Chapter 28

The carriage was shaking violently, and Wei Luo's heart skipped a beat, especially when he heard the words "divorce," which shocked him deeply.

No one knew better than him how much Shen Yao used to like Xu Xuan.

Shen Yao has a free-spirited personality and dislikes being restrained. She is like a wild horse that has broken free of its reins, and no one can control her except Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan liked women who were knowledgeable, gentle, and kind. At that time, Shen Yao stopped riding horses and instead lived in the palace every day, learning from the female officials. She learned everything that ladies of noble families did, and she enjoyed it immensely.

Simply because Xu Xuan likes it.

When you like someone, you can make many changes. He had witnessed Shen Yao's changes one by one. It was the first time he had witnessed the power of love and how magical it was.

On the day of the arranged marriage, at Yikun Palace, he happened to be there and saw Xu Xuan in person. He was tall and imposing, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and an incomparably handsome face that could make people fall in love at first sight.

Shen Yao stood in front of him, her head only reaching his shoulder, making her appear so petite, like a little bird nestled against him.

Wei Luo could sense that Shen Yao was genuinely happy, but he also sensed that Xu Xuan was unhappy with the marriage, as he maintained a cold expression throughout.

The character “瑶” means precious jade; the character “瑄” means flawless jade. The union of these two jades is said to be a match made in heaven.

But Wei Luo didn't think so. They were both hard jade, which would break at the slightest touch. Marriage should be a balance of strength and gentleness. What Shen Yao needed was not strong jade, but gentle water.

So when he got back, he said to Liu Heng, "The two of them won't go far." Time seemed to confirm his prediction.

Wei Luo's eyes were dark and unfathomable. Shen Yao saw that he was in a daze and didn't say anything, and she didn't know what he was thinking. Her heart couldn't help but pound.

"Your Highness, will you agree?"

"Divorce should be done with official approval; I can't help you with that."

"If the Emperor bestows a marriage upon us, can the government agree to a divorce?"

Wei Luo laughed and said, "Of course you can. Marriage is a matter between two people. The Emperor is just the matchmaker. If you really want to divorce, no one can stop you. It's just that the Emperor won't look good."

Shen Yao seemed to understand but not quite, "Then after I get divorced, can I still get married? Won't people gossip?"

In this dynasty, women seemed to face discrimination when they divorced or remarried.

"Officials throughout history have always encouraged remarriage. Otherwise, wouldn't widows and widowers become social destabilizing elements? Moreover, marriage allows for the birth of children, which means the court can collect taxes. This is a good thing. Why do you make it sound like remarriage is something to be ashamed of?"

So Wei Luo then explained a lot of marriage and property laws to her. Shen Yao listened in a daze. What he said seemed to make a lot of sense. Now Shen Yao couldn't wait to fly to the Xu family and ask for a divorce.

There's just one awkward thing: "What if my parents don't agree?"

Shen Yao asked seriously, and Wei Luo felt a headache coming on. "If the elders don't agree, it's really difficult to get a divorce. There's nothing I can do about it."

“Yes,” Shen Yao said dejectedly, “Since the Emperor can issue an edict to grant a marriage, can he also issue an edict to grant a divorce?”

"..."

"Unheard of."

“Then when you become emperor in the future, help me.” Shen Yao’s eyes flickered slightly as she played the emotional card. “Considering that we have gone through life and death together this time, if I can’t leave, you can issue an edict to force a divorce. If Xu Xuan refuses, you can demote him or his father.”

"..."

Wei Luo remained silent, head bowed.

He remained silent, but Shen Yao took the initiative to get up. She moved from opposite Wei Luo to sit next to him, and gently grabbed his arm and shook it. "Your Highness, please help me."

"Let go of me, don't touch me." Wei Luo reached out and pushed her away.

Shen Yao hugged him tighter and tighter, eventually pulling his arms into her bosom and acting like a rogue, "I won't let go unless you agree."

Shen Yao tried hard to suppress her laughter. She was now as shameless as a street thug. Since she'd already gone this far, she decided to press on and continue her efforts, tugging at him, "Your Highness~"

"We've arrived at Jiangnan Hutong."

As the two hesitated, Zhao Xian's voice came in.

"Aren't you going to let go?" Wei Luo pulled his arm away.

"Oh." Shen Yao obediently let go and got up to get out of the car with Wei Luo.

The moment Wei Luo lifted the car curtain, he whirled around like a startled rabbit, nearly knocking Shen Yao over. "What are you doing?"

"The area outside is teeming with Imperial Guards!"

Shen Yao followed his gaze and saw several Imperial Guards guarding the entrance, seemingly questioning passersby.

What are they doing here?

Shen Yao was still pondering when someone tugged at her clothes. Turning around, she saw Wei Luo looking anxious and said, "Go to He's Clothing Store and find Liu Heng. I'll wait for you here. Bring him over as soon as you find him."

"Okay." Shen Yao nodded without thinking. Just as she was about to get out of the carriage, she suddenly realized that this was a good opportunity. She smiled slyly and turned back to ask, "Your Highness, will you agree to my divorce?"

Shen Yao crossed her arms and waited for Wei Luo at a leisurely pace.

"You... at this time, you still want to threaten me? Shen Yao, are you even human?"

Wei Luo lowered his voice, gritting his teeth in anger.

Ignoring his unpleasant expression, Shen Yao smiled and smiled, continuing to do as she pleased, "If you don't agree, I won't go. Think it over before you answer."

Wei Luo sighed deeply, his teeth chattering. "Alright, I'll help you with the divorce. You can go now."

"Okay!"

Shen Yao smiled and jumped off the carriage like a monkey, asking Zhao Xian, the driver, to wait a moment. Then she took a handkerchief from her pocket, tied it to her face, and walked into the alley.

The Imperial Guards were indeed questioning people, but they were only questioning adult men. When she, a woman, entered, the guards only glanced at her and ignored her.

Following the same route as before, she easily found He's Clothing Store, only to find that the store entrance was now filled with Imperial Guards. Shen Yao sensed something was wrong and quickly found an obstacle to hide behind, only peeking out with her eyes to observe secretly.

A man was kneeling on the ground with a sword at his neck, talking to someone hidden behind a door, and then kowtowing several times.

Just as they were wondering, they suddenly saw a person walk out from inside the door. That person was none other than Xu Xuan, dressed in official robes!

Shen Yao shuddered and quickly shrank back, too scared to look or look for anyone. Xu Xuan's investigation was faster than she had imagined; in just a few days, he had already found her here.

In the afternoon, following the lead of the beggar, Xu Xuan found He's Clothing Store and personally interrogated the store's old manager, only to discover that the store owner was actually the steward of Guo Zheng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Guo Zheng was the Crown Prince's teacher, and Xu Xuan dared not continue the interrogation, nor did he dare to think about the connection. He was afraid that the demonic book was related to the Eastern Palace, so he had no choice but to interrogate the person who took the clothes. In the end, the shopkeeper revealed the truth—Han Yu.

Xu Xuan learned from the shopkeeper that Han Yu was a rogue who had no connection with any faction of the imperial court. Xu Xuan was very satisfied with this person. Having obtained the clue, he immediately led his men to Han Yu's house.

A dozen or so Imperial Guards quickly left, and at the same time, Shen Yao also ran out of the alley.

Inside the carriage, Wei Luo noticed that only Shen Yao had come out, with no one else by her side, which puzzled him. After she boarded the train, he couldn't wait to ask, "Where's Liu Heng?"

Once on the carriage, they were safe. Shen Yao ripped off her face mask and said breathlessly, "When I went there, the shop was full of Imperial Guards. I didn't dare go in at all. As for Liu Heng, he should have run away long ago."

“…What?” Wei Luo’s brows furrowed so deeply they could have trapped a mosquito.

Having endured many hardships during his few days away from the palace, Wei Luo's desire to return had reached its peak. Now, being told that he couldn't go back, he felt like dying in an instant.

Shen Yao wasn't much better off. Han Yu was about to be discovered, and Wei Luo, that big shot, was still impossible to get rid of. She wanted to bang her head against a wall.

These two brothers, bound by hardship, gaze at each other, their hearts filled with nothing but sorrow.

As darkness was approaching, Zhao Xian, who was also getting anxious, got out of the carriage when there was no further movement inside. He asked loudly, "Miss, have you not found anyone?"

"It wasn't found."

"I work right here. Who are you looking for? Let me see if I know them."

Inside the carriage, the two exchanged glances. Wei Luo shook his head warily, and Shen Yao said, "Let's stop looking for now. Brother Zhao, are you busy?"

Zhao Xian understood and smiled, "Where are you going? I'll take you there."

Where else can we go? The Shen family, of course.

Shen Yao told her the location.

Zhao Xian smiled outside the carriage, feigning surprise, "So you're actually a member of the royal family, my apologies, I've really broadened my horizons, I never expected to meet such a distinguished person in my life."

His tone became increasingly polite, as if he had met some extraordinary person.

Shen Yao immediately felt embarrassed, so she started chatting with him about everyday things. She then learned that after he was murdered, he worked in Jiangnan Hutong, doing all sorts of jobs, such as bodyguard, deliveryman, and shopkeeper. He knew the area like the back of his hand and was a real know-it-all.

Shen Yao couldn't help but think of the kidnapping she had experienced a few days ago. She wanted to ask Zhao Xian to investigate, but since Wei Luo was there, she didn't say anything and decided to go to Jiangnan Hutong to find him in a few days.

Having ascertained Zhao Xian's workplace, and with the Shen family's gate already in sight, the two got out of the car one after the other.

Shen Yao said, "I feel really bad for troubling you for the past few days. How about I come to Jiangnan Alley to find you in a few days?"

Zhao Xian's goal was to befriend Shen Yao, so he was naturally delighted and said with a smile, "Of course, Miss Shen can come anytime."

After he finished speaking, he didn't linger. He bid farewell to the two men, flicked his whip, and drove away.

"Pretending to be something you actually believe?" Wei Luo's eyes flashed with sarcasm.

"They're doing just fine, why are you still having doubts?"

Shen Yao was greatly puzzled. From beginning to end, the Zhao family had not harmed the two of them, so Shen Yao really had no reason to suspect them.

"intuition."

Wei Luo tossed the bundle in his hand to Shen Yao, tied a handkerchief to his face, and walked toward the back door. Shen Yao entered through the front door and then went to the back door to meet him.

The news of Shen Yao's return home spread throughout the Shen family in no time. After getting married, the eldest daughter returned to her parents' home alone once again.

While Mr. Shen was eating, he smashed his bowl upon hearing the news. He angrily stopped Shen Yao and roared, "Why are you back? Did you and Xu Xuan have another fight?"

"No." Shen Yao's mind went blank.

Madam Shen winked at her, "Our daughter's back, and she hasn't eaten yet. Why are you being so fierce?"

"She's a married daughter, but she goes back to her parents' home every day. Who knows what people say about her behind her back?"

"It's your own daughter, why are you interfering?"

Madam Shen felt sorry for her daughter and asked her to sit down and eat. Shen Yao was worried about Wei Luo and didn't dare to waste any time, so she quickly said, "I've already eaten, don't worry about me."

He took off running towards the back door.

Old Master Shen cursed angrily, "This is getting more and more outrageous! Do you even know that your daughter and Xu Xuan haven't consummated their marriage yet?"