Chapter 6 The Imperial Edict Arrives

Xia Xing'er said gently: "What the old lady said is true. What about the general? Can you say something?"

Helian Zhi also spoke at the right time: "You have been the head of the family for the past three years, so of course you should pay for all this. Don't say you used your dowry to make up for it. Our general's mansion also has ancestral property, fields, and shops, and all of this income is managed by you. Now there is no money on the account, where did it go? Did you lose all the money?"

Xia Xing'er sneered, "Do you think your General's Mansion is some aristocratic family? This General's Mansion was given to you by the higher-ups when your grandfather was the general. How much is your father's annual salary? How much is your salary as a fourth-rank general?"

"As for the inheritance left by your grandfather, do you know how much it costs to maintain a general's mansion? Do you know how much a prescription for the old lady's medicine costs since you left, as she has been ill?"

Helian Zhi didn't believe any of this. He felt that Xia Xing'er was just trying to embarrass him: "You're saying all this just to avoid taking the money, aren't you? If that's the case, I'll figure out the betrothal gifts and the betrothal money myself. His Majesty will definitely give me a reward for my military achievements this time, so I'm sure that will be enough."

Xia Xing'er asked, "General, have you forgotten that your military exploits were used to woo Ye Qingyu? Since you two are so in love, you certainly wouldn't care about the amount of the betrothal gift."

Helian Zhi opened his mouth to say something but then shut up again. The list of betrothal gifts was given to him by Ye Qingyu. As a grown man, how could he not satisfy the requirements of the woman he loved.

Xia Xing'er said, "General, if you want me to pay you this money, it's fine, but you have to write me an IOU."

When he heard that he had to write an IOU, Helian Zhi's handsome eyebrows frowned unnaturally.

Xia Xing'er was slapping herself in the face. As her husband, he took money from her and even asked her to write an IOU. How could this be justified in the world?

Helian Rong came to show her presence again: "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about lending it to me? This ten thousand taels is just a drop in the bucket for you, and you even asked your brother to write you an IOU. If you can't tell anyone about it, people will laugh at you." After saying this, she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled.

"Rong'er, what are you talking about? Don't you know how much your sister-in-law has contributed to the General's Mansion in the past three years? You should be grateful and remember your sister-in-law's kindness."

The old lady pretended to be angry and scolded her daughter, but she also kept asking everyone to remember Xia Xing'er's kindness.

But in her heart she was blaming Xia Xing'er for being ignorant and arguing with her husband. Since she had married into the general's mansion, didn't everything she owned belong to the general's mansion?

Shouldn't money be spent in the mansion? If not in the general's mansion, where else would she want to spend it?

He then said to Xia Xing'er earnestly, "Xing'er, I know you went to the palace to ask His Majesty for help, but that wasn't a wise move. If Qingyu marries in and makes a contribution, it will bring honor to our General's Mansion, and you will also benefit from it."

Xia Xing'er really didn't want to act with them anymore.

"I, the old lady, have entered the palace. I am not begging His Majesty not to grant me the marriage. You can rest assured that Ye Qingyu will definitely marry into the general's mansion and become your daughter-in-law."

The old lady was delighted to hear her say this, but before she could finish her joy, she heard, "I am going to see the Empress Dowager to ask for a decree of a peaceful divorce."

What?

Divorce decree?

Who are you asking for this?

Not only the old lady was confused, but everyone in the room was confused.

"What? You want a divorce?" the old lady roared in disbelief.

Helian Zhi's father Helian Heng, who had always been a transparent person, had a dark face.

"Just now I was thinking that you were sensible, Zhier married a good wife, and my Helian family married a good daughter-in-law..."

He looked extremely disappointed in her.

Helian Zhi was not prepared for her to really want a divorce. "What did you say?"

Helian Rong said, "You know what you are talking about. My eldest brother just made military achievements. How many women in the capital want to marry him? And you actually want to divorce him? You should be divorced."

The old lady had recovered by now, but she thought that if they divorced, Xia Xing'er's dowry would all be taken away. This was unacceptable. She suddenly raised her head, staring at Xia Xing'er with hatred, and said in a hoarse voice, "Just because Zhi'er asked for a wife as a co-wife, you want a divorce. You are committing the seven sins of divorce and are jealous."

As she said this, she looked very disappointed with her daughter-in-law, and pounded the bed with her hands. If you didn't know, you would think she loved her daughter-in-law Xia Xing'er very much.

Helian Rong was shocked. "Seven offenses for divorce, so she can only be divorced."

Helian Hui said, "Sister-in-law, I have always respected you, but as your brother-in-law, I still have to say this. Big brother doesn't have three wives and four concubines. He just married a concubine. You want to divorce her. This is not right. A woman should regard her husband as her heaven."

Helian Heng said to Helian Zhi, "Zhi'er, we can't keep such a jealous woman. Divorce her, but you can't leave her dowry behind as compensation for the loss of our General's Mansion."

Xia Xing'er and her servant looked at the family jumping up and down.

He wanted her dowry and said such shameless words.

Helian Zhi took a long time to speak, "I don't want her dowry."

The old lady touched her chest and said, "Zhi'er, you can't take her dowry with you. There's so much silver, and there are shops and farms."

Helian Zhi still insisted, "Mother, I will find a way to earn money. I have never thought about asking for her dowry."

After hearing what Helian Zhi said, Xia Xing'er's opinion of him changed a little, but only a little.

Greed was like a poisonous snake, lurking in the old lady's heart, constantly urging Helian Zhi.

"No, absolutely not. You must write the divorce letter now, otherwise it will be too late when the divorce decree comes down."

Xia Xing'er thought it was really funny. He wanted to embezzle her dowry right in front of her. Did he really think she didn't exist?

"Zhi'er, don't be stupid. Divorce her quickly and let her go back to the Marquis' Mansion. She still has the mansion. The money she has can help you get married, and the rest can help you pave your future."

"Come here, go and get her dowry list."

Just as the old lady finished speaking, a loud cry of "The imperial edict has arrived!" came from the doorway.

Everyone's expression changed and they immediately became serious.

The old lady was no longer able to care about Xia Xing'er and quickly ordered, "Quick, set up the incense table and receive the imperial edict!"

The servants hurriedly set up the incense table in the main courtyard. Just as they were done, Eunuch Wu, who was by the side of Emperor Shunkang, and Nanny Hua, who was by the side of the Empress Dowager, walked in with several imperial guards.

When they saw Aunt Hua beside the Queen Mother, everyone's faces looked unhappy.

They knew their ideas were going to fail.

Eunuch Wu glanced at everyone and said, "Helian Zhi, kneel down and listen to my order."

Everyone's expressions changed again, and they were filled with joy. As long as it wasn't a divorce decree for Xia Xing'er, they still had room to maneuver.

Helian Zhi stepped forward and knelt, "Helian Zhi accepts the order."

Everyone in the general's mansion also knelt down behind Helian Zhi. Xia Xing'er didn't want to kneel down, but since everyone else had knelt, she would stand out from the crowd if she didn't, so she had no choice but to kneel down as well.