Late February in Chang’an Cheng brought pleasant spring scenery. The sun shone brightly, and the willows by the stream had begun to sprout tender buds.
Meng Shuhe rode her carriage toward the street outside Zhenguogong Fu. When they were about half a li away, the carriage was blocked at the street corner by a line of carriages parked ahead.
Lan’er went forward to investigate the source of the congestion. After a while, she returned to the carriage to report:
“Miss, I heard that Zhenguogong Fu is celebrating a joyous occasion today, so the guests’ carriages are blocking the road. You are, after all, the wife of the Zhenguogong Shizi. How could Zhenguogong Fu hold a celebration without even informing you?”
Seeing Lan’er’s righteous indignation, Meng Shuhe gave a faint smile. “Yesterday, Zhenguogong Fu sent someone with a Xiushu. In their eyes, I am no longer the Shizi’s wife.”
Lan’er was shocked. “A Xiushu? Miss, how could Zhenguogong Fu divorce you? What right do they have to divorce you?”
“Three years without offspring,” Meng Shuhe said calmly. “It is a violation of the Qichu.”
“But the reason you have no offspring after three years is because the Shizi never stepped foot in your room!” Lan’er couldn’t help but feel frustrated and angry. “How could you possibly give birth to a child under such circumstances?”
Meng Shuhe had Lan’er help her down from the carriage.
As soon as they stepped out, the two overheard the conversations of the guests heading toward Zhenguogong Fu.
“Why is the Shizi of Zhenguogong Fu marrying a daughter of Pingyuan Houfu as his wife again today? I remember the Shizi married the eldest daughter of Pingyuan Houfu three years ago, didn’t he? I haven’t heard anything about his previous wife passing away.”
“That, you wouldn’t know. There are two ‘eldest daughters’ in the Meng family of Pingyuan Houfu. Meng Ruoli, who was the Meng family’s young miss for sixteen years, wasn’t the biological child of the Marquis and his wife; she was the one swapped at birth. The true Meng daughter only returned to Chang’an Cheng from the countryside when she was sixteen. A marriage contract already existed between the Shen and Meng families, and three years ago, both families were troubled over whether the contract fell upon the true or the false daughter. Though the true daughter shared the Meng bloodline, she was a girl raised in the countryside with no sense of propriety and was unfit to be the future mistress of Zhenguogong Fu. However, that false daughter wasn’t truly a Meng, and no one knew who her biological parents were. In the end, it was the Old Madame of Zhenguogong Fu who made the decision, allowing the true daughter who had been lost in the countryside to marry the Shizi.”
“This Shizi is an elegant gentleman praised by everyone in Chang’an Cheng. Wasn’t it a waste for him to marry a woman from the countryside?”
“Exactly. But good things come to those who wait. That true daughter from the countryside was divorced after three years without offspring. Now, Shizi Shen Qian of Zhenguogong Fu is finally able to marry Meng Ruoli, who received the proper upbringing of a noble lady within Pingyuan Houfu.”
Meng Shuhe’s brows arched slightly at the words. Shen Qian had only given her the Xiushu yesterday, and today he was grandly marrying Meng Ruoli?
Lan’er was once again filled with indignation. “Miss, the Shen family is bullying you too much! How can the Shizi divorce his wife and marry another so quickly?”
“I’m fuming!”
Lu Xiu’s infant-like, milky voice was full of irritation. “Mother, the Shen family has actually bullied you to this extent! If I could still go back, I would definitely use my status as the Crown Prince to teach the Shen family a harsh lesson!”
Meng Shuhe placed her hand gently on her lower abdomen. She looked at Lan’er beside her and asked, “Do you hear an infant’s voice?”
Lan’er shook her head. “No, Miss. Is there the sound of an infant here?”
Meng Shuhe couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly going mad from anger. The idea that Lu Jing was the Crown Prince was hard enough to believe on its own. If he really were the Crown Prince, why would he have spent the last month mooching off her family for food and drink?
“It’s nothing. Let’s go to Zhenguogong Fu.”
When they reached the entrance of Zhenguogong Fu, Meng Shuhe saw auspicious “Double Happiness” characters posted on the doors and red silk draped over the plaque. Guests filled the area, and it was incredibly lively. The high-hanging palace lanterns also bore the “Double Happiness” characters.
Outside the gates, welcoming the guests, were Second Master Shen and Second Mistress Shen of Zhenguogong Fu, their faces glowing with smiles.
That was, until they saw Meng Shuhe, dressed in plain clothing. The two froze in their tracks.
Meng Shuhe stepped forward with a light smile. “Second Uncle, Second Aunt. The estate is so lively with today’s celebration. Why did no one come to the manor to tell me of this joyous occasion at home? I could have come to help you host the guests.”
Second Mistress Shen looked up at Second Master Shen.
Second Master Shen had also not expected Meng Shuhe to show up. His eyes were filled with awkwardness.
Meng Shuhe said, “Second Uncle, with such a grand display today, I wonder who is getting married?”
Second Master Shen hurriedly gestured for a servant to report to the Duchess of Zhenguogong.
From not far away, the sound of ceremonial music drifted over.
Meng Shuhe looked over and saw her “husband,” Shen Qian, riding a large red horse at the head of the procession. The red robes complemented his handsome features, making him look like the refined scion of a noble house, earning many compliments from the passersby.
Meng Shuhe walked forward and stood beside the red horse. She looked up at Shen Qian, the Shizi of Zhenguogong Fu, who was clad in red. “Husband, are you taking a concubine today? Why such a grand display for a concubine?”
Shen Qian had not expected Meng Shuhe to come to the Shen residence. He tightened his grip on the reins, his haughty eyes filled with contempt for her.
Meng Shuhe was beautiful, certainly, but she was a woman raised in the countryside without a shred of propriety or education. Having grown up among petty merchants, she was stained with the stench of copper.
Shen Qian’s voice was cold and arrogant. “Who is your husband? Did you not receive the Xiushu I sent you yesterday?”
“Xiushu?” Meng Shuhe asked. “What Xiushu? Husband, do you intend to divorce me?”
Meng Wang, the Shizi of Pingyuan Houfu, who was accompanying the bridal sedan, rode his horse forward. He scolded Meng Shuhe angrily:
“Meng Shuhe, you have been discarded by the Shen family! Instead of staying properly at the manor, what are you doing here, making a fool of yourself?”
Meng Shuhe ignored her brother and looked directly at Shen Qian. “Husband, why was I unaware that I had been divorced?”
The groom had led the bride to the gate of the estate, surrounded by guests and neighbors who had come to watch the spectacle. Seeing Meng Shuhe causing a scene, they began to whisper among themselves in small groups.
Shen Qian frowned. “Meng Shuhe, I already sent someone to deliver the Xiushu to you. You have produced no offspring in three years. Having violated the Qichu, it is only right that you are divorced.”
Meng Shuhe let out a laugh. “Truly hilarious. On the day I married you, you claimed you had official business and were gone for half a year. Then Grandmother passed away, and you used the three-year mourning period as an excuse never to enter my room. To this day, you have never entered my chamber, nor have we ever consummated our marriage. How could I possibly have offspring?”
Shen Qian glared at Meng Shuhe, his eyes flashing with irritation. “You woman from the countryside truly have no idea what upbringing means. As a woman, how dare you speak of the marriage bed in public? Have you no shame?”
Meng Shuhe smiled faintly. “You can divorce your wife without cause and marry another—is that what upbringing looks like? Marrying two Shizi’s wives, where is the propriety in that?”
Shen Qian said, “Meng Shuhe, you have already been divorced for being childless.”
Meng Shuhe looked up at Shen Qian. “I do not acknowledge this Xiushu, Shizi. You know full well why I have no children. Furthermore, there are the Qichu and the Sanbuchu regarding the divorce of a wife. You say you wish to divorce me for being childless, yet I never prevented you from taking concubines to bear children; rather, it was you who was unwilling to father children due to mourning. Moreover, I fall under one of the Sanbuchu: I have observed the three-year mourning period. I observed three years of mourning for Grandmother alongside you, fulfilling my duties as a granddaughter-in-law. How can you arbitrarily divorce your wife and marry another?”
From atop his horse, Shen Qian saw the guests pointing and whispering. He frowned and looked down at Meng Shuhe.
“I do not like you. Why insist on forcing yourself to stay in the Shen family? It is better to part on good terms.”
Meng Shuhe said coldly, “You wasted three years of my life, forced me to carry the reputation of a divorcee for no fault of my own, and divorced me on the pretext of being childless. You call this parting on good terms?”
Meng Wang flipped down from his horse and stepped forward, grabbing Meng Shuhe’s wrist. “Meng Shuhe! Stop embarrassing my Meng family in public! You are childless; you deserve to be divorced.”
“How absurd. My husband never entered my room. If I did have a child, wouldn’t I deserve to be divorced even more?”
Meng Shuhe sneered. “Brother, you are my biological elder brother. Instead of helping me seek justice, you are actually helping the Shen family bully me today?”
Meng Wang’s hand shook with rage at her words. He tried to pull her away. “Stop making a scene! Follow me back to the Meng family!”