Volume 1 Chapter 4: Divorce Agreement
Lu Qiao Nan knelt on the ground, his expression dejected as he dared not look up at Yan Qing. He said in anguish, "Qingqing, it's all my fault. Let Tan'er go. If you must blame someone, blame me—"
Slap!
Yan Qing slapped Lu Qiao Nan across the face—a slap she had wanted to deliver in her past life!
How dare he have the audacity to plead for Yan Tan's sake?
Five finger marks instantly bloomed on Lu Qiao Nan's cheek, yet he seemed not to feel the pain. His voice hoarse, he said, "Qingqing, if it will ease your anger, you can keep hitting me…"
"You jest, Heir Lu."
Yan Qing withdrew her hand, looking at Lu Qiao Nan with gentle refinement. "This slap is for my elder sister. As the Heir of the Marquisate, you disregarded propriety, integrity, and shame to seduce a virtuous woman. You disgrace the title of a disciple of sages!"
Lu Qiao Nan froze. "You… what did you call me?"
Yan Qing smiled. "Heir Lu."
Lu Qiao Nan felt something was off.
He corrected her, "Qingqing, you should call me…"
"Husband?"
Yan Qing's smile remained gentle, but her expression gradually turned icy. "Lu Qiao Nan, are you worthy?"
Lu Qiao Nan's face instantly paled.
Was he worthy?
He… was not!
He had wronged Qingqing.
Lu Qiao Nan closed his eyes, his voice choked with emotion. "Qingqing, you can hit me, scold me—do whatever you want as long as it eases your anger. Punish me however you wish. But Tan'er…"
Lu Qiao Nan struggled to speak. "It was I… who wronged her."
Yan Qing laughed.
What colossal nerve!
Watching Lu Qiao Nan's deeply conflicted and pained expression, Yan Qing's smile bloomed radiantly. "Yes, you wronged her. Her death today is your fault. But… what does that have to do with me?"
Lu Qiao Nan abruptly looked up.
Gazing at Yan Qing's familiar smiling face, he suddenly found it strange.
He admitted he had done wrong by Qingqing, but that was a matter between them. Whatever Qingqing did to him was justified. But if Yan Tan were truly dragged away for dunking in a pig cage today, how could he live with himself afterward?
He had already wronged Tan'er—how could he let her face death?
As long as Qingqing spared Tan'er's life, everything could be smoothed over.
How could it have nothing to do with her?
Yan Qing found Lu Qiao Nan's self-righteous expression utterly laughable.
Did he still think they could continue after all this? Who gave him the nerve? Oh, she did.
Her wholehearted devotion had made him believe she couldn't live without him.
Even after he wronged her, did he think kneeling, apologizing, slapping himself, and weeping in remorse could make it as if nothing happened?
After all, a prodigal son's return is priceless!
That's what everyone believed, and Lu Qiao Nan was no exception.
Unfortunately, old dreams can be revisited, but a broken mirror cannot be mended. Lu Qiao Nan hadn't understood this in their past life, and in this life, he still didn't.
Yan Qing estimated that Yan Junyuan would arrive soon.
She retrieved the prepared divorce agreement from her sleeve and tossed it to Lu Qiao Nan, her expression calm. "Lu Qiao Nan, from today onward, you are you, and I am I. All that happened yesterday is in the past. From now on, we are strangers—I hope you understand."
Lu Qiao Nan stared sharply at Yan Qing.
She didn't utter any harsh words about severing ties, nor did she appear heartbroken. She simply looked at him without joy or sorrow.
Yet it inexplicably unsettled Lu Qiao Nan.
He crawled forward on his knees, trying to grasp Yan Qing's hand. "Qingqing…"
But Yan Qing took a step back, turned around, and composedly bowed to the assembled guests. "This family disgrace has sullied your eyes. Yan Er apologizes to you all. If there has been any lack of hospitality, I beg your forgiveness."
The guests were momentarily overwhelmed by her graciousness.
No one expected that even in such circumstances, Second Miss Yan could still be so considerate and courteous, taking their feelings into account.
Heir Lu was truly in the wrong!
Yan Qing continued, "Today, I ask all of you to bear witness. Lu Qiao Nan committed adultery with my half-sister on our wedding day, not only humiliating me but also tarnishing the reputation of my Yan family. Even if I still hold affection for him, I can no longer be his wife. For the sake of my father and the dignity of the Yan family, I, Yan Qing, hereby swear that from this day forward, I will sever all ties with Lu Qiao Nan and have no further dealings with him!"
Her resolute tone left everyone stunned.
Although Lu Qiao Nan had caused such an absurd scandal today and was gravely at fault, everyone generally believed that the woman who had seduced Heir Lu should be punished. As for Lu Qiao Nan…
What man doesn’t stray?
As long as Yan Qing firmly held her position as the Heir's Wife of the Marquisate, no one would dare to challenge her. Even if Yan Tan were taken into Lu Qiao Nan’s household, she would still be beneath Yan Qing, completely at her mercy.
Moreover, Lu Qiao Nan was not just the Heir of the Marquisate; he was also a great hero in the suppression of the rebellion in the northwest, personally appointed by the Emperor as the Commander of the Imperial Guard. Even Prince Qi had to treat him with respect.
Yet Yan Qing not only slapped Lu Qiao Nan in public but also threw a divorce agreement at him?
To sever all ties with Lu Qiao Nan?
Everyone found it somewhat unbelievable, yet it also seemed to make sense…
Heir Lu married Second Miss Yan but dallied with First Miss Yan on their wedding day, making it known to all. This was tantamount to trampling the Yan family’s dignity underfoot.
Even an ordinary family would find such humiliation unbearable, let alone the Yan family?
Yan Junyuan, the Minister of Revenue, was known for his integrity and valued reputation above all. With both his daughters having their reputations ruined by Lu Qiao Nan on the same day, he would likely struggle to hold his head high in court from now on.
For the sake of her father Yan Junyuan’s dignity, Yan Qing voluntarily requested a divorce, which seemed to be the only way to salvage the last shred of the Yan family’s honor!
The guests felt even more sympathy for Yan Qing.
After waiting in the capital for three long years, she finally married the young man she loved, only to be betrayed by her husband and half-sister on their wedding night. How heartbroken Second Miss Yan must be?
Yet she neither cried nor made a scene. Instead, she chose to request a divorce to protect the Yan family’s reputation, displaying a maturity that tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.
What virtue did Yan Junyuan possess to have raised such an exceptional daughter?
Some of the more tender-hearted ladies and young misses had already begun to weep softly.
Seizing the moment, Yan Qing had Yan Tan escorted away and hurriedly left Wu'an Marquis Manor without so much as a glance at Lu Qiao Nan.