Xia Xing’er said gently, “Old Madam is right. And what does the General have to say?”
Helian Zhi also spoke up at the right moment, “You’ve been managing the household for the past three years, so of course these expenses should come from you. Don’t talk about using your dowry to cover the shortfall—our General’s Manor has ancestral property, farmlands, and shops, all of which you’ve been in charge of. Now that there’s no money in the accounts, where has all the silver gone? Have you squandered it all?”
Xia Xing’er sneered, “Do you think your General’s Manor is some noble family? This manor was granted to your grandfather when he served as Regional Commander. How much salary does your father earn in a year? And as a Fourth-rank General, how much is your own salary?”
“As for the property left by your grandfather, do you know how much it costs to maintain a General’s Manor? Do you know how much a single dose of medicine costs for Old Madam, who has been ill ever since you left?”
Helian Zhi didn’t believe any of this. He thought Xia Xing’er was just trying to make things difficult for him. “You’re saying all this just to avoid providing the silver, aren’t you? If that’s the case, I’ll find a way to handle the betrothal gifts and betrothal money myself. I’ve earned military merit this time, and His Majesty will surely grant a reward. That should be enough.”
Xia Xing’er said, “Has the General forgotten that your military merit was used to request Ye Qingyu’s hand in marriage? Since the two of you are so deeply in love, surely you wouldn’t care about the amount of betrothal money?”
Helian Zhi opened his mouth to say something but then closed it. The list of betrothal gifts and betrothal money had been drawn up by Ye Qingyu herself. As a man, how could he not fulfill the requests of the woman he loved?
Xia Xing’er said, “It’s not impossible for me to provide this silver, General, but you’ll have to write me an IOU.”
Hearing that he had to write an IOU, Helian Zhi’s handsome brows furrowed uncomfortably.
Xia Xing’er was slapping him in the face. As her husband, having to write an IOU to borrow money from her—what kind of logic was that in the world?
Helian Rong chimed in to make her presence felt, “Sister-in-law, what’s all this talk of borrowing? Ten thousand taels is nothing more than a drop in the bucket for you. Making Eldest Brother write an IOU for it would be a laughingstock if word got out.” After saying this, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed.
“Rong’er, what kind of talk is that? Don’t you all know how much your sister-in-law has sacrificed for the General’s Manor these past three years? You should be grateful and remember her kindness.”
Old Madam pretended to scold her daughter angrily, repeatedly urging everyone to remember Xia Xing’er’s goodness.
But in her heart, she was blaming Xia Xing’er for being unreasonable and nitpicking with her own husband. Since she had married into the General’s Manor, wasn’t everything she had now the property of the manor? Shouldn’t the silver be spent on the manor? If she wasn’t spending it on the General’s Manor, where else did she want to spend it?
Then, with a tone of earnest concern, she said to Xia Xing’er, “Xing’er, I know you went to the palace to plead with His Majesty. That really wasn’t a wise move. In the future, when Qingyu marries into the family and achieves merit, it will bring glory to our General’s Manor, and you’ll share in that honor too.”
Xia Xing’er truly didn’t want to keep up this act with them any longer.
“Old Madam, I did go to the palace, but not to beg His Majesty to cancel the marriage. Rest assured, Ye Qingyu will definitely marry into the General’s Manor and become your daughter-in-law.”
Old Madam was delighted to hear this, but before her joy could fully settle, she heard, “I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager to request a decree for a Divorce Decree.”
What?
A decree for a Divorce Decree?
For whom?
Not only was Old Madam stunned, but everyone in the room was left speechless.
“What? You want a divorce?” Old Madam roared in disbelief.
Helian Heng, Helian Zhi’s father who had been acting like a transparent presence, turned livid.
“Just moments ago, I was thinking how sensible you were, that Zhi’er had married a good wife, and our Helian family had gained a fine daughter-in-law…”
He looked utterly disappointed in her.
Helian Zhi hadn’t expected her to actually seek divorce. “What did you say?”
Helian Rong said, “Do you know what you’re saying? My eldest brother just earned military merit. How many women in the capital wish to marry him, yet you actually want a divorce? Someone like you deserves to be divorced.”
Old Madam had now recovered, but she realized that if they divorced, Xia Xing’er would take all her dowry with her. This absolutely could not happen. She abruptly raised her head, glaring hatefully at Xia Xing’er, her voice rough and hoarse as she spoke, “Just because Zhi’er wants to take an equal wife, you seek divorce? This is jealousy—one of the Seven Reasons for Divorce!”
As she spoke, she even pounded the bed with both hands in a show of frustration, as if she cared deeply for Xia Xing’er as a daughter-in-law.
Helian Rong exclaimed dramatically, “If it’s one of the Seven Reasons for Divorce, then she can only be divorced.”
Helian Hui said, “Eldest sister-in-law, I have always respected you, but as your brother-in-law, I must say this: Eldest brother isn’t taking multiple wives and concubines—he’s only marrying an equal wife. For you to seek divorce over this is wrong. A woman should regard her husband as her heaven.”
Helian Heng said to Helian Zhi, “Zhi’er, we cannot keep such a jealous woman. Divorce her, but her dowry must not be taken away. Let it compensate for the losses to our General’s Manor.”
Xia Xing’er and her maid watched this family’s frantic performance.
They wanted her dowry and even had the audacity to say such shameless things.
After a long silence, Helian Zhi finally spoke, “I don’t want her dowry.”
Old Madam clutched her chest. “Zhi’er, her dowry cannot be taken away—all that silver, the shops, and estates.”
Helian Zhi insisted, “Mother, I will find a way to earn silver myself. I never intended to take her dowry.”
Hearing Helian Zhi say this, Xia Xing’er’s opinion of him improved slightly—but only slightly.
Greed coiled like a venomous snake in Old Madam’s heart, relentlessly urging Helian Zhi.
“No, absolutely not. Write the letter of divorce now, or it will be too late once the divorce decree arrives.”
Xia Xing’er found this truly absurd. Right in front of her, they were scheming to seize her dowry—did they really think she didn’t exist?
“Zhi’er, don’t be foolish. Quickly divorce her and send her back to the Marquis’s Mansion. She still has the Marquis’s Mansion. That silver can be used for you to marry again, and the rest can pave the way for your future.”
“Someone, go fetch her dowry list immediately!”
As soon as Old Madam finished speaking, a loud announcement came from the doorway: “The Imperial Edict has arrived!”
Everyone’s expressions changed, and they immediately composed themselves.
Old Madam could no longer bother with Xia Xing’er. She hastily ordered, “Quickly, set up the incense table to receive the Imperial Edict!”
Servants hurriedly arranged the incense table in the main courtyard. As soon as it was ready, Eunuch Wu from Emperor Shunkang’s side, accompanied by Granny Hua from the Empress Dowager’s retinue and several Imperial Guards, entered.
Seeing Granny Hua from the Empress Dowager’s side, everyone’s expressions turned grim.
They knew their plans were about to fall apart.
Eunuch Wu glanced at the crowd and said, “Helian Zhi, kneel to receive the decree.”
Everyone’s expressions shifted again, now filled with joy. As long as it wasn’t the divorce decree for Xia Xing’er, there was still room for them to maneuver.
Helian Zhi stepped forward and knelt down, “Helian Zhi receives the imperial decree.”
The others in the General’s Manor also knelt behind Helian Zhi. Xia Xing’er did not want to kneel, but since everyone else had knelt, she would stand out like a crane among chickens if she remained standing. She had no choice but to follow and kneel as well.