Chapter 602: Chapter 568: Divorce
The more Tang Yuan thought, the less he could control his emotions, and the man in his early twenties couldnât help but cry loudly in the carriage.
The coachman heard the crying and thought the guest might be troubled by something, so he didnât disturb him, maintaining silence all the way to the Xu Familyâs gate.
When the carriage stopped, Tang Yuan wiped his tears with his sleeve, lifted the curtain to get off the carriage and paid, after the coachman left, he saw a thick layer of firecracker scraps piled in front of the Xu Familyâs gate, the festive atmosphere hadnât dissipated, and there were several servants busy there, each with an excited smile on their face.
The plaque of the "Xu Mansion" was replaced and the newly imperial bestowed "Western Marquis Mansion" gilded plaque was hung up.
The newly hung plaque was noble and dazzling, and the family status and position had undergone a dramatic change.
The Xu Family, which almost faced persecution due to a lost battle, had now stepped into high-ranking nobility, no longer a family like the weakening Tang Family could aspire to.
Within the Xu Family, she could skillfully manage the household, and externally, she had a maternal family with high rank and power, which would greatly help his career.
How was it that he was blinded before, deceived by a wicked person, not seeing her good qualities, yet repeatedly hurting her and breaking her heart?
Thinking of this, Tang Yuan was overwhelmed with regret, and his heart throbbed painfully.
He stumbled forward, inquiring the few servants there about Xu Jiaâs whereabouts.
Tang Yuan was dressed in gray-brown short clothes, resembling a servant, and had been beaten black and blue, so the servants of the Western Marquis Mansion didnât recognize him and, due to their good mood, treated him somewhat politely, asking which mansion he belonged to.
Tang Yuan truthfully said he was from the Tang Mansion.
Upon hearing Tang Mansion, the previously smiling servant immediately turned cold and pushed him out, "Go, go, our mansionâs happy day canât be tainted by your Tang Familyâs bad luck, leave quickly, or Iâll have to use force!"
While speaking, he glared at him.
Leave?
He had no retreat, where would he go?
Tang Yuan humbled himself, "Please, I beg you, let me see my Second Mistress."
The servant spat at him, "Is your Tang Family all dead, to send such a jinx to fetch our mistress? Go back and tell Second Young Master Tang that with those appalling deeds heâs done, dreaming of the Second Mistress returning, thereâs no way!"
Tang Yuanâs heart cooled, his mouth tasting bitter.
Without waiting for the servant to push further, he knelt directly in front of the gate, "I am Tang Yuan, please inform the Second Mistress I am here to apologize, whenever she wishes to see me, then I will rise."
The servantâs words stuck in his throat, and after a long pause, he turned heels and ran inside.
Xu Guangfu and Su Qing had been out campaigning against West Yue for nearly three years, with help from Lu Xingzhou and the later dispatched mechanical beasts, they finally annihilated the West Yue army and captured the Xiyue Palace, completely annexing West Yue into Great Chuâs territory.
Following Emperor Guangxiâs orders, the troops were stationed in West Yue, and Xu Guangfu and Su Qing only brought a few attendants back to the capital.
When they entered the palace, the Tang Mansion had just encountered trouble.
Three years ago, although Xu Guangfu lost a battle, this time he achieved great success in West Yue, so Emperor Guangxi appointed him as a Marquis, and considering his few offspring, immediately bestowed him two good concubines.
As for Su Qing, he was already elevated to the high position of Left Army Commander before the campaign, so this victory was only completing his task, hence he received no title, only rewards of gold, silver, and good fields, additionally, Emperor Guangxi decreed Su Qingâs wife Lin Xiaoyue as the First-rank Imperial Decree Lady.
Xu Guangfu had just brought back the two concubines for settlement when he heard about the Tang Mansion issue, initially, he didnât believe it, thinking Tang Yuan should understand propriety, integrity, and honor as a scholar, needing face for his official path, right?
But Xu Jiaâs return home was a wake-up call.
From his daughter, Xu Guangfu learned Tang Yuan was a hypocritical gentleman, previously ambiguous with his sister-in-law, and today went overboard, directly using a bridal sedan to bring her over, planning to take her as a concubine and later raise her to equal wife.
Xu Guangfu was furious, "Tang Yuan, that bastard, itâs simply outrageous!"
Xu Shu was even angrier, his face almost twisted, directly telling her, "Little sister, we canât continue this life, you go back and divorce him, come back and Iâll support you."
"Divorce wonât work." Xu Jia said, "He wonât agree."
Xu Shu glared, "What? Heâs such a beast now, you still plan to spend your life with him?"
"Of course not." Xu Jia glanced at her parents, then turned to her brother and sister-in-law, "Since you all think itâs his fault, his treachery to me, then whenever he comes to our home, no matter what I do, you canât stop me."
"Thatâs for sure." Xu Shu said bitterly, "I wish you could beat him yourself!"
Xu Shu had just finished speaking when the servant ran breathlessly outside, saying Second Young Master Tang had arrived.
Xu Jia heard this, and smiled slightly, "Itâs like talking about someone and they appear, itâs good he came, Iâll go meet him."
Mrs. Xu was still somewhat worried, "Jiaâer, donât do anything foolish."
"Rest assured, parents, I know what Iâm doing."
Xu Jia followed the servant outside, seeing from afar the servant-like dressed Tang Yuan kneeling in the snow, she stood before him, looking down at him, "What is Second Young Master doing here?"
"Iâve come to apologize to Second Mistress." Tang Yuan dared not look at her, his guilty conscience made his voice low, "Itâs all my fault, I shouldnât have neglected the first wife while courting those I shouldnât, should not have coldly treated you and ignored your words, in all, itâs all my fault."
As he spoke, he slapped his own mouth, making his already swollen cheeks more swollen.
"I am willing to change all my wrongs, from now on, Iâll double the compensation, respect and honor you, in this life, I, Tang Yuan, want only you as the first wife, wonât take concubines, wonât entertain any evil thoughts, only hoping...only hoping Second Mistress can put aside the past enmity and return with me."
Xu Jia looked at him with a sarcastic gaze, "Second Young Master is probably interested not in me, but in my maternal familyâs power, right?"
Tang Yuan slowly raised his gaze, looking at her with remorse and tenderness, "Itâs only now that I understand why people say you should marry a virtuous wife, Second Mistress is indeed virtuous, a rare good mother in the future, someone I should cherish, now, I only want to live well with you, I donât care about the rest."
Xu Jia chuckled, "I thought you came to ask me to help bail Jiang Qingyu out."
"Sheâs not important." As if to prove something, Tang Yuan pressed his lips, "To tell, Second Mistress might not believe, Iâve never touched any woman until now, including my sister-in-law."
"Second Young Master wants to say youâre keeping your chastity for me?"
"If I say yes, will Second Mistress return with me?"
He said, reaching out to hold her hand.
Xu Jia stepped back half a step, just avoiding him, "Iâm not going back, better make room for your equal wife, right?"
"Sheâs not important." Tang Yuanâs Adam apple moved up and down, "Everything before today, I will throw away, from now on, I only want to care about you, only want to be with you, even if a lifetime of blandness, I am willing."
"Youâre willing, but Iâm not." Xu Jia smiled, meeting the manâs shocked gaze, "After today, Second Young Master Tangâs reputation will be ruined, not only will you survive in the Hanlin Academy, you canât even maintain a small Sixth Rank Official position, I, the legitimate daughter of the Western Marquis Mansion, why should I follow you to eat bitterly? Youâve insulted me many times, and one apology aims to make me put aside past enmity?"
Tang Yuanâs lips moved slightly.
Xu Jia shifted her gaze away from him, took a deep breath, "Second Young Masterâs sincere apology I have received, I wonât return, this, you take with you."
After she spoke, she took out a piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to him.
Tang Yuanâs heart filled with a bad premonition, hurriedly opening the paper, as he read the contents his entire face filled with disbelief, "You, you actually want to divorce?"