Chapter 37 (Leaving on one's own)
"I won't accept it." Liu Jiao stared at the wooden board being shoved into her hand, her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately felt that the paper on it was extremely hot to the touch.
She pushed the wooden board she had just grasped forward, trying to shove it back to Chunliu.
But Chunliu only took two steps back, put her hands behind her back, and ran to Song's side to return to her place.
Liu Jiao pursed her lips.
She immediately looked around the main room where the golden ice basin was placed, and saw a low tea table in the center with teacups that were not yet full. She immediately stepped forward, picked up the board, and was about to put down the hot board and return it to Madam Song.
At the very least, she would have to wait for Sang Ji to take the initiative to tell her that he wanted a divorce before she would consider giving up.
No one can sway her thoughts.
His right hand was suddenly intercepted by a twisting force.
She glanced down and saw a slender, fair hand with long nails adorned with peony patterns grasp her right wrist, and a gold armlet adorning the arm.
"Don't rush to refuse." Song's strong, slightly hoarse voice, brooking no refusal, came softly from beside Liu Jiao's ear.
Liu Jiao turned her head, and she and Liu Jiao looked at each other.
Song's eyes held a hint of contempt. Although the two were looking at each other at eye level, Liu Jiao inexplicably felt as if a piece of flesh was lying on her head, being stared at by a tiger.
She said, "Do you know how much I loathe the very essence of this marriage?"
Liu Jiao: "My wife doesn't want to know."
Anyway, it wasn't anything good about her, and she didn't like hearing it.
"Listen up!"
"Yes, mother-in-law."
The disdainful look in her eyes froze for a moment. Madam Song snapped at Liu Jiao, then turned away from her dazed expression, looking up at the sky before continuing her own thoughts. She said slowly, "A lady from a prominent family managing the expenses of hundreds of people—just consider these indispensable accounts—"
"As far as I know, you're illiterate, aren't you?" Madam Song glanced at Liu Jiao again, her voice hesitant, her tone piercing. "You certainly can't manage accounts either?"
Liu Jiao had no sense of shame and spoke the truth, nodding and humming in agreement.
Madam Song: "But you don't know how to do these things, even the servants and maids in my room do."
Song's eyes remained fixed on Liu Jiao.
Liu Jiao felt uneasy under Song's gaze and finally realized that Song was probably trying to get a response from her.
Under her gaze, Liu Jiao waved the handkerchief she had just embroidered and applauded Song Shi, just like the applause given to a storyteller in a teahouse. "Even servants can learn to manage accounts? You are truly kind-hearted, Mother-in-law. The Sang family is truly a great family! Amazing, amazing."
Song rolled her eyes at her, snatched the handkerchief Liu Jiao was waving, and glared at Liu Jiao angrily, unable to bear it any longer.
She had no choice but to be blunt: "You can't manage the accounts and you don't have the ability to be the mistress of a noble family, which is why I don't like you and reject this marriage!"
After being yelled at, Liu Jiao shrugged.
She should have spoken so frankly a long time ago. She hates it when some important people don't speak directly and insist on using veiled language.
A group of elderly officials, acting arrogantly, insisted on using cryptic language to make the younger generation guess.
Now she understands, doesn't she? Stop with the complicated stuff.
Liu Jiao also understood what Song meant.
She wasn't annoyed when her handkerchief was taken away; she just appreciated her embroidery.
She tried to be polite first, then resorted to force, flashing a big, sweet smile. With one hand still holding the wooden board with the divorce papers, she used her other hand to gently pull Song's hand, which was still gripping her arm, away.
Liu Jiao shook her head, "I don't think I can't now, and I've never been able to."
“Noble ladies with dreams generally begin learning the art of housekeeping at the age of five, and by the time they reach the age of fifteen and are married, they begin managing the household. At most, they have only been learning for ten years.”
“I’m not dead, so I’ll naturally have these ten years.”
"If a noble lady can learn the art of housekeeping at fifteen, I can learn it at twenty-five. I can learn the art of housekeeping no matter what."
"Mother-in-law, do you mean you think your daughter-in-law will always be dull-witted?"
Liu Jiao's grape-like eyes were clear and earnest: "I believe that anything I want to achieve is possible."
Song opened her mouth.
But they didn't know how to refute it.
Could it be that we're just short of ten years?
Is there no one left in this century-old family? They're missing a young girl for ten years.
After a long time, Song's voice went hoarse.
She still handed the divorce papers to Liu Jiao.
She did not answer Liu Jiao's question.
Before Liu Jiao could refuse to accept the divorce papers, she said, "Keep them. Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he won't worry about my son and the princess having an affair. After all, the princess is useless now, and there's no need for a marriage alliance."
"At that time, you can get a divorce without worrying about an imperial decree falling on your head."
"I'm giving you a chance to see yourself clearly." Madam Song suddenly turned around and whispered something to Chunliu.
Chunliu ran out of the main house.
When they met again, Chunliu was carrying a thick stack of account books and stumbled into the house.
"If you can settle these accounts within ten days without the help of anyone in the manor, I will accept your absurd explanation."
Liu Jiao has no one to rely on in Tokyo; who can help her with the accounts?
“But if not—” Madam Song had Chunliu move all the account books to Liu Jiao’s courtyard, then she turned around, her back to Liu Jiao, and waved her hand, “Different people have different opinions. You may leave with the divorce papers after the Crown Prince ascends the throne and my son is no longer bound.”
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