Chapter 5: Divorce, Part 2

After Li Sanniang finished speaking, Wang Erlang did not refute her point by point. Aside from the shards of the teacup that Mother Li had intentionally smashed on the floor and the water stains proving a rather intense argument had just taken place, the entire hall was deathly silent.

Mother-in-law Wang thought of the three young sons of her eldest son that Mother Li had mentioned, so she did not speak again. She simply turned her head away to look at the floor, not daring to face Wang Erlang’s pleading gaze.

Wang Dalang’s wife wanted to say something, but she knew that this was not the place for her to speak. She could only look at Wang Dalang with an urgent gaze, hoping that for the sake of their own three sons, he would comply with the Li family’s wishes and ensure their children were not implicated. Since her father-in-law passed away, the family business had already been declining; if they were to offend the Li family—who had officials in their ranks—over Wang Erlang’s scandalous behavior, what would they do?

Mistress Wang was so anxious that she gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly, worried that Wang Dalang would, as he had in the past, disregard everything to protect Wang Erlang.

After a silence of several dozen breaths, Father Li swept his gaze across the Wang family members. He looked at Wang Erlang’s shifty eyes, and finally, looking at Wang Dalang, he said calmly: "In the first year of Changshou, the Sage issued an edict that women may take their daughters and return to their maiden homes upon divorce. The Princess Cheng'an estate is ten miles south of the city, and if I recall correctly, Princess Huaming is now over ten years old. The Princess has always lived with Princess Cheng'an at the estate."

Having said this, Father Li stopped speaking. He picked up his teacup, as if to carefully savor the tea.

Whether it was the pastries the Li family had sent that proved useful, or seeing that Uncle Li had also come to show support, or perhaps realizing that the Wang family was a paper tiger, Sun Fangzheng spoke up at this moment: "Master Wang Dalang, since there is the precedent of Princess Cheng'an, it would be best if Wang Erlang and Li Sanniang part ways and each find their own happiness. Otherwise, if this matter of cohabitation without a matchmaker reaches the Jingzhao Prefecture, according to the law, Wang Erlang would face at least a year and a half of penal servitude."

Having said this, Sun Fangzheng glanced at Wang Erlang. Seeing him trembling and shrinking away from his gaze, he shook his head and continued: "Don't think I'm trying to scare you. We Fangzheng all went to the Jingzhao Prefecture together to study these laws and take exams, which is how we earn our keep from the government. If you don't believe me, go ask your own Fangzheng, Wang; he will naturally tell you the truth."

Wang Erlang panicked first. In his alarm, he cried out to Wang Dalang in the hall: "Big Brother, I don't want to go to jail! Big Brother, help me. Big Brother, when Father passed away, he told you to look after me. You can't abandon me; I am your own brother!"

"Dalang, is it true? You cannot let your brother go to jail; how could Erlang endure that suffering?" Mother-in-law Wang was also frightened into pressuring Wang Dalang.

Wang Dalang looked at his useless brother, then at his mother who spoiled her son to the point of ruin. He could only swallow his teeth along with the blood, closing his eyes and repeating in his heart, "This is my own brother, this is my own mother."

Opening his eyes again, Wang Dalang dropped his fake smile and said to Father Li: "Uncle Li, the Wang family agrees to the divorce. We also agree to let you take Wang Luzhu'er. But you must first agree to my conditions. As long as you all agree, I will have Erlang write the contract immediately."

Father Li nodded expressionlessly: "Speak."

"First, once Li Sanniang, your Li family, and Sun Fangzheng leave my Wang family’s door, you must never mention Erlang’s scandalous affair to others again.

Second, even if Luzhu'er returns home with Li Sanniang to be raised, she is still of the Wang family’s bloodline. Our family will visit periodically, and Luzhu'er must return home for reunions during festivals. Furthermore, the Wang family will provide a portion of her upbringing expenses. Third, if Li Sanniang remarries in the future, she must return Luzhu'er to the Wang family! As long as Uncle Li agrees to these three points, the contract will be ready immediately."

Father Li was fine when he heard the first two points, but upon hearing the third, a surge of anger rose in his heart. My daughter can marry if she wishes, and if she doesn't, she won't! Do you think you can dictate her life?

Luzhu'er will naturally be raised by our Li family!

Just as Father Li was about to retort, he felt the anxious gaze of Li Sanniang, and the anger in his heart dissipated slightly. He held his tongue.

At this moment, the eldest brother of the Li family, who had a military background, could not stand the conditions Wang Dalang had set. He stood up immediately, and in his haste, he knocked the teacup on the corner of the table, which followed the path of the one Mother Li had intentionally smashed, hitting the floor with a "bang" and shattering into pieces.

"Wang Mingheng, talk your big dog nonsense! My sister can marry whoever she wants! And if she doesn't want to marry, she won't! Luzhu'er doesn't lack for relatives; our Li family has plenty of people who can raise her to adulthood! I think you've spent too much time cleaning up Wang Ziheng's messes, lost your mind, and have started to go senile."

"Big Brother, don't be angry, don't be angry. Little Sister has it under control."

After pacifying his eldest brother, Li Sanniang turned to look at Wang Ziheng, who was slumped in a heap, and said to Wang Dalang: "Master Wang Dalang, after the divorce, I, Li Sanniang, will be a free woman. If I wish to marry again, that is my freedom. Even my father and mother cannot decide for me, let alone you, the brother of my ex-husband who doesn't even share my surname?"

Li Sanniang suppressed her anger and spoke to Wang Dalang.

"Luzhu'er was born through my own life-and-death struggle; she is the apple of my eye. As long as your Wang family signs an agreement that you cannot arbitrarily interfere with Luzhu'er’s marriage after she comes of age—if she is to be married, it must be with the permission of me, her biological mother—otherwise, any marriage you unilaterally agree to is nothing but nonsense! I can guarantee that regarding the matter of Wang Erlang and his widowed cousin, once I step out of the Wang family door, I, Li Sanniang, will not say a single word!"

Li Sanniang thought to herself, evil people are their own punishment.

Wang Erlang, that selfish man, thinks his widowed cousin is some delicate white lotus? Then let them have each other, and we shall see what becomes of them!

"If Master Wang Dalang insists on forcing me, then I, Li Sanniang, will accept the challenge!

I grew up in Chang'an; I naturally know the way to the Jingzhao Prefecture!

Though I, Sanniang, may not have the strength of a man, I can still strike the Dengwen Drum!

For myself, and for Luzhu'er, there is nothing I dare not do!"

Hearing Li Sanniang speak with such spirit, not losing to any man, everyone present turned their eyes toward her.

Mother Li looked at Li Sanniang, mumbling with tear-filled eyes, regretting only that she had been blind back then and had chosen such a cold-hearted man for her daughter.

Father Li, however, thought that at worst, he would support Sanniang for the rest of her life. If she wanted to marry, he would give her another dowry; if she didn't want to, what did it matter?

Wang Erlang looked at Li Sanniang in astonishment, as if he had never known her before. Seeing Li Sanniang standing resolutely in the hall, facing Wang Dalang’s obstruction for the sake of Luzhu'er, he called out to the door: "Bohé, go get the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

Wang Dalang and Mother-in-law Wang watched as Wang Erlang had the maid bring paper and pen to write the contract. Wang Erlang smiled bitterly: "It was my own foolish and scandalous behavior. Luzhu'er is my blood after all. I didn't care much before, but since Sanniang wants her, let her have her. Big Brother and Mother, just grant my wish. After all, I don't want to go to jail."

Perhaps Li Sanniang’s maternal love had temporarily opened the meridians of Wang Erlang’s remaining paternal heart, or perhaps he was truly terrified of the Li family sending him to jail. As the little maid brought the writing materials, Wang Erlang immediately wrote the divorce papers and the contract stating that the Wang family would not arbitrarily arrange Luzhu'er’s marriage.

Two copies of the contract, in triplicate. After both parties signed and the Fangzheng also signed, they were sent to the government office. Once the official seal was stamped, the Li and Wang families each kept a copy, and one was kept by the Ministry of Revenue as proof to prevent future disputes.

Everything was settled. Although they hadn't completely torn off the mask of civility, it was close enough.

Second Brother Li organized the retrieval of Li Sanniang’s dowry. Back then, she had brought a significant amount of furniture, medicinal herbs, and even three medicinal prescriptions that Li Sanniang had brought to support her position, including the "Yiyuan Powder" that she had modified herself while still a maiden.

There were also the twenty mu of land given by Father and Mother Li at the time of her marriage, and an unknown amount of silver in her dowry chest.

Mother-in-law Wang had no pleasant expression and was unwilling to engage. Mistress Wang stepped forward and led Mother Li, Li Sanniang, and Second Brother Li to Wang Erlang’s courtyard to inventory the dowry.

Everything was compared against the dowry list. Aside from what Li Sanniang had used during her few years of marriage, everything was to be moved out, along with all of Luzhu'er’s belongings.

Eldest Brother Li went to the carter at the entrance of the Wang family’s pharmacy to arrange for three more carts to come to the back door, and asked the old man to find a few laborers, offering extra money to help move the heavy dowry.

When they arrived at Wang Erlang’s courtyard, Second Brother Li first had Li Sanniang collect the precious dowry silver, jewelry, land deeds, and medicinal prescriptions, and pack them into chests.

Leaving Mother Li and Eldest Brother Li to help move the furniture and items, Li Sanniang and Second Brother Li went to get Sun Fangzheng’s signature, combined it with the signature Wang Erlang had obtained from Fangzheng Wang, and went to the government office to register the red contract, leaving one copy on file.

There was also the contract regarding Luzhu'er’s future marriage. They took Li Lingxiao’s letter of introduction from Uncle Li and went to the Ministry of Revenue to find Clerk Li. They followed the arrangements and were questioned about the circumstances. Naturally, they did not mention that it was because Wang Erlang had cohabited with his widowed cousin without a matchmaker; they simply stated that after three years of marriage, no sons were born, and the affection had faded, so they wished to part ways and each find their own happiness.

However, for the sake of her daughter, Li Sanniang wished to establish an independent female household in the future to raise the young Miss Wang until she was married, with the Wang family providing a monthly allowance for her upbringing.

Following Clerk Li’s guidance, they went to find the relevant official in charge. Both parties stated their voluntary agreement. Subsequently, Li Sanniang had to pay a deposit of two hundred taels, and the frequency and duration of Wang Erlang’s visits, as well as the necessary child support payments, were strictly regulated. Later, officials would visit to verify the actual living conditions of the young Miss Wang.

But for now, they were stuck on Li Sanniang establishing a female household.

Ever since Princess Cheng'an divorced and brought her daughter home to raise, many beloved daughters of noble families in Chang'an had done the same; it had almost become a trend.

Because of Emperor Wu’s personal permission, and since it was merely bringing a daughter home—and they were noblewomen of high standing—many families had allowed it.

However, this had led to many lawsuits, causing the Ministry of Revenue to eventually summarize a complete system for dealing with such situations.

If Li Sanniang wanted to obtain this guarantee and get the contract concerning Luzhu'er’s lifelong future, she had to first establish a female household, and to establish a female household, she had to have property.

Otherwise, if you don't even have a property, how can you have the ability to raise a daughter well?

Seeing this situation, Clerk Li made a decision: let Li Sanniang pay the two hundred taels deposit first, and keep the contract in the official files. Within half a month, if Li Sanniang bought a house and established a female household, she could bring the household registration to have the contract stamped, and at the same time, transfer Luzhu'er to the household registration where Li Sanniang was the head.

After thanking Clerk Li, Li Sanniang and Second Brother Li first sent Sun Fangzheng home. On the way, they bought pastries from Xiangguiji for Sun Fangzheng to sweeten his mouth, and promised to treat him to a drink later. They saw off the helpful Sun Fangzheng and returned home.

When Li Sanniang and Second Brother Li returned to the medical hall, Father Li was seeing patients. After giving a few instructions, Second Brother Li also went to the medicine cabinet to work with the young assistant.

Passing through the medical hall, the main courtyard was piled high with the fine furniture that Father and Mother Li had hired a good carpenter to make when Li Sanniang was married.

Luzhu'er followed Mother Li and Second Sister-in-law around, even knowing to point at her own chest and call out, "Zhu'er's, Zhu'er's," which was incredibly cute.

Today is relatively short. Tomorrow I have to go to the dentist; I chipped a tooth on a duck neck and broke it with dental floss... I took the afternoon off for a nucleic acid test, and I have to see the dentist tomorrow. I'm scared, trembling.

Thanks to Huai Xun 1 for the 5 recommendation votes. Thank you for your second vote, thank you.

(End of chapter)