Chapter 79: An Imperial Edict to Divorce a Husband
By the time Xiao Li left the palace with the imperial edict, the sky had already brightened to a hazy dawn.
With every step she took, the sky grew a little brighter.
The sun was just rising as her carriage returned to the Princess Mansion. It was a beautiful day, the morning sun casting its brilliant rays everywhere. A pity that her Chaoyang Pavilion had already been burned to the ground.
Lu Cang had wanted to replace the Emperor. At the same time, he’d wanted to free his grandson from his shackles. That was why he had sent men to kill Xiao Li.
But the fire was one Xiao Li had set herself—a mockery aimed at Lu Cang.
The old scoundrel couldn’t outwit her, nor could he kill her.
The Princess Mansion had plenty of residences. If one burned down, she would simply move to another.
"Princess, everything is ready."
Hong Yue and Lan Yue approached with a set of clothes. They had prepared a hot bath for Xiao Li to wash and change.
Exhausted from the long night, Xiao Li really did need a good, long bath.
She placed the imperial edict aside and simply stared at it, her gaze fixed.
After her bath and a change of clothes, she rushed out impatiently, not even bothering with breakfast.
Lu Cang had been arrogant, certain that victory was in his grasp. Though he had recalled Lu Yanzhi, he had made no arrangements for his relatives to flee, merely tripling the number of guards at his residence.
The Emperor had yet to reach a decision. For now, the Lu family residence was completely surrounded by the Imperial Army. With the exception of Lu Cang, Lu Ye, and the other participants in the coup, who had been sent to the Heavenly Prison, the women and younger members of the Lu family were confined to the estate. They faced no restrictions, aside from not being allowed to leave.
’As an Emperor, he can’t even act decisively and execute the treacherous officials who tried to force his abdication.’ Xiao Li had already lost all hope in him.
Besides, she had a hunch that by the time the Emperor finished deliberating, not a single member of the Lu family would be sentenced to death.
’What a civilized dynasty, where even treason is handled so politely.’
This actually made things convenient for Xiao Li. The more people, the better. Otherwise, who would be there to listen to her read the imperial edict?
Rong Qing had already returned. He and Yang Jun flanked Xiao Li, leading a hundred household soldiers as they marched in a grand procession to the Lu family estate.
Xiao Li held the imperial edict in her hand, and the Imperial Army guards immediately ordered the gates opened. Upon entering, her eyes fell upon the Lu family’s massive stone sculpture, known as the Wenchang Pen.
’The foremost civil servant in the realm. What a glorious title.’
Xiao Li wanted to shatter the pillar, but given the Emperor’s spinelessness, it would be a waste of her energy.
The Lu family’s own guards were also trapped inside the estate. When they saw Xiao Li enter with her men, they rushed to give notice. Without a direct order, they dared not lay a hand on the Princess, but they did their best to obstruct her, finally managing to stop her party outside the main hall.
In truth, it was Xiao Li who had halted. She had no interest in seeing the rest of the Lu estate. An imperial edict, naturally, should be proclaimed in the very center of the main hall.
The first to emerge was the familiar sight of Lu Yanzhi’s robes. His steps were slightly rushed, lacking their usual indifference.
The mask he wore added an air of mystery to his presence. When he saw Xiao Li, a hint of a restrained smile touched his eyes.
Dressed in blood-red brocade, Xiao Li cut a dashing, heroic figure. The moment she saw Lu Yanzhi, she broke into a smile more brilliant than the morning sun.
"I trust you’ve been well, my dear Prince Consort."
She had said it before: when the Lu family fell, she would personally pay them a visit to see them one last time.
"Princess..."
Lu Yanzhi was momentarily dazed by her excessively brilliant smile. He couldn’t recall her ever smiling at him like that. The radiant expression made her breathtakingly beautiful, but when he remembered the Lu family’s current predicament, he was at a loss for words.
Xiao Li produced the imperial edict and held it before his eyes, the corners of her eyes crinkling with a malicious smile. "Do you know what this is?"
Of course Lu Yanzhi recognized it. It was a Golden Dragon Jade Scroll—an imperial edict penned by the Emperor himself.
"Please, Princess, enlighten me."
’In that moment, he felt a flicker of anticipation. Perhaps the Princess has brought an edict of pardon to threaten me, using the lives of the Lu Family as leverage to demand my absolute obedience from now on.’
’If that’s the case, I’ll agree. As long as the Lu Family is safe, I will be her beast of burden for the rest of my life.’
Xiao Li, of course, had no idea about his bizarre and nauseating thoughts. She was about to unroll the edict when she suddenly felt that something was not quite right.
"How can one receive an imperial edict while standing?"
"Rong Qing, make him kneel!"
Before Lu Yanzhi could react, Rong Qing kicked him squarely in the back of the knee, forcing him to drop with a THUD before Xiao Li.
The Lu family’s household soldiers started to intervene, but Lu Yanzhi had already stepped forward on his own, and Rong Qing had moved too quickly. By the time Lu Yanzhi was on the ground, the soldiers made a move, but Xiao Li’s men drew their blades in response. The scene immediately froze into a tense standoff.
Xiao Li paid them no mind. She looked at Lu Yanzhi’s pained and humiliated expression, and only then did she feel satisfied.
She slowly unrolled the imperial edict, her smile filled with anticipation.
"My Prince Consort is a man of great learning. I presume you can read this yourself? Or would you like me to read it to you?"
Lu Yanzhi’s gaze fell upon the imperial edict. He read it word by word, and when he saw the word "divorce," his pupils trembled uncontrollably.
He read to the very end: *Henceforth, the marriage contract between Princess Xuanyang and Lu Yanzhi is dissolved. Their union is ended, and they shall have no further relation.*
Lu Yanzhi couldn’t believe it. "Princess... Princess, you... you’re divorcing me..."
A wife divorcing her husband was not unheard of; women from powerful and influential families had done so before, but such instances were exceedingly rare.
But for a princess to divorce her husband... that was unprecedented.
He had never liked this marriage and had imagined countless ways it might end, but he had never once considered that he would be the one to be divorced.
Divorced by imperial edict.
Xiao Li had intended to humiliate him with the edict, but seeing Lu Yanzhi’s heartbroken expression, she felt as if she were the one being humiliated.
’Who the hell could have known? This devoted second male lead actually transferred his affections to me, making it seem like *I’m* the heartless bitch in this situation.’
’How repulsive.’
"Lu Yanzhi, you are free. And so am I."
She rolled up the edict and produced their marriage certificate, which she had also brought along. She set it alight on the spot. None of it mattered anymore.
In truth, she could have just killed Lu Yanzhi. Once he was dead, it would all be over.
But Xiao Li was fixated on one thing. ’In the original story, her predecessor was bullied to death by them, and in the end, Lu Yanzhi used her memory to build a persona as a deeply devoted man, using it as a shield.’
She had to be the one to end this marriage, severing all ties between them for good.
Even if Lu Yanzhi were to die, he would not die with the title of her late husband.
’If he’s going to die, he’s going to die with a clean slate.’
Before the marriage certificate had finished burning to ash, the other members of the Lu family finally made their belated appearance.
Old Madam Lu, Madam Lu, and Lu Chengzhi and his wife—the whole family, neat and tidy.
They had paid Xiao Li no mind. Even after hearing of her arrival, they had been unwilling to greet her. But upon hearing that Lu Yanzhi had come out, they naturally had to come and take a look.
But they arrived only to see Lu Yanzhi kneeling before Xiao Li. Madam Lu exploded on the spot. "You vicious woman! The moment my Lu family loses power, you can’t wait to come and humiliate my son! Do you really think I’m afraid of you?"
’She clearly knows the Lu family’s coup failed, but judging by her attitude, you’d think she hasn’t been affected at all.’
’That useless Emperor.’
Lu Chengzhi stepped forward to help his younger brother up. "Yanzhi, get up."
Lu Yanzhi remained motionless, as if his soul had left his body. Lu Chengzhi then turned to Xiao Li. "The Princess and Yanzhi are still husband and wife. Is there anything that can’t be discussed calmly?"