Chapter 12 proposes divorce.
Seeing Yunzhou's troubled expression, Tianyao turned around, snuggled into Yunzhou's arms, pressed her forehead against Yunzhou's chest, and whispered a question.
"Is it hard to listen to?"
Yunzhou's heart tightened, and his throat felt as if it had been poisoned, rendering him unable to speak.
It seems that what they said was quite harsh.
Tianyao lowered her eyes and gave a bitter smile.
"...And then, your mother was sentenced to death by the Minister of Justice?"
After a moment of silence, Tianyao spoke first, her voice sounding exceptionally soft and pleasant in the quiet room.
"Um."
Yunzhou returned, his voice muffled.
Tianyao's lips curled up, and she almost couldn't help but laugh.
But after all, Madam Cui was Yunzhou's mother, and it would be too unethical for her to laugh at this moment, so she desperately held back.
Haha, it's actually the death penalty!
Tianyao couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
Does the Minister of Justice have a grudge against Yunzhou?
Otherwise, why would the sentence be so severe?
Tianyao suddenly became very curious: when Madam Cui learned that she had been sentenced to death, did she feel extremely regretful for not keeping her mouth shut and saying something reckless?
"Yao'er, could you please draft a letter of reconciliation, in which my mother forgives you? That way, my mother won't be sentenced to death."
"No matter what, she is still my own mother. I can't just watch her... die."
Yunzhou's gaze fell on Tianyao, his expression focused, his eyes full of pleading, and he asked.
Tianyao pursed her lips, her eyes darting around as she pondered.
First of all, Madam Cui certainly cannot die like this.
Yunzhou is right. No matter how hateful Madam Cui is, she is still Yunzhou's birth mother.
If she, as Yunzhou's wife, turns a blind eye to the execution of Yunzhou's birth mother, then Yunzhou will surely harbor resentment.
This thorn will prevent her and Yunzhou from continuing their relationship, and in the end, they will inevitably divorce.
But she was a little unwilling that a settlement agreement was issued to Madam Cui so easily.
She was a princess, yet she didn't care at all when people slandered her. After that, everyone dared to piss and defecate on her head.
"I can issue a settlement agreement, but I have conditions."
Tianyao tilted her head up in Yunzhou's arms, met his gentle gaze, and said.
"Just name your conditions, and I'll agree to anything I can do."
Yunzhou answered without hesitation.
Tianyao pursed her lips, frowned, and thought, "Here we go again."
She already said it was his mother's fault, not his. How come he can't realize that?
Alas, the gap between ancient and modern culture is too great. Ancient culture was family-based, while modern culture is based on individual responsibility.
For example, in modern times, if you break the law, you are punished, and it is absolutely impossible for your family to be implicated.
In ancient times, if one person committed a crime, the entire family or even the entire clan would be executed along with them.
Therefore, Yunzhou's idea of taking the blame for his mother's mistakes is deeply ingrained and difficult to change.
Just like Yunzhou's mother, who felt that her inability to give birth to an heir for the Cui family was a heinous crime, this idea was so deeply ingrained that it was impossible to change.
Thinking of this, Tianyao suddenly realized that she and Yunzhou's mother could not coexist at all.
Her inability to have children is a fact that cannot be changed.
Yunzhou's mother insisted that the Cui family must have an heir.
Their conflict is irreconcilable.
Therefore, she and Yunzhou will most likely still get a divorce, no matter how unwilling Yunzhou may be.
Yunzhou probably hasn't realized this yet.
Tianyao raised her hand and gently stroked Yunzhou's beautiful face, speaking softly.
"My condition is that your mother swears that she will never mention the matter of you taking a concubine or divorcing me in front of you or me again."
“If she agrees, I will immediately write a letter of reconciliation. I can even go to His Majesty in person and ask him to pardon her.”
After Tianyao finished speaking, she quietly stared at Yunzhou, observing his reaction.
This was her last effort and struggle for their marriage.
If Yunzhou's mother would rather die than let Yunzhou take a concubine or divorce her, then her marriage with Yunzhou is destined to break down.
Because Yunzhou is a filial son, he would never stand by and watch his mother die.
In the face of his own mother's life or death, what do marriage, wife, and love matter?
Yunzhou fell silent. He never expected that Tianyao's condition was about his mother.
If Tianyao asked him to do something, he would agree to anything, even if she asked him to kneel in front of her for three days and three nights.
A true man can bend and stretch; kneeling for three days and three nights is nothing.
But his mother doesn't understand the concept of being flexible and adaptable. She's very stubborn and you can't reason with her at all.
He was in a dilemma.
Tianyao could tell from Yunzhou's expression, but her conditions would not change.
"Does it really have to be this way?"
Yunzhou looked at Tianyao and asked, his face looking worse than if he were crying.
Tianyao: "..."
She took a deep breath, stepped out of Yunzhou's embrace, and distanced herself from him. The tenderness and affection in her dark eyes turned into coldness and aloofness. After a moment of hesitation, she turned away.
“Yunzhou, it’s not that I insist on doing this… it’s your mother who insists that you take a concubine or divorce me.”
“Yunzhou, I want to continue living with you, but with your mother around, as long as you don’t take a concubine or divorce me, your mother will make a scene, and our lives will never be peaceful.”
"From the moment I learned this morning that I was infertile until now, even though only one day has passed, it feels like an eternity, and I am utterly exhausted."
“If I don’t do this, then days like today, which leave me mentally and physically exhausted, will continue to repeat themselves.”
"I really couldn't live like that."
"I love you, but I love myself more."
"If loving you means having to endure your mother's slander and accusations, then... I choose... to stop loving you."
Looking at Tianyao's calm yet broken appearance, Yunzhou felt a piercing pain in his heart, making it hard to breathe. He couldn't help but call out softly.
"Yao'er..."
"Shh, don't call me, don't apologize to me. You know, apologies don't solve anything."
"I know you're in a difficult position, so I'll give you another option..."
Tianyao lowered her eyes, concealing her expression, and continued speaking.
"Another option is: to divorce me, in accordance with your mother's wishes."
“Therefore, your mother and I will have no further relationship. If your mother slanders me again, she can be dealt with according to the law.”
"This time, for the sake of our three-year relationship, I will plead with His Majesty to treat your mother leniently. There's no need for a letter of reconciliation. She slandered and insulted me; I'm not made of clay, how could I not be angry and furious?"
“I understand her resentment towards me, but I'll say it again: I am a princess of a nation. Not to mention your mother, even you—my husband Cui Yunzhou—cannot, cannot, arbitrarily slander me with a single word, understand?”
"I understand, Yao'er. I'm sorry, I made you suffer today. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do but apologize."
"I...I'll go to the Ministry of Justice prison right now and talk to my mother."
"Yao'er, no matter what, thank you for giving me two choices, both of which gave my mother a way to live."
Yunzhou raised his hand and wiped away the tears that were streaming down Tianyao's face. He leaned down and gently kissed Tianyao's forehead. Then, he got up, put on his shoes, and left the room.
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