The Xiao family never expected that someone from the palace would actually come. Cui Anru's earlier words had already left them somewhat uneasy.
Liang Ziyu also looked at Cui Anru with concern, fearing she was merely putting on a brave front.
"Don't worry."
Cui Anru patted her hand, then pulled Cui Lang to her side, and together they knelt to receive the imperial decree.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Annan Hou has violated human decency by seeking to take an Equal Wife during the national mourning period. Considering his military achievements, We have already made an exception. Although We have rejected the request of the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo to divorce her husband, We grant her a consensual divorce, effective immediately. Annan Hou's household must return all expenses incurred by the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo over the past two years, totaling seven hundred and fifty thousand taels, within three days. So it is decreed."
Xiao Rang was dumbfounded. This Cui Anru—had she gone to the palace to seek an imperial decree for divorcing her husband?
"Cui Anru, have you gone mad? Your father and brother are gone. Who else would want you if you leave my brother?"
Xiao Xueling was the first to lose her temper, shouting directly.
Old Madam was even more distressed about the money.
"Seven hundred and fifty thousand taels? Why don't you just rob us?"
Cui Anru gave them a cold glare.
"If either of you is dissatisfied, you may go to the palace and ask The Emperor to revoke his decree."
Returning their own tactics upon them, Old Madam's already disheveled expression grew even more colorful.
The palace official surveyed the family and left without any delay.
It was only then that Xiao Rang reacted: "Cui Anru, you truly don't know what's good for you!"
"The imperial decree has been issued. Anru is now a free woman. Taking back what is rightfully hers is only natural. Annan Hou, mind your words."
Liang Ziyu immediately backed her up.
Lady Yang finally approached at this moment: "Madam of the heir…"
"From now on, please address me as the General's Lady. The Emperor has posthumously conferred the title of Huguo General upon my husband. Save your attempts to curry favor, as we no longer have any ties."
Lady Yang felt somewhat awkward but insisted, "There must be some misunderstanding…"
"Misunderstanding your ancestors! Must you force me to speak harshly?" Liang Ziyu despised Lady Yang the most for this act of pretending to be a good person behind the scenes while knowing everything and silently condoning it—a despicable creature.
Seeing Lady Yang's visibly changed expression, Liang Ziyu spat and said, "Don't forget how many times you and this old hag bowed your heads to visit our home to beg for Anru's hand in marriage. Now think about your current arrogant and overbearing behavior. Heaven sees all; don't think that playing innocent will spare you when thunder strikes."
Xiao Xueling rushed forward and shouted, "All the men of your Zhenguogong Mansion are dead. Let's see how long you can stay smug."
Slap…
Cui Anru delivered a slap without any hesitation.
"How dare you hit—"
Slap… Slap…
A series of slaps followed. Cui Anru's rapid succession of actions stunned the Xiao family and delighted Danqing and the others.
"Enough! How can you be so domineering!" Xiao Rang stepped in to stop Cui Anru.
Giving him a disdainful look, Cui Anru stared straight at Xiao Xueling: "Remember today's lesson. If I ever hear you speak disrespectfully of the Xiao Family again, I will kill you."
Xiao Xueling was indeed frightened and immediately fell silent.
"Marquis, sign."
Cui Anru produced the already prepared consensual divorce agreement.
Xiao Rang's expression was utterly grim. Everything today felt like a dream.
That morning he had still been smugly thinking about enjoying the blessings of two wives, but now his reputation was already in ruins.
The imperial decree had arrived, and he had no choice but to sign.
After securing the consensual divorce agreement, Cui Anru reminded him: "If the 750,000 taels of silver are not delivered to Zhenguogong Mansion within three days, you will be defying the imperial decree."
Old Madam ultimately could not accept it: "How dare you demand 750,000 just based on your word alone?"
Cui Anru calmly produced the account book: "This records in detail all the expenses I incurred for you since I entered this household. Nearly half of it was spent on expensive medicinal herbs for you, you old wretch. Did you think the illnesses you accumulated over years of poverty could be cured without expensive medicine, aside from my day-and-night care?"
Old Madam was immediately humiliated, and the servants dared not speak.
They had all witnessed firsthand how Cui Anru had attended to Old Madam back then.
Xiao Rang actually felt a twinge of guilt—his family had never mentioned any of this to him.
"And as for the jewelry and hairpieces Xiao Xueling wore when socializing with friends, did you really think people befriended you because they valued your impoverished status?"
Cui Anru gave Xiao Xueling no chance to retort before turning to Lady Yang: "Over these past two years, whenever you went out to socialize, you would come crying to me about being poor. You should know in your heart how you managed to step out in the end. I received not a single penny from the Xiao Family's income, yet I bore every expense without fail. The account book has already been reviewed by The Emperor. If you have any objections, you can follow your mother-in-law's example and go argue before The Emperor. Let's see whether I deceived the sovereign or you deceived yourselves."
All of Xiao Rang's pride seemed to have been stripped away by Cui Anru.
"Cui Anru, enough. We have been married for two years. Although I was not home, Grandmother and Mother always treated you as their own. Yet you started keeping accounts from the very day you entered this household, proving you are petty and narrow-minded. With such a lack of vision, you are truly unfit to be the matriarch of my Xiao Family."
Liang Ziyu could not stand these words and stepped forward to deliver another slap.
"Xiao, you scoundrel! The Xiao Family has been using Anru's dowry for two whole years. Instead of being grateful, you blame her for keeping accounts that leave you no room for denial. But given that you were capable of committing adultery beside your father-in-law and brother-in-law's coffins, this level of shamelessness is hardly surprising. I warn you—if you don't return the money within three days, I will take my son to the imperial court!"
The arrogance of the Xiao Family was completely suppressed by the two sisters-in-law, leaving them utterly defenseless.
"Everything I previously provided for you only needs to be converted into cash. Don't try to fob me off with used items—I find them dirty."
After saying this, Cui Anru ordered the servants to start loading the carts.
Dan Bai had already taken advantage of their argument to summon a convoy of carts.
Watching helplessly as Cui Anru's dowry could no longer remain in the Xiao Family, Old Madam beat her chest in anguish, repeatedly lamenting this cursed fate.
Xiao Xueling stared intently—many of the items were things she had long coveted but had not yet had the chance to take.
Cui Anru, what makes you so special?
At the street corner, Lu Jingchen's carriage stood quietly.
"Prince, should we go over to help?" Xu Huai asked.
"No need. She can handle it herself. Deliberately offering favors would only come across as hypocritical," Lu Jingchen replied in his usual detached tone.
Ruogu, standing nearby, spoke up: "Don't worry, the Cui family's young lady has already entrusted the Prince with arranging matters for that mother and daughter pair. They will surely come knocking in a few days. Besides, today the Prince even took out a Heart-Protecting Pill…"
Xu Huai nodded, then couldn't help but sigh: "If we can truly find the Medical Immortal through this Cui family's young lady, the Prince's illness will certainly be cured. When that time comes, that mother and son won't be able to keep jumping around all day—it's truly annoying just watching them…"