Chapter 1 : Divorce

The night was cool, and autumn had already arrived.

Song Ying had been sitting by the window, gazing at the sky for half an hour.

Her maidservant, Faer, had also been staring at her mistress for the same amount of time.

“…Sigh…” Song Ying let out a soft breath, and Faer sighed along with her.

Hearing approaching footsteps, Song Ying turned around and smiled once more. She stood up and greeted Yue Shaozhi with a bow.

“My Lord, you’re back.”

Yue Shaozhi replied indifferently and habitually spread his arms.

Song Ying stood before him and deftly removed his wide-sleeved robe. Then she handed his belt ornaments to Faer to put away, followed by his long tunic and inner garments…

Kindness?

Just as she was helping him undress, Song Ying noticed the teeth marks on his collarbone and paused.

“What’s wrong?”

Yue Shaozhi’s deep, calm voice came from above her head. Song Ying looked up at him and smiled, “Which noble invited my lord to drink tonight? The smell of wine on you is almost enough to intoxicate me.”

Yue Shaozhi responded casually with two words. “Wen Jun.”

Song Ying smiled again, “Ah, so it was wine from the young marquis’s household. No wonder.”

Faer came forward and said, “Your Highness, Princess, the hot water is ready.”

Yue Shaozhi gave Song Ying a brief look, then turned and headed to the bath.

When she heard the sound of him stepping into the water, Song Ying’s smile faded. She returned to her seat and continued gazing up at the sky.

‘He lied.’

The young marquis Wen had gone on an outing with friends today. How would he have had time to drink with Yue Shaozhi? And more importantly, how could he come back from drinking with a man wearing the scent of a woman’s makeup?

That scent was all too familiar to Song Ying. She would never mistake it. It was just a confirmation of what happened that night – something she tried hard to treat as an illusion.

That night had been just like this one, breezy and moonless.

In a pitch-black corner of the courtyard wall, the faint wind chilled her so much her head felt dizzy, and she nearly collapsed.

She had heard a woman’s voice whispering. “Brother-in-law… we can’t do this anymore…”

And Yue Shaozhi’s gentle coaxing reply. “Ruoer, be good…”

Song Ying stood there in a daze, as if she had opened her eyes, staring at the dark corner, and saw the woman’s white legs tightly wrapped around Yue Shaozhi’s waist…

Faer tilted her head and noticed Song Ying silently counting on her fingers.

Curious, she asked, “Princess, what are you counting?”

Song Ying smiled, though pain tinged her voice. “I’m counting the days.”

She had married Yue Shaozhi at sixteen. They had been married for two years. Outsiders envied her for marrying the powerful Regent, but the two of them rarely shared a bed.

If not for the occasional nighttime passion, Song Ying might have suspected he suffered from a hidden illness.

Now, the scene in the courtyard returned to her mind.

So that’s where his strength went. He was simply saving it for someone else.

‘When did it begin?’

Half a year ago, her younger sister, Song Ruoer, had returned from their hometown. Though they were only half-sisters, Song Ying had always treated her as a true sibling. Since they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, Song Ying had invited her to visit. At the time, Yue Shaozhi had been away for many days, and Song Ying felt lonely. So, she let Song Ruoer stay in the residence temporarily.

After receiving the invitation from the noble lady, Song Ying thought of taking her sister with her. That night, under the moonlight, she stepped into the guest house but did not find her sister. 

Assuming she had gone for a walk, Song Ying waited in the courtyard.

The moon was only half-full. Song Ying was not a patient person, yet she remained calm and waited.

From the half-moon until it was fully round, she waited. Eventually, Song Ruoer returned. She was alone. No one knew where her maid had gone.

Song Ying wanted to punish the maid, but Song Ruoer stopped her. During the scuffle, Song Ying noticed Ruoer’s left ear was red and missing an earring.

“I probably lost it somewhere while walking too fast,” Song Ruoer said.

Song Ying didn’t think much of it at the time and ordered Faer to search for it with the other servants. Eventually, the earring was found.

Faer secretly told Song Ying that they had discovered it at Yue Shaozhi’s feet.

“Was that woman your sister?”

That same night, Yue Shaozhi suddenly returned and asked Song Ying many questions. It was rare for him to show such interest, and his tone was much gentler than usual.

Song Ying had been captivated and had answered all his questions without suspicion.

“I don’t have much time in the mansion, so you can ask her to come and keep you company more often.”

At the time, Song Ying had been overjoyed, thinking her husband was being considerate of her loneliness. After that, she invited Song Ruoer to the residence more and more frequently…

The sudden splash of water next door pulled Song Ying back to reality. She took the white pajamas Faer handed her and walked in, helping Yue Shaozhi put them on.

The scent of wine and cosmetics had been washed away.

Yue Shaozhi sat in front of the bronze mirror, and Song Ying picked up a wooden comb to gently comb his long, black hair.

After helping Yue Shaozhi into bed, Song Ying lay beside him, breathing in the faint scent on his body. She nestled closer, letting out a few soft, cat-like moans.

“My Lord, shall we have a child?”

Yue Shaozhi didn’t even blink. He simply turned to face her and said, “It’s late. Go to sleep.”

Song Ying didn’t even feel like sighing anymore. Quietly, she moved away from him, leaving a small gap between them. When she closed her eyes, a single tear disappeared into the darkness.

—

The next morning, Song Ying helped Yue Shaozhi get ready as usual.

After finishing breakfast, she gently set down the jade bowl and spoke in a clear, composed voice, “My Lord.”

“Hm?” Yue Shaozhi responded absentmindedly, still gazing at something off to the side.

“Let’s get divorced.”

At last, Yue Shaozhi looked directly at her. The guard, Yu Liang, who had been waiting nearby, discreetly dismissed all the servants in the room, leaving only the two of them.

Yue Shaozhi tapped the table with his index finger, tilting his head slightly, his mood unreadable. “Why?”

Song Ying still wore a calm, dignified smile. “No reason.”

Did he really want her to say it aloud? With how sharp he was, how could he not know? There was no need.

Yue Shaozhi stared at her for a long time so long it felt like time had stopped. Then he stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke with a calm, quiet tone. “Then, as you wish.”

Song Ying rose and bowed to him. “Thank you, Regent.”

As expected, hoping he might say something to stop her… really was just wishful thinking.

Her heart ached but it was bearable.

Perhaps out of guilt, Yue Shaozhi gave her two extra boxes of parting gifts when she returned to her family home. Song Ying thanked him and accepted them.

With the divorce papers in hand, she walked out the main gates with her servants and boarded a carriage to the marquis’s residence.

The divorce was kept private, so anyone who saw her leave the palace would assume she had been granted permission by the Regent to visit her father.

Faer asked worriedly and she changed , “Miss, will the Marquis be angry?”

From her years of listening to gossip, Faer knew that news as explosive as a divorce from the Regent would spread through the capital like wildfire, surely everyone noble would hear of it before lunch.

Song Ying gently pressed a hand to her chest. Yue Shaozhi truly had no affection for her. She hadn’t seen him again after rising this morning, he had even sent Yu Liang to deliver the divorce papers on his behalf.

“Whether Father is angry or not, it’s already done. He wouldn’t be shameless enough to send me crawling back… right?”

Faer lowered her head, the tassels on the two cloth bags swaying lightly. “The regent is so good… why would you want a divorce?”

Song Ying reached over and pinched the little maid’s soft cheeks. “Because someone else already lives in his heart.”

The young maid widened her eyes. “Who is it?”

Song Ying didn’t answer. She turned her gaze outside the carriage window. The streets were quiet at this hour, if they hurried they could still make it in time for lunch.

“Miss, you’ve returned.” The old butler, Hu Bo, bowed respectfully. “The Marquis is waiting for you in the study room.”

Song Ying knew Yue Shaozhi must have sent word to her father ahead of time.

Faer tugged nervously on Song Ying’s sleeve. Song Ying told her to go ahead and help the others move the boxes inside, while she followed the butler to meet her father.