Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 35
Lu Jianyi returned home, not finding Nian Yanshi, but unexpectedly encountered Li Ji.
His little sister really overwhelmed her older brother—so soon after his return, he had married, taken a concubine, and even been promoted. Even Jin Qingqin, who usually didn’t get along with him, was unusually clingy on the way back. Surrounded by so many beautiful women, he felt strangely out of place.
After eagerly awaiting her return, Nian Yanshi’s face bore none of the joy of reunion. Instead, it seemed frosted over, and she was accompanied by a “man.” Lu Jianyi, inexperienced, felt disappointed. That night, Nian Yanshi did not sleep in the main bedroom but went to the study.
In the study, there was only one couch, with a blanket that Nian Yanshi had sent long ago, worried that Lu Jianzhou might catch a cold. Now it sat alone, looking lonely in the cold.
“Come in,” she said from outside, and Lu Jianzhou felt relieved not to have to stand in the wind.
“Since you are indeed a girl, there’s no need for formalities. I am working here; if you don’t mind, you may lie down on the couch.” Nian Yanshi felt a peculiar fondness for Lu Shiyi—perhaps because her demeanor resembled Lu Jianzhou’s. Though they weren’t the same person, having her around reminded Nian Yanshi of Lu Jianzhou, and that similarity created a strange comfort. “Why did you come back, yet I don’t see her?”
Lu Jianzhou felt a little melancholy. “Wasn’t she having lunch with us just now?”
“That was Lu Jianyi, not Lu Jianzhou,” Nian Yanshi said firmly. “Lu Jianzhou would never flatter me with sweet words; she never dared to look me in the eye.”
If it weren’t for now taking on Lu Shiyi’s identity, Lu Jianzhou really wanted to ask Nian Yanshi where she got that sense of superiority.
“One can say the princess isn’t always discerning,” Lu Jianzhou replied half-heartedly.
“You all decided to keep it from me, right?” Nian Yanshi’s pent-up anger exploded. “Tell Lu Jianzhou, if she doesn’t come out to meet me, I’ll force her!”
“How will you force her…” Lu Jianzhou watched Nian Yanshi, unsure what she intended, yet felt a powerful aura that seemed to surround the entire General’s residence…
The next day, Lu Jianzhou got up early with Nian Yanshi and went to the accounting room. She watched as Nian Yanshi, using her status as a Lu family wife, pulled out stack after stack of silver notes with the flair of someone emptying a vault.
“Princess… what are you doing?” Lu Jianzhou asked nervously. “Are you buying something expensive? It doesn’t need to be this extravagant, does it?”
“I don’t plan to buy anything; I just want to spend her money,” Nian Yanshi said with a smile, instructing several attendants to carry the stacks along.
Lu Jianzhou could only tell Chang Huan to quickly report this to Lady Lu, earning a glare in return. “Our young mistress is spending money—what’s it to you? Who do you think you are!”
Lu Jianzhou: “!#！￥#%￥#%%￥……%￥!!”
Then began Nian Yanshi’s flamboyant spree. First, she swept through all the jewelry shops in the capital, then silks and fabrics, wasting the whole morning. She finally ordered a full Manchu-Han banquet at the guesthouse but barely ate a bite.
Lu Jianzhou winced. “You can’t finish all this and won’t take leftovers? Don’t waste it…”
“It’s not much silver anyway,” Nian Yanshi replied lightly, without feeling wrong.
Lu Jianzhou remarked sarcastically, “Compared to useless gold, silver, and extravagant jewelry, this at least isn’t a complete waste.”
Nian Yanshi picked up an abalone for her bowl. “Anyway, it’s not our money. Just enjoy it!”
“The Lu household isn’t a mountain of gold and silver; wealth doesn’t last three generations. If you squander like this, who can afford you?” Lu Jianzhou said without picking up her chopsticks, thinking: Isn’t it my money she’s using?
“Why so serious…” Nian Yanshi smiled at her. “I didn’t expect Lu Jianzhou’s private funds to last so long. Looks like I’ll have to visit Qiuming Residence to see if there’s more to spend.”
Much of the money was converted into useless jewelry or unsellable silks, and after lavish entertaining, only a fraction remained by evening.
The next day, Nian Yanshi wanted to use Lu Jianyi’s money again, but Lu Jianzhou finally stopped her: “You can use Jianzhou’s money, but Jianyi is her brother—what did he ever do to you?”
Nian Yanshi was unconcerned. “Isn’t Lu Jianyi my husband? Besides, I’m nominally Lu Jianyi’s wife. A wife spending her husband’s money is perfectly natural. Not just her money—her mother’s, her father’s, her concubine’s! You’re close to her too, so I want to spend yours as well!”
“If you spent it righteously, I wouldn’t say a word. But this extravagance defies reason!” Lu Jianzhou said indignantly.
“What counts as righteous?” Nian Yanshi asked calmly.
Lu Jianzhou thought and spoke deliberately: “For example, donating to public works, helping the poor, assisting those in need…”
“I see…” Nian Yanshi tossed a stack of silver notes into the bowl of a young girl begging for a burial for her father. The girl was startled.
“What are you doing!” Lu Jianzhou cried, horrified, but the girl kept kowtowing and thanking her.
“Following your advice, helping the needy!” Nian Yanshi declared, tossing the silver in the air. The street quickly became crowded as people scrambled for it. “Let’s go to the government offices and see where else aid is needed!”
“Are you crazy?!” Lu Jianzhou shouted. “Stop!”
Nian Yanshi was dragged back to the General’s residence, running into Lady Lu and her party, who were just about to look for her.
“Is what they say outside true?” Lady Lu’s face was grim as she asked Lu Jianzhou.
Before Lu Jianzhou could answer, Nian Yanshi cut in, folding her arms: “The Lu family is really poor—Jianzhou’s money was gone in a few meals.”
“Did Jianzhou do anything to provoke you? You’ve spent her money entertaining the whole city, causing chaos—why?” Lady Lu’s face turned iron-like. “Are you trying to make her restless even in the afterlife?”
Nian Yanshi, knowing Lady Lu was in the know, vented her anger on her.
“You…” Lady Lu couldn’t even scold her and fainted in frustration. “The family is cursed, cursed! Jianzhou’s spirit will not forgive you!”
Everyone rushed to help Lady Lu, while Nian Yanshi remained unfazed, even self-mockingly saying, “Yes… she won’t forgive me. Then let her come, and we’ll settle scores like you did with me.”
“Nian Yanshi!” Lu Jianzhou saw her wreaking havoc at home, furious but powerless.
Lu Jianyi was incredulous. “Yanshi… why are you suddenly like this?”
Nian Yanshi walked up to Lu Jianyi, gazing at him ambiguously. “Lu Jianyi, do you really like me?”
Lu Jianyi was embarrassed… remembering what Lu Jianzhou had told him about Nian Yanshi, he hadn’t expected her to be so bold in love and hate. “I… I naturally like you… but this extravagance… it still feels wrong… If you’re really upset, you can use my money—Jianzhou hasn’t done anything wrong…”
Nian Yanshi laughed loudly and suddenly pointed at Li Ji beside her. “If you like me, why marry her?”
“I… I… I don’t know…” Lu Jianyi couldn’t answer. Lu Jianzhou had never told him about this. “I only like you…”
“Then divorce her,” Nian Yanshi said lightly, completely ignoring Li Ji’s feelings. “Divorce her now. Chang Huan, bring the writing set.”
Lu Jianyi hesitated for a long while, still not writing. Nian Yanshi waited half an incense stick, then teased: “Seems like you don’t like me that much after all. Don’t say you love me anymore, or others might really think your love is deep. You’re not worthy.”
“No, it’s not like that…” Lu Jianyi panicked and was about to write, but Nian Yanshi turned and left.
She went alone to the guesthouse, paused for a few seconds, looked up, and memories came flooding back—she thought of the window Lu Jianzhou had climbed through, but that person was gone long ago, maybe never to return.
Nian Yanshi began to cry, realizing she couldn’t withstand the pain of love unfulfilled.
Lu Jianzhou, watching her, felt distressed and handed her a handkerchief, but Nian Yanshi didn’t take it. Instead, she wiped her tears with her sleeve, entered the guesthouse, and announced to the young scholars and wandering men dancing inside: “As usual, today I’m in a good mood, enjoy yourselves—I’ll pay the bill!”
“What are you doing again!” Lu Jianzhou exclaimed, grabbing her.
“Don’t worry, I’m using my own money—not Lu Jianzhou’s!” Nian Yanshi smiled unpredictably, leaving Lu Jianzhou bitter. “If you can’t bear my behavior, go tell her. Let her tell me not to drink, then I’ll stop.”
She picked a vacant seat, and many men eagerly approached to toast her.
Nian Yanshi laughed freely, speaking without restraint. She wasn’t good at drinking, but this time she indulged herself, finally understanding the truth of “drowning sorrow in wine only deepens sorrow.”
As she got drunk, she heard a familiar voice calling her name.
It was a shadow very much like Lu Jianzhou—voice and all—someone who had been by her side these days.
Through her pupils, she saw how pitiful her current state was.
Lu Shiyi could see, and Lu Jianzhou must know too, right?
Thinking this, Nian Yanshi wished she could get even more drunk.
“Yanshi, stop drinking. Let’s go home.” Lu Jianzhou carried her, weaving through the crowd.
It was late at night; the streets were nearly empty, only a few lanterns flickered in residential buildings, casting a hollow light.
“Lu Jianzhou… aren’t you always the most obedient to your mother? Why didn’t you react when I made her faint?”
“Lu Jianzhou… don’t you always stand up for Li Ji? I forced your brother to humiliate her in public…”
“Lu Jianzhou… you said you hated unreasonable women. I spent all your money, and you don’t care?”
“Lu Jianzhou… you said you’d always watch over me. Look at how cold it is—what if I get sick again?”
“Lu Jianzhou… you don’t like me smiling at others. I just did, and you didn’t say anything?”
“Lu Jianzhou… you said you wanted to divorce me constantly. I’ve broken seven rules already—why haven’t you acted?”
…
Lu Jianzhou listened, feeling desolate, unable to reply.
Finally, in the chilly wind, Nian Yanshi whispered drunkenly into her ear, fragile and sorrowful: “Lu Jianzhou… do you really not want me anymore?”