Chapter 64: I Don’t Want a Divorce

Pei Ji didn’t say anything, unsure what he was thinking.

Shen Yanli carefully considered and said, “I think what Xiao Qingrong said makes sense. You should just take the throne.”

He didn’t care who sat on the throne anyway, nor did the common people care much. As long as they could live well, it didn’t matter whose name the country bore.

Besides, Pei Ji was indeed the most skilled among them at seizing power, pursuing profit, and manipulating hearts.

Pei Ji frowned. “Xiao Qingrong, are you sure you’ve thought this through?”

“What’s there to think about? The grudge has long been settled, my family is gone, and I’m alone. What meaning does that position have for me?”

He spoke calmly, a trace of sorrow in his eyes.

The atmosphere grew heavy. He Lan suddenly spoke up: “Enough. You’re both the same anyway. If Xiao Qingrong doesn’t want it, then Pei Ji, you take it.”

The throne that most people fought for was being declined by both of them — quite interesting.

“By the way, what did you do with that scoundrel Jiang Jingchen?” He asked casually.

Pei Ji’s face turned cold. “He’s in the water prison, barely alive.”

Several years had passed, and they thought he might have improved, but he was still fragile.

“Do you want him? If so, take him back.” He looked at Xiao Qingrong.

Xiao Qingrong smirked. “What can I do if I take him back?”

It was Jiang Jingchen’s father who ruined the Ning family. With the old man dead, what use was a half-grown boy taking up space?

A few days later, Pei Ji took advantage of the situation to ascend the throne, changed the country’s name to Chen, issued a general amnesty, and reduced taxes by three years.

This news was great for the capital’s citizens, and their attitude toward Emperor Pei Ji changed considerably.

Su Xiangwan returned from the Prince Regent’s mansion and stayed in the courtyard day after day.

As the sun set, scattered sunlight filtered through the leaves, and the room was quiet as before.

Ning Xiang brought in dinner and placed it on the table: “Miss, time to eat.”

Su Xiangwan sighed and slowly sat down, absentmindedly picking at her food with chopsticks.

“Miss, are you worried about the princess?”

“Yes. I don’t know how she’s doing — there’s no news at all.”

A helpless feeling spread in her heart. She didn’t know what to do to see her again, nor what she was facing now.

In such a place, oppressed by greater powers, she could barely move.

While the two spoke, there was a knock on the door.

“Greetings, madam. This is from the general, sent by his subordinate.” The speaker was someone Su Xiangwan recognized — a subordinate of Xiao Qingrong named Song Yin.

Su Xiangwan saw something like a letter in his hand and gestured for Ning Xiang to take it.

Ning Xiang took it respectfully.

“I’ll take my leave.” The business entrusted by the general was done. Song Yin finished speaking and left.

“Miss, it looks like a letter.”

Ning Xiang was puzzled. They were in the same mansion — why would the general write a letter? Wouldn’t it be better to meet face to face?

Remembering Xiao Qingrong’s recent proposal to divorce, Su Xiangwan had a bad feeling.

She quickly opened the letter and the most noticeable words were three characters: Divorce Letter.

“Miss, since it’s a divorce letter, we can leave openly and properly now.” Ning Xiang happily said behind her.

The miss had wanted to leave with all her heart, but now it seemed her wish was about to come true.

She spoke to herself, but Su Xiangwan suddenly stood up from her chair: “It’s not time for a divorce yet.”

With that, she took the divorce letter and left the courtyard.

Ning Xiang was puzzled. Isn’t this exactly what Miss has always hoped for? Why is she not getting a divorce now?

Su Xiangwan had no time to care what she thought. Pei Ji had already ascended the throne, and because the Su family was dissatisfied with him, they had been thrown into a great prison.

If she divorced Xiao Qingrong now, as a powerless commoner woman, how could she find a chance to enter the palace? How could she meet Yueya?

So now was not the time for divorce. She had to make Xiao Qingrong give up the idea.

Previously, Xiao Qingrong hadn’t come, so after Su Xiangwan married in, she had stayed in a small courtyard.

When he came, he didn’t make her move out but found a new courtyard to live in.

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Yun Shui Pavilion.

Xiao Qingrong sat in a chair, holding a scroll, his eyebrows and eyes soft and affectionate, his face strikingly handsome like a painting.

“Did you deliver it?” he asked softly, glancing at Song Yin who had just arrived.

Song Yin nodded, “It’s already in the madam’s hands.”

Just as he finished speaking, he heard some noise and turned his head to see Su Xiangwan entering the courtyard.

“The madam has come again.”

Xiao Qingrong looked a little helpless as he looked out the window, “I saw her.”

From afar, Su Xiangwan saw Xiao Qingrong. She caught her breath and tightened her grip on the divorce papers as she entered the room.

“Greetings, husband.”

Seeing Song Yin still standing nearby, Xiao Qingrong rubbed his forehead and said, “Song Yin, you may leave now.”

“Yes.”

Song Yin glanced around the two before turning to leave.

After he left, only Xiao Qingrong and Su Xiangwan remained in the room.

“Is there something you want?” Xiao Qingrong raised his eyes, his thin lips curling slightly, looking at the person not far away.

Su Xiangwan took out the divorce papers. “Husband, what does this mean?”

“Madam, are you illiterate?” His voice was calm, with a slight upward inflection.

Caught off guard by his response, Su Xiangwan was momentarily stunned. She looked at the man’s flawless, dignified face — like a jade sculpture, bright and clear.

Suddenly she realized this guy was quite scheming. Of course — how could someone be friends with a man like Pei Ji and be a good person?

“I don’t want a divorce.” She took a step forward, her eyes fixed firmly on him.

Xiao Qingrong smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Just a few days ago she wanted to run away secretly, and now she didn’t want a divorce anymore.

“The Su family is gone. If you really want a divorce, how can a weak woman like me survive?”

She lowered her gaze, her eyelashes trembling lightly, tears falling like beads from a broken string.

Xiao Qingrong’s long fingers tapped the table gently as he said thoughtfully, “Then what do you want to do?”

“I know you don’t like me. Let’s make it three months. If after three months you still don’t care for me, I will take the divorce papers and leave without any trouble.”

Su Xiangwan wiped her tears with a handkerchief and spoke softly.

“Come here!” He beckoned to her with a finger.

Though unsure of his intention, Su Xiangwan slowly moved closer.

When she was near, Xiao Qingrong reached out and lifted her chin to look at her. “Where do you get the confidence that I will like you within three months?”

Her skin under his hand was delicate like jade, her eyes filled with tears making her pitiful and lovable. There was no denying, she truly was beautiful.

But Xiao Qingrong was not someone who could be easily fooled by charm.

Su Xiangwan was baffled by his actions. Looking at the man so close before her, she parted her red lips slightly, “Husband, do you dare to try?”

Three months should be enough.