Even in the nunnery, Li Peilan remained in constant anxiety. Half a month later, she sent a divorce letter to Zhenbei Wang’s residence.
Everyone there was stunned. No one expected that Li Peilan would actually take the initiative to send a divorce letter.
But Gan Hao was delighted. Tears rolled down the face of the seven-foot-tall man. He snorted, “At least she still has some conscience.”
If she hadn’t insisted on marrying him back then, forcing Zhenbei Wang’s house to accept the match, he and Song Yun wouldn’t have missed their chance.
“Mother, I’m going to the Song family to propose marriage.”
Seeing her son’s face streaked with tears, Zhenbei Wangfei’s eyes also turned red. Their family had wronged Song Yun. That child had suffered too—when the Song family tried to marry her off, she had refused.
She had endured for so many years, and no one knew how many more she’d have to endure. She just kept holding on.
Now, at last, the clouds had parted. Zhenbei Wangfei quickly nodded, “Good. Your Father and I will personally invite the matchmaker to go propose. But we still need to wait a little while. If you propose right now, Li Peilan’s days will become even harder. Let’s wait a bit.”
Gan Hao understood the reasoning. “Since she agreed to the divorce, I’ll return her dowry and make sure someone looks after her at the nunnery. She won’t be bullied.”
Zhenbei Wangfei sighed softly. “That’s all we can do.”
Back when Li Peilan married into their house, if she’d just lived peacefully with her husband, it would’ve been fine. But instead, she stirred up trouble every few days, made a complete mess, and used her connection to the empress to pressure others. Truly, she was detested by everyone.
Even if the Wangfei felt sorry for her now, she would never let her return to the household. A leopard doesn’t change its spots.
Besides, there was still the innocent Song Yun. That girl was gentle and understanding, well-read and sensible, yet she was caught in the mess and had her marriage stolen away. Zhenbei Wang’s house couldn’t oppose the empress back then and was forced to accept the marriage. They owed Song Yun.
Still, they had once been mother- and daughter-in-law. Now that Li Peilan was willing to step aside, the Wangfei was also willing to offer her some protection—to help her live out the rest of her life in peace.
As for anything more—they couldn’t offer it.
Gan Hao dashed off to the Song family, and Zhenbei Wangfei didn’t stop him. At long last, their hardship was over.
***
That winter, Mingxi was so busy she hardly had a moment to rest. First, she arranged for people to set up business in the towns near the imperial mausoleum so they could look after Bai Shixi, Xie Muhua, and the others.
But before any business could be established, bad news arrived first: Xie Muhua’s baby boy had caught a cold on the road and died.
Mingxi held the letter in her hands for a long time, unable to recover.
When Xiao Muchen came in and saw her eyes red, he asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”
Mingxi looked up at him. “Xie Muhua’s son passed away.”
Xiao Muchen froze, then sat beside her and gently patted her hand. “Don’t be too sad. The child was so small, and in such cold weather… it really was…”
He had also spoken to the emperor on their behalf, but in his fury, the emperor wouldn’t listen to anyone.
“Think of it another way—it might actually be a good thing,” Xiao Muchen said softly.
Mingxi looked at him. “What do you mean by that?”
Xiao Muchen held her hand. “If it were a girl, it would be easier. But the deposed crown prince’s son? His whole life would be ruined the moment he was born. He’d never have a future. Living would only bring suffering.”
Mingxi understood.
No matter who sat on the throne in the future, they would never allow the deposed crown prince’s son to have prospects. Nor would they allow him to appear before the court.
He was different from Ruian. Ruian was a girl—even if she inherited imperial blood, it didn’t matter. But a boy—he was a threat.
Even if Xiao Muchen didn’t mind, the ministers would surely stir up trouble.
Mingxi looked at Xiao Muchen. “I want to write a letter to Xie Muhua. Is that alright?”
Xiao Muchen gazed at Mingxi and smiled gently. “You’re always so considerate. Alright, I’ll have Qi He personally deliver it. No one will find out.”
That was exactly what Mingxi meant. Fortunately, the person escorting was Duke Wei. As long as Qi He avoided the deposed Crown Prince, it would be fine.
Mingxi picked up her brush, but for a long while, not a single character landed on the paper.
Xiao Muchen sat opposite her, reading memorials. He glanced at her occasionally but didn’t disturb her, knowing her mind was unsettled.
He knew Mingxi had promised them that she would bring them all back safely.
Who knows how much time passed before Mingxi finally began to write. It took quite a while before she finished the letter.
Xiao Muchen took it seriously when he received it and looked at Mingxi, saying, “Don’t worry.”
Mingxi nodded. “I hope Muhua can make it through this.”
Xiao Muchen didn’t respond to that—he truly didn’t know whether she could. He had a promise with Mingxi, so how could he concern himself with other women?
Qi He left the city that very night to deliver the letter. Mingxi’s mood was low, especially when she saw Zhiyi—seeing her reminded Mingxi of Xie Muhua, which made her even more sorrowful.
The deposed Crown Prince had been exiled to the imperial mausoleum. The emperor, perhaps shaken by the incident, had grown increasingly temperamental and unpredictable. Every time Xiao Muchen left the house, Mingxi worried terribly.
This morning, when he returned from court, Mingxi noticed his expression wasn’t good and quickly asked, “What happened?”
Xiao Muchen looked at her. “Qi Wang was scolded by Royal Father and even got flogged—ten strokes.”
“What happened?” Mingxi truly couldn’t imagine what Qi Wang could’ve done to deserve a beating from the emperor.
“Qi Wang has always been impulsive. Who knows who egged him on today, but he submitted a memorial bringing up the death of the deposed Crown Prince’s only son, and begged Royal Father to show mercy by recalling the deposed Crown Princess and Princess Ruian back to the capital.”
Mingxi knew Qi Wang wasn’t the brightest, but doing something like this still left her speechless.
Back when the deposed Crown Prince was banished to the mausoleum, if he had stepped forward like Xiao Muchen to plead for Bai Shixi and the others, that would’ve been manly.
But he didn’t dare tug the tiger’s whiskers in the moment of imperial wrath—only now did he show up with hindsight.
The deposed Crown Prince’s son had died on the way to exile. That was the emperor’s order. Wasn’t Qi Wang’s plea now just an indirect way of criticizing the emperor?
Those ten strokes were well deserved. He truly had no brains.
Mingxi looked at Xiao Muchen and said, “If he really cared, he should’ve spoken up back then. Now he just wants to play the good guy and gain favor, but only ended up burying himself.”
Xiao Muchen sighed softly. “He’s just panicking now.”
Mingxi gave a cold laugh. “A little late for panic. Trying to pick fruit without even checking if he’s got the ability.”
Seeing how angry Mingxi was, Xiao Muchen chuckled. “Why get angry? With that level of intellect, he can’t accomplish anything anyway.”
“I’m just annoyed,” Mingxi said. “Back then, Consort De even asked your mother to have you look after Qi Wang. You helped him out for the sake of brotherhood, and now this mother and son duo are trying to dig at your corner. Truly shameless.”
‘Tried to steal the chicken and lost the rice instead. I bet Consort De is cursing him out in the palace right now.’
Xiao Muchen wasn’t wrong—when Consort De heard the news, she clutched her chest and nearly collapsed. How had she raised such a fool?
Looking sharp on the outside, but all mush inside.
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