"Do not worry, I will select another suitable consort for you."
This statement showed no regard for Duke Zhuang and the First Consort.
"Draft an imperial edict. I decree that you and your consort shall divorce. From the moment you step out of this palace gate, you shall have no further ties."
"Your Majesty!" Duke Zhuang hurriedly tried to stop the Emperor, but it was too late. The Emperor simply paid him no mind.
"My dear minister, children have their own destinies. You and I were not destined to be in-laws. Forcing the two children together will only bring unhappiness. It is better to separate them sooner rather than later.
It is getting late, and the palace is about to be locked down. I will not detain you further. Guards! Escort Duke Zhuang and his son back!"
Upon hearing the Emperor's command, several guards entered from outside the hall and escorted Duke Zhuang and his son away.
Other emperors might have been concerned about the officials in the court and the prevailing political situation. But not him. He had held imperial power for so many years, having eliminated many of his own brothers, why would he care about some old ministers!
Ten years – it was precisely these people who had been bullying his daughter, trampling on his dignity and that of the entire imperial family.
Since they were capable of such actions, how could he allow his daughter to remain in that household?
No matter what they said about regretting their actions or not failing his daughter, how could he give them another chance to harm her?
"Ting'er, rise. Out with the old, in with the new. I will find you a better one later." This time, he would not choose someone from a noble family. What about upbringing and family values? They could still commit such deeds.
It would be better to find someone from a lower social standing or a humble background, so they would not dare to mistreat his daughter.
"Father, I do not wish to discuss this for now." The First Princess managed a strained smile.
"What? Do you intend to stay loyal to him?"
"No."
"Very well. I will give you some time. When you have recovered, you can find someone you are satisfied with yourself."
"Thank you for your consideration, Father! However, I wish to request an imperial edict."
"What kind of edict?"
"A decree of marriage."
The First Princess did not leave the palace that night. Even her child was brought to the inner palace.
Cong'er was worthy of his name, exceptionally intelligent. He already understood what had happened between his father and mother and knew that his father had another child older than him.
"Mother, do not be sad. Cong'er will be with you."
"Cong'er, do you want to change your surname?"
"Change surname?"
"Yes, change your surname to the imperial surname. Mother has obtained a favor for you. After changing to the imperial surname, you will study in the inner palace with your younger maternal uncles."
"Does Mother wish for me to change my surname?"
"Yes, Cong'er, you are my only flesh and blood. I hope you can share the same surname as me."
"Then I will change it, as long as Mother is happy."
The First Princess looked at her sensible child and felt content. At least she still had Cong'er!
Duke Zhuang and the First Consort, no, the former consort, left the palace. A carriage was waiting at the palace gate.
Once in the carriage, the second son of the Zhuang family asked Duke Zhuang, "Father, what should we do now?"
Seeing his son in a panic, Duke Zhuang sneered, "What should we do? You ask me what we should do? It would be fortunate enough if you don't implicate the family!"
"I, Father, I..."
"What about you? Your mother and I told you to send that woman away, but you went and kept her outside. You even let her give birth before the princess, and then you never sent her away. And now you ask me what to do?
You have trampled the imperial family's dignity underfoot, and you still ask me. Your father does not have the power to resolve this matter for you!" Duke Zhuang was furious.
He had thought that Madam Liu had already been sent away. After all, since the princess had discovered it, he had to send her away to appease her.
Who would have thought that he had never sent her away at all.
"The princess will not turn back. His Majesty has already spoken. You should leave the capital. I will arrange a post for you outside the capital."
"But the princess is my wife. How can she divorce me just like that?"
"You know she is your wife!" Duke Zhuang was furious. "Did you give her enough respect? If you truly considered her your wife, you would not have made such a mistake.
Moreover, she is a princess. Do you really think she cannot live without you? Do not worry, without you, the First Princess might live even more freely."
"Father."
"You, you have been spoiled by your mother." If his wife had not continued to conceal this from him, how could he have not known that his son had been keeping a mistress all along!
Now their entire Duke Zhuang's mansion would offend the Emperor because of this, and even the next Emperor. Unless he could achieve some unprecedented merit, it would be impossible to atone for this.
The greatest merit would be to support the Emperor's ascension. However, although the succession was not yet decided, the princes all looked unfavorably upon his son. They would not offend the First Princess for the sake of the Duke Zhuang's mansion. It seemed he had to plan carefully.
After that night, the First Princess remained in the inner palace. Her son also changed his surname to Zhao and played with some young princes.
To comfort the First Princess, the other married princesses came to the palace to accompany her, bringing their children along.
As for whether their intentions were truly to comfort the First Princess or to have their children gain favor with the Emperor, only they knew in their hearts.
Recently, the consorts of the other princesses had also been thoroughly investigated. Although they all had minor flaws, none dared to disrespect their princesses.
This made these consorts resent the former First Consort.
Duke Zhuang had arranged for his son to be posted outside the capital, but before he could leave, an imperial edict arrived at the Duke's mansion.
In recent days, due to the scandal at the Duke's mansion, the people there dared not venture out.
The First Princess had always resided in her own palace. The day after she entered the palace, the former consort's belongings were noisily sent back to the Duke's mansion, leaving the Second Son of Duke Zhuang unable to hold his head up.
Now, he truly understood that it was impossible for him and the princess to reconcile. He also understood that the dignity of a princess was not something he could trample upon at will. It was then that he realized that what he had once perceived as the princess's temper tantrums were merely minor whims.
The princess's decisive action made him realize that after so many years of marriage, he had never truly understood her.
This imperial edict was a decree of marriage, bestowing marriage upon the Second Son of Duke Zhuang and Madam Liu. It even explicitly stated that Madam Liu was to be the official wife.
In addition, he was to be posted as a county magistrate in a remote border county. He was to depart immediately after his marriage.
Furthermore, the Empress sent two wet nurses to care for Madam Liu, as if fearing Madam Liu might not live much longer.
Madam Liu must remain alive, occupying the position of his wife. This way, he would have no possibility of marrying other noble ladies. With Madam Liu present, even minor families would not marry their daughters to him.
Only Madam Liu was mentioned, not her child. That child could only be recorded in the family genealogy as a son of a concubine. Even if Madam Liu became the official wife, only children born after that would be considered legitimate sons.
However, this was only the first step. After all, there were few who offered help in times of need, but plenty who would add insult to injury!