Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Ridiculous!

Facing such a fragile Qi Shu Xian, Sheng Zhi Wan merely laughed coldly. “You’ve said it yourself, Qi Fei Yan is your elder sister. She fell into the icy pond for you and was punished for you. Even if someone must beg for her, shouldn’t it be you? How did you ever think to come to me?”

Qi Shu Xian stared at her. “You can go and plead with the Empress Dowager.”

Sheng Zhi Wan scoffed. “But why would I? What does Qi Fei Yan’s fate have to do with me? Have you forgotten? Not long ago, she even tried to slap me in my own courtyard.”

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips together, silently clenching his fists. “She’s selfish and greedy, yes—but still, she’s my sister…”

“And?” Sheng Zhi Wan interrupted him.

“Since she’s my elder sister, she’s yours too. Sheng Zhi Wan, you cannot just stand by and watch her die,” Qi Shu Xian said firmly.

Sheng Zhi Wan laughed disdainfully. “You can’t save her yourself, and yet you expect me to?”

“Qi Shu Xian, I am not a wish-granting goddess from the monastery, nor am I a saint who forgives easily. Unfortunately for you, I’m quite a vengeful woman. You want me to save her? Impossible.”

With that, Sheng Zhi Wan turned to leave.

“Sheng Zhi Wan!” Qi Shu Xian spoke through gritted teeth, his fists trembling. “Normally, you being arrogant and reckless is one thing. But today I am begging you. Stop your nonsense!”

Sheng Zhi Wan paused mid-step.

She turned slowly, smiling coldly, eyes like ice. “Just for those words alone, I’ve decided—I truly won’t save her now!”

“Then…what if I divorce you?” Qi Shu Xian took a deep breath, looking at her indifferent back.

Sheng Zhi Wan halted suddenly.

Turning to face him, she gave a mocking smile. “Divorce me? Simply because I refuse to beg mercy for Qi Fei Yan?”

Qi Shu Xian said nothing, but his eyes clearly conveyed his meaning.

Sheng Zhi Wan laughed softly, her voice low. “Actually, it’s not impossible for me to save Qi Fei Yan—provided you’re willing to meet my conditions.”

“What conditions?” Qi Shu Xian demanded.

She tilted her head slightly. “All you need to do is write a notice.”

“Clearly detail in that notice how you, Qi Shu Xian, are a man who does not keep his word. Write down how Duke Qi’s household is greedy beyond measure. Reveal exactly how Qi Fei Yan and Qi Shu Lang stole my dowry and refused to return it.”

“Then, post this notice all over the Capital. Along with it, write out a document in which I formally divorce you. As long as you agree, I will immediately enter the palace to plead for Qi Fei Yan’s mercy.”

“Ridiculous!” Qi Shu Xian shouted, his face turning dark. “Absurd beyond belief!”

He glared furiously. “Sheng Zhi Wan, do you even know what you’re saying?”

A wife divorcing her husband?

Never before in history had such a thing occurred. Besides, on what grounds could she divorce him?

“Oh, so you know it’s absurd?” Sheng Zhi Wan retorted coldly. “To me, threatening divorce to force my hand is equally absurd as your asking me to save Qi Fei Yan!”

She sneered icily. “Go ahead and divorce me, then. When you do, I promise to plaster this notice all across the Capital—and I will make sure your threats today are clearly written for everyone to see.”

Without looking back, Sheng Zhi Wan walked inside her room.

The door slammed shut behind her.

Qi Shu Xian stood frozen for a moment, his face pale one second and dark the next. Finally, he turned around and left.

Not long afterward, Sheng Zhi Wan heard from Liu Shang that Qi Shu Xian had gone to the Third Prince’s mansion.

It seemed after failing to convince her, he planned to ask the Third Prince.

But the Third Prince was a man who always chose profit over trouble. To offend the Emperor for no real benefit? Impossible.

Qi Shu Xian was doomed to fail.

With this thought, Sheng Zhi Wan placed the final chess piece on the board.

Qi Fei Yan was surely doomed.

…

Sheng Zhi Wan guessed correctly.

Less than an hour later, Qi Shu Xian returned, his face gloomy.

By now, Duke Qi had heard the rumors about Qi Fei Yan trafficking salt and hurried home immediately.

At the Evening Tide Courtyard gate, father and son met unexpectedly.

Before either could speak, Madam Cui rushed forward anxiously. “Shu Xian! Did Sheng Zhi Wan return yet? What did the Empress Dowager say? Can Fei Yan be freed?”

Qi Shu Xian’s lips twitched, his voice strained. “Sheng Zhi Wan refused.”

“Refused?” Madam Cui’s voice rose sharply. “Didn’t you threaten her with divorce?”

“Enough!” Duke Qi snapped harshly, his expression darkening.

Qi Shu Xian’s face hardened further. “I did.”

“Impossible!” Madam Cui said, disbelieving. “She begged and pleaded to marry you back then—how could she not fear divorce now?”

Madam Cui’s words only worsened Qi Shu Xian’s mood.

“I went to see the Third Prince,” he said heavily.

Madam Cui’s eyes lit up eagerly. “What did he say?”

“…He refused,” Qi Shu Xian answered quietly.

“Refused? But aren’t you and the Third Prince…?”

“Quiet!”

“Mother!”

Both Duke Qi and Qi Shu Xian spoke at once, silencing Madam Cui instantly.

Duke Qi stared sharply at his wife, grateful she hadn’t finished her dangerous sentence. A careless word could doom the entire family.

Afraid she might say more, Duke Qi quickly led Madam Cui inside, dismissing all servants.

Madam Cui, however, remained fixated on Qi Fei Yan, gripping her husband’s arm desperately. “Why did he refuse? Didn’t he plead with the Emperor for Meng Yang last time?”

“Meng Yang caused the deaths of many soldiers yet went unpunished. My Fei Yan merely made one mistake—why wouldn’t he help?”

Qi Shu Xian’s face was cold. “Because Meng Yang had value. She earns Silver Ingots for the Third Prince. But what can Elder Sister offer?”

Madam Cui stood stunned.

“Then…then Sheng Zhi Wan! Go find her again! Make her beg the Empress Dowager! Perhaps she thinks your threat wasn’t serious enough…”

“That’s right, Shu Xian, write the divorce letter first,” Madam Cui continued insistently.

Qi Shu Xian clenched his fists tightly, silent.

Suddenly, Duke Qi slammed his palm heavily onto the table, the force shattering the tea cup upon impact.

Fragments scattered, bringing Madam Cui back to her senses.

“Have you had enough?”

“Fei Yan committed a capital offense. Even the Empress’s own brother remains imprisoned. Who do you think can plead for mercy now? Or would you prefer Duke Qi’s entire household follow Fei Yan into the grave?”

In twenty-some years of marriage, Madam Cui had never seen Duke Qi so enraged. She stood frozen, tears falling quietly down her cheeks.

“I…I just wanted to save Fei Yan,” she murmured sadly.

Duke Qi sighed deeply. “Fei Yan brought this upon herself. No one can help her now. All we can hope for is that His Majesty shows leniency due to the sheer number of people involved…”

Even as he spoke, both he and Qi Shu Xian knew clearly Emperor Chong Sheng’s stance on the salt-trafficking case.

This time, those caught would certainly become examples, warnings for all others.

Qi Fei Yan had already taken one step onto the execution ground…