Such a colossal event has occurred; staying at the Liu Family would only make everyone uncomfortable.
ng Qianqian went to bid farewell to Madam Liu.
Madam Liu secretly marveled at ng Qianqian’s composure and grace, all her manners impeccable, though it was truly a pity...
Just before boarding the carriage, Chief of Staff Xing hurried over.
"Miss ng, please wait."
ng Qianqian turned around and politely bowed. "Master Xing."
Chief of Staff Xing said, "There is sothing I must explain to you. This matter is mandated by an edict from the Supre Emperor, and I will personally see it through. The divorce letter will be delivered to you within seven days. Furthermore, I have secured a one-month grace period for you. During this ti, even if you remain at the Lu Family, they shall have no right to interfere with you."
A tily favor indeed. The incident had been sudden, and she hadn’t yet prepared a residence, leaving her without a temporary haven.
ng Qianqian said to Chief of Staff Xing, "Thank you, Master Xing."
Chief of Staff Xing added, "The Lu Family agreed to this only because I granted them a month to return your dowry. If they fail to do so by then, the governnt will enforce it by law."
Seeing ng Qianqian remain silent, Chief of Staff Xing assud she was dissatisfied with the one-month period. Sighing helplessly, he explained, "I am rely following the law. To thoroughly examine the accounts of the past five years will take ti. One month is the absolute limit I can promise."
ng Qianqian sincerely replied, "I think it’s wonderful. I don’t even know how to thank you, Master Xing."
Only one month—it was far faster than she had anticipated, and with the governnt stepping in, it was far better than her confronting the issue alone.
After repeatedly expressing her gratitude, ng Qianqian finally left with Tan’er, Nanny Li, and Nanny Wan.
Assistant Minister Zhu of the Ministry of Justice approached, watching the departing carriage vanish into the distance. Puzzled, he asked, "Master, why are you treating her so generously? Aren’t divorce letters usually collected directly from the governnt office? Yet you’re personally having hers delivered. And as for the dowry—by law, it is for her to claim herself. If her husband’s family refuses, then she would have to take them to court."
The process was indeed trendously cumberso. From filing charges to trial, judgnt, and enforcent, even the fastest cases took a year or so; so could drag on for three to five years, or longer.
Moreover, if the husband’s family simply refused to comply and the individual didn’t pursue it, the governnt would often turn a blind eye, preferring not to involve itself in such ssy disputes.
Chief of Staff Xing, deep in thought, remarked, "Since the Supre Emperor abdicated to the current Emperor, which imperial edict has bypassed the Grand Commander to see the light of day?"
Assistant Minister Zhu, suddenly enlightened, exclaid in shock, "Right! Earlier, when Eunuch Fu announced the decree, the Grand Commander didn’t stop it. Could this actually be the Grand Commander’s doing? But no, if the Grand Commander wanted to issue an edict, he would do so in the Emperor’s na, not the Supre Emperor’s. So this edict does indeed co directly from the Supre Emperor. Why would the Supre Emperor help Miss ng? And why would the Grand Commander turn a blind eye?"
Chief of Staff Xing sighed deeply, his tone heavy. "The Grand Commander has held the Supre Emperor under house arrest for years. This is the only decree he didn’t block. This ng girl... is no ordinary woman."
ng Qianqian’s carriage, halfway to its destination, encountered the Wang Family’s carriage.
ng Qianqian quickly stepped out of her carriage, and Madam Wang prepared to do the sa. From outside the window, ng Qianqian said, "Madam, there’s no need for you to get down. Allow to say a few words, and then I’ll depart."
Madam Wang replied, "There’s no need for words of gratitude."
After a brief mont of contemplation, ng Qianqian spoke earnestly, "I still must thank you."
Madam Wang was amused by her candor. After so thought, she sighed with emotion and remarked, "The world is unfair to won, yet few possess your courage."
The first woman in this dynasty to initiate a divorce!
ng Qianqian said, "I count myself fortunate to have encountered your assistance on multiple occasions."
"I haven’t really helped you much."
The Supre Emperor’s decree arrived just in ti... Though Madam Wang had her doubts, she was a tactful person and refrained from inquiring into the decree’s origins. Instead, she asked, "What are your plans now? Will you return to You State?"
ng Qianqian shook her head. "I still have unfinished matters here in the Capital City, so I’ll stay for the ti being."
As for what specifically, she didn’t say, and Madam Wang didn’t press her.
Madam Wang said, "Why don’t you move into my place for now and make your plans slowly from there."
ng Qianqian smiled. "I appreciate your kindness, Madam. If I haven’t found a place within a month, I’ll co to rely on you then."
Knowing ng Qianqian wasn’t impulsive, Madam Wang nodded, understanding she must have her own plans. "Very well. If you find yourself in difficulty, co to the Wang Family anyti."
ng Qianqian watched as the Wang Family’s carriage departed.
"Miss, are we returning to the Lu Family?" Nanny Wan asked.
ng Qianqian looked at the gradually brightening sky. "To the brokerage house."
Nanny Wan’s eyes widened. "Not moving now?"
ng Qianqian said, "To move, we must first have a house."
Nanny Wan sighed. "Ah, that’s true."
On the official road, governnt laborers were already clearing the snow. The carriage rolled along slowly.
Nanny Li and Nanny Wan, sleepless through the previous night, dozed off inside the carriage.
Tan’er, full of energy, was playing with the tassel on a jade pendant.
This jade pendant had hung around her neck from the mont ng Qianqian first t her, and she would occasionally take it off to fiddle with it.
"Elder Sister, that palm strike earlier was amazing! What kind of martial art is it?"
"It has no na."
Tan’er crossed her arms. "No na... what a pity."
ng Qianqian asked, "Do you want to nap a bit more?"
Tan’er pouted. "No way! I’ve slept for two days and two nights! And you, Sister? Will you rest?"
ng Qianqian shook her head. "I’m not tired."
In the mourning shed, she had enjoyed a splendid sleep, dreamless and serene.
When the carriage arrived at the brokerage house, the old matron was still dreaming.
Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!
"Who’s there? Who knocks so early in the morning?"
The old broker, dressing herself hastily, grumbled as she opened the door. She was about to give a good scolding when a gold ingot appeared in her line of sight.
Her eyes lit up with greed as she snatched the gold, her tone turning obsequious. "Oh, my dear lady, may I ask—huh? Why are *you* here as well?"
The mont she spotted Tan’er, her fawning smile vanished like smoke.
ng Qianqian spoke. "Spring Mama, may we co in and talk?"
Recognizing the familiar voice and glancing at Tan’er, the old broker suddenly made the connection. "You... you’re the noble one!"
Previously, whenever ng Qianqian visited, she wore a veiled hat that concealed her face. Thus, this was the first ti the broker had seen her true appearance.
Having run a brothel for decades, the broker had seen countless beauties, yet never had she encountered such ethereal elegance. ng Qianqian’s deanor was like pine and bamboo—proud yet not arrogant, poised and calm, with impeccable manners.
ng Qianqian took a seat, placing an account book on the table. "This person—I want him."
The broker, dazed, nodded blankly. "Tenth Sister! Quickly fetch that cripple—uh, that gentleman!"
ng Qianqian said, "Also, I want to buy a residence that’s both lively and tranquil, as near to Vermillion Bird Street as possible."
"Vermillion Bird Street is the busiest in the Capital City. All the surrounding properties are occupied by high-ranking officials and nobles... and you want lively yet quiet? That will be hard to find."
ng Qianqian placed another gold ingot on the table.
The broker quickly pocketed the gold. "Oh, it’s not so hard! How large a residence does the noble one desire? And how much silver do you currently have?"
ng Qianqian considered for a mont before replying, "Size doesn’t matter. I currently have ten thousand taels."
The broker’s face imdiately darkened. "Ten thousand taels? That’s not even enough for an outhouse!"
ng Qianqian rose to leave. "Then I must look elsewhere. Return my gold."
The broker clung protectively to the gold. "Wait, wait! Noble one, don’t be hasty! A residence worth ten thousand taels doesn’t exist, but there is one worth fifty thousand taels! I can get the price down to thirty-five thousand! However... it’s a haunted house—many people have died there!"
ng Qianqian said, "Lead the way."
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