Chapter 7: The Divorce Papers Arrive

Qin Lang was completely taken aback by Lin Zhiyi’s boldness. How dared she speak back to his mother?

In the past, she always appeared gentle and understanding in front of him. He must have been deceived by her act.

“Lin, you dare to oppose my mother? Today, I will divorce you for sure.”

The mockery on Lin Zhiyi’s face deepened. “Lord Qin, such great authority you have! The Dali Temple requires evidence to arrest someone, yet your Qin family doesn’t even allow for a defense. Has the world changed to the point where it now belongs to the Qin family?”

Qin Lang was momentarily speechless.

Those words were not something to be said lightly.

His expression darkened with anger. “Lin, you…”

Lin Zhiyi didn’t want to waste any more words with him. “Let’s divorce.”

The entire Qin family turned their gaze towards Lin Zhiyi, astonished.

The Lin Zhiyi who had once been madly in love with Qin Lang had now proposed a divorce?

Had they heard correctly?

Qin Lang confirmed again, “What did you say?”

“You heard me right. Let’s divorce. I won’t hold you back from marrying another woman. If you don’t agree, tomorrow I’ll go to the yamen and file a petition, accusing Lord Qin of abandoning his wife to marry again.”

Qin Lang’s anger flared. Just as he was about to order the servants to lock Lin Zhiyi in the courtyard and forbid her from leaving, Lin Zhiyi said:

“Qin Lang, I advise you to think carefully. Although my father has been imprisoned for his crimes, my Lin family still has others. If something happens to me, you should know the consequences.”

Lin Zhiyi snorted coldly.

From the memories of the original Lin Zhiyi, after her father Lin Fu was arrested, those relatives distanced themselves, almost exiling Lin Fu’s branch from the Lin family.

But this was something Qin Lang didn’t know, and it worked in Lin Zhiyi’s favor as she could still borrow some influence from the Lin family.

This wasn’t something the original Lin Zhiyi didn’t tell Qin Lang; it was simply that she never had the chance to.

Since the Lin family’s downfall, Qin Lang had kept his distance from the original Lin Zhiyi. Their only encounter had been when Qin Lang came to inform her about marrying He Jiaojiao, and Lin Zhiyi just happened to walk in at that time.

It was this incident that had frightened Qin Lang.

Qin Lang swallowed what he had been about to say, his face now filled with a desire to strike her.

Lin Zhiyi was startled. Could this “phoenix man” have domestic violence tendencies?

Before Qin Lang could speak, Qin’s mother interrupted, “A divorce is impossible; it must be a dismissal!”

If it were a divorce, the woman would need to take her dowry back.

But if it were a dismissal, she wouldn’t have to.

“Fine. Then, please have Lord Qin send the dismissal papers to my room later, and be sure to seal them with the official seal.”

At this, Lin Zhiyi, feeling like she was facing ten people alone and afraid of being at a disadvantage, turned and walked out.

She left the Qin family members bewildered.

When had Lin Zhiyi become so easy to talk to? Did she even understand what a dismissal meant?

She wouldn’t be allowed to take a single item of her dowry.

Qin Lang’s sister, Qin Yuelian, was ecstatic. “Second Brother, this is wonderful! Does this mean that my dowry will now be secured?”

Qin Yuelian was about to reach the age where she could be married.

Although she looked down on Lin Zhiyi, she couldn’t deny that the entire Qin family relied on her second sister-in-law, Lin Zhiyi. All the clothes and jewelry she had were bought with Lin Zhiyi’s money.

If she wanted a ten-mile bridal procession like her second sister-in-law, that was impossible.

But now, it seemed Lin Zhiyi would be divorced, and all her dowry would belong to the Qin family.

Back then, her dowry had made many of the capital’s young ladies envious.

The eldest daughter-in-law of the Qin family sneered. With all these sons in the Qin family, there was no chance for Qin Yuelian to get any part of it.

She nudged her husband, signaling him to speak, as he was the eldest son of the Qin family.

However, Qin Da Lang was a farmer who had only managed to elevate the Qin family’s status because of Qin Lang. Otherwise, he would still be just a countryman.

Originally, Qin Da Lang was an honest man, but after Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law entered the family, she had manipulated him, causing him to only care for their small family.

“I say, sister, those things have already entered the Qin residence, so they are now Qin family property. Our family has always followed the rule of passing things to the men, not the women. I suggest you stop coveting them.”

“Yes, don’t even think about it.”

Qin Da Lang’s words were met with agreement from Qin San Lang, who also thought that those things belonged to the Qin family and shouldn’t be taken by outsiders.

Moreover, he hadn’t married yet, so they needed to save some for his bride price.

Qin Yuelian, upset, retorted, “Big brother, that’s not right. When Lin Zhiyi married second brother, she completely emptied out the Lin family’s possessions. Not only her mother’s dowry, but also the dowries of her two sisters-in-law, all of it was used to fill her ten-mile bridal procession. Why can’t I use my sister-in-law’s dowry?”

Had Lin Zhiyi been present, she would have been mortified.

This was because, before their wedding, Qin Lang had coaxed her saying, “My dear, since you and the Lin family are so close, why not ask for half of Zhuque Street as your dowry?”

And to his surprise, the original Lin Zhiyi had done just that.

Her parents and two older brothers spoiled her, and she had successfully convinced them to give her both her mother’s and two sisters-in-law’s dowries for her ten-mile bridal procession, claiming she would return them later.

But in the end, she denied everything, saying these were dowries from her own family and that there was no reason to return them. The Lin family had never feared ridicule.

This had made her two sisters-in-law resent her deeply.

Moreover, the original Lin Zhiyi frequently visited the Lin family to “collect” more, causing her two sisters-in-law to seethe in silence.

At this moment, Qin Lang wore a smug expression.

It was his smooth talk that had made Lin Zhiyi so lost and helpless.

In just two years, he had pocketed so much money. He truly felt like the god of wealth incarnate!

Had it not been for marrying Lin Zhiyi, this life—or even the next—he would never have had such fortune.

Qin’s mother was also full of pride. Her son was truly capable! It seemed their decision to send him to study and learn was absolutely the right one.

“Enough, all of you will get your share after He Jiaojiao enters the family.”

Once Qin’s mother spoke, everyone in the room fell silent.

This was what Qin Laotai liked the most. Her children were incredibly filial. No matter how displeased they were, as long as she spoke, no one dared to object.

Thus, in the Qin family, what she said went.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhiyi was in the back courtyard, unaware that the Qin family was already starting to divide up the spoils.

Had she known, she would have laughed at their ignorance.

Did they truly think they deserved to take her things?

Perhaps Lin Zhiyi’s words had an effect, for it wasn’t long before the Qin family delivered the dismissal papers.

Lin Zhiyi opened the letter and saw the words “Dismissal” clearly stamped on it. There was indeed an official seal, and it was signed by Qin Lang. She didn’t bother reading the rest.

As long as it was the dismissal letter, that was enough.

She had no plans to remarry, but she certainly didn’t want any further connection with the Qin family.

After tossing the letter into her space, five or six servants rushed in. The head servant, Granny Zhang, said harshly, “Lin, since you’ve been dismissed, please leave the Qin residence.”

Lin Zhiyi glanced at Granny Zhang.

It seemed like she had been the one bullying her several times.

Well, Lin Zhiyi would remember her.

She’d settle the score tomorrow!

“Chai Ya, let’s go.”

Chai Ya was reluctant, but when the miss spoke, she had no choice but to follow.

The servant suddenly reached out and blocked Chai Ya. “Chai Ya cannot leave. She is a servant of the Qin family.”