Once the old lady fell ill, the household was in turmoil for half the night. In the end, they summoned an imperial physician to temporarily stabilize her condition. The physician told Zhan Beiwang, "I've treated the old lady before, but my skills are limited. The best doctor in the capital for heart ailments is Doctor Dan. His Dan Xue pills are life-saving for her. The only reason I can control her condition now is because she took Dan Xue pills for a year, providing a solid foundation. But if her attacks become more frequent, there's nothing more I can do."
After speaking, the physician took his leave.
Zhan Beiwang, his eyes red with anger, had personally gone to invite Doctor Dan that night, but Doctor Dan refused to see him. He knew that Song Xixi was using this to force him to give up marrying Yi Fang. Such tactics, using his mother's life to coerce him, were despicable.
He stormed into Wenxi Residence, kicking the door open. Song Xixi, still awake and writing under the lamp, frowned at his arrival, clearly coming to demand answers.
"Mammas, Baozhu, leave us!" she ordered.
"Get Doctor Dan here tomorrow, or else..." His tall figure loomed over Song Xixi, his face as cold as frost.
She met his gaze calmly. "Or else what?"
He gritted his teeth. "Or else, I'll divorce you!"
Song Xixi stared at him. "Divorce me?"
Looking down at her, Zhan Beiwang said coldly, "You were right that day. Just one of the Seven Grounds for Divorce, such as lack of filial piety, is enough to divorce you!"
Under the lamp, Song Xixi's skin was as fair as snow, her face stunningly beautiful. She smiled faintly. "It's good that you said that. Now I know you truly intend to divorce me. I'll wait for your divorce letter."
He glared at her. "You should know that if I divorce you, you won't get your dowry back."
Song Xixi suddenly laughed. "Oh, the dowry. Fine, keep it. Tomorrow, call the family elders and the neighbors, and our matchmakers. You write the divorce letter, and I'll sign and fingerprint it immediately."
Zhan Beiwang's finger almost touched her nose. "Wait for it. Tomorrow at noon, I'll divorce you and throw you out!"
With that, he stormed out.
Huang Momo hurried in, stomping her foot in frustration. "Young lady, if you get divorced, your dowry will all go to him. How can you be so impulsive?"
Baozhu was near tears. "Exactly, that would be letting them off too easily! Madam gave you half the Marquis's estate as a dowry."
Sitting in her chair, Song Xixi thought of his harsh expression earlier, and a twinge of pain surfaced in her heart. To say she had no expectations for him this past year would be a lie. There were feelings, albeit not deep, because this was the husband her mother had chosen for her. She said, "If he divorces me, he will pay a high price. As for the dowry, whether I can take it with me is another matter."
Liang Momo added, "Indeed. You served his mother for a year, and once he achieved merit, he sought marriage and immediately talked of divorcing you. Now they're selling properties—everyone knows it's for your dowry. Such a man will be publicly scorned, and officials will certainly report this."
Baozhu worried, "But if he disregards everything and acts impulsively, our young lady will suffer. Even if you can take back all your dowry, being divorced carries a bad reputation. It's disgraceful."
Song Xixi was more concerned about whether the Emperor might change his mind. She had requested the decree based on her father and brothers' military merits, but they had already sacrificed themselves. The Emperor, focused on grooming new generals, might hesitate to grant her the divorce.
She wasn't worried about the dowry. The inventory was in her hands, and she could take the savings and banknotes. The properties were all under the Marquis of Zhenbei's name, so they could only take silks, screens, jade pieces, and some jewelry. There would be losses, but not significant.
If Zhan Beiwang truly went through with it, he shouldn't blame her for being merciless afterward.
Huang Momo muttered angrily, "To think you were just saying you'd get Doctor Dan. Hmph, not worth it."