Chapter 459 Liu Qianrou Divorces Her Husband

Daiyu stood in front of the Zhang residence and said loudly, "Since Young Master Zhang does not cherish his wife, our academy is willing to take back our students. However, one thing must be made clear: it's not that our students are bad, it's that your Zhang family is unworthy!"

Zhang Mingyuan turned pale with anger: "Is the princess interfering in other people's family affairs?"

"Family matters?" Daiyu sneered. "If it were just a quarrel between ordinary couples, we naturally wouldn't interfere. But your Zhang family mistreated a pregnant woman, causing her to miscarry, which has already violated the law! Should we ask someone from the Ministry of Justice to judge this?"

Upon hearing this, the Zhang family was immediately speechless.

What frightened the Zhang family the most was that the Tenth Prince had also arrived.

He went directly to Zhang Mingyuan: "Scholar Zhang, you're quite arrogant! I heard you want to divorce your wife? Fine, I'll petition the Emperor to strip you of your academic title! A student from the Women's Academy isn't someone you can just divorce as you please!"

Under immense pressure, the Zhang family finally yielded.

Madam Zhang personally came to fetch Liu Qianrou back to the mansion and promised to treat her well.

But Liu Qianrou was unwilling to go back.

She packed her luggage and said to Daiyu, "Yu'er, I've thought it through. Going back to that kind of place will only bring suffering. Can I return to the academy for now?"

Yuan Hongqu immediately agreed: "Okay! The academy will always be your home."

What moved Liu Qianrou even more was that the students of the Women's Academy spontaneously organized themselves to take turns caring for her after her miscarriage.

Some people with medical knowledge treated her, some with culinary skills made soup for her, and even her youngest students came to visit her and brought her homemade sachets.

"Sister Liu," a little girl said earnestly, "the teacher said that women should support each other. Take good care of yourself and teach us horseback riding and archery in the future!"

Liu Qianrou held the little girl, tears streaming down her face.

In the Zhang family, she was like an outsider; but at the academy, she had so many sisters.

Meanwhile, good news came from the border: Liu's army had won a great victory, and the treacherous minister's false accusations were proven false.

The Emperor personally exonerated the Liu family and bestowed generous rewards upon them.

Upon learning this, the Zhang family was filled with remorse and came to the academy again to beg Liu Qianrou to return.

Even Zhang Mingyuan came in person this time, bringing an apology letter and gifts.

Looking at her husband whom she once adored, Liu Qianrou now felt only a stranger.

She said calmly, "Young Master Zhang, please go back. Although I, Liu Qianrou, am the daughter of a military general, I also know the principle of 'remaining faithful to one's husband until the end.' However, this 'one' does not refer to any particular person, but to one's own heart."

She turned to Daiyu and smiled, "Sister, I've made up my mind. I want to stay at the academy and become a teacher in the future. I want to help more women understand that marriage is not the only way out."

As the sun set, Liu Qianrou stood on the academy's playground, watching the students play happily. Having gone through this ordeal, she had shed her former naivety and gained a newfound resolve.

Yuan Hongqu said to Daiyu, "It seems that our academy will have another good teacher."

Daiyu smiled: "Yes. Perhaps this is the significance of the girls' academy: not only to teach people knowledge, but also to give them the courage to start anew."

In the distance, Liu Qianrou was teaching several students how to practice swordsmanship.

The sunlight shone on her, as if gilding her with a layer of gold.

From a daughter of a military family to a mistress, and then to a teacher at an academy, her life took a long and winding path before she finally found her true home.

The girls' academy is precisely the place where countless women like her can be reborn.

Liu Qianrou recuperated at the girls' academy for over a month, and her health gradually improved.

That day, she carefully combed her hair in front of the bronze mirror. The person in the mirror had lost her former innocence and naivety, and gained a more resolute and calm look.

"Are you really going?" Daiyu asked softly, standing behind her.

Liu Qianrou inserted the last gold hairpin into her hair, a cold smile playing on her lips: "It's time to settle things. Daughters of the Liu family are never pushovers."

Yuan Hongqu handed over a riding whip: "This is what you left at the academy. It's returned to its rightful owner."

Liu Qianrou took the whip and gently stroked its shaft with her fingers.

This jewel-encrusted riding whip was a gift from her father when she was a child. It accompanied her as she rode through the capital, earning her the title of "Queen of the Capital".

"Thank you, sir." She took a deep breath. "Today, I will show the Zhang family what kind of woman I, Liu Qianrou, truly am!"

When the gatekeeper saw Liu Qianrou approaching with a whip, he was so frightened that he scrambled inside to report.

A short while later, Madam Zhang came out with a group of servants, looking very aggressive.

"You little brat, Liu Qianrou! You dare to come back and cause trouble?" Madam Zhang shrieked.

Liu Qianrou didn't dismount, looking down at her: "Mother-in-law, you've misunderstood. I've come today for two reasons: first, to retrieve my dowry, and second, to divorce Zhang Mingyuan."

Madam Zhang was furious: "Divorce? You wish! In the Zhang family, there is only divorce, not separation!"

Liu Qianrou chuckled lightly, flicked her riding whip in the air, making a crisp sound: "Since that's the case, then please have Zhang Mingyuan come out, and we'll clear things up in front of the neighbors."

By this time, a large crowd of onlookers had gathered around. Under pressure, Zhang Mingyuan had no choice but to bite the bullet and come out.

"Qianrou, what... what are you doing?" He was pale and dared not look Liu Qianrou in the eye.

Liu Qianrou said coldly, "Young Master Zhang, I have only come here today to ask three questions: First, why did you avoid seeing me on the day I miscarried? Second, were you aware of the abortion medicine that Su Wanrou was given? Third, when my Liu family suffered misfortune, did you say a word for me?"

Zhang Mingyuan stammered and couldn't answer. The onlookers immediately began to whisper among themselves:

"So this is the heartless Scholar Zhang!"

"I heard that Miss Liu's miscarriage was caused by someone!"

"Scholars would actually do such a thing!"

Seeing this, Liu Qianrou raised her voice and said, "Fellow villagers, be my witnesses! Since I, Liu Qianrou, married into the Zhang family, I have upheld the virtues of a wife and been filial to my parents-in-law. However, the Zhang family is heartless, condoning their relatives to harm my offspring and kicking my family when they were down. Today, I, Liu Qianrou, swear here and now: I sever all ties with Zhang Mingyuan!"

With that, she took out the divorce papers and tore them to shreds in front of everyone: "Since your family says a divorce is not possible, then today I, Liu Qianrou, will divorce you!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

A woman divorcing her husband? That's unheard of!

Madam Zhang trembled with rage: "Outrageous! Outrageous! You shameless woman, how dare you divorce my son?"

Liu Qianrou pointed her riding crop at him: "Mother-in-law, watch your words! I'm here today to reason with you. If you want to resort to violence..." She sneered, "Would you like to try the Liu family's spear technique?"

Just as the stalemate was at hand, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar.

It turned out to be the Tenth Prince arriving with a group of guards.

"I heard it was lively here, so I came to see for myself," the Tenth Prince said with a smile. "Miss Liu, what's this...?"

Liu Qianrou bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am currently dealing with family matters."

The Tenth Prince glanced at Zhang Mingyuan, whose face was ashen, and said loudly, "Since Miss Liu wants to divorce her husband, I will be her witness. Furthermore..."

He looked at Zhang Mingyuan and said, "You, Scholar Zhang, have neglected your wife because of your favoritism towards her, causing her to miscarry. I will report this to the Emperor and have you stripped of your academic honors!"

The Zhang family members immediately collapsed to the ground.

They never imagined that the seemingly easy-going daughter of a military family would have such abilities.