Chapter 49: A Complete Falling Out
Chapter 49: A Complete Falling Out
When everyone saw her, they looked as startled as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
The Second Madam asked incredulously, "You... weren't you taken away by the Governor's office?"
Meng Qianqian gave a faint smile. "So, the family knew that I was imprisoned, but instead of thinking about how to rescue me, you were racking your brains to disassociate yourselves from me. This is the style of a prestigious family, and it has indeed broadened the horizons of a humble merchant's daughter like me."
The Second Madam was choked with embarrassment and muttered, "Who told you to cause so much trouble?"
Meng Qianqian greeted the Third and Fifth Elder, "Greetings to both of you, Elder Uncles."
The two men's expressions were somewhat cold.
Intrigued, the Second Madam asked, "How did you get out?"
The Old Madam snorted coldly, "Need you ask? Of course, Lingxiao rescued her! I don't know how much humiliation he had to endure at the Governor's office this time!"
She felt nothing but heartache for her grandson. How did he end up with such a troublemaking wife?
Meng Qianqian let out a peal of laughter.
The Old Madam's eyebrows, tinged with white, furrowed. "What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at Grandmother's underestimation of her own grandson's influence," said Meng Qianqian. "Even if he didn't go to the Governor's office and endure humiliation, he wouldn't have had the face to bring me out from there."
"You—" The Old Madam was so angry that she almost keeled over.
The Second Madam sneered, "If it wasn't Lingxiao who rescued you, then who else could it be? Could it be that the Grand Governor took pity on you and let you go? What are you worth for that to happen?"
The Old Madam also believed that the Grand Governor would only release someone because of Lingxiao's face. Thinking of this, she felt even more that Meng Qianqian was unworthy of her precious grandson.
"You've been nothing but a burden to Lingxiao. Because of you, he was demoted by one rank and suffered several hundred lashes. Not only have you not learned your lesson, but you've also become even more outrageous, causing trouble even in the Imperial Palace! Today, I'm making the decision to divorce you, you jinx!"
Meng Qianqian straightened her back and said calmly, "His demotion was because he kept a concubine and deceived the Emperor. What does that have to do with me? Moreover, even if you want to divorce me, there must be a reason. It's not up to you to decide when to divorce me!"
The Old Madam was used to seeing Meng Qianqian's respectful and obedient behavior. She felt somewhat uncomfortable with her daughter-in-law's sudden show of backbone.
The Second Madam jumped to her feet and pointed at Meng Qianqian's nose. "You are unfilial, jealous, have a bad illness, and are childless. You've committed four out of the seven grounds for divorce. How can we not divorce you?"
Meng Qianqian gave a cold laugh. "Is the Second Aunt referring to the fact that I caught a cold a few days ago and couldn't go and take care of Grandmother when she was sick? Then let the servants of the mansion come out and judge. See how I have been filial to my elders in the Lu family these years! I've spent the money! I've taken care of people! I've supported this family! If this is considered unfilial, then what is filial?"
"My husband brought back a concubine from the outside without my consent. Have I ever treated her harshly? Her food, clothing, and daily necessities are no different from mine as the main wife, and my husband spends every night in her courtyard. I've never stood in their way! Where does jealousy come into this?"
"As for having an illness and being childless, is the Second Aunt referring to how I caught a cold after your daughter pushed me into the water? This illness is thanks to your daughter, and if I can't have children, it's also because of the Lu family! How dare you blame me for it!"
The two clan elders were also shocked for a moment. Meng Qianqian's words were completely contrary to what her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had said, and they didn't know whom to believe.
Meng Qianqian spoke righteously, "Since the two clan elders are here today, then let's make things clear! Not only have I not committed any of the seven grounds for divorce, but even if I had, there are still the three exceptions in the Great Zhou Dynasty's laws—if the husband was poor when they married but became rich afterward, if the wife has observed the three years of mourning for the husband's parents, and if the wife has been married for more than three years without giving birth but the husband has no other wife to return to. When I married into the Lu family, the family was deeply in debt, and even the house had been mortgaged. It was my dowry that paid off the debts! My husband's grandfather passed away, and my husband 'faked his death', so I observed mourning for three years and kept myself chaste for five! Just based on these points, the Lu family has no grounds to divorce me!"
The Old Madam was so angry that her whole body trembled. "You... you..."
The Fifth Elder said, "Since that's the case, it's true that we can't divorce her..."
The Second Madam said anxiously, "Fifth Uncle! She offended Her Imperial Highness, the Noble Consort. If we don't divorce her, are we waiting to die with her?"
The Fifth Elder asked, "Since she's already been released, what more is there to say?"
"Indeed. Perhaps Her Imperial Highness has a generous heart and doesn't want to hold a grudge against Meng Qianqian," the Third Elder added.
The Second Madam grew anxious. "What good is releasing her now? If Her Imperial Highness takes a disliking to us, will the Lu family ever know peace? What if she instructs someone to create trouble for your older brother and Lingxiao, ruining their careers?"
What she didn't say was that her daughter was of marriageable age. If people knew that the Lu family had offended the Noble Consort, who would dare to propose a marriage alliance with Linglong? Not to mention her two sons who were studying at the Imperial College.
Zheng Siye, the director of the Imperial College, was a man loyal to Lu Yuan.
Even Old Madam didn't dare gamble with the lives of her son, grandson, and the entire family.
Old Madam quickly suppressed her greedy thoughts and still decided to drive Meng Qianqian out.
"You and Lingxiao were once husband and wife, but now that you're divorced, it's understandable that you feel ashamed. Please leave on your own accord! You can say that you violated the palace rules and don't want to implicate your husband's family. In the future, when outsiders mention this, they will praise you for being virtuous and considerate!"
Old Madam spoke as if she were bestowing a great favor upon Meng Qianqian.
In fact, this plan was indeed more cunning than simply divorcing Meng Qianqian. A divorce would make the Lu family seem heartless and ungrateful, but if Meng Qianqian left on her own, the family wouldn't be implicated.
Meng Qianqian laughed bitterly. How could she not understand the calculations behind her grandmother's words? When it came to shamelessness, this grandmother was truly unparalleled.
"What about my dowry?"
Old Madam frowned and said coldly, "You want your dowry back after asking for a divorce?"
Meng Qianqian countered, "If you don't return my dowry, do you think I'll agree to a divorce? My ancestors in the Meng family would be shaking in their coffins at your scheming!"
"Enough!" Lu Lingxiao stormed in, his face ashen.
Meng Qianqian knew he had been listening outside for a long time and couldn't bear to continue, so he had come in.
"Let's talk outside," Lu Lingxiao said as he reached for her wrist.
Meng Qianqian lifted her arm and walked ahead of him.
The two of them stepped into the courtyard.
Lu Lingxiao demanded, "How dare you speak to Grandmother like that?"
Meng Qianqian replied calmly, "Stop ordering me around. Instead of wasting time here, why don't you hurry to the Governor's office and accept your punishment?"
Lu Lingxiao was so embarrassed that his face turned red.
He clenched his fists. "I didn't come here to argue with you. Come with me to the palace and apologize to the Noble Consort."
"What wrong have I committed?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Lu Lingxiao furrowed his brows. "The Noble Consort merely wanted to help an orphan. Was it necessary for you to go against her wishes?"
Meng Qianqian's voice turned cold. "If she truly wanted to help, why didn't she simply ask her son, the Emperor, to issue a marriage decree? The reason she didn't do that is that this act of hers is utterly despicable and would bring her bad karma! All of you want to reap the benefits, but you leave all the suffering to me!"
"The Noble Consort gains the loyalty of her subjects, Lin Wan'er gains the status of a concubine, and you gain the woman you love. What about me? What do I get?"
"You remember that she became an orphan three years ago, but you forget that I lost my parents when I was three years old! You are grateful to her, but do you remember who gathered the funds for the northern expedition? The Meng family invested half of their wealth... Or do you think you would've starved to death at the border otherwise?"
Five years ago, there was a snow disaster at Yumenguan Pass, and the imperial court's provisions were delayed. Later, a merchant caravan arrived to deliver food and grass...
Lu Lingxiao felt as if he had been struck by lightning. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"If I had, would you not have betrayed me?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Lu Lingxiao was left speechless.
Meng Qianqian lifted her gaze to the boundless sky and said calmly, "Lu Lingxiao, let's get a divorce."
Feel free to curse out the scumbag male lead, but remember, no cursing me afterward!
(End of Chapter)
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