In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

The steward looked up and asked cautiously, "Prime Minister, is it a divorce... or a letter of separation?"

Yang Guozhong glanced at him.

That cold look made the manager immediately lower his head.

"What right does he have to write a letter of divorce?"

"In my name, inform Princess Yanhe that Yang Xuan has committed a grave crime and his future is uncertain. The Yang family dares not delay the noblewoman of the imperial family any longer. Please return to your residence and do not remain with this man any longer."

This is not a divorce agreement, nor is it a letter of separation.

This was done by the father-in-law, who broke up the marriage for his son.

This is tantamount to explicitly stating that "Yang Xuan is no longer considered a member of the Yang family."

The manager felt a tightness in his chest, but dared not say anything, and simply bowed his head in agreement.

"Furthermore," Yang Guozhong's voice deepened, "if the Emperor truly issues an edict of demotion, once the destination is reached, there's no need to wait any longer. Let him receive the edict and immediately get out of Chang'an."

"Personal belongings, carriages, and servants will be provided by the government according to regulations, no more and no less. Anyone who dares to supplement their income privately will be considered to be disobeying orders."

"Yes."

Having said that, many things are now clear.

Yang Guozhong's anger was not a momentary impulse.

He was truly prepared to sever all ties with this son, including his bloodline, social standing, marriage, and future.

But after the orders were given to go down layer by layer, the hall fell silent.

Sitting alone under the lamp, Yang Guozhong suddenly recalled the bloodless face under the cane outside the building, and the words, "It's not that the Yang family abandoned me, it's that I, Yang Xuan, abandoned the Yang family first." An inexplicable sense of unease arose in his heart.

It felt like someone had snatched the knife from me first.

He should have been happy.

That wretched child has brought things to this point, so I can take this opportunity to cut ties with him and even use it to demonstrate my loyalty to the sage.

But for some reason, he just couldn't feel happy.

Because he was becoming increasingly aware that he wasn't dealing with a troublesome, rebellious son.

It's as if the rebellious son laid out the plan beforehand, waiting for him to follow it step by step.

"Good, very good."

Yang Guozhong suddenly smiled, but the smile was extremely cold.

"If you truly intend to use this beating, and my hand, to plead for your own survival..."

"Then I'd like to see how many days you can survive after leaving Chang'an."

He raised his hand and placed it on the family genealogy, his knuckles tightening little by little.

Meanwhile, in the side courtyard.

Half a bowl of medicine has been poured down my throat.

Yang Xuan had a high fever, his jaw clenched tightly, and when he brought the medicine spoon to his lips, most of it dripped down his chin. Cai Fan stamped her feet anxiously, and the old doctor frowned deeply.

"If we can't get it down, all the medicine will have been wasted," the old doctor said in a low voice.

Yanhe took the bowl of medicine.

She sat down on the edge of the couch and first reached out to support Yang Xuan's shoulder and back.

The movement was not skillful, even a bit stiff, but it was very steady, so steady that Yang Xuan's back wounds were not aggravated.

"Bring the light closer."

She hurriedly followed the instructions to pick the angelica.

Yanhe looked down at the person in his arms.

This is her husband in name only.

Since their marriage, the two have seen each other infrequently and spoken even less.

She didn't care about Yang Xuan's past folly; she lived quietly in the Yang family mansion, like a still pond.

But after tonight, many things will be different.

This man was beaten so badly, not because of drinking, gambling, fighting, or causing trouble in the marketplace, but because he overturned a situation that no one dared to disrupt in front of the emperor.

She didn't know what he was after.

But it's clear he wasn't looking to die.

He's taking a gamble.

Yanhe looked at him for a moment, then suddenly reached out and pinched open his jaw.

The old doctor and Cai Fan were both stunned for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, Yanhe fed him the medicine spoonful by spoonful. He wiped away the spilled medicine with a handkerchief and continued feeding.

Her movements lacked gentleness and tenderness, but they were very patient, as if she were doing something she had decided to do and would never give up halfway.

He eventually fed her most of the medicine.

The old doctor secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"If the high fever recurs tonight, we will continue with the same method," he said. "The princess does not need to stay by her side personally; the servants can keep an eye on her."

"Don't go yet," Yanhe said.

"Does the princess have any further instructions?"

"If an imperial decree arrives before dawn, he will most likely still be unconscious." Yanhe put down the medicine bowl, his tone remaining calm. "I want to know first whether, given his current injuries, he is capable of setting off."

The old doctor was taken aback.

That's a very direct and accurate question.

As if they had already anticipated, at daybreak, Yang Xuan would not only face a few reprimands, but also a real exile and banishment.

After a moment's consideration, the old doctor said, "If you really must set off, you should not travel fast for the next three to five days. You should only travel slowly in a carriage. You must change your dressings, reduce your fever, and stop the bleeding every day. If you suffer from excessive jolting or catch a chill on the way, your life will be in danger."

Yanhe nodded.

Instead of asking "Can I stay?", she asked directly "If I have to leave, how do I leave?"

The old doctor looked at her and suddenly understood something.

This princess already had her own plans in mind.

As expected, someone from the palace arrived at the fourth watch.

It wasn't Gao Lishi who arrived, but a eunuch holding a whisk and two clerks from the Secretariat and Chancellery.

Yang Guozhong was already waiting in the front hall.

When the imperial decree was announced, even the people in the side courtyard were alarmed.

Yanhe did not go out immediately, but only let Caifan listen.

Not long after, Cai Fan ran back, her face pale.

"Princess...the decree has been issued."

"How so?"

Cai Fan caught her breath and hurriedly said, "The Emperor said that Yang Xuan was arrogant and disrespectful before the Emperor, insulting the military commander and startling the Emperor, and should have been severely punished. However, considering that he has already been severely flogged, the death penalty will not be pursued further. He is hereby stripped of all his hereditary titles and official positions, and demoted to the position of magistrate of Yanjing County under Yaozhou in Jiannan Circuit. He must leave the capital immediately without delay. Without an imperial edict, he is not to return to Chang'an!"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Even the old doctor couldn't help but raise his head.

Yaozhou.

Yanjing County.

That was no longer a simple assignment to a post outside the capital, but a semi-exile.

The road was long, the mountains were treacherous, the miasma was severe, and the area bordered barbarian tribes, making it a place that officials in Chang'an always feared.

Throwing someone who has just received thirty strokes of the cane there is only a thin line between taking his life and killing him outright.

Cai Fan's voice lowered even further as she spoke:

"In the front hall... the Prime Minister even ordered someone to draft a document on the spot, saying... saying that since the eldest son has already been convicted and demoted, he dares not delay the princess any longer, and that the princess should immediately choose a date to return to the imperial family's separate residence..."

"Where are the documents?"

"It's already been sent to the outer room."

Cai Fan handed over the completed document.

Yanhe took it and glanced at it.

The words are few, but the meaning is very clear.

The Yang family no longer wants this son.

He didn't want her as his daughter-in-law anymore.

No one spoke for a moment.

Yang Xuan was still unconscious on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He seemed completely unaware that while he was unconscious, words like imperial edict, demotion, separation, and leaving the mansion were falling on his head like knives.

Yanhe held the document in his hand and remained silent for a long time.

So long that Cai Fan thought she would put it down, or, as others predicted, agree to it and return to the royal family.

Ke Yanhe simply folded the document lightly and placed it on the table.

"understood."

Cai Fan couldn't help but say, "Princess..."

Yanhe looked at her.

"Go to the front hall to give a reply."

"I heard what the Prime Minister meant."

"But the person is not dead yet, and the proper etiquette has not been broken, so I will not leave the hospital for the time being."

"Let's talk about it when he wakes up."

Cai Fan was taken aback.

Say.

These two words seem ordinary, but they are no longer about obedience.

Outside the side courtyard, the sky was already faintly turning white.

The storm that raged at the Yang residence that night was not over yet; it had only just begun.

The real test is yet to come.