Everyone’s eyes flashed with astonishnt—an imperial decree, in the middle of the night?
To mourn Old Madam Liu? Minister Liu, you’ve got so guts, sending the obituary to the Imperial Palace?
Minister Liu wore a clueless expression, "I didn’t!"
Though confused, the crowd swiftly turned, knelt, and awaited.
Only Lu Yuan remained unmoving.
Not until the Imperial Eunuch drew closer did the officials recognize him. He was not one of the Emperor’s attendants; rather, he was Eunuch Fu, confidant of the Supre Emperor.
Now back in his eunuch attire, Eunuch Fu, holding a horsetail whisk, carried the decree directly to ng Qianqian.
"Lady ng, receive the decree!"
All eyes instantly turned toward ng Qianqian.
Composed and poised, ng Qianqian knelt.
Opening the decree, Eunuch Fu read out loud: "By the Supre Emperor’s decree: To Lady ng of You State—graceful, virtuous, intelligent, modest, and diligent—an exemplary wife. Yet since her marriage into the Lu Family during her maiden years, despite her utmost piety and filial devotion, she has not been blessed with peace but rather has endured great suffering. Thus, it is decreed: the dissolution of this marital bond, and the separation of Lady ng from her hus—"
He paused here.
The crowd collectively held their breath. Divorce?
Eunuch Fu continued solemnly, "Complete severance!"
This decree was even more shocking than the revelation of Old Madam Lu’s supposed pregnancy.
What is going on?
The Supre Emperor, personally issuing a directive to have the ng Family’s young lady divorce her husband?
"Pinch ."
"Ow! I said pinch , not punch !"
The chatty military officer clutched his aching stomach after being socked by a colleague, resigned to believe this surreal situation was painfully real.
The crowd looked as though lightning had struck them under a clear sky, too stunned to speak. Silence blanketed the scene like death itself.
ng Qianqian’s calm voice rang out, clear against the snow-laden winds.
"This humble woman accepts the decree."
Hands raised above her head, she steadily received the decree.
Eunuch Fu turned to the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, saying, "The divorce letter will require Minister Xing’s personal oversight."
Unlike private divorce letters or separation papers, a severance decree must be written by governnt officials and stamped with the governnt office’s Great Seal.
The Minister of Justice cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate shall comply fully with the Supre Emperor’s directive."
Lu Xingzhou swiftly approached Lu Yuan’s side, bowed deeply, and spoke in a low voice, "The Lu Family swears to follow the Grand Commander to the death, only pleading for the Grand Commander to take charge of the family’s affairs!"
Lu Yuan chuckled coldly. "Lu Xingzhou, are you asking to defy an imperial decree openly?"
Lu Xingzhou’s attempt at subtlety failed miserably; everyone heard him clearly.
The crowd cast collectively scornful gazes toward Lu Xingzhou.
Lu Yuan tucked his hands leisurely in his hand warr, raising an eyebrow with nonchalance. "The show’s over. Let’s go."
Shangguan Ling followed him out. As they brushed past Lu Xingzhou, Shangguan Ling patted his shoulder and chuckled, "Congratulations, Minister Lu! Such an unfilial daughter-in-law—good riddance! Just rember to return her dowry in full; this severance is an official case, and the governnt office will investigate!"
Lu Xingzhou’s blood surged chaotically within him.
He had clearly pledged loyalty to the Emperor, yet the Emperor’s own father had delivered this vicious blow!
His son’s hard-earned battlefield glory and accolades were about to be overshadowed entirely by the shaful scandal of this divorce.
Had he chosen the wrong side?
If he had decisively pledged allegiance to Lu Yuan after the Grand Banquet, instead of wavering between the Emperor and Lu Yuan, would this decree that disgraced the entire Lu Family have never co to pass?
But what puzzled him most was why the Supre Emperor had involved himself in the Lu Family’s affairs.
He wasn’t the only one confused; everyone, even ng Qianqian who had received the imperial decree, was baffled.
To her knowledge, the Supre Emperor had been gravely ill, recuperating at the Sumr Palace and long detached from the Capital City’s matters.
Moreover, the Supre Emperor didn’t know her. Even if he had intervened, why her?
Was soone advocating on her behalf before the Supre Emperor?
Could it be Lu Yuan?
No, she was only of marginal use to him—not worth him petitioning the Supre Emperor.
Madam Wang?
Just monts ago, Madam Wang had reacted even more shocked than she had upon hearing the decree. Besides, she had never confided her wish to sever ties with the Lu Family to Madam Wang.
So, not her.
Who could it possibly be?
As she pondered this, a tall figure suddenly approached. ng Qianqian’s fingers moved in one swift motion, and a silver needle sliced toward the figure.
When she saw who it was, she flicked her wrist, retracting the needle into her sleeve.
Ever since accidentally injuring Lu Yuan last ti, she had trained extensively, ensuring she could react with precision in ergencies. For the sake of her own survival, not for Lu Yuan.
"What do you want?"
She retracted her hand and asked indifferently.
Lu Lingxiao clenched his fists, his gaze burning. "Let see the decree! I need to verify... its authenticity!"
Calmly, ng Qianqian handed the decree to him.
Clutching it tightly, Lu Lingxiao’s expression turned icier with each word he read.
It was real.
It truly was real.
How could this be?
His eyes practically spat flas, consud by the urge to destroy this humiliating decree!
ng Qianqian turned to Eunuch Fu. "May I ask, Eunuch, should the decree be destroyed, does the Supre Emperor’s directive still hold?"
Eunuch Fu smiled. "No one would dare destroy an imperial decree—that’s a cri punishable by death."
"Hey, what’s this? Looks interesting!"
Suddenly, Tan’er appeared at Lu Lingxiao’s side and snatched the decree away.
With a forceful gesture, she unfolded it, unintentionally tearing it in half.
The crowd gasped audibly in shock!
Tan’er, sensing the odd atmosphere, blinked at ng Qianqian and said, "Sister, it tore itself."
The officials collectively avoided eye contact—so stared at the sky, others scratched their heads.
"Ahem, ti to take up the night watch! Let’s go, let’s go!"
The crowd dispersed in a hurry.
Eunuch Fu chuckled, "It can be sewn back together."
Lu Lingxiao: That’s not what you said earlier!
At this mont, Nanny Li and Nanny Wan arrived. Nanny Li handed Eunuch Fu a pouch of silver ingots.
Smiling, Eunuch Fu accepted it and said to ng Qianqian, "Congratulations, Miss ng, on regaining your freedom. This old servant must return to report back to the Supre Emperor. I’ll take my leave."
ng Qianqian personally escorted him to the courtyard gate. After so thought, she asked, "May I ask, Eunuch Fu, who requested this decree?"
Eunuch Fu replied gently, "It was the result of the good karma Miss ng accumulated herself."
ng Qianqian murmured, "The good karma I accumulated?"
"ng Qianqian!"
Lu Lingxiao, unable to contain his fury any longer, stord toward her in a rage.
Tan’er darted in front of ng Qianqian and delivered a kick that sent him staggering back several paces!
"If you bully my sister again, I won’t be polite with you!"
Even though Lu Lingxiao had attempted to block the kick, his arms now felt numb.
Frowning, he glared at Tan’er in shock and anger.
Without emotion, ng Qianqian said, "Lu Lingxiao, you and I are no longer husband and wife. From now on, stop acting like my lord and master in front of ."
The Old Madam, crazed with fury, lunged forward, intending to tear ng Qianqian’s face apart, but Second Master Lu used all his strength to hold her back.
"Let go! I’m going to kill that wretched girl!"
Tan’er raised her little fists. "Co on, let’s see if your bones are harder than my fists!"
The Old Madam shot a venomous glare at ng Qianqian, shouting through gritted teeth, "I should never have agreed to let you marry into this family... You cursed your parents to death at just three years old! After entering the family, you cursed your husband’s grandfather to death too! And now you’ve ruined Lingxiao, leaving him unable to show his face in the Capital City! You’re nothing but a harbinger of doom! Whoever gets involved with you suffers misfortune—"
Smack!
An invisible force struck the Old Madam hard across the face.
Tan’er’s eyes went wide. "Wow!"
The Old Madam assud Tan’er had hit her. Clutching her face, she glared at Tan’er, "How dare you strike ?"
Tan’er crossed her arms and declared, "And what if I did? Keep ranting, and I’ll kill you next ti!"
Gnashing his teeth, Lu Lingxiao turned his seething gaze to ng Qianqian, "I will never sever ties with you!"
Unperturbed, ng Qianqian said lightly, "Want to defy the decree? Go ahead; I hope you have the courage for it."
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