Upon hearing this, gasps of surprise erupted from the crowd that had been watching the spectacle.
Divorce? The Duke of Su actually wants to divorce the most favored princess of the dynasty? The Empress Dowager has been spending her years worshipping Buddha at the royal temple and has long since stopped concerning herself with worldly affairs, so how could the Emperor agree to this?
Princess Jingyi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her once dignified figure swayed uncontrollably. Su Zhen actually wanted a divorce from her? In front of everyone, he dared to show her no mercy.
Standing behind Princess Jingyi was Aunt Liu, who was clutching her handkerchief tightly and bowing her head so low it was almost touching the ground, as if afraid that the smile on her lips would be seen by others.
She had assumed that once the real daughter was found, the Duke would extend his affection for Princess Jingyi even more because of his love for Su Ruanruan. However, before they could even acknowledge their relationship, before they even entered the Duke's mansion, the mother and daughter had already become bitter enemies, and even the loving couple was on the verge of breaking up.
But she also wondered why Princess Jingyi treated her own daughter this way.
After all, this is her own flesh and blood, whom she carried for ten months and went through hardships to give birth to. If it were her, she would never treat her child so cruelly.
She gently wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, trying her best to feign a worried expression, and coldly observed how things were progressing.
However, she did not notice the look her son, Su Zhiping, gave her, and the big eye roll he made.
At this moment, Su Qingyu's feelings were complicated, unsure whether to be happy or sad. She had never expected that Su Ruanruan would find her way back to the Su family, and seeing that the princess felt disgusted with her daughter who had been living away from home, she couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.
However, if the princess were to divorce the duke now, she would surely become the laughingstock of the entire capital, and she herself would be ridiculed by the noble ladies of the capital.
Even though she has now been granted the title of Princess, she still does not have royal blood. She knows that Consort De, the mother of Prince Rui, has reservations about her status as an adopted daughter.
If the princess were to divorce, she would likely find it difficult to live a comfortable life under Consort De's watchful eye.
In this tense atmosphere that was about to erupt, Su Qingyu slowly knelt down and said earnestly, "Father, you and Mother have been in love for many years. Everything can be discussed. You must not easily say the words 'divorce' so as not to hurt the affection between husband and wife."
"Over the years, thanks to the two elders' meticulous guidance, they have raised me, their adopted daughter, to adulthood like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain. Qingyu will always remember their great kindness and virtue, and her gratitude will surge like a tide in her heart."
"However, Qingyu has always known in her heart that everything I have now is thanks to my sister's good fortune, like a cuckoo taking over a magpie's nest."
“My younger sister has a pitiful background and has suffered countless injustices over the years. As her older sister, my heart is breaking. I am willing to take the punishment in her place, hoping that my mother can show leniency and allow her to come home.”
"If Prince Rui is unhappy, Qingyu is willing to break off the engagement with Prince Rui, only wishing that her mother and father will no longer quarrel."
Su Qingyu's forehead slammed heavily against the cold ground, again and again. The onlookers couldn't help but feel pity and exclaimed in admiration. Their gazes towards Su Ruanruan also carried a strange chill.
Princess Jingyi pointed at Su Qingyu and said sternly, "Get up for me! If you are disfigured, how will you marry Prince Rui?"
"I know you are kind-hearted, and all of this has nothing to do with you."
However, Su Qingyu stubbornly knelt down and pleaded, "This is the first time Qingyu has disobeyed Mother. Please, Mother, show leniency and let my sister go."
Someone in the crowd shouted, "It's just a hundred lashes and sending her to the manor for education. Let her suffer it herself, and don't involve others."
"that is……"
A flurry of hurried footsteps swept past Su Ruanruan. The person paused briefly before quickly helping Su Qingyu, who was kneeling on the ground, to her feet.
He noticed that Su Qingyu's fair forehead was already red and swollen, and his dark eyes swept coldly over Su Ruanruan.
"I heard that my fifth sister had returned safely, so I rushed back from the military camp. I thought I would see a touching reunion, but instead, this is what I saw!"
"You haven't even stepped inside the house yet, and you've already bullied Qingyu like this?"
"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're my sister! She and I grew up together, and our bond is much stronger than yours."
"Qingyu is gentle and kind-hearted. You'd better stay away from her and don't even think about taking advantage of her! Otherwise, I will never let you off the hook!"
Su Zhiping gasped, inwardly sighing: This silly second brother is such a simple-minded soldier, completely fooled by Su Qingyu.
He had absolutely no liking for Su Qingyu. On the contrary, he had been spending all his time with that girl named Ziwu, and had learned a lot about Su Ruanruan from her.
He grew to love his kind and lovely younger sister more and more, but his second brother treated her so badly.
Huo Yan shielded Su Ruanruan tightly behind him like a mother hen protecting her chicks, his eyes wide with anger, and roared fiercely, "Su Ruowu, you brainless and reckless man, Ruanruan didn't say a word, when did she bully that woman?"
"Also, Su Ruanruan is my woman, Huo Yan's woman. If you dare to lay a finger on her, don't blame me for breaking your legs."
Su Ruowu pointed at Su Ruanruan and shouted angrily, "Brother Huo, you are my most respected hero, how can you protect her? Make her be punished quickly, so many people are watching, if this stalemate continues, it will not do anyone any good."
Seeing this, Su Zhen was furious and kicked Su Ruowu hard, yelling, "Shut up!"
“Father…” He felt very wronged; he hadn’t said anything wrong.
"Ruan Ruan did nothing wrong, why should she kneel? You're all targeting her, fine! Very well."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
