Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Planning to Separate

Empress Dowager complained to Xiu Gu, “Xiu Gu, why was that girl so hard-hearted? It’s been two years, and just because I said a few words about Qi Shu Xian, she never came into the palace even once.”

Empress Dowager went on, “I don’t even know if she is doing well. The people in the Duke Qi residence aren’t easy to deal with. Her sister-in-law’s husband is clearly a useless fool, yet he still dares to complain about the post she worked so hard to find for him…”

Empress Dowager’s eyes turned colder as Empress Dowager said, “And that Qi Shu Xian. He left for the Frontier Passes on the second day after the wedding, then came back with a woman. Does he think this Grandmother is dead? At the Chongyang banquet in a few days, I will have a good look…”

Sheng Zhi Wan could not hold it in any longer and blurted, “Grandmother!”

So Grandmother had always been thinking of Sheng Zhi Wan. In Sheng Zhi Wan’s past life, Grandmother tried to make Meng Yang lose face at the Chongyang banquet, yet it ended up making Meng Yang famous instead, and later Grandmother was criticized by everyone.

It had all been because of Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes stung even more as Sheng Zhi Wan called softly, “Grandmother…”

Empress Dowager pulled Sheng Zhi Wan into Empress Dowager’s arms, and tears fell in a rush. Empress Dowager sobbed, “You girl, you finally decided to come see me? Come, let Grandmother look. Why are you so thin?”

Empress Dowager held Sheng Zhi Wan and looked Sheng Zhi Wan over from left to right. Sheng Zhi Wan let Empress Dowager examine Sheng Zhi Wan until Empress Dowager was satisfied.

Only then did Empress Dowager ask about the real matter. Empress Dowager asked, “What do you plan to do about that Farm Girl?”

Empress Dowager said, “Find a chance to send her to a manor. Right now, the matter between her and Qi Shu Xian is known by everyone.”

Empress Dowager sneered and added, “There are even rumors in Cang Nan that if she hadn’t cured Qi Shu Xian’s poison, the war might have ended in defeat.”

Empress Dowager could not help laughing coldly. That rumor did not even know where it came from. The victory was earned by soldiers spilling blood on the battlefield, yet now it was being tied to a single woman.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s spoon paused over the wine mash.

That rumor existed in Sheng Zhi Wan’s past life as well. Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan, like Grandmother, thought it had spread by accident, until Sheng Zhi Wan later discovered Meng Yang’s many strange points and sent people to investigate.

But this time, Sheng Zhi Wan would not let that kind of rumor keep fermenting. Not only that, Sheng Zhi Wan would even make Qi Shu Xian spit out most of that so-called war merit.

Sheng Zhi Wan placed the bowl of sweet fermented rice dumplings in front of Empress Dowager and said, “Grandmother doesn’t need to worry about my affairs. On the Duke Qi side, I have my own plan.”

Empress Dowager grabbed Sheng Zhi Wan’s hand and asked, “What plan do you have?”

Empress Dowager said anxiously, “Grandmother knows you care about Qi Shu Xian. You fear that if you deal with the people around him, he will grow distant from you. But you two haven’t even seen each other for two years. Now a person appeared out of nowhere. Do you really think you can keep his heart?”

Empress Dowager started to say, “Men are all the sort who get a taste and then crave more, and he even…” but Empress Dowager stopped, afraid Sheng Zhi Wan would feel hurt.

Sheng Zhi Wan held Empress Dowager’s hand instead and smiled. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Grandmother, I’m planning to separate.”

Empress Dowager’s eyes widened as Empress Dowager repeated, “Separate?”

Empress Dowager said, “You foolish child, what nonsense are you saying? You’re still so young. If you separate, how will you live the rest of your life?”

Sheng Zhi Wan said gently, “Naturally, I will live well.”

Sheng Zhi Wan explained bit by bit, “Even if I separate, I will still be a Princess. Besides, I still have Grandmother and Imperial Father to protect me.”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “The fields, manors, and private property you gave me are enough for me to live in wealth for a lifetime. I won’t have to watch anyone’s face. Grandmother, isn’t that good?”

Empress Dowager shook Empress Dowager’s head again and again and said, “This… how can it be the same? You are a woman, after all.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “So what if I’m a woman? Rather than getting tangled up and wasting my whole life, I would rather cut it off early. Grandmother also knows what my days were like in the Duke Qi residence. Before, I admired him and thought it was worth it, but now I have thought it through.”

Empress Dowager asked, “You won’t regret it?”

Sheng Zhi Wan shook her head and answered, “I won’t.”

Empress Dowager stared at Sheng Zhi Wan for a long time, then let out a long sigh. Empress Dowager said, “Fine. Since you’ve already decided, I’ll invite your Imperial Father over in a bit.”

Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan had knelt and starved herself just to marry down. Now that Sheng Zhi Wan wanted to separate, it would naturally not be that easy.

Empress Dowager knew that, which was why Empress Dowager planned to request the decree for Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan shook her head and said, “Grandmother, I have my own calculations. For now, please pretend you don’t know about these things…”

When the news that Sheng Zhi Wan had entered the palace reached the Imperial Study, Emperor Chong Sheng was putting the final stroke on the Imperial Edict granting rewards to Qi Shu Xian.

There were many Sheng Kingdom military officers, but most were old. Qi Shu Xian’s sudden rise was exactly what Emperor Chong Sheng wanted to see.

Even more so because Qi Shu Xian used troops like a god. In the final battle, Qi Shu Xian used strange, cunning tactics to win with fewer men and crush Yan Jue.

With talent like that, Emperor Chong Sheng would certainly reuse Qi Shu Xian.

But when Emperor Chong Sheng thought of Sheng Zhi Wan, Emperor Chong Sheng’s brows knit again. This girl loved Qi Shu Xian deeply, and now that Qi Shu Xian returned from Cang Nan with a woman, Sheng Zhi Wan had gone to see Empress Dowager today.

Most likely, Sheng Zhi Wan wanted Empress Dowager to speak for Sheng Zhi Wan, so Emperor Chong Sheng would make a decision.

Yet a man having three wives and four concubines was normal. Back then Sheng Zhi Wan chose to marry down on her own, and Qi Shu Xian was not a Princess consort.

If Emperor Chong Sheng punished Qi Shu Xian, would that not chill Qi Shu Xian’s heart?

The more Emperor Chong Sheng thought about it, the more Emperor Chong Sheng’s head ached. Emperor Chong Sheng rubbed his brow and said, “If Empress Dowager sends someone to summon me later, tell them… tell them I’m busy.”

Chief Attendant Su answered quickly, “Yes.”

The note hidden in Chief Attendant Su’s sleeve felt hot enough to burn Chief Attendant Su’s fingertips. Chief Attendant Su’s mouth tasted bitter.

Chief Attendant Su did not know what madness had struck that person, to make them demand that Chief Attendant Su plant bad thoughts about Qi Shu Xian. Chief Attendant Su had been by Emperor Chong Sheng’s side for many years. How could Chief Attendant Su not understand Emperor Chong Sheng’s mind?