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

Gu Mingshuang didn't look at him.

"If Your Highness doesn't want her to suffer, keep a close eye on her and don't let her come to me again!"

Song Linyuan frowned, remained silent for a moment, and finally couldn't help but explain in a deep voice:

"Mingshuang, are you still being stubborn? My relationship with Ayu isn't as sordid as you think. I only agreed to be her wife to repay a debt of gratitude and give her a peaceful life."

"Moreover, Ayu is no ordinary woman; she possesses extraordinary talent!"

Speaking of Xie Lanyu's talent, Song Linyuan's eyes shone with amazement, as if he were facing a rare treasure, his tone filled with undisguised admiration.

"To tell you the truth, I travel out of the city every month to study so that I can take Ayu with me to social events."

Gu Mingshuang froze on the spot.

She had just looked through the account book. She spent several hundred taels of silver every month to send Song Linyuan on his studies abroad, in order to broaden Song Linyuan's horizons compared to other scions of noble families.

Seeing Gu Mingshuang's unpleasant expression, Song Linyuan frowned and said displeasedly:

"I know you don't understand these things, but you've been in Kyoto for so long, you should have heard of the famous architect, Mr. Gyokuro. That's what A-Yu is known for when she travels around!"

Gu Mingshuang's eyes narrowed.

She had heard of the architect known as Mr. Yulou in the neighborhood. He was not only exceptionally talented, but he had also spent a fortune to host a banquet for all the city's refined scholars, and had even paid a fortune to refuse the sons of powerful families.

Everyone says she is generous, kind, and extremely wealthy, so she must be from a noble family.

Little did they know that all of this was Song Linyuan paving the way for Xie Lanyu!

Song Linyuan continued in a gentle voice:

"I've witnessed firsthand what she's learned and what she's thought; it's beyond your wildest imagination!"

"Do you know? These are the blueprints for the pavilion she drew; countless powerful figures in Kyoto would love to have them!"

Upon seeing the blueprints that Song Linyuan took out of his pocket, Gu Mingshuang was stunned and snatched them away.

Looking at the familiar lines, a hint of sarcasm rose in Gu Mingshuang's eyes.

"What did you say?! This is a drawing she made? She told you that? This drawing..."

"Alright, I know what you're going to say again. I don't want to argue with you." Song Linyuan frowned, interrupting Gu Mingshuang, snatched back the blueprint, carefully folded it, and put it back in his sleeve.

Gu Mingshuang watched Song Linyuan's actions and suddenly let out a mocking laugh.

She didn't want to say anything more. After a moment, she spoke in a deep voice, "I've been in Kyoto for so long, and I've never heard of Miss Cousin having studied construction techniques..."

A hint of impatience flashed in Song Linyuan's eyes as he said:

"She is different from you. She never liked to show her face or compete for fame and fortune. I also promised to keep it a secret for her, so even my mother and eldest sister don't know."

"You don't need to overthink this matter. Even if Ayu is an extraordinary talent, she will never compete with you for control of the family in the future."

"Striving for control of the family?" Gu Mingshuang raised her eyes and stared intently at the man in front of her.

"Is this all you like in the Crown Prince's eyes? I came to Kyoto for the Crown Prince just for... power?"

Song Linyuan frowned.

"What's the point of arguing about these things? Now that Ayu has been harmed and has lost her manners at the Duke of Anguo's mansion, we must protect Ayu in front of the Duke of Anguo..."

Gu Mingshuang curled her lips sarcastically, interrupting Song Linyuan.

"I will not take the blame for others."

In a fit of rage, Song Linyuan raised his hand and overturned the rice bowl.

After a series of billiard ball claps, Gu Mingshuang looked at the mess between her and Song Linyuan, just like their marriage.

The coldness in her chest was like a knife, impossible to suppress, stabbing her painfully.

Song Linyuan reached out and grabbed Gu Mingshuang.

"Now come with me to apologize to Ayu!"

Gu Mingshuang finally came to her senses and shook off Song Linyuan.

"I did nothing wrong, and I will not apologize to anyone."

Song Linyuan stumbled, stepping on the food on the ground, and his robes were stained with oil.

The last trace of guilt in his eyes vanished.

"How long are you going to keep making a scene?"

"Now that you're in the Marquis's mansion, you live a life of luxury, with servants attending to you. You no longer need to show your face in public to make a living. Who wouldn't envy you as the Heir Apparent's wife?"

"I just hope you can learn from Ayu and consider the bigger picture, so I don't regret my choice back then, okay?"

Gu Mingshuang gave a self-deprecating smile, no longer feeling disappointed or angry, and not even a trace of sadness.

She looked calmly at Song Linyuan, and finally spoke coldly:

"Song Linyuan, let's get a divorce."

Song Linyuan's face darkened further.

"Gu Mingshuang! When did you learn to threaten people with divorce? Is that even meaningful?"

"If you keep making a scene like this, you'll only disappoint me more!"

Looking at the person in front of her, Gu Mingshuang felt a sense of unfamiliarity she had never experienced before.

She suddenly got up and rushed straight into the yard, picking up the broom before Lingxiang could.

Song Linyuan, who had caught up, froze. Just as he was about to speak, the broom came hurtling towards him!

"go out!"

Yellow water droplets splashed onto his face, making Song Linyuan feel nauseous. His face turned ashen, and he stumbled backward out of the courtyard gate.

He said urgently:

"Stop fooling around! The Duke of Anguo has just returned to the capital. He's a busy man, and it wasn't easy to find out he's at his residence. Pack your things and come with me to the Duke of Anguo's mansion tomorrow morning..."

He suppressed his anger and wanted to go back in, but the courtyard gate slammed shut in front of him with a bang.

Having no other option, Song Linyuan turned and left.

Inside the room, Gu Mingshuang opened the cabinet and took out a brocade box from the deepest part.

When she arrived in Kyoto, all of Qingzhou's family businesses had been sold off, and she kept only the one thing her father had made for her as his last act.

She slowly opened it.

A Lu Ban ruler, forged from black iron, lay quietly in the box, gleaming with a deep, cold light.

Ordinary builders use wood as a measuring tool, but her father said that since she was a woman, black iron could also be used for self-defense.

Lingxiang cried with heartache:

"After arriving in Kyoto, the young master disliked you touching these things anymore, and you haven't taken them out for a long time."

Gu Mingshuang lowered her eyes, her fingertips tracing the edge of the ruler, the rain from her sleeves wetting the box.

Father's words seemed to echo in my ears again.

"If you enter a dead end, you should turn back in time; if you waste your whole life, it will be too late to regret it."

She gripped the ruler tightly, her knuckles turning white bit by bit.

After an unknown amount of time, she put away the Lu Ban ruler.

"Prepare the carriage tomorrow morning; we'll go to the Duke of Anguo's residence."

The next morning, it rained heavily again.

Gu Mingshuang stood at the entrance of the Duke of Anguo's mansion, holding an umbrella.

Lingxiang followed beside her, watching the guards at the entrance of the Duke's mansion, each with a cold and murderous expression.

She turned pale with fright.

"Miss, are you here to confess on behalf of your cousin? Please think carefully!"

Gu Mingshuang looked at Lingxiang reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I won't use my reputation to plead their guilty."

She looked at the gate of the Duke of Anguo's mansion and calmly said:

"I want to see the old lady of the Duke of Anguo's mansion."

When Madam Qin was recuperating in Qingzhou, she stayed with her for a period of time.

Lingxiang suddenly remembered something and pulled Gu Mingshuang aside, saying urgently:

"Yes, how could I forget? Back then, the Qin family army was cut off from supplies by the river! It was Miss who led people to build bridges and roads, relieving the Qin family army's urgent crisis!"

If it weren't for the young lady's promise to the master to conceal her identity, this achievement would have been enough to make her famous throughout the world!

Lingxiang said happily:

"Others may not know this, but Old Madam Qin is well aware of it! She liked the young lady very much back then, and she knew she would definitely stand up for her!"

Gu Mingshuang looked at the gate of the Duke of Anguo's mansion, her eyes slightly moved.

When she got married, although Madam Qin was far away on the border, she still sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts in the name of an old friend from Qingzhou. The gifts included shops, estates, and cash, and were very generous.

However, many years have passed, and she has had no further contact with the Qin family, and the Qin family's power structure has also changed drastically.

Now that Old Madam Qin has just returned to the capital with Qin Mo, the eldest grandson who inherited the title, she shouldn't bother her. However, if she wants to extricate herself from the Marquis's mansion without any mishaps, she needs a more stable backer.

Moreover, Song Linyuan has offended Qin Mo, the current Duke of Anguo.

The door opened, and a nanny hurried in.

"Princess Consort, it's really unfortunate, the Old Madam went out to worship Buddha this morning."

Gu Mingshuang was somewhat taken aback, not expecting such an unfortunate coincidence.

"When will the old lady return?"

The old woman quickly replied:

"It will probably be about ten days later."

Gu Mingshuang frowned slightly. After thanking the nanny, she was about to leave when a black carriage stopped three steps behind her.

The solemn sound of wheel tracks seemed even more chilling amidst the rain.

The guard dismounted and knelt on one knee.

The silence was filled with an atmosphere of oppression and grimness.

Lingxiang was so frightened that she almost collapsed, but Gu Mingshuang grabbed her and pulled her back.

Then, a faint smell of blood drifted on the breeze.

A deep, cold voice came from behind the carriage curtain, devoid of any warmth.

"Are all the people from the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion tired of living? How dare they act so insolently here?"