Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 25

When Lu Jianzhou was woken up by his mother, Nian Yanshi was already gone from the room.

It felt like it had been a long time since he had a good night’s sleep…

Rubbing his eyes, Lu Jianzhou was met with his mother’s urgent question: “Have you made up your mind about yesterday’s matter?”

Yesterday, Lu Jianzhou had come to discuss the issue of Liji with his mother. Her advice had been: “Putting aside the fact that you already promised the Emperor with your own mouth, and that during my stay at the Chancellor’s residence there’s been no progress on the matter of divorcing your wife, now this is a rare opportunity from heaven. You just need to handle it carefully, so that Liji doesn’t discover your true identity. Nian Yanshi has been pampered since childhood; if she suffers a little, she will naturally retreat.”

Lu Jianzhou had hesitated at the time and said he needed to think it over.

Since then, he had kept thinking about it. Even when Lu Wang asked, he simply agreed to everything, leaving Lu Furen (his mother) puzzled.

Then Lu Wang came to urge Lu Furen to prepare the bride price, which reminded her that Lu Jianzhou still hadn’t responded. So she came personally to find him.

“There are many ways to divorce a wife. Why do it so extremely? You have no feelings for Liji, aren’t you just using someone?” Lu Jianzhou had already thought it through last night. “Besides, I promised Yanshi that I would explain everything clearly to Liji…”

“Yanshi? You’ve been gone for only a few days, and you’re already calling her that so intimately? Truly, once you marry a wife, you forget your mother!” Lu Furen didn’t expect to be countered, but she still smiled. “I had guessed your indecisiveness early on, so I acted first. Hurry and get ready; by now, Liji should have been brought to the Lu residence.”

“You!” Lu Jianzhou was instantly agitated. “How can you do this?”

Lu Furen had no intention of asking his opinion: “What do you mean ‘you’? Call me ‘mother’! Am I not allowed to make decisions for my child? What kind of world is this! You’ve been dithering, and I don’t know when you’ll finally handle this divorce. It makes me anxious just watching!”

With that, she draped an outer coat over him and led him out.

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A concubine’s status has always been lower than that of a wife.

Moreover, Liji, being a main wife and a princess, would not have any grand wedding ceremonies after marrying in—she would gain no prestige at all.

When Lu Jianzhou arrived at the imposing hall, he saw Nian Yanshi holding a cup of tea and instinctively recoiled.

The three women, each tense and wary, all bowed as Lu Furen entered.

“Yanshi, Qinqin, Liji, pay respects to your mother.”

Lu Furen took the main seat, glancing at the three uniquely beautiful women.

Qinqin, the youngest, was lively with traces of youthful freshness, charming in a neighborly way.

Liji, two years older than Lu Jianzhou, had a refined, pure appearance but could not hide a subtle, innate allure.

Nian Yanshi was aloof and ethereal, her eyes calm like the sea, concealing her true thoughts, her presence exuding a chilling aura that instantly dropped the room’s temperature.

Qinqin glanced at Liji on her left, then at Nian Yanshi on her right, deciding it was better to stay silent and quietly began nibbling the snacks on the table.

Lu Furen smiled knowingly. “Liji, come here so I can get a good look at you.”

Liji had feared her humble origins would make Lu Furen look down on her. She was surprised by the warmth and obediently stepped forward. Lu Furen, with a kind, elder’s grace, patted her head: “You truly are beautiful. No wonder Jianyi is so taken with you. Heaven above, I’ve been thinking of you.”

Liji, hearing this, was pleasantly surprised, her face flushed as she glanced toward Lu Jianzhou. He, in turn, anxiously looked at Nian Yanshi. If it weren’t for his mother’s earlier instruction—“Don’t say anything, just stand there and answer ‘yes’ if I ask you”—he would have rushed forward to explain.

“Since you’re married into our family, you are now Lu family. Though you won’t have the grandest wedding, you are still Jianyi’s legally wedded wife. Feel free to treat this as your home and manage affairs freely. Have children for our family—I am old now and only hope to hold grandchildren. You two must work hard for that!” Lu Furen continued, and Liji’s face turned bright red.

After a while, the formalities ended. Lu Furen then instructed: “Jianyi, since Liji is new here, let her stay in the Zijin Pavilion. You have no official duties today, so take her around to get familiar with the place.”

Lu Jianzhou didn’t expect his mother to toss the ball to him and was momentarily speechless.

Nian Yanshi, who had not spoken all along, finally said: “Mother, last night, my husband studied until midnight. He must be very tired. Perhaps I should take the younger sister to the courtyard, and it will also help to cultivate their relationship.”

“What kind of relationship are you talking about?!” Lu Jianzhou thought, internally screaming, his mother seemed not to understand the situation.

—Hmph, trying to play the part of a virtuous wife and caring mother? Let’s see how long you can hold that act.

“That’s fine, after all, they will have to live under the same roof in the future. It’s better to get to know each other.” Lu Furen said, giving Lu Jianzhou a glance and led him away.

Qinqin, left behind, holding two unfinished caramel pieces, internally roared: “Why am I even here?!”

“Niece Qinqin, I usually don’t like wandering around either. I am not familiar with this general’s residence, so why don’t you come along and guide us?” Nian Yanshi noticed Qinqin and kindly invited her.

Although Qinqin did not want to join this “battle without gunpowder,” she couldn’t refuse and followed, cursing Lu Jianzhou a thousand times in her heart…

Through the winding general’s residence, she eventually met Liji first.

“What are you doing?” Lu Jianzhou asked, seeing Liji’s face dusted with flour, looking miserable.

Liji, tear-streaked and aggrieved, said: “My sister said chatting was boring, so she asked me to make some sour plum tea.”

Lu Jianzhou was puzzled: “It’s not early summer, where would there be sour plum tea?”

“I’m just trying not to ruin the mood of the two young ladies, so I thought maybe I could make some dumplings instead,” Liji said, looking pitiful and obedient.

“Dumplings can’t replace tea!” Lu Jianzhou went inside to wash his hands, slightly annoyed. “Since you’ve started making them, let’s deliver them together. I’ll also make some seaweed and pork rib soup.”

Liji hurried to stop him from using the knives: “You, a noble man, should not do this rough work. Leave it to me, your servant!”

Lu Jianzhou could only smile: “Alright, it’s up to you. I’ll wait outside.”

As pots and pans clattered, Liji suddenly asked: “Last time, when I gave you the pouch, did you keep it? Did you look inside?”

Lu Jianzhou, who had simply put it in a drawer after changing clothes, answered truthfully: “It’s kept in the study. Is there anything else in it?”

“Nothing particularly important… but if you have time, you can take a look,” Liji said lightly.

“Alright,” Lu Jianzhou quickly replied.