Song Xi Xi looked at him, her beautiful face showing a cold smile. "General Yi Fang really is considerate of me, keeping half of my dowry."
"No, this isn't Yi Fang's letter. She didn't write it," Zhan Bei Wang defended himself, but the signature at the end made his defense weak.
Song Xi Xi raised her eyebrows. "Is that so? Then let me ask you, General, if you divorce me today, will you return my dowry in full and let me take it away?"
Before seeing this letter, Zhan Bei Wang would have agreed without hesitation, even if his father and mother opposed it. But now, Yi Fang had written to keep half of the dowry. If he didn't do as she said, Yi Fang would be very disappointed.
Song Xi Xi smiled and said, "Hesitating? Seems like you're not as noble as you pretend to be."
Her voice was soft, but every word pierced the heart. Her smile was like a peach blossom blooming in early spring, but it had the chill of a winter plum.
Zhan Bei Wang felt both ashamed and angry, but he couldn't say a word. He could only watch as she walked past him with a mocking smile.
As soon as Old Master Song saw Song Xi Xi, he immediately asked, "Xi Xi, has the general's mansion wronged you? Don't be afraid; your great-uncle is here to stand up for you."
Song Xi Xi's eyes reddened slightly, and she knelt in front of Old Master Song. "Great-uncle, I'm sorry to trouble you with coming here today. It's my own failure that has caused you inconvenience."
"Stand up!" Old Master Song felt a pang in his heart, recalling the tragic end of the Zhenbei Marquis's household. He almost wept. "Stand up, and let's reason with them with dignity. Even if you're the only one left in the Zhenbei Marquis's household, we will never bow our heads to others."
Old Lady Zhan sneered upon hearing this. "What do you mean by that, Old Master Song? General Yi Fang was to enter as an equal wife, not to overshadow her. Your words make it seem like we're bullying her. Have we bullied her?"
She looked at Song Xi Xi, her face full of grief. "Xi Xi, search your heart. Since you entered our Zhan family, has anyone ever scolded or hit you? Have I, as your mother-in-law, ever made you stand on ceremony even once?"
Song Xi Xi slowly shook her head. "No!"
Old Lady Zhan became even more indignant. "If that's the case, why do you want to harm me so? Just because you're jealous of Yi Fang entering the household? That marriage was decreed by the Emperor. You've committed the sins of jealousy and disobedience. Today, we are divorcing you. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Old Master Song said, "Wait a moment. You say she's disobedient, but all of the capital knows how she's served you since entering your family. To care for your illness, she practically slept in your room, attending to your daily needs, your meals, your medicine, and your acupuncture. How can this be considered disobedience?"
Old Lady Zhan sneered. "Yes, I initially thought she was filial and sensible, but as soon as the marriage decree came, she stopped my medicine, wouldn't even come to greet me, and went to the palace to ask the Emperor to rescind the marriage. Filial or not, I dare ask Old Master Song, has she not committed the sin of jealousy?"
Old Master Song was momentarily at a loss for words. Female jealousy is indeed one of the seven grounds for divorce, but it is human nature. As long as it doesn't cause major trouble, who would divorce a woman for being jealous? Common sense couldn't prevail over the law, and the law did indeed include this provision.
"Divorce me, I agree!" Song Xi Xi looked at Old Lady Zhan, unwilling to argue further. "One question for the old lady: what about my dowry?"
The old lady coughed and said, "Our general's mansion doesn't covet your dowry, but since you're being divorced, the law requires the dowry to be completely retained. You won't get a single penny back. Considering you served me for a year, we'll keep only seventy percent. You can take the rest."
"Outrageous!" Old Master Song roared. "You call this not coveting her dowry? You're bullying her because the Song family has no one left. Jealousy is just a woman's tantrum. How is it a major crime? Even if it's in the seven grounds for divorce, it can be handled with discretion. I see you just want that woman to be the main wife and covet Xi Xi's dowry. To behave so shamelessly, aren't you worried about your general's mansion's reputation?"
Song Shi An said to Zhan Bei Wang, "General Zhan, I respect you for your service to the country. Speak fairly today. Must you divorce her? And if you must, are you really going to keep seventy percent of her dowry?"