Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 19

Outside the city suburbs, Crescent Bay was a well-known scenic spot. Because of this, many visitors—both tourists and wealthy local gentry—came in groups during their leisure time.

When Lu Jianshou and Nian Nianshi stepped down from the sedan chair, the handsome man and beautiful woman combination naturally drew many eyes. Some who recognized them exclaimed in disbelief:
“Isn’t that the newly married Princess and her Consort?”

Lu Jianshou rarely went out, so being recognized left her a little shy. She bent down toward Nianshi, dressed in plain white, and whispered:
“How did they recognize me? I don’t have the words ‘your husband’ hanging from my neck.”

Nian Nianshi laughed softly:
“Because I’m holding your arm.”

Only then did Lu Jianshou realize that their manner seemed rather intimate.

At first, she hadn’t thought much of it—after all, she herself was a woman. But reminded like this, she felt slightly embarrassed. After laying down a mat, she deliberately kept some distance.

By the time the hour of Si (around 9 a.m.) came, Jin Qingqin finally arrived, and with her—uninvited—was Princess Fensui, who happened to be visiting her home.

Seeing her complexion improved, Lu Jianshou pulled her over and said:
“Why haven’t you come to see me since that day?”

She had spoken thoughtlessly, out of habit, as if she were still Lu Jianyi, not remembering her current role.

Jin Qingqin’s expression clearly said: Why on earth would I want to come find you?
“Cousin, you’re already married. Even if we were childhood playmates, now there’s a difference between men and women. We can’t let people talk, can we?”

Only then did Lu Jianshou remember—she was supposed to be her cousin brother, not her cousin sister. Feeling resentful, she asked:
“After that day at the Guest House, did people say anything about you?”

“You needn’t worry, Cousin. I don’t take those things to heart,” Jin Qingqin said with a forced smile, turning away to pretend she was admiring the scenery on the lake.

“Alas, it was all my carelessness that put you in such an awkward spot.” Lu Jianshou sighed guiltily. “I asked you out today mainly to apologize. Not just me—Nianshi too. It was wrong of her to splash you.”

She glanced at Nian Nianshi.

This time Nianshi did not put on the haughty airs of a Princess. She cupped her hands politely:
“That day was a misunderstanding. Out of love for my husband, I acted rashly. I hope Cousin will not hold it against me.”

The sudden transformation of the previously sharp-tongued, cold Nian Nianshi into such a gentle and cultured figure left Jin Qingqin slightly unsettled. Still, she returned the courtesy:
“I’m not one to bear grudges. I don’t know what you see in this guy, that you’d even throw away your ladylike image for him. But the tea didn’t end up splashed on me, did it? By rank, I should be calling you Sister-in-law. And since we’re of similar age and it’s fate we meet like this, why not call each other sisters from now on?”

Lu Jianshou, the would-be peacemaker, suddenly felt rather left out…

What do you mean, “I don’t know what you see in this guy”? I’d very much like to know what you see in me, too…

As the two of them chatted ever more warmly, leaving her on the sidelines to drink in silence, Lu Jianshou felt at a loss for words.

Princess Fensui laughed, teasing her:
“A few days ago I misunderstood you. I admit my mistake—you’re not such a bad man after all.”

“Many thanks for Your Highness’s praise!” Lu Jianshou replied with a smile. “Qingqin and I really had nothing between us. It was all wild rumors. You’re still young, Princess, and easily misled. In future, it would be better to ask clearly before blaming someone, so as not to wrong an innocent man.”

“Hmph. Give you a little sunshine and you shine like the sun itself. Now you’re even lecturing me? Don’t forget your place—you’re nothing more than my imperial brother’s tutor, not even fit to carry my boots.”

Lu Jianshou wanted to slap her, but held back, replying respectfully:
“Your servant dares not. Honest words may sound harsh—may Your Highness understand they come from loyalty.”

Fensui puffed herself up proudly, but softened a little:
“You say you’re loyal—then whatever I ask you to do, you’ll do?”

Lu Jianshou grew tense, instinctively glancing at Nianshi for help. But her wife was too busy chatting happily with her cousin to notice her distress.

“Well? Will you or not?” Fensui urged impatiently.

“Yes… but I still hope Your Highness’s commands will not break ritual, defy convention, or violate the laws of the court…” She was terrified the little princess might demand something outrageous, like help my brother seize the throne.

But Fensui only grinned mischievously, pointing to a child running past:
“I want you to teach me how to fly a kite!”

Only then did Lu Jianshou breathe in relief. For all her precocious airs, Fensui was still just a child at heart.

The two of them went off to fly kites, leaving the others to more serious talk.

Jin Qingqin, noticing the gentle, restrained way Nianshi occasionally looked at Lu Jianshou, was the first to speak:
“Elder Sister Nianshi, what exactly do you like about Cousin?”

Nianshi hadn’t expected such a direct question, but answered without hesitation, warmly:
“Must one need a reason to like someone?”

“Perhaps not…” Jin Qingqin murmured, an image of Lu Jianshou’s face—so like Lu Jianyi’s—flashing in her mind. “Maybe that’s true… it’s exactly because it’s beyond control that I can’t forget.”

“You must have someone in your heart, to speak so,” Nianshi ventured. “Could it be… my husband? Then I truly am guilty of breaking apart a pair of lovers…”

“How could it be that idiot donkey!” Jin Qingqin snapped.

At that exact moment, Lu Jianshou, running in the distance, seemed to sense she was being insulted, and obligingly tripped hard, falling flat on her face.

“The one I like has both brains and martial prowess, is brilliant, gentle and kind, knows how to love me, treasure me, cherish me. With her by my side, nothing in the world would seem difficult. But this guy? He’s just a pedantic scholar who spends his days spouting classics and clinging to Nianshi. I can’t imagine what poor girl would be blind enough to fall for him!”

Realizing too late that the “blind girl” was standing right in front of her, Jin Qingqin grew embarrassed and quickly added:
“Nianshi, I didn’t mean you. He does have good points—it’s just that he’s too infatuated. That’s why I say it would be a calamity for any other girl who fell for him. But since his heart is wholly yours, and he married you, it must be heaven’s will. You two will be happy together.”

Hearing her say outright she did not like Lu Jianshou, Nianshi finally felt relieved. She relaxed and said with a smile:
“I too believe it is a match made in heaven. Though in the capital, people say you and Jianyi are the destined pair. Hearing you say otherwise surprised me. If you trust me, Sister, will you confide? Which young gentleman failed to cherish such a gem, to cause you such sorrow? If I know him, I might even help as matchmaker.”

“You certainly know him…” Jin Qingqin said, gazing at the blue sky, her tone tinged with grief. “But you could never play matchmaker—because he’s already gone to another world, never to return…”

“So it was a tragedy…” Nianshi fell silent. From the way Jin Qingqin’s eyes softened with longing, she had guessed something—but she still hoped she was wrong.

Anyone it may be, just not Lu Jianshou.

Meanwhile, Lu Jianshou had been dragged into endless activities by the little princess—boating, barbecues, moon-viewing.

By the time she and Nianshi returned that night, her back ached.

As she massaged her shoulders, Nianshi scolded her:
“Fensui is a child, but you—aren’t you old enough to restrain yourself?”

“And you—weren’t you chatting so happily with my cousin you didn’t even come rescue me? How could I defy a princess’s orders?” Lu Jianshou pouted, already determined to avoid the little demoness in the future.

But at the mention of Jin Qingqin, Nianshi’s expression grew unnatural. In the hazy moonlight, she looked closely at Lu Jianshou’s hair and suddenly asked:
“Does my cousin… like Lu Jianshou?”

Lu Jianshou froze, her body stiffening for a second.
“She told you?”

Only then did she remember—the whole reason for this outing. She’d been so distracted she nearly forgot.

Seeing her reaction, Nianshi realized her worst fear had been confirmed. A trace of sadness flickered in her eyes.
“So… is it mutual?”

She shouldn’t have asked. Yet Lu Jianshou didn’t answer, and silence felt like the cruelest confirmation.

Just as she was about to give up, Lu Jianshou sighed, showing for the first time before Nianshi an expression of deep sorrow:
“No matter what… the two of them are doomed.”

“Do you… like her?” Nianshi pressed, unable to stop herself. She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth, knowing it was like stabbing herself.

Lu Jianshou caught the hidden meaning in her tone and turned to look at her.

Their eyes met in the darkness, and Lu Jianshou felt her chest hollow out.

The way Nianshi looked at her—deeper and more tender than ever—was despair itself.

If she allowed that feeling to take root, both of them would be lost.

“I think of her as a sister,” Lu Jianshou said softly, meeting Nianshi’s expectant gaze.

The heavy stone on Nianshi’s heart finally fell. Though she hadn’t heard the words she longed for, she felt some measure of peace.

But then Lu Jianshou went on:
“I won’t ever like Qingqin. And I won’t ever like you. Never.”

The air turned to ice.

Nianshi, stunned for a second, quickly covered it up:
“I was only asking casually. I’m not so self-deluded as to think that just because you don’t like her, you’d like me…”

“That’s good.”

Lu Jianshou’s words cut like a blade. A double-edged sword, wounding them both.

“Don’t forget—we still have an agreement for divorce. If you have any feelings for me, you’d best sever them quickly.”

Silence fell between them. The sedan stopped at the General’s residence.

Lu Jianshou stepped down first, reaching to help Nianshi, but she avoided her hand, leaping down on her own and walking ahead into the mansion.

“What’s wrong with the Princess? She was fine when you left, wasn’t she?” the maids Jinyi and Jinxiu asked curiously, seeing the sour look on Lu Jianshou’s face.

Lu Jianshou forced a smile.
“Perhaps she’s just tired. We spent the whole day outside under the sun. You two should rest as well.”

They wisely withdrew. Lu Jianshou took a deep breath and closed the door, wanting to speak to Nianshi—but she was already lying down.

With no choice, she too lay down on the other bed.

Back to back, each lost in their own thoughts, they drifted into uneasy sleep…