When Ji Yuanyi saw the chastity mark on Xiao Wanyu’s arm, a flash of wild joy flickered in his eyes, and his heart pounded rapidly. He had indeed been concerned about this. As the number one scholar of the Great Phoenix Empire, Ji Yuanyi prided himself highly. It was true that he and Xiao Wanyu had grown up together, but the fact remained—Xiao Wanyu had been married for three years. Although she claimed Qin Yan was just a stand-in, who could be certain of the truth?
To take over and marry a woman who had already lost her purity, even if she was a princess, was something Ji Yuanyi was deeply unwilling to do.
Now, seeing that Xiao Wanyu was still a virgin, he felt much more at ease inside. However, he didn’t reveal his true thoughts. Instead, when he saw Xiao Wanyu expose the chastity mark, he hurriedly said, “Princess, what do you mean by this? Do you think I, Ji Yuanyi, care about such things? I understand the hardships you’ve suffered over these years. Even if you were no longer a virgin, I wouldn’t mind in the slightest.”
“Brother Yuanyi…” Xiao Wanyu’s eyes turned moist instantly, deeply moved by his words.
Ji Yuanyi said, “Princess, rest assured. As long as His Majesty grants us the marriage, I will certainly take you as my wife. This life, one lifetime, one couple—I will never fail Your Highness’s deep affection.”
Seeing Xiao Wanyu touched by his words, Ji Yuanyi quickly added, “Mm… Brother Yuanyi, don’t worry. I’ll head to the palace now to meet Father Emperor and show him the divorce letter. I’ll ask him to grant us a marriage decree.”
Xiao Wanyu was already deeply moved, and she replied at once.
“Alright, I’ll wait for your good news, Princess,” Ji Yuanyi said, no longer bothering to keep up appearances.
“Okay, go back to your manor and wait for my good news,” Xiao Wanyu replied. After that, Ji Yuanyi left the Princess’s residence, and Xiao Wanyu brought the divorce letter and immediately entered the palace to meet Emperor Xiao Yuanwu.
In the capital, inside the imperial palace’s imperial garden, Xiao Yuanwu was enjoying the flowers with the Empress and several consorts when a eunuch hurriedly came to report.
“Your Majesty, Princess Changning is here. She wishes to see Your Majesty.”
“Oh, my Changning is here? Quickly, let her in.”
Hearing that Xiao Wanyu had come, Xiao Yuanwu’s face lit up with joy as he summoned his daughter without hesitation. Xiao Wanyu was the beloved daughter of both him and the Empress. Among his seven daughters, she ranked third. But because she was born of the Empress, she had been pampered since childhood and was the most favored among all seven princesses.
Before long, Xiao Wanyu arrived at the imperial garden. As soon as she saw Xiao Yuanwu, she jogged toward him and said, “Your daughter Changning greets Father Emperor and Mother Empress.”
“Rise, no need for formalities. Changning, what brings you to the palace today to see your Father Emperor and Mother Empress?” Xiao Yuanwu asked with a wide smile, clearly delighted.
“Father Emperor, I… I have a request. I hope Father Emperor will agree,” Xiao Wanyu remained kneeling and didn’t rise, indicating she had something important to ask.
“You child, entering the palace just to ask your Father Emperor for favors—how improper. Hurry and get up,” the Empress frowned. As her mother, she knew Xiao Wanyu well, and sensing that her daughter must be up to no good, she scolded her immediately.
“Mother Empress…” Xiao Wanyu pouted, putting on a spoiled expression.
“Hey, Empress, don’t scold her. Changning, get up first. Tell Father Emperor what you want. As long as it’s not too much, Father Emperor will certainly agree,” Xiao Yuanwu said with a gentle smile, clearly indulgent.
“Really? Father Emperor, I want to divorce Prince Consort Qin Yan. This is the divorce letter. He has already agreed. As long as you approve, we can formally part ways. I hope Father Emperor will grant this,” Xiao Wanyu no longer beat around the bush and directly presented the divorce letter, stating her intent.
“What? You want a divorce?”
“Changning, you’re being ridiculous!” Before Xiao Yuanwu could say anything, the Empress had already lost her composure and shouted angrily at Xiao Wanyu.
“Mother Empress…” Xiao Wanyu said, unconvinced, “How is this ridiculous? Qin Yan was merely a temporary solution I used at the time to fill the emptiness left by Ji Yuanyi’s departure. Now that Ji Yuanyi has returned, why would I need Qin Yan? Of course, I want to divorce him.”
“You… You…” The Empress was furious. “Listen to what you’re saying. You’re a royal princess, the daughter of His Majesty. Do you have no sense of shame as a woman? You want to abandon your husband just for another man? You’re utterly shameless. Do you want to drive your mother to an early grave?”
“I know why you married the Prince Consort back then. I also know it was because of Ji Yuanyi that you agreed to the marriage. But over the past three years, are you really unaware of how Qin Yan has treated you? He’s been utterly devoted, caring for you in every possible way. I’ve seen everything he’s done these past three years.”
“He’s managed the Princess’s residence with utmost diligence. Every matter, big or small, he personally handled, sparing you from any burdens. A man this considerate is rare in the world. Others could only dream of such a husband, yet you want to cast him aside? Changning, you are being foolish.”
The Empress continued firmly.
She had, of course, known why Xiao Wanyu married Qin Yan in the first place. Initially, she had merely viewed Qin Yan as someone to keep her daughter company. But as she got to know him better, she realized he was truly a rare and good man. His attentive care for Xiao Wanyu had moved her deeply.
As a woman, she knew exactly how rare someone like Qin Yan was. As a mother, of course she wanted her daughter to be well cared for. That’s why, in her heart, she had already accepted Qin Yan as Xiao Wanyu’s Prince Consort.
Now hearing that Xiao Wanyu wanted to divorce Qin Yan just for Ji Yuanyi, she naturally couldn’t agree. First, because such behavior would bring shame to Xiao Wanyu. More importantly, she knew that if they truly lost a man like Qin Yan, Xiao Wanyu would regret it in the future—and by then, it would be far too late. This was why she was so agitated and scolded her daughter so harshly.