CHAPTER 348: CHAPTER 346: SHEN, WHY MUST YOU INSIST ON DIVORCING ME

As expected by Shen Yinning, Lu Yu waved his hand grandly and announced, "This is not a difficult matter. I shall decide—in that case, from today onward, you and Gao Zheng are no longer husband and wife! Gao Zheng, I order you to immediately write a letter of separation to the Shen Family girl."

As soon as he finished speaking, a young eunuch presented paper and brush to Gao Zheng.

Gao Zheng was stunned.

He betrayed Lu Ying not merely to pledge loyalty to Prince Duan for future titles and promotions but also to truly possess Shen Yinning, a peerless beauty.

But if separated, how could he still obtain Shen Yinning?

Clutching the brush, he looked imploringly toward Lu Zhengliu.

Lu Zhengliu, eyes on his nose and nose on his heart, feigned ignorance.

Lu Yu frowned deeply. "Gao Zheng, why are you looking around? What are you stalling for? Write it now!"

Terrified and drenched in sweat, Gao Zheng dared not utter another word and reluctantly wrote a letter of separation.

Receiving the letter, Shen Yinning was quite content. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Upon leaving the Imperial Study, Gao Zheng hurriedly caught up to Lu Zhengliu. "Prince Duan, please wait!"

Lu Zhengliu turned back. "What is it?"

"Prince Duan..." Gao Zheng wrung his hands nervously. "During my last visit to your manor, didn’t you assure me that once the plan was successful, I would truly obtain Shen Yinning? But today, His Majesty forced me to write a letter of separation. Why didn’t you stop him on my behalf? If separated, how can she and I still be husband and wife? Or... or do you plan to grant her to me as a concubine once you ascend the throne in the future?"

Lu Zhengliu looked at him with a faintly mocking smile, the cinnabar mole between his brows vivid and striking.

With a soft tone, he asked, "A concubine?"

Though the words were gentle, Gao Zheng inexplicably broke out in a cold sweat.

He stuttered, "Shen Yinning is the daughter of a criminal, her purity tarnished by the deposed Crown Prince—she’s no better than a used shoe. If I were to rise in rank someday, how could someone of her disreputable standing ever become my legitimate wife?"

Lu Zhengliu paused for a moment, then erupted in laughter.

Gao Zheng was confused. "Prince Duan?"

When Lu Zhengliu finally stopped laughing, the red mole on his forehead appeared even more captivating. Gazing down imperiously, he said, "Even my royal brother could not win her favor. And you... what are you to think you are worthy of her as a concubine? What, you don’t even own a mirror to see what you really are? Gao Zheng, do you think you deserve her?"

Do you think you deserve her?

After uttering these three words, Lu Zhengliu seemed to expel all the stifled frustration from his chest.

Last year, when he learned that Sister Shen had married Gao Zheng, all the noble sons in the Capital who had once admired her, himself included, were furious yet helpless.

What was Gao Zheng, after all? Just a penniless scholar from Gan State.

He had no political achievements to speak of, no remarkable talent, not even a noteworthy appearance.

And he thought he deserved to marry the brightest gem of the Capital?

Though Lu Zhengliu despised Lu Ying, upon hearing that Shen Sister’s marriage to Gao Zheng was just a sham and that her true love was Lu Ying, he even managed to breathe a small sigh of relief.

At least, Lu Ying was worthy of her.

Gao Zheng stood dumbfounded, utterly unprepared for not just failing to gain from Lu Zhengliu but also suffering outright humiliation.

He wanted to say more, but Lu Zhengliu had already strode off quickly, surrounded by his attendants.

A moment later, Shen Yinning emerged from the Imperial Study, immediately spotting Gao Zheng rooted to the spot, dazed.

She approached gracefully, smiling. "Lord Gao."

Gao Zheng clenched his fists tightly and looked at her with a mix of emotions.

These past days, he had basked in the status of Prince Consort, enjoying endless flattery from his colleagues. With today’s separation, he would undoubtedly become a laughingstock among them.

Betraying the Crown Prince, failing to secure an alliance with Prince Duan, and now losing even his wife—he had played all his cards and lost on all fronts!

Unwilling to accept defeat, he asked bitterly, "Shen, why must you insist on separating from me?"

"We were only ever married in name. Besides, now I no longer need the Gao Family as a cover. Why shouldn’t we separate?"

"But we are bound by the hair-knotting marriage rite! Have you never heard of abiding by one marriage until death? I never once held your past with the deposed Crown Prince against you, yet you now look down on me! Despite living under the same roof for so many years, do you not have even a little sincerity toward me? I always believed that though your body stayed with the deposed Crown Prince, your heart belonged to me."

Shen Yinning was speechless.

She couldn’t fathom where Gao Zheng’s inexplicable confidence came from.

Gao Zheng waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, separation is fine. As it was only a sham marriage, we didn’t even hold a wedding ceremony. But now, without a man to rely on, your position looks rather unbecoming. Here’s my thought—I’ll prepare the three matchmakers and six formalities after leaving the palace, and you can pick an auspicious date. We’ll marry properly this time, a true marriage. I’ll offer three hundred taels of patterned silver as the bride price, and you provide Shen Garden as your dowry. What do you say?"

Shen Yinning was stunned.

Though she was quite confident in herself, she realized she was utterly eclipsed by Gao Zheng in this regard.

She gave him a once-over, disdain evident in her expression. "Daydreaming nonsense."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Gao Zheng, flush with shame and rage, took two steps after her and screamed, "Don’t you dare regret this! You’re nothing more than soiled goods—who would ever want to marry you? Shen Yinning, don’t think that just because you’re beautiful, you can do whatever you please!"

Dark clouds loomed as faint raindrops began to fall.

Cui Ji had been standing beneath the palace eaves, watching their exchange closely.

Gazing at the leaden sky, he opened a paper umbrella, stepping to Shen Yinning’s side and tilting it mainly toward her.

Shen Yinning turned to him, smiling as she looked back at Gao Zheng. "Lord Gao is correct. Being beautiful indeed allows one to do as they please. See, even the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is willing to serve me."

Cui Ji didn’t deny it, softly gazing at her profile.

The light and shadows around them wavered ambiguously.

The light green gauze robe of the girl rippled in the breeze, the scarlet shawl contrasting against her exquisite face. Her beauty, radiant as the moon and flowers, with peach blossom cheeks and phoenix eyes shimmering like water, stunned all who saw her. Smiling, she seemed to illuminate even the dim heavens.

Such is the allure of a beauty.

Gao Zheng watched Shen Yinning leave with Cui Ji, his face darkened, yet he was powerless to act. He could only grit his teeth in impotent fury.

A strong wind swept through as raindrops pattered softly upon the umbrella.

Cui Ji asked, "What’s your next move?"

"Lu Ying has been deposed; the Shen Family is panicked and on the brink. Cui Ji, this is the best time to act."

"Understood. What can I do for you, Commandery Princess?"

Shen Yinning’s gaze fell on the jade pendant at his waist.

She had once remarked that his attire was too plain and unremarkable for the Capital, and so she gifted him a jade pendant.

Now it had a new tassel, and he still wore it at his waist.

Noticing her gaze, Cui Ji touched the jade pendant and said softly, "When I visited a colleague’s home to celebrate their child’s one-month feast, I was tugged at during a toast, causing the original tassel to accidentally fall off. I wove a new one myself with silk threads. It’s my fault; I didn’t take good care of the gift you gave me."