Chapter 1: Resolute Severance

In the eighteenth year of Fengming, at the Awakening of Insects, spring thunder rumbled.

Prince Yan's Manor's heir Xiao Jingyuan scored a great victory over Li Zhen, returned triumphantly to court, had an audience with the Emperor, received his rewards, yet lingered long before returning to his manor.

Only when the sky grew light did the missing heir Xiao Jingyuan finally appear.

Shen Shuangning felt the space beside her sink, then a warm large hand rested on her waist, skillfully untying the inner garment's fine cord and probing deeper.

He pressed close, bringing the unique heat of a man.

Shen Shuangning had actually not slept at all.

She lay still, weary in heart, unwilling to indulge him, yet her body responded honestly, her breathing growing heavier.

Her lotus-like face blazed bright as peach blossoms.

A clap of thunder rang out, and outside the window pattering rain began.

The rain grew denser, wind-blown rain threads thrust open the half‑closed carved window; magnolia branches slipped in, their pure white petals speckled with droplets, evoking pity.

After a moment, Xiao Jingyuan gripped her waist tightly, his voice low: "I know you weren't sleeping."

Shen Shuangning met his deep, desire‑filled gaze, her breath catching slightly.

Xiao Jingyuan was born possessing all the world's favor: not only did he have a visage that startled heaven, but he also bore the illustrious lineage of aristocratic clans and talents far beyond ordinary mortals—this near‑perfect being inspired only awe and reluctance to offend.

After a year apart, Xiao Jingyuan now bore military merit, enjoyed the Emperor's trust, stood at the pinnacle of officials, and naturally exuded a fierce aura that needed no anger to command respect.

Their eyes met for an instant, and Shen Shuangning's heart skipped a beat, a hint of shyness appearing.

Xiao Jingyuan seemed pleased, curling his lip before lowering his head again.

But the next moment, she turned her head away to refuse him.

"I'm tired."

Four years ago, the legitimate daughter of the Rongguo Duke's Manor, Shen Shuangning, captured the heart of Jingcheng's elite ladies' ideal match; everyone envied her, yet only she knew that Xiao Jingyuan's heart never lay with her—her status as heir's consort was merely a glossy facade.

Before the wedding, he coolly told her: "I agreed to marry you solely because of the circumstances; it had nothing to do with affection. Fulfill your duty as heir's consort, and I will guarantee your safety lifelong, endless wealth and honor—if you demand more, you'll only invite trouble."

At that time she was full of fighting spirit, doubting that a man's heart could not be warmed, but after marriage she learned that a powerful minister taken by force truly cannot be warmed.

He never loved her, not then nor now.

They performed the duties of husband and wife solely to have a child.

Xiao Jingyuan paused, as if he hadn't heard, his movements tinged with harshness—this was oddly unlike the man Shen Shuangning knew, leaving her momentarily unable to respond.

This should have been marital intimacy, yet her husband exerted force only on her body while his mind lingered elsewhere, leaving no pleasure to speak of.

Shen Shuangning felt a sour ache inside, which drew forth a dull pain.

Xiao Jingyuan unaware of her thoughts, saw only the shimmering waterlight in her eyes, as if holding a pool of spring water, and could not resist kissing her lips.

"Take me to that hot‑spring villa in the southern suburbs," Shen Shuangning said, hooking her arms around his neck.

Earlier, the manor's guards had said that when the heir returned to court, a woman constantly attended him, and the military officers held her in high regard.

By day Aheng told her that after leaving the palace, Xiao Jingyuan went straight to the separate villa; those who went to scout found the surroundings ringed with the Garrison Office's Black Armored Guard, yielding no word of what lay inside.

It seemed as if something unsavory—or someone—was hidden within.

Upon mention of the separate villa, Xiao Jingyuan visibly halted, stopped his movements, and asked anxiously: "Has your internal cold poison flared up again?"

"No, I just feel a bit uncomfortable."

Xiao Jingyuan withdrew, his eyes devoid of lust, and said calmly: "I have found a divine doctor at Fragrant Mountain Temple; tomorrow we will go together. As for that hot‑spring villa, you need never go there again."

Hearing this, Shen Shuangning's face drained of color, her eyes reddened, yet her tone remained ordinary: "What divine doctor exists in the world? No need to trouble the heir; it would be a wasted trip."

She was no fool; she could tell he did not want her near that place.

"Ningning, I never repeat myself."

The formerly amorous atmosphere vanished in an instant; the man rose, casually threw on a garment, and went to the study.

They parted unhappily; Shen Shuangning lowered her gaze and buried her head in the cold quilt.

The next day.

Qingfeng came to deliver things; Shen Shuangning casually asked where his master had gone, but Qingfeng hemmed and hawed.

"Heir's consort, don't ask further; I dare not utter a word about the heir's affairs—you'll learn soon enough." Qingfeng fled as if escaping.

Shen Shuangning felt bored, then, as usual, ate her lunch alone in quiet.

Aheng watched her refuse even her favorite Dongpo pork and felt a pang of distress.

These past days, the young lady often lapsed into dazed spells, shed tears for no reason, woke from nightmares at midnight, lay awake all night, yet by day acted like any ordinary person... the illustrious Prince Yan's Manor seemed to be devouring her very bones and vitality.

The maid sweeping outside peered through the window at the heir's consort alone in the empty room, found it pitiable, and gathered to whisper.

"The heir just came back and can't wait to drive out his consort—isn't he just clearing a place for that woman?"

"The heir's consort is so kind—what a pity her sincere affection is misplaced."

Indoors, master and servant alike were unaware of the maids' gossip; Aheng asked: "Miss, for so grave a matter as divorce, shouldn't we wait for the heir to return?"

"What are we waiting for? Do we have to wait until he brings that woman before me to humiliate me?"

Shen Shuangning placed the divorce document gently at the head of the bed, then, with self‑mockery, said: "I initiate the divorce, thus fulfilling his wish."

Aheng seized Shen Shuangning's arm and declared firmly: "Wherever the miss goes, that is Aheng's home!"

Shen Shuangning pinched Aheng's cheek and smiled.

The divorce matter still needed to be reported to the Princess Consort of Yan.

Master and servant arrived at the Hall of Zhengde.

Seeing her come, the princess consort set down her book, rose, and went to greet her.

"Shuangning's arrival is timely; I have something to tell you."

The princess consort took Shuangning's hand, her manner exceedingly warm.

Anticipating what the princess consort wished to say, Shuangning spoke first.

The heir apparent wants to take a concubine; I have no objection.

The consort was taken aback, not expecting things to go so smoothly; she smiled at once, but when she heard what Shen Shuangning would say next, her smile froze at the corners of her mouth.

"What are you saying? You want a divorce?" The consort sprang to her feet, her brows knitting, "Utter nonsense!"

The consort instinctively thought Shen Shuangning was merely using divorce as a threat, not truly intending it; after all, she knew how deeply Shen Shuangning loved Xiao Jingyuan.

The Yan consort disliked Shen Shuangning's prickly demeanor today, and the warmth on her face quickly faded.

"If you could bear a son and a half daughter, I wouldn't press you so hard; I don't blame you, but I only have this one son, Xiao Jingyuan, who is stationed on the frontier—swords on the battlefield have no eyes. I eat poorly and sleep badly every day, fearing that if something happens to him, the Xiao line will die out and the princely mansion's glory will have no heir. If it were you, what would you do?"

Shen Shuangning remained silent.

The consort glanced at her, then sighed: "I understand, you can't accept Song Xizhi, but Xiao Jingyuan has never let her go these years; four years ago, she ought to have been his wife—who would have thought fate would toy with people..."

Before her words finished, a clatter sounded.

Shen Shuangning's teacup shattered in her hand; the consort saw her deathly pale face, her brow twitched, and she suddenly felt as if she had done something wrong.

"You—you wouldn't still be unaware, would you?"

"So it's her; I should have realized earlier." Shen Shuangning's expression was dazed, her lips devoid of color, as she muttered to herself.

Everyone knows that the Yan prince's heir, Xiao Jingyuan, is astonishingly talented, unmatched; there is a woman he holds dearest, named Song Xizhi.

In the past, the two were mutually attracted, a talented man and a beautiful woman; if not for the Song family's sudden crime and demotion, Song Xizhi would have left the capital with her kin, been exiled, later married and become the Chen prince's consort—how could it then be Shen Shuangning's turn?

Three months ago, the Chen prince died suddenly, making Song Xizhi a widow; upon reflection, around that time rumors began spreading that the Yan heir kept a pampered concubine.

As it turns out, that concubine is none other than Xiao Jingyuan's white moonlight.

From the consort's expression, this matter must be known to many; only she was kept in the dark!

What's more ironic, her husband is committing adultery with a widow, violating morality and righteousness; her mother-in-law not only fails to uphold the proper wife's dignity, but also demands she accept sharing a husband with that woman!

It felt like a resounding slap, making Shen Shuangning's face sting; she couldn't control her trembling all over, furious to the point of desperation.

Ah Heng said angrily: "Have you ever considered, consort, that if three years ago our young lady hadn't shielded the heir from arrows, he wouldn't be able to go to battle and might have died! Our young lady contracted the cold poison because of the heir, and remains childless; your every word now is heartless—are you trying to drive our young lady to death?"

The consort furrowed her brows, didn't bother with the clueless Ah Heng, and said to Shen Shuangning: "Forget it, you're just afraid your status is threatened; I'll decide—from now on, any children she bears will be raised by you..."

Ah Heng spat: "Pah! Our young lady couldn't care less about being some damn consort!"

"Outrageous!" the consort shouted angrily, "Someone, slap her!"

Shen Shuangning shoved Ah Heng behind her: "I'd like to see who dares!"

The consort was about to say something when Shen Shuangning cut her off in a low voice.

"I respect that you were once a female general who matched men, and I bear some affection for our mother‑in‑law ties, so I don't wish to speak ill of you, but if the Yan manor continues to humiliate me thus, the Rongguo Duke's manor behind me is not mere decoration."

Shen Shuangning took a deep breath: "These past four years I have served the Yan manor with all my heart; I ask myself I have been worthy of Xiao Jingyuan, and even more worthy of heaven and earth's conscience, yet you have betrayed trust and abandoned righteousness, bullying me excessively! Today I sever ties and will have nothing more to do with Xiao Jingyuan in life or death!"

As she spoke, Shen Shuangning pulled out the hairpin from her head, grasped a corner of her robe, and gave it a hard slash.

The Yan consort's face changed in shock; immediately after came a 'hiss-la' as the cloth tore, especially clear in the silence.

Shen Shuangning flung the torn robe corner hard to the ground: "Ah Heng, let's go!"

Watching Shen Shuangning's resolute departing back, the Yan consort felt a bit panicked.

"Shen Shuangning, stop!" she cried, rushing after her, uncharacteristically losing composure.

The surrounding servants stared, at a loss; even more shocking, the heir stood not far away.

But neither Shen Shuangning nor the Yan consort noticed.

"Your parents and brothers are all dead; leaving the Yan manor, where could you go? Don't be ungrateful!"

Shen Shuangning's eyes reddened as she looked back at the Yan consort; that expression made even the Yan consort, accustomed to great storms, feel a chill down her spine.

But in the next instant, Shen Shuangning vomited a large mouthful of blood with a 'wa'.

Even Ah Heng hadn't reacted before Shen Shuangning collapsed stiffly.

"Young lady!!"

Shen Shuangning heard a tremendous clamor in her ears—voices, footsteps, and Ah Heng's heart‑rending wails.

It was the cold poison acting up.

Her consciousness gradually blurred.

This ruined body—can it finally not hold up?

Compared with her life, Xiao Jingyuan's affair with Song Xizhi seems hardly a big deal; what's hateful is that she never managed to leave the Yan manor's mire even in death—she realized too late, too late.

"Her, her consort—no breath."

The Yan consort who witnessed all this was panic‑stricken, tears streaming down.

She hadn't intended to drive Shen Shuangning to death.

As she turned her head, she met Xiao Jingyuan's cold, piercing gaze.