Volume One, Chapter Two: Let Us Part Ways
In the previous life, when Xie Yihe proposed a divorce, the compensation he offered her was a substantial fortune, enough for her to squander for the rest of her days.
Jiang Yutang refused, instead resorting to every means to delay and resist the divorce. They endured cold wars, confrontations, and hysteria, eventually reaching a point of irreparable rupture, a battle of life and death.
In this life, Jiang Yutang decided to let herself go willingly.
Their eyes met, and the narrow eyes of Xie Yihe gradually cooled, his interest instantly fading.
“Ah Tang, this is no fun at all.”
He released Jiang Yutang’s hand, straightened his posture, and said coldly, “I know you went to the hunting grounds during the day and are upset, but playing these tricks won’t threaten me. Qianqian means the world to me; I could never drive her away for you.”
Yun Qianqian was the white moonlight that Xie Yihe cherished deeply.
“Rest assured, I still have some self-awareness.”
Jiang Yutang forced a bitter smile and continued, “It’s been three years; I’m tired. Since you don’t like me anyway, why not just end it here?”
Xie Yihe wore a mocking expression, utterly disbelieving that Jiang Yutang would truly be willing to divorce.
Suddenly, his gaze caught sight of the contract on the table…
It was the list of Jiang Yutang’s dowry inventory!
Xie Yihe froze for a moment, then looked at Jiang Yutang’s determined expression and suddenly realized—she was serious!
Jiang Yutang really wanted to stop living with him!
A surge of nameless anger flared in Xie Yihe’s heart. “Ah Tang, are you playing me for a fool?”
He stared straight into Jiang Yutang’s eyes and warned kindly, “Don’t forget, the position of the heir’s wife was something you begged for, crying and desperate. Now you regret it so soon? Don’t want to sit in it anymore?”
Xie Yihe was the heir to the Duke of An, the current Grand Commander.
Three years ago, upon hearing that Xie Yihe was arranging a marriage, Jiang Yutang even attempted suicide at home to marry him.
At that moment, the Xie family had a leverage card in the hands of the Jiang family. Jiang Yutang’s parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Zhenyuan, reluctantly used it to pressure Xie Yihe into marrying her.
This was a great humiliation for Xie Yihe.
But as the future Duke of An, he had to be responsible for the entire Duke’s household. Even though he cared for no one at the time, he needed a noble wife of a prestigious family to uphold the family’s reputation, so he had tolerated Jiang Yutang for three years.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch, my dear heir’s wife,” Xie Yihe said mockingly, analyzing her situation.
“Besides, Ah Tang, you’re no longer young; don’t be naive…”
He continued, “Not to mention you’re dull in bed and don’t know how to please a man, your parents are far away at the frontier, and you have no relatives in the capital. Do you really think if you leave me and step out of this Duke’s mansion, you’ll live a good life by yourself?”
Hearing these words, Jiang Yutang’s numb heart felt as if pricked by needles, a sharp pain spreading through it.
Her parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Zhenyuan, had lived with integrity but, by threatening the Xie family for their daughter’s sake, had betrayed their conscience and added a dark mark to their history.
From then on, they completely lost hope in their unfilial daughter. After emptying their savings to give her a generous dowry, they went to the frontier with her elder brother and younger sister to accept punishment, never contacting her again.
This had always been an unhealable wound in Jiang Yutang’s heart, and Xie Yihe was clearly aware of it.
But what she never expected was that one day, Xie Yihe would personally tear open that wound!
Jiang Yutang’s emotions slightly slipped out of control, struggling to suppress them, her voice tinged with sorrow, “After the divorce, I have my own plans. You needn’t trouble yourself, Lord Xie!”
Xie Yihe hadn’t expected that, even after he had spoken so plainly, Jiang Yutang would still insist.
More importantly—
“What did you just call me?”
Xie Yihe was incredulous, his expression darkening, unable to hide his reaction as he countered.
Since their marriage, even when they quarreled or were angry, no matter how emotional Jiang Yutang got, she had always called him “husband.” This was the first time she addressed him so coldly and distantly.
In the past, Jiang Yutang had always been docile before him… at least on the surface.
Her sudden rebellion stirred an irritation deep in Xie Yihe’s heart.
They stood on opposite sides of the table, Jiang Yutang fixing her gaze on Xie Yihe and calling out word by word, “Lord Xie!”
“Very well.”
Xie Yihe clenched his fingers tightly, his face dark and unreadable.
The room fell into a deathly silence, so quiet it was unnerving.
After a long while, Xie Yihe sneered, “Ah Tang, from the moment you married me, you should have known there would be no love between us.”
He looked down on Jiang Yutang with narrowed eyes and a cold voice added, “I will never agree to a divorce, nor do I want to waste time in meaningless quarrels here. You’d better calm yourself.”
With that, Xie Yihe left the Dream Garden without looking back.
Behind the desk, Jiang Yutang’s face was extremely sour.
She was born into a military family; though a woman, she had trained with her grandfather since childhood, and at ten, her father sent her to Meishan to study martial arts. Later, to marry Xie Yihe, she spent time learning the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, womanly conduct, and managing the household.
On what grounds did Xie Yihe assume she would suffer terribly if she divorced him?
Her dowry alone was enough to provide for her entire life; she had no need to endure humiliation in the Duke’s mansion any longer.
She was determined to end the marriage with Xie Yihe!
...
The next day, after getting up and freshening herself, Jiang Yutang went to her mother-in-law, Lady Xie’s courtyard.
The Duke of An’s household was a hereditary noble family with a century-old reputation in the capital, very strict about rules; daily morning and evening greetings were indispensable.
Jiang Yutang was still the Xie family’s daughter-in-law, and her mother-in-law, the Duchess of An, had never liked her. If she failed to pay respects, it would certainly be used to make things difficult for her.
When she entered the room, Lady Xie was already seated at her dressing table, having her hair attended to.
“Daughter-in-law pays respects to mother-in-law,” Jiang Yutang said politely, bowing.
Lady Xie did not look up, offering no sign of acknowledgment.
The women in the room glanced over, knowing Lady Xie was displeased about Xie Yihe leaving the Dream Garden last night to sleep in the study, and were eager to see Jiang Yutang get put in her place.
What followed was sure to be a trial for Jiang Yutang.
The onlookers exchanged glances, ready for the spectacle.
The elegant room was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.
Jiang Yutang bowed to Lady Xie but received no response, awkwardly holding her bow.
Her eyes darkened as she slowly rose, withdrawing her salute.
As expected, the nanny Liu beside Lady Xie immediately stepped forward and scolded her publicly, “Madam has not dismissed you. How dare you rise without permission? Do you not understand manners, or are you deliberately embarrassing her, taking advantage of her kindness?”
Liu was highly favored by Lady Xie and was usually arrogant and difficult. She often bullied Jiang Yutang openly and covertly.
In the previous life, such public reprimands citing rules were countless.
Jiang Yutang had always tried to please her mother-in-law but was only able to endure Liu’s scolding, like a submissive grandson, biting back her resentment.
“This is the upbringing you received from your Jiang family?” Liu frowned disdainfully, looking Jiang Yutang up and down. “No wonder you dared to disrespect your husband. If this gets out, it would be a laughingstock!”
Lady Xie did not intervene.
The crowd, some delighting in her misfortune, others pitying her, all focused on Jiang Yutang standing in the center.
They expected her to be embarrassed and admit her fault, but unexpectedly...
Jiang Yutang looked up at Liu and asked, “What did you say?”
Liu sneered, “Even if you’re unhappy, young madam, this old servant must say it: our Duke’s household is composed of prominent figures. If you lack proper etiquette and manners, it’s one thing to disgrace yourself, but don’t tarnish our Duke’s mansion!”
Jiang Yutang asked sincerely, “Oh? Then would you, Nurse Liu, kindly come over and instruct me in proper etiquette?”
Liu was more than willing.
She picked up her ruler and stepped forward without hesitation, just as she was about to speak—
“Smack!”
Jiang Yutang suddenly slapped her across the face!