Chapter 357 Each Married Their Own
Jiang Zhi felt as if her heart was being squeezed tightly, making it difficult to even breathe.
She really wanted to ask her husband what his feelings were when he wrote the letter of divorce.
The tears I had finally managed to hold back started flowing again. "Master, I don't want a divorce. I don't want a divorce anymore. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those things back then. I'm so sorry..."
How could she possibly divorce her husband after he had done so much for her, sacrificed so much, even his life?
Looking at Jiang Zhi like this, Shen Ci'an felt as if a wad of cotton was stuck in his throat.
However, he also knew that the young lady's feelings for him were only out of guilt, and because of the constraints of her status.
Although Lu Yuan is detestable, he is right about one thing.
He couldn't take advantage of the favor he owed her for helping her resolve the issue with Xiao Yunheng and then cling to her like that.
Moreover, the reason why the young lady is so injured is because he didn't handle Yan Wenhong's matter well.
He did indeed drug Yan Wenhong, but in order to keep Xiao Yunheng calm, the drug could only weaken his internal energy, causing him to slowly die from heart palpitations and exhaustion, without showing any outward signs.
Unexpectedly, Yan Wenhong dared to set fire to Shen's mansion and kidnap her.
Looking at Jiang Zhi's injuries, he was filled with remorse and wished he could take her place.
He held her tightly, pressing his cool lips to the top of her head, lingering there tenderly.
“Miss, I have already signed the divorce papers. Once you have recovered from your injuries and signed the divorce papers, you will be free. The house you lived in before the marriage will be yours, and we can still see each other from time to time.”
Jiang Zhi gripped his sleeve tightly. "No, Master, how can you do this? Haven't you always disagreed with the divorce?"
Shen Ci'an interrupted her with a wry smile, "Miss, do you like me?"
"I like it, of course I like it." Jiang Zhi looked up at him and nodded emphatically.
"Would the young lady be willing to sever all ties with other men for my sake? Lu Yuan, Xie Qi, and even Xiao Xuanyou, never to have any contact with them again?"
Jiang Zhi was momentarily stunned, "I..."
Shen Ci'an sighed and raised his hand to cover her eyes. "Don't make it difficult for me. I know it's hard to do this."
The entanglement between the young lady and them is too deep to be untangled in just a few words, nor can it be severed so easily.
Especially Lu Yuan.
Even if the young lady reluctantly agrees, Lu Yuan will definitely use every means to make her change her mind.
Jiang Zhi pushed his hand away, her brows furrowed tightly. "But if I divorce you, Master, I will most likely marry someone else in the future. Wouldn't you mind?"
Shen Ci'an's breath hitched, and his face turned even paler.
How could he not mind?
However, he had already stated beforehand that he would not interfere in her life and would give her plenty of freedom.
Now that she is the Princess of Qinghe County, she is no longer subject to the constraints of the Jiang family, and the crisis in the court has been resolved.
If he were to continue to bind her, even though they still had a debt of gratitude between them, in the long run, this debt of gratitude would only become a burden for her, and how could it last?
“Young lady, things don’t always go as planned. So, as this divorce agreement states, we will each marry someone else after the divorce, and we will have no further connection with each other.”
He finished speaking through gritted teeth, and when he saw Jiang Zhi's face turn pale for a moment, he felt a pang of pity. He subconsciously raised his arm to comfort her, but he held back.
He released her from his embrace, his clear, light eyes gleaming with a cold light that made it impossible to look directly at him.
Jiang Zhi calmed down, took the divorce papers, and said wearily, "I understand. Please allow me to think about it carefully."
Shen Ci'an helped himself up from the bedside. "Then you should rest well. It's not easy for you to move around. I'll stay in the study for the next two days."
He slowly walked away, leaving her with only a thin, lonely silhouette.
The servant waiting at the door saw him come out and immediately supported his swaying body.
The door closed silently, and Jiang Zhi lowered her head to look at the divorce papers in her hand.
When Shen Ci'an got into trouble, I didn't have the mind to look into it closely.
Now, the divorce agreement clearly states that the two are incompatible and have become an unhappy couple. This divorce agreement is hereby signed, and from now on, we will part ways and each marry someone else, with no further involvement between us.
Shen Ci'an not only wrote on it that all of her dowry would be returned, but also gave her a lot of assets as compensation. He even signed and sealed the document at the very bottom.
Once Jiang Zhi signs the contract, the divorce agreement will take effect immediately.
She felt completely confused and didn't know what to do with the document. She could only carefully fold it and put it inside her clothes.
For Shen Ci'an, the fact that she had been using the title of husband and wife to imprison him was undoubtedly a burden.
As her husband, he felt it was his responsibility to protect her, plan for her, and clear the path ahead for her; he felt it was his duty to do so.
She took his kindness for granted, but never did anything for him in return.
Perhaps it is indeed time to let go.
＊
After Shen Ci'an regained consciousness, the emperor, though pitying him for recovering from poisoning, allowed him to rest at home for a while before going to court.
However, quite a few memorials were still sent to the study in the Shen residence.
Shen Ci'an was not in good spirits, and after watching for a while, he took an early afternoon nap with the help of his servant.
The sun was shining brightly that day. Jiang Zhi sat in her wheelchair, being pushed by Qing Xing to cool off and get some fresh air under the trees in the courtyard.
This wheelchair was specially sent by Xiao Xuanyou. It was made entirely of Shenmu wood, with exquisite workmanship and a smooth, well-fitting finish, so that it turned without any resistance.
Jiang Zhi initially felt it was too valuable and was unwilling to accept it, but when Wen Quan delivered it, he said it was the Crown Prince's compensation for Xiao Yunheng's matter. Along with it came many tonics and rewards, all of which had been formally approved by the Imperial Household Department, so she didn't need to worry.
She then accepted it.
It was early autumn, and the weather hadn't completely cooled down yet. When Jiang Zhi heard Qing Xing mention that Shen Ci'an was taking a nap in the study, she couldn't help but take out the letter of divorce from her clothes.
She had read this document countless times; the pages were even a little creased at the edges.
Those few words made her restless.
"Qingxing, go and fetch me a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone." She laid the letter of divorce open on the stone table, looking at the words on it and couldn't help but sigh.
Even if they were to divorce, she didn't want to covet anything from Shen Ci'an.
Let's draft a new one.
Qingxing obeyed and went to the room to fetch what she needed. Jiang Zhi looked through the items and couldn't help but sigh.
She heard footsteps behind her and, assuming it was Qingxing, said, "Put the things on the table, and you can go now."
However, there was no response from behind.
She frowned and turned to look, then froze in surprise.
The newcomer was dressed in neat casual clothes, with a strong and muscular build. His waist was narrow and his long legs were tightly bound by his robes, and his face remained expressionless as always.
It was Lu Yuan.
"How did you get in?" she asked, startled.
"You can come and go as you please." Not to mention the Shen residence, even within the Imperial Palace, Lu Yuan can come and go as he pleases, as long as he wants.
"Why are you looking so gloomy and sighing? Did Shen Ci'an upset you?"
He happened to have some free time today, and he missed her terribly, so he secretly sneaked in to see her one last time before leaving.
"It's nothing. I'm just staying at home every day to recover from my injuries, and I'm feeling a bit bored."
Jiang Zhi gave a perfunctory answer, subtly trying to slip the papers on the table into her pocket.
If Lu Yuan sees this, there will likely be no peace.
But who is Lu Yuan?
He had already noticed the things on the table as soon as he came in, and if Jiang Zhi didn't touch them, he wouldn't suspect anything.
As soon as Jiang Zhi made a move, Lu Yuan knew it was no ordinary thing.
He deftly snatched it from Jiang Zhi's hand, a smile still playing on his lips. "What is it that's so shameful? Well, I'll have to take a good look..."
Before he could finish speaking, the words "letter of divorce" came into view.
Lu Yuan was stunned.
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