Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 48: Divorcing a Wife

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Divorcing a Wife

Due to an urgent report from the border, Lu Lingxiao went to the military camp yesterday.

The generals argued all night about how to deal with Beiliang, and by the time Lu Lingxiao stepped out of the main tent, dawn had already broken.

He planned to return to his own tent to rest, but a servant from the Lu Family came looking for him.

"Young Master, something has happened at home. You should hurry back and take a look!"

"What happened?"

"This... this lowly one dares not gossip carelessly. You should ask Miss Lin directly!"

Was it Wan’er who sent for him?

Did something happen to Wan’er?

Without a moment’s hesitation, despite having gone without sleep all night, Lu Lingxiao spurred his horse and rushed back to the Lu Family estate.

"Wan’er!"

He found Lin Wan’er in the main chamber of Feng Courtyard, her face pale and haggard. His brows instantly furrowed, and his tone grew cold. "Lu Luo, how are you taking care of your mistress?"

Lu Luo quickly responded, "Forgive me, General!"

Lin Wan’er gestured with her hands, signaling: It has nothing to do with Lu Luo. I just couldn’t sleep.

A look of concern flashed across Lu Lingxiao’s face. "Is your body unwell? Have you strained yourself, or—"

Lin Wan’er shook her head, reaching out to gently touch the stubble shadowing his jaw. Her eyes filled with pity as she signed: Did General also not sleep last night?

"I was handling some military affairs," Lu Lingxiao replied, not wanting to delve into border matters lest they worry her. "Let’s talk about you instead. What happened last night?"

Lin Wan’er lowered her head and signed: General, Wan’er has no face to remain in the Lu Family anymore.

Lu Lingxiao’s brows knit tightly. "What nonsense is this? Who has humiliated you? Could it be her again—?"

The first person who came to his mind as someone antagonistic toward Lin Wan’er was Meng Qianqian.

Lu Luo spoke resentfully, "Mistress! It’s not even your fault!"

Lu Lingxiao pressed Lin Wan’er further, "You’re driving me mad with worry. What exactly happened?"

Lu Luo interjected, "General, allow this servant to explain! Yesterday, the Noble Consort summoned both Miss Lin and the Eldest Young Madam. Out of compassion for Miss Lin’s plight, the Noble Consort wanted to give her an official status. However, the Eldest Young Madam refused and even openly defied the Noble Consort, claiming that she wasn’t the Empress and had no right to meddle in the affairs of court officials. She even said that if the Noble Consort had the ability, she should get the Empress to issue an edict! General, can you imagine saying such things? The Noble Consort was furious on the spot, and despite Miss Lin pleading on her behalf, nothing could be done!

Initially, the Noble Consort only intended a minor reprimand, and the matter would have ended if the Eldest Young Madam had admitted her fault. But who could have guessed that the Eldest Young Madam would allow that maid called Tan’er to cause a scene in the Changchun Palace, almost injuring the Noble Consort!"

Lu Lingxiao’s face darkened instantly. "What?"

Lin Wan’er tugged at Lu Lingxiao’s sleeve as she signed: Tan’er was only trying to protect her mistress. She’s young and doesn’t understand the strict rules of the palace.

Lu Lingxiao spoke in a frosty tone, "The maid doesn’t understand, but shouldn’t she? She shouldn’t have brought an impulsive and reckless maid into the palace in the first place!"

Lin Wan’er looked up at him, timid and afraid.

Lu Lingxiao quickly softened his tone. "I wasn’t scolding you. Where is she now?"

Lu Luo answered on behalf of her mistress, "The Eldest Young Madam has been taken away by the Governor Mansion. Miss Lin has been worried about her safety all night and hasn’t shut her eyes. Seeing how serious the situation was, and with the Master absent from the estate, Miss Lin immediately sent people to the military camp to find you."

Lin Wan’er signed with a guilt-ridden expression: It’s all my fault. If not for me, none of this would have happened.

Lu Lingxiao held her hands tightly. "How could you be at fault? It was the Noble Consort who sought to honor you, not something you asked for yourself. Besides... leaving you without status while you stay at my side truly wrongs you."

Lin Wan’er remained silent.

Lu Lingxiao frowned. "You’re exhausted. Rest for now. I’ll go handle this."

Lin Wan’er clung to his sleeve, looking up at him with worry.

After a brief moment of thought, he reassured her, "No matter what, she is my legitimate wife, and I cannot simply disregard her. Don’t worry; the Grand Commander will not act against me at this time."

Lin Wan’er hesitated for a few moments before signing: The Old Madam is angry over this matter. Shouldn’t you speak with her first to calm her anger, lest something happens to her?

Fushou Courtyard.

The Old Madam hadn’t slept a wink all night.

Thinking about how that wretched girl dared to offend even the Noble Consort scared her out of her wits. How could she possibly sleep?

At dawn, she had already summoned two of the family elders to the estate.

Although the two elders were of an age comparable to the Old Madam, they were of the same generation as her husband, so she referred to them as Third Uncle and Fifth Uncle.

The Fifth Elder asked, "Why has the niece-in-law summoned me and your Third Uncle so early in the morning?"

The Old Madam let out a heavy sigh before anyone else could speak. "Second Daughter-in-law, you tell them."

Lu Mother was absent today, and only the Second Madam had been summoned.

Clutching her handkerchief, the Second Madam spoke sorrowfully, "I won’t hide it from the two uncles—our family is in misfortune!"

The Fifth Elder was puzzled. "Lingxiao has just achieved great merit. How could there be misfortune in the family?"

"It’s Meng Qianqian!" The Second Madam dramatically recounted the events of Meng Qianqian offending Consort Li, with added embellishments.

The Third Elder, who had been dozing off, was startled awake by the story. He asked in his frail voice, "Is this true?"

The Second Madam lamented, "It’s the absolute truth! She’s been taken by the Jinyi Guard and is detained in the Governor Mansion. My sister-in-law has always spoiled her, and I have advised her countless times, saying that her indulgence would lead to trouble. She wouldn’t listen. Now look—she’s created a catastrophe that’s dragged the entire Lu Clan into this mess!"

The Fifth Elder scowled. "I told the boy back when he proposed in You State that merchant girls shouldn’t be wed!"

The Second Madam dared not respond; after all, that was her father-in-law he was criticizing.

The Old Madam spoke with regret, "We should have heeded Third Uncle’s advice! Though her status was unworthy of Lingxiao, since marrying into the Lu Family, we’ve never treated her unfairly. We’ve treated her as our own, even when she drove away Lingxiao’s wet nurse not long ago—I said nothing about it."

The Fifth Elder growled. "Outrageous!"

In prominent families, wet nurses held significant status. A well-mannered daughter of aristocracy wouldn’t speak harshly to her wet nurse, let alone drive one out!

The Second Madam added fuel to the fire, "And that’s not all! When Mother fell ill, she didn’t even tend to her bedside. She’s also struck Linglong and Miss Lin before!"

Both elders were aware of Miss Lin—an orphan brought back by Lu Lingxiao from the border and pregnant with his child.

To the elders, she was merely a concubine; the legitimate wife should be magnanimous enough to tolerate her.

Striking a younger sister-in-law, however, was far worse.

The Third Elder stated, "Even so, for an eldest son to have a child with a concubine before his legitimate wife bears one is improper."

The Second Madam’s eyes flashed with a hint of calculation before she pretended to sigh. "That’s so unfair to us. She’s been afflicted with an ailment since before marriage and is unable to conceive. Only then did we allow Miss Lin to keep the child."

The Third Elder nodded in sudden comprehension. "I see."

The Old Madam sighed heavily. "The reason I’ve summoned the two of you here today is to have you bear witness: the Lu Family intends to divorce this wife!"

"Grandmother, I brought half of You State’s wealth as my dowry when I married into the family. To divorce me now—don’t you think that’s a bit inappropriate?"

Meng Qianqian swept aside the curtain and entered with calm poise and confidence.

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