Proposing a Divorce

Lu Zhengliu was adamant. It was clear he was determined to bring Qing's birth mother, Ge Bao'er, into the residence.

But the Marquis of Wuding already had a principal wife. Even if Ge Bao'er entered the household, she would be no more than a concubine.

Old Madam Lu frowned. "Seven years ago, you insisted on marrying that woman. I said you could take her into the household after Yun Wan married in, but you couldn't bear to make her a concubine. So what if she bore a child on her own and kept it from the Lu family? After all those twists and turns, isn't she still going to enter the household as a concubine?"

"Even her own son has been registered under someone else's name. The loss far outweighs the gain. I'm old now; I truly can't see what she's trying to do."

With a sigh, she decided to grant her grandson's wish after all. "Let her enter, then. Yun Wan is a principal wife who understands the bigger picture. I'm sure she won't object to your taking a concubine."

But Lu Zhengliu fell silent.

Sensing something was amiss, Old Madam Lu asked coldly, "What? Is Ge Bao'er still indulging in the wishful fantasy of becoming mistress of the Marquis's Residence?"

Lu Zhengliu lowered his head. "Grandmother, Bao'er bore Qing for me and endured seven years of hardship raising him alone. I've wronged her. I finally managed to find the two of them again. If I make her a concubine now, my conscience won't let me bear it."

Old Madam Lu said nothing for a long while, coldly scrutinizing her grandson. She truly didn't know what bewitching potion Ge Bao'er had fed him. A mere country woman had bewitched him so completely that his heart was hers until death!

"You already have a legitimate wife, properly married with a matchmaker and wedding rites. The Lu family will never allow you to repudiate her. Speak plainly. What exactly does that Ge Bao'er want?"

"Grandmother, I want Bao'er to live in the residence as your grandniece and show you filial devotion in my stead. If..."

Lu Zhengliu paused before he dared say it. "If Bao'er is fortunate enough to enjoy a long life and outlive Lin Yunwan, I'll give Bao'er the status of my principal wife then. It won't harm Lin Yunwan either."

Old Madam Lu's eyes widened. "How could you bring yourself to say such a thing!"

"Open your eyes and look at how much Yun Wan has done for the Lu family in the years you've been away!"

"Grandmother, you insist on holding me accountable for marrying Lin Yunwan—but I've already given her the position of principal wife. I don't want to fail Bao'er again."

"This is the only way to satisfy both sides."

Old Madam Lu nearly couldn't catch her breath. "What if I refuse?" she said coldly.

Lu Zhengliu replied unhurriedly, "Qing may be the only great-grandson of your own blood you'll ever have."

A chill swept through Old Madam Lu's heart.

She believed her grandson would do what he said. If she refused to let Ge Bao'er into the Lu family, Qing would truly be the only drop of the Lu family's bloodline left. In time, not only would her grandson resent her, but her little great-grandson would likely grow up to hate her too.

Let it be...

Old Madam Lu had no choice but to give ground. "Wait until the household gets through this busy period, then bring her into the residence."

"Thank you, Grandmother."

"Don't celebrate too soon. Remember what you've said. As long as Yun Wan is here, she can only be my 'grandniece.' If she dares harbor the slightest crooked thought in the Lu family, don't blame the Marquis's Residence for refusing to keep her!"

Lu Zhengliu, however, gave her his solemn word. "Don't worry. Bao'er isn't that kind of person."

He considered for a moment, then added, "Please keep your promise too, Grandmother. Don't think of getting rid of the mother and keeping the son. Then everyone can live in peace."

Old Madam Lu felt a twinge of guilt at his words.

If she had known earlier that Ge Bao'er had been pregnant back then, she would never have let her live to this day.

"Grandmother, I heard that on the day you chose a child, you chose another one as well, a little older than Qing."

"Qing is my legitimate son."

"Grandmother, I will never let an outsider have the position of legitimate eldest son."

The thought of that day still frightened Old Madam Lu. "Do you think I want an outsider to be the Lu family's legitimate eldest son?"

"I don't know how Yun Wan could tell Qing had studied. It nearly backfired, and Qing's entry into the household was a close call! I had no choice but to agree at the time."

"You needn't worry. On the day of the adoption, we'll change it at the last moment and register Chang Gong as an adopted son and Qing as the legitimate son. Once the dust settles, whatever Yun Wan, a mere woman, says will be of no use."

Lu Zhengliu was very satisfied when he left.

As soon as he was gone, Old Madam Lu's face darkened visibly. She said to her trusted attendant, Nanny Yan, "After seven years, that woman still got her way. Her methods are truly formidable!"

"Ah. They say even heroes cannot pass a beauty's test. You can't blame the heir for this either. The women outside are just too skilled at tempting men!"

Old Madam Lu was silent for a while.

Looking somewhat dispirited, she said, "Zhengliu really has grown up..."

He was no longer the green youth of seven years ago, whom she could compel to marry the Lin clan's daughter with a single sentence: "This is the family duty you must shoulder as the legitimate eldest son."

Nanny Yan offered words of comfort. "It means the heir can stand on his own now. This old servant doesn't think it's necessarily a bad thing."

Old Madam Lu smiled. She hoped so.

By the auspicious day of the adoption, Lin Yunwan had recovered from her illness.

Ping Ye brought out a set of dignified clothes and dressed her hair in an equally dignified style. Her head was adorned with gold hairpins and jade ornaments, lending her an air of considerable standing.

Tao Ye was full of anticipation. "Madam, when the heir sees you, he's sure to be pleased."

Lin Yunwan smiled coolly, then turned and instructed Ping Ye, "Go and bring me the old servants who were wagging their tongues a few days ago."

Ping Ye stared. "Madam, I already scolded them. If you bring them here now... please don't miss the auspicious hour for adopting Young Master Chang Gong."

There was no chance of that.

Lin Yunwan knew in her heart that Qing was a true blood descendant of the Lu family. How could they possibly let Chang Gong be the Lu family's legitimate eldest son?

But she would never again let Qing be her legitimate eldest son.

She urged her on. "Go quickly. If you keep trying to persuade me, we really will miss the hour."

Ping Ye had always been loyal. Without another question, she hurried off and, relying on her memory of that day, found people to bind three old servants.

Lin Yunwan tucked a letter into her clothes and had the maids bring several pieces of porcelain. She took the old servants to the Hall of Longevity and made them all kneel in the courtyard.

"Yun Wan, what are you doing?"

Old Madam Lu had finished dressing. The moment she came out, she saw the commotion, and her expression turned ugly.

On such a fine day, what was Lin Yunwan, the mistress of the household, making a fuss about?

Standing beside the old servants, Lin Yunwan said coldly, "Repeat what you said a few days ago, in front of Old Madam."

"What did they say?"

Old Madam Lu stepped outside, and all the maids and old servants in the courtyard followed her out to watch the excitement.

The old servants knelt with their heads bowed, too afraid to answer.

Lin Yunwan sneered. "You don't dare say it now? Ping Ye, smash the porcelain bowls and put the shards under their knees. Lay them on thick."

"Yes!"

Ping Ye had barely smashed the porcelain when the old servants were frightened into trembling and blurted everything out.

"Is Madam about to be, be cast out?"

"Has the heir come back this time to repudiate his wife and marry someone else?"

"I said long ago that Madam was useless. A woman from a scholarly family like hers could never hold the heir's heart."

Old Madam Lu flew into a rage. "You have some nerve! How dare you speak of the mistress of the household that way! Someone, drag them away and beat them with the boards!"

The old servants screamed at the top of their lungs. Nanny Yan had their mouths stuffed shut and the doors closed, then said to Lin Yunwan, "Madam, whatever it is, please come inside and speak."

Old Madam Lu also looked at Lin Yunwan without ceremony and said, "Come inside with me!"

Lin Yunwan entered calmly and, without another word, placed a sheet of paper on the table.

When Old Madam Lu saw the words "Divorce Deed" written on it, her vision blurred and she nearly fainted.

Nanny Yan tried to reason with her. "Madam, wh-what are you doing?"

Lin Yunwan said, "Though the old servants were insolent, what they said was true. Back then, I married into the Marquis's Residence so the Lin family could repay the old master's kindness in giving us medicine. Yet the heir humiliated me in every way, and the Lu family turned a blind eye. My Lin family has lost all face!"

"If the old master knows of this in the netherworld, he surely wouldn't want the two families to become enemies either. Please, Old Madam, grant me a divorce and let me return home."

Old Madam Lu was stunned.

Her granddaughter-in-law had always been gentle and quiet. How could she say such a thing? She was becoming more and more outrageous!

Nanny Yan was equally shocked.

Had the heir's wife truly been driven to this? What woman would dare ask her husband's family for a divorce? It was unheard of!

"Yun Wan, listen to what you're saying!"

Old Madam Lu quickly regained her composure. The Lu family could not do without Lin Yunwan now.

She said pleasantly, "I know you've been wronged. But what woman hasn't suffered wrongs? All women get through life this way."

She even took Lin Yunwan's hand and, without betraying her intent, gave her a warning. "Yun Wan, think carefully. Have you ever heard of a woman from an official family getting a divorce?"

Old Madam Lu smiled faintly. "In families of standing, one only ever hears of titled ladies dying of illness or hanging themselves. Never of divorce."

"I'm afraid your Lin family's rules are even stricter than our Lu family's. Even if your Lin clan elders came here, I doubt they would let you carry on like this. Don't you agree?"

The corners of Lin Yunwan's mouth shifted, but she could not refute her.

She knew in her heart that the old madam was telling the truth.

"Yun Wan, tell me whatever grievances you have. Grandmother will certainly help you."

"But you mustn't speak such nonsense about divorce again! If word gets out, how will the daughters of your Lin family hold their heads up in the future?"

Lin Yunwan closed her eyes briefly. "Old Madam, I do have one request."

Sure enough, when a woman made a fuss, she wanted nothing more than her husband's affection.

Old Madam Lu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Go on." She would persuade her grandson to have a true legitimate son with his wife soon.

"I heard some rumors from the front courtyard, saying Chang Gong would only be my adopted son. I want Chang Gong to be my legitimate eldest son!"

"If the Lu family won't agree, then please invite the clan elders of both families here to discuss it."

Even if they didn't discuss divorce, they ought to have a proper talk about the adoption!

Old Madam Lu was dumbfounded. Where had Lin Yunwan heard that Chang Gong would be an adopted son?

Which bastard had let it slip?

"Grandmother."

Lu Zhengliu had arrived just in time to witness the whole divorce drama.

Everyone in the room turned at the sound of his voice. Lin Yunwan was the last to look at him. Her skin was whiter than snow, her eyes bright and her lips red. Her features were exceptionally beautiful and could easily give an impression of frivolity, yet her graceful bearing made her look dignified and noble.

There was nothing plain about her.

His heart gave a secret jolt.

Grandmother had been right. She truly was completely different from the woman she had been a few years ago.