A Clean Break with You

He wondered if he would ever be lucky enough to get a horse to replace his old one.

I can't catch up, I really can't catch up with the Marquis...

After Xu Weibei, the ice flowers in the courtyard had already been arranged.

The crystal-clear ice flowers refracted the sunlight, and the texture of each ice flower was clearly visible. Colors were also cleverly embedded in the ice layer, shimmering and sparkling in the sunlight, making it seem unreal. On the branches, strings of vines carved from fine ice hung, swaying gently in the breeze and making a crisp and melodious sound.

The four concubines were all watching from the corridor, but even the most unruly Fourth Concubine dared not move around recklessly, for fear of disturbing this paradise on earth.

"My Marquis, you've done a truly beautiful job this time," Fourth Concubine couldn't help but praise upon seeing Xu Weibei return.

For the first time, Xu Weibei didn't find Zhou Yaya so annoying anymore.

He also thought it looked great, even better than he had imagined.

Now we're just waiting for Gu Wanning to come back.

"My Marquis, my Marquis— " Gao Lan called out breathlessly from outside the courtyard, "The palace has sent an imperial decree, saying that the Emperor summons you."

"If you're not going, just say I'm sick." Xu Weibei said impatiently.

What's wrong with the Emperor?

Why is it so important to see him today?

"No, Your Marquis, this is an imperial edict," Gao Lan said cautiously, standing behind the screen wall, not daring to enter. "You cannot disobey an imperial decree."

Being sick is not an excuse; only dying does.

Oh, even if you're dead, it might not count. If the Emperor really insists, "I want to see you alive or dead," then the eunuchs could probably carry you straight into the palace.

Xu Weibei, recalling the possibility of missing Gu Wanning's amazed and moved expression, really wanted to overturn the Emperor's table.

Go and see if Madam has returned.

"No, I just checked. Don't worry, even if Madam comes back, we'll keep her outside and wait for you to come back together," Gao Lan said understandingly.

Seeing that Xu Weibei still hadn't gone to receive the imperial decree, Gao Lan practically wanted to kneel down before him.

Master, Master, please!

Although Xu Weibei was very unhappy, he knew what was more important, so he reluctantly followed the eunuch into the palace.

Because he was in a bad mood, he didn't want to talk and didn't even ask the eunuch what was wrong.

When Xu Weibei arrived at the Imperial Study and saw Gu Yuanshi there, he initially didn't want to talk to him.

But then I thought again, he was, after all, Gu Wanning's father.

If he doesn't greet him, the Emperor might misunderstand and think that he doesn't value Gu Wanning.

So Xu Weibei struggled for a moment, but still managed to bow to Gu Yuanshi with a forced smile.

Gu Yuanshi's expression remained unchanged, and he ignored him completely.

Xu Weibei: This old scoundrel is taking advantage of my kindness. If he weren't Gu Wanning's father, I wouldn't have bothered talking to him!

The emperor's expression turned slightly cold, and he immediately threw down the several memorials he was holding.

The memorial fell at Xu Weibei's feet.

"Look at yourself! What a mess you've made! This is just the tip of the iceberg. Impeachment petitions against you are as numerous as snowflakes every day; I'm too lazy to even read them."

Xu Weibei bent down, picked up a memorial, and read it quickly, thinking to himself, "What's so special about this?"

It's nothing new.

What could those idle censors possibly impeach him for?

Impeaching him for not having enough military achievements?

The only thing that can be done is to impeach him for his lack of moral character and keeping a mistress.

The Emperor usually doesn't concern himself with these matters, so what has triggered this today?

Xu Weibei looked at Gu Yuanshi suspiciously, intuitively feeling that he had fueled the flames in this matter and had not played a good role.

Regret is just regret.

Why did you bow to him just now?

"Your humble servant acknowledges his guilt."

So what?

At worst, we can bring her back to the manor and give her a proper status. Linglong was originally his maid, so what can others say?

These people are really bored out of their minds.

"Your daughter, the Chief Grand Secretary Gu, is being married to you, yet you don't cherish her. Fine, a forced marriage is never sweet. Since you don't value her, let's call it off. Let's part ways amicably and each marry someone else," the Emperor said.

Xu Weibei's expression changed instantly.

"Your Majesty," he knelt down, lifting his robe, his tone urgent and his speech rapid, "It's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage. Although I was foolish in the past, I have now... repented. My wife and I are perfectly harmonious; divorce is absolutely impossible."

"Minister Gu, look..." The Emperor handed the hot potato to Gu Yuanshi.

Gu Yuanshi replied, "Why must Your Marquis do this? Things have already come to this point; there's no need to linger. My daughter is already weary of this mutual dislike, and knows she has a strong and unyielding nature, unable to be subservient to Your Marquis's whims. Therefore, she is willing to yield. I hope Your Marquis will find a better match in the future..."

"Nonsense! What do you know!" Xu Weibei was unusually angry. "You old fool, you just can't stand to see Gu Wanning well. Before, when she was at home, you were biased and didn't treat her well. Now that you see our relationship is getting better every day, you come to sow discord again. You're utterly malicious! You don't even deserve to be a father!"

He was so angry that he blurted out all his innermost thoughts.

Especially since today is Gu Wanning's birthday, as her biological father, not only has he not shown any appreciation, but he also wants his daughter to divorce him?

Why don't you send a lightning bolt and strike that Old Thief Gu dead!

Xu Weibei's chest burned with raging anger, his eyes blazing with fury.

The Emperor said, "No reckless talk. Now you all have your own versions of events, let me consider it..."

"Your Majesty, what the Marquis said is not true." Gu Yuanshi was clearly more experienced than Xu Weibei; his tone was calm yet carried an unyielding resolve. "The Marquis speaks of harmonious marriage, but my daughter does not share that view. Divorce has been my daughter's long-cherished wish, and I beg Your Majesty to grant it."

Chapter 133 A Decisive Break with You

"Nonsense!" Xu Weibei couldn't help but retort angrily, "When did you learn about her long-cherished wish?"

That Old Thief Gu never does anything good; he's a real troublemaker!

Seeing that the two were about to fight, the Emperor sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, and said, "Alright, both of you, stop arguing. I'm busy with all sorts of things every day, and it's all thanks to the assistance of loyal ministers like you. You should be working together for the sake of the country, not turning against each other over personal feelings."