Chapter 3: Leaving

Shen Feng was tempted, but among the aristocracy in the Capital, there had never been a precedent for a he li  divorce ^[1]A divorce agreement initiated by the wife, allowing both parties to separate amicably..

Moreover, his father-in-law was still imprisoned. The Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence had once benefited from the Wei Family’s favor—agreeing to a divorce now would seem opportunistic, a betrayal of past kindness. It would be seen as taking advantage of the situation, an act of ingratitude that would invite criticism.

He did not dare risk facing the reproach of his parents and the family elders by agreeing too hastily.

Xue Linglong had wanted to speak up, but Qin Shi’s trusted servant, Madam Wang, firmly held her arm, stopping her from acting rashly.

Wei Yunlan knew that neither of them held the final say. Her gaze bypassed the pair clad in their vibrant red wedding robes and landed directly on the Marchioness, Qin Shi.

“Nonsense! How could such an important matter be decided by you alone?”

“Even if it were to happen, it should be a matter discussed properly between the elders of both families!”

“Recently, the Wei Family has been facing many troubles. I understand that you fear losing your place in the Marquis’s residence in the days to come. But rest assured, as long as I am here, there will always be a place for you in this household. Let’s pretend those words were never spoken. I will have someone escort you back to Zhufeng Courtyard.”

Watching Qin Shi’s insincere and pretentious display, Wei Yunlan felt an overwhelming wave of disgust.

A slow discussion? They wouldn’t be able to delay for long!

Moments ago, she had already noticed a servant boy sprinting through the side entrance.

She began counting down in her mind.

By the time she reached one, sure enough, Wang Gui—the trusted attendant of the Marquis—hurried over and whispered something into Qin Shi’s ear.

Wei Yunlan knew at that moment—ten to one, the matter had already been settled.

As expected, Qin Shi quickly adopted an expression of reluctant helplessness and sighed, “Very well. Since you are so determined to leave, the Marquis’s residence will not stand in your way. Though you have no children, you did observe mourning for Grandmother for several years. This divorce document can be considered a proper conclusion to the past ties between us.”

“Mother?”

“A forced melon is never sweet. Since Wei Shi is determined to leave, Feng’er, you should also press your handprint on it.”

Before Shen Feng could react, Qin Shi had already called for the red ink seal. She made no mention of the so-called “slow discussion” from earlier, moving with a speed that caught everyone off guard.

Wei Yunlan, however, understood exactly why Qin Shi was acting so swiftly.

Previously, the Shen Family had hesitated to sever ties at this moment—partly because they feared public condemnation, and partly because there was still a possibility that her father might be released without charges.

Now, the sudden change of heart and willingness to approve the divorce was simply because the Wei Family had lost all remaining value. Compared to being criticized by society, the real threat was incurring the Emperor’s wrath.

The Marquis and Qin Shi were rushing to finalize the separation before the news fully spread, ensuring they could sever all ties with the Wei Family and eliminate any possibility of being implicated in its downfall.

Their ruthlessness was appalling.

Yet, it aligned perfectly with Wei Yunlan’s own wishes.

When the bright red handprint and their handwritten names were pressed onto the paper, the divorce  document was officially completed.

Two identical copies—either one could take effect as soon as it was registered at the local government office.

Wei Yunlan had no time to concern herself with the process, but she knew the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence would be even more eager to have it done.

Regardless of the chaos at the wedding banquet or the murmurs among the guests, none of it had anything to do with her anymore.

Leaving behind only the words, “I will leave the Marquis’s Residence before the hour of Shen,” Wei Yunlan took Sui He and withdrew from the crowd, heading back toward the central gate.

However, they did not immediately return to Zhufeng Courtyard. Instead, they took advantage of the ongoing commotion—while Qin Shi was still too occupied to assign anyone to keep an eye on them and most of the servants were busy watching the spectacle or collecting celebratory money—to quietly avoid prying eyes and make their way toward the residence’s storeroom.

“Sui He, can you break this lock?” Wei Yunlan recalled seeing Sui He shatter the iron lock on Zhufeng Courtyard’s gates in her past life.

“I’ll try.”

Sui He struck the lock with force. Though it didn’t break instantly, it loosened considerably. She then grasped it with both hands and pulled it apart. The already weakened lock gave way, snapping into two halves.

“You wait outside.” Picking up the broken lock, Wei Yunlan stepped into the storeroom and shut the door behind her.

The storeroom of the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence was nearly seventy to eighty percent full—chests stacked with fine silks and brocades, ancient paintings and calligraphy, rare jewels, and exquisite jade artifacts, an overwhelming display of wealth.

The Shen Family’s ancestors were military generals, and these treasures had been accumulated over generations.

Back then, due to choosing the wrong political side, they had nearly been purged by the Emperor.

Had it not been for her father—who had then served as the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief—submitting a memorial to the Emperor, detailing the meritorious deeds of the ancestors of the Marquis of Jinyang and pleading for leniency, the Shen Family would have long been exiled back to their ancestral land, and these treasures would have been lost.

Since it was the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence that had first acted with ingratitude, Wei Yunlan had no reservations about taking what was inside the storeroom.

She stored the broken lock in her dimensional space, then moved her palm over each item within the storeroom. In just a short while, everything had disappeared—save for a few decorative screens near the entrance, leaving the interior utterly empty.

After leaving the storeroom, Wei Yunlan led Sui He to the small kitchen behind the main courtyard.

Since all the cooks and kitchen helpers were busy preparing for the wedding banquet in the main kitchen, this private kitchen—exclusively used by Marchioness Qin—was completely unattended.

As before, Wei Yunlan had Sui He stand guard outside while she slipped inside. She didn’t leave behind a single item—whether it was the fresh vegetables, meat, seasonings, knives, chopping boards, or iron pots.

The fine rice, white flour, and Qin Shi’s daily supply of bird’s nest hidden in the cupboards were also swiftly taken into her space. Even the three large water vats by the back door and several bundles of firewood were not spared.

Compared to gold and silver, these supplies would prove far more useful on the road to escape.

Seeing that there was nothing left to take from the small kitchen, Wei Yunlan shut the door behind her and left. She then repeated the process in her own private storeroom, carefully collecting her belongings.

This time, however, she left the furniture and decorative items untouched. Instead, she discreetly stored away the truly valuable jewelry, jade pieces, antiques, and paintings—taking them directly from within the chests and trunks.

On the surface, her dowry storage still appeared full, just as it had been before. Unless someone opened each chest for a thorough inspection, no one would notice that anything was missing.

Back in the main room of Zhufeng Courtyard.

Tingxue and Ningshuang had already changed into short-sleeved travel garments and packed the bundles they planned to take with them.

“There are twenty-four servants in Zhufeng Courtyard. Seven have chosen to stay, while the rest wish to leave with you, Miss,” Ningshuang reported, handing over two stacks of ownership contracts with a slight frown. She lowered her voice and added, “Madam Sun also wishes to stay.”

“No matter. Just hand over her contract to the Marquis’s Residence,” Wei Yunlan replied calmly. She had already known in her past life that this dowry maidservant would abandon her to pledge loyalty to the household. This outcome was expected. Regardless, the fact that most of the servants had chosen to leave proved that she had not been a failure as their mistress.

“Madam—”

With a loud thud, Madam Sun fell to her knees at the threshold of the main room.

“The Wei Family’s situation is dire. If you return, there will be no good days ahead. Why must you do this to yourself?”

Wei Yunlan looked at Madam Sun, who still wore an expression of deep concern, but a coldness settled in her heart.

In her past life, it was this very woman who had mixed the medicinal powder Xue Linglong sent into her food, causing her once-healthy body to wither away day by day.

“There’s no need to say more. My decision is made.” She turned to Ningshuang. “Leave the keys to Zhufeng Courtyard and my private storeroom with Madam Sun.”

The brief flicker of joy in Madam Sun’s eyes did not escape Wei Yunlan’s notice—she had already foreseen the woman’s fate.

To repay kindness with kindness, but what of betrayal?

Wei Yunlan would never spare those who had harmed her, nor would she fail those who had treated her with sincerity.

She handed the contracts of the departing servants to Tingxue. “Distribute their ownership contracts. In addition, give each of them an extra six months’ wages. If they have nowhere to go after leaving the Marquis’s Residence, they may take shelter at my dowry estate in the outskirts of the Capital.”

That estate would be of use in the future—she had no plans to sell it.

Judging by the time, the imperial decree for the Wei Family’s confiscation and exile had likely already been issued.

By now, chaos must have erupted in the household.

But if her memory served her right, before the city gates closed today, the Wei Family would be escorted out of the Capital by imperial guards.

Her time was running out.

Before she reunited with her family, she had to make all the necessary preparations.

From the moment she forced Shen Feng to sign the separation agreement to the time she finished packing her belongings, less than half an hour had passed.

The banquet at the front courtyard was still ongoing when Wei Yunlan led more than a dozen maids and senior servants out through the main gate.

Each person carried no more than a small bundle.

The guests who had been curiously peering outside the courtyard took notice of this and found it strange.

“Why is she leaving in such a hurry? She’s not even sending anyone to move her dowry?”

Those who were well-informed immediately lowered their voices and whispered, “You must not have heard. The wife of Right Censor-in-Chief Wei, Madam Gao, is a descendant of High Celestial Master Gao from the previous emperor’s reign. It was just discovered that remnants from the Celestial Master’s residence are linked to the palace witchcraft case from five years ago. Moments ago, His Majesty issued an edict—Wei Yushi’s entire family is to have their property confiscated and be exiled. If not for the intercession of the Virtuous Consort in the palace, they might not have even kept their heads. While they face confiscation and exile, at least their lives have been spared.”

“Hiss… Confiscation and exile?”

“Does that mean the Wei Family will no longer exist in the Capital?”

“No wonder the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence agreed to let the heir’s wife separate from them.”

That heir’s wife, Wei Shi, was none other than the legitimate daughter of Wei Maolin, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!

And the so-called palace witchcraft case from five years ago—who in the Capital didn’t know it was nothing more than a baseless accusation?

Wei Maolin must have been targeted by revenge due to his recent impeachment of the Second Prince’s maternal family.

In both the previous and current dynasties, no one had ever dared to hold a censor accountable in such a manner.

But what foolish deeds has the current emperor committed? This is just one of many, though no one dares to speak of them.

The Wei family’s daughter, however, showed loyalty and righteousness. At this critical juncture, her decision to separate and return to her natal family surely reflects her intention to stand with them through thick and thin. She didn’t even dare to bring her dowry, probably knowing that even if she did, it would be impossible to keep it.

As for the Marquis of Jinyang’s Residence…

Seeing the Wei family fall, and with the Xue family rising in prominence for their contribution of treasure, they were awarded the title of Upper Cavalry Commander. The Xue family swiftly rose from merchants to new nobility and discarded the legal wife of the heir to elevate an outside concubine to be his wife.

Such behavior—fawning over those in power, changing allegiances like a wallflower—was truly despicable!

…

After leaving the crowded Xuanwu Gate near the noble residences,

Only Tingxue, Ningshuang, and Sui He remained by Wei Yunlan’s side.

Earlier, Wei Yunlan had already shared the news of the Wei family’s downfall with them, yet none of them had chosen to leave.

“Miss, should we head straight back to the Wei family now?” Tingxue asked.

Wei Yunlan shook her head. “No, we’ll first split up and buy some things.”

The misfortune does not extend to a married woman. The news of her separation and return to her natal family hadn’t spread yet, so she would use this opportunity to prepare the necessary supplies for the journey of exile.

She couldn’t prepare anything too conspicuous, of course. “Ningshuang, take Sui He and purchase a mule cart, along with some easily stored rice, noodles, and sturdy winter clothes.”

“Tingxue, go to the Chen Ji Apothecary in Huaihua Alley. Ask Manager Chen to gather some commonly used medicinal herbs, especially those for warding off the cold and treating fever, as well as ointments for external injuries. Buy plenty.”

These were the things she intended to bring on the surface, but she still had a vast space waiting to be filled.

What she would store in the space were the real guarantees for her family’s safe journey to Beiguan.