Indeed, though the characters were in traditional script, she was certain she hadn't misread them.

A letter of divorce, sealed with the official stamp of the Marquis of Dingxi’s manor—a letter detailing the ‘seven causes’ for dismissal, essentially accusing her of improper wifely conduct.

Mama Su watched the woman's stunned expression, ready for the next act of weeping or fainting, but the woman merely studied the divorce letter seriously before composing herself.

“I understand. I will go see the Marquis,” she said.

“There is no need, Young Madam. The Marquis has already heard everything you wished to say,” Mama Su replied with a slight smile.

In the Rong'an Courtyard, the Marquis of Dingxi paced the room anxiously.

“I have said all I need to say. This woman has brought tremendous trouble upon us this time, my Lord. What shall we do?” Madam Xie stated sternly.

The Marquis of Dingxi’s expression flickered with alarm.

“What else is there to do?” he looked at Madam Xie. “Isn’t simply divorcing her enough?”

Madam Xie set down the tea she was holding.

“My Lord, please sit down first,” she said. “Don’t fret; you might get a headache.”

The Marquis of Dingxi sat down with a gruff sound.

“There have been continuous incidents at home lately, my Lord. You must remain calm; do not damage your health,” Madam Xie said, retrieving a pill from a small celadon lidded jar on the side table and offering it to him.

The Marquis of Dingxi took it and placed it in his mouth. He felt a cool refreshment spread within, and his muddled mind found a moment of clarity. He let out a breath.

“You are the only one who cares for me,” he said, patting Madam Xie’s hand.

Madam Xie smiled and withdrew her hand.

“I am not good with words, nor do I know how to please you, my Lord. I only want you to know that you are all I have to rely on. For you to be well is the best thing for me,” she said, sitting down beside him.

These words were exceedingly pleasing to the Marquis of Dingxi.

“It’s just that your temperament is too reserved, and your temper is poor. But, we are husband and wife, ultimately one body,” he told Madam Xie. “I know your heart.”

Madam Xie smiled but said nothing.

“This Qi Yueliang!” After a moment of quiet, the Marquis of Dingxi remembered the vexing matter at hand and couldn't help but press his forehead with his hand. “She will ruin our family...”

Kneel? Didn't she know that by kneeling, she was actually forcing the Marquis of Dingxi’s manor to kneel?

In full view of everyone. In front of hundreds, thousands of common folk…

The Marquis of Dingxi pressed his eyes shut; he couldn't bear to think of it.

“Even if I were to kneel to the ancestors and die there, it would not suffice to redeem my sin. I have no face left to show anyone,” he murmured. “This vile servant! This vile servant! Has she gone mad?”

“I told you long ago that you shouldn’t have indulged her, my Lord. Now you see? This vile servant is capable of anything. Now look, everyone in Yongqing Prefecture knows it, and it won't be long before the capital knows as well,” Madam Xie remarked.

The court would have new gossip…

And this time, it would be about the Marquis of Dingxi’s manor…

Truthfully, since the passing of the Old Marquis, the Marquis of Dingxi’s manor had all but vanished from courtly affairs. If not for the annual stipend granted by the court, perhaps the Emperor would have forgotten he even was the Marquis of Dingxi. Fortunately, Chang Yuncheng later achieved prominence and returned to the Emperor’s notice. But now, this was wonderful. Soon, his daughter-in-law would also be noticed by the court…

The Marquis of Dingxi slammed his hand over his eyes again.

He would rather the court completely forget he existed…

He could even imagine it: soon, various noble families would pay formal calls under the guise of visitation, only to slap his shoulder and inquire about the sensation of that kneeling…

“Quickly, throw out all that woman’s belongings!” the Marquis of Dingxi shouted loudly. “Drive her out! Do not allow her to step foot in Yongqing Prefecture again!”

“That is not enough,” Madam Xie said.

The Marquis looked at her.

“Divorcing her is not enough,” Madam Xie continued, her eyes gleaming. “My Lord, you must issue a public decree, explaining how this vile servant misled and deceived the Old Madam initially. In short, the world must know that our Marquis of Dingxi’s manor was deceived into taking her as a daughter-in-law…”

The Marquis hesitated for a moment.

“Actually, divorcing her is almost enough. She is, after all, just a weak woman, without parents or brothers…” he reasoned.

For a woman like that, being divorced was equivalent to severing her path to survival…

Such a beauty would simply wither away…

“My Lord, she knew clearly that this patient could not be saved this time, yet she insisted on stepping forward. Wasn't she using our name as a shield? Didn't she know the consequences of acting this way? She did it intentionally, intending to push our Marquis of Dingxi’s manor into a pit of fire. Someone like that, my Lord, even if she is beautiful, has a heart like venom. She did this even knowing how much you valued and protected her; it chills my heart,” Madam Xie stated coolly.

“But what if she really can cure him…” the Marquis hesitated before saying.

Madam Xie looked at him.

“My Lord, even if she cures him this once, what about the next time? There are thousands upon thousands of ailments in this world; can she cure them all? My Lord, this is not a question of ability, but of propriety,” she said softly. “She should not forget her station and act recklessly. You protecting her once is inconsequential, but our Marquis of Dingxi’s manor cannot withstand shock after shock.”

The Marquis of Dingxi fell silent.

“My Lord, she is first and foremost the Young Madam of the Marquis of Dingxi’s manor. Her duty is to remain within the inner quarters, managing the household and raising children, not to expose herself in public, walking the streets, bantering with those coarse men. Moreover, touching those men of dubious character… Back then, Yuncheng had his status, and secondly, he was still young; it was one thing to see, but others? Take the wounded hunter, for example. Your daughter-in-law, the Young Madam of the Marquis of Dingxi’s manor, just like that…” Madam Xie became increasingly agitated and eventually could not continue.

The Marquis of Dingxi could not listen any longer either. The divine physician he had imagined, the healing Qi Yueliang represented, was meant to be sought by the nobility for dignified and refined treatment… A group of lowly hunters, commoners… their filthy bodies…

He couldn't help but show disgust.

“Pack up that woman’s things and throw them all out,” he commanded.

“What belongings does she have?” Madam Xie said coldly. “She entered the household as a beggar; what does she own in this house?”

Saying this, she stood up.

“Instruct the gate guards to be quick. Send her to the estate immediately. After this matter passes, we will report to the court and divorce this vile servant,” she said.

Finally, an opportunity. A legitimate opportunity. By committing an act that enraged the populace, even the Emperor himself would have no grounds to protect her.

Madam Xie watched the now-silent Marquis of Dingxi, her hands, tightly clenched beneath her sleeves, gripping so hard that long nails broke off without her noticing.

My son can finally be free…

“Madam, Madam.” A maidservant ran in hastily from outside the door. Seeing the Marquis present, she knelt and called out to him.

Madam Xie assumed she was summoned.

“Go, tell the gate guards to be swift,” she instructed. “Send her to the manor at Ox Horn Mountain.”

“It’s not that, Madam. The Heir Apparent is at the gate…” the maid stammered. “He… he tore up the divorce letter…”

What?

Madam Xie and the Marquis of Dingxi both stood up in disbelief.

News of this reached Madam Chen of the West Residence immediately.

“Mother, Mother, please go quickly and persuade the Marquis and Madam not to divorce Eldest Sister-in-law…” Chang Yinglan ran in, grasping Madam Chen, who was sitting on the bed, and cried out anxiously.

Madam Chen maintained a placid demeanor, as if she knew nothing of the matter.

Rao Yufang followed Chang Yinglan in.

“Sister, speak slowly. Auntie’s health…” she advised softly and with some urgency.

Chang Yinglan glared at her, then looked pleadingly at Madam Chen.

“I know, I know. But that is a private matter between your uncle and aunt. How can we interfere?” Madam Chen said slowly.

“Mother, but Eldest Sister-in-law is so good! How could Uncle and Aunt divorce her?” Chang Yinglan insisted.

“Sister, I heard that Eldest Sister-in-law made a wager with someone, which tarnishes the reputation of the Marquis’s manor,” Rao Yufang whispered.

“My Sister-in-law would never lose. She said she could cure it, and she definitely can,” Chang Yinglan shouted at her, dropping any pretense of hostility. “Where did you hear that? You stay indoors all day, yet you know so much.”

Rao Yufang lowered her head.

“Enough. The wet nurses were telling me just now, and your sister overheard them nearby,” Madam Chen said, smiling at her daughter.

Chang Yinglan paid no attention to her, shaking Madam Chen’s arm again with earnest entreaty.

“Mother, Mother, no one there will help Sister-in-law; she is too pitiful…” She choked up as she spoke. “If she is divorced, how will she live?”

“It’s fine, she will live very well,” Madam Chen replied with a smile.

“Mother, Sister-in-law likes you so much, and you won’t even help her!” Chang Yinglan was nearly in tears, letting go of Madam Chen’s arm.

The attending wet nurse hurried to reprimand her for speaking to the Madam in such a manner.

“Whether I help her or not, who else can help her?” Madam Chen did not mind her daughter’s attitude and continued to speak with a smile.

Just then, another wet nurse hurried in.

“Madam, the Heir Apparent is at the gate, and he has torn up the divorce letter!” she exclaimed, foregoing the usual formalities of salutation.

At these words, the three women in the room froze, though their subsequent expressions differed.

Chang Yinglan let out an "Oh!" of delight and clasped her hands, while Madam Chen and Rao Yufang looked on with sheer disbelief.

Wasn’t it said that the Heir Apparent detested this woman?

Wasn’t it said that the Heir Apparent wished never to see this woman again?

Mama Su also could not believe what she was seeing.

“Heir Apparent… this is… this is what the Marquis and Madam ordered…” she hurried to explain.

Chang Yuncheng casually tossed the paper fragments, which scattered across the ground in the north wind.

Meanwhile, Qi Yue had already turned away.

She had no time to waste words or energy on this matter. The most important thing right now was saving a life. As for these trivialities, she wasn't worried; she would handle them one by one, keeping a record for later.

But after only a few steps, her arm was seized.

“Chang Yuncheng?” Qi Yue turned to look at the man, feeling a little surprised, but her expression immediately darkened. “I don't have time for your nonsense right now. Don't worry, once I finish with this, then…”

Chang Yuncheng said nothing; he simply pulled her arm and started dragging her back.

His movements were still rough, and the grip of his hand was still strong. Qi Yue had no chance to resist as she was pulled along.

“Hey, what are you doing? Don’t delay me…” Qi Yue could only call out.

Chang Yuncheng remained silent, only holding her tightly.

Mama Su watched in stunned silence as Chang Yuncheng dragged Qi Yue back inside. Ah Ru, her expression regaining its composure, walked past her and entered.

Simultaneously, more than a dozen guards rushed out from inside the gate.

“The Heir has commanded: swiftly go to Qianjin Hall and bring the injured person here,” the leader roared at the coachman, who was frozen with fear.

The coachman snapped back to his senses, and the horse immediately bolted as if startled, dragging the rattling, near-collapsing carriage toward Qianjin Hall.