Chapter 603 - 569: You Reap What You Sow (Part 1)

Chapter 603: Chapter 569: You Reap What You Sow (Part 1)

On the Snow Wave Paper with hidden wavy lines was Xu Jia’s handwriting, the words "Divorce Letter" particularly striking.

It was as if a string in Tang Yuan’s heart had been plucked with a "twang," he felt icy cold all over, as if pierced by countless sharp arrows simultaneously. He struggled to control his emotions, "Why?"

He asked with extraordinary calmness.

But Xu Jia could hear it; this was the last trace of calm before Tang Yuan’s breakdown.

Yet, she remained unfazed, "If I recall correctly, I once asked Second Young Master if he was sure he didn’t want a separation. In fact, I didn’t fully say my words then; there was another half I didn’t utter: should he choose against it, he mustn’t regret it in the future. Now, it’s evident that you receiving this Divorce Letter today is all your making."

Tang Yuan’s face turned increasingly pale, almost merging with the snow on the ground.

The crowd of onlookers grew larger.

Initially, outsiders thought it was a servant from the Western Marquis Mansion punished and kneeling at the door for wrongdoing, but upon seeing the attire, it was clear he wasn’t a servant from the mansion. Then they saw the Madame from the mansion come out to speak with him, eventually taking out a pure white sheet of paper to hand to him.

At this point, the onlookers still found it nothing unusual.

After all, which mansion doesn’t have a clumsy servant who might be reprimanded occasionally? Nonetheless, if this young man wasn’t from the Marquis Mansion, he surely was from the Tang Mansion.

Yet, who could have expected that, in the next moment, the man kneeling in attire like a servant would utter a shocking phrase.

—You actually want a divorce?

Divorce?

It’s always been about divorce wives and separating, where in the world does a woman dare to divorce a husband?

The eyes of the crowd turned onto Xu Jia, seeing her with a cold smile and resolute gaze. It didn’t seem like a bluff about the divorce.

Western Marquis Xu Guangfu had a pair of children, a son who pursued literature early on, and a daughter who pursued martial arts. Those familiar knew that this lady of the Xu family had a spirited will even before marrying. They thought going to a family as pristine and principled as the Tang Family might bring change, yet who would have guessed, just over a month in the marriage, she dared to propose a divorce—was her father’s new marquis title making her haughty, making her look down on Second Young Master Tang?

Ignoring the scrutinizing gazes from the crowd, Xu Jia loudly recited Tang Yuan’s offenses.

"Since marrying into the Tang Family, I’ve never erred in minor or major affairs, giving dutiful respect to the elders and taking care of younger nephews diligently and tirelessly. Yet my husband proposed to take a concubine just less than a month after my arrival.

I, Xu Jia, am not petty. If you wish to take a concubine, I could select a suitable lady openly for you. But one should never—never—have taken your own sister-in-law. You both have thick skins to pursue love against worldly views; I, however, cannot understand nor accept your twisted relationship. You want me to accept her, to treat a former sister-in-law as a sister in servitude to one husband—I cannot, and have no face to do so.

In joining the Tang Family for a month, I did not violate any of the Seven Grounds. You have no reason to divorce me, yet refuse a separation. At present, I only have the path of divorcing you.

Frankly, all this was forced upon me by Second Young Master Tang."

Hearing Xu Jia’s words, the crowd instantly understood, the one kneeling was no other than Second Young Master Tang Yuan.

And this lady of the Xu family sought a divorce because he had done a beastly act—making his sister-in-law a concubine.

So, the recent story about a supposed sister of Tang’s eldest lady was indeed nonexistent, but fabricated to fool the world?

Now, all eyes on Tang Yuan took on a different light.

The Tang Family was a literary family with several scholars in its ancestry, yet Second Young Master dared to commit debauched acts so blatantly?

Utterly disgraceful! Morally depraved! Shameless!

Not only should he be divorced, but beaten to death would be lenient.

Prior at home, he was pointed and scolded by several brothers, now spat on before so many people, Tang Yuan knelt without raising his head, repeatedly begging, "Stop it, I beg you, stop it..."

Xu Jia looked down upon him, her eyes devoid of any ripple of emotion, "I exposed your crimes not to humiliate you, but to invite judgment whether my act of divorce is excessive or justified. If inadvertently you’ve faced scorn and criticism, then I can only say, well-deserved. It’s the retribution you earned."

Tang Yuan clutched the Divorce Letter tightly, "Why won’t you give me one last chance? I said I’d change my past faults, make amends slowly, even pledge never to take another concubine for life just for you, and you..."

Xu Jia interrupted him, "Second Young Master Tang, we are adults, relinquish that naivety. To you, maybe these promises mean the world to a woman; I don’t know if others would be moved to tear, but to me, these words are worthless—just like you."

"You..."

"No rule dictates a woman must live for a man. You didn’t care for me, and I wasn’t saddened. Now, your sudden goodwill doesn’t move me.

Today, I dare to divorce you publicly, to draw a clear line between us, it’s because I fear no lack of paths ahead. We were never of the same path, so why restrict me with the meager kindness you envision? Especially when it comes to you and Jiang Qingyu’s present, I certainly played a significant part. So, such a Second Granny, do you still dare to want her?"

Before Tang Yuan came, he had already been internally injured, and now hearing Xu Jia’s words, he couldn’t control his emotions any longer, spewing a mouthful of blood.

It stained the snow before him and the Divorce Letter in his hand.

But before he could topple back, the people from Shuntian Prefecture rushed over, with two government officials lifting Tang Yuan’s arms and dragging him away.

Chief Zhang picked up the Divorce Letter that had slipped from Tang Yuan’s hand, turning to Xu Jia, his gaze mixed with amusement, "Second Granny Tang has some nerve."

Xu Jia responded with a smile, "The one with nerve is the genuine daughter of the Western Marquis Mansion, not a member of the Tang Family."

Chief Zhang cupped one hand over the other, "Farewell!"

The spectacle, the act of divorce, came swiftly and ended quickly.

The crowd soon dispersed.

When everyone had left, Xu Shu and Song Fang, who witnessed it all from behind the door, came out.

"Little Sister." Xu Shu frowned at the bloodstain on the ground, "Are you and he completely severed now?"

Xu Jia smiled, "He can barely protect himself now, how could he support me?"

Song Fang reminded, "Little Sister Jia, your dowry is still over there, choose a day to have it moved back, don’t let it benefit the Tang Family."

Xu Jia nodded, "Let’s have it moved back tomorrow."

Xu Shu looked at his sister, then at the direction where Tang Yuan was taken, feeling puzzled, "It’s strange, Uncle said when those books were sent to you, Old Sir Tang would hurry back, how come the Tang Mansion is almost overturned, yet there’s no sign of him?"

Xu Jia looked afar, "Jiang Qingyu wants to enter the second house; at this critical moment, how could he let the Old Sir come out to make trouble?"

Song Fang widened her eyes, "Little Sister Jia, do you mean..."

"The Old Sir should have been back for some time, just hampered by Mrs. Jiang, as for why he hasn’t appeared yet, I don’t know the specifics."

——

When Tang Yuan was brought to the Shuntian Prefecture government office, Jiang Qingyu was being interrogated. She was still wearing her peach red bridal dress, yet her appearance was one of utter dishevelment.

Originally, she had hoped Tang Yuan would come to rescue her, not expecting him to appear in the courtroom in such a manner—a garb of gray and brown, with multiple injuries on his face and hands. Clearly, he had taken quite the beating and was unconscious when brought in.

Despair welled up in Jiang Qingyu’s heart as she watched Tang Yuan being doused awake without being able to do anything.

Seeing him open his eyes, Tang Yuan struggled to kneel upright from his injuries, never once meeting Jiang Qingyu’s gaze directly, squeezing from between his clenched teeth, "I can testify, my older brother indeed met his end by... by..."

It was such a fitting term.

What on earth happened back then, why did he waste himself on a ruined woman?

He faltered, overcame with intense hatred once more, and began coughing up blood again.

Staining the snow in front of him, and the divorce letter in his hand.

Before he could fall back, the people from Shuntian Prefecture already rushed in, with two government officials flanking to hold his arms and dragged him away.

Chief Zhang picked up the Divorce Letter that slipped from Tang Yuan’s hands, turning to Xu Jia with a cryptic smile, "Second Granny Tang, your courage is admirable."

Xu Jia smiled back, "The one with courage is indeed the real daughter of the Western Marquis Mansion."

Chief Zhang nodded, "Indeed, the farce of a divorce happened unexpectedly fast, as did its end."

The bystanders soon dispersed into the cold of the day.

When everyone had gone, Xu Shu and Song Fang walked out from behind where they had witnessed it all.

"Little sister," Xu Shu frowned at the pool of blood on the ground, "you two have truly severed ties now?"

Xu Jia smiled gracefully, "He’s in such a state he can hardly fend for himself, let alone me."

Song Fang reminded, "Little Sister Jia, aren’t your dowries still at the other place? Choose a day to move them."

Xu Jia nodded firmly, "We’ll move out tomorrow."

Xu Shu looked at his younger sister, then at the direction Tang Yuan was being dragged away in, bewildered, "I just don’t understand, a few days ago there was talk of the Old Sir Tang’s sister returning, yet even with all the chaos at the Tang Mansion he has been completely silent."

Xu Jia said, gazing far, "Jiang Qingyu wants to marry into the second branch. The Old Sir must have returned already, it’s just that Mrs. Jiang must have thrown an obstacle, and I don’t know the reason he is still yet unseen."

Song Fang looked to Xu Jia, bewildered, "Little Sister Jia, does this mean..."

"Indeed, he must have been back already; Mrs. Jiang must have hoodwinked him. As for why he remains unseen..."