"Since Your Highness admits to being partial, why not go reprimand Ning Lanxue and confine her to her quarters for half a month? Wouldn't that be fair?"
Murong Yu was taken aback, not expecting her to refuse to yield.
He felt somewhat displeased.
"Lanxue is frail and cannot be confined."
"Why don't you tell me, Your Highness, where exactly she is frail? The manor physician says she's fine, and I've taken her pulse myself—she's in perfect health. She could kneel for three days and nights without issue, let alone be confined."
Shen Ruoxi's mother was extremely skilled in medicine and poison. It was because her mother had miraculously saved the Emperor from severe injuries that the imperial court held the General's Estate in even greater esteem and trust.
And she had perfectly inherited her mother's talent.
Ning Lanxue had nothing wrong with her body—she just clutched her chest and pretended every day.
And Murong Yu indulged that white lotus flower.
Hearing this, Murong Yu's expression grew even darker.
"Shen Ruoxi, why are you being so insolent today? I will definitely give the position of Principal Consort to Lanxue. Whether you yield or not, you must. If you continue to be this selfish, I will never set foot in your courtyard again!"
Hearing this, Shen Ruoxi's face showed disdain.
She didn't care at all whether he came to her courtyard. Seeing him now was as nauseating as seeing a fly!
However, what she wanted wasn't to never see him again.
She wanted him to get his just deserts—to die without a complete corpse!
Shen Ruoxi picked up a bowl of tea and took a leisurely sip.
"The position of Principal Consort is not something that can simply be yielded. Tell me, Your Highness, how exactly am I supposed to yield it?"
The Dayan Kingdom had clear written laws.
Unless the principal wife passed away, was divorced, or the marriage was dissolved by mutual consent.
Otherwise, no one else could be elevated to that position.
Hearing her say this, Murong Yu thought she was softening.
He quickly said.
"I plan to divorce you first, then marry Lanxue. But don't worry, I'll take you back as a concubine. I won't abandon you, Ruoxi. It's just a title—you're not that narrow-minded, are you?"
The moment those words left his mouth, even Taoye beside her couldn't hold back.
She spoke up.
"My young lady hasn't committed any of the Seven Grounds for Divorce. What reason does Your Highness have to divorce her?"
Murong Yu looked at Shen Ruoxi.
"I've already thought it through. I'll say you're unable to bear me an heir, and demote you to Side Consort. However… it will be a bit difficult to explain to the Emperor and the General's Estate, so I hope, Ruoxi, that you can help smooth things over."
After speaking, Murong Yu sighed.
"Ruoxi, I know this is truly unfair to you. As long as you agree to this, I swear I'll treat you twice as well in the future. If one day I truly ascend to the throne, you will be the mistress of the harem!"
Shen Ruoxi curled her jade-white fingers, her gaze growing colder.
For Murong Yu to even dare suggest something so absurd—yet in her past life, she had actually believed his words.
She had been truly foolish to the extreme.
In this life, he couldn't even dream of it.
Divorce her?
If she were divorced, she would become a laughingstock for the entire world.
Not only would she lose all face herself, but it would also tarnish the reputation of the General's Estate and affect the marriage prospects of the women in the clan.
Murong Yu was truly vicious and disgusting!
"Murong Yu, your shamelessness has truly opened my eyes today."
The moment she spoke, Murong Yu froze.
Then his expression darkened.
"Shen Ruoxi, what did you say!"
"If Your Highness wants to marry that lowly wench, I won't stop you. In fact, I've already thought of a way out for you!"
Shen Ruoxi stood up and walked to the desk.
She picked up the divorce agreement she had written earlier and threw it in Murong Yu's face.
"Murong Yu, as long as you sign this letter of divorce, from this day forward, our marriages and unions have nothing to do with each other! Whether you want to marry Ning Lanxue, that lowly brothel wench, or move an entire brothel into the prince's mansion, that's your freedom!"
Murong Yu's face turned pale as he looked at the letter of divorce in his hand.
Then he shouted angrily.
"Have you lost your mind! I will not divorce you!"
"Didn't you always think I was the one standing in the way of your true love? Now I'm divorcing you, letting you and Ning Lanxue live happily together—why are you unwilling now? Murong Yu, don't you find this ridiculous?"
Murong Yu's expression faltered.
Of course he wouldn't completely separate from Shen Ruoxi—he just wanted to make her a concubine.
He needed the General's Manor.
As an unfavored prince, without the support of the vast General's Manor, his dream of ascending the throne would be nothing but a fool's fantasy!
Moreover, if he divorced her by casting her aside, all the blame would fall on Shen Ruoxi alone.
But a mutual divorce was different—outsiders might even think he doted on his mistress and mistreated his principal consort, which led to the divorce. That would be a tremendous blow to his reputation!
Murong Yu took a sip of cold tea to calm himself down.
The reason he dared to trample on Shen Ruoxi like this was because he had calculated that she was deeply devoted to him, loving him without any dignity, and would never leave no matter what excessive demands he made.
But things had developed far beyond his expectations.
"Shen Ruoxi, your mind is muddled right now. I won't argue with you—calm yourself down!"
Shen Ruoxi sneered.
"Since you don't want a divorce, then don't waste my time here. Goodbye, no need to see me out!"
Was she kicking him out!?
Murong Yu was both shocked and furious.
But Shen Ruoxi's behavior today truly baffled him, and his mind was in turmoil at the moment.
Murong Yu flicked his sleeve and turned to leave, almost looking disheveled.
The next day, as dawn was just breaking, Shen Ruoxi was woken up by Taoye.
"Miss, time to get up. Today is the day you and Prince Qi go to the palace to pay respects to Consort Fang."
Shen Ruoxi squinted her eyes.
"Isn't it still early?"
"It is still early… but don't you need to get up to make breakfast for His Highness?"
For the past half year since marrying into the prince's mansion, Shen Ruoxi had risen extremely early every day.
All to personally make breakfast for Murong Yu.
Not just cooking—she even sewed his clothes, ground his ink, brewed his tea, and so on.
Thinking about those past things, Shen Ruoxi almost wanted to strangle herself.
Shen Ruoxi lay still without moving.
"Have all the servants in the mansion died? Things like this can be done by the servants. Don't call me for this anymore."
"Yes, Miss!"
Taoye was delighted.
If yesterday she was still hesitating whether Shen Ruoxi was playing hard to get, now she could be certain that her young miss had truly changed her attitude toward Prince Qi!
Hmph.
Actually, she had never liked Murong Yu either. She thought he was hypocritical and blind—letting a beauty like her young miss go to waste while doting on that white lotus Ning Lanxue every day.
It was about time she treated him like this!
Shen Ruoxi lay in bed for another half hour before slowly getting up.
Today she needed to go to the palace to pay respects, so she had to rise a bit earlier.
Although she was determined to divorce Murong Yu, she was still the Princess of Qi for now, and proper etiquette had to be observed.
After washing up and getting dressed, Shen Ruoxi had Taoye bring the breakfast to her own room and ate alone.
She didn't want to see Murong Yu's face, afraid she'd be too disgusted to eat.
After finishing their meal, the two of them headed out.
But they were told that Ning Lanxue had a headache, and Murong Yu was in her room coaxing her.
At the door stood Murong Yu's personal attendant, Jing Liu.
He spoke lazily.
"Your Highness, the Prince will likely be a while longer. He asks that you wait."
Prince Qi had always looked down on this Princess Consort, so naturally, his attitude was less than respectful.
Shen Ruoxi said.
"Since Murong Yu can't get away, I see no need for me to wait for him. I'll go to the palace myself."
Jing Liu was clearly startled and immediately said.
"No, Your Highness. If you go alone, I'm afraid it would be improper."
"And is it proper for Murong Yu to delay the palace audience because of a mistress?"
Hearing this, Jing Liu was taken aback and stammered.
"It's still early. The Prince may come out any moment now… What harm is there in waiting a little longer…"
Taoye was furious.
"Who do you think you are, daring to speak to the Princess Consort like that!"
Jing Liu said nothing, but his face showed disdain.
She'd been cowering for over half a year, and now she suddenly puts on airs of a Princess Consort.
Who was she trying to scare!
Shen Ruoxi said calmly.
"Taoye, no need to mind him. Help me onto the carriage."
With that, she turned her head and suddenly added. "But this carriage is too high, and the footstool is uncomfortable to step on. Jing Liu, get down on all fours and let me step on you to board the carriage."