Song Lan was deeply disgusted by his younger brother's actions and words. he didn't even have time to school the expression on his face.
Similarly to him, Huo Tian felt like she was drowning from a sea of ice. She married Song Wen on the belief that she would be the only woman in his life like every girl's dream where they would be wed to their lovers. However, with how Song Wen only had that slut in his eyes and didn't even dare to spare her a look, she knew that whatever has put them together and loved each other was no longer there.
Huo Tian was not from a high noble family. She knew that. Song Wen, however, was the favored child of the old patriarch of the Song family, one of the mid-high ranking noble families in the Capital. It was actually a miracle how they fall in love with each other and fought against all odds just to get married and start a family.
The Song family never liked her in the first place because she had no solid standing in the high society and couldn't help the family branch out their influence. She didn't even possess a heaven-defying talent or skill in the four arts that most young ladies would have if they were educated well.
Sadly, she came from a small family and didn't have the means to continue her education. Hence, when she married Song Wen, she was subjected to constant bullying of other young ladies and madams in high society.
Huo Tian didn't dare go against them since it was impossible for someone who married over to a high-ranking family to do so. However, she secretly hoped that there could be a day where she could finally do that.
But luck was against her since even after years of their marriage and annual examinations have passed, Song Wen, her husband, was still unable to get a position and acted like a hopeless bum who could only beg for a strong backing from the Song family.
Huo Tian bit her lower lips. She almost drew blood as she looked hatefully at her husband and the home wrecker, looking at each other with adoration written all over their eyes. It was as if nothing could get in between the two of them; not even a speck of dust could blur away their gazes from each other.
Tearing her gaze away from them, she raised her head up and looked at Song Lan before saying, "Since he already said it… Brother-in-law, you must grant me a divorce with him. I can no longer take the humiliation I will live through if I see them together in that residence." Although Huo Tian still loved Song Wen after seventeen years of being together, she wasn't a pushover who would cling to someone after everything he had done.
Just thinking of the years she would have had if she continued being Song Wen's wife, not only would she have to watch these two show off their love to each other, she would also have to raise this woman's child as hers. What kind of bullshit situation was that?
"Have you really thought of this carefully?" Song Lan asked with a sigh.
Huo Tian knew that there was something inside of her that wanted to stay with Song Wen. But she knew that it was her foolish love-struck self.
Steeling her nerves and making her mind up, she nodded, "Yes. I would like it if it could be done the soonest brother-in-law could grant it."
Song Lan's eyes focused on the woman standing before him. Her eyes were straightforward and determined to go through this challenging situation by herself. She may be older than the young woman that Song Wen brought in front of them, but Huo Tian was not at all inferior to her.
Contrary to what Song Wen's thoughts about his wife, Huo Tian was quite an attractive woman, not even past her prime. She was only thirty-three this year, and her figure had not changed from when she was younger.
The only changes that Song Lan noticed from her were that her gleaming eyes, so bright that many would envy her was now dimmed by the misfortune she had to face.
"Alright." Song Lan said. "I will call on your father and discuss this with him."
Huo Tian felt her soul getting lighter. It was as if a big shadow was chained around her, and when she heard Song Lan, it finally released her.
"Thank you… Thank you so much!" Huo Tian wiped her tears and thanked him endlessly.
Song Wen harrumphed and was clearly dissatisfied with her but didn't utter a single word until he and his new lover left the hall.
As Huo Tian did not want to join them, she had to wait for them to disappear and go away. When they finally left, she was about to turn around and leave too when she heard Song Lan's voice from behind her.
"Sister-in-law, wait!"
Huo Tian turned again to face him. She saw him still sitting on the chair on the dais and waited to hear what he wanted from her.
"Are you going back there?" Song Lan asked her, and Huo Tian was momentarily surprised.
Righ… was she going back to that place where all bad memories happened and where she could meet Song Wen and his lover? But did she have a choice? The Second Household was the only place where she could temporarily stay until her father comes to pick her up to return to their small city.
"That's correct. I should at least endure for a few days until I can return to Liang City."
Song Lan stood up and slowly approached her as he said, "That won't do. It would be quite uncomfortable for you. What about this... Why don't sister-in-law stay here in the first household for a few days until your father arrives."
"But–" Huo Tian started but stopped by Song Lan.
He said while intensely staring into her eyes, "It's just temporarily."
---
'pitter, patter'
'pitter, patter'
The clouds covered up in the sky in a darker hue, making the world seem like the night was quickly approaching. The drizzle wet the tiled roof of every home and establishment as people tried to take cover from the rain.
Inside the palace, the servants light up the wick and slowly caught fire, spreading a golden light around the dark spaces that the light from outside couldn't reach. The hushed voices of the servants trying to strike a conversation with other servants were buried by the sound of rain. Nevertheless, the bored and tired servants continued to speak to each other.
However, because they were preoccupied with their own worlds, they didn't notice the wind that passed them by and entered the Emperor's inner room.
'swoosh!'
The curtain inside the inner room was raised up like a strong wind blew it. But within a second, it went back down as if nothing happened. No servants or guards noticed these changes.
Inside the inner room, no servants were stationed there, and only the figure curled up on the bed was inside.
At this moment, a soft clicking noise from the footfalls coming from the intruder hadn't yet entered the ears of the figure on the bed.
Qu Xing Xu walked forward languidly as if he was merely walking into his room uninterrupted. As he was coming closer to the bed, the figure on it started to move slowly as if turning on his side.
Then, Qu Xing Xu raised the curtain covering the bed and lazily greeted the person lying on it, "Rise and shine, Your Majesty."
"Qu Xing Xu!" Emperor Yun called out and looked at him in surprise. What was he doing here? How did he get in here so easily? Where are the guards stationed outside his courtyard? He questioned himself and looked around.
Emperor Yun heard him chuckle, and Qu Xing Xu said, "I sneaked in. So, please try not to scream, Your Majesty. You don't want your new sheets to be stained with your blood now, do you?"
Emperor Yun shuddered and stared at him in disbelief. This man was threatening him in the palace, who dares to be as brazen as him! But even though Emperor Yun was cursing at Qu Xing Xu within his heart, he couldn't say it out loud nor scream for help after looking at that crazed look on the Duke's eyes.
He was telling the truth and would definitely do as he threatened him.
"Wha… what do you want?" Emperor Yun staggered backward on the bed, crawling far from the Duke's reach. He currently didn't have the image of a wise and powerful Emperor he shows to everyone.
Qu Xing Xu's lips curved up slightly. He wore a smile that was also not a smile since it didn't reach his eyes.
He then put his palm out as he says, "I want to borrow the Emperor's royal seal."
---
Author has something to say: I overestimated myself. Please forgive me if I ever fail the win-win event this month. I can't promise I can continue with the event but I can at least try to update daily.
What do you guys think Song Lan is planning with his sister-in-law? And what is our Duke planning with the royal seal?
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter