Chapter 4 Want to Divorce
Xia Xing'er shook her head: "Your Majesty, I just want a decree of divorce."
The Queen Mother was startled. "You want to divorce Helian Zhi?"
I originally thought she came to stop the emperor from granting the marriage, but I didn't expect she came to ask for a divorce.
Xia Xing'er said, "Empress Dowager, Helian Zhi and General Ye Qingyu have requested the Emperor to grant them a marriage based on their military achievements. I know the Emperor cannot refuse, as this would chill the hearts of the countless soldiers. Today, Xing'er only asks for a decree of amicable divorce, to fulfill this pair of lovers' wishes."
"No matter how nicely a wife is called, she is still a concubine. I do not want to wrong Ye Qingyu, the only female general of the Xuanyuan Dynasty."
The Queen Mother's eyes were complicated. "Xing'er, do you know what you will face after the divorce?"
"Know."
"Your father and mother agree to your divorce."
Xia Xing'er said, "I haven't told my parents yet, but I think they agree."
"You know best, Empress Dowager. It was Helian Zhi who promised Mother that he would only have Xing'er for his whole life and would never take a concubine, and that's why he asked you to grant him the marriage."
Xia Xing'er's eyes filled with tears as she continued, "Today, he told me personally that he married me because you granted him the marriage, and that he and General Ye Qingyu were his true love. Although Xing'er is not a gentleman, she also has the intention to help others achieve their goals. I don't want to become a thorn between him and General Ye Qingyu."
The Queen Mother pondered for a moment and said, "You have made up your mind. Once the divorce is decreed, there is no room for regret."
Xia Xing'er knocked her head heavily on the ground: "Xing'er begs the Queen Mother to grant me this favor."
The Queen Mother thought she was acting on impulse and tried to persuade her again: "You are the legal wife. Ye Qingyu is a concubine no matter what. As long as I am alive, she will never surpass you. There is really no need for you to divorce."
In her previous life, she did not get a divorce, and when Helian Zhi demoted his wife to a concubine, no one said a word for her, so she just had to listen to the Empress Dowager's words.
Xia Xing'er kowtowed again and said, "Xing'er doesn't want to waste her life, I beg the Queen Mother to grant my wish." It sounded nice to say that it was a divorce, but in the eyes of the world, she was still an abandoned woman.
Never mind, just protect her more in the future.
The Queen Mother waved her hand and said, "Get up. I have approved it. You can go back first. I will have the imperial decree of divorce delivered to the General's Mansion later."
Xia Xing'er breathed a sigh of relief. "Your humble servant thanks the Queen Mother for her favor."
Looking at her departing back, the Queen Mother seemed to be talking to herself, or to Aunt Hua beside her.
"She is his daughter after all!"
Only after Xia Xing'er disappeared did the Queen Mother say to Nanny Hua beside her, "Go tell the Emperor to come to me when he's free. I have something to tell him."
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Shunkang was reviewing memorials when his attendant, Eunuch Wu, came in with an announcement: "Your Majesty, Madam Hua, who is with the Empress Dowager, just sent a message asking you to visit her when you have time. She has something to discuss."
Emperor Shunkang put down the memorial in his hand and asked, "Did you say what it was about?"
Eunuch Wu asked, "Has Xia Xing'er, the daughter of the Marquis of Changxin, entered the palace today?"
Emperor Shunkang frowned unhappily. "It seems that this is because of Helian Zhi's plan to marry Ye Qingyu as his concubine. How ignorant! He even bothered my mother in the palace for such a small matter. Let's go to Shoukang Palace."
Inside Shoukang Palace, the Queen Mother sat back in a pearwood chair with a haggard look on her face, as if she was waiting for him.
"Your son pays his respects to the Queen Mother!" Emperor Shunkang stepped forward and saluted.
The Queen Mother looked at her son and dismissed everyone. "Xing'er just came here, asking for a divorce decree. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Shunkang was a little surprised. He thought Xia Xing'er came to the palace to ask the empress dowager to make a decision for her, and like other noble ladies, she would cry, make a fuss, and even threaten to hang herself.
But I still disagree with her approach.
"It's common for men in this world to have three wives and four concubines. Divorcing her because of this is a bad example for all women in the world. If everyone is like her, won't they all have to divorce?"
The Queen Mother's tone was somewhat cold. "That's what the Emperor thought. Our Xuanyuan Dynasty has a law that states a man cannot take a concubine within five years of marrying. On their wedding day, Helian Zhi went to the battlefield before they even consummated their marriage. Xing'er has been guarding this home for him for the past three years, being filial to her mother-in-law and loving to her brothers and sisters. Now, when he returns from his meritorious service, instead of asking for an imperial decree for Xing'er, he wants to take her as a concubine. How can this be so disrespectful to Xing'er?"
"Emperor, are you trying to force this child to death?"
As the Queen Mother spoke, tears streamed down her face.
Emperor Shunkang saw his mother crying and immediately knelt before her. "Mother, I was mistaken, but Helian Zhi and Ye Qingyu both requested marriage based on their military merits, and I have no choice."
"Mother, Helian Zhi has changed his mind. Now that Xia Xing'er wants to divorce, she must have thought it through."
The Queen Mother also knew that she could not change anything. "Then please send the divorce decree and the marriage decree to the General's Mansion. You can go back now. I am tired."
When Emperor Shunkang heard the empress dowager's words, he felt relieved, but then he saw the empress dowager's expression and felt distressed again.
"Mother, I see you look well. Do you want to call the imperial physician?"
The Empress Dowager waved her hand at him and said, "It's alright, Your Majesty, please go and do your work. I'll have Eunuch Wu beside you announce the decree later."
When Helian Zhi returned to the general's mansion, he heard the doorman report that Xia Xing'er had entered the palace at noon.
He subconsciously thought that she came to the palace to file a complaint and prevent the emperor from granting the marriage, and he immediately became angry.
Then go directly to Zhaixing Garden.
"Xia Xing'er"
The roar came before the person arrived, and Chunliu shivered in fear from the roar.
He immediately put down the work in his hands and stood in front of Xia Xing'er.
"What are you going to do, General?"
Helian Zhi didn't even glance at her, and was even more dismissive of her questions.
Xia Xing'er said slowly: "Chunliu, please leave."
After hearing what the young lady said, Chun Liu stepped aside, but her eyes were still staring at Helian Zhi sharply. She felt that if Helian Zhi dared to make a move, she would immediately pounce on him to protect her young lady.
Helian Zhi looked at Xia Xing'er sitting quietly on the stool. Whenever he thought of her going to the palace to ask His Majesty not to grant the marriage, his cold eyes met Xia Xing'er's calm and unwavering eyes. "Did you go to the palace today to ask His Majesty not to grant the marriage?"
Xia Xing'er nodded and shook her head. "I did go to the palace today, but I didn't ask His Majesty not to grant the marriage. Don't worry, your wedding with her will go on as scheduled."
Helian Zhi's eyes were filled with sarcasm and disbelief. "No? Xia Xing'er, I never thought you were so hypocritical. This is the upbringing of the Marquis of Changxin Mansion. You dare to do things but not to take responsibility."
Xia Xing'er looked at this man with a ferocious face and bad words and felt that he was really strange, as if she had never known him before.
She even felt that this was not the Helian Zhi she knew, and suspected that he had been replaced by someone else. Perhaps she had never truly understood him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
