The people of the Zhan family looked at each other in astonishment. No one had expected the usually agreeable Song Xixi to be so assertive this time.
Moreover, she even refused to listen to her mother-in-law.
The old matron coldly remarked, "She will eventually come around. She has no other choice."
Indeed, with no family to rely on now, she had no choice but to stay with the Zhan family. Besides, the Zhan family had not treated her unfairly; she remained the legitimate wife.
The next morning, Song Xixi, along with Baoshu, returned to the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence. The garden was desolate, with fallen leaves piling up.
In just half a year of neglect, the courtyard of the Marquis's residence had grown weeds almost as tall as a person.
Entering the residence again, Song Xixi felt as if a knife was twisting in her heart.
Half a year ago, upon hearing the news of her family's massacre, she had collapsed and knelt before the cold corpses of her grandmother and mother. Every corner of the residence was stained with blood.
The residence had a shrine where the tablets of the ancestors of the Song family, along with her mother's, were placed.
She and Baoshu were busy preparing offerings, with tears streaming down constantly.
After lighting incense, she knelt down and kowtowed to her parents' tablets, her tear-streaked eyes filled with determination. "Father, Mother, if you have spirits in heaven, please forgive the decision your daughter is about to make. It is not that she is unwilling to marry and live a peaceful life, but Zhan Bei Wang is not a good man and not someone worthy of entrusting her life to. But rest assured, your daughter and Baoshu will live well."
Baoshu also knelt beside her, sobbing uncontrollably. After the offering, they boarded the carriage and headed straight for the imperial city.
At noon, under the scorching autumn sun, Song Xixi and Baoshu stood motionless in front of the palace gate, like statues.
They had waited for an entire hour, but no one had come to summon her inside.
Baoshu, distressed, said, "Miss, the Emperor probably won't see you. He might think you are here to obstruct the imperial marriage decree. You haven't eaten since last night nor had breakfast today. Are you holding up? Shall I go get you something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry!" Song Xixi felt no hunger; her only focus was on the firm belief that she would obtain the divorce and then return home.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. It's not worth it to starve yourself."
"Why not just accept it? After all, you are still the legitimate wife, the lady of the Zhan family. Even if she is a second wife, she would still just be a concubine. Miss, maybe we should endure this?"
Song Xixi's eyes turned icy. "Baoshu, refrain from making such defeatist comments in the future."
Baoshu sighed, her eyes lost and helpless. What else could they do?
She had thought that with the General's return, things would be better for her mistress, but it had come to this.
In the imperial study, Eunuch Wu reported for the third time, "Your Majesty, Lady Zhan is still waiting outside the palace gate."
Emperor Suqing put down the memorial and rubbed his temples. "I cannot meet her. The decree has been issued, and I cannot retract it. Tell her to go back."
"The Imperial Guards have tried to persuade her, but she refuses to leave. She's been standing there for more than an hour without moving."
Emperor Suqing felt uneasy. "Zhan Bei Wang asked for the marriage based on his military achievements. I was reluctant, but if I didn't agree, both he and General Yi would be in a difficult position. After all, they have achieved merits in battle."
Eunuch Wu said, "Your Majesty, if we talk about military achievements, no one can compare to the Marquis of Zhenbei and General Xiao."
Emperor Suqing thought of the Marquis of Zhenbei, Song Huaian. When he was still the Crown Prince, just starting his military career, it was the Marquis of Zhenbei who had guided him. He was also an old acquaintance of Song Xixi back then—a little girl of six or seven with porcelain-like skin, very adorable.
This Emperor had also walked out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He understood the hardships of military officers, so when Zhan Bei Wang requested the marriage based on his military achievements, he hesitated but ultimately agreed.
Other than his brother, Prince Beiming, there were no other capable military leaders in court. In the ongoing war with Xijing, General Xiao's third young general lost an arm, and the seventh young general sacrificed his life. However, these were kept secret.
But Eunuch Wu was right. In terms of military achievements, Zhan Bei Wang and Yi Fang were far inferior to the Marquis of Zhenbei.
"Let her in. If she agrees to this marriage, she can have whatever she wants. Even titles and honors, I will grant her."
Eunuch Wu sighed in relief. "Your Majesty is wise!"