. Her anger was quite intimidating.

Jiang Shu held the box, not daring to breathe loudly.

Yu Lan, bracing herself, said, "If you’re still angry, then I’ll give you my pair of pearl earrings too?"

As she spoke, Yu Lan took out the pearl earrings Jiang Shu had given her from her sleeve and solemnly presented them to Lady Zhuang.

Lady Zhuang was both amused and angry, scolding, "What use do I have for them, an old woman like me?"

"Then, Mother, please don’t be angry." Yu Lan coaxed her with a gentle smile.

Lady Zhuang sighed deeply, "I just went to the palace to force a complaint with my life, and now I have to go and ask His Majesty to rescind the decree. How can I say such things? Do you take the imperial edict as a joke?"

Yu Lan blinked, "I’ll accompany you to the palace and say that Doctor Chen has already cured Yun'er. Considering Marquis Jingan’s distinguished military service and loyalty, let’s spare Yan Yang."

"My father values Marquis Jingan highly; he will certainly agree."

Lady Zhuang, hearing this, replied irritably, "So you’ve already thought of a follow-up plan, just waiting for me to fall into your trap."

Yu Lan lowered her head guiltily, without defending herself.

She did indeed use Lady Zhuang, and it was wrong of her.

"Alright, go change and we’ll head to the palace." For the sake of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Lady Zhuang forgave them.

"Yes, Mother." Yu Lan responded, pulling Jiang Shu along.

Leaving Lady Zhuang’s courtyard, Jiang Shu was still trembling with fear, "The old lady is so imposing, Princess, aren’t you afraid?"

Both were mothers-in-law, but Lady Zhuang was far more formidable than Mother Shen or the old lady Shen.

"I’m not afraid; my father can be much fiercer when he’s angry." Yu Lan laughed lightly, without concern.

When the Son of Heaven is enraged, life and death hang in the balance—how could a mere woman like Lady Zhuang compare?

Yu Lan’s words filled Jiang Shu with respect and made her realize that Yu Lan’s respect for Lady Zhuang stemmed from politeness and upbringing, not fear.

Lady Zhuang must have understood this as well, which is why she agreed to go to the palace despite being deceived and enraged.

"Where’s your divorce paper? Let me see it," Yu Lan asked Jiang Shu after changing clothes.

Jiang Shu took out the divorce paper from her bosom, unfolded it, and handed it to Yu Lan.

Yu Lan quickly glanced at it and understood, "Sure enough, it hasn’t been stamped by the authorities yet."

"Quickly write your name and press your fingerprint on it." Yu Lan led Jiang Shu to the writing desk.

Jiang Shu, though puzzled, followed the instructions.

After the ink dried, Yu Lan folded the divorce paper and put it away, grinning mischievously at Jiang Shu, "Wait here, I have a grand gift for you."

Yu Lan and Lady Zhuang entered the palace, while Jiang Shu waited patiently at the Pingxi General's Mansion.

As the emperor’s first daughter, Yu Lan had been wise and beloved since childhood, deeply favored by the emperor.

Her marriage to the Pingxi General's Mansion left the emperor feeling guilty, so he specially allowed her free access to the palace.

"Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess and Lady Zhuang request an audience." The emperor was reviewing memorials when the eunuch reported, slightly surprised.

Hadn’t he already issued an edict to punish Marquis Jingan’s son? Why were they still coming?

"Let them in," the emperor put down his brush and set aside the memorial.

Yu Lan and Lady Zhuang entered the hall, bowed, and the emperor gestured for them to rise and sit.

"What brings you here suddenly?" the emperor asked directly.

Lady Zhuang was too embarrassed to speak, so Yu Lan stood up and said, "There is indeed something I need Your Majesty’s approval for."

"Oh? What is it?" the emperor was suspicious.

Yu Lan recounted the prepared story to the emperor.

The emperor frowned heavily, his face showing a thin layer of anger, "Do you take the imperial edict as a joke, saying it can be rescinded at will?"

Yu Lan replied, "Father doesn’t need to rescind it; another edict of grace will suffice."

The emperor, puzzled, inquired with his eyes.

Yu Lan said solemnly, "After being treated by the imperial physician, Lady Zhuang Yun is no longer in grave danger. Considering Marquis Jing'an’s meritorious service on the frontier and that his son is young and innocent, he has been ordered to remain confined to his residence for a year instead of being expelled from the capital. Marquis Jing'an will also have his salary reduced for half a year."

"You certainly think things through thoroughly," the emperor said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

If anyone else had seen the emperor like this, they would have been terrified, but Yu Lan was used to it and showed no fear.

She even said grandly, "Your Majesty, I am also thinking of Father. Marquis Jing'an is a rare talent as a general; a combination of kindness and authority will make him more loyal."

The emperor was amused by Yu Lan’s audacity: "Speak, what is your real purpose?"

Knowing she couldn’t hide it, Yu Lan confessed, "Lady Jiang Shu, the wife of Marquis Jing'an, is my friend. She has suffered in the Marquis Jing'an’s household and wishes to divorce. The Marquis agreed to the divorce only if Your Majesty pardons Shen Yan Yang."

The emperor snorted, "You are indeed a loyal friend."

"Thank you, Father, for your praise," Yu Lan replied, pretending not to understand the sarcasm.

The emperor, unwilling to argue further, said sternly, "Very well, I grant it."

"Thank you, Father." Yu Lan stepped forward and took something from her sleeve. "There is one more thing I ask of you, Father."

"What else do you want?" The emperor frowned, sensing something amiss.

"This is the divorce decree between Marquis Jing'an and Lady Jiang Shu. I request that Father affix your seal to it," Yu Lan placed the document on the emperor’s desk.

The emperor’s eyes widened in feigned anger, "Do you think My Seal is a toy to be used casually?"

Yu Lan mumbled softly, "When we were young, I even used it to stamp Zheng’s bottom."

The emperor was speechless with anger, and in frustration, he stamped the seal on the divorce decree. He then said, head aching, "Go now, and come bother Me less often."

Yu Lan, satisfied, put away the document and laughed playfully, "I take my leave, and will visit again another day to see Father and Mother."

Lady Zhuang, who had remained silent throughout, watched Yu Lan’s retreating figure with a heavy heart.

With the emperor’s favor towards Yu Lan, would he issue an edict for her to remarry if she were gone one day?

At that time, would the Pingxi General's Mansion still exist, and still bear the name Zhuang?

Unaware of Lady Zhuang’s thoughts, Yu Lan returned home happily and gave the divorce decree back to Jiang Shu.

"Go, and come back to tell me all about it once you’ve settled everything."

Jiang Shu, deeply grateful, clutched the divorce decree with the imperial seal and returned to the Marquis Jing'an’s residence with renewed confidence.