Chapter 689 You've Been Divorced
Shenfu.
Because of Shen Guannian's imprisonment, the mansion's gates were tightly closed, and the maids and servants inside were all on edge, becoming extremely cautious even when walking and talking.
These past few days, Madam Qi has been filled with anxiety. She is not afraid that Shen Guannian is dead, but rather that the crimes he committed are too serious and will affect her sons' future.
Therefore, as soon as Shen Guannian was arrested, she immediately sent her sons to study at the academy. She also had them take a lot of money with them. When they arrived at the academy, she secretly slipped the money to the teacher as tuition.
As for getting Shen Guannian out of jail, Madam Qi hadn't considered it, because if Shen Guannian got out, she wouldn't have a good life. It would be better to let him stay in jail so that she and her daughter could have a better life.
In any case, over the years, she has taken advantage of her position as housekeeper to reap a lot of benefits. She has a firm grasp on all of the Shen family's land, houses, and shops. With these, she can close the door and continue living her life as usual, and may even be more comfortable than when Shen Guannian was at home.
Inside the main room, Madam Qi was counting the silver and land deeds with Shen Mingxuan, preparing to use some of it as part of Shen Mingxuan's dowry—although her innocence was ruined, she could still get married as long as the dowry was substantial enough.
Those poor families don't care much about being innocent or not; after all, they have trouble even eating, so how can they care about anything else?
“Mother, the family you chose is really poor and destitute, and it's in a remote, impoverished area outside the capital. If I marry into that family, won't I suffer for the rest of my life? I won't marry into that family!”
"Xuan'er, what time is it? You're still being picky? It's good enough that someone is willing to marry you. Stop being picky! Your reputation is ruined, and your father has been imprisoned. It's only because people outside the capital haven't heard about these things yet that they're willing to marry into our family. Which young master or prince in the capital would want you? Even if they're taking a concubine, they'd prefer a girl with a clean reputation. Do you understand?"
"Who ruined my reputation? It was you! I don't care, I won't marry into a poor family!"
"That family may be poor now, but they may not be poor in the future!"
Madam Qi said in a low voice, "To tell you the truth, this poor and impoverished family was originally chosen by me for Shen Wantang. I was afraid that your father would not agree to this marriage, so I specially chose a scholar who seemed decent enough!"
"This man is called Liao Youhe. He has already passed the provincial examination. If he goes to the capital next year to participate in the spring examination, he might just pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi! In the future, he is very likely to become a high-ranking official, and you will enjoy a life of luxury with him!"
“His family is a bit poor now, but I’ll prepare a larger dowry for you and give you their best piece of land. If you’re frugal after you marry him, it will be enough for the rest of your lives!”
Shen Mingxuan felt increasingly heartbroken as she listened, tears streaming down her face. "Why? Why do I have to marry a poor scholar with an uncertain future, and even have to support him with my own dowry! While Shen Wantang can marry the second son of the Duke's mansion and enjoy wealth and luxury! I can only scrimp and save!"
Madam Qi was naturally furious: "Xuan'er, don't worry, I will never let that wretched girl get away with this!"
"What is Mother planning? Do you have another scheme in mind? Let me tell you, whatever your scheme is, you have to tell me in advance, otherwise you might end up hurting me instead of Shen Wantang!"
"Don't worry, I definitely won't get you this time! Didn't that wretched girl marry into the Duke's mansion? Isn't she very smug? Well, I'll make sure she can't have any children for the rest of her life! Let's see how smug she is then!"
"Does a mother really have a way to prevent her from having children for the rest of her life?"
"Of course! One bowl of the infertility-preventing medicine will guarantee she can't have children until she dies!"
"How could someone as shrewd as Shen Wantang possibly drink the medicine you gave her?"
"Are you stupid? Of course I wouldn't force-feed her medicine! I deliberately injured her on the day she returned to her parents' home. She's been taking medicine every day for the past few days. All I need to do is switch her medicine, and that'll be it!"
Shen Mingxuan finally cheered: "So Mother had planned this all along! Mother is so cunning! As long as Shen Wantang can't have children, the Duke's Mansion will definitely look down on her, Gu Qianhan will also despise her, and might even divorce her and marry someone else!"
A sinister smile appeared on Madam Qi's face: "Hmph, the Duke's mansion naturally won't want a hen that can't lay eggs. In the end, she'll be at our mercy!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than a cold voice came from the doorway: "Who are you trying to humiliate? Who is the hen that can't lay eggs?"
Madam Qi's expression changed drastically, and she abruptly turned her head to look towards the door.
"Shen Wantang?! What are you doing here? Guards, throw her out!"
Unfortunately, no one responded to her after she shouted.
Madam Qi was furious: "A bunch of lazy lackeys! It's one thing for them not to report when someone arrives, but now they dare to disobey me! Guards!"
As Shen Wantang walked inside, she said calmly, "Stop shouting. I have already dismissed all the maids, servants, and guards in the mansion."
Madam Qi exclaimed in surprise, "What did you say?!"
"The only person in the manor who was loyal to you was Granny Yin. It's a pity. Last time when I returned to my parents' home, she tried to disgust me on your behalf and was beaten half to death. She's still bedridden now! Now, no one is loyal to you anymore."
"Shen Wantang! This is the Shen residence, not the Duke's residence! I am the mistress of the Shen residence, and it is not your place to make decisions about the affairs of the Shen residence!"
"Wrong! You've already been divorced. Now I'm in charge of the affairs of the Shen family. After all, I'm surnamed Shen!"
As Shen Wantang spoke, she threw a piece of paper at Qi's face.
When Madam Qi picked it up, she discovered it was the divorce letter that Shen Guannian had written in a fit of anger when he discovered that he had been cuckolded!
Didn't she already tear up that letter of divorce? Why did it reappear intact?!
Her face turned ashen, and she tore up the divorce papers again!
Shen Wantang sneered: "You're really stupid. You don't think that tearing up the divorce papers makes them useless, do you? Oh, I forgot to tell you, I've already filed it with the government. On the official household registration documents, you, Qi Xiangru, are no longer Shen Guannian's wife!"
Madam Qi's face turned deathly pale: "No! This is impossible!"
Shen Mingxuan was also shocked: "Shen Wantang, you've gone mad! You actually overstepped your bounds and went to the government office to divorce your father's wife!!"
Shen Wantang smiled slightly: "The letter of divorce was written by my father. He is currently in prison and it is inconvenient for him to go to the government office, so I, as his daughter, have no choice but to make the trip on his behalf."
After she finished speaking, she stepped forward and picked up the land deed that was placed on the table.
"Wow, our Shen family has so many fields and houses!"
"Shen Wantang, put down the land deed for me!"
"Du Juan, Qin Xin, take everything off the table. These are mine!"
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