Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 49: Completely Falling Out

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Completely Falling Out

When everyone saw her, it was as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

The Second Madam asked in disbelief, "You... weren’t you taken away by the Governor Mansion?"

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly, "So the family knew I was trapped in prison. Instead of thinking about how to rescue me, they racked their brains to sever ties with me. This is the conduct of a prestigious family? Truly, it has broadened the horizons of this humble merchant girl."

The Second Madam choked and mumbled awkwardly, "Who told you to create trouble?"

Meng Qianqian saluted the Third and Fifth Elders, "Greetings to the two great-uncle patriarchs."

Their expressions were rather cold.

The Second Madam curiously asked, "How did you get out?"

The Old Madam snorted coldly, "Isn’t it obvious? Of course, Xiao’er saved her! Who knows how much groveling he had to endure at the Governor Mansion this time!"

Her heart ached for her grandson. How did he end up with such a troublemaking wife?

Meng Qianqian couldn’t help but laugh.

The Old Madam’s white eyebrows furrowed tightly, "What are you laughing at?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "I laugh at how Grandmother fails to understand her own grandson’s weight. Let alone he didn’t grovel at the Governor Mansion, even if he did, he hasn’t the status to bring me out of there."

"You—"

The Old Madam was so angry she nearly fainted.

The Second Madam sneered, "If Xiao’er didn’t get you out, who else could? Surely it wasn’t the Grand Commander himself, moved by compassion, who decided to release you? Who do you think you are, deserving of such regard?"

The Old Madam also believed that if the Governor Mansion released her, it must have been on Xiao’er’s account. Thinking thus, she felt increasingly that Meng Qianqian was unworthy of her precious grandson.

"You keep dragging Xiao’er down. Because of you, Xiao’er was demoted a rank and received hundreds of lashes. Yet you still lack restraint, becoming ever more reckless, even causing trouble in the Imperial Palace! Today, I will take the matter into my own hands and divorce you, this harbinger of misfortune!"

Meng Qianqian stood upright, neither humble nor overbearing, and said, "His demotion was due to favoring a concubine over his wife and attempting to deceive the emperor. What has that to do with me? Moreover, divorcing a wife requires justification. It’s not something you can declare at will!"

The Old Madam, accustomed to seeing Qianqian’s meek and obedient demeanor, was not used to this newfound resolve.

The Second Madam sprang to her feet, pointing at Qianqian’s nose, "Lack of filial piety, jealousy, illness, childlessness—of the Seven Grounds for Divorce, you’ve violated four. How can you not be divorced?"

Qianqian sneered coldly, "Second Aunt, are you referring to the days when I caught a cold and couldn’t serve Grandmother during her illness? Then let the servants of this household come forth and explain how I have treated the elders of the Lu Family these past years! Silver? I contributed it. Care? I provided it. The household? I managed it. If all this is deemed unfilial, then pray tell, what counts as filial piety?"

"As for jealousy, are you saying I have mistreated the mistress my husband brought back without my consent? Have I ever withheld anything from her? Her food, clothing, and expenses are all on par with mine as the legitimate wife. He spends every night in her courtyard, and I have never stopped him. Where does jealousy come into play?"

"Concerning illness and childlessness, is Second Aunt pointing to the time I was pushed into the water by your daughter and caught a cold? This illness is her doing, and my inability to conceive is the result of it! How dare you blame it on me!"

The two patriarchs were momentarily shocked. Qianqian’s words were entirely different from the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo’s accusations, leaving them unsure whom to believe.

Qianqian spoke righteously, "Since the two patriarchs are here today, let’s make things clear! Don’t just claim I didn’t violate the Seven Grounds—even if I did, under the Great Zhou Law, there are the Three Exceptions to Divorce: rising from poverty to wealth, mourning a parent for three years, and having no family to return to. When I married into the Lu Family, the family was mired in debt, and even the house was mortgaged. It was my dowry silver that paid it off! When Grandfather passed away, and my husband ’faked his death,’ I mourned for three years and remained chaste for five! With all these considerations, there’s no way the Lu Family can divorce me!"

The Old Madam trembled with rage, "You... you..."

The Fifth Elder said, "That being the case, it seems indeed that divorce isn’t permissible..."

The Second Madam hurriedly interjected, "Fifth Uncle, she has offended the Noble Consort. If we don’t sever ties, are we to wait and die alongside her?"

The Fifth Elder hesitated, "But wasn’t she already released?"

The Third Elder nodded, "That’s right. Perhaps the Noble Consort, benevolent as she is, has decided not to hold a grudge against her."

The Second Madam grew anxious, "Being released means nothing! If the Noble Consort bears a grudge against us, can the Lu Family enjoy peace? What if she arranges someone to trip up Big Brother and Xiao’er, their careers would be ruined!"

What she didn’t say was that her daughter was currently of marriageable age. If word spread that the Lu Family had offended the Noble Consort, who would dare marry Linglong? Not to mention her two sons studying at the Imperial College.

After all, the Principal of the Imperial College, Zheng, was Lu Yuan’s ally!

The Old Madam dared not gamble the lives of her son, grandson, and the entire family. Quickly suppressing any greedy thoughts, she resolved to expel Qianqian from the household.

"You and Xiao’er have shared a marital bond. Divorce would indeed damage your reputation, so request a quiet separation yourself! Say it’s because you violated palace rules and don’t want to implicate your husband. When others hear of it, they’ll even praise you as virtuous and considerate!"

Her tone was patronizing, as if she’d bestowed great mercy on Qianqian.

In truth, it was a shrewd move. Divorce would make the Lu Family seem cold and heartless, but if Qianqian requested the separation herself, the Lu Family’s hands would appear clean.

Meng Qianqian laughed out of sheer anger. How could she not see through the Old Madam’s scheming?

When it came to brazen shamelessness, no one could rival this grandmother.

"What about my dowry?"

The Old Madam’s face darkened, "You still want your dowry after requesting a separation?"

Qianqian retorted, "No dowry returned, yet you want me to agree to a separation? Grandmother, your clever plans can even be heard by the ancestors of the Meng Family in their coffins!"

"Enough!" Lu Lingxiao walked in with a darkened expression.

Qianqian knew he had been listening outside for some time and had entered only because he could no longer bear it.

"Come with me—let’s talk outside."

Lu Lingxiao reached for her wrist.

Qianqian lifted her arm and walked ahead of him.

The two went out to the courtyard.

Lu Lingxiao questioned her, "How could you speak to Grandmother like that?"

Qianqian replied calmly, "Save your scolding! Instead, perhaps you should hurry to the Governor Mansion to receive your lashings!"

Lu Lingxiao’s face flushed with anger.

Clenching his fists, he said, "I’m not here to argue with you. Come with me to the palace and kowtow to the Noble Consort for forgiveness!"

Qianqian asked, "What wrong did I commit?"

Lu Lingxiao frowned, "The Noble Consort was merely elevating the status of an orphan girl. Was it necessary for you to oppose her?"

Qianqian replied coldly, "If it were truly elevating one’s status, why didn’t she have her son issue an imperial decree for the marriage? She refrained because it would be an outrageous abuse of power, inviting divine retribution! You all want to reap the benefits while shoving all the suffering onto me!"

"The Noble Consort gains the loyalty of a vassal. Lin Wan’er gains the status of a concubine. You, Lu Lingxiao, gain your beloved woman. And what do I get?"

"You only remember that she became an orphan three years ago. Do you forget that I lost my parents at the age of three? You repay her kindness, but do you know whose fortune funded the northern campaigns? The Meng Family sacrificed more than half its wealth... or did you think you survived those years at the border by sheer luck?"

"Five years ago, during the snow disaster at Yumen Pass, when court provisions failed to arrive for months, a civilian merchant caravan brought food supplies..."

Lu Lingxiao froze as if struck by a thunderbolt.

"Why... didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"If I had told you, would you have treated me any differently?"

Lu Lingxiao was rendered speechless.

Qianqian raised her eyes, gazing solemnly at the boundless sky, and said serenely, "Lu Lingxiao, let us part ways."

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