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“Miss!” Ningshuang was so startled that she even forgot to address her as the Heir Apparent’s Wife.
Although the Dayong Dynasty was not as harsh on women as the previous dynasty, there had never been a precedent for a noblewoman initiating a divorce.
How could the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence possibly agree to this…
“They will agree,” Wei Yunlan stated with absolute certainty.
The imperial decree ordering the confiscation of the Wei family’s property and their exile would arrive at any moment. The Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence had once backed the wrong faction before the current emperor took the throne, nearly losing their noble title as a result. Ever since then, they had been treading carefully, fearing any misstep that might once again provoke the emperor’s wrath.
Back when the Wei family was favored by His Majesty, the Shen family had rushed to curry favor. Now that the Wei family had fallen from grace, they would be just as eager to sever all ties.
“Tingxue, Ningshuang, gather my belongings. Leave the larger, conspicuous items in place, but keep the silver notes, gold jewelry, and the deeds to my dowry shops and estates close. Also, change into something more suitable for travel.”
It was clear that her mistress was determined to leave the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence today. Ningshuang hesitated before asking, “Should we inform the others in the courtyard?”
Wei Yunlan nodded. “Ask them if they are willing to leave with me. If they choose to stay, we will hand over their indenture contracts to Nanny Wang, who serves the Marchioness. If they wish to leave… once we are out of the residence, I will return their contracts to them—including yours.”
“Miss!” Ningshuang and Tingxue exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with urgency. “How could we ever leave your side?”
Wei Yunlan merely smiled without explaining further. She would persuade them once they had left the residence—before they departed from the Capital.
“You two handle things here. I’ll be back shortly.”
Seeing Wei Yunlan take up the divorce agreement and prepare to head out, Ningshuang hurried after her. “Miss, Tingxue can take care of the courtyard matters. Please, let me accompany you.”
The wedding banquet was still ongoing in the front hall. Whether her mistress could even meet the Marquis, the Marchioness, or Shen Feng was uncertain.
And even if she did, how could she face the entire Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence alone?
But Wei Yunlan shook her head. “Stay here.”
Both Ningshuang and Tingxue were fiercely loyal, but like her, they were powerless in the face of brute force. At a time like this, mere words would not be enough.
Her gaze swept past the second-rank maids standing under the corridor, waiting for orders, and instead landed on a maid in the corner, who was gripping a broom and diligently sweeping the ground.
“Suihe, come here.”
The named girl widened her eyes in shock. She never expected that the kind-hearted and ethereal-looking Wei Yunlan would even remember her name.
Looking at the simple and honest maid before her, Wei Yunlan spoke gently, “Follow me. If anyone blocks our way, push them aside. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my lady!” Suihe straightened her back instantly, her expression turning serious as if she had been entrusted with an earth-shattering mission.
Without hesitation, Wei Yunlan stepped out of Zhufeng Courtyard and headed straight for the front hall, where the grand banquet was being held.
The two old servant women guarding the central gate turned pale at the sight of her. They stiffened but still tried to dissuade her. “My lady, today is an auspicious day. Please don’t make things difficult for us old servants—”
Wei Yunlan ignored them and continued forward.
Seeing this, the two women reached out to stop her, but before their hands could even graze the hem of her sleeve, Suihe struck. With a single motion, she sent both of them sprawling to the ground.
Before they could even process how a scrawny little maid could have such immense strength, Wei Yunlan had already stepped past the central gate with Suihe in tow.
“Not good! The Wife of the Heir is heading to the front to cause trouble—someone, stop them!”
The Wei family had offended the Second Prince’s faction, and Lord Wei had already been imprisoned. There was no telling when he would be released. With the Wei family struggling to protect themselves, they had no way of supporting Wei Yunlan. Moreover, she had never been one to be aggressive or seek confrontation, so no one in the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence had anticipated that she would stir up trouble at the wedding banquet.
Hearing the servant woman’s shout, the guards finally snapped to attention.
Several tall, burly figures stepped forward, forming a human wall in front of her.
Wei Yunlan lowered her voice and asked Suihe, “Are you afraid?”
“I’m not afraid,” Suihe said, shielding Wei Yunlan behind her like a mother hen protecting her chicks. There was no trace of fear on her face.
Her life had been saved by the Wife of the Heir—she would do anything for her without hesitation.
Wei Yunlan felt a surge of emotion in her heart.
Suihe was someone she had casually rescued on the way to offer incense. She had never expected anything in return, yet Suihe had never forgotten the favor. In her past life, she had been the same—standing guard over Zhufeng Courtyard, refusing to let outsiders set foot inside. A mere teenage girl, yet when she fought with all her might, not even five or six guards could restrain her.
The guards of the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence were nothing more than ornamental decorations—impressive in appearance but utterly useless in practice.
They didn’t dare to physically restrain Wei Yunlan, and in just a few swift moves, Suihe had pushed them aside, forcing a path straight through.
This was the corridor leading from the central gate to the front courtyard.
A turn ahead would bring them to the main entrance of the central hall.
At that moment, the wedding attendants and younger relatives escorting the bride and groom were making their way toward the main hall in a lively procession.
Wei Yunlan quickened her pace to catch up. One of Shen Feng’s distant cousins from a side branch of the family noticed her presence and discreetly tugged at his sleeve.
Turning around to see Wei Yunlan standing there, Shen Feng’s face, which had been beaming with joy just moments ago, instantly darkened. Taking a step forward, he reprimanded her in a low voice, “What are you doing here? Go back to Zhufeng Courtyard at once!”
The crowd’s gazes shifted between Shen Feng and Wei Yunlan, and the atmosphere grew tense and awkward.
Looking at that familiar yet now utterly detestable face—still as handsome as ever but no longer worth even a second glance—Wei Yunlan smiled faintly and replied, “I’ve come to present the Heir with a wedding gift.”
Her lips curled into a smile, making her look as though she truly were here to offer congratulations.
Shen Feng didn’t believe she had such good intentions. Seeing the growing crowd gathering to watch the spectacle, his irritation flared. “I don’t wish to argue with you on such an auspicious day, but don’t push your luck. I’ve already shown you enough respect by not divorcing you to make room for Linglong. If you continue making a scene, I’ll have a letter of divorce drawn up and send you straight back to the Wei Family!”
“A letter of divorce?”
Wei Yunlan raised an eyebrow, not bothering to lower her voice as he had. “May I ask what grounds the Heir intends to use to divorce me?”
The Dayong Dynasty had inherited the previous dynasty’s laws regarding marriage, including the ‘Seven Grounds for Divorce’ and the ‘Three Exceptions Against Dismissal.’ The mere fact that she had voluntarily observed three years of mourning for the late Marchioness meant that the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence had no legitimate reason to cast her aside.
Shen Feng clearly realized this as well. He avoided her gaze, which was as clear as a polished mirror, betraying a flicker of guilt.
Before he could come up with a response, the veiled bride beside him, Xue Linglong, could no longer hold back. She spoke sharply, “Do you think Young Master Shen wouldn’t dare to divorce you? Being barren is reason enough!”
That remark was truly laughable.
Wei Yunlan let out a cold chuckle. “The Heir has spent the past three years mostly residing in his courtyard on Xiping Lane, rarely even returning to the residence, let alone setting foot in Zhufeng Courtyard. Tell me, how exactly was I supposed to conceive an heir for the Shen Family all by myself?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the expressions of those present grew rather peculiar.
From what the Marchioness of Jinyang’s Residence had just said, had she and the Heir not consummated their marriage even after three years?
But setting aside the relationship between the Heir and his wife for the moment, there was something even more intriguing—what she had just mentioned about Xiping Lane…
The bride being carried through the doors today had, in fact, come straight from that residence on Xiping Lane!
It seemed the rumors were true—the Heir of the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence was marrying as his second wife of equal status none other than the mistress he had been keeping there.
To take a second wife at such a time, when his wife’s natal family was in crisis, was already an insult.
But for that second wife to have previously been a mistress? That was a complete violation of proper etiquette, leaving those watching at a loss for words.
With the commotion outside growing louder, someone had already rushed to the front hall to report.
Marchioness Qin, upon hearing that Wei Yunlan had publicly ripped away this last shred of decency, could no longer remain seated and strode out.
“Wei-shi, I understand that you must be upset, but today is a joyous occasion. As the Heir’s Wife, you should conduct yourself with the dignity befitting your position.”
She spoke earnestly, as if trying to soothe matters. “No matter what, no one can ever surpass your status as the principal wife. If there are any grievances, let’s discuss them privately behind closed doors. There’s no need to create a scene and invite ridicule, wouldn’t you agree?”
A joke?
The Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence marrying a mistress as a wife today—that was the real joke!
So they could say whatever they pleased, but she had to endure in silence? What kind of absurd reasoning was that?
Wei Yunlan had no intention of wasting more time entangling herself with these people. She unfurled the he li shu in her hands and addressed Shen Feng directly.
“This is my wedding gift to the Heir.”
“As long as you press your fingerprint on this document, you and I will have nothing more to do with each other. The Wei Family and the Shen Family will no longer be in-laws.”
With that, she cast a glance at Xue Linglong, who had attempted several times to step forward, and added with pointed indifference, “After this, the Heir may make whoever he pleases his principal wife.”