Chapter 96 Divorce by Imperial Order
For the next three days, Sun Tu didn't come to Yixinyuan to say anything, nor did he interact with the two children. He spent most of the day attending the farewell reception his colleagues threw for him. Perhaps because he was a county lord, everyone wanted to establish a good relationship with him.
As for Sun Tu, he would gladly accept any invitation he received and he couldn't wait to maintain his connections in Beijing.
Soon, it was the day of Sun Tu's departure. He and Sun Yue had packed their belongings and were already loading them into the car. Zhao Lingmeng, as always, had someone oversee the loading process, refusing to let them take anything that didn't belong to them.
Zhao Lingmeng was wearing the clothes of his princess rank, and was waiting in the front yard with Sun Qijing and his two brothers. Sun Tu thought that Zhao Lingmeng and the others were waiting here to see him off.
Sun Tu smiled complacently, straightened the corner of his robe, and then walked over to Zhao Lingmeng and the other three, "Madam, are you reluctant to let your husband go? If you are willing to go back and ask your father to find me a fifth-rank position in Yuanjing, I don't have to be sent away. If it really doesn't work, you can just accept the fifth rank!"
"Take a piss and look at yourself! What a thing you are, a fifth-rank person." Zhao Lingmeng looked Sun Tu up and down with disgust.
"Zhao Lingmeng, you..." Sun Tu tried to tell himself that he was leaving today and would not argue with this vicious woman. After holding back, he still asked curiously: "Waiting for someone? I'll give you a big gift so that you can go to the exile with peace of mind."
"Oh, you said you were not reluctant to leave your husband, and you pretended to be quite heartless." After Sun Tu finished speaking, he shook his robe proudly.
"You'll know soon." Zhao Lingmeng was too lazy to argue with this incomprehensible person.
Sun Qijing and Sun Qiming stayed close to Zhao Lingmeng the entire time, not even looking up at Sun Tu. They had no idea why their mother had asked them to wait together, but since their mother had asked them to wait, they waited along.
Sun Tu was curious about what Zhao Lingmeng, the vicious woman, was waiting for. She even said she wanted to give him a great gift. With this curiosity in mind, he didn't set off, but stood here with them, waiting.
Sun Yue, who was standing next to her, wanted to go up and say hello, but when she saw that her sister-in-law didn't even look at her, she just stood aside. She thought to herself that she was going to leave with her brother anyway and would never see him again, so it didn't matter whether she had a good relationship with her or not.
Eunuch Zhuo and his men did not keep Zhao Lingmeng and the others waiting for long. A while after Sun Tu and Zhao Lingmeng finished talking, Eunuch Zhuo arrived with his men and the imperial edict.
As soon as Eunuch Zhuo and his entourage saw Zhao Lingmeng, they quickly walked over and bowed, saying, "Your servants greet Princess Funing. We pay our respects to Princess Funing."
Eunuch Zhuo served the emperor personally. He knew that Princess Funing was a capable person in the emperor's eyes! Her identity was not something he could determine.
Chunshui was worthy of being from the palace. As soon as Eunuch Zhuo and his companions finished their ceremony, she immediately stepped forward and helped Eunuch Zhuo up.
"Sorry to trouble Eunuch Zhuo again." Zhao Lingmeng also thanked him politely. This man was the emperor's personal servant, and she couldn't afford to offend him.
"I'm very happy to do so. Let's announce the imperial edict first!" Eunuch Zhuo replied with a smile.
Ever since Eunuch Zhuo showed up, Sun Tu had been in a state of panic. He hadn't yet imagined what awaited him. He simply thought his exile was doomed, and he felt sick to his stomach. Hearing Eunuch Zhuo's words, he knelt down with Zhao Lingmeng and the others, completely bewildered.
Eunuch Zhuo glanced at Sun Tu, then straightened his voice and began to announce the decree:
The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims:
"Now, the Princess of Funing's husband, Sun Tu, is talentless and ungrateful. He consorted with someone else when the Princess gave birth, repaying kindness with hatred. I do not wish for the Marquis of Wu'an to spend his entire life in military service worrying about his daughter, so I hereby decree that the Princess of Funing divorce her husband. From now on, no one will marry.
Princess Zhao Lingmeng of Funing is brilliant, devotedly patriotic, and possesses both ability and virtue, surpassing all others. I admire her character and have granted Princess Funing the surname Zhao and the establishment of an ancestral temple for her. She may choose to give her children the surname Zhao to one or several of them, marry a son-in-law, or remain single for life, all at her discretion.
So ordered!
After Eunuch Zhuo finished reading, he saw that Sun Tu was still confused, so he said sternly, "Master Sun, accept the order!"
Zhao Lingmeng didn't care what Sun Tu said. She immediately kowtowed respectfully with the children she brought with her. "Your Majesty, I accept your order and thank you for your grace."
Sun Tu finally came to his senses. He had only one thought: he was finished. He immediately handed Eunuch Zhuo a purse, but Eunuch Zhuo didn't take it.
"Eunuch Zhuo, are you mistaken? I am not that kind of person. How can a man be divorced?" Sun Tu pulled Eunuch Zhuo's sleeve and was unwilling to let go, defending himself incoherently.
"Sir Sun, I am merely an announcer. I dare not question the Emperor's impartiality. Could it be that Sir Sun intends to disobey his orders?" Eunuch Zhuo would not help a fool like Sun Tu, mistaking pearls for fish eyes. He would regret it later. Princess Funing was such a great tree, it was a pity that someone didn't know how to appreciate it.
"That's not what I meant?" Sun Tu explained hurriedly. He couldn't bear such a serious crime.
Zhao Lingmeng ignored Sun Tu and immediately took out a purse and stuffed it into Eunuch Zhuo's hand, "Eunuch, please enjoy the good fortune and have some tea."
"Then I would like to thank Princess Funing. I will take my leave now." Eunuch Zhuo did not refuse Zhao Lingmeng's purse, but thanked her generously and then took his leave, leaving the space for Princess Funing to handle household affairs.
As soon as Eunuch Zhuo left, Sun Tu immediately threw himself at Zhao Lingmeng's feet and said, "Madam, if you don't like me being sent out as an official, I won't go. Can you ask the emperor to withdraw the imperial edict? They say that a husband and wife are bound by love for a hundred days after they were married. We have been husband and wife for so many years. Can you forgive me this time? I will obey you in everything from now on. Besides, we have three children! You can't let them be without a father! Just do this for the children's sake."
Sun Tu cried and recounted his old love, winking at Sun Qijing, asking him to speak for him. But Sun Tu saw Sun Qijing hesitate for a moment, then turned his head away, showing no intention of speaking for him at all.
Zhao Lingmeng was too lazy to argue with Sun Tu at this time and said bluntly: "Under the imperial decree, it is impossible for us to succeed. You don't like the second and third of our three children, so don't even talk about competing with me. You have no right.
As for the boss, Sun Qijing, you can ask him yourself! If he is willing to go with you, I will not stop him. If he is unwilling, you should not bother him too much, if you still want to leave Yuanjing smoothly. "
"Do you really want to take this to the extreme?" Sun Tu glared at Zhao Lingmeng with gritted teeth.
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