Chapter 190 I am bound by righteousness, not seeking a divorce!
The entire room fell silent, their faces showing bewilderment.
Lu Zhaoruo calmly picked up her teacup, took a sip, and continued, "Because my husband, Shen Rongzhi, did not die at the hands of the Japanese pirates at all; he is alive and well."
The ladies who had been whispering just moments before now had faces filled with disbelief and horror.
The sorrow and grievance on Geng Qionghua's face froze instantly, all color drained from her face, leaving her as pale as paper.
Lady Qi, who was standing to the side, had a crack in her usually gentle and smiling face for the first time. She looked at Geng Qionghua with scrutiny and suspicion.
The round-faced lady who had just accused Lu Zhaoruo of being "ungrateful" now stared wide-eyed, her gaze shifting bewilderedly between Lu Zhaoruo and Geng Qionghua.
Finally, Geng Qionghua snapped back to reality, her voice hoarse and trembling: "You...you mean...he's alive...alive? How is that possible..."
Lu Zhaoruo calmly met her panicked gaze, a smile playing on her lips: "Yes, I also thought he was dead. But then, he came back alive. So, I do have a question I'd like to ask Madam Meng..."
She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over everyone, before slowly saying, "When you brought the chastity archway, you said with absolute certainty that Lord Meng had a chance encounter with Shen Rongzhi at sea, and that he was on his way home to reunite with me... but unexpectedly, he was suddenly attacked by Japanese pirates and brutally murdered. Lord Meng barely escaped with his life on the line."
She lowered her voice: "Since Lord Meng 'witnessed' Shen Rong's tragic death, why did my husband, who should have died, return unharmed not long after you left Jizhou City?"
She scoffed lightly, her sharp gaze fixed on Geng Qionghua: "This 'witnessing with one's own eyes' is truly... puzzling."
Geng Qionghua's palms were already soaked with cold sweat.
The whispers and probing gazes of the ladies around her felt like needles pricking her.
At this moment, Madam Jiang frowned and spoke: "Madam Lu, could it be that you're lovesick and have uttered some incoherent words?"
Lu Zhaoruo turned to her, her smile deepening: "I think it's Madam Meng's 'deep affection' for me that caused her to say some unclear and 'muddled' things. Because, you see, not only did Shen Rongzhi return unharmed, but he was also..."
She picked up her teacup, took a leisurely sip, and then said firmly, "A petition has been filed with the Jizhou Prefecture government."
Geng Qionghua's hand trembled suddenly, and the teacup she was holding almost fell. She hurriedly grabbed it with both hands and barely managed to hold it steady.
Lu Zhaoruo took in her disheveled state, but calmly continued to sip her tea. She then turned to the ladies and said, "If you ladies do not believe me, you may send someone to Jizhou to inquire. The fact that my Lu family has sued my husband's entire family and taken them to court is known to everyone in Jizhou."
She put down her teacup, her voice clear and crisp: "By the way, Shen Rongzhi is currently in exile. Judging by the days, the officials escorting him might even pass through the capital."
Her eyes were smiling as she looked directly at Madam Jiang: "Madam Qi, tell me, am I talking nonsense, or... is Madam Meng talking nonsense? Or perhaps, is Lord Meng talking nonsense?"
Jiang was instantly speechless.
Lu Zhaoruo chuckled, a hint of mockery in her voice: "My husband, oh, now I should call him 'deceased husband,' he's perfectly fine, how could he be dead?"
These words caused an uproar in the room.
All the questioning and disdainful gazes were now blatantly directed at Geng Qionghua, her scheme to gain a reputation for virtue by using the "chastity arch" was now crystal clear.
Geng Qionghua dug her nails deep into her palms, forcing a smile as she said, "Perhaps... he survived the ordeal and secretly went back..."
Lu Zhaoru interrupted her: "But I asked him in person, and he was neither injured by the Japanese pirates nor did he ever encounter your husband at sea."
Geng Qionghua's face turned deathly pale instantly, her lips trembled, and she could no longer utter a single word.
The round-faced lady immediately exclaimed in a shrill voice, "Oh dear! So, Madam Meng, you've been lying from beginning to end! To gain a reputation for virtue, you've fabricated such a colossal lie! What will happen if the Empress finds out!"
The gaunt woman shook her head repeatedly: "You can know a person's face but not their heart! I used to admire you so much..."
The short woman echoed in a low voice, "It's clear that you have never had even a shred of sincerity towards Madam Lu!"
Geng Qionghua's eyes were red and she bit her lip tightly.
Even though the Meng family had been demoted, and even though he was a second wife, when had he ever been subjected to such contempt?
She looked at Lu Zhaoruo.
I was filled with regret; I should have known better than to invite her to my birthday party.
Jiang composed herself, barely managing to maintain her composure, and said, "That may be true, but the 'chastity arch' was ultimately given to you. I remember Madam Meng mentioning that everyone in the neighborhood praised you at the time. You did receive that reputation, didn't you?"
Lu Zhao looked up at her, a faint yet piercing smile curving his lips: "Oh, that archway..."
Her tone was light, yet her words were clear: "I smashed it."
Jiang gasped, her eyes widening instantly.
Geng Qionghua froze, staring at Lu Zhaoruo in disbelief.
She actually dared... she actually dared to smash the imperial gift?
Lu Zhaoruo seemed oblivious to their shock and continued slowly, “The ‘praise’ that Lady Qi mentioned was indeed true. However, after this memorial arch was erected, my late mother-in-law, Zhang, had an excuse to treat me even more harshly. She felt that with this reputation for ‘chastity,’ I should be even more at her mercy and not be allowed to make a single mistake.”
She paused, then smiled bitterly: "Even the five hundred taels of silver that Madam Meng brought as a reward were all taken away by her, who said she was 'keeping' it for me. Later, when I fell seriously ill and was lying in bed on my deathbed, she didn't even take out a single copper coin to ask for medical treatment."
She looked directly at Madam Jiang and asked, "May I ask, Madam Qi, what exactly has this memorial archway you speak of brought me? Is it a blessing or a curse?"
Jiang was speechless for a moment. She never expected that this woman from the small county of Yong'an would have such backbone and sharpness, and every question she asked was hard for her to answer.
The round-faced lady couldn't help but exclaim softly, "Oh dear! If that's the case, isn't Madam Meng putting Madam Lu in a terrible predicament?"
Upon hearing this, the ladies nodded in agreement, and their gazes toward Geng Qionghua changed.
Geng Qionghua's face flushed red and then turned pale. She suddenly stood up, her voice sharp with agitation: "You! Do you know what a serious crime it is to smash an imperial archway? It was bestowed by the Emperor himself!"
Lu Zhaoruo's expression remained unchanged; instead, she smiled lightly: "My late husband is still alive, yet I bear the title of 'chaste widow.' Should I leave this facade intact to become a laughingstock? Could it be that..."
She said sarcastically, "Does Madam Meng want me to send this memorial archway back to you, so that you can return it to the Empress and ask her to return it to the Emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Geng Qionghua turned deathly pale.
She knew better than anyone that if the Empress found out that this was a lie she had fabricated, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Lu Zhaoruo, however, did not give her a chance to catch her breath and continued, "Just now, Madam Qi said that if it weren't for Madam Meng getting me a memorial archway, which gave me a means to make a living, how could a widow like me show my face in public and accumulate wealth to donate to the military?"
Her voice suddenly rose, clear and powerful, echoing throughout the hall: "But the truth is, I smashed that archway long before I even made the donation! The fact is that I, Lu Zhaoruo, am able to stand here today because all my family's wealth was earned with my own two hands, and has nothing to do with that damned archway!"
Her gaze swept across the entire room: "Now, I am estranged from my husband, not divorced, but the entire Shen family has wronged me! I will support myself and establish my own business. Although you may still see me as a merchant, I will soon have an audience with the Emperor."
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