Breaking All Ties with You (Continued)

Even if Xu Weibei was furious, he knew he couldn't refuse a polite offer and then have to suffer the consequences.

Let's hear what the Emperor has to say.

However, if the Emperor is unreasonable and insists on forcing him to divorce Gu Wanning, then there's nothing he can't overturn.

The Emperor said, "Since you each have your own version of events, I will have Gu summoned to the palace. Whether she chooses to divorce or not, you shall not question or argue further. This matter ends here."

The implication was that all the choices were left to Gu Wanning.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I accept your command and thank you for your grace," Gu Yuanshi replied calmly.

Xu Weibei gritted his teeth and agreed, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

Gu Wanning, please don't go crazy.

This is no laughing matter in front of the Emperor. If you really say you want a divorce, there will be no turning back.

No, she wouldn't be that foolish.

She was so happy in the Marquis's Residence, spending her days with those few, laughing and causing all sorts of trouble.

She must be out of her mind to go back to her parents' home, a place that doesn't treat her like family at all.

However, despite trying to comfort himself, Xu Weibei still felt a vague unease in his heart.

--What if Gu Wanning gets influenced by Zhou Yaya and acts impulsively?

Sigh, I shouldn't have agreed in the first place and kept Zhou Yaya in the manor.

All the responsibility lies with Zhou Yaya.

While waiting, the emperor inquired about the situation of the disaster victims in Xu Weibei, which allowed Xu Weibei to temporarily extricate himself from his anxious thoughts and concentrate on dealing with the situation.

Gu Yuanshi remained calm, occasionally offering his own opinions as if nothing had happened.

Xu Weibei was so angry his teeth itched.

Why is the villain who tried to break up someone else's marriage pretending nothing happened?

I hope Gu Wanning will come and expose Old Thief Gu's hypocritical face in front of the Emperor.

Oh, no, that won't happen.

Gu Wanning is soft-hearted. Despite suffering so many losses, she has never truly harmed the Gu family.

That's probably how the world is; soft-hearted people always suffer... Xu Weibei's thoughts drifted away again.

An hour had passed since Gu Wanning entered the palace.

Although it was her first time meeting the emperor, she remained calm and composed, bowing to him as soon as she entered.

"Rise," the Emperor waved his hand, then said to Gu Yuanshi, "My dear Gu, you've served me for so many years, and I don't feel you're old, nor do I feel myself. But seeing your youngest daughter already so grown up, we can't deny we're getting old."

Gu Yuanshi said, "His Majesty is in the prime of his life. With his diligence and dedication to reform, he will surely usher in a golden age."

Xu Weibei silently spat at him twice in his heart.

Bah! If it weren't for the support of Corn, would you still dare to propose reform now?

The Corn harvest was most beneficial to Gu Yuanshi.

The vast majority of people actually see this as the first step in the reform process, which has changed the attitudes of many who were originally opposed.

Even if it can't be called support, it has become a wait-and-see attitude.

His own marriage is on the verge of collapse, yet he keeps talking about reforms to gain leverage for himself; he doesn't care about Gu Wanning at all.

Xu Weibei looked at Gu Wanning with a complicated expression.

Gu Wanning felt his gaze, smiled at him, her eyes clear and unhurried.

Her gaze seemed to have a magical calming effect, instantly soothing Xu Weibei's anxious heart.

She's smiling at herself!

No matter how much that Old Thief Gu acts up, the two of them are of one mind.

This thought even made Xu Weibei feel as sweet as if he had eaten honey.

Come, Your Majesty, behold our loving relationship. The one who's truly wicked is that old geezer Gu Yuanshi.

The Emperor then said to Gu Wanning, "Even the Empress has never set foot in my study. The reason I've summoned you here today is because your marriage involves my two right-hand men, putting me in a difficult position. No matter which I choose today, I'll likely be the bad guy..."

Upon hearing this Gu Yuanshi and Xu Weibei both knelt down, saying, "Your humble servants dare not."

Poor Gu Wanning had just gotten up, but seeing that she was the only one standing now, she had no choice but to kneel down again, looking down meekly at the gold bricks on the ground.

It turns out that the gold bricks in the palace weren't made of real gold...

"I don't want to be the bad guy, so I'll let you choose for yourself. Gu, tell me, do you want to continue living with Xu Weibei, or do you want a divorce?"

The Emperor didn't beat around the bush and directly asked the question.

Xu Weibei felt a pang of unease for some reason. He shouldn't have interrupted, but he couldn't help but blurt out, "Gu Wanning, don't go back and let yourself be humiliated! In the Marquis's Residence, who ever made you suffer?"

He never forced her, and he never will.

He gave her whatever she wanted.

Today is her birthday, and he has prepared many gifts and surprises for her.

Today should have been such a happy day, but it's all that Old Thief Gu's fault.

Gu Yuanshi remained silent.

The Emperor frowned and rebuked Xu Weibei: "What's the rush? What's yours will come to you. Gu, I have a question for you!"

His voice carried the authority of someone long accustomed to being in a position of power.

Gu Wanning thought, this is the person who single-handedly promoted her own father and provided unimaginable support for her father's almost outlandish reforms.

This same person harbored suspicions about Xu Weibei; once the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked.

Thunder and rain, all are the emperor's grace.

When she spoke to him, the one who made her decision was the ruler of a nation.

"Your Majesty," Gu Wanning kowtowed and spoke slowly, her voice gentle yet resolute, "I have been fortunate enough to marry into the Marquis of Yingchuan's Residence for over three years, but have borne no children. I am ashamed before the ancestors of the Xu family and dare not continue to hold the position of Marquis's wife. I am willing to relinquish it. I hope that Your Marquis will marry a new wife in the future, reunite with your family, and have many children."

She had been given a hint by the eunuch on her way here, so she had already thought of a reason.

Xu Weibei, just as I was becoming myself, you wanted to divorce me. I didn't want to be the one at fault for the breakdown of our marriage, and to have a heated argument with you.