Chapter 93: The Han Family Looked Different

Shen Zhifeng’s face froze. “Do you even know what you are saying?”

The moment the words divorce left her mouth, Lady Han felt as though a weight had lifted from her shoulders. There was nothing left for her to fear. The future was full of uncertainty and dread, but could it possibly be worse than this?

For so long, she had worried about face, reputation, and the opinions of others.

She had thought that if she truly divorced him, how would the world judge her? They would probably sneer that so what if she had once been a noble daughter from a general’s household—she still could not keep her husband, could not hold on to her place.

All those former praises of her chastity, gentleness, and virtue had ultimately become the chains that bound her, shackles she could not escape.

She had stood by a husband who did not love her, a man who had betrayed her, and a ducal household that had long since rotted from within, struggling to preserve the title of duchess.

The world praised her, then controlled her, and in the end drank her dry.

She had feared that one false step of her own might drag Qingyun into a storm of ridicule and gossip as well. But what had the result been? Blind of eye and blind of heart, she had nearly ruined her daughter’s life all over again.

As she thought on it, tears fell in great drops, yet a look of release curved her lips.

After seeing Madam Yue, she had kept thinking that Qingyun had already grown far beyond what she had imagined, and saw more clearly as well. Her daughter had quietly been holding up a sky for her, while she herself had only ever looked forward and back in hesitation.

“Shen Zhifeng, I said I want a divorce from you.”

Lady Han wiped the tears from her face and lifted her chin slightly. Now that she looked at Shen Zhifeng, there was no trace of affection left in her eyes. She only found him craven and despicable, and could not understand how she had been blind for so many years. “What is it? I haven’t even had time to slap you, and already you cannot hear me clearly?”

The dowager duchess gasped. “Lady Han! Is this any way to speak to your husband? You are a mother now, so why are you making such a spectacle!”

Yes. Somehow, without her noticing, the girl she had once been—dressed in bright silks, riding swift and spirited—had been worn smooth of all edges and brilliance.

And yet at this moment, something of that former splendor seemed to shine through Lady Han once again.

Shen Zhifeng was shocked and furious. He had no mind to think of his injuries, and wrenching free of the dowager duchess’s hand, he stood up. “I don’t agree! Lady Han, let me tell you this: in life you are a Shen, and in death you will be a Shen ghost. You aren’t going anywhere!”

Then he shouted to the steward, “Come at once and take your mistress back to Warm Jade Pavilion. Without my orders, no one is to let her out.”

The steward looked at Lady Han with some difficulty, but their contracts were in Shen Zhifeng’s hands, and they could only obey him. In the end, he stepped forward respectfully. “Madam, you are still in a fit of anger. It would be best to return and rest first, and perhaps take a look at Second Miss. It seems Second Miss has already awakened.”

Hearing this, Lady Han indeed grew worried about Shen Qingyun. Since the words had already been spoken, there was no chance she would stop now. She had no interest in continuing to tangle with Shen Zhifeng, and turned back first to Warm Jade Pavilion.

Shen Qingyun’s pain had eased by then, and she was lying on the couch to rest.

Pearl asked in a low, uneasy voice, “Miss, there won’t be any aftereffects from that medicine, will there? The sight of you just now nearly scared me to death.”

Shen Qingyun smiled faintly. Her face was still very pale, but the medicine had been specially prepared by Lian Rufeng, so there was naturally nothing to worry about. She was only a little weak now. “I told you to go to the Hanging Medical Hall. Why did Prince Li come too?”

Pearl grinned. “His Highness was worried, so he wanted to come and see for himself.”

In her heart, she understood perfectly well that seeing the young lady was one reason, but it was also the prince’s way of making an impression in front of Lady Han. The prince truly did have the young lady in his heart.

Shen Qingyun pressed her lips together and changed the subject. “I heard Mother went out carrying a whip?”

Pearl nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes! No one knows how things are now.”

Just then, Yicui happened to return from outside with word. “Miss, Madam was truly formidable today. That whip in her hand was beautiful beyond words. I didn’t go to the study, but the servants said the Duke was shrieking like mad, and that Madam even said she wanted a divorce!”

A divorce?

Shen Qingyun froze. This was truly an unexpected delight. She had never imagined her mother would be so enraged.

But thinking about it, it made sense. She herself had lived a second life and had long since come to see marriage and children with detachment. As for being without children, that was a wound in Lady Han’s heart. More than anyone else, she longed for her daughter to marry well, bear children, and live a life of happiness.

“What was the reaction over in the study?”

“The master refused.” Yicui could not help but sigh.

How laughable. He was the one who hated and neglected Lady Han; he was the one who kept a mistress outside; he was the one who had even plotted to take her life. And now he was the one unwilling to divorce.

Shen Qingyun’s eyes churned with emotion. As long as her mother was willing to take this first step, whether the divorce happened or not would no longer be up to him.

By law, this kind of divorce had to be initiated by Shen Zhifeng himself; otherwise, under the current statutes, a woman who sought divorce would be beaten fifty strokes.

A look of cold mockery rose in her eyes. “Did they all drink the soup sent to their rooms?”

Pearl gloatingly said, “The dowager duchess, the eldest miss, and the Duke all drank it. They still have no idea.”

That was good. Since they had drunk it, there was no need to fear that Shen Zhifeng would refuse the divorce.

At that moment, Lady Han returned as well. Because there was some blood on her clothes, she had deliberately changed before coming back. She did not mention anything else for now, only sat down beside the couch and gently stroked Shen Qingyun’s hair at her temples with a heart full of distress. “Qingyun, are you feeling better? Does it still hurt? It is all Mother’s fault.”

“Mother, I’m fine.”

Shen Qingyun smiled and tried to sit up, only to be pushed back down at once by Lady Han.

“Be good and lie still. Look at your face—there isn’t a trace of color left. Qingyun, you must rest well these few days. Don’t worry about anything else. Mother will take care of it, all right?”

Looking at the gentle yet unyielding woman before her, Shen Qingyun felt warmth spreading through her heart. She would never allow her mother to repeat the tragedy of her previous life and die in this cannibalistic ducal household.

Seeing that Shen Qingyun had truly recovered somewhat, Lady Han asked carefully, “Qingyun, are you very familiar with Prince Li?”

“Mm... We are friends,” Shen Qingyun said, a little at a loss.

Lady Han smiled and said nothing more.

Just then a maid brought the medicine. Lady Han took the bowl, spooned up a little, and blew on the steam. “Qingyun, come and drink your medicine.”

The bitter smell made Shen Qingyun frown. She truly hated bitterness.

But with the entire room watching her, she could only steel herself and drink it down. Lady Han, amused, had someone bring preserved fruit. The sweet and tart taste washed away the bitterness, and only then did Shen Qingyun feel much better.

After seeing that she had taken the medicine, Lady Han had her carried back to Reed Courtyard in a soft sedan chair, and only then did she herself go to rest, exhausted to the bone.

By now the night was deep. On Shen Zhifeng’s side, the whip wounds were still aching fiercely when a paper ball was suddenly tossed in from the darkness.

“Who’s there!” Shen Zhifeng cried out. He threw open the window, but there was no one in sight.

Unfolding the paper ball, he saw a single line written upon it:

All the soups served today have been drugged.