In the countryside, at the Wang family’s estate, Old Master Wang was wrapped in thick cotton clothing early in the morning, fishing by the pond.

The young servants and passing tenant farmers had long grown accustomed to this sight.

“Master! Master!” A man dressed like a steward, wearing a hat with ear flaps, came running over shouting.

Old Master Wang’s fishing rod moved slightly as he raised his head and opened his eyes.

“What are you shouting about? You’ve scared all the fish away,” he said unhappily.

You were the one whose peaceful nap was disturbed, the steward grumbled inwardly.

“Master, there’s big news,” he said hurriedly, leaning close to whisper something.

Surprise appeared on Old Master Wang’s face.

“Really?” he asked.

The steward nodded.

Old Master Wang fell silent, stroking his beard with his hand.

“The Rao family in Shandong has already started preparing the trousseau,” the steward said.

Old Master Wang laughed.

“Just wait and see – there’ll be quite a show at the Marquis Dingxi’s household,” he said.

“Marquis Dingxi is truly fortunate,” the steward sighed.

Old Master Wang snorted with laughter.

“Fortunate?” he said, casting his fishing rod out forcefully. “That remains to be seen.”

Madam Xie was in unprecedentedly high spirits.

“…Madam Yang has already sent people to Shandong,” Nanny Su said from the side, looking through a list. “…The Lord will return to the capital on the tenth day of the third month to hand over duties and report back. Though the timing is tight, they’ve discussed it and can manage…”

“It’s a bit rushed, which is unfair to Miss Rao,” Madam Xie said with a sigh.

“What’s unfair about it?” Nanny Su laughed, helping Madam Xie insert a hairpin. “With this imperial decree, how many people in the world could obtain such a thing?”

Their family had someone who obtained it…

“This doesn’t count. When Yueniang came, it was the Old Madam who asked for the Emperor’s blessing, but not a single word was written,” Nanny Su said hurriedly.

Only then did Madam Xie smile again.

“Madam, the Lord is kneeling before the Marquis,” A’Luan hurried in to report.

Madam Xie slammed her pearl flower ornament on the table with a crack.

“Will this lowly servant never be done!” she shouted.

She stood up and left.

In Marquis Dingxi’s study, Chang Yuncheng was still kneeling.

“…What did you say?” Marquis Dingxi asked. “Wait until Yueniang has children before taking another wife?”

“Father,” Chang Yuncheng raised his head. “Yueniang’s status is, after all… Though they say it’s equal standing, she has no maternal family to rely on…”

“Ridiculous! Who would dare bully her?” Marquis Dingxi snorted. “What good is having a maternal family? Even with one, it’s impossible to bully people at will.”

“Yes, with father here, Yueniang won’t be bullied,” Chang Yuncheng said.

Marquis Dingxi couldn’t help feeling somewhat proud.

This boy knew how to say pleasant things; he just wasn’t willing to say them.

“It’s just that she feels uneasy inside,” Chang Yuncheng said. “Father, with a child, she’d have some support.”

This made some sense. Marquis Dingxi pondered briefly.

“Madam has arrived,” a servant announced outside.

Before he finished speaking, Madam Xie had already entered.

“Marquis, I plan to return to Shanning. I’ll come back when the new daughter-in-law enters the household,” she said directly.

Both Marquis Dingxi’s and Chang Yuncheng’s faces stiffened.

“Mother,” Chang Yuncheng called out hurriedly.

“Don’t call me mother. I don’t have such a son,” Madam Xie said coldly.

Marquis Dingxi had a headache.

“Really, you people really…” he shook his head.

“It’s just marrying a woman. What’s the problem? It’s not like divorcing her, yet you’re making endless trouble about it?” Madam Xie said coldly. “Don’t tell me a dignified heir of a marquis household can’t marry wives and take concubines? Where’s even half the magnanimity of a principal wife? What, having more women through marriage and concubinage makes him less of a person in her eyes?”

As she said this, she glanced at Marquis Dingxi.

Marquis Dingxi’s face immediately darkened.

“Outrageous!” he said, flinging his sleeves. He was a man, he was the head of the household, he could have as many women as he wanted – when was it a woman’s place to speak up!

“Get up! Marriage matters are not for you to discuss. You don’t act like a man!” he waved his hand impatiently, starting to dismiss them.

“Marquis, it’s not that Yuncheng wanted to speak – someone forced him to,” Madam Xie said blandly.

Marquis Dingxi’s face darkened.

“I don’t believe Yueniang would be like this,” he said. “Call her here. I’ll ask her myself.”

No, absolutely cannot let Yueniang face father and mother directly!

Chang Yuncheng stood up.

“She didn’t say anything, father. No need to ask her. I won’t speak of it again,” he said.

Madam Xie was about to speak when someone reported from outside.

“The young mistress has arrived.”

Chang Yuncheng’s face immediately stiffened slightly, while Madam Xie smiled coldly and sat up straight. The curtain rustled, and Qi Yue walked in.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her and stepped forward.

“Yueniang… trust me,” he said in a low voice with some pleading.

“Got scolded again?” Qi Yue looked at him and smiled.

“No,” Chang Yuncheng said hurriedly.

Marquis Dingxi coughed, interrupting the couple’s flirting in front of their elders.

“Yueniang, you know about this matter?” he asked directly.

Qi Yue nodded.

“I know,” she said.

Her face was smiling, her tone peaceful – where was even half a sign of making trouble? Marquis Dingxi nodded with satisfaction. He wouldn’t misjudge.

“This is the glory of our Marquis Dingxi’s household – tremendous face given by the court,” he said with gratification, waiting for this daughter-in-law to say pleasant words. Speaking of which, it was truly depressing – such a joyous occasion, yet it was handled like thievery. Until now, he hadn’t heard a single pleasant word.

“What does the decree say?” Qi Yue didn’t answer his words but asked with some curiosity.

“The Emperor said this is a husband and wife matter. If the husband and wife agree, he agrees,” Marquis Dingxi said proudly. “Written in the Emperor’s own hand.”

Qi Yue made a sound of acknowledgment.

Chang Yuncheng thought this was bad and reached out to grab her hand.

“That means if the husband and wife don’t agree, then it’s not agreed?” Qi Yue said.

Marquis Dingxi was stunned.

What…

Madam Xie smiled coldly from the side. See? Your wonderful daughter-in-law! Still dreaming!

“Father, it’s nothing, nothing,” Chang Yuncheng hurriedly said, pulling Qi Yue while giving her a somewhat warning look.

“The imperial edict says this – didn’t the Emperor tell you and me to decide?” Qi Yue looked at him and said. “What are you afraid of? It’s not like the Emperor is forcing you.”

“Yueniang!” Chang Yuncheng gripped her hand tightly.

“Yueniang, what do you mean?” Marquis Dingxi asked with a darkened face.

“I don’t agree,” Qi Yue answered straightforwardly.

“I’m the one who doesn’t agree,” Chang Yuncheng pulled her to his side and said hurriedly.

Marquis Dingxi wasn’t a fool. He sat down with a dark expression, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two without speaking.

Madam Xie held her teacup, slowly stirring it, peacefully watching the show.

“Yueniang, we can’t learn from those ignorant jealous women,” Marquis Dingxi said slowly in a deep voice.

Qi Yue laughed.

“Marquis, human nature is possessive. When you like something, you’re unwilling to share it with others,” she said. “If you’re willing to share with others, then you don’t like it or care about it. Marquis, jealousy and possessiveness aren’t learned – they’re human nature.”

Actually… indeed… unexpectedly…

Marquis Dingxi’s hand on the armrest clenched.

“Nature is nature, Yueniang, but there’s another saying: ‘arising from emotion, stopped by propriety,'” he said in a deep voice. “The great propriety between ruler and subject, the great propriety toward parents, the great propriety of the husband’s way.”

“Life is short. I don’t have time to serve so many great proprieties,” Qi Yue waved her hand and frowned. “Marquis, I’ll be direct. No matter what you say, I might compromise on other matters, but this matter has no room for negotiation. I will not agree.”

Marquis Dingxi was so angry his body trembled slightly.

“You, why won’t you agree!” he shouted.

“Because a wife can only have one husband, so naturally a husband can only have one wife,” Qi Yue said. As she spoke, she laughed. “But I suppose you wouldn’t understand.”

What she meant by “wouldn’t understand” was that they didn’t understand this concept, but due to what Madam Xie had said earlier, Marquis Dingxi thought she was mocking him for having many women!

“You…” his face was dark as he looked coldly at Qi Yue. “You’ve disappointed me greatly!”

Qi Yue laughed and sighed.

“Marquis, I’m the one who’s disappointed,” she looked at him and said. “I sincerely regarded you as a father and everyone in the family as relatives. I never thought you would stab me in the back like this.”

“How, how is this stabbing you in the back!” Marquis Dingxi slammed the table and stood up shouting. “Yuncheng is the legitimate heir of the family, the future Marquis Dingxi, bearing the responsibility of the Marquis Dingxi household’s bloodline continuation. Taking wives and concubines to branch out the family line – isn’t this completely normal? How did it become harming you? Have I harmed you? Have I divorced you? If I really wanted to harm you, I would divorce you and then marry him a wife! Not like now, preserving your dignity and status!”

Different paths cannot be walked together…

Qi Yue sighed.

“Yueniang, don’t say any more. I told you, trust me. I’ll handle this properly,” Chang Yuncheng grabbed her and said urgently.

Qi Yue looked at him.

“Chang Yuncheng, I don’t want to wait, and I don’t want to endure anymore,” she said. “Life is very short. Everyone should stop compromising and do things that don’t require compromise.”

“Qi Yueniang!” Chang Yuncheng’s face showed fear as he looked at her.

“Marquis, I’ll say it again – no matter what you say, I disagree,” Qi Yue looked at Marquis Dingxi and said.

Marquis Dingxi was so angry he could only gasp.

“You disagree? What good is your disagreement!” he shouted. “You don’t get to decide in this household! Get out! If you dare make trouble again, I… I’ll divorce you!”

As soon as these words were spoken, Chang Yuncheng’s face went pale, while Madam Xie smiled with pursed lips.

“Good,” Qi Yue said, taking out a piece of bright yellow paper from her sleeve. “But it’s not divorcing me – it’s mutual separation.”

What was this?

The three were stunned. Chang Yuncheng, standing close, reached out to take it. Opening it, he was immediately stunned.

“You, where did you get this?” he shouted in a trembling voice.

Qi Yue didn’t speak.

She was going to leave this place, but the Second Madam still had to live in this household. She couldn’t let her have no place to stand here.

“Qi Yueniang! Where did you get this?” Chang Yuncheng shouted in a trembling voice, his expression grief-stricken and agitated.

“The Emperor gave it. I don’t know the person who gave it to me,” Qi Yue said flatly.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Chang Yuncheng looked at her and said hoarsely.

“I thought I wouldn’t need to use it,” Qi Yue looked at him and answered.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her, his face trembling.

“You don’t need to use it now either!” he roared, about to tear the thing up.

Fortunately, Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie recognized this as an imperial item. They couldn’t bear the crime of great disrespect. The couple both rushed forward – one grabbed Chang Yuncheng, the other snatched the silk paper.

“What? What is this?” Madam Xie asked.

“The Emperor said if the husband and wife agree, he agrees. So if the husband and wife don’t agree…” Qi Yue said flatly.

Marquis Dingxi unfolded it and looked down.

On the bright yellow silk paper, several familiar characters written in a familiar hand appeared before Marquis Dingxi’s eyes.

“If you do not agree, I permit you to mutually separate.”