As she spoke, Madam Jin grew more distressed and began to cry even louder. “Men fear choosing the wrong career, women fear marrying the wrong man. Just look at you! A perfectly good daughter, married off to suffer so much, abused by the White King of Hell like this. As your mother, my heart aches.”
“Wait…” Zhu Yan felt she needed to explain.
“There’s a White King of Hell and a Black King of Hell. What if someday the White King can’t defeat the Black King? What will you do as a widow?” Madam Jin continued.
Zhu Yan was utterly confused. “Mother, what are you talking about?” She couldn’t understand why Madam Jin suddenly brought up widowhood.
To her surprise, Madam Jin stopped crying and stared at her blankly. “Sixth Miss, you should divorce the White King of Hell.”
Zhu Yan lightly tapped her forehead, feeling bewildered. “You came here to persuade me to divorce?”
Madam Jin glared at her. “What’s so strange about that? I never agreed to your union in the first place. You’re from different worlds. Do you want to lose your life? You must divorce.”
Zhu Yan couldn’t eat anymore. She put down her pastry and frowned at Madam Jin. “This isn’t right. Something’s very wrong here.”
Madam Jin’s eyes widened, showing a hint of middle-aged charm.
“In the past, although you were reluctant, you only feared Shen Du’s frightening reputation would harm my name. That’s why you hoped he would divorce me. Later, after Shen Du saved Third Sister, your opinion of him improved.”
“Now, after just one trip to Yingzhou, you’re all urging me to divorce?”
Zhu Yan’s mind was clear, analyzing the situation logically. Madam Jin and Madam Ru exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
Zhu Mansu was also puzzled. “That’s right, Mother, Aunt. You didn’t talk like this before Sixth Sister returned…” Before she could finish, Madam Ru and Madam Jin glared at her. She shrank back, “I’m just thinking of Sixth Sister’s welfare. If she were divorcing someone else, it would be fine, but divorcing the White King of Hell? Even if they divorced, who would dare to marry her?”
“It’s better if no one marries her. We can keep her at home,” Madam Jin said firmly. “Sixth Miss originally married in place of Caiwei. This was never a good match to begin with. Moreover, these people think differently from ordinary folks. Who knows if today’s love won’t turn into sending you to the afterlife tomorrow over some minor displeasure?”
Madam Ru added, “That’s right. We’ll think of a way that works for everyone. We must succeed in this divorce. Who cares about those rules? Divorce, we must divorce.”
At this point, Zhu Yan wasn’t in a hurry anymore. She sat down again, picked up a pastry, and took a bite with a smile. Madam Jin wiped away some crumbs from the corner of her mouth. Zhu Yan smiled at them:
“It’s rare for Mother and Aunt to be so considerate of me. Alright, I’ll listen to you. Let’s divorce.”
The person outside the door who had just approached changed expression upon hearing this, their face turning ashen and frightening.
“So, how do we go about this divorce? Who will approach Shen Du? He is the White King of Hell after all, I don’t dare go,” Zhu Yan’s eyes rolled as she had an idea. “It would be most appropriate for Father to bring it up. He’s the head of the family. Today, I’ll go home with you to explain everything to Father and have him visit the Shen residence to discuss the divorce.”
Madam Ru and Madam Jin inhaled sharply. Even the thought of Zhu Kuo meeting Shen Du was frightening, let alone mentioning divorce.
“What’s the matter? Can’t go? Then I’ll go,” Zhu Yan pondered, “What if the White King of Hell feels that my request for divorce insults his male pride? If he flies into a rage and takes my life, what then?”
This…
“There… there must be a way,” Madam Jin said, not giving up.
Zhu Yan nodded. “There is a way. That is, not to divorce.”
“Oh, my goodness.” Madam Jin held her forehead, pretending to faint. Zhu Yan caught her. “Child, how can you think like this? Have you forgotten Shen Du’s three warnings?”
First, Zhu Yan shouldn’t dream of becoming the true Madam Shen. Second, Zhu Yan shouldn’t dream of getting any intelligence from him. Third, Zhu Yan shouldn’t dream of living in the Shen residence for more than three months.
“Of course, I haven’t forgotten. But it’s been more than three months, and I’m still alive, aren’t I?”
Seeing her daughter laugh so carefreely, Madam Jin held her head in pain. Suddenly remembering something, she grabbed Zhu Yan’s arm to examine it.
On her arm, as white as a lotus root, the red cinnabar mark was quite conspicuous.
Madam Ru also noticed it. The two women exchanged glances again, their worry not dissipating but growing even stronger.
Madam Jin bit her lower lip and gripped Zhu Yan’s shoulders, questioning her, “My dear daughter, tell me the truth. Is there something wrong with Shen Du in that aspect?”
“Which aspect?” Zhu Yan didn’t quite understand.
Madam Jin shook her head, opening and closing her mouth without speaking. Zhu Yan grew more curious. “Mother…”
“Ah, I’ll say it,” Madam Ru steeled herself. “Is Shen Du impotent? Otherwise, you’ve been married for so long, and what normal man could resist such a beautiful wife, yet you still have your intact virgin mark?”
Now Zhu Yan understood. Having examined many corpses, including those of actors and women who committed suicide after being violated, she knew what impotence meant.
“The only explanation is that he’s impotent, but he keeps you around to prove that he can perform.”
This… seemed to make some sense.
“No, no, no, it’s not like that,” Zhu Yan’s head felt as big as an ox. “It’s because your daughter was unwilling, so he didn’t force me.”
But Madam Ru and Madam Jin didn’t believe her, both looking at her with pitying eyes.
Feeling embarrassed, Zhu Yan quickly changed the subject from herself, asking about her Third Sister.
“Oh, her? She’s with child now,” Madam Ru couldn’t stop smiling. “She’s resting at home. Your Third Brother-in-law now works at the Hongwen Academy. When he’s off duty, he takes care of her.”
Seeing that Madam Jin was about to ask more questions, Zhu Yan quickly said, “Third Brother-in-law is very considerate. Third Sister is blessed.”
“Yes,” Madam Ru’s eyes showed satisfaction, then she came back to her senses. “But Sixth Miss, you…”
“What about Fifth Brother?” Zhu Yan interrupted.
Madam Ru pursed her lips, not sure whether to be happy or worried. “He’s at home preparing for next spring’s imperial examination. Since being thrown into the Hongwen Academy by the White King of Hell, he’s become more disciplined. He looks much better now.”
Mentioning him reminded her of the letter that Fifth Son Zhu Mojie had written to Zhu Yan, which was placed in the pastry box. For a moment, she forgot about the divorce matter.
“Chuichui, don’t just eat, girl. Help find the letter.”
“Alright.”
Stuffing a pastry into her mouth, Lu Chuichui quickly found several letters. She took the one with Zhu Mojie’s name on the envelope and opened it to read.
Before she could read it aloud, she burst into laughter.
Zhu Yan became curious too. “What’s so funny? If he has something to say, he could just tell me directly. Why write a letter? Is it sour?”
As she tried to snatch it, Lu Chuichui dodged and read it out loud:
“Sixth Sister, although Fifth Brother is at the Hongwen Academy, my heart is always with you. If that White King of Hell dares to bully you, Fifth Brother will immediately bring you back to the Zhu family. Don’t be afraid of his official power. You have your brothers to support you. Moreover, your Fifth Brother has made many like-minded friends at the Academy, including students from noble backgrounds. Divorce him, and Fifth Brother will introduce you to some good men who will treat you well.”
As soon as she finished reading, Zhu Mansu, who was beside them, bent over laughing, holding her stomach. “Fifth Brother is still Fifth Brother! No matter how much he learns etiquette, a lapdog can’t pretend to be a big grey wolf, hahaha…”
Madam Ru gave her a knock on the head. “He’s still better than you. When told to learn needlework, you can’t. When told to learn writing, you won’t. What can you do? If eating counts as a skill, then you’ll certainly have no trouble getting married.”
Zhu Mansu conceded, rubbing the spot where she was hit and not daring to make a sound.