WBSGVS Chapter 20

The robust maid, who had long been arranged, quickly entered the room. Each of them tried to take Qingli from Zheng Yihan’s hands, their voices respectful: “My apologies, Young Madam!”

Qingli smiled, flicked her wrist, and easily slipped from Zheng Yihan’s grasp. Then, she swiftly gripped his wrist and executed a twist.

Zheng Yihan immediately felt a sharp pain in his wrist, his expression changing in shock. “Ah—” he cried out in pain, staggering before being pushed and falling to the ground.

Dazed, he stared blankly at the scene before him, unable to believe it.

Had Ah Li done this to him?

Su Tingxue gasped and rushed over to help him up, her voice full of concern. The joy from earlier about Qingli and the separation had vanished: “Zheng Ge! Are you alright?”

Hearing her voice pierced his heart. If it weren’t for her suicidal actions that led the Third Prince to force him to marry her, how could he have angered his well-behaved wife like this?

With a grim expression, he sat up and instinctively tried to shake off her supportive hand, only to find his arm suddenly sharp with pain, preventing him from doing so.

Qingli had struck him hard, showing no mercy!

The pain intensified in his chest.

Several strong maids seemed surprised by the sudden turn of events, but they were accustomed to rough work and had prepared themselves mentally, not fearful; they merely frowned and reached for him.

Qingli quickly stepped back, waved her left hand to evade their movements, and kicked out with her right foot.

With a loud “bang!” one of them was knocked to the ground.

The onlookers in the hall were too stunned to speak, and Zhang’s voice rose in fury: “Catch her! All of you! Quickly!”

“Yes!” With a chorus of agreement, the maids and servants in the hall sprang into action.

However, several agile figures entered from outside. Without Qingli needing to do anything, a few quick exchanges saw the untrained maids knocked down. Ah Bin and his companions stepped in front of Qingli, their fierce expressions carrying a hint of anger: “Who dares to touch my young lady!”

Wan Yue followed closely behind, nervously checking her for injuries. After confirming she was mostly fine except for a few messy strands of hair, she sighed in relief: “I was so scared, Miss. Why didn’t you let us come with you? Why wait for the trouble to start?”

“It’s fine, isn’t it?” Qingli replied, smiling as she patted Wan Yue’s hand.

Zhang looked at Ji Qingli, protected by her companions, her chest heaving with rage, her vision flashing black and white, her blood pressure rising dangerously.

After a moment of deep breathing to suppress her fury, she coldly mocked, “Oh, the Ji family is impressive, even causing such a scene here!”

Seeing her son sprawled on the ground being supported by Su Tingxue, Zhang hated even more: “Ji, I know you’re proud, but have you considered why my son needs a concubine? Do you want to see him without heirs?”

Qingli’s smile faded as she spoke solemnly: “When the Zheng family sought to marry me, they made a vow that Zheng Yihan would have no other woman for his entire life. Now that he seeks a concubine, that vow is null and void, and it’s also the moment for our separation.”

“But you haven’t given birth in five years!!!” Zhang shouted angrily.

Qingli replied with equal seriousness: “If you wanted a full house, you should never have married me. My marriage to him was based on that vow! If you had said earlier that he would one day take a concubine, I wouldn’t have married in the first place!”

“You! You—” Zhang pointed at her, trembling with rage.

“Ah Li!” Zheng Yihan, using his uninjured left hand to push himself up, wore an expression of pain and regret. “I was wrong, I won’t marry her. Can’t we just not separate?”

“Yihan!” Zhang was even angrier. “After all this, you still want to cling to her?”

Qingli laughed, “Don’t worry, there’s no turning back now. This matter is settled.”

She looked at Zheng Yihan. Despite this body being new to her, she felt no attachment like the previous owner of this life had for him. Still, Zheng Yihan had deep feelings for Ji Qingli.

So, at this moment, he was deeply shaken and regretted it, but it was too late.

Qingli coldly stated, “You were wrong, but it’s too late. The moment you decided to marry her, we became strangers. I already said I wanted to separate, and you wouldn’t allow it. Since that’s the case, I will announce before everyone—Zheng Yihan, I, Ji Qingli, am hereby declaring our separation. Soon, my family will come to collect my dowry, and tomorrow, prepare the marriage dissolution documents to take to the official.”

“Ji Qingli!” Zheng Yihan couldn’t take it anymore, his handsome face rarely showing such panic, with a hint of resentment in his voice: “How much longer are you going to make a scene? I’ve said I’m not in control of this situation! When I fell off the cliff and lost my memory, I accidentally harmed Tingxue’s reputation. If I don’t marry her, how will she live? I’ve said this will be a one-time thing, there won’t be a second chance. Why can’t you tolerate this a little?”

Indeed!

He had endured for so long, and he knew how Zhang had made things difficult for her. But once he spoke to Zhang, she would just start crying.

But Ah Li wouldn’t cry; she would hold it in and pretend nothing had happened.

Five years had passed, and he had endured so much. Why, when it came to the matter of taking a concubine, he had said he was out of control, yet she wouldn’t tolerate it at all!

Qingli found his words laughable, replying coldly, “Why should I tolerate for you? Who do you think you are?”

Zheng Yihan’s face turned pale, speechless for a moment before muttering, “Could you have some sympathy for me? You used to be like that; why won’t you now?”

“Because I’ve realized you’re not worth me sacrificing myself!” Qingli smiled at him and Su Tingxue, who regarded him as everything. “I wish you both a long and happy life together~”

With that, Qingli turned to leave.

“Don’t you dare go!”

“Let her go!”

Zheng Yihan and Zhang shouted simultaneously. The two exchanged glances, and this time, Zheng Yihan did not heed Zhang’s order, glancing at the servant.

The servant, already nearing the door, received the signal and rushed out to call for help. Before long, a group of young men in short attire wielding clubs blocked the entrance.

Qingli took a quick look outside, noting there were quite a few, at least more than her small group. She smiled, “You’ve prepared quite well.”

Zheng Yihan sighed, “Ah Li, I still understand you.”

After all, they had been married for five years. The difference between Ji Qingli during this time and the Ji Qingli of the previous five years was immense. Although she appeared calm and composed, that very demeanor made him increasingly unable to fully trust her.

Now, it seemed he had indeed underestimated her.

But to see them arrive at this point was truly distressing.

Qingli chuckled lightly, “But you’ve still underestimated me. Don’t forget, my father is Ji Heng.” The next moment, her expression turned serious as she commanded, “Attack!”

“Yes!” Ah Bin and the others were not the least bit afraid, charging forward.

Wan Yue, who had been watching the seemingly fragile girl, also grabbed a club, nervously swinging it around.

Those from the Great General’s residence weren’t weaklings, even if they couldn’t fight.

Zheng Yihan didn’t expect her to choose to take action herself, wanting to break free. His face turned even darker, and he felt even more embarrassed when he realized that the group of young men was struggling against Qingli’s side!

As they stepped back, they were pushed toward the outer courtyard!

He shouted at the maids and servants who had just been knocked down, “You all go too, hurry! Capture the Young Madam and you’ll be handsomely rewarded!”

“Yes!” The promise of reward spurred those who had been fearful to charge forward.

The numbers were becoming more and more imbalanced.

Just as Zheng Yihan was starting to feel a bit more confident, a loud, familiar voice rang out from outside: “Zheng Yihan, you have some nerve! How dare you bully my sister?!”

“!!!”

The previously silent Zheng Lao Ye’s face changed dramatically, and he stood up to rush outside.

Zhang trembled slightly, sitting back down, her hand shaking as she picked up a teacup, the cup and lid clattering together.

Zheng Yihan, who thought victory was in his grasp, suddenly paled.

Wan Yue exclaimed in surprise, “Eldest Young Master! The Eldest Young Master is here!”

Qingli looked up and saw a tall, dark-skinned young man striding over, effortlessly kicking aside a blocking servant. His copper bell-like eyes looked fierce, and the weaker guards instinctively retreated, while those a bit bolder were sent flying.

She didn’t make another move, so there’s no need to worry about anyone catching her.

The young man hurried over in a few quick strides. Seeing the woman before him, he was excited and instinctively wanted to reach out to her. But realizing she was already grown, he restrained himself. Instead, he examined her closely with his eyes, though his hands hovered protectively in the air as if safeguarding a fragile porcelain doll.

“A’Li, are you hurt?”

Qing Li relaxed and shook her head calmly, lifting her chin slightly. “No, they can’t hurt me! Brother, why are you here?”

The man before her was her real older brother, Ji Shuyuan, the eldest of this generation in the Ji family.

In her previous life, he never returned because the news she had sent in her letters had reassured him. The situation at the border was tense, and the journey back and forth was long and difficult, making it no easy task.

But this time, he came back!

Ji Shuxin suddenly appeared from behind him, grinning. “Sis, Big Brother came back just for you. He heard you were planning to divorce and was afraid you’d get the short end of the stick, so he pushed everything onto Second Brother and Third Brother and rushed back on his own.”

So that’s how it is.

Qing Li smiled radiantly, her expression glowing. “Thank you, Big Brother!”

“No need for thanks, it’s what I should do.” Ji Shuyuan, reassured by his lively little sister, gently patted her head and pulled her behind him. Only then did he cast a cold glare at the people emerging from the hall—Zheng Yihan, Master Zheng, and Su Tingxue, who was clinging to Zheng Yihan.

Although he didn’t know this girl, from his cousin’s description, Ji Shuyuan quickly made the connection. Seeing her still stuck to Zheng Yihan’s side, his brows furrowed, and a flash of disgust crossed his face.

He couldn’t bring himself to lash out at a weak woman, so instead, he darkened his expression and loomed over Zheng Yihan, his oppressive presence making it clear who was in charge. In a deep voice, he said, “Zheng Yihan, well done. Taking a concubine and trying to imprison the main wife? Oh yes, very well done!”

Zheng Yihan’s face had already turned as dark as ink, but in front of this brother-in-law, he dared not retaliate, especially when the man’s words carried both restraint and barely contained fury.

He had dared to make preparations to keep Qing Li here because he knew, no matter what, she would consider their childhood bond and five years of marriage and wouldn’t truly act against him.

But this man in front of him was different.

Back when he had asked to marry Qing Li, he had been beaten several times. The pain from those beatings still made his face twitch whenever he recalled it.

Cold sweat dripped down Zheng Yihan’s back as he forced out a smile. “Brother-in-law, please don’t misunderstand. A’Li acted impulsively, but after five years of marriage, how could we divorce so easily?”

“I think A’Li did the right thing!” Ji Shuyuan sneered. “When you came to ask for my sister’s hand, you sweet-talked us all. And now, just five years later, you’ve changed your tune and want to take a concubine? What’s wrong? Was it my Ji family that begged you to marry her?”

Zheng Yihan, unable to argue, could only give a bitter smile, his face filled with sorrow as he looked at Qing Li. With difficulty, he pleaded, “There were reasons for this. Please, brother-in-law, forgive me. A’Li, you understand me, right?”

Qing Li’s expression was indifferent. “I don’t understand.”

Ji Shuyuan laughed mockingly. “Reasons? That’s just an excuse for the incompetent!”

Zheng Yihan’s face turned red with embarrassment from the series of sneers, but he couldn’t explain the real reason and could only grit his teeth and endure.

“General Ji~” Master Zheng, seeing his son being reprimanded like this, had no choice but to step forward with a forced smile and say, “My son was wrong, but there were reasons beyond his control. Fate played a cruel trick on him, or he would never have considered taking a concubine!”

“I don’t care about any ‘cruel tricks of fate’!” Ji Shuyuan rolled his eyes and, without turning back, ordered his men, “Go help the young lady retrieve her dowry. No one can stop a daughter of the Ji family from leaving!”

“Yes!” The soldiers responded in unison and turned to leave.

Wan Yue quickly said, “Miss, I’ll go ahead to make sure they don’t miss anything.”

Qing Li nodded, and Wan Yue dashed off.

Zheng Yihan, his expression bleak, didn’t dare say anything to Ji Shuyuan. He placed all his hopes on Qing Li, hoping she might show mercy.

In a low voice, he begged, “A’Li, I was wrong. I won’t marry her. Can we reconcile?”

“No.” Qing Li replied without hesitation.

Her crisp voice cut off the rest of Zheng Yihan’s pleas, leaving him with nothing more to say.

Su Tingxue, seeing the situation, realized things were going south. Her eyes flickered as she quickly analyzed the circumstances:

If Ji Qing Li left, Zheng Yihan would regret it for the rest of his life.

He was already starting to resent her. Although the official registration for her to become a concubine had already been made, and there was no longer the question of whether or not he would marry her, if Zheng Yihan began to harbor resentment towards her, it would be difficult to resolve.

She wasn’t stupid. Minor issues, like when she accidentally revealed to Miss Qing Li that her reputation had been ruined, wouldn’t truly bother him. But if she were the reason Qing Li left the Zheng family, he would hold it against her!

Su Tingxue gritted her teeth, glanced at the tall, dark-faced young man who had only looked at her once, and then “thump”—she knelt on the ground, begging, “General Ji, Sister Ji, I know my status is lowly…”

Ji Shuyuan frowned and barked, “Shut up!”

His booming voice startled Su Tingxue, making her tremble all over. But for the sake of her future, she bit her lip and continued, “I—I dare not and would never compete with Sister Ji for favor! I am alone, my reputation is ruined, and I only wish for a place to call home. I beg you, Sister Ji, don’t let me be the cause of discord between you and your husband. You two have such a deep bond, please don’t give it up so easily!”

After she finished, Su Tingxue remained kneeling, not daring to lift her head.

Ji Shuyuan clenched his fists, but he didn’t want to hit a woman. Worried his sister might be swayed, he glanced over at her, concerned.

Zheng Yihan, on the other hand, perked up and nodded vigorously. “A’Li, she’s right! We’ve been together for so long, can you bear to let it go?”

Qing Li covered her mouth and laughed mockingly. “It’s precisely because we’ve been together for so long that I can’t tolerate this! If we had no feelings between us, I wouldn’t even care if you took a concubine. Back when you were begging to marry me, you made all sorts of grand promises, but now you’ve forgotten them all. Zheng Yihan, why do men always get the benefits while women are expected to endure and compromise time and again? Why should I? I’m not wearing a green hat!”

Zheng Yihan, thrown off by her barrage of questions, looked utterly embarrassed and didn’t dare to say another word.

Ji Shuyuan grinned as his sister unleashed her fury. “Well said! That’s exactly how it should be!”

Qing Li’s face softened as she turned to her brother. “Big Brother, don’t waste any more words on them. Let’s go.”

“Alright.” Ji Shuyuan nodded. With Ah Bin and the others leading the way, he protected Qing Li as they left without a second glance.

Zheng Yihan panicked and hurried to follow, not even looking at Su Tingxue, who was still kneeling on the ground. All he could think about was chasing after the figure ahead. “A’Li!”

Ji Shuyuan told Ji Shuxin to guard Qing Li while he stopped in his tracks. When Zheng Yihan ran into him, he grabbed his collar and finally unleashed the punch he had been holding back for so long. “I’ve tolerated you for long enough!”

Ji Shuyuan’s strength had been honed on life-and-death battlefields, and the punch, filled with his fury toward the man who had wronged his sister, landed squarely on Zheng Yihan’s face. Qing Li happened to glance back just in time to see it, and she gasped.

His face was almost distorted from the impact!

“Ugh—” Zheng Yihan saw stars. The pain was so intense that he couldn’t even cry out. His head spun, and he blacked out.

Qing Li couldn’t help but clap. Her brother was amazing!

Ji Shuyuan hadn’t expected the young man to pass out after just one punch and cursed under his breath, “Bad luck!” He glanced nervously at his younger sister and, seeing that she wasn’t angry, secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Zhang Shi, who had been worried ever since her son rushed out, disregarded her fear of the Ji family. With the help of Mrs. Cui, she hurried outside, only to see her son lying unconscious on the ground after being thrown aside. She immediately let out a heart-wrenching scream, “Han’er!!!”

Upon closer inspection, she saw blood at the corner of her son’s mouth, his eyes closed, looking as though he were dead.

Zhang Shi’s heart shattered, and all her fear was forgotten as she rushed at Ji Shuyuan, fists raised in fury. “You killed my son! Give me back my son! Waaaah…”

Ji Shuyuan sidestepped her. He was about to let it go, but Zhang Shi wouldn’t stop. At that moment, Ji Shuxin added fuel to the fire, “Brother, it was she who kept setting rules for our sister. You can’t let her off so easily!”

“Setting rules?!”

Ji Shuyuan’s anger flared at the thought of this old woman daring to impose rules on his sister. Recalling what Ji Shuxin had told him earlier, his rage grew. In his fury, he ignored the fact that his opponent was a woman, instinctively raising his leg to kick her. He hesitated for a moment, considering she was under forty, and held back most of his strength.

Even so, his kick sent Zhang Shi flying two meters.

“Oww…” Zhang Shi let out a wretched cry as she hit the ground, her backside and stomach in sharp pain, her face twitching from the impact. Mrs. Cui, who had been supporting her, also fell, and the two women collapsed in a heap, groaning in pain.

Ji Shuyuan snorted coldly, a hint of regret in his expression. He didn’t like hitting women, so he hadn’t used much force. Yet, he raised his fist threateningly and said, “Come at me again, and I’ll knock each of you out with one punch!”

Zhang Shi’s cries stopped abruptly, and she dared not move again. Standing on the sidelines, Master Zheng and his other illegitimate sons, who had no intention of joining the fray, stood even more still, not daring to intervene.

And so, Ji Shuyuan took his sister and the dowry she had brought with her five years ago, leaving the Zheng family behind.

Once they were far away, with Zhang Shi’s renewed cries fading into the distance, and seated in the carriage, Qingli felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She was now infinitely lighter, as though some invisible shackle had been broken.

Inside the carriage, Ji Shuyuan, with his tall and sturdy frame, sat awkwardly, his legs tucked in uncomfortably. He glanced at his sister with concern and gently comforted her, “Ali, don’t be sad. There are plenty of men in the world. Why bother with just this one?”

Ji Shuyuan’s wife was a hero in her own right, and the two of them were more like comrades in arms. Having been on the battlefield from a young age, his deepest memories of his sister were from when she was just a little girl. So, trying to comfort his delicate and gentle-looking sister now left him completely at a loss.

He struggled to find the right words for a long time, and in the end, this was all he could manage to say.

Qingli understood. She wasn’t really sad—she just felt it wasn’t worth it for the original owner. Hearing her brother’s comfort, she quickly shook her head. “I’m fine. I just feel a bit wistful. Don’t worry, someone like Zheng Yihan isn’t worth my sadness.”

“That’s the spirit!” Ji Shuyuan grinned, clearly relieved. “As a daughter of the Ji family, you should be this carefree! By the way, your aunt just had her second son. She says her eldest hasn’t even met you, his cousin, yet.”

Qingli’s aunt had famously divorced her husband ten years ago when he took a concubine. The Ji family had forcibly removed her from her marital home, and she had moved to the borderlands after the divorce.

Six years ago, she met and married a warrior, and now they had two children—one five years old and the other just born a few months ago. She had even written home about it recently.

Qingli smiled. “Once the business in the capital is settled, I’ll go visit my little cousin.”

“Great!” Ji Shuyuan agreed enthusiastically.

After some small talk, Qingli asked, “Brother, do you know much about the Third Prince?”

Ji Shuyuan’s eyes flickered, and after a moment of thought, he said, “He doesn’t stand out much, but he’s never fallen behind the other princes. I haven’t interacted with him much, but he’s one of the more calculating ones.” After answering, he asked, “Why do you bring him up?”

Qingli lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment. She had originally planned to find a good time to ask her parents, but with her brother’s sudden appearance, she didn’t want to wait any longer.

She couldn’t let Su Tingxue go unacknowledged forever, but the plot was about to reach a critical point, and she needed to find a suitable ally to serve as a roadblock.

Most of the original owner’s memories revolved around Zhang Shi and her husband, so she didn’t know much. She had no choice but to turn to Ji Shuyuan for help.

Looking up seriously at him, she said, “Su Tingxue is the lost daughter of Prince Yu.”

Ji Shuyuan’s dark face showed visible confusion as he stared at his sister in shock. He whispered, “Are you sure?”

Qingli nodded firmly. “I’m sure.”

Ji Shuyuan studied her with growing amazement. He knew for sure that neither Zheng Yihan nor any of the women in the household knew about this. Otherwise, Zheng would never have taken a concubine.

When Su Tingxue was finally recognized by Prince Yu, the fact that she had been made a concubine would be a disgrace to her royal status. Even if she divorced, she would never be able to lift her head among noblewomen.

Qingli smiled sweetly, pretending not to understand her brother’s reaction, and blinked as she explained the Third Prince’s scheme. She watched as Ji Shuyuan’s face grew darker.

She nonchalantly said, “Brother, while I’m happy to be divorced, this kind of scheme ticks me off. So, I plan to sabotage it.”

Ji Shuyuan had already been thinking about how to retaliate. That third prince was cunning, casually ruining the lives of two women with one move. But the Ji family wasn’t easily bullied. Hearing his sister had already come up with a plan, he immediately praised her, “Good thinking! But do you have a candidate?”

Qingli pouted regretfully. “Not yet.”

“I have one,” Ji Shuyuan said with a grin, seeing the hope light up in his sister’s eyes. He explained, “I heard that the Eighth Prince traveled abroad to study for four years when he was thirteen. Shuxin also went to study abroad during that time.”

Qingli was astonished. “Shuxin knows the Eighth Prince?”

Since arriving in this world, she hadn’t spent much time with Ji Shuxin. Her impression of him was that he was a scholarly yet rebellious young man. She never imagined he’d be so useful.

The original owner’s limited knowledge suggested that the Eighth Prince was a decent youth—young, gentle, and with a good reputation. However, he wasn’t particularly outstanding, mainly because he had seven older, more talented brothers. The further down the line, the easier it was to be overlooked.

Ji Shuyuan chuckled, his rough and intimidating face softening as he smiled, his eyes gleaming. “They know each other, though I’m not sure how well. After Shuxin returned, we avoided any contact to keep the Ji family out of the power struggle. But if it’s to thwart the Third Prince, I imagine the Eighth Prince would be more than willing.”

Qingli grinned in agreement. “I think so too!”

This was a golden opportunity—anyone who passed it up would be a fool.

After discussing the matter, the two siblings exchanged glances, seeing the excitement mirrored in each other’s eyes.

Meanwhile, the Zheng household was plunged into a deathly silence. The bitter scent of medicine hung in the air, and servants who disliked the smell frowned slightly as they moved in and out. They dared not show too much displeasure, though. The master’s mood was sour—after all, the eldest son had fallen off a cliff and barely survived, only to collapse again after being struck. Zhang Shi had been kicked, and although there were no internal injuries, her stomach still ached, and she kept cursing.

The servants treaded even more carefully, knowing that one wrong move could result in disaster.

As Doctors Wang and Xu were leaving the Zheng residence, they met at the door and shared a chuckle. “You again?”

“And you too, I see?”

They laughed as they walked side by side down the broad street. After a while, Doctor Xu frowned in puzzlement. “What a mess, huh? I can’t believe the divorce happened.”

“It’s escalated to this point, how frightening,” Dr. Wang remarked. “The Zheng family’s feng shui must be off this year. They’ve called for doctors so many times.”

“They brought this upon themselves!” Dr. Xu snorted coldly. He had been treating the Zheng family from the start and knew more than most. Both Zheng Yihan and Madam Zhang had fallen ill, so Dr. Wang was called in. Looking at the current situation of the Zheng family, Dr. Xu wasn’t surprised at all. “When he married the general’s daughter, he should have known he couldn’t take a concubine. Yet, here we are—who’s to blame for that?”

“Sigh…”

With a shared sigh, the two doctors went their separate ways.

Though night had already fallen, the news of the Zheng family’s decision to take in a concubine spread quickly. Many eyes were watching closely, as this was the first time in ten years someone had dared to challenge the Ji family’s ancestral rules.

At the Third Prince’s residence.

It was dinner time. Third Prince Jiang Cunrui was dining with Madam Song and several of his concubines when a young eunuch hurried in. He leaned in and whispered something in Jiang Cunrui’s ear.

Jiang Cunrui’s face, which had been smiling just a moment ago, darkened in disbelief. “She’s left?”

The young eunuch, sensing the prince’s anger, bowed even lower. “Yes, Your Highness, she left. I heard the dowry is almost all moved, and it was personally handled by General Ji.”

At the mention of the Ji family, Madam Song, who had been quietly observing, paused mid-motion with her chopsticks. She withdrew her hand, furrowed her brows, and asked softly, “My lord, has the Ji family caused trouble again?”

Jiang Cunrui’s expression grew even darker. He wanted to speak but hesitated, given the number of people present. He waved his hand. “Everyone, leave.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the concubines, their maids, and servants all bowed and quickly left the room.

Once the room was empty, Jiang Cunrui spoke with a cold voice, “Just now, Ji threw down a divorce paper and was taken away by her brother, General Ji. The dowry is also being moved. Madam Song! Didn’t you say you had things worked out with Ji? Why has she suddenly gone back on her word? She didn’t say a word before, and I thought she had accepted her fate, but now it turns out she was just biding her time!”

“That’s impossible!” Madam Song protested in shock, unable to believe it. “How could she possibly seek a divorce? She’s just a woman—after leaving, does she think she can find a better marriage than this?”

Jiang Cunrui straightened in his seat, his hand tightening on his knee. “I’d like to know how she dared to go through with it too. Song, what exactly did you say to her that day?”

Madam Song, realizing the situation was serious, recalled the conversation and repeated her words. “Your Highness, that was it. She didn’t seem like she wanted a divorce at all!”

Jiang Cunrui narrowed his eyes, seeing things more clearly than Madam Song.

Most women wouldn’t dare seek a divorce because their families wouldn’t support them, or their husbands were too powerful.

But Ji Qingli was different. Whether she divorced or not was entirely up to her.

That’s why he had sent Song to persuade her, rather than using force.

At the time, everything seemed fine. But now, recalling it, Jiang Cunrui asked, “When the topic of taking a concubine came up, was Ji upset?”

Madam Song paused for a moment, thinking carefully, then slowly shook her head. “No, she didn’t seem upset at all.”

Then she nodded as if confirming something, her expression turning odd. “Now that I think about it, she didn’t show any anger. At the time, I thought she had already accepted it.”

Looking back now, it seemed she had made up her mind to divorce from the start. No matter what Madam Song said, and no matter how many concubines Zheng Yihan took, it wouldn’t have made any difference.

“Zheng Yihan, you fool!” Jiang Cunrui muttered, now understanding the situation. It was clear that Ji had been planning the divorce from the moment he suggested taking a concubine, and yet, he hadn’t noticed a thing.

He slammed his fist on the table in frustration, sending the bowls and plates trembling. Madam Song flinched slightly but stayed silent, having grown used to her husband’s unpredictable temper. As the official wife, she knew she had to stand by him in these moments, so she asked with concern, “Will the Ji family retaliate?”

She knew about Jiang Cunrui’s involvement in Zheng Yihan taking a concubine. Even though the Ji family was known for their domineering ways and refusal to allow concubines, she thought that Zheng Yihan’s deep affection for Ji Qingli would smooth things over. After all, the woman in question, Su Tingshu, had saved Zheng’s life and had already lost her reputation. Could they let his savior’s life be ruined?

She never expected Ji Qingli to divorce over something like this.

Now that it had happened, her first concern was the Ji family’s potential reaction. If they found out Jiang Cunrui was involved, it could lead to trouble in court.

After a long pause, Jiang Cunrui shook his head slowly. “No, they won’t.”

Zheng Yihan’s only chance of making a comeback was through Jiang Cunrui’s support. Unless he was willing to die, he wouldn’t betray Jiang.

The Ji family didn’t know Jiang had played a part in this; they would only take it out on the Zheng family.

If everything went according to plan, Jiang would gain favor with the Emperor and secure his future as the next ruler. No matter how powerful the Ji family was, they would have no choice but to bow before him.

But even as he convinced himself of this, a strange chill crept down his spine, making him feel uneasy.