Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 4

The Prime Minister’s residence was shrouded in gloom.

Everyone wore long faces—everyone except Jin Qingqin, who was the only one delighted that Lu Jianyi would soon be leaving home.

“This dynasty is ruled by eunuchs. By rights, it was Jianyi who acted too recklessly. It must be that Eunuch Zhu at His Majesty’s side slandered him, sowing suspicion and exaggerating the truth. The Emperor fears that your brother-in-law may be secretly colluding with Lord Yao, so he devised this scheme. I fear Jianyi’s mission will be fraught with peril,” Jin Qing reasoned.

Lu Wang understood well enough. He only sipped his tea in silence.

Madam Lu could no longer bear it. She slammed the table and rose to her feet.
“Jianyi is the only son of the Lu family! No matter what, you must protect him!”

Lu Wang gave her a helpless look. “If the sovereign commands a minister’s death, how can the minister refuse?”

“I care nothing for sovereign and minister, father and son, or husband and wife! All those so-called three bonds and five constants mean nothing to us people of the martial world! When the Princess Consort took her own life, I already told you—court politics would change. I begged you to resign your post and retire with me to the countryside, but you refused! And now you’ve brought disaster upon your own son. Are you satisfied at last?” Madam Lu’s voice trembled with anger and exasperation.

“The late Emperor entrusted me to keep this dynasty stable. How could I have imagined that the current Emperor would truly cast aside old bonds and drive us to a dead end?” Lu Wang sighed, equally helpless.

Jin Qing gestured cautiously, mindful of eavesdroppers, and leaned close.
“In truth, there is still one stratagem—a way to exchange the dragon for the phoenix, to shed the shell like a cicada, and spirit Jianyi away while keeping you both safe.”

The three of them conferred in hushed, furtive tones. Lu Wang, upright as ever, immediately shook his head.
“Impossible! That would be deceiving the Emperor!”

“This is called voluntarily yielding power! Even if the Emperor learns of it one day, remembering your service across two reigns, he will not pursue it harshly,” Jin Qing argued, already prepared for his brother-in-law’s stubborn integrity. From the start he had planned to draw Madam Lu in as an ally.

While the three adults schemed in secret, three young ones waiting outside were equally troubled.

“Brother… I’m sorry. It was my fault. I acted on my own without considering the surroundings, and now you’ve been dragged into this mess…” Lu Jianzhou said guiltily, watching her elder brother Lu Jianyi, who had been gloomy ever since hearing the news.

Lu Jianyi forced a small smile. “Don’t blame yourself. It was my choice to go see Nian Shi. You only helped me.”

“But exposing Xiao Sheng was too sharp, too showy. If not for me, you wouldn’t have been noticed by the Emperor, nor sent on such a dangerous mission. It’s all my fault, Brother. This time, let me—”

“Enough nonsense!” Jianyi cut her off. “How could I let my younger sister take my place in leading troops to battle? That would make me less than a man! Just yesterday I swore I’d become a true, iron-boned man!”
Though unease gnawed at him, he mustered a rare elder-brotherly air, patting Jianzhou’s head.
“Don’t worry. This is mine to bear. You’ve suffered enough over the years already. I’m only leaving for a time. True, I’ve been lazy, and my skills are not as refined as yours, but I’ve studied many military texts. Be good, stay home, and wait for me to return victorious!”

Watching the touching display of “sibling affection,” Jin Qingqin finally rolled her eyes, disgusted. She wedged herself between them, scoffing:
“Really now? Over a few useless barbarians, you’re acting like this is some tragic parting of life and death? Who exactly are you performing for?”

For once, Jianyi agreed with her. “She’s right, Jianzhou. Don’t worry. They’re only a few incompetent tribesmen. Besides, Father will be with me to protect me. This has nothing to do with you.”

“But… but I can’t shake the feeling that something terrible will happen once you leave…” Jianzhou said, her sixth sense alarmingly accurate.

“Bah, don’t curse me like that!” Jianyi protested, covering his ears. “Just wait at home obediently for your brother’s triumphant return!”

“I, for one, hope you never come back at all,” Jin Qingqin muttered. “That way I won’t have to marry you.”

“Hah? When did I ever agree to marry you?” Jianyi scoffed.

“Isn’t it obvious? That Emperor loves nothing more than forcing marriage decrees. If he doesn’t meddle in our lives, I’ll be shocked!”

Her childish outburst made Jianzhou laugh through her tears. “Your marriage was only a verbal promise from Father, meant to put Lord Yao at ease and buy time for the Emperor. If you find someone you truly like, the elders will surely decide in your favor. You don’t need to take it so seriously.”

At that, Jin Qingqin’s cheeks flushed pink. She snapped, half-shy, half-petulant:
“Who cares! I just want to be rid of him sooner. Go on, leave! And never come back! I can’t stand the sight of you!”

She pulled a face at him. Jianyi, too weary to be angered, ruffled her hair affectionately.
“Sharp-tongued little girl. No wonder no one wants you. Truth is, after all these years together, I’ll miss you too. If I return and you’re still unwed, I’ll marry you myself.”

“Who wants you to marry me!” she exclaimed, slapping his hand away, her cheeks burning.

Jianzhou could only shake her head at the pair of clowns.

The day of departure was set on the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time of reunion that only deepened the sorrow of parting.

Since the founding of the dynasty, wars had been few, but the veteran general’s blade was still sharp. To show his regard, the Emperor himself came to send them off.

Lord Yao, too, hosted a banquet for the city, and even the long-reclusive County Princess volunteered to play the zither in honor of the troops.

On the city walls, she stood like a vision, robes fluttering, leaving countless onlookers spellbound.

When her sorrowful, haunting performance of “Farewell at the Long Pavilion” ended, Nian Shi stepped gracefully to the table. Before the eyes of the entire city, she poured a cup of wine and offered it.

“Since parting at the Magpie Bridge, I have thought of you constantly. Yet bound by my station, I could not seek you out. And now fate grants another meeting, only to bring separation again in autumn. In my heart, I long for you to win great victory and, on another day, finish the words left unsaid.”

The hall erupted in uproar, shocked by the County Princess’s openly ambiguous words.

Most of all, the Emperor’s face darkened, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

Lu Wang’s palms sweated. That foolish boy had better restrain himself…

But happiness came too suddenly for Lu Jianyi. Dazed at first, he then realized—the dreamlike Nian Shi was declaring her feelings for “him”!

How could he notice his father and uncle’s frantic warning glances? Forgetting all decorum, he seized Nian Shi’s hand and vowed:
“Wait for me! I’ll come back for you!!!!”

Hidden in the crowd, Lu Jianzhou buried her face in her hand. She whispered to Chang Huan at her side:
“With my brother this brainless, I really can’t rest easy. If anyone asks, just say I’ve run away from home to wander the martial world.”

“Miss, you mean to secretly protect the Young Master?” Chang Huan frowned. “This may not be wise. Perhaps we should reconsider—”

“If you can’t explain it, just say I went to Grandmother’s!” Jianzhou snapped impatiently. She darted into a side alley, knocked out a lone soldier, dragged him aside, and swapped clothes before slipping into the departing army ranks.

“Princess, the provisions are ready. Shall we depart with the army as planned?” the old attendant asked, puzzled as Nian Shi lingered long after the troops had gone.

Nian Shi’s lips curved faintly, as if torn by some inner thought. At last she said, “No need.”

“Why not?” the woman asked.

“You ask too many questions.” Nian Shi plucked a string of her zither, then rose to leave.

The memory of Lu Jianyi’s grasp lingered on her hand—yet it was different from that night: not the callused strength of a martial woman, but something else. Perhaps I’m overthinking…

The old woman bowed hastily. “Forgive my impertinence.”

When she lifted her head again, she saw the Princess had already snatched up a set of night clothes and vanished into the darkness.

The General’s Manor was under tighter guard than ever. Even with all her cleverness, Nian Shi fell into a trap.

Biting her lip, she realized she could not force her way through. Reluctantly she withdrew, nursing a wound.

“Princess!” the old servant gasped at the sight of her injury. But Nian Shi motioned for silence, bound the wound roughly, then summoned a maid.

“Deliver this invitation. Ask the Lu family’s young lady to meet me. Tell her I have urgent matters to discuss.”

The old woman could not hold back. “Why do you value that Lu girl so highly?”

A fleeting shadow crossed Nian Shi’s mind. Her peerless face softened with sorrow.
“Because she is worth it.”

Time flew. Three years passed.

It was now the sixteenth birthday of County Princess Nian Shi.

The annual Lantern Festival had arrived.

Lord Yao hosted another grand banquet.

The Emperor himself attended.

At table, ministers laughed and reminisced about the Princess’s beauty on the city wall three years past, none without envy.

Even the Emperor, joining the talk, remarked:
“To see such a maiden at the wine stand, radiant in her youth—if the Crown Prince were of age, I would gladly do as with General Lu in days past and grant her in marriage!”

Lord Yao laughed, raising his cup. “My daughter already has her heart set. I fear it is no longer ours to decide.”

The Emperor smiled. “Her beloved must be that Lu boy who declared himself so boldly three years ago? Truly a fine match of talent and beauty.”

Lord Yao toasted him. “Your Majesty’s insight is keen. I too believe Lu Jianyi is a dragon among men. News of victory just reached us. Likely he will soon return in triumph. Since the two are devoted, may I ask Your Majesty’s golden words to bless their union?”

A knife hidden in laughter—the words boxed the Emperor in. All the ministers stiffened. Impossible that the Emperor would agree—such a marriage would bind the General and the Yao Prince together. The empire itself could be lost.

But the Emperor’s face did not change. He returned the toast and said lightly:
“Of course. General Lu has served with great toil and merit. I too would welcome his son marrying into the royal clan. Hahaha!”

“Ha ha ha ha ha!” The ministers joined in forced laughter, the hall echoing with feigned merriment.

“You see? Didn’t I tell you your father loves to meddle in marriages?” Jin Qingqin plucked petals, grumbling to Princess Fensui beside her.

Fensui’s young face was calm, her words precociously wise.
“If Lu and Nian Shi truly love each other, then why not? I think Father was right. But… your tone sounds sour. Don’t tell me you’re jealous of the fiancé you haven’t seen in three years?”

“Fine, fine, you’re all right and I’m wrong. I’m jealous, okay!” Jin Qingqin hurled the flower aside and stomped off toward her carriage.

She stormed straight into the General’s Manor. As usual, the servants barred her way.
“I demand to see Lu Jianzhou! No matter what mistake she made, who locks themselves away for three whole years?”

Chang Huan nearly wept. “Miss Jin, our young lady truly forbade visitors—especially you! Please, just wait a few more days. She’ll return soon!”

“Hmph! If you won’t let me see her, I’ll see her anyway!” Jin Qingqin had endured three years of this. Ever since Jianyi left, Jianzhou had shut herself inside, refusing all company, claiming Jianyi’s fate was her fault—yet never explaining how.

Seizing a moment’s distraction, she slipped past the guards, dashed to the door, and kicked it open.

But the only sound was her own voice ringing out in the empty chamber—

“Lu—Jian—Zhou!”

No one was there.