Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 22

Lu Jianzhou stepped on Chang Huan’s shoulders and took a shortcut, climbing over the wall. Once on the other side, he stood there, moved, and looked at his exhausted loyal servant: “Well done! A great favor needs no thanks. I will repay you properly in the future!”

“Master, you just need to keep pleasing the Princess, and I’ll be eternally grateful for your mercy!” Chang Huan wanted to cry but had no tears. “Stop talking nonsense and jump! I went in through the front gate already!”

Lu Jianzhou laughed playfully and effortlessly leapt over.

—If he hadn’t been pretending to be Lu Jianyi, he would have entered long ago. How could it have taken so much fuss… only to end with a faceplant?

Lu Wang was quite old, but even he had moments of urgent, frequent, unending need to relieve himself.

Sensing he wouldn’t make it to the toilet, he dodged past the servants enthusiastically calling, “Master is home!” and found a secluded spot. He unfastened his belt and let it all out…

After all, being a person of status, Lu Wang had a lot of tricks for avoiding embarrassment.

So when he sensed some movement, he waved his hand and sent Lu Jianzhou—who had just jumped down from the wall—flying ten meters away: “What demon is this?!”

Lu Jianzhou saw his father, panicking even while holding up his trousers, and dared not speak.

Lu Wang tightened his belt and said solemnly: “You brat! Why not use the front door? Why sneak in through there?”

Lu Jianzhou said reluctantly, “I promised Nian Yanshi I’d wait at home for her. I snuck out to avoid her noticing.”

“Stop right there!” Lu Wang called as he tried to leave.

Lu Jianzhou froze. Lu Wang maintained a stern expression: “You’re a grown man, seven feet tall. How can you be so afraid of your wife? Doesn’t that make you look ridiculous?”

Lu Jianzhou didn’t answer, only scornfully looking at his father, famed for being henpecked — as if thinking, Mom’s not around, and now you dare to lecture me? You’re not in a position to!

Ignoring his son’s glare, Lu Wang, with experience, said: “You’ve only been married a few months, and if you keep letting her have her way, you’ll lose the authority of a head of the household…”

The tone was clear — “I’m speaking from experience; consider this a lesson.”

“Understood…” Lu Jianzhou replied meekly. “If Father has nothing else, Jianyi will return to the room.”

“Mm…” Lu Wang coughed a few times. “And what you just saw… don’t go telling anyone. Everyone has urgent moments.”

Lu Jianzhou frowned in confusion: “Wait… was Father just—?”

“You didn’t see?” Lu Wang swore under his breath. Luckily, Lu Jianzhou had been sent flying and didn’t see anything, or else his young mind would have been permanently scarred…

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Lu Jianzhou remembered his father’s advice. So even when Nian Yanshi wrote a displeased expression, she walked in with her head held high, face calm.

Chang Huan, seeing she had no intention of admitting fault, nearly wet himself in fear. He quickly reminded her: “Master, what about repaying your debt?”

Lu Jianzhou cleared her throat and began: “Nian Yanshi, listen carefully.”

Nian Yanshi looked at her inquisitively. She felt slightly embarrassed: “Today’s matter has nothing to do with Chang Huan. It was my own concern that made me insist he let me out. As a husband, you must respect your wife’s authority and not take this chance to get back at him.”

“This much, Yanshi understands. But I don’t see what part of me you were worried about. Could it be… Yanshi is really like a she-tiger, able to devour the feeble Miss Li in just a few hours?” Nian Yanshi didn’t press further but frowned slightly. “You did see, right? I didn’t touch a single hair of Miss Li’s head, did I?”

Nian Yanshi spoke logically. Lu Jianzhou didn’t know how to respond.

Chang Huan tried to mediate: “Master believes in the Princess. On the way back, he said he would apologize for sneaking out. Princess, don’t be angry. Miss Li is an outsider; don’t let this ruin your marital harmony.”

Lu Jianzhou nodded in agreement: “Yes. I said I have nothing with that Miss Li. Why do you keep going after her? It’s pitiful, seeing her punished unfairly. She’s innocent!”

Chang Huan wanted to sew her master’s mouth shut on the spot.

But it was too late. Nian Yanshi, no matter how gentle, was now angry: “Lu Jianzhou! Do you believe whatever anyone tells you? Am I always unreasonable?”

“It’s not exactly like that… but you did go too far today. Next time, you still have to apologize to Miss Li.” Seeing Nian Yanshi angry, Lu Jianzhou felt a little scared, but after thinking, she realized showing fear meant losing. So, taking advantage of Yanshi’s slight retreat, she arrogantly commanded.

“You’re dreaming! I’d rather die than apologize to that third party!” Nian Yanshi was furious.

It was the first time Lu Jianzhou saw her this angry. During the previous matter with Jin Qingqin, she had been able to talk reasonably. But with Chang Huan watching, she couldn’t lose face: “Nian Yanshi, don’t be shameless! If you don’t go, I’ll divorce you!”

“Divorce if you must!” Nian Yanshi had endured so much, now she had reached her limit. “Get out of here!”

“What did you say?!” Lu Jianzhou thought she misheard.

“Master, the Princess says you must leave!” Chang Huan finished, pulling the stunned Lu Jianzhou outside.

Lu Jianzhou struggled, furiously kicking the locked door: “Nian Yanshi, remember this!!”

Chang Huan sighed. Were it not for the master-servant relationship, he would have slapped her: “I think you deserve this…”

“Fine, even you side with that wicked woman!” Lu Jianzhou, now completely frustrated, said, “All of you can just follow Nian Yanshi! Don’t come to me!”

“I wouldn’t dare…” Chang Huan, seeing her master truly angry, quickly appeased her. “I’m just protecting you. Miss Li clearly isn’t behaving properly and has bad intentions…”

“I think you’re judging her with worldly eyes. Miss Li might come from humble origins, but does that make her any less of a good girl?” Lu Jianzhou couldn’t listen anymore. “I’ve been wrong about all of you!”

Chang Huan, knowing she couldn’t reason with her master, remained silent.

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Nian Yanshi was genuinely angry this time. Even at night, she refused to open the door.

Lu Jianzhou had to sleep in the study and was summoned by the Empress the next day. She didn’t return home for several days.

Coincidentally, it was the Double Ninth Festival. The Emperor held a banquet for officials. Lu Jianzhou had planned a holiday but, dreading seeing Nian Yanshi’s expressionless face at home, agreed to attend the Empress’s invitation, sitting among the royal family and nobles.

As a Princess, Nian Yanshi was also invited.

Though still upset, Lu Jianzhou couldn’t help glancing at her. She was at another table, laughing and chatting gracefully with other princesses and consorts, completely ignoring him.

Princess Yanshi… don’t you like me? After all this time, not even a glance?

Lu Jianzhou felt defeated and drank more wine.

Sitting beside her, Nian Ye suddenly cupped his hands and said to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, do you remember Miss Li from the Flower Capital? Today, being a rare full-moon day, she wishes to perform a carefully prepared dance at the palace. Nian Ye has seen it and thinks it’s excellent, so would like to present it to Your Majesty.”

“Miss Li is a fine girl…” The Emperor seemed interested, though the tone didn’t feel like a genuine compliment.

Lu Jianzhou, thinking of Nian Yanshi, had no interest in the dance. Unexpectedly, after the performance, the Emperor randomly picked someone to speak. Miss Li was chosen: “Jianyi, what do you think of Miss Li?”

Lu Jianzhou was startled and jumped upright. Though she didn’t fully hear the question, it seemed like the usual evaluation of performance. She vaguely pretended to know: “Miss Li is very talented. I quite like her.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha!” The Emperor suddenly laughed wildly, attracting everyone’s attention. “Since you like her, I, being of my age, won’t take her by force. The Miss Li gifted by Nian Ye, I will graciously let you have!”

What does this mean?

Thinking of Nian Yanshi, Lu Jianzhou had no interest in Miss Li receiving attention.

Yet she could only smile in the most awkward, almost crying manner, stuttering word by word: “Th-thank… Your… M-majesty…”