The Heir's wife went to Hundred Herbs Hall to pick up the person, but Lu Jingning refused to leave.
"If you don't go back, the Crown Princess will surely blame our County Prince's Mansion. When that happens, the Prince and Princess will be angry and will definitely ask Lord Lu to take you back to the Lu family," the Heir's wife said with a cold expression.
This "take back" was a more refined way of saying she would be divorced.
"If I cannot obtain the Crown Princess's forgiveness, it will truly implicate the County Prince's Mansion," Lu Jingning said stubbornly. "I will kneel, and kneel until the Crown Princess softens her heart."
The Heir's wife looked at Lu Jingning with a strange expression. She usually had a good head on her shoulders, but why was her thinking so unclear at this crucial moment?
"What is your status? Can you kneel until the Crown Princess softens her heart? Your behavior is only effective when dealing with those who care about you; it's useless with others. The Crown Princess is no one to you, so why would she care about you? Are you not awake, or are you just assuming?" the Heir's wife said sarcastically.
"She, she..." Lu Jingning stammered.
"Enough, don't embarrass yourself here. Hurry and come back with me," the Heir's wife said impatiently.
"She, she must have some dignity. For the sake of face, she will compromise," Lu Jingning's eyes lit up as she said.
"If you kneel, won't she lose face? You think too highly of yourself. Besides, don't people outside know anything? Good news never goes beyond the door, but bad news travels a thousand miles. With the County Prince's Mansion shielding you from the front regarding what you've done, few people dare to speak of it. But even if they dare not speak of it openly, do they dare not speak of it behind your back? The ones who lose face are us, the County Prince's Mansion, your Lu family, and you," the Heir's wife said patiently. "Why are you still standing there? Hurry and help the young madam up."
Lu Jingning was lifted up by two sturdy wet nurses. She couldn't break free and could only be half-coerced into the carriage.
"The Crown Princess has already provided a solution," the Heir's wife said after they got into the carriage.
"So that's why Mother came to pick me up?" Lu Jingning's eyes brightened.
The Heir's wife remained silent. "You'll know when you get back."
She didn't want to say anything now and cause Lu Jingning to go mad in the carriage.
Since the Heir's wife said nothing, Lu Jingning didn't know what to say either. They returned to the County Prince's Mansion safely. Not long after they returned, Lord Lu was also invited to the County Prince's Mansion, and Prince Qin first invited Lord Lu to the study for a talk.
"Don't think that we are bullying you just because we are of royal blood. For the past two years, all the expenses for Lu Jingning's food and clothing in the temple have been borne by our mansion. Furthermore, after two years, we will not issue a letter of divorce, but a letter of separation. Your dowry that Lu Jingning brought, and the betrothal gifts we sent to your Lu family, will all be taken by Lu Jingning, as our compensation to her," Prince Qin said in a deep voice.
Lord Lu tried his best to remain calm. "Your Highness, are there no other ways?"
Prince Qin gave Lord Lu no hope. "Lord Lu is a sensible person. If it were the grandson's wife of the Pang family who did something like this, she would be sent away with a simple letter of divorce. Now, out of our friendship as fellow officials, what we are doing is already magnanimous."
Lord Lu knew that Prince Qin was stating the facts and could only nod helplessly.
"We will proceed as Your Highness has said."
"Then please have Lord Lu speak with your daughter, so that she doesn't become too emotional and do anything irreversible," Prince Qin said.