Against the Orchid (Rebirth)
Against the Orchid (Rebirth) Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Cui Cui agreed, but her concerns remained. Lan Yi’s desire for a divorce and to leave the Yang family would have a profound impact on their future lives.  

“Madam, Master Yang won’t agree,” Cui Cui reminded her.  

Lan Yi replied leisurely, “He’s not in Qingzhou.”  

Master Lu had fled with his entire family. Until the situation stabilized, he wouldn’t return—nor could he stop her.  

Cui Cui added, “And the young master likely won’t agree either.”  

Proper families rarely saw cases of marital severance. No matter how fierce the conflict, broken arms were hidden in sleeves, and they still remained a family. But divorce was different—it was an irreparable breach of affection, and both sides would suffer some damage to their reputations.  

Lan Yi twirled a flower in her hand, indifferent. “Then his household will only grow more chaotic.”  

Cui Cui didn’t understand. “Huh?”  

She didn’t get a chance to ask further, as Jian Su returned and pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate. Instead of entering, she stepped aside first.  

Prince Yi walked in.  

Dressed in gray, his hair tied back, his broad forehead and sharply defined features gave him a striking handsomeness. Yet, his first impression was always his imposing presence—especially when striding forward, so intimidating that Cui Cui clamped her mouth shut, not daring to utter a word.  

Lan Yi struggled to rise, intending to step down from the couch and bow. Cui Cui hurried to support her.  

Prince Yi had already approached, watching their flurry with a cold gaze.  

Lan Yi sensed he was observing something, but she couldn’t be sure—nor did she have the energy to dwell on it. Her body was still weak, and the effort of bowing had already left her slightly sweaty.  

“Rise,” Prince Yi finally spoke once she completed the gesture.  

Lan Yi couldn’t stand for long. Anticipating a conversation ahead, she prepared to sit back on the soft couch and first begged pardon. “This humble woman is frail. Please forgive—”  

“Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, Yang Wen Xu will come to sign the divorce papers with you.”  

Thud.  

Lan Yi collapsed back onto the couch. Fortunately, it was padded with two layers of soft blankets and had a backrest—otherwise, she might have toppled over.  

Cui Cui stood frozen, mouth agape, equally stunned.  

What in the world was this?  

Did Prince Yi possess divine calculation?  

Lan Yi was momentarily dazed as well. Such a bizarre coincidence couldn’t possibly exist.  

But now she understood why Prince Yi had observed her first—he was afraid of frightening her into a relapse.  

Steadying herself, she asked, “…Why would Yang Wen Xu agree to divorce me?”  

She knew Yang Wen Xu well. He would never voluntarily propose this—not out of lingering marital affection, but because he couldn’t allow a stain on his life.  

His wife could die in the Yang household. He could mourn her for years. But she could not leave the Yang family, surviving in a way that betrayed him.  

In her own plans, she had prepared for this. If Yang Wen Xu refused to let her go, it didn’t matter. She would continue opposing him—Consort Jiang, Master Yang, none of his closest kin would know peace.  

Yet, none of it was needed.  

Prince Yi frowned at her question. “If you don’t divorce, are you waiting to go back and die of illness? Don’t be foolish.”  

His tone carried a lecturing edge, likely due to his status, making it hard to defy. Yet, it was undeniably well-intentioned.  

This goodwill came from nowhere, leaving only alarm in its wake.  

Lan Yi resisted the urge to question further. Whatever Prince Yi’s motives, if she could use his influence to leave the Yang family first, it would be a way to break the deadlock. As for the next step—she’d deal with it later.  

“What happened in the Yang family?” she asked instead.

Something must have happened in the Yang family—something serious, not just one incident, but enough to overwhelm Yang Wen Xu.

Prince Yi frowned again.

He didn’t seem like a patient man, his temper far from pleasant. This time, he didn’t even bother to acknowledge Lan Yi. Instead, he turned and said, “Go fetch Meng San.”

Jian Su, who had been standing guard by the door, bowed in acknowledgment and left to carry out the order.

Lan Yi thought the name Meng San sounded like the young man who had rescued her that day. She didn’t understand why he was suddenly being summoned, but seeing Prince Yi’s cold and unapproachable demeanor, she knew better than to risk angering him while under his roof. She remained silent and waited.

Before long, Meng San arrived.

It was indeed the young man. He cupped his hands in salute to Prince Yi and asked, “Your Highness summoned this subordinate. May I ask what the matter is?”

Prince Yi tilted his chin slightly. “Tell them about the Yang family’s recent affairs.”

“Yes.” Meng San responded immediately. Lan Yi wasn’t sure if it was her illness playing tricks on her eyes, but he seemed to perk up with enthusiasm—

“The Yang family has been quite lively lately!” Meng San’s voice was clear and bright. “Their concubine—the young one, Consort Jiang—was sent to the countryside. The charge? Poisoning the mistress.”

This was within Lan Yi’s expectations. The matter couldn’t be concealed, so Consort Jiang had to take the blame. It was ironic—Consort Jiang had schemed against her countless times without consequence, yet now she fell for something she hadn’t even done.

“Master Yang and Master Zhao got into a fight—”

Cui Cui’s eyes widened. She barely managed to swallow her “Why?” and pricked up her ears to listen further.

Meng San dutifully explained, “Master Zhao and Master Yang had an agreement to betroth his youngest daughter to Master Yang as a new daughter-in-law. That concubine of yours was quite something—she found out about it and spread the news before leaving. The youngest daughter of the Zhao family had her reputation ruined and made a scene at home, threatening to hang herself. So Master Zhao went to the Yang family demanding an explanation. Master Yang claimed to be ill and refused to see him. Yang Wen Xu came out instead and spoke to him at the gate, saying the so-called marriage arrangement was baseless and that, given the circumstances, the two families should avoid further association to prevent gossip. Master Zhao left in a rage, and Yang Wen Xu even had all the gifts Master Zhao had previously given to Master Yang returned.”

Lan Yi: “…”

This was indeed quite the spectacle.

Meng San continued animatedly, “Master Zhao was furious! A couple of days ago, he finally ran into Master Yang on the street and started a heated argument. Master Yang felt that since everything had been returned, he owed Master Zhao nothing and refused to back down. The two of them grew angrier and angrier until they came to blows—punching and kicking each other. The fight escalated until Master Zhao shoved Master Yang hard, causing him to fall and hit his head on a roadside rock. He couldn’t get up after that. His servants carried him home, and the physician diagnosed him with stroke hemiplegia.”

“…” Cui Cui was dumbstruck. After a long pause, she finally spat out, “Serves him right!”

She had already learned from Lan Yi—during one of her rare lucid moments—that the poisoner might not have been Consort Jiang. Lan Yi had spoken as if making final arrangements. Now, Meng San’s account, which even Lan Yi hadn’t known about, further confirmed that Master Yang was the true culprit.

Lan Yi smiled faintly.

She had imagined the Yang family’s situation would be dramatic, but not this dramatic.

The only thing she couldn’t figure out was why Yang Wen Xu had sought a divorce from her over this. There was still a missing link between these events and his decision.

Lan Yi pondered further. The Zhao family had considerable assets in Qingzhou; otherwise, Master Yang wouldn’t have taken an interest in them. To manage a wealthy household, leverage the incident at Reverence Heaven Temple to befriend Master Yang and gain insight into the Yang family’s affairs, then decisively bet on securing a noble son-in-law to elevate their own status—Master Zhao clearly possessed both vision and audacity.  

And what kind of man was Master Yang? Devoid of integrity, wit, or skill, he remained nothing more than a crude old farmer fixated on his fields.  

A man like that would never have convinced Master Zhao with empty promises alone, leading the latter to fawn over him only to suffer a double loss—losing both his daughter and his dignity.  

Lan Yi had her answer.  

She asked first, “Did Master Zhao seek out the prince?”  

She was certain of it.  

No matter how despicable Master Yang was, he was still Yang Wen Xu’s biological father. If his father was beaten half-paralyzed in public, Yang Wen Xu couldn’t possibly let it slide.  

In Qingzhou, the only one who could suppress Yang Wen Xu’s retaliation while also sharing a “grudge” with him to form a united front was none other than Prince Yi.  

Even in desperation, Master Zhao would have tried his luck here.  

Prince Yi finally glanced at her and gave a slight nod.  

Lan Yi pressed further, “Did he have leverage over Master Yang—something in writing, perhaps?”  

Prince Yi replied, “A marriage contract.”  

Meng San eagerly chimed in, “I happened to be on duty when it was handed over. Master Yang’s handwriting was atrocious. Master Zhao said he wrote it first, and Master Yang copied it stroke by stroke. It was a struggle—he still couldn’t get it right, so Master Zhao had to make him press a red thumbprint on it.”  

A marriage contract between Yang Wen Xu and the youngest daughter of the Zhao family.  

While Lan Yi was still alive.  

If this contract were to circulate, it would become a monumental scandal.  

Its destructive power would even surpass Master Yang’s poisoning of his daughter-in-law—the latter could still be spun as “cleansing the family” or pinned on a servant. But the marriage contract bore Master Yang’s own crooked signature and bright red thumbprint, leaving no room for denial or evasion.  

As long as Lan Yi lived, even if only for a day, this contract could never see the light of day.  

Unless Lan Yi was no longer a member of the Yang family.  

Lan Yi exhaled softly.  

Truly, Master Yang never failed to disappoint.  

For money, he had left behind such irrefutable evidence.  

Now she understood why her “wishes” had come true.  

What she still didn’t know was why Prince Yi had intervened in all this.  

She truly couldn’t fathom what he could possibly want from her.  

“Yang Wen Xu will come tomorrow. See him if you wish, or don’t if you don’t,” Prince Yi began arranging matters. “Have Jian Su fetch the divorce contract. Sign it, and give him one copy. That’s all.”  

Lan Yi: “…Oh.”  

She didn’t know how to respond. Prince Yi’s way of doing things was entirely different from hers. She had fought tooth and nail for survival, while he crushed others without hesitation—arresting people at will, even forcing a divorce with unshakable confidence. Where others relied on the law, he exuded the arrogance of one who *was* the law.  

And indeed, he *was* Qingzhou’s ruler.  

Lan Yi swallowed her doubts, deciding to wait until tomorrow.  

After tomorrow, she would be free.  

Things had to be handled one step at a time—this matter absolutely could not go wrong.  

Seeing her lack of objection, Prince Yi looked satisfied. Without another word, he turned and left with Meng San.  

Author’s Note:  

The V-update tomorrow will be earlier, at 9 AM, after which we’ll return to the usual schedule.

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

@

error: Content is protected !!