“I am the only legitimate eldest son of the General’s Mansion. Only my adopted mother is worthy to be the mistress of the General’s Mansion. How could she, a mere merchant, be worthy of it?”
The nine-year-old boy already showed signs of growing tall and upright. His moon-white robe embroidered with green bamboo patterns exuded politeness and elegance, but the words he spoke were cold and heartless.
Jiang Qingwan was incredulous and only managed to steady herself by gripping her maid Lian'er tightly.
Her face, dressed as a dignified lady, was completely devoid of color.
Her husband returned from a five-year campaign, only to bring a new bride into the house and force her to relinquish her position as a concubine.
Her mother-in-law and father-in-law all turned against her. She thought that her son, whom she had raised with all her heart for five years, would stand by her side, but unexpectedly, he turned around and stabbed her in the back, disowning her as his adoptive mother!
Madam Zhang, the matriarch of the Qin family, scoffed lightly, quite pleased with the outcome.
"You've already asked my grandson about his attitude. If he doesn't want to be kicked out, he should kowtow and offer tea immediately."
The bride, who had been invited to take the seat of honor, was dressed in luxurious attire. Her fingers, adorned with exquisite nail polish, tapped lightly on the table, her expression one of disdain.
"The imperial edict has been issued. After tomorrow's audience with the Emperor, Minglang will be a proper second-rank military officer of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although you are of lowly status, Minglang is kind-hearted and, out of pity for your years of service in the household, grants you the title of concubine. However, you are not allowed to share a room with Minglang, as this county princess finds it unclean!"
"My son is a second-rank official, how dare she bear a child of the Qin family?" The dignified Qin family patriarch sneered disdainfully.
Jiang Qingwan felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and her beautiful eyes were forced to turn red.
These are her in-laws whom she has served as her own parents for five years.
Before this, she was the daughter-in-law they all praised, and a loving and respectful mother to Qin Run.
Just because she is a merchant, and the bride is the Princess of Yulan County of the Great Zhou Dynasty, does that mean they will all change their attitudes?
So what does this five-year relationship really mean?
She slowly turned to look at the man beside her.
The hardships of the borderlands have sculpted the once young man into an even more upright and towering figure.
The eyes that had once looked at her so tenderly now looked away uncomfortably when they met her gaze, and her voice was urgent and agitated.
"Qingwan, I have said everything I needed to say. Why do you still insist on fighting for this title?"
Is it really her who wants to fight for it?
The last glimmer of hope was completely extinguished.
Jiang Qingwan forced a bitter smile, her voice trembling with the pain in her heart.
"Qin Minglang, five years ago you promised me that we would be together for life and grow old together. On our wedding day, you went to war with the army, leaving me to take care of my parents-in-law and love our young child. I did it, but what about you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Yulan answered in a sweet voice.
"The general's mansion has only a few servants, and you claim it's all your doing? Even so, Minglang has already given you the status of a concubine. What more could you possibly want? Do you want to use this small favor to bind Minglang for life?"
"Qin Run is already nine years old. If he can enter the Imperial Academy, his future will be bright. Is this something a mere servant woman like you can do to help?"
"Since you were born lowly, accept your fate! Don't be so ungrateful!"
The humiliation was blatant and cruel, attempting to tear apart all of Jiang Qingwan's struggles.
She ignored him, her clear eyes filled with sorrow as she stared at Qin Minglang with a stubborn yet calm gaze, demanding an answer.
"Is that what you think too?"
The man felt a tightness in his chest when she looked at him.
He did indeed have feelings for Jiang Qingwan back then, but now...
It was Su Yulan's status as a county princess that gave him his current position. With her help, the Qin family's future will surely be even brighter.
Perhaps, the title of First-Rank Military Marquis that the great-grandfather was granted back to the Qin family through his hands.
What glory that was!
He absolutely cannot let an orphan girl ruin all of this.
Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated, pulled out the divorce papers he had already written from his pocket, threw them out, and coldly shouted,
"Jiang Qingwan, you choose: either you ask to be my concubine, or I'll divorce you!"
Years of affection, like a taut musical string, snapped abruptly.
Jiang Qingwan stood there, as if struck by lightning, frozen in shock.
With tears in her eyes, Lian'er, who was being supported by her, picked up the letter of divorce and angrily argued her case.
"Only those who commit one of the seven grounds for divorce may divorce their wives. My wife is diligent, gentle, filial, and virtuous. You...you cannot divorce her!"
Yes, why should I divorce her?
Jiang Qingwan accepted the letter of divorce.
The ink and paper traces had already seeped in and permeated the paper, indicating that it was not written on the return journey.
She slowly opened her eyes and read with great care.
"...those who commit one of the seven offenses will be expelled, and those who have no children..."
Qin Minglang never touched her, so how could she be pregnant?
She had endured years of unwavering devotion for love, but now it had become a pretext for her to be forced to divorce him.
It's truly ironic.
Master is right.
She was exceptionally gifted and called herself a diviner.
Even if one can calculate everything under heaven, one cannot calculate the human heart.
She didn't believe it at first.
Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I realize how fickle and filthy people's hearts are.
She tore the yellowed paper into pieces, which fell from her fingertips.
Su Yulan thought she wouldn't accept it, so she ran out of patience, slammed her hand on the table, and shouted angrily.
"Qin Minglang, the letter of divorce has been issued. She is no longer your wife. Why don't you throw her out now!"
After all, she was someone he had once liked. Qin Minglang hesitated and didn't move. Qin Run, who was standing next to Old Madam Qin, suddenly rushed to Jiang Qingwan's side and slapped her across the face.
After finishing the beating, he turned around and knelt down in front of Su Yulan.
“Aunt Lan, no, Mother, you don’t need to be angry. Since she doesn’t want to be a concubine, why not let her be a servant? She’s a good cook and knows massage, so she’ll definitely be able to serve you well in the future.”
The boy, though not quite grown up, is surprisingly strong.
Jiang Qingwan was caught off guard and couldn't dodge in time, taking a solid hit.
It's both numb and painful.
But what hurt her even more was that "Aunt Lan" she heard.
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