"Ruan Mian married into the Qi Mansion for three years without giving birth, and she's now gravely ill and unable to manage the Qi Mansion. What is wrong with me divorcing her?"
"Moreover, I am merely demoting her to a concubine while marrying Wan'er. Wan'er is the current Fifth Princess. How could she be a concubine?"
"Since Ruan Mian is unwilling to be a concubine, I can only divorce her!" The man in the blue robe, with a handsome face, threw the divorce paper to the ground, snapping the dazed Ruan Mian back to her senses.
She stared in shock at the divorce paper on the ground, her mind racing. Had she... had she transmigrated into a book?
No longer was she faced with horrific ugliness, but instead, the novel she had read before the horror descended.
The supporting character Ruan Mian, who shared her name, died by running into a wall right at the start after being divorced.
The tragic fate of the original character was caused by the man in front of her.
After the original character's death, the Ruan Family was falsely accused and exiled. Her father, who loved her dearly, died of heartbreak that very night.
Her elder brother was thrown into the Heavenly Prison, suffering a thousand cuts.
Her second sister was humiliated by officials and died with hatred.
Her mother starved to death trying to care for her eldest brother's child...
Thinking of her family's miserable fate, a surge of violence rose within Ruan Mian. Were it not for the ill timing, she would surely have ended the man before her.
The man saw that Ruan Mian did not respond and fiercely grabbed her collar: "I'm telling you, since you refuse to be a concubine, get out of the Qi Mansion! From this day forth, you and I have nothing to do with each other!"
Ruan Mian snorted coldly, picked up the divorce paper, and tore it into pieces.
Everyone present widened their eyes as she coldly stared at Qi Nanfeng.
"On the day of our marriage, you left the Qi Mansion with your father. A fortnight later, news of your death reached us, and it wasn't until yesterday, when you returned home, that I learned you had faked your death."
"I hadn't even had time to be happy before you started accusing me of being childless for three years."
"I ask everyone present, if I truly had given birth to a child, wouldn't your revered Qi Family have become the laughingstock of the Capital?"
Ignoring Qi Nanfeng's angry gaze, she continued, "For the three years, I've considered myself to have managed the Qi Mansion diligently, taking care of your mother-in-law and aiding your brothers."
"You come back only to want to marry the Princess and demote me to a concubine. This is your wrongdoing, not mine. If you want me to relinquish my position as the rightful wife, then divorce me!"
As the words fell, those present were astounded.
Mrs. Liu of the Qi Family stepped forward and clasped her hand, crying, "Mianmian, don't speak recklessly. All your goodness, I have kept in my heart. For these years, you've been tirelessly managing the Qi Mansion. When the news of Nanfeng's death arrived, you didn't leave but instead continued to show filial piety for me. I am very grateful."
"But... Nanfeng is justified in what he did today. When he was at the border, it was the Fifth Princess who saved him. The Qi Family needs an heir, but your health cannot sustain any more trials, even though we must ensure the Qi Family's lineage continues..."
Mrs. Liu hesitated to speak further, sobbing continuously, while Qi Nanfeng came to support his mother, "Mother, my intention is not to divorce her but merely to make her a concubine. The Princess, born into nobility, would not possibly cause her any trouble after entering the mansion."
Ruan Mian, having seen enough of their charade, signaled her maid Cui Zhu to bring over the pen and ink, writing a divorce paper.
"Since you have made up your mind, let's cut all ties and sign!"
Qi Nanfeng was stunned; he had anticipated Ruan Mian coercing by threatening her life, yet never had he expected she would dare to propose a divorce!
"You don't want to be divorced, yet you willingly write a divorce paper. Clearly, you intend to take your dowry with you!" Qi Nanfeng righteously pointed at her nose and scolded.
Forcing down the urge to break his finger, Ruan Mian countered, "If I remember correctly, the dowry was what I brought from my maiden family. Now, with your behavior, is it not apparent that you want to take my dowry for yourself and therefore refuse to divorce?"
"You!" Qi Nanfeng flushed with shame at her words, "Do not slander me aimlessly. If you don't want to be divorced, then obediently be a concubine. If you wish for a divorce, dream on!"
He angrily tried to snatch the divorce paper when suddenly a soft, charming voice came, "Brother Nanfeng."
Ruan Mian looked toward the voice and saw a woman in a white dress gracefully walking towards the hall.
Her face was slightly powdered, embodying the image of an innocent flower, yet the viciousness in her eyes completely marred her demeanor.
Upon seeing her, the people in the Qi Mansion all became more respectful, and Qi Nanfeng immediately changed his demeanor, wearing a gentle smile: "Wan'er, you've been journeying for a while. Why don't you take a bit more rest?"
Jiang Wan's gaze brushed over Ruan Mian, laughing, "Nanfeng, I suddenly wanted to see you, so I came. It's just... I came at an inconvenient time."
She moved close to Ruan Mian, smoothing the wrinkles on her clothes and mockingly whispered so only Ruan Mian could hear, "A mere commoner, and you think you can compete with this Princess?"
"Remember, your death is only a word away for me."
She assumed this would scare Ruan Mian into submission, unaware that the person before her had long swapped her core, no longer the one who would easily be molded like a soft clay.
Hearing this, Ruan Mian coldly laughed internally and looked down at the Jade Bracelet on the Princess's hand.
Compared to the Princess's other ornaments, this bracelet was rather ordinary and unremarkable.
But Ruan Mian, having read the original novel, knew this was the jade bracelet passed down from the original owner's ancestors, later stolen by Qi Nanfeng and gifted to the Fifth Princess, under the guise of a "token of love."
Not long after the original owner's death, the Fifth Princess discovered the secret of this jade bracelet, helping Qi Nanfeng to solve locust plagues and a series of other issues, ultimately aiding him in ascending to the throne.
What a coincidence indeed...