Volume One, Chapter 12: Qin Lang Summons Elders of the Clan to Witness the Divorce
The next morning, Shi Qingqian took Hongzhu and Nurse Zhao to pay respects at Madam Qin’s courtyard.
Along the way, the maids and servants all greeted her respectfully.
This was a stark contrast to how things had been with the original Shi Qingqian.
The original Shi Qingqian was soft-natured. Though she held the authority of housekeeper, she lacked the skill to command the servants, who treated her without much respect.
Especially after Lu Hongzhao entered the household, relying on Qin Lang’s favor, she had effectively become the true mistress of the Marquis’s residence, causing the servants to be even more indifferent toward the original Shi Qingqian.
After Shi Qingqian had whipped Qin Lang and Lu Hongzhao the day before, the servants clearly realized she was no longer someone to be easily manipulated, so they naturally behaved more obediently.
As soon as Shi Qingqian stepped into the Pine Crane Garden, she saw Nurse Sun hastily walking out.
Upon seeing Shi Qingqian, Nurse Sun immediately approached. “Young Madam, I was just about to fetch you!”
“Is something the matter?” Shi Qingqian asked, puzzled.
Before Nurse Sun could respond, Madam Qin’s voice called out, “Qingqian is here? Come in! There’s nothing wrong! Even if there were, your grandmother will support you!”
Hearing this, Shi Qingqian glanced at Nurse Sun, then walked toward Madam Qin’s room.
Inside sat several elderly men whom Shi Qingqian recognized as Qin family elders.
In the generation of the late Marquis Qin, there were six brothers, with the late Marquis being the fourth eldest.
Among them, only the late Marquis had a reputation from military exploits; the others were ordinary folk.
The eldest and sixth uncles had already passed away.
The second uncle was a scholar at the Confucius Institute in the capital and also the clan leader.
The third uncle managed a cloth shop.
The fifth uncle was an old scholar who had studied his whole life without earning official rank but was well-versed and respected in the clan, often lecturing the younger generation.
Seeing the three uncles and the divorce letter on the table, Shi Qingqian immediately understood what had transpired.
“Greetings, Grandmother!”
“Greetings, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Fifth Uncle…”
Shi Qingqian obediently bowed to Madam Qin and the elders.
The elders looked at her, noting her pale green silk dress and neatly arranged hair adorned with a single white jade hairpin, which enhanced her delicate features and gentle temperament.
There was no hint that such a woman could, as Qin Lang claimed, lash out in jealousy.
Yet Qin Lang, sitting opposite, appeared pale with red marks all over his exposed skin, clearly badly beaten, lending credence to his words.
“Qingqian, come sit beside your grandmother!” Madam Qin beckoned with a calming gaze.
Shi Qingqian bowed slightly and sat by Madam Qin.
Before she could speak, Second Uncle sternly addressed her.
“Shi Shi, did you cause the injuries on Lang’er? As a Qin family wife, how can you behave so recklessly and jealously? What kind of example is this?”
As clan leader, Second Uncle’s voice carried authority.
Shi Qingqian maintained her composure, rose slightly, and said, “Second Uncle, yesterday I did indeed use family discipline on Qin Lang and Lu Hongzhao, but not for the reasons you suspect. Their behavior was outrageous and reckless, willing to do anything to achieve their aims. If left unchecked, such recklessness will bring disaster upon the Qin family.”
“Shi Qingqian, don’t talk nonsense! What outrageous behavior? What have Lu Hongzhao and I done for you to call us outrageous? You’re just a jealous woman who can’t stand seeing me treat Hongzhao well! A jealous wife like you deserves to be divorced!”
Qin Lang said coldly.
“Oh? So, after failing to falsely accuse me of one of the seven grounds for divorce—adultery—you resort to ‘jealousy’ now?”
Shi Qingqian knew his game: relying on his battered appearance to paint her as a jealous, unreasonable woman, thereby justifying divorce under the seventh ground.
But she would never fall into his trap.
In the Great Xia, a divorced woman lost her dowry, so if he wanted to make room for Lu Hongzhao, divorce was the only path.
Shi Qingqian had no intention of arguing further. She turned to the uncles and said, “Uncles, please hear me out. Since entering this household, Lu Hongzhao has acted arrogantly, disregarding me, the legitimate wife. That might be understandable since she is favored by my husband and can afford some boldness.”
“I had no wish to quarrel. But she should never have allowed her maid to throw dirt on me, falsely accusing me of harboring men in my chambers.”
“How could I tolerate that? As a Qin wife, I represent the family’s honor. If such rumors spread, not only would my reputation be ruined, but the Qin family would be mocked!”
Shi Qingqian’s face was filled with helplessness and sorrow, embodying the image of a dutiful young wife enduring humiliation for her family’s sake.
“Qin Lang! Is what Shi Shi says true?”
Third Uncle, who valued the family’s reputation above all, looked sternly at Qin Lang.
When they arrived, Qin Lang had only told them that Shi Qingqian, out of jealousy, had wrongly punished him and Lu Hongzhao, and that he intended to divorce her.
If Shi Qingqian was truly a violent wife who could not tolerate concubines, the Qin family would not keep such a disruptive presence.
But now, it seemed there was more to the story.
Qin Lang sneered. “Third Uncle, don’t listen to her nonsense. Though Lu Hongzhao’s background is humble, she has always been polite and proper.”
“As for her maid’s false accusation? That maid has already been executed by flogging on Lu Hongzhao’s orders. No matter what she says now, those who witnessed the scene are gone. Only her own people remain, and who else would dare speak the truth?”
“Son-in-law, how can you slander my young lady like that? So many saw it! You barged in recklessly, claiming there was a man in her room! After searching, nothing was found. Are you still going to slander my young lady without evidence?” Hongzhu said, flushed with anger.
“Impudent! A mere servant has no right to speak here!” Qin Lang retorted coldly.
“And what about me? Does my voice carry weight?”
Madam Qin was furious.
Regardless of how unscrupulous Qin Lang’s actions were, his reckless and baseless accusations against his lawful wife were utterly foolish.
Did he think his empty words could convict Qingqian?
He was utterly brainless.
If such a man inherited the Marquis’s residence, its future would be far worse than now.
“Grandmother, please don’t be angry. You trust Shi Shi only because of her appearance. In truth, she is a fickle, jealous, and violent woman!” Qin Lang said, glancing at Shi Qingqian before producing a letter from his bosom and handing it to Madam Qin.