Chapter 60: Severing Ties with You
Chapter 60: Severing Ties with You
Astonishment flashed in everyone's eyes. What was this? A royal decree delivered in the middle of the night?
A decree to mourn Elder Madam Liu? Liu sure had guts, sending a funeral notice to the palace?
Confusion clouded Official Liu's face. "I didn't do it!"
Despite their doubts, the officials turned and knelt to receive the imperial messenger.
Everyone, that is, except Lu Yuan.
It was only when the eunuch messenger came closer that the officials realized he wasn't one of the Emperor's personal attendants, but rather, the Grand Secretary, Fu, from the retired Emperor's side.
Grand Secretary Fu, back in his eunuch attire, held a whisk and presented the imperial decree to Meng Qianqian.
"Lady Meng, receive the imperial decree!"
Everyone's eyes turned to Meng Qianqian.
With graceful poise, Meng Qianqian knelt down.
Grand Secretary Fu unfurled the decree and read aloud, "His Retired Majesty's decree: 'The lady from Youzhou, of the Meng Clan, is gentle, virtuous, intelligent, and kind. She is an exemplary wife, yet since her marriage to the Lu family, despite her utmost virtue and filial piety, she has not been blessed with peace, enduring much hardship. I have decided to dissolve the marriage between the two families. Lady Meng and her husband are to be—'"
He paused at this point, leaving everyone hanging.
"Divorce?" someone whispered.
Grand Secretary Fu continued, "'—estranged by imperial decree!'"
This imperial decree was even more jaw-dropping than the news of Elder Madam Lu's pregnancy.
What was going on?
Had the Retired Emperor personally issued a decree to have the Meng family's young lady divorced?
"Pinch me."
"Ouch! I told you to pinch me, not punch me!"
The talkative general, whose stomach had just been punched by his colleague, finally believed that what he was witnessing was not an illusion.
Everyone was struck dumb, as if they had been hit by lightning, and the scene fell into a dead silence.
Meng Qianqian's calm voice rang out clearly amid the swirling snow. "This daughter-in-law accepts the decree."
She held her hands above her head and took the decree steadily.
Grand Secretary Fu said to the Minister of Justice, "Please prepare the certificate of estrangement, Minister."
Unlike a divorce letter or a separation letter, which could be written by the individual, the certificate of estrangement had to be written by the government and stamped with the official seal.
The Minister of Justice bowed and said, "This official will abide by the will of His Retired Majesty."
Lu Xingzhou quickly walked to Lu Yuan's side, bowed reverently, and said in a low voice, "The Lu family is willing to follow the Grand Preceptor to the death. We only ask that the Grand Preceptor uphold the interests of the Lu family!"
Lu Yuan laughed coldly. "Lu Xingzhou, do you want me to openly defy the imperial decree?"
Lu Xingzhou's words were heard by everyone, despite his attempts to conceal them.
The crowd shot contemptuous glances at Lu Xingzhou.
With his hands tucked into his hand warmer, Lu Yuan lazily raised his eyebrows. "The show's over. Let's go."
Shangguan Ling followed him, and as he passed by Lu Xingzhou, he patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "Congratulations, Lord Lu. It's good to be rid of such an unfilial daughter-in-law. Just remember to return her dowry, as this is an official case, and the yamen will investigate!"
Lu Xingzhou's blood boiled with rage.
He had clearly pledged his allegiance to the Emperor, yet the Emperor's father had just stabbed him in the back!
The glory and honor his son had earned on the battlefield would soon be overshadowed by the scandal of his divorce.
Had he chosen the wrong person to support?
If he hadn't wavered between the Emperor and Lu Yuan, if he had pledged his loyalty to Lu Yuan from the start, like at the first birthday celebration, would there still have been this decree, which had stripped the Lu family of all dignity?
What Lu Xingzhou couldn't understand even more was why the Retired Emperor would interfere in the affairs of the Lu family.
Not to mention him, everyone was bewildered, including Meng Qianqian, who had received the decree.
As far as she knew, the Retired Emperor was seriously ill and had been recuperating in his palace, no longer involving himself in the affairs of the capital.
Moreover, the Retired Emperor didn't even know her, so even if he did involve himself, it wouldn't have anything to do with her.
Could it be that someone had pleaded her case before the Retired Emperor?
Could it be Lu Yuan?
No, she was only of some use to him, not worth his trouble to "plead" with the Retired Emperor.
Wang Fu Ren?
The other woman's reaction to the decree had been even more shocked than hers, and besides, she had never mentioned to Wang Fu Ren her desire to leave the Lu family.
So, it wasn't her either.
Then who was it?
As these thoughts flashed through Meng Qianqian's mind, a tall figure suddenly loomed closer. She held her fingers together and flicked a silver needle towards the intruder.
When she recognized the person, she hooked her fingers inward, retracting the needle back into her sleeve.
Ever since she had accidentally injured Lu Yuan, she had practiced diligently to gain better control. It wasn't for his sake but for her own survival.
"What do you want?" Meng Qianqian asked calmly as she retracted her hand.
Lu Lingxiao clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Let me see the imperial decree! I need to verify... its authenticity!"
Meng Qianqian handed the decree to him.
Lu Lingxiao gripped the decree tightly, his eyes growing colder with each word he read.
It was real! How could this be real? His gaze turned fiery, as if he wanted to burn the decree that humiliated him to ashes!
Meng Qianqian turned to Fu Gonggong and asked, "May I ask, if the imperial decree is destroyed, will the Retired Emperor's will still take effect?"
Fu Gonggong smiled. "I believe no one would dare to destroy the imperial decree. That would be a capital offense."
"Hey, what's this? Let me see!"
Tany appeared suddenly at Lu Lingxiao's side and snatched the decree from him.
She spread her hands wide, and with too much force, the decree tore in half.
The officials inhaled sharply, taken aback. Tany sensed the change in atmosphere and blinked at Meng Qianqian. "Sister, it tore itself."
The officials collectively averted their gazes, some looking up at the sky, others scratching their heads.
"Oh dear, it's time for my night watch! Let's go, everyone!"
The officials scattered like a flock of startled birds.
Fu Gonggong chuckled. "It will be fine once it's sewn back together."
Lu Lingxiao: That's not what you said earlier!
Li Mama and Wan Mama also rushed over, and Li Mama handed a bag of silver ingots to Fu Gonggong.
Fu Gonggong accepted the bag with a smile and said to Meng Qianqian, "Congratulations, Miss Meng, on regaining your freedom. This old servant must return to report to the Retired Emperor. Farewell for now."
Meng Qianqian saw them out to the courtyard gate and then asked, "May I ask, Fu Gonggong, who requested this imperial decree?"
Fu Gonggong replied gently, "It was a good deed brought about by Miss Meng herself."
Meng Qianqian murmured, "A good deed of mine?"
"Meng Qianqian!"
Lu Lingxiao could no longer contain his rage. His fury blazed like a storm as he strode towards Meng Qianqian.
Tany flashed in front of Meng Qianqian, blocking her and kicking Lu Lingxiao back several steps. "Don't you dare bully my sister again, or I won't hold back!"
Lu Lingxiao had just blocked Tany's kick, and now he felt a tingling numbness in his arms.
He furrowed his brows, looking at Tany with a mix of astonishment and anger.
Meng Qianqian said indifferently, "Lu Lingxiao, we are no longer husband and wife. Don't put on the act of a husband in front of me again."
The old madam went berserk, trying to rush forward and scratch Meng Qianqian's face, but Lu Er Ye used all his strength to hold her back.
"Let go of me! I'm going to kill that brat!"
Tany balled her fists. "Come on then! See how hard my bones are, and my fists too!"
The old madam glared at Meng Qianqian with malice and cursed through gritted teeth, "We should never have agreed to let you marry into our family... You were three years old when you killed your own parents! After marrying into our family, you killed your husband's grandfather! Now you've brought disaster to Lingxiao, making it impossible for him to hold his head high in the capital! You're a jinx! Whoever gets involved with you meets a terrible end— "
Slap!
A powerful force struck the old madam's face, delivered by an invisible palm strike.
Tany's eyes widened. "Wow!"
The old madam thought it was Tany who had struck her. She covered her face and glared at Tany. "You dare to hit me?"
Tany hugged herself. "So what if I did? Come on, say more, and I'll kill you!"
Lu Lingxiao gritted his teeth and glared at Meng Qianqian. "I will never sever ties with you!"
Meng Qianqian replied nonchalantly, "Are you going against the imperial will? Go ahead, I hope you have the guts!"
Precious Piggy was super fierce: Oink!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
