Chapter 302

Chapter 302: The Divorce Agreement She had thought it would take something major for Cui Lingrong to even consider a mutual divorce. As she wrote the divorce agreement, the past flashed before her eyes—those "major" events had actually accumulated more than enough. She signed her name on the divorce agreement, took her personal property and Yu-jie, and early the next morning, brought her people to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. The servants, seeing Cui Lingrong return, assumed she wasn't leaving after all. It wasn't until Cui Zeyu gave the order to have Old Madame Song, Song Shulan, and the others brought out that the servants sensed something was amiss. "Sister, don't worry. With me here, Song Shulan will sign whether he likes it or not." Cui Zeyu gave his sister a reassuring look—he would handle everything. About two quarters of an hour later, Old Madame Song and the others arrived. The moment she saw Cui Lingrong, Old Madame Song began to rebuke her, "So you finally remember to come back. You have no semblance of a proper wife. The fact that we haven't divorced you in disgrace is a testament to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion's righteousness." Song Shulan added, "Indeed, Lady Cui. If you kneel and kowtow to me and Mother today to make amends, then go repent properly before the ancestral tablets, perhaps I might forgive you." Otherwise, he could divorce her himself. "Song Shulan, are you so certain I came to beg for your forgiveness?" Cui Lingrong smiled, her gaze sweeping over the people in the hall. From Old Madame Song to Song Shulan, to the members of the second and third branches—all familiar faces. Cui Lingrong had lived here for over a decade, and only during this time away had she realized how freely and easily she could breathe. "Then what else? What are you here for?" Song Shulan asked. "I came today to have you sign this divorce agreement." Cui Lingrong looked at Song Shulan—this man who had shared her bed for years, who now filled her with such revulsion. "Song Shulan, I don't want you anymore, and I will no longer be the mistress of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. All you need to do is sign. From this day forward, we go our separate ways—bridges are bridges, roads are roads—owing each other nothing." Song Shulan was stunned. Zhao Susu couldn't help but ask, "Who says you can just demand a mutual divorce? You've failed in your wifely duties. If anything, the mansion should be the one to divorce you!" "Zhao, I am the mistress here. It's not your place to speak." Cui Lingrong swept a glance at her, dripping with contempt. "I advise you to keep your mouth shut today. Otherwise, if I change my mind, you'll be under my thumb for the rest of your life. Is that what you want?" Zhao Susu naturally didn't want that, but what she wanted even more was to see Cui Lingrong thrown out in disgrace, not a clean mutual divorce. But she truly feared Cui Lingrong might change her mind. She had Song Shulan look over the divorce agreement first, and upon learning that Cui Lingrong intended to take all her personal property, she gripped Song Shulan's arm and said, "This won't do, Master Song. Cui Lingrong wants to take her property and Yu-jie. How can that be allowed?" Song Shulan was equally unwilling. "Cui Lingrong, you're just a woman. Even if you want a mutual divorce, shouldn't you have the Cui family come discuss it with me?" Cui Zeyu stepped forward. "I am my sister's family. If you have any objections, you can take them up with me directly. As for the contents of the divorce agreement, you should understand—my sister isn't taking a single coin from the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion!" "Then why does she want a divorce?" Song Shulan roared. "I, Song Shulan, married her with respect, gave her a life of luxury and fine clothes. And her? How does she treat me? She says she wants a divorce, and I'm just supposed to agree?" Cui Lingrong laughed at that. "Respect?" "Is it not so?" Song Shulan asked himself honestly—he hadn't done anything truly unforgivable to Cui Lingrong. "You took an Equal Wife behind my back—that's your version of respect?" Cui Lingrong walked toward Song Shulan. "Later, when Yu-jie and the others were schemed against by Zhao Susu, you never once reproached Zhao Susu because you were afraid of the Rong Prince Mansion's power. Instead, you told me to endure it. Is that what you call respect?" "Lady Cui, how dare you speak like that?" Old Madame Song interjected. "My son is still your husband. A wife follows her husband—have you no upbringing at all? Look at yourself now, a complete shrew. How can you set an example for the children?" Cui Lingrong swept a glance at her. "Old Madame, you have no right to lecture me. You're greedy and fond of taking advantage, and you have no skill in managing the household. You occupy the position of the mansion's Old Madame and have schemed against the younger generation more times than I can count. If you want to drag me into this, you'd better worry about your own reputation!" Old Madame Song's face changed instantly. "Shulan, did you hear what she said? Enough! This mansion has no use for such a shrew. Divorce her!" Previously, Old Madame Song hadn't wanted her son and daughter-in-law to divorce—it would be too shameful to speak of. But now that Cui Lingrong was being so arrogant, she couldn't hold back any longer. Madam Jiang and Madam Li on the sidelines dared not move. To put it plainly, this was a conflict within the eldest branch—if they interjected, the flames of war would inevitably spread to them. However, neither Madam Li nor Madam Jiang wanted Cui Lingrong to leave. With Cui Lingrong in charge, at least the second and third branches would never lack for food and clothing. If Zhao Susu took over managing the household, that was far from guaranteed. Song Shulan raised his hand to strike her, but Cui Zeyu shoved him back. "Song Shulan, I'm right here!" "What business is it of yours?" Song Shulan snapped. "Your surname is Lu now, not Cui. Whatever happens between us now, it's not your place to interfere, whether by reason or by propriety! Let me tell you, Lu Zeyu, if you're really capable, then kill me today. Otherwise, there's no way Cui Lingrong is taking a single coin out of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion!" Cui Lingrong laughed again, this time in exasperation. "Say what you will, Song Shulan, but at the end of the day, you're just coveting my money." That one sentence struck right at the hidden intentions of Song Shulan and the others. "Nonsense! My Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion is vast and wealthy—why would I covet your paltry possessions?" Song Shulan averted his gaze. "Besides, Yu-jie is of my marquisate's bloodline. How could she possibly leave with you? In the marquisate, she is the legitimate eldest daughter. If she goes with you, what good family could she possibly marry into?" Old Madame Song seized on this point as well. "Indeed, Lady Cui, you're being far too selfish. If you won't think of yourself, at least think of Yu-jie. You're already so advanced in years, and you choose this moment to seek a mutual divorce. What will people say? If you don't care about your own reputation, don't the three children deserve to keep their dignity?" "Yu-jie is willing to leave with me of her own accord. As for her marriage prospects—I am her mother, and I will never let her suffer any injustice," Cui Lingrong said. Cui Zeyu also spoke up. "That's right. With me as her maternal uncle, Yu-jie will only marry better!" Song Shulan still refused to budge. "No. I refuse, plain and simple. Why would you suddenly want a mutual divorce out of nowhere? If there's no guilt, then what is it?" "Then let me tell you plainly, Song Shulan—you will never get your hands on my private property!" Cui Lingrong declared that she would leave today with the divorce agreement in hand. "And if I refuse to sign, how exactly do you plan to leave?" Song Shulan threatened. "Even if you make a scene, you won't be the one in the right. Let me remind you—once you married into my family, you became a person of the marquisate. All the honor and respect this household has given you over the years—isn't that a form of payment?" Old Madame Song followed up with a cold snort. "If you want to leave, that's fine—but the possessions and Yu-jie both stay!" Round and round it went, always circling back to Cui Lingrong's private property. "You mother and son really are birds of a feather—utterly inhuman!" Cui Lingrong couldn't hold back her curse. Cui Zeyu's face flushed red as well. Just then, Zhuang Huaiming arrived. He was still in his official robes, clearly having rushed over in a hurry. With his short beard, he carried an air of added composure. "Marquis Song, if word gets out that you're coveting my cousin's private property, do you think that will sound good?" "Then Magistrate Zhuang, do you think it sounds good for you to meddle in my household affairs? Or is it that you have some illicit relationship with Lady Cui, and that's why you've come running to speak on her behalf?" Song Shulan, desperate to keep Cui Lingrong's property, spoke without restraint. Cui Lingrong raised her voice. "Song Shulan, you're a rabid dog, slandering people recklessly!" Zhuang Huaiming was the most upright of men. These past days, to avoid any appearance of impropriety, he had only sent his son and daughter to visit the Cui residence—he himself had not set foot there once. Now, hearing Song Shulan openly question whether he had an illicit affair with his cousin, Zhuang Huaiming stood stunned for a long moment, then clenched his fists so hard in anger that his knuckles went white. "Marquis Song, one may eat whatever one pleases, but one cannot say whatever one pleases." Despite being furious beyond measure, Zhuang Huaiming maintained his basic decorum and did not resort to violence. "I advise you to part ways amicably and stop this fuss. If you keep stirring things up, no one will come out of this with their face intact." Cui Zeyu also spoke. "That's right, Song Shulan. Prince Rong can barely protect himself right now. You've been having a hard time lately too, haven't you? If one more thing goes wrong, do you think The Emperor might strip you of your position?" "Lu Zeyu, are you threatening me?" Song Shulan narrowed his eyes. "Fine. You really do wield your official authority with great arrogance. I, Song Shulan, walk upright and sit straight. If you have the guts, go ahead and investigate. If you could find any dirt on me, would you still be standing here talking to me?" Song Shulan indeed had no great achievements to his name, but he had also left no handles to grab. In his official career, he flattered his superiors and was exceedingly slippery. Otherwise, he would have been dismissed from office long ago. Seeing that Song Shulan simply would not agree, Zhuang Huaiming—whose upbringing prevented him from resorting to threats—was at a loss. Cui Zeyu was racking his brains for a solution. In the end, it was Cui Lingrong who spoke. "Then let's burn the bridge and break the net. Song Shulan, if you insist on scheming for my private property, then let the whole of Bianjing know that you've become a eunuch." The moment those words left her mouth, Zhuang Huaiming, Madame Jiang, and everyone else froze in shock. They thought they must have misheard. A eunuch? How could he have become a eunuch? "And as for all those matters with Song Zhizhi and Zhao Susu—if you won't let me have peace, I'll hire a few storytellers and have them regale the tea houses day and night with all the affairs of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion." Cui Lingrong spoke with the tone of someone who had nothing left to lose. "I've been living in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion like each day was a year anyway. Might as well all be disgraced together and see who cracks first." Before coming, Cui Lingrong had already thought it through. Old Madame Song and Song Shulan cared most about face. If reason couldn't persuade them, this was the only card she had left to play. Clearly, Cui Lingrong's words carried considerable weight. Song Shulan stood frozen for a long time, not daring to move, afraid to meet anyone's gaze. Impotence was already a deeply shameful matter—let alone having it spoken aloud in front of others. How could he face these people after this? Song Shulan felt as if Cui Lingrong had ripped off his skin, thrown it to the ground, trampled on it, and even spat on it. "Cu... Cui Lingrong, what nonsense are you talking about?" In the end, Song Shulan said weakly. "Whether it's true or false, you know it in your heart." Cui Lingrong had been holding onto this matter all along, saving it for just such an occasion. "If I don't get the divorce agreement today, I'll make sure the whole of Bianjing knows what you've done by tomorrow..." "Enough!" Song Shulan interrupted loudly, his expression fierce. "We've been husband and wife for years—do you really have to go this far?" "Who's going too far? Song Shulan, you really haven't changed—always so quick to turn the blame around!" Cui Lingrong stared straight into Song Shulan's eyes. Between them, there was no longer any affection, only endless hatred.