Chapter 31 Divorce. She was a materialistic person and didn't want to share with others...
During her time in the palace, Empress Zhenyuan had said similar things to her.
At that time, when she was deliberately giving Yan Ning the cold shoulder, Empress Zhenyuan, just like Li Jinghe at this moment, took her hand and said earnestly, "The current situation is no one's fault. Your father and I have thought of all the possible solutions, but it is still the same. It is fate. Your mother knows that you are a filial child, but there is no need to hurt your relationship with your husband because of this."
She considered that although Yan Ning was the eldest son of the Yan family, he was not the actual person in charge of the Yan family. It was already difficult for him to do so much, protecting her daughter in every way and keeping her safe.
Whether it was out of good intentions or simply because she had taken away his military power, and he was a man of his word, it at least showed that he was a trustworthy person. This world is treacherous. Her daughter was pampered in the palace since childhood, spoiled but kind-hearted, and not very familiar with worldly rules. She was also born with a beautiful face.
For those in high positions of power, such beauty is an embellishment of glory.
For the powerless and vulnerable young woman, it was more of a disaster.
Without anyone to protect you, you'll ultimately suffer a great loss.
She didn't want to assume the worst, but she also couldn't allow her youngest daughter's future to be any less than perfect.
We cherished you like a precious jewel as you grew up, and we hope that you will have a smooth and successful life.
Li Jinghe's heart was the same as Empress Zhenyuan's.
Li Yunru understood this, but many things between her and Yan Ning could not be explained in just a few words.
However, she didn't want these things to bother her at this crucial moment, so Li Yunru didn't say anything, but just obediently nodded: "Yes, I know."
Li Jing knew that her younger sister didn't take it to heart, but now that things had come to this point, it was up to her to decide. There was no point in her saying anything more, so she didn't expose her. The two exchanged a few more bits and pieces and then parted ways.
As the carriage drove further and further away, leaving only dust swirling in the cold wind, Li Jinghe truly realized that she was now... completely alone.
That immense sense of powerlessness and loneliness spread from the bottom of my heart; it was so cold, colder than the coldest winter day.
She didn't want to cry, but she couldn't control herself. Her nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Yan Ning approached, took off his white fox fur coat and cloak, and hung it on Li Yunru. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. His gaze was fixed on the official road, where Li Jing and the carriage had disappeared. He said in a deep voice, "The situation is turbulent now. It is a good thing for them to leave the capital and stay away from trouble. The princess should be happy for them."
Li Yunru turned her head to look at him.
This aloof and cold young master from a prominent family showed a rare hint of warmth on his face.
This little bit is because of her.
Her mother, Empress Zhenyuan, and her elder sister both said that he treated her well. For a scion of a noble family to do so much for a young lady was extremely rare. She should cherish the person in front of her.
The crux of their problem has never been whether he treated her well or not.
But at this moment, she wanted to be a fool who knew nothing, so she accepted all the benefits.
Li Yunru turned around, stretched out her arms, and hugged his thin waist. She buried her head in his chest and sobbed softly, "Yan Changjun, I have no family left. I have no one by my side."
Yan Ning gently patted her back, her voice low and soft, and comforted her, "Chang Jun is also the princess's family, and will always be by the princess's side."
He did not mention the Yan family.
Li Yunru didn't particularly like the Yan family, disliking their cumbersome formalities and complicated rules.
And...his parents.
He wouldn't betray his family, but he also wouldn't abandon her. So, divorce was the only option.
Li Yunru trembled and remained silent.
Along the mountain valley path, the cold wind howled. The two embraced each other for an unknown amount of time before finally separating, boarding the carriage, and embarking on their journey home.
The matter has finally come to a close.
The deal between Li Yunru and the Cui family was now completely brought to the forefront.
Yan Ning, knowing about this, took the initiative to tell her, "I will talk to my mother about this, so you can rest assured."
He did indeed succeed. Afterwards, Cui came to Jing Shui Xuan and softened his stance, saying, "Princess, you can come back to Jiankang with us for the New Year and you don't need to leave the Yan family. However, I think there are some things that I still need to explain to the princess."
Madam Cui said, “Marriage between noble families is a customary practice that has been established for centuries. Sanlang is the eldest son of the Yan family and a highly regarded young man by both the Yan and Cui families. In the future, he will inevitably succeed his father and become the head of the Yan and even the Cui families, the patriarch of this noble family. He is not like those young men from lowly noble families. He has the blood of two great families flowing in his veins. Even if he does nothing, his future is limitless. Glory also means responsibility. Bearing the honor and disgrace of two great families, his wife cannot be a woman who will not help his future. We will choose another high-ranking wife for him, a noble lady from a noble family, who is dignified and generous. She will not make things too difficult for the princess. If you are obedient, you can get along well with her and serve and assist the young man.”
Li Yunru now understood where Yan Ning's aloofness came from.
Cui softened her stance, but her words carried an air of arrogance. It was a favor that they allowed her to stay, even if they treated her coldly and wanted to demote her from wife to concubine... She should be grateful to them for letting her stay.
"I appreciate your kindness, Madam." She slowly put down the tea in her hand, gave Shu Yun a look, and stepped forward to place a letter in front of Cui Shi.
"This is a divorce agreement."
Li Yunru said, “The Yan family is the head of the aristocratic families, and their social standing is too high for Liyang to reach. I have already signed and sealed this document. It is just waiting for Madam to give it to Sanlang, let the elders see it, and then hand it over to the government. Then this matter will be settled. Although Liyang was born into a commoner family and no longer has the status of a princess, she has not fallen to such a state that she needs to ruin her reputation to seek the favor and protection of the Yan family. Since I have promised Madam, I will naturally do it. I will move out of the Yan family mansion soon, and from now on I will have no more entanglement with you, Yan Sanlang. We will have no further business with each other in marriage, funerals and other matters.”
Madam Cui clutched the divorce papers, her eyes dark and inscrutable. She said in a low voice, "Sanlang bowed down for you, defying his parents to keep you here. Can't you bow down for him too? Are you only satisfied when you see Sanlang's future ruined because of you?"
"What you're saying, Madam, makes no sense."
Li Yunru directly refuted her words, "I have never asked Sanlang to beg you for anything, let alone anything like disobedience... Madam has pinned such a huge blame on me for ruining my future, please forgive me, Liyang really cannot accept it!"
She looked at Cui Shi with a firm gaze and said, "Sanlang is not a three-year-old child who is incapable of judging right from wrong. He has done everything he wants, as has Liyang. I will not share a husband with another woman, much less become a concubine. If your Yan family wants to arrange wives and concubines for him, to help him climb the ladder of success, to have high-ranking positions and generous salaries, with beautiful wives and maids by his side, I will respect that. I will request to leave the Yan family and be divorced. What does it have to do with me from now on? How can you say that I have ruined him!"
"you!"
Cui was so embarrassed by her retort that she couldn't utter a complete sentence.
Li Yunru ignored her and then told Shu Yun to see the guest out.
After the person left, she asked Shu Yun to pack her things and prepare to leave the Yan family.
"Princess, the lady's words may not necessarily reflect the Prince Consort's intentions. Perhaps we should wait for him to return..."
The Yan family is returning to Jiankang. Before that, all the other aristocratic families sent invitations to their homes for a banquet. Regardless of any previous conflicts or issues, interests are always at stake. The Yan family is the head of the aristocratic families, and everyone wants to curry favor with them if they have the chance.
This was a respectable and prestigious matter, a symbol of status and position. The head of the Yan family was willing to give him face. Yan Ning was the eldest son of the Yan family, and as Cui said, he would inherit the throne in the future. So, the man took him to socialize and socialize. These past few days, he had been leaving early and returning late, often only seeing him return after Li Yunru had fallen asleep.
He reeked of alcohol, a stark contrast to his usual refined and gentle demeanor. Through that intoxicated man, Li Yunru seemed to glimpse the next few decades, and what her life would be like if she stayed behind.
People will eventually be defeated by reality. Even the most virtuous and noble young master will eventually become like his father, worldly and driven by self-interest.
"Whether it is or not is not important."
The Yan family will not change their minds. What Cui said is true. Yan Ning cannot let go of his family and will eventually become like them.
She didn't dislike worldly interests, including herself, who was quite vulgar. She always believed that this was human nature, and that it was foolish to suppress one's desires and try to be a dignified and elegant noblewoman in the eyes of others.
It was precisely because of her vulgarity that she couldn't be as magnanimous towards her husband as those noble ladies from aristocratic families, who could readily accept their husbands, beautiful wives, and concubines, and even help take care of their children.
She didn't want to live the kind of life they did.
She chose to follow her heart. Yan Ning was kind to her, but he couldn't abandon his family, and she didn't want to force him or put him in a difficult position.
Time will eventually wash everything away.
There is nothing or no one in this world that you absolutely must have.
Shu Yun didn't understand, but since her master told her to do it, she did it anyway.
Li Yunru didn't have many belongings at the Yan family's residence. She was also afraid of causing too much trouble, so she only packed some useful gold and silver jewelry and left the Yan family's residence lightly.
Qi Xuan and Empress Zhenyuan originally intended to keep her for two more years, so they waited until she came of age. The construction of the princess's residence was not rushed. Before her marriage, Li Yunru always lived in the palace and did not have a private residence in Shangjing. Princess Huayang's residence had long been occupied by someone with ulterior motives, so she could not go there.
After much deliberation, she went to Chengen Temple.
Li Yunru did not intend to become a nun. She was not even twenty years old yet, and had a long life ahead of her. She did not believe in these things, so why would she have the idea of becoming a nun and spending her days with a Buddhist lamp and ancient Buddha?
She wanted to go see Li Zhijun.
After today, I have no idea when I will be able to return to the capital.
...
The mountain temple was serene, with wisps of smoke rising from it. The Li Yunru of the past would certainly not have liked it; she preferred liveliness.
Those bustling city centers were her favorite places, but after experiencing a great calamity, her mindset seemed to have changed.
Looking at the ancient temple in the mountains, she suddenly felt at peace. She had only intended to take a look and leave, but she couldn't help but stay for two more days.
But while waiting, he unexpectedly ran into an old friend.
When Li Yunru met Songji at Chengen Temple at dusk, she found it unbelievable. She couldn't even believe that the person in front of her was real until Songji said, "It's been a long time. The princess has lost weight."
His deep eyes gazed at her, and he raised his hand to stroke her face, to pull her into his arms and feel her warmth and breath, but in the end he restrained himself from the impulse.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and a thousand emotions finally culminated in a hesitant, open mouth asking, "Princess... are you alright?"
Her elder sister and mother were more concerned about her relationship with Yan Ning, not wanting her to be rejected by the Yan family, sever ties with them, and lose their protection. Yan Ning was concerned about the entanglements and conflicts between her and Cui Shi, while Cui Shi... only cared about when she would leave Yan Ning and the Yan family. Even though she softened her tone and agreed to let her stay, she was still more concerned about Yan Ning's future...
This is the first time in a long time that someone has cared about what she's really thinking, whether she's a good person or not.
Li Yunru felt a lump in her throat, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and her voice choked with emotion.
"not good."
She shook her head frantically, choking back tears as she poured out the emotions she had been suppressing for days in a hoarse, slurred voice.
"Songji, I'm not doing well at all. My father and mother are gone, I... my family is all gone. I don't know, I don't know what to do!"
Li Yunru lowered her head, tears streaming down her face, her hands trembling as she twisted them together.
"Maybe, maybe I should go with them," she said softly, sniffling.
Li Yunru did not say this casually.
She had seriously considered this matter.
A speeding carriage, a high platform on the city wall, a pond in a mountain temple...
She had wanted to go to them countless times.
Once you leave, you won't have to worry about anything anymore, and you'll be free from all troubles and completely liberated.
However... her father and mother had gone to great lengths to protect her, and if she were to give up on herself so easily, it would be too unfair to them. In the end, she suppressed that thought.
However, she really didn't know what to do, and couldn't find anyone to confide in, so she could only hide here and try to calm herself down and stop thinking about those things by listening to the distant and desolate chanting.
Otherwise, she doesn't know what she might do next.
-----------------------
Author's Note: New characters are appearing, and we're about to enter a new chapter of the story~ However, I'm currently on a hiatus and just trying to collect characters, so the update schedule is uncertain. Updates will follow the rankings; otherwise, I'll probably take a break for a week or two before resuming updates. Thank you to everyone who has added this to their collection and read this far! Love you all!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
