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Chapter 38

It was around the Mid-Autumn Festival when the last heatwave of autumn arrived.

At noon that day, Shen Anning found the stifling heat unbearable and couldn't nap. For some inexplicable reason, she felt a strange restlessness.

Just then, Chun Qi arrived in person, her face alight with surprise. "My Lady, guess who's here?"

Before Shen Anning could respond, Chun Qi blurted out, "Madam Lian is here, waiting outside the door."

Shen Anning was startled.

*Why would Sister Zhang Wan come at this hour?*

Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Sister Zhang Wan, being in charge of household affairs, must be incredibly busy. Moreover, it was already afternoon—could there be news about the residence on West Phoenix Street?

But even if there were, it wasn't so urgent that it had to be dealt with right now. They would have plenty of time after the festival.

Though she couldn't fathom the reason for Sister Zhang Wan’s visit, Shen Anning dared not delay. She quickly donned her outer garments, tidied her hair, and hurried out to greet her.

She found Zhang Wan showing no sign of distress, smiling as she said, "I visited my maternal home today and passed by here, so I thought I’d drop in to see you."

Shen Anning chatted and laughed as she led Zhang Wan to the Riverbank Residence. However, before they reached the courtyard gate, Zhang Wan could no longer hold back. She suddenly darted behind a banana tree to hide. Shen Anning was bewildered and confused, rushing after her to see what was wrong. When Zhang Wan turned around, tears were already streaming down her face.

The moment Shen Anning approached, Zhang Wan buried her face in the crook of Shen Anning’s shoulder, holding her tightly as if she could no longer contain herself, sobbing, "Ning Er, Crown Prince Lian has returned to the capital and brought back a woman from the north. He intends to take her as a concubine. I… what should I do?"

Zhang Wan broke down completely, weeping uncontrollably.

She shrank into Shen Anning’s embrace, trembling like a scared kitten.

Seeing her in such a state, Shen Anning’s heart clenched with panic. The courtyard was full of prying eyes and gossiping mouths, so she dared not bring Zhang Wan into the open. Instead, she quickly led her to a secluded spot by the lake, gently pressing her for details while offering comfort.

It turned out that Crown Prince Lian Cheng had gone to the northern frontier to fight just two months after his marriage. The battle dragged on for half a year, and last month, he successfully repelled the Xiongnu, sending shockwaves through the entire capital.

It was said that Crown Prince Lian had personally slain a Xiongnu general, and his fame spread throughout Great Yu overnight.

Even Shen Anning, who rarely left the inner quarters, had heard of this.

In the past half-month, no other news had captured the public's excitement like this.

After all, the court had won a great victory. The Emperor rewarded the three armies, pardoned all death penalties, and declared a general amnesty, bringing joy to the entire land.

The Lian family’s name shook the capital, especially Crown Prince Lian, who was at the peak of his fame.

Just a few days ago, Shen Anning had overheard Bai Tao gossiping that some in the mansion were comparing her to Zhang Wan, saying that Madam Lian was now in the spotlight, overshadowing her.

As both marriages were arranged by the Emperor, it was inevitable that they would often be compared.

Shen Anning hadn't taken it to heart.

But who would have thought that behind such glory lay such heart-wrenching matters?

If it were merely about taking an ordinary concubine, it would be one thing. However, the woman Crown Prince Lian brought back was no ordinary person. Her brother had been Lian Cheng’s lieutenant, who died saving Lian Cheng during the northern campaign. Before his death, he entrusted his widowed mother and younger sister to Lian Cheng.

Naturally, Lian Cheng couldn't just stand by.

But having such a concubine, to whom the Crown Prince owed a life debt, placed in the mansion and before Zhang Wan, how was she, as the principal wife, to handle this situation?

As Shen Anning listened to Zhang Wan recount the story bitterly, point by point, she recalled Zhang Wan’s tragic fate in later years and felt a surge of anger.

…

It is said that on this day, Lu Suian and Crown Prince Lian arrived on horseback from opposite directions, reaching the Lu family’s gate at the same time.

Crown Prince Lian Cheng had recently risen to prominence and was the Emperor's favorite. Wherever he went, people flocked to flatter and curry favor with him.

The Lu and Lian families were not particularly close. Moreover, the Lian family had long been away on military campaigns, while Lu Suian spent his days buried in paperwork at the Dali Temple. Thus, the two had never interacted before.

However, living under the same imperial rule, they had naturally crossed paths over time.

Both dismounted simultaneously. Though Lu Suian was somewhat surprised by Lian Cheng’s sudden appearance, he showed no intention of flattery. Instead, adhering to the etiquette of a host, he said calmly, "Crown Prince Lian, you’ve come from afar. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."

After a pause, he went straight to the point: "May I ask the purpose of your visit today, Crown Prince Lian?"

Lu Suian had no intention of engaging in small talk.

Lian Cheng was equally direct, replying tersely, "My wife came today to visit your lady. As it’s getting late, I’ve come to fetch her."

Lian Cheng’s reply was equally stiff and blunt.

Lu Suian responded, "Please."

With a gesture, he led the way into the marquis’s residence.

Lian Cheng followed closely behind, hands clasped behind his back.

The two men were straightforward, and after this exchange, they spoke no further along the way.

Lu Suian ushered Lian Cheng into the front courtyard and sent someone to inform the inner quarters. However, the messenger returned to report that his lady’s whereabouts were unknown, and there was no news of Madam Lian’s visit.

Both Lu Suian and Lian Cheng frowned.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Suian went to search personally. Just as he reached the abandoned house by the lakeshore, before he could enter to investigate, a voice tight with anger rang out from inside, spat out with a cold sneer, "Then divorce him!"

Lu Suian froze in his tracks.

In the next instant, Lian Cheng's tall figure appeared beside him.

There was no doubt—it was Shen Anning’s voice!

Shen Anning had always been demure and delicate. In the months since their marriage, she had always spoken softly, never even raising her voice, not even when she lost her temper in front of others after returning from the palace, maintaining her composure with grace. This was the first time Lu Suian had heard her speak with such vehement and harsh words.

"Then divorce him!"

Such a short sentence, yet so forceful and imposing.

Lu Suian had never known she could be so commanding and authoritative!

Yet the words "divorce him" were so rash and grating, striking his eardrums with each syllable.

Lian Cheng arrived a step later. Though he did not hear his wife’s voice, the Lian family’s carriage was parked outside the Lu residence. Combined with the recent turmoil in the Lian family, he immediately turned pale with anger upon hearing those words. Glaring coldly at Lu Suian, he suppressed his rage and said in a mocking tone, "Lord Lu has married quite a formidable lady!"

With that, he stormed forward in a fury.

But Lu Suian threw out an arm to bar his path.

Lian Cheng glanced sideways to see Lu Suian shot back without mercy, "Thank you for the praise, Crown Prince Lian. The Emperor has excellent judgment, for which I am eternally grateful!"

When Lu Suian played the Emperor card, it finally dawned on Lian Cheng that the Lu family's marriage had also been arranged by imperial decree. Realizing his slip of the tongue, he was momentarily left speechless and unable to retort.

Seeing Lu Suian squinting ahead while listening to the commotion inside the house, his expression darkened.

Pausing for a moment, Lian Cheng also stiffened his expression and stood rigidly to the side.

Not far ahead stood a lakeside pavilion meant for enjoying rainy days and resting. However, Lu Suian had no taste for such leisurely pastimes, and over time, it had fallen into disuse.

In her previous life, after contracting tuberculosis, Shen Anning had voluntarily moved to this small pavilion to avoid passing the illness to Lu Suian, spending the remainder of her days there.

After waking from that dream, Shen Anning personally cleaned and decorated the pavilion. The main residence was crowded and full of gossip, so she brought Zhang Wan here instead.

...

Inside the pavilion, Shen Anning looked at Zhang Wan, who was crushed by that oppressive mansion, and saw the struggle and pain on her face—as if seeing her past self. She felt both frustrated at Zhang Wan's helplessness and deeply compassionate.

Zhang Wan, however, was too stunned to process this. Staring blankly at Shen Anning, she blurted out in disbelief, "A-annulment?"

As if hearing something utterly shocking, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's right, annulment!"

Shen Anning set her jaw, refilled Zhang Wan's cup with wine, then poured a full cup for herself. Lifting her cup, she downed the entire drink in one go. The liquor's burn hit her senses and burned her stomach.

Fueled by the courage and impulsiveness of the alcohol, she broke down the events of her past life, word by word, urging Zhang Wan with conviction, "If life brings you no joy, why endure it in silence? The result of bottling up your grievances is nothing but a life of sorrow and a miserable end."

"Zhang Wan, those scumbag men are not worthy of our sincere devotion, nor are they worth a single tear from us. Ha, they sit high in the halls of power, celebrated by the world, with devoted wives and charming concubines in their arms, legitimate and illegitimate children swarming around them—how could they possibly care about the lives and deaths of us women confined to the inner quarters? They only believe you cannot live without them. Zhang Wan, if that Crown Prince Lian you rely on truly takes that Miss Yan as his concubine, do you know what will happen? She is no ordinary woman; she is the sister of your husband’s savior. Not quite a concubine, not quite a wife, she will forever stand between the two of them. You and your husband will never truly open your hearts to each other in this lifetime. If Miss Yan knows her place and behaves, you might grit your teeth and endure it. But if she is not a good one, how can a marriage of three ever find peace?"

In her previous life, Zhang Wan’s son and daughter both died mysteriously one after another. There were rumors that Zhang Wan, overwhelmed with grief, went mad. Shen Anning did not know whether Miss Yan had a hand in it, but the outcome was clear.

"Even if you exhaust your mind and energy for his entire family, wear yourself out, and ruin your health, what does it matter? If you die, fall ill, or become disabled, they will quickly marry another beautiful wife, replacing you in the blink of an eye. Before your bones are cold and your blood has cooled, they will already be snug with a new wife and kids. How could such heartless, ungrateful people be worth a single tear from you or me?"

Shen Anning spoke, every word hitting home.

In persuading Zhang Wan, she was also persuading herself.

After speaking, she downed another cup of cold wine.

Zhang Wan felt her heart and lungs turn cold from Shen Anning’s words, shivering with fear. She thought of the high walls and vast compound of the Duke’s residence, the complicated disputes within, her mother-in-law’s harshness, her husband’s aloof and stern demeanor, and that Miss Yan, who was put on a pedestal and treated like royalty by the Duke’s family. Despair washed over her. She too downed the entire cup of wine in one go, the spiciness bringing tears to her eyes. With a heart as cold as ashes, she said, "Yes, it’s not worth it... truly... not worth it..."

But after a moment, she murmured, "But if we divorce, how will I live afterwards..."

In this world, though divorced couples are not unheard of, they are still few and far between.

What respectable family would dare take in a divorced woman?

Even if one did, how could she be sure she wasn’t escaping one tiger’s den only to enter another wolf’s lair?

Shen Anning, however, seemed to have an answer ready at hand. Whether she had pondered it countless times or not, she responded without hesitation, laughing lightly, "What’s so difficult about that? Live however you want!"

"If you wish to remarry, the world is vast, and there are countless men in Great Yu. Surely we can pick a few more pleasing to the eye than that Crown Prince Lian?"

"If you don’t wish to remarry, that’s even simpler. Save up some money, and someday use it to travel the world, savor delicacies across the land, see the great sights, and enjoy the wonders of the world—wouldn’t that be delightful!"

"If you ever feel lonely or bored, Ning Er can introduce a few exceptional male courtesans to Sister Zhang Wan. Hmph, why should men be allowed to have their pick of lovers, keep three wives and four concubines, and roam the pleasure districts, while we women must be tied to just one man? Hmph, once we gain our freedom, we women should have our share of fun too!"

Stimulated by alcohol and caught up in her wild fantasies, Shen Anning's mind grew increasingly excited. The more she spoke, the more fervent and unrestrained she became, her words tumbling out unrestrained.

Hearing this, Zhang Wan assumed Shen Anning was drunk. She, too, wished to join in the drinking, and couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, raising her voice in bold agreement—

"To divorce, cheers!"

"To silver, cheers!"

"To our freedom, cheers!"

"To pleasure, cheers!"

The two drank more and more, growing increasingly uninhibited in their speech. Clearly, they were completely drunk, even their words getting slurred.

When these shocking remarks reached outside the room—

especially the line, "If you ever feel lonely or bored, Ning Er can introduce a few exceptional male courtesans to Sister Zhang Wan"—Lian Cheng could no longer stand it. His eyes blazing with fury, he flew into a rage and stormed inside.

Yet, at that moment, Lu Suian stood frozen in place, unmoving for a long time, as if his feet were nailed to the ground. A cold wind swept through, filling his billowing official robes and lifting the hem. He stood like a solitary pine on a frosty peak, his presence so sharp and imposing that even the chilly wind seemed to shrink back.

Only after an indeterminate amount of time, his face taut and veins bulging on his forehead, did he suppress the frosty chill in his piercing gaze. Then, he followed, step by measured step.

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Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your support. I'll keep working hard!

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