Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 11

Lu Jianshou stared at the pile of shredded paper on the ground, both distressed and furious.
“Didn’t the divorce letter spell everything out clearly? Do you think that tearing it up means I can’t do anything to you? Hmph! You’re still too green. This general has already memorized it! The signer, Lu Jianyi, appointed by His Majesty as the Fifth-Rank General of Xuande, married Lady Nian by the Emperor’s decree. Who would have thought, after entering the household, the wife would commit many faults, all in line with the Seven Grounds for Divorce…”

“The Seven Grounds?” Nian Nianshi interrupted calmly, fixing her gaze on him. “Pray tell, husband—just which one have I committed?”

Lu Jianshou froze. But rather than back down, she snapped, “Just you wait!”

She rushed to the door and shouted: “Someone come!”

The ever-ready Chang Huan answered instantly, “At your service, young master.”

“Tell me, what are the Seven Grounds for Divorce?” Lu Jianshou thought she could bluff her way out and hide her own lack of education.

Chang Huan recited dutifully:
“A wife may be cast out for seven reasons: disobedience to in-laws—defying virtue; childlessness—ending the line; adultery—disrupting the clan; jealousy—destroying the household; incurable disease—unable to partake in the family rites; gossip—estranging kin; theft—betraying righteousness…”

Hearing the classical version made Lu Jianshou’s head spin. Worse still, it seemed Nianshi had done none of these things. Still, for the sake of pride, she nitpicked:
“You… you’re guilty of jealousy! You splashed tea on Cousin Qingqin out of envy! Such vile behavior!”

But Nianshi was prepared, sly as ever. “Husband, that is unjust. I splashed her not from jealousy, but to defend you. Is this not precisely the teaching: before marriage obey one’s father, after marriage obey one’s husband? Where is the jealousy in that?”

Lu Jianshou was tongue-tied. After thinking hard, she suddenly grasped at another excuse:
“My mother doesn’t like you! That’s the first ground. I can still divorce you on that!”

Nianshi’s eyes glistened as she said pitifully, “I never knew Madam Lu disliked me. I have always sought to respect and honor her. If she disapproves, then I shall bear husband’s warning in mind and show even greater filial piety. Surely that alone is not enough reason to cast me aside?”

Why did it suddenly feel like she was the villain here? Lu Jianshou faltered, embarrassed. “…Fine, that one doesn’t count. Theft! Theft surely applies. You came into the Lu household with so much dowry, more wealth than anyone here, and brought a troop of guards. Surrounded day and night, I feel suffocated, like I’m living under watch. This fearful life—I can’t go on!”

“Husband, if you had told me earlier, I would have corrected it at once. In truth, I also value freedom. Just hours ago, I sent away most of the attendants from Yao Prince’s Manor—” Nianshi paused deliberately as she saw Jianshou’s expression soften, then added, “—leaving only Jin Yi and Jin Xiu, who have served me since childhood. If even that displeases you, I am willing to part with them as well…”

“Miss, please don’t! We cannot leave you!” Jin Yi cried, kneeling before them. A touching scene of mistress and maids about to be torn apart was brewing.

Moved to tears all too easily, Lu Jianshou hurriedly waved it off. “That’s unnecessary!”

Nianshi, inwardly triumphant, waited smugly for the next excuse.

Jianshou racked her brain:
—Illness? Nianshi was stronger than anyone, had even shielded her from Madam Lu’s blow.
—Talkativeness? She herself was the one who chattered the most.
—Childless? They had only been married a few days.

No grounds fit. After a long pause, she blurted desperately:
“Nian Nianshi, you… you’re licentious!”

“Lu Jianyi! Don’t go too far!” Jin Yi burst out indignantly. “It’s you who strays and dallies outside—don’t you dare smear my lady’s reputation!”

Her words struck odd—how could a husband be accused of “climbing the wall”?

But Nianshi only raised her eyes, hurt. “Oh? In what way am I unchaste?”

“You’re shameless in every way!” Jianshou sputtered, face burning. “The very first time we met, you—you acted like that! You knew exactly what you were doing! Pretending to be helpless, asking me for help—clearly scheming to… to seduce me! You— you’re utterly shameless!”

Nianshi’s face dimmed, her voice soft with disappointment. “So… you dislike me that much?”

It wasn’t dislike. Not really. Every time Nianshi leaned close, she felt secretly happy… but the thought that they were both women gnawed at her. If Nianshi ever learned she was actually Lu Jianshou and recalled those moments… how awkward, how strange would that be?

“Yes, I don’t like it,” Jianshou insisted, lying even to herself. “A proper lady would never act like you. Have you no sense of propriety?”

“If husband dislikes it, then I shall change,” Nianshi said sadly. “I will be more careful, never to offend again.”

Seeing her so meek and self-effacing tugged at Jianshou’s heart. Maybe Nianshi really did care deeply for Lu Jianyi… And that only made her more resolute to cut things off quickly, before the truth came out and hurt them both.
“Nian Nianshi, what’s done is done. You should leave…”

“Why do you want to drive me away so badly?” Nianshi asked, eyes catching the sorrow hidden in Jianshou’s gaze. “All those so-called faults, my shamelessness, my impropriety… they are things I show only to you.”

Her voice was so tender, so earnest, Jianshou’s heart quivered despite herself.

But in the end, that “you” was meant for Lu Jianyi.

It was already late at night.

Lu Wang returned home, summoned back from court by the Emperor, exhausted. He arrived to find servants gathered nervously outside his son’s bridal chamber.

“What’s going on?” he demanded.

Hearing the report, his face darkened. “Nonsense!” He stormed off, asking on the way, “And Madam Lu? Why isn’t she dealing with this?”

“Madam went to the Prime Minister’s manor, said she missed her cousin.”

Knowing full well his son’s messy entanglement with Jin Qingqin, yet Madam still went visiting there? Foolish!

Pushing open the door, he saw his “son” bullying the new wife.

Jianshou, unaware her greatest fear—her father—had arrived, pressed on. “Nianshi, just take it that I’ve wronged you. You know how men treat women—divorce is nothing but an excuse once they tire of you. Beauty fades; better to free each other while we’re young.”

Lu Wang exploded. His son, always the picture of refinement in public, was this heartless in private? With no warning, he struck him hard across the face.

The blow sent Jianshou stumbling into the table, bl00d at her lip, half her face swollen, a red palmprint burning on pale skin.

Yet she bowed and said only, “I am unworthy of the sages’ teachings. Father’s punishment is just. But this wife—I will divorce her today.”

“Ludicrous!” Lu Wang thundered. “As long as I draw breath, you’ll never speak such madness again!”

“Father…” Jianshou’s mind was in turmoil.

But Lu Wang roared, “Don’t call me father! I have no son like you. Daughters are better—warm as cotton by one’s side! Not like you, unruly and unfilial!”

Jianshou: “……” (If only you knew, Father, I am your little cotton-padded jacket…)

“Still standing there? Do you need me to teach you how to apologize?”

“…I’m sorry,” Jianshou said weakly, while silently adding: I’m sorry… but only because I really am your daughter.

“Not to me!” Lu Wang snapped. “Apologize to your wife!”

Reluctantly, Jianshou turned to Nianshi, who gazed back at her with worry, making her feel all the more guilty. “S-sorry…” she stammered.

She owed her too much already. The only way forward was to let go early, before things grew worse.

Seeing Jianshou’s battered face, Nianshi’s heart ached. She even resented Lu Wang for being so heavy-handed—what father struck his daughter so? She forgot entirely that to him, Jianshou was a son.

The tension was cut short by Madam Lu’s return. She had been told an exaggerated account that her “daughter” had nearly been beaten to death. Rushing in, she nearly fainted to see Jianshou bloodied. She grabbed Lu Wang by the ear and scolded: “Are you trying to kill your own child?!”

Lu Wang: “???” (Child… wait—what?)

“If I had come a moment later, would I have lost a son?!” Madam Lu raged.

Though patriarch of the house, Lu Wang shrank back under her wrath. “I—I was measured! Do you even know what beastly thing he just tried to do? He deserved it! You’ve spoiled him rotten, that’s why he’s this outrageous! Just days after marrying, and already clamoring for divorce!”

“What does a divorce have to do with you?! Do you want to divorce me too?!”

Lu Wang: “…That’s not—”

“Enough nonsense! Go kneel on the washboard! We’ll settle accounts tomorrow!” she barked, dragging him off.

Bewildered, Lu Wang trudged after her. How had disciplining his son turned into his fault? Never mind—better to survive his wife’s temper first.

With the elder Lús gone and servants dismissed, only Jianshou and Nianshi remained.

Nianshi brought out ointment, sat before her, and opened the box. “You knew your father was furious. Why fight him head-on?” she asked softly, dipping a swab.

Jianshou turned away, deliberately avoiding her touch, taking the salve herself. “I’ll do it.”