Chapter 318:
Logically speaking, Pei Yuxuan is a Commandery Princess personally conferred by the Former Emperor. She was preparing for divorce, so Xie Wanning, as Empress, should have inquired about it.
But her identity was awkward after all, so she could only pretend not to know.
However, the matter of the Commandery Princess divorcing was no small thing after all, and news of it still reached her ears intermittently.
For example, not long after the Lantern Festival, Pei Yuxuan returned alone to Duke Pei’s Mansion.
After Lu Ziyan ascended to the throne, the status of Princess Duanyang had long lost its deterrent power. Countless people feared being associated with the Pei Family and facing reckoning from the New Emperor.
The Zhao Family likewise avoided it like the plague.
After four years of marriage, she had not borne even a son or daughter. The Zhao Family had long been dissatisfied with this eldest daughter-in-law. Now seeing Pei Yuxuan return to her maternal home and demand a divorce, it probably suited them perfectly.
She stayed for a full half month, yet her husband did not visit even once.
After half a month, the Zhao Family’s intentions were clear as day not only to the Pei Family but to all the prominent families in the Capital City.
Pei Yuxuan naturally could not tolerate this grievance and could not slink back on her own.
Even if she were willing, her parents and elder brother would not allow their family’s cherished pearl to be humiliated like this.
A few days later, the Young Lord of Duke Pei’s Mansion personally visited the Zhao Family and demanded a divorce letter from her brother-in-law.
At the same time, he inventoried and took back all of Princess Pingning’s dowry.
This marriage, which had lasted over four years, came to a complete end.
Fortunately, there were no children, so it could be considered peaceful.
When Xie Wanning heard about it, the matter was already settled.
Recalling the beast-taming arena wife selection back then, at that time every eligible young master in the Capital City wanted to marry the daughter of the Princess.
Who could have foreseen that the proud and radiant little Commandery Princess would, years later, divorce and return home.
When the Pei Family was in power, the Zhao Family eagerly sought the marriage.
Now that their situation was somewhat awkward, they could not wait to sever ties.
Xie Wanning felt deeply moved, both heartbroken for Pei Yuxuan and annoyed with the Zhao Family.
Her identity was awkward, so she could not issue an edict to openly reprimand the Zhao Family, nor could she summon Pei Yuxuan to the palace to comfort her. She felt utterly frustrated.
When Lu Ziyan returned, he happened to see her listless expression and could not help but ask with concern.
Xie Wanning felt utterly listless and did not want to speak at all.
Seeing that she ignored him, Lu Ziyan sat by her side and pulled her into his arms. “Are you tired? Many things don’t require your personal involvement. You can promote a few trusted aides and let those below handle them…”
“I’m not tired,” she interrupted him before he finished, saying impatiently, “I’m just very annoyed. Don’t bother me.”
“…” Lu Ziyan fell silent for a moment, then lifted her chin and looked down at her face. “How about summoning the Imperial Doctor to check your pulse? These days, your temper seems to be getting worse and worse.”
In the initial days after returning to the capital, whether out of guilt or to make amends, she had been extremely good to him.
Later, that spoiled and willful temperament gradually could not be hidden.
Now, she no longer took him seriously at all.
She would throw tantrums anytime, anywhere.
Lu Ziyan was somewhat unhappy. He lowered his head and kissed her lips. “Wanwan, be nicer to me, alright!”
Xie Wanning: “…”
She lifted her eyelids and looked at him seriously for a moment, then suddenly said, “Do you value Zhao Rui highly?”
Zhao Rui was Pei Yuxuan’s ex-husband. Now, at a young age, he had entered the Ministry of War as a Minister, holding the rank of Fourth Rank.
His future prospects were boundless.
Zhao Rui was a military general, and he was not one of Lu Ziyan’s trusted aides.
Lu Ziyan himself came from the military, and he did not lack generals under him. The Great Khan also did not lack military generals.
