Chapter 56: Mother, Why Seek a Divorce?
She didn't mind the living arrangements, but the Emperor was unwilling to see his daughter suffer such indignities. With a grand sweep of his hand, he declared, "I've ordered them to expedite the work. The princess's residence will be fully renovated within a month, at the very latest."
One month—precisely the deadline the Emperor had set yesterday in court for Gu Yan to submit his formal response.
Yan Xuerui's thick eyelashes fluttered as she softly said, "Father, I... I've put you in a difficult position."
With the Virtuous Prince now deceased, she clearly understood that the Emperor could not move against Gu Yan, at least not at this moment. For the sake of stability, he could not touch him.
She had inadvertently created a problem for the Emperor.
The Emperor smiled, his temples frosted with white, yet his words remained stern and authoritative.
"He is merely a subject, Changle. Do not trouble yourself."
"I have promised to always grant your wishes."
Initially, before the palace coup, the Emperor had observed that Yan Xuerui didn't seem as content as he had imagined, and a fleeting thought of having her divorce had crossed his mind. However, upon further reflection, Pingyang's consort came from humble origins, and their marriage was notoriously unhappy; Pingyang's children might not even be the consort's, which was why he had decreed their divorce.
Princess Changle and Gu Yan had no known major conflicts. Furthermore, Gu Yan was a pillar of the court, and they had three children together, one still an infant. She was different from Pingyang.
So he had casually mentioned it: if Changle truly felt wronged, as her father, he would compensate her and ensure her wishes were fulfilled. Later, when Yan Xuerui didn't bring it up again, he dismissed it. After all, marital spats were common, and no marriage was perfect.
Yet, after this recent incident, the Emperor was resolute that they must divorce.
Firstly, as Yan Xuerui had surmised, the Crown Prince and the Gu family were colluding, creating a situation where one family dominated the court. This he would not permit.
Secondly, and most crucially, he was still alive. He was the Emperor, the Son of Heaven. His daughter was a noble imperial princess. How dare Gu Yan defy her words in front of all the civil and military officials?
He would never tolerate anyone challenging the Emperor's authority.
Thus, at this moment, "divorce" might still carry a hint of "pity" for his beloved daughter, but it was predominantly driven by the power struggle within the court.
If Gu Yan could dictate everything, then he, the Emperor, might as well abdicate! Let the realm change its surname to Gu!
The Emperor spoke reassuringly, "Circumstances necessitated it. Rest assured, in a month, I will personally host your housewarming banquet."
That was also the first time the Emperor had witnessed the usually composed and calculating Gu Yan lose his composure. The Black Armor Army had surrounded the palace, so even though the Emperor was furious, he weighed the pros and cons and chose not to provoke Gu Yan in court.
Yan Xuerui was intelligent and perceptive. She immediately grasped the Emperor's intentions from his words. Since matters had reached this point, she said, "Then, Father, could you assign more imperial guards to me? I am new to the palace and feel quite apprehensive."
Such a small request was, of course, granted by the Emperor. Yan Xuerui dined with the Emperor, and on her way back to her palace, the palace maids supported her trembling form. Her face was pale, and the maids assumed she would return to rest.
However, upon reaching the Imperial Garden, Yan Xuerui suddenly halted and declared, "Prepare the carriage. I am leaving the palace."
The Emperor had given her a token for free passage, allowing her to enter and exit the palace gates as long as she returned before they were locked for the night.
The vermilion gates, studded with brass, swung open with a resounding creak. Although Yan Xuerui had requested simplicity, a princess's departure was always grand: red-wheeled carriages, ornate canopies, and two rows of sword-bearing guards clearing the path for her phoenix carriage. Through the trailing silken streamers, one could faintly discern the golden threads woven into her ceremonial robe and the shimmering light from the hairpins in her hair.
The phoenix carriage stopped before the Marquis of Jingyuan's residence. Yan Xuerui gazed at the plaque with golden characters on a red background and walked directly towards the main courtyard.
The servants in the courtyard had also heard about yesterday's palace coup. The mistress of the house for twenty years had suddenly become the current princess. The servants stood frozen, unsure how to greet her. Even the tall maids who had long guarded the courtyard to prevent her escape, having witnessed Yan Xuerui's decisive actions days prior, now dared not stop her.
Unimpeded, Yan Xuerui stepped through the arched gateway of the main courtyard. Gu Yan seemed to have anticipated her arrival. He reclined casually in a rosewood armchair, his wide black and gold sleeves half-draped, his distinct knuckles caressing the white jade thumb ring as he slowly, absently rotated it.
Yan Xuerui lowered her eyelashes and signaled to the maids beside her to withdraw. When the vast courtyard held only the two of them, Gu Yan rose with a sardonic smile.
"Well, well, isn't this Princess Changle? Your Highness honors my humble abode. I regret not having welcomed you properly."
"Your Highness, please forgive my oversight."
Gu Yan advanced. Yan Xuerui didn't want to engage with his sarcastic remarks, but the intense possessiveness in his eyes made her uneasy. She had endured too much last night, and her body still felt weak.
Perhaps it was the change in status, or perhaps the stiff fabric of the robe symbolizing her princess rank, but this time Yan Xuerui did not bow her head as she usually would. She lifted her gaze to meet Gu Yan’s.
He must not have slept all night. Dark circles under his sharply defined eyebrows stood out against his pale complexion, giving him a sinister and menacing appearance.
He approached, and she did not retreat. They stood extremely close, their breaths mingling. A shiver ran down Yan Xuerui’s spine, her thick eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
She softly said, "The Marquis has yet to bow to me."
Gu Yan was momentarily stunned. Enraged, he laughed instead and actually bowed. He did not step back but hooked his finger around the jeweled belt at her slender waist, pulling her tightly against him. He lowered his head, his cold breath enveloping her neck.
"Is this sufficient, Your Highness?"
Gu Yan had waited for her all morning. As long as she came and properly apologized—she had been momentarily confused, surely instigated by that old fool to utter such treasonous words.
She spent her days in the residence tending to flowers and plants, innocent and naive, unaware of the dangers of human hearts. He would forgive her.
Being publicly asked for a divorce by his wife in front of all the officials had made Senior Tutor Gu the talk of the town... Gu Yan did not care about any of that. No one dared to confront him directly, and he paid no mind to fleeting reputations.
He valued tangible gains, caring only for what truly fell into his hands—like the delicate woman in his embrace.
...
If even the Emperor did not want to provoke Gu Yan, how could Yan Xuerui? Her breath quickened, and her fingertips lightly brushed the back of his hand. "Marquis, I—"
Before she could finish, she heard a familiar quiet cough and turned her head in astonishment.
Ming Lan and Ming Wei stood outside the arched gateway. The brother, cold and steady, and the sister, bright and lovely, both looked awkward and hesitant, fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Boom—" A flush instantly spread across Yan Xuerui's cheeks. Her gaze froze, and Ming Lan and Ming Wei were equally uncomfortable.
Mother had become a princess!
Mother wanted a divorce from Father!
Not daring to ask Gu Yan, the siblings had discussed it earlier in their room. When the gatekeeper announced Princess Changle’s carriage had arrived, they were stunned. It took them a while to realize that "Princess Changle" was their mother.
They hurried over, only to find their father and mother in a close embrace in the courtyard, completely absorbed in each other, oblivious to the world.
Everyone looked at each other, extremely embarrassed.
Yan Xuerui, as if waking from a dream, quickly pushed Gu Yan away and guiltily smoothed her disheveled hair.
Gu Yan, however, remained composed. He lifted his chin and said, "Come in."
Ming Lan and Ming Wei entered one after the other, saying in unison, "Mother."
Gu Yan sneered, "What 'mother'? Your mother has abandoned you. You must address her properly as Her Highness the Princess."
Remembering Yan Xuerui’s earlier audacity, Gu Yan clenched his jaw and said sarcastically, "Why aren't you kneeling and bowing to Her Highness the Princess? Do you still have no sense of proper respect?"
The siblings exchanged a glance. Though they knew Gu Yan was speaking in anger, they dared not disobey their father. Together, they lifted their robes, preparing to kneel.
Yan Xuerui couldn't bear to see this. She hurried forward and stopped them by their arms.
"Don’t listen to your father’s nonsense."
Yan Xuerui helped both children up. She first patted Ming Wei’s head and comforted her with a few words, then turned her gaze to Ming Lan, standing tall and straight, asking, “Were you injured these past few days?”
At the time, Ming Lan had been completely out of touch. Later, she understood—Ming Lan had always been close to Gu Yuan and must have been by his second uncle’s side. But swords and arrows are blind.
Ming Lan shook his head and said, “I’m unharmed. It is my fault for making you worry, Mother.”
Under the thin summer clothing, Yan Xuerui keenly noticed a bloodstain on Ming Lan’s tanned neck, neat and sharp, as if sliced by a blade.
Yan Xuerui’s heart trembled, and she gasped, “You really were injured?”
“Does it hurt? Quickly, have the house physician take a look.”
A flicker of discomfort passed over Ming Lan’s stern face. He tugged at his collar, covering the bloodstain.
“I wasn’t injured. It was… an accident.”
“Mother need not worry. Your son has practiced martial arts for years and never dared to slack off. Few can harm me.”
Ming Lan was seventeen this year—a tall, well-built young man, already taller than his mother, with the physique of a grown man. Though he was his own flesh and blood, Gu Yan couldn’t stand seeing the two of them so intimate.
A son should keep some distance from his mother as he grows up—did this boy not know that? Or were his studies too lax? He’d make him train extra later!
Under Gu Yan’s icy gaze, Ming Lan consciously took a step back and asked the question both siblings were concerned about.
“Your son first congratulates Mother on regaining your status as a princess. Your noble status has finally been revealed today.”
“However, I heard that Mother intends to divorce Father. What is the reason for this? Your son does not believe the groundless rumors circulating outside. My sister and I are worried sick and beg Mother to speak frankly.”
Even with a father as imposing as Gu Yan, when he said, “Your mother has abandoned you,” Gu Minglan did not believe it. Since childhood, their mother had always treated them with gentle kindness, and they knew it well.
Ming Wei, standing behind him, nodded in agreement. She tugged at Yan Xuerui’s sleeve, her brows furrowed with worry.
“Mother, why do you want a divorce? You didn’t come back last night—I was worried to death.”
“Did anyone in the palace bully you? Is the Marquis’s residence not better than the palace?”
With her son and daughter by her side, both pairs of eyes fixed intently on her, two forces tore at Yan Xuerui’s heart, nearly shattering it. She forced a smile and said, “No, Mother… this is a temporary arrangement.”
“The situation at court is complicated. You’re too young to understand even if I told you. Mother has her reasons.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
Ming Wei seemed to understand but not entirely. She still held onto Yan Xuerui’s sleeve tightly and asked, “If Mother doesn’t want me to ask, then I won’t. But… will there be danger? Please, you must not take any risks.”
She wrapped her arms around Yan Xuerui’s arm. Since childhood, she had known her mother’s body was delicate, never without medicinal soups. Her own arms were thicker than her mother’s.
Wasn’t it better in the Marquis’s residence, just like before? The palace might be wealthy, but serving the emperor is like living with a tiger. To show closeness to the Gu family, Empress Xu had invited her a few times, but she disliked how the palace emphasized “rules” and “proper behavior,” always demanding people kneel.
Even as an “honored guest,” not even Empress Xu could act freely in the palace. What kind of good place could it be? Ming Wei had tossed and turned all night, afraid her frail mother would be bullied in the palace.
Sensing her daughter’s dependence and concern, Yan Xuerui held her hand to comfort her. She then took the phoenix hairpin from her hair and pinned it in Ming Wei’s hair, hoping to cheer her up. Ming Lan stood silently behind them—despite his youth, he already carried his father’s steady composure.
After finally sending her son and daughter away, Yan Xuerui stood at the threshold, looking toward Gu Yan, who sat across from her in an armchair, drinking tea in silence.
“Gu Yan.”
She stretched out her hands. “Help me up.”
Gu Yan scoffed. “Becoming a princess has made you too important to walk on your own.”
"What? You walked over yourself and sullied Her Highness's precious feet?"
Yan Xuerui ignored his sarcastic tone and explained softly, "My feet fell asleep."
In truth, her knees ached. Her delicate body had knelt before the emperor for a quarter of an hour this morning and then stood for so long just now. She was afraid that if she moved, she might collapse.
It would be too unsightly. Yan Xuerui ordered Gu Yan around without even realizing how entitled her tone sounded.
Gu Yan muttered "so delicate," put down his teacup, and came over. Yan Xuerui had overestimated herself—the moment she took his arm, her knees buckled, and she fell straight down. Fortunately, Gu Yan's reflexes were quick, and he caught her in his arms.