Chapter 74 Planning to Divorce the First Madam

Chapter 74: Divorcing the Eldest Madam

Lady Wu and Yang Xingxian were still anxiously trying to figure out what to do, but what could they even come up with?

They both jumped when they saw Bi Wendong limping over.

Clearly, Bi Wendong had been beaten up badly again. Just watching him made Yang Xingxian's whole body hurt.

"Lady Xi said she might settle this privately or publicly—it all depends on how you play it. If it's public, you're coming to prison with me. If private, you'll have to pay her back the silver."

Yang Xingxian and Lady Wu's faces dropped. Where were they supposed to get the silver to pay her back?

But as for "public," that ruthless woman was certainly capable of doing it.

Lady Wu had no choice but to beg, "Son, there's no way around it. It seems this woman won't let us off the hook. We have no silver left—the only one with any left is Xi Jiaojiao."

Yang Xingxian had no choice but to go to Xi Jiaojiao's courtyard.

Xi Jiaojiao was also waiting nervously. When the ruckus broke out at Jifu Hall, word naturally got to her, and she quickly sent Lv Zhi to find out what was going on.

When Lv Zhi returned to report, all she said was that the eldest young master had declared he would divorce the eldest madam.

Xi Jiaojiao felt a rush of excitement—if her elder sister were divorced, she'd have a shot at moving up in the world!

But then she spotted Yang Xingxian coming over. The ink on his face had been washed off, but his clothes hadn't been changed yet, and he still looked like a total mess.

"Oh my, what happened to get you in such a state? Let's get you changed first."

Xi Jiaojiao was all sweetness and quickly helped Yang Xingxian change into clean clothes.

Yang Xingxian took her hand: "Jiaojiao, I can't keep living with Xi Qianyue. I'm going to divorce her! But she keeps demanding I pay back her dowry silver, or else she'll make the whole Marquis of Changping estate a joke in the capital. Where am I supposed to get that kind of silver?"

Xi Jiaojiao understood—Yang Xingxian was hitting her up for money.

She was torn. She still had four thousand taels of silver. If she gave it all up, what would she have left?

Yang Xingxian seemed to read her mind: "Don't worry, things'll get better. What matters is getting past this. Do you want Xi Qianyue to keep lording it over you? Strike while she's angry—whether it's divorce or even a full annulment!

If she cools off and changes her mind, giving the silver back won't do any good either."

Xi Jiaojiao could see the logic in that. Her elder sister was acting totally different from before—who knew if she'd regret this tomorrow?

Xi Jiaojiao's eyes welled up: "Husband, I'm giving up so much for you. You can't betray me later."

"Of course not. I'm divorcing your sister for you, aren't I? Otherwise, as long as she's around, you'll always be just a concubine, at her beck and call."

Xi Jiaojiao's heart melted, and she was thrilled. She'd only been married here a short while, and already this chance had come!

It was even better than she'd dreamed.

Thinking of her sister getting divorced and sent back home while she took over as Madam Yang—what was a little silver compared to that?

Compared to a bright future, this silver was money well spent.

Xi Qianyue showed up at Jifu Hall looking fresh and composed, with a whole crew behind her.

Lady Wu felt a little intimidated—was this a power move?

Only once Yang Xingxian and Xi Jiaojiao showed up together did Xi Qianyue get down to business: "I've said my piece. Pay back my dowry silver, and I'm done with the Yang family."

Yang Xingxian tried to haggle: "Lady Xi, we've only got about two thousand taels left. How about we pay back two thousand for now?"

"You should have five or six thousand taels. Pay it all back. Whatever's left, you write an IOU."

Yang Xingxian protested, "Where are we supposed to get five or six thousand? All we've got is what Jiaojiao has—four thousand taels, tops."

Xi Qianyue sneered inwardly. A simple bluff like that, and they'd revealed their hand.

"Besides the silver, Xi Jiaojiao, since you're willing to help him repay the debt, bring out your other dowry items and convert them to silver as well."

Xi Jiaojiao was incredulous: "Elder sister, those dowry items aren't worth much..."

"Even if they're not worth much, they're worth something. Every bit helps, don't you think?" Xi Qianyue turned to Qing Rong, "Take some people to inventory everything, and have the pawnshop owner come to appraise it directly."

Bi Wendong quickly excused himself: "I'm not needed here anymore, am I? You handle the silver and the divorce yourselves—it's none of my business."

"For now, I'll let you go. But I'll give you a warning: your Bi family had better behave from now on. I'm not someone to be trifled with."

Bi Wendong sighed in relief, made a few more assurances, and fled.

Soon, the pawnshop owner finished the appraisal—Xi Jiaojiao's dowry items could be converted to another thousand taels of silver.

So the dowry was immediately carried away by the pawnshop.

The Yang sisters arrived belatedly, shouting, "What's going on here? Arguing is one thing, but now you're demanding silver?"

Xi Qianyue was in a good mood and said to Yang Luo with a smile, "Open your eyes and learn from this. Don't ever pour your dowry into a man, or you'll end up miserable. Of course, that's assuming you even have a dowry to begin with."

The Yang sisters flushed red. Yang Luo retorted, "You're about to be divorced by my eldest brother, and you're still running your mouth? Do you think anyone will marry you after this? Who would want you?"

"Exactly, exactly! You're nothing but a shrew—who would dare take you?" Yang Yao chimed in.

But these words were light as feathers and had no effect on Xi Qianyue whatsoever.

Five thousand taels of silver in hand, she also had Yang Xingxian write an IOU for six thousand taels.

The two then signed a "Declaration of Annulment," severing all ties forever—free to remarry, with no further connection.

Just as Yang Xingxian was sighing with relief, Xi Qianyue suddenly rolled up her sleeves and, without warning, slapped him several times across the face.

Yang Xingxian clutched his swollen face as Xi Qianyue said cheerfully, "Did you think I'd only hit that surnamed Bi and not you, you wretch?"

Lady Wu dared not say a word. She feared that if Xi Qianyue went mad and targeted her, slapping her across the face too, what would she do?

Xi Qianyue efficiently settled all her affairs, then had the maidservants and matrons inventory all personnel, pack up all luggage and furniture.

These tasks were supervised by several capable maidservants, while Xi Qianyue herself leisurely took a carriage back to her natal home.

Lady Wu was still dazed. Was it that simple?

This merchant's daughter-in-law, whom she had regarded as a disgrace, had simply packed up and gone home?

It was Xi Jiaojiao who perked up: "This is cause for celebration. Let's have a dinner party tonight."

Yang Luo gave her a strange look: "What will you celebrate with?"

Xi Jiaojiao froze, not yet accustomed to the fact that she had no silver left.

She also felt a pang of panic, thinking that in a few days, she'd need to go back and ask Concubine Yu for more silver.