Chapter 9
Edward Quan ·
Before she was escorted to the bridal chamber, she deliberately stopped beside me.
In a soft, fragile voice, she said, “Thank you for preparing a wedding gift for my husband and me.”
I could not help laughing.
She did not even know what the gift was, yet here she stood thanking me.
Really…
“What are you laughing at?”
The scene she had hoped for failed to materialize. Swallowing her anger, Liu Wanning asked.
Even Du Cheng frowned.
He had always believed I loved him deeply. It was remarkable enough that I had caused no trouble today.
That I could actually laugh struck him as distinctly unnatural.
“Perhaps you should wait a little. See the gift I've prepared for you both before you thank me.”
“Su Qingyue, what do you mean?”
A vague foreboding stirred in Du Cheng's heart.
“Nothing. You'll find out soon enough.”
I had barely finished when a shout came from outside.
“An imperial decree!”
Du Cheng instantly forgot about me and dropped to his knees.
“Your servant Du Cheng receives the decree!”
He thought the emperor had sent it to honor him.
Zhao Ye spoke.
“Lord Du, this decree is for Miss Su.”
Ignoring the stunned Du Cheng, he smiled at me.
“Miss Su, please receive the decree.”
“Your subject Su Qingyue receives the decree.”
“By the mandate of Heaven, the emperor proclaims: In recognition of the late Grand Tutor Su Zhengliang's service in educating the imperial princes, the late emperor bestowed upon him a blank imperial decree, declaring that any future request brought before the throne with this decree would be granted.”
“Several days ago, the Grand Tutor's beloved daughter Su Qingyue presented this decree to His Majesty and requested permission to divorce Du Cheng.”
“His Majesty has ruled that the late emperor's wishes must be honored.”
“Accordingly, Su Qingyue's petition for divorce is hereby granted.”
“The divorce document has also been prepared.”
“From this day forth, Su Qingyue has no further connection with the Du family.”
“She is free to marry as she chooses.”
“Let this be obeyed!”
“I thank Your Majesty for your gracious favor!”
I accepted the decree, laughing inwardly.
Xiao Yunlan certainly knew how to conjure something out of nothing.
How had I never heard that our family possessed such a blank decree?
“Cailian, Caiwei, pack up my entire dowry. We're going home.”
Only then did Du Cheng recover enough to understand what had happened.
He rushed forward and seized my hand, panic in his voice.
“Su Qingyue, you can't leave!”
“Who said I wanted a divorce?”
This time, he was truly frightened.
He had married Su Qingyue for Grand Tutor Su's connections. The Grand Tutor was dead, but those connections remained.
What would he do if she really divorced him?
He had originally had no backing at court. Attaching himself to the Su family had made his smooth advancement possible.
Even now, more than half the emperor's favor came from his position as the Su family's son-in-law.
He did despise her ugly face.
But he had never once considered divorcing her.
“Lord Du, we no longer have any connection. Please conduct yourself with dignity.”
“Qingyue!”
“Wanning—ah, no. I should call you Madam Du now.”
“Lord Du and I are divorced.”
“You are the Du family's only lawful wife.”
“Are you pleased with my wedding gift?”
Liu Wanning was remarkably quiet. She had not spoken a word.
I had no interest in discovering what she was thinking.
I turned to leave.
Du Cheng was unwilling to let me walk out, but the guards Zhao Ye had brought blocked his way.