Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 6

Lu Jianzhou had always relied on her little cleverness, taking matters into her own hands. Now, realizing that her mother was truly the more seasoned and cunning one, she panicked.
“Then what should I do now? If I go to the Emperor and confess that I’m actually Lu Jianzhou, will it still be in time?”

Madam Lu shook her head.
“His Majesty already harbors suspicion about Jianyi’s death. Only because your father volunteered to retire did he turn a blind eye. If you suddenly interrupt now, Lord Yao will surely seize the chance to raise the old matter of the marriage decree. Besides, how could you possibly explain why you pretended to be your brother? The sudden change would bring ridicule from the entire realm. If the Emperor accuses you of deceiving him, that would be a crime of treason—and the whole Lu clan would be executed.”

At only seventeen, Jianzhou was still just a girl. Hearing of such dire consequences, her palms broke out in cold sweat.
“Then what should I do? If someone sharp-eyed notices a slip, won’t I implicate the entire Lu household?”

Madam Lu fell into thought.
“For now, we can only take one step at a time. Remember—you must imitate your brother in every word and action. When the time is right, your father will resign from office, and then we can go to Jianyi’s hiding place. Far from the muddy heart of the court, our family can live together in peace, untouched by worldly affairs…”

Such a life—if not for her own willful actions—should have already been theirs.

The thought sent another wave of guilt surging through Jianzhou.

Seeing her daughter’s expression, Madam Lu was about to comfort her when Chang Huan knocked at the door.
“Madam, the Master bade me bring word. At today’s morning court, Lord Yao indeed used the excuse of ‘warding off misfortune’ to press His Majesty into granting a marriage decree. He said we must prepare the betrothal gifts quickly, and that Young Master should accept fate.”

“So fast…” Even Madam Lu was caught off guard.

“What do we do? Mother, I’m a girl—I can’t take a wife!” Jianzhou clung desperately to her mother. “Where is Brother? Bring him back quickly!”

That Nian Shi… though she had only seen her once, it was obvious the girl was a formidable opponent—beyond anything she could handle.

Madam Lu could only laugh and cry at once.
“Weren’t you full of confidence when you first pretended to be your brother? How are you shrinking now? Your brother is hidden away so secretly he cannot come out for the time being. I’ve found some friends from the martial world—those who once secretly protected him and know him well. You’ll train with them in the coming days to perfect your imitation. Once Nian Shi is married in, we’ll think of a way to divorce her. But you mustn’t offend Lord Yao—if he loses face, he won’t relent. If we give him face, he may even help us. That way, he won’t keep pressing the Emperor to hold your father in the capital.”

“No way… that Nian Shi is too terrifying. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t divorce me first!” The little white rabbit Jianzhou trembled at the thought of that seductive fox-spirit of a girl. “Please, bring Brother back! I’ll hide! He can marry whoever, as long as it’s not her!”

She had every reason to believe that the girl who had stolen a kiss the very first time they met—if they were truly married—would strip her bare on the wedding night and expose her as a woman. Not to mention, Nian Shi was the one her brother loved. How shameless would it be for her to marry her in his place?

“Hmph, so you did meet after all.” Madam Lu sneered. “That ‘Magpie Bridge Meeting’ at the farewell gathering three years ago—you were the one impersonating your brother, weren’t you? I know well that that County Princess is shrewd. Playing her against your brother was risky enough. Against you, of course she’ll have you wrapped around her finger. That’s why it must be you. Besides, whose fault is all this? Don’t you always insist on taking the blame? Well, congratulations. You’ve succeeded.”

For the first time, Jianzhou realized her own mother could be so devious—scheming even against her own daughter!

So they know exactly how to bait me… you wolves!

She burst into tears.

The wedding day was set for the seventh day of the seventh month.

By then, Jianzhou had fully assumed the guise of a frail young scholar. Even Lu Wang was kept in the dark—Madam Lu told him it was Jianzhou hidden away, for she knew her husband’s upright nature would never condone such deception.

Under the envious and resentful gaze of the crowd, the pale groom won the hand of the most beautiful woman in the realm.

Lifting the red bridal veil, Jianzhou saw that in the three years apart, Nian Shi had blossomed further—no longer a budding girl, but a young woman radiant with purity. Yet her eyes still held that bewitching power, her whole being radiating unshakable pride.

And the way Nian Shi looked at her held an even deeper emotion Jianzhou could not fathom.

Three years might not seem long, but to Nian Shi the person before her felt almost unrecognizable. She had always believed that no matter how alike Jianzhou and Jianyi looked, she could distinguish them at a glance.

But after hearing half-true rumors that unsettled her heart, after sneaking into the General’s manor three years ago only to find an empty room, and then enduring three years of silence—her certainty had wavered.

This “Lu Jianyi” now seemed subtly different: darker skin, sharper features, less softness—more like a warrior than the elegant zither-playing youth she remembered.

Jianzhou squirmed under her gaze, worried that her carefully prepared disguise had already been pierced. Still, remembering her training, she stepped forward boldly, wrapped her arm around Nian Shi’s slender form, and declared with forced confidence:
“Nian Shi, Jianyi has at last fulfilled his vow of triumphant return—and taken you as his bride!”

But at the sound of that name, Nian Shi’s heart chilled. She turned her face away, her gaze falling instead on his hand.

The back of it was smooth and delicate like a woman’s, but at the joint between thumb and ring finger, the skin was rubbed raw—a mark of one who wielded weapons.

“Jian…”

The name trembled on her lips like the chime of silver bells, but Jianzhou, sensing her suspicion, quickly withdrew her hand. With a self-mocking smile she explained:
“These hands once played only music. But on the battlefield—even with Jianzhou protecting me—I had no choice but to take up cold blades and arrows myself.”

At that, the fragile hope flickering in Nian Shi’s heart was dashed once more.

Seeing her expression, Jianzhou had no idea why she seemed so sorrowful. Still, remembering she must play her brother’s part, she tried to cheer her: she set a guqin before them, took out a green jade flute, and sat down gracefully.
“Nian Shi, that tune ‘Farewell at the Long Pavilion’ still lingers in my ears. Jianyi often spoke of drinking under the moon, dreaming of one day performing it with you. On this wedding night, why not let us, husband and wife, play together, singing to our wine?”

To her relief, Nian Shi only shook her head. “No. Tonight has been exhausting. There will be time for music later.”

Of course—Jianyi had been famous as the Flute Gentleman, while Jianzhou was utterly tone-deaf. This, Nian Shi knew too well.

Rebuffed, Jianzhou felt both disappointed and relieved. Despite her frantic crash-course, there was no way she could ever play like her brother. If not for a few half-truths about “dreams of the battlefield,” Nian Shi would already have seen through her!

Now that Nian Shi herself suggested rest, Jianzhou could hardly hide her joy. Still, she nodded solemnly.
“Mm, you’re right, Nian Shi. We have all the time in the world…”

She blew out the candle and lay down fully clothed beside the bride, who turned her back and said no more.

The next morning, Nian Shi’s maids Jinxiu and Jinyi came knocking early.

Jianzhou, a light sleeper who hated being woken, staggered up with messy hair, bleary and irritable. The maids, seeing the groom’s sour expression, secretly giggled—perhaps they had disturbed the couple’s wedding night?

But when they entered, they found Nian Shi already washed and dressed before her mirror, her bridal gown neatly folded aside, while the groom’s clothes were untouched. Even more suspicious: the wedding sheets bore no trace of the expected bl00d.

Exchanging a puzzled glance, they looked again at the “groom,” who merely stretched lazily, shuffled past them with eyes half-closed, clutched a pillow, and collapsed back into bed to snore.

“Your Lordship, your Lordship, you must get up and wash! You need to serve tea and pay respects to the Princess!” the maids cried, more anxious than the groom himself.

But the young man only mumbled incoherently, dead to the world.

From her seat, Nian Shi glanced toward the bed, brow furrowing ever so slightly. Then she said coolly:
“Do not disturb him. I will go alone.”