I just got divorced, and this cold, ruthless, and powerful minister is begging for a third child eve

Then, she turned and walked towards the back of the yard.

The altar in the side courtyard had been prepared long ago.

After lighting incense, Gu Mingshuang knelt down and kowtowed to her father's memorial tablet.

"Father, please forgive your daughter for no longer being able to live according to your arrangements."

"They don't deserve our daughter's trust, and this place will never be her home."

"Father, you and Mother can rest assured in heaven..."

As she watched the smoke from the incense burner slowly rise and disperse, she took a deep breath.

Father and Mother will understand her.

She knelt before the altar for a long time, burned paper money, and talked to her father about many things until there was a knock on the door.

"Princess Consort, the elders have arrived."

Gu Mingshuang remained kneeling without moving.

"understood."

Gu Mingshuang picked up her father's favorite plum wine and poured it on the ground, then burned the scriptures she had prepared little by little.

Gu Mingshuang knelt down to burn the last three incense sticks before standing up.

She didn't change her clothes, wearing a plain, moon-white long dress. The light color outlined her slender and delicate figure, and also added a touch of aloofness.

Lingxiang, her eyes red, nervously tugged at Gu Mingshuang's sleeve.

"Miss……"

Gu Mingshuang picked up the divorce papers and account books from the table.

"Don't be afraid, let's go."

Stepping out of the courtyard, Gu Mingshuang squinted as she watched the morning sunlight bathe her.

Without hesitation, she walked steadily toward Shou'an Hall.

Inside Shou'an Hall, the three clan elders had already arrived.

Uncle Song sat anxiously on the spot. He had heard a little about what had happened at the Marquis's mansion these days. He didn't know what was wrong with the eldest branch of the family. They were doing all sorts of ridiculous things!

We finally have a capable and sensible Crown Princess, yet we treat her so harshly!

He vaguely sensed that the Crown Princess had come to complain about being wronged, but it was no longer convenient for him to interfere in the affairs of the eldest branch of the family, and he didn't know what to say later.

At this moment, Madam Meng was helped over, her face clearly showing displeasure.

"Our Crown Princess is getting increasingly temperamental; she even summons the clan elders over the slightest thing! Such disrespect is a disgrace to us!"

The elders knew perfectly well what was going on, but they ignored them and just sat there.

When Song Linyuan entered, there was still a dark circle under his eyes, and he looked very haggard.

Meng, feeling sorry for him, called him to sit down beside her and then whispered her instructions:

"Lin Yuan, your wife made a scene today by calling the clan elders over. She's definitely going to complain again. You're not allowed to indulge her this time. You must use family discipline to teach her a lesson!"

Song Linyuan frowned, his expression equally cold. Just because of the delayed ritual, Gu Mingshuang had to make such a big fuss?!

Looking at the elders, he felt even more disgusted with Gu Mingshuang's behavior.

Before he could even speak, footsteps were already at the door.

When Gu Mingshuang walked in, Song Linyuan looked up and his gaze immediately fell on her plain white dress.

Today, Gu Mingshuang's bright face was also very clean and simple. I didn't expect that she could learn a bit of A Yu's pure and untainted elegance when she wore white.

Unfortunately, Gu Mingshuang was all show and no substance.

Just then, Meng spoke first.

"Mingshuang, you've just married into the Marquis's mansion, but you've been causing quite a stir these past two days."

Gu Mingshuang raised her eyes and said:

"I invited several clan elders here today not to cause trouble, but to bear witness for me."

Meng paused, then frowned and said:

"You've already secured the position of Crown Princess, what more do you want from me to settle down? If I had known you were like this, I would never have agreed to let you marry into the family!"

Gu Mingshuang turned to look at Song Linyuan.

"Does the Crown Prince think so too?"

Song Linyuan frowned and said:

"Mother is right. Kyoto is not as carefree as Qingzhou. If you want to be a noblewoman, you must learn the rules. Being petty will only make you a laughingstock."

"Okay, I understand." Gu Mingshuang coldly withdrew her gaze and placed a piece of paper in front of Song Linyuan.

"From now on, there's no need for us to hold grudges anymore. You said last night that you'd agree to anything, so let's sign it."

Looking at the divorce agreement, Song Linyuan's face suddenly drained of all color.

He looked up at Gu Mingshuang in disbelief, his face turning ashen.

"Ming Shuang! What are you talking about! Look at this situation! Do you really want to make such a scene in public for a religious ceremony?"

Gu Mingshuang didn't say anything, but pushed the divorce papers a little further forward.

"Your Highness, I didn't cause any trouble."

Song Linyuan gritted his teeth and said:

"What happened this morning was my fault, but Ayu was sick all night, and I couldn't leave her side, so I postponed it for a day."

"Did Your Highness even for a moment this morning think that today is the anniversary of my father's death?"

Gu Mingshuang looked at him calmly, her eyes showing no anger, only a calm coldness.

Song Linyuan's face turned pale instantly, and he stammered, unable to utter a word.

Seeing her son being harassed, Madam Meng frowned and said:

"Mingshuang, why are you becoming more and more insensible? A religious ceremony can be performed anytime, it won't cause any delay! Is a living person less valuable than someone who has been dead for many years?"

Gu Mingshuang ignored Meng Shi and just looked at Song Linyuan, who remained silent.

"Since the young master also considers his cousin to be so important, then let's sign the agreement."

He frowned.

"Mingshuang, it's only a one-day delay, can you please stop fussing over such trivial matters..."

Gu Mingshuang looked at him and continued to ask:

"So, you expect me to treat my cousin with the respect due to a concubine, even if I'm the legal wife? And you expect me not to hold it against me?"

Looking at the calmness in her eyes, Song Linyuan felt a tightness in his heart, and he subconsciously turned his head away.

"Mother just felt too sorry for Ayu..."

At this moment, Madam Meng walked to the table and then saw that it was a divorce agreement!

After the initial shock, her eyes flickered slightly, and she immediately interrupted Song Linyuan, who was about to speak.

"Divorce is not an option! The Song family has no precedent for divorce. A daughter-in-law who has entered the family wants to leave? Fine, but only if she is divorced!"

Divorce requires taking all the dowry with you, but if you divorce your wife for a mistake, you don't have to return the dowry.

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Gu Mingshuang's eyes. She frowned, not looking at Meng Shi, but at Song Linyuan beside her, waiting for him to speak, even if it was just a word of advice.

But Song Linyuan stood beside Meng Shi, his lips moved, and in the end he only managed to squeeze out one sentence:

"Mingshuang, Mother is right, noble families all have rules..."

His clenched fingers loosened for a moment. Although his mother had hinted at the dowry, he had never considered it in his heart.

He just thought that by following his mother's words, he might be able to get Gu Mingshuang to take back her words about divorce.

However, Gu Mingshuang looked at him and chuckled softly, a very faint laugh that seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm.

"Last night, when Your Highness was with Miss Cousin, did you remember the rules of a respectable noble family?"

Song Linyuan's face turned pale and then red, and he wanted to speak but couldn't utter a word.

Meng's face darkened.

"Gu family, you don't need to be so sarcastic. We've never mistreated you!"

"But you were disrespectful to your mother-in-law from the moment you entered the family, and you're cruel and jealous. Those two traits alone are enough to warrant a divorce!"

She withdrew her gaze, no longer looking at Song Linyuan, and turned to face the three clan elders.

"With the clan elders present today, I will settle the scores that were not cleared up at the ancestral hall last time, so that everyone will be aware of the situation."

As she spoke, she turned around and gestured for Lingxiang to hand over the account book.

Madam Meng had no idea that Gu Mingshuang had already checked all the account books. Her face turned pale as she tried to step forward, but Lingxiang nimbly dodged her and handed the book to her young mistress.

After Gu Mingshuang opened one of the books, she said:

"The annual cost of medicine and tonics for Lady Hou totals 2,600 taels, and it is stamped with my private seal."

"All the furniture, porcelain, new clothes for all four seasons, and jewelry for Shou'an Hall, totaling one thousand taels, were also taken from my private account."

Meng slammed her hand on the table and said angrily:

"You! As a daughter-in-law, isn't it your duty to spend money on your mother-in-law? Why are you making such a fuss about this? What kind of daughter-in-law is as mercenary as you!"

Uncle Song, who was already displeased, frowned. These words didn't sound like something a noblewoman would say; they sounded more like those of a shrew throwing a tantrum!

Gu Mingshuang remained calm and turned to another page of the account book.

"The Marquis's household accounts allocate no more than three hundred taels of silver to my mother-in-law each year. Without my dowry, I don't know how many doses of good medicine she could afford, or how many new clothes she could wear."

Meng opened her mouth, her face flushed red, but she couldn't say a word.

Uncle Song walked forward with a dark face, flipped through the account book and examined it closely, his expression gradually darkening.

The account books were filled in black and white, and the large expenditures were not stamped with the family's official seal, but with Gu Mingshuang's private seal.

In Kyoto, anyone who covets their daughter-in-law's dowry will be the subject of gossip and shame!

Moreover, Meng always spoke publicly about how she treated her benefactor's daughter well and promised her a high position.

His face also turned pale, and he slammed the account book down heavily.

"Mingshuang, tell me, what's the total?"

Gu Mingshuang continued scrolling down.

"Rounding down the change, it's a full six thousand taels."

She pushed the ledger towards the center.

"If Second Uncle doesn't believe me, he can send someone to check. Every entry in the account books has supporting documentation."

Uncle Song said in a deep voice:

"This can't be faked. Besides, you just walked in; how could you have time to fake it?"

Meng's chest heaved as she spoke sternly:

"Gu Mingshuang! What exactly are you trying to do? Last time you practically begged to enter the Marquis's mansion, and now you're making a scene about divorce?"

"If I'm leaving, I'll naturally take back what's mine, and we'll divorce openly and honestly," Gu Mingshuang said calmly.

"From now on, the prestige of the Marquis's mansion is none of my concern."

Seeing Song Linyuan standing silently with his fists clenched, Meng grabbed him and shouted:

"Look at her! She didn't come into this family to marry you at all; she's just scheming! She's here to disgust our Marquis's mansion! Say something, won't you!"

Song Linyuan was jolted and bumped into the table, letting out a muffled groan, but he didn't look at her, his gaze still fixed on the account book.

It felt as if something had stabbed him in the chest.

Song Linyuan looked up at Gu Mingshuang, wanting to say something, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Meng looked at Song Linyuan, who remained silent, and spoke in a shrill voice.

"Look at the kind of person you married! You knelt in the ancestral hall for two nights, insisting on marrying her, and what was the result? She's just playing you for a fool!"

"He still can't shake his ingrained bad habits after all this time! An ungrateful wretch!"

Song Linyuan looked down at the account book and didn't move for a long time.

He knew in his heart that the Marquis's mansion could only raise this money by selling land and houses.

He could bear it, but what about his mother and Ayu...?

He looked up, met Gu Mingshuang's cold and resolute gaze, and finally spoke.

"Mingshuang, I cannot agree to a divorce. If you want money, how about returning only 30% first?"

Gu Mingshuang looked at Song Linyuan.

I'm not trying to bargain with you.

She looked at him for a moment.

"You're a respectable man now, yet you're only willing to return 30% of your wife's dowry?"

Song Linyuan's fingers tightened around the account book.

"You know the Marquis's situation; we really can't come up with that much money right now. You don't need to trouble Mother; I'll find a way, but I need time..."

"It will take time." Gu Mingshuang laughed again.

"You needed time to study, and I waited. You needed time to adapt to your identity as the heir of a marquis's household, and I waited. Now you want me to wait again?"

Song Linyuan's face turned red.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that my mother and Ayu are both in poor health and can't live like that..."

Gu Mingshuang sneered.

"And what about me? I've spent so much money on this manor, and what kind of life have I been living?"

Song Linyuan stammered, unable to speak.

He then realized that the only people he truly cared about were his mother and Ayu, and he was afraid they would suffer.

But when it came to Ming Shuang, he subconsciously put her last in the list.

Faced with Gu Mingshuang's aggressive approach, Song Linyuan felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water.

For her, leaving him was just too impatient!

In shame and anger, he clenched his fingers.

"Fifty percent..." He looked up at her, speaking defiantly, "I'll return fifty percent in ten days. If you agree, I'll sign the divorce papers!"

Looking at this man, Gu Mingshuang felt utterly unfamiliar and ridiculous.

She asked Lingxiang to bring a brush and ink, and placed them between herself and Song Linyuan.

"Alright, then please have the young master write down an IOU."