Chарtеr 365: Тhе Вrоnze Spаrrоw оf Сhаng'an Sings 19
The mоrе she spоke, the mоrе hеаrtbrоkеn Jin Shi becаme, and she simply criеd lоuder: "Мen fеаr сhоosing thе wrоng рrоfеssion, wоmen fear mаrrуing the wrоng man. Look аt you, а perfесtlу gооd dаughtеr, suffering so muсh аfter mаrriаgе, abusеd like this bу thе White King оf Нell. Аs your mothеr, my heart асhеs."
"Wait..." Zhu Yаn felt she neеdеd tо eхрlаin.
"Тhеrе's a Whitе Кing of Нell аnd a Blаck Yаmа Кing. What if in thе futurе thе Whitе King of Hеll can't defeat thе Black Yаma King, аnd yоu еnd up а widow? What then?"
Zhu Yan was full of questions: "Mother, Mother, what are you talking about?" Why did Jin Shi's words feel so strange? Why bring up widowhood out of nowhere?
Unexpectedly, Jin Shi shook her head, wiped away her tears, and stared straight at her: "Liu Niang, you should divorce the White King of Hell."
Zhu Yan lightly tapped her forehead, feeling a bit confused: "You came to persuade me to divorce?"
Jin Shi glared: "What's so strange about that? I never agreed to you two being together in the first place. You're not from the same world. If you want to live, you must divorce."
Zhu Yan lost her appetite, put down the pastry, and frowned at Jin Shi: "No, something's very off."
Jin Shi's eyes widened, showing a hint of charm despite her age.
"Before, although you were reluctant, you were only afraid that Shen Du's terrifying reputation would harm me, so you hoped he would divorce me. Later, after Shen Du saved Third Sister, your views changed."
"Now, after just one trip to Yingzhou, you're all urging me to divorce?"
Zhu Yan's mind was clear, and her analysis was spot-on. Jin Shi and Ru Shi exchanged glances, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Zhu Manshu was also puzzled: "Yes, Mother, Auntie, before Little Six returned, you weren't saying this..." Before she could finish, she was glared back into silence by Ru Shi and Jin Shi, shrinking her shoulders. "I'm only thinking of Little Six. If she divorced someone else, fine, but divorcing the White King of Hell—even if she really does divorce, who would dare marry her afterward?"
"Not marrying is just fine. We can keep her at home," Jin Shi was determined. "Liu Niang only married in Caiwei's place to begin with. It was never a good match. Besides, these people are different from ordinary folks. Who knows if today's affection might turn into tomorrow's displeasure and cost you your life?"
Ru Shi: "Right, let's think of a perfect plan. We can definitely succeed in divorcing. Why bother with those rules? Divorce, we must divorce."
Now Zhu Yan wasn't in a hurry. She sat back down, picked up the pastry, and took a bite with a smile. Jin Shi wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth, and Zhu Yan smiled at them:
"It's rare for Mother and Mother to care so much for me. Fine, I'll listen to you. I'll divorce."
The person outside the door had just approached and, upon hearing this, changed expression, his face dark and frightening.
"So, how do we divorce? Who will bring it up with Shen Du? He is the White King of Hell—I don't dare go," Zhu Yan's eyes sparkled as an idea came to her. "It's most appropriate for Father to bring it up. He's the head of the family. Today, I'll go home with you to speak clearly with Father and ask him to visit the Shen residence to discuss the divorce."
Ru Shi and Jin Shi gasped in shock. The thought of Zhu Kuo meeting Shen Du was intimidating enough, let alone bringing up divorce.
"What? Can't go? Then I'll go. Let me think," Zhu Yan said, troubled. "What if the White King of Hell feels that me proposing a divorce insults his dignity as a man, becomes furious, and takes my life?"
This...
"There, there must be a way," Jin Shi insisted, unwilling to give up.Zhu Yan nodded, "There is a way, and that is not to divorce."
"Oh dear," Jin Shi pressed her hand to her forehead, pretending to faint, but was pulled back by Zhu Yan. "Child, how can you think like that? Have you forgotten Shen Du's three delusions?"
First, Zhu Yan should not delude herself into becoming the true Lady Shen. Second, Zhu Yan should not delude herself into extracting any information from him. Third, Zhu Yan should not delude herself into surviving three months in the Shen residence.
"Of course I haven't forgotten, but it's already been more than three months, and I'm still alive, aren't I?"
Seeing her daughter's carefree smile, Jin Shi rubbed her temples in frustration. Suddenly remembering something, she grabbed Zhu Yan's forearm to examine it.
The bright red cinnabar mole stood out starkly against her fair, lotus-root-like skin.
Ru Shi also noticed it, and the two exchanged another glance, their worries not only unresolved but deepening.
Jin Shi bit her lower lip tightly, seized Zhu Yan's shoulders, and demanded, "My dear daughter, tell me the truth—is that scoundrel Shen Du... lacking in that area?"
"Which area?" Zhu Yan didn't quite understand.
Jin Shi shook her head, opening her mouth but saying nothing. Zhu Yan grew even more curious. "Mother..."
"Ah, let me say it," Ru Shi steeled herself. "Is Shen Du impotent? Otherwise, after being married for so long, what normal man could resist such a beauty as you and still leave your chastity mark intact?"
Now Zhu Yan understood. Having performed autopsies on actresses and women who had taken their own lives after being violated by men, she naturally knew what impotence meant.
"The only explanation is that he is impotent but keeps you around to prove otherwise."
That... seemed somewhat plausible.
"No, no, no, it's not like that," Zhu Yan felt her head spinning. "It's that I was unwilling, so he didn't force me."
But Ru Shi and Jin Shi didn't believe her, both looking at her with pitying eyes.
Feeling awkward, Zhu Yan quickly shifted the topic away from herself and asked about her third sister.
"Her? She's expecting now," Ru Shi's smile wouldn't fade. "She's resting at home. Your third brother-in-law is currently serving at the Hongwen Academy and takes care of her personally after his duties."
Seeing Jin Shi about to ask more, Zhu Yan hurriedly added, "Third brother-in-law is very attentive. Third sister is fortunate."
"Yes," Ru Shi's eyes showed satisfaction before her thoughts returned. "But as for you, Little Six..."
"What about Fifth Brother?"
Ru Shi pursed her lips, unsure whether to be pleased or worried. "He's at home preparing for the next imperial examination. Ever since the White King of Hell threw him into the Hongwen Academy, he's become more disciplined and much more pleasant to look at."
Mentioning him reminded her of the letter from Zhu Mojie in the pastry box, and for a moment, she forgot about the divorce matter.
"Chuichui, don't just focus on eating, help find the letter."
"Alright."
Stuffing the pastry into her mouth, Lu Chuichui quickly dug out several letters, picked the one with Zhu Mojie's name on the envelope, and unfolded it to read a few lines.
Before even reading it aloud, she burst into laughter.
Zhu Yan grew curious. "What's the matter? If he has something to say, why not just tell me directly? Why write a letter? Isn't that a bit too sentimental?"
As she reached out to grab it, Lu Chuichui dodged and read it aloud:"Little Six, although Fifth Brother is at the Hongwen Academy, his heart has always been 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 authority—your brothers will back you up. Besides, I’ve made many close friends at the Hongwen Academy, including quite a few students of noble and royal birth. If you divorce him, Fifth Brother will introduce you to a few good ones who will surely treat you well."
As soon as he finished reading, Zhu Manshu doubled over with laughter, clutching her stomach: "Little Five is still Little Five! No matter how much he learns about etiquette, a lapdog can never pretend to be a big bad wolf, hahaha..."
Ru Shi gave her a sharp rap on the head: "He’s still better than you. When asked to learn needlework, you can’t; when asked to learn writing, you refuse. What can you do? If eating counts as a skill, then you’ll surely have no trouble getting married."
Zhu Manshu backed down, rubbing the spot where she had been hit and not daring to say another word.
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