Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 5

There was no one.

Before Chang Huan could make up an excuse, a servant rushed in with dreadful news:
“Madam—madam—madam—it’s terrible… Young Master, Young Master, Young Master has been ambushed… he fell in battle…”

Lu Jianzhou did not know how her brother had died. When she first heard the news, the army had already reported victory. She had thought her brother must also be safe. Moreover, Chang Huan kept sending word that Jin Qingqin’s family was pressing hard, and the truth might soon be exposed. So she had returned home early to avoid future trouble.

She never expected that midway, from fleeing merchants, she would hear a different rumor.

They said her brother had been burned alive in his own camp by a traitor, reduced to nothing but ashes.

Though the spy had been caught and executed, a once-brilliant talent had fallen.

She had only been away a few days, yet Lu Jianzhou instinctively felt there was more to this than met the eye.

But the military would now be heavily guarded. Going back was impossible. After much thought, she spurred her horse back toward the capital.

So when she finally returned, weary from her long journey, she arrived at her home—only to see her cousin Jin Qingqin, now grown into a lively young lady, tipsily climbing onto the roof, trying to sneak inside.

Mischief stirred in her heart. Since I’ve come back early, why not have some fun scaring her? But before she could jump down to startle her cousin, the tragic news had already spread through the General’s Manor.

On the Double Ninth Festival, the victorious army returned as scheduled. Lu Jianzhou, listless with worry, finally saw them arrive—faces drawn with grief despite their triumph. Only then did she truly realize her brother’s death might be real.

The mighty General, her father, was forced to send off his own child with white hair burying black. Lu Jianzhou was left with bitter regret for not insisting on staying by her brother’s side to the end.

The Emperor personally decreed that “General Protector of the Nation, Third Rank” honors be bestowed upon Lu Jianyi, burying him in the Lu family’s ancestral tomb.

The General’s residence was draped in cold white mourning cloth. The Madam wept until her tears ran dry. The General, returned from campaign, sat silently clutching the urn, aged in an instant.

On the day of burial, both Prince Yao and the Emperor themselves attended, lamenting the nation’s misfortune.

Jin Qingqin still could not accept the truth.

Though she had only been his fiancée in name, he was at least her childhood companion. Three years apart, and now the next message she received was news of his death.

She could still clearly remember his spirited oath the last time they met—that he would marry Nian Shishi. How could someone so full of life suddenly be forever separated by death?

After the Emperor and Prince Yao made their show of condolences, the General suddenly fell to his knees before all, knocking his head to the ground three times.

“Your servant, Lu Wang, has fought for the realm for many years. I am old now, and weary. My beloved son has given his life for the country. My heart has no more ties. With Your Majesty’s diligence, the empire will see peace. Lu Wang is aged, though still able to eat plain food, but I beg to be released of my command, to retire to my hometown, and spend my remaining days quietly with my family.”

No one expected this. The General still held great power—yet clearly, his son’s death had struck too deep. Otherwise how could such a proud man think of resigning at the height of his authority?

But it was true: rumors said that in the northern campaigns Lu Jianyi had won battle after battle, all while enjoying poetry and calligraphy. He had seemed a rare, well-rounded genius.

Before the Emperor could answer, Prince Yao stepped forward to help him up:

“General, please rise. Speaking of it—since Jianyi and Shishi were truly fond of each other, we were almost kin by marriage. I too never imagined joy would turn into mourning. But to resign now is too rash. Our dynasty has only just stabilized. Without you as our pillar, how could the court be secure?”

These words darkened the Emperor’s face, though he could not openly object. Fortunately, Jin Qingqin’s father read the situation and also spoke up:

“Your Majesty, this humble servant has long been close with General Lu. I know well how much strain years of war have placed upon his heart. This tragedy with Jianyi is only the breaking point. Since the General insists on retirement, for the late Emperor’s sake, please grant it. The realm is stable now. And should trouble arise again, our Great Qian is rich with talent. We old men should not forever cling to office. It is time to let the younger generation stand on their own.”

“How can you speak so?” Prince Yao protested, but before he could continue, an angry young woman’s voice pierced the night:

“Today is her brother’s funeral! And she dares not even show her face?”

It was Jin Qingqin, furious. That day, she had searched Lu Jianzhou’s chamber and found no trace of her, then heard of Jianyi’s death. Her frustration drove her nearly mad.

But no matter how she raged, Lu Jianzhou would not appear.

That she could shout at Chang Huan so recklessly meant she had not noticed the Emperor and Prince Yao were present. By the time she realized, she was already the focus of every eye.

She had no choice but to bow.

Jin Qingqin’s father tried to smooth things over: “It is true we have not seen Jianzhou in recent years. I had thought she had finally learned to behave as a proper young lady. But indeed—it is strange she does not appear even on this day.”

At his words, Chang Huan collapsed to his knees, weeping: “This servant deserves death. The truth is—Miss Jianzhou has not returned home in three years!”

The whole household was shocked, even the Madam.

“She could not rest easy about the Young Master. Three years ago, she followed the army to the frontier. I could only keep in touch by carrier pigeon. She has always been disguised as the Young Master. She was meant to return now, but near the date, she never appeared at the rendezvous. I fear… I fear that, bound by sibling love, she may have done something foolish…”

“What did you say?!” General Lu roared. “You mean Jianyi was Jianzhou in disguise?”

No wonder he had often thought his son so changed—sometimes unable even to stand straight in a soldier’s stance, yet on the battlefield, invincible. Surrounded by rotting calligraphy in his tent, yet able to offer sharp military counsel when asked.

He, their father, needed a servant’s words to pierce the truth? Impossible!

“Spare me, master, it was Miss who begged me never to tell. She has always loved martial arts, and this was not her first time pretending to be the Young Master. Seeing how frail he was, she wanted to shield him. I kept the secret, never imagining such disaster would come of it. All my fault—I deserve death! Master, please—send men to search for her!”

But Lu Wang knew now that Jianzhou was missing. And such disgrace could not be made public. Whether it was disgrace or not, a girl flouting all the rules of womanhood shamed him deeply. His fury erupted:

“That wild girl! How she shames me! Guards, take my command token—mobilize the troops, search for Lu Jianzhou with all your strength!”

The words rang out with iron authority. The whole Lu household trembled for the young lady.

At that moment, a figure approached from afar—dressed in mourning white, holding incense, looking utterly broken with grief.

When close enough, people saw his face clearly. The timid among them recoiled in fright.

—Was this not the very Lu Jianyi just buried?

The youth fell to his knees with a heavy crash, sobbing bitterly, grief flooding his words:

“Father, your son is unfilial. Jianzhou took my place in the army… and perished in the flames. She will never return.”

Seven days after the funeral, “Lu Jianyi” still refused food.

If not for the strong body he had built since childhood, any ordinary person would have long collapsed.

Madam Lu could no longer bear it. She entered his chamber to comfort him: “Your sister’s death is not entirely your fault. If she were alive, she would not wish to see you like this.”

“Lu Jianyi” murmured blankly: “If not for me, she wouldn’t have died. It was my carelessness in leaving early…”

Seeing no one around, Madam Lu shut the doors and windows tightly, then whispered reproachfully: “Jianzhou, stop blaming yourself. Your brother is not dead.”

Lu Jianzhou finally raised her tear-streaked face, confusion in her eyes.

Her mother’s heart ached. “Foolish child, what were you thinking? No matter what mistakes you take upon yourself, why appear in his place at such a crucial time? Do you intend to live your whole life in his stead?”

Knowing she could no longer hide, Lu Jianzhou confessed: “Because Father values my brother so highly. Jianyi is the family’s only male heir, destined to inherit Father’s legacy. I was always meant to marry out. So of course he must live—and I can take his place.”

This only deepened her mother’s sorrow. “All because your father favors sons and scorns daughters. I warned him long ago—what girl truly loves the sword? He never once looked at you properly, so you strove to please him by learning weapons. That wretch! All his fault!”

“Mother, don’t speak ill of Father…” Lu Jianzhou said softly, embarrassed. She truly did love the martial life—she couldn’t blame only her father. “But… tell me, how is it that Jianyi still lives?”

Her mother tapped her nose playfully, keeping her in suspense. “It was a scheme between your uncle and me.”

Three years earlier, the Lu and Jin families had foreseen the political danger. Jianyi was being used as a pawn.

First, the sudden military summons was surely the Emperor’s suspicion toward the General’s Manor.

Second, Prince Yao openly pressed for marriage, even forcing the Emperor to grant it publicly. Yet Jianyi, without sense, declared before the whole city that he would marry Nian Shishi. Such a rash vow only drew the court’s hungry eyes.

Jianyi could not return alive.

Even if he did, he would be doomed.

Better to “die” first, than be killed at the Emperor’s hand.

So they staged his death.

But none expected Lu Jianzhou to step in—her loyalty and sibling devotion upsetting their carefully laid plans.