A Mutual Divorce Was Out of the Question (Continued)

Xu Weibei went to the Ministry of War, but before he could finish his business, he was found by the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict.

"My Marquis, this servant has finally found you!" Even the palace eunuchs treated this cold-faced King of Hell with great courtesy. "His Majesty summons you to the palace."

"Hmm." Xu Weibei gave Gao Lan a wink, and the latter immediately stepped forward, grabbed the eunuch's sleeve, and quietly slipped a red envelope into his hand.

The eunuch understood immediately, smoothly taking the red envelope, squeezing it to feel the contents—a silver note—and whispering, "Chief Grand Secretary Gu is currently serving the Emperor..."

Did that Old Thief Gu go and complain?

Or did he go to the Emperor to preside over the divorce proceedings?

Xu Weibei was used to the former and remained unmoved.

But the latter infuriated him—he had clearly warned that Old Thief Gu!

Xu Weibei couldn't wait a moment longer. He quickly went out, untied the reins, mounted his horse, spurred it on, and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree. "..."

Gao Lan: "My Marquis, my Marquis, please slow down, wait for me!"

He can't catch up!

Xu Weibei met the emperor in the imperial study.

Gu Yuanshi sat at the lower end, his face serious and his posture upright.

Upon seeing him enter, Gu Yuanshi stood up, bowed to the Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, the Marquis has arrived. We request that you preside over the divorce proceedings for my daughter."

Well!

Xu Weibei's hands were clenched into fists inside his sleeves.

What did he say to that Old Thief Gu yesterday? Can't he understand human language?

Then don't blame him for being impolite.

If he gets into trouble, he'll go to the Gu family and smash their pot!

Don't go anymore!

However, before the Emperor, Xu Weibei and knelt down to pay his respects.

The Emperor chuckled, "Get up, get up quickly. It's nothing serious, it's just that you've really angered your father-in-law. Your parents have been gone for many years, and your aunt has always doted on you, not holding you to any rules. Look at you, what kind of son-in-law acts like this?"

"This humble servant has never seen a father-in-law who constantly impeaches his son-in-law." Xu Weibei's face was as hard and unyielding as Shitou in a latrine.

The Emperor's smile deepened. "The deeper the love, the greater the criticism. Chief Grand Secretary Gu, ultimately, wants the best for you."

Xu Weibei remained noncommittal.

The Emperor attempted to smooth things over, saying to Gu Yuanshi, "Minister Gu, as the saying goes, 'It's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage.' It's not that I feel it would be a loss of face for the two to divorce. It's just that I think it's such a pity."

Gu Yuanshi said, "Your Majesty's affection for my daughter is deeply appreciated. However, she is uncouth and has repeatedly displeased the Marquis. Rather than becoming a resentful couple, it would be better for us to part ways amicably and each find our own happiness. My wife is unwell, so my daughter can go home to take care of her."

"What, is your Gu family so poor now that you can't even afford a maid to serve us? You're trying to break us up?" Xu Weibei sneered repeatedly. "Hasn't Chief Grand Secretary Gu ever heard of the saying 'spilled water cannot be gathered up again'?"

"How dare you speak to your father-in-law like that!" the Emperor feigned displeasure. "If you continue to be so disrespectful, I will have to teach you a lesson on behalf of your aunt and father."

Xu Weibei knelt down, looking down at the gold bricks on the ground. "Your Majesty," he said, "My wife and I are deeply in love. I beg Your Majesty to see this clearly."

It's all that old Old Thief Gu, he just had to break us up!

Not to mention Gu Yuanshi, even the Emperor showed surprise upon hearing this. "A deep affection?"

Could this child only know about war and not have studied properly, thus misusing words?

Even the Emperor knew that he and Gu Wanning didn't get along.

"Yes," Xu Chief Grand Secretary Gu Xu Weibei. "Your Majesty knows that I have a fiery temper and dislike hiding my emotions. If it weren't for my wife, why would I have gone to the Gu family to wish Chief Grand Secretary Gu a happy birthday?"

It's just a matter of respecting the Buddha, not the monk.

"My Marquis!" Gu Yuanshi's voice deepened. "I did not criticize Marquis. I only wished that Marquis and my daughter could have what you wanted. Why are you so stubborn? I will not say a word against Marquis regarding the divorce, and I will also instruct my family not to mention it to anyone. Therefore, it will not affect Marquis reputation."

This Xu Weibei is really not fit to be a son-in-law.

She was so fierce in front of him yesterday; she probably lashed out at her daughter when she got home. And today she's putting on a show of deep affection in front of the Emperor?

I never would have guessed that Xu Weibei was like this.

Separation is necessary; a proper separation is required!

Gu Yuanshi's resolve hardened even further.

"Your Majesty, my wife and I are deeply grateful for the marriage bestowed upon us by Your Majesty. Although I have reservations about Chief Grand Secretary Gu's reforms, I do not wish to affect our relationship, nor do I wish to divorce. I beg Your Majesty's wise decision."

The Emperor, both amused and exasperated, said, "You two each have your own version of the truth; how can I possibly uphold justice? Here's what I'll do: I'll have the Empress ask the Chief Grand Secretary's beloved daughter if she's willing to divorce..."

"No!" Xu Weibei immediately objected.

When the topic of divorce came up, Gu Wanning sang a song and readily agreed with laughter.

That woman always manages to annoy him.

Seeing this, Gu Yuanshi silently breathed a sigh of relief. "My Marquis, forced marriages are never sweet. Why bother? My daughter grew up in the countryside, which has truly wronged Marquis."

"Does Chief Grand Secretary Gu even know what it means to be overly attached to one's own possessions?" Xu Weibei said. "Since she is already my wife, I love her no matter what she is like. Besides, how dare Chief Grand Secretary Gu mention that she grew up in the countryside! My wife and Consort of the Prince of Qin are both the Chief Grand Secretary Minister's own daughters, so why is their treatment so different?"

Gu Yuanshi: "... There was a real reason for this, and I'm the one who wronged Gu Wanning. It's also for this reason that I hope this child will have a smoother life in the second half of her life."

"Things are going very smoothly between her and me," Xu Weibei said bluntly. "If the Gu family hadn't interfered, we would have grown old together!"

After uttering this lie, for some reason, something seemed to be vibrating in his chest, preventing him from calming down for a long time.

In short, I've already lied today.