Upon learning that his daughter had been taken away by the Zhang family, Su Mingfeng was very worried. He feared that Zhang would arrange a marriage for his daughter behind his back, ruining her future.
To protect his daughter, he had no choice but to go to the Zhang family in person.
Zhang Tingyu hosted a banquet in response, and took the opportunity to persuade Su Mingfeng to downplay the incident and resolve it peacefully.
"My daughter is a bit willful, but she has given birth to your children over the years, which is a great contribution to your Su family. No husband and wife are immune to arguments. As a man, you should be tolerant of her temper. I have reprimanded her, and she has realized her mistake. You should take her and her daughter home and live a good life!"
In the past, Su Mingfeng might have agreed, but this time, Zhang had crossed his bottom line. He could not tolerate it and was determined to divorce her.
“For the sake of our children, I have never written a divorce agreement and have always given in to her. But she has become increasingly unreasonable and has made a fuss over the years. She even dared to question the Emperor’s orders. She was the one who proposed the divorce, so I will grant her wish.”
"My daughter just spoke carelessly; she doesn't really want a divorce. Please don't take it to heart."
Despite Zhang Tingyu's repeated attempts to persuade her, Su Mingfeng remained unmoved. Zhang Tingyu couldn't help but wonder, "Do you have some other ideas, like taking a concubine? It's only natural for a man to take a concubine, and my daughter won't object. There's really no need for a divorce."
Su Mingfeng said solemnly, "Lord Zhang, you misunderstand. I have no intention of taking a concubine. I just can't live with her anymore, that's all. Tang'er's surname is Su, and she is a member of the Su family, so I have to take her back."
Zhang Tingyu calmly replied, "Tang'er said she doesn't want to go back; she'll stay wherever her mother is. I've tried to persuade her, but she won't listen, and there's nothing I can do!"
Su Mingfeng didn't believe this and wanted to see Tang'er in person. Zhang Tingyu didn't stop him and agreed to take him to see her.
When the two arrived at the backyard, Zhang began to complain and accuse Su Mingfeng as soon as she saw him. He was already numb to these words and felt no remorse. He just listened silently with a cold expression and did not say a word.
Zhang Tingyu sighed inwardly at his daughter's foolishness. At this point, she should have admitted her mistake and tried to appease him; the more she complained, the harder it would be to resolve the conflict.
"Alright! Mingfeng may have made mistakes, but what about you? Are you not at fault? It was His Majesty's will to dismiss the candidate, so what's the use of blaming Mingfeng? Tang'er's marriage isn't urgent, so stop arguing and go back with Mingfeng!"
Su Mingfeng did speak up, but he didn't mention Zhang Shi; he only asked his daughter to go back with him.
Upon hearing this, Su Tang felt troubled.
Just now, her mother told her not to go back with her father. Once she left, the marriage would be over. Su Tang did not want her parents to divorce, so she listened to her mother and said that she did not want to go home and wanted to stay with her mother.
Since her daughter didn't want to leave, Su Mingfeng couldn't force her to go with her and could only return home first.
Hongli had been following this matter closely. Upon learning that Su Tang had been taken away by the Zhang family to threaten Su Mingfeng, Hongli was filled with rage.
"That old fox Zhang Tingyu is truly cunning! The Zhang family dislikes Mingfeng, but only Zhang Tingyu has the discerning eye to recognize her talent. How could he easily let go of such a good son-in-law!"
Hongli planned to question Zhang Tingyu after court the next day, but Su Yushan felt it was inappropriate. "You are the emperor, and it is inconvenient for you to interfere in the family affairs of your officials. We can find another way."
Hongli asked curiously, "Oh? What do you plan to do?"
After a moment's thought, Su Yushan's bright eyes lit up, and she had already come up with a good idea. "You can issue an imperial decree in my name to bring Tang'er into the palace to be Rong Yu's study companion. Would Zhang Tingyu still dare to refuse to release her?"
This is indeed a good method. Hongli doesn't need to show his face; he only needs to send a eunuch to deliver a message, and he can bring the person out.
Hongli nodded in agreement and sent someone to arrange the matter the next day.
Zhang thought that as long as her daughter was still by her side, Su Mingfeng would definitely compromise. She never expected that the Imperial Noble Consort's decree would fall from the sky, actually ordering Su Tang to enter the palace to be the princess's study companion!
The Imperial Noble Consort didn't issue the decree earlier or later, but chose this particular time. Zhang suspected that the Imperial Noble Consort was doing it on purpose, but she dared not disobey the imperial decree and could only watch helplessly as they took her daughter away.
With her daughter gone, Su Mingfeng would never come to the Zhang family again. Only then did Zhang begin to regret why she had suggested divorce that day and why she had gone back to her parents' home, leaving her in such an awkward and embarrassing situation.
She then sought advice from her father, Zhang Tingyu, but he was helpless.
Since Su Tang was secretly taken away, Su Mingfeng has become wary. The Su residence is under strict guard, and Zhang Tingyu can't see his grandson at all. Without the children to talk to, he can't threaten Su Mingfeng!
Since Zhang refused to put her fingerprint on the divorce agreement, Su Mingfeng took the matter to the authorities and asked them to make a judgment.
The prefect was a protégé of Zhang Tingyu, and Zhang Tingyu had spoken to him, forbidding him from leaving the prefecture.
He intended to comply, but then someone from the palace arrived. It was Xiao Luzi, a servant of the Imperial Noble Consort. Xiao Luzi conveyed the Imperial Noble Consort's decree, saying that a divorce was necessary.
The prefect thought to himself that offending Zhang Tingyu was a small matter, but offending the Imperial Noble Consort was a big deal! What if the Imperial Noble Consort was unhappy and whispered something in the Emperor's ear? Wouldn't his career be ruined?
After weighing the pros and cons, the prefect finally agreed to Su Mingfeng's request and ordered Zhang to be brought in for a forced divorce!
Zhang was also concerned about her reputation. Su Mingfeng had already made such a big fuss. If she still stubbornly refused to divorce, wouldn't she be laughed at by outsiders?
Even though she was unwilling, she still pressed her handprint in front of everyone with great pride.
Upon learning the truth, Zhang Tingyu lamented that his daughter was too foolish; she should have insisted on not putting her fingerprints on the document and waited for him to arrive. Now that the fingerprints had been put on, the two were officially divorced, with no room for reconciliation.
It was bad enough that his granddaughter didn't marry the eldest prince, but his daughter also severed ties with the Su family. The Zhang family's only connection with the royal family was also broken. Zhang Tingyu became increasingly anxious, worried about what would happen to his descendants after he passed away.
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