The lamp in the old lady's room remained lit throughout the night.
When Zhan Beiwang brought up the idea of divorcing his wife, his father was the first to oppose it. "If you divorce her, the censors will certainly report you. Doing so would be tantamount to ruining your career."
His elder brother, Zhan Beiqing, agreed. "Father is right, second brother. Do you realize how many military officers were once under her father's command? Your recent military achievements are largely due to their support. If you lose their backing, you won't be able to hold your position in the army."
"But she's using my mother's safety to coerce me. I can't tolerate it!" Zhan Beiwang's face was ice-cold with anger.
The old lady, having somewhat recovered, still felt the lingering discomfort from her earlier pain. She suddenly thought of something and looked up sharply, her voice harsh, "Divorce her! If she's thrown out, she won't be able to take her dowry with her."
Zhan Beiwang replied, "I have no intention of taking her dowry!"
"Why not? If she's being divorced, her dowry naturally belongs to our General's Residence." The old lady clutched her chest, still feeling a faint ache. "With her dowry, we'll have enough money to invite Doctor Dan. Beiwang, you've borrowed money before and know how difficult it is to be a hero without funds. We had to sell our properties just to afford your wedding. Our family's finances are nearly depleted."
Zhan Ji, concerned, said, "Madam, which is more important, the dowry or Beiwang's future? You need to weigh this carefully."
The old lady's face appeared particularly grim in the lamplight. "Husband, you've said it yourself. The Emperor now needs to cultivate new military generals. Even if the censors report him, the Emperor will likely be lenient, at most reprimanding him lightly."
Zhan Beiwang said, "Father, Mother, Brother, perhaps I'm acting impulsively in wanting to divorce her. But I truly cannot endure such a narrow-minded, selfish, and manipulative woman as my wife. I've thought it over. While divorcing her will bring infamy and reports from the censors, the situation in the southern border is dire. I suspect the King of Beiming will struggle to secure it. When reinforcements are needed, Yi Fang and I can be sent. We succeeded in the Western Capital; we can succeed in the southern border too. Recapturing the southern border would be an unparalleled achievement."
His eyes were fervent. The battle for the southern border had dragged on for years, costing the lives of the entire Marquis of Zhenbei's family. Even the King of Beiming had been fighting there for over two years with no resolution in sight. If he and Yi Fang could reclaim the southern border, it would be a monumental achievement, a true military victory.
Moreover, reclaiming the southern border would avenge the Marquis of Zhenbei's family. Who would dare criticize him for abandoning Song Xixi then?
"I'll endure disgrace for a while. Trust Yi Fang and me; we will definitely return to the southern battlefield."
Zhan Beiwang's words swayed both Zhan Ji and Zhan Beiqing.
The old lady was even more excited. "If that's the case, then divorce her. She indeed exhibited jealousy and couldn't tolerate a co-wife. She even sought to defy the Emperor's marriage decree. Out of jealousy, she also showed a lack of filial piety. If we hadn't brought in the imperial physician, I might have died tonight." Greed, like a venomous snake, coiled around the old lady's heart.
She had already forgotten the daughter-in-law who had set aside her noble status to personally care for her heart condition for a year, demonstrating such filial piety.
She had often praised Song Xixi's filial and courteous nature to other noblewomen, saying that the General's Residence was fortunate to have her as a wife.
"The dowry must not leave with her, Beiwang. Don't be foolish, understand? Sending her back to the Marquis's Residence, she'll have enough to live comfortably, but we need that money to secure your future."
Zhan Beiwang shook his head. "No, I don't want her dowry. I just want to divorce her."
The old lady, furious, shouted, "Absolutely not! She won't take a single coin of the dowry. Someone, bring me her dowry list!"