Chu Chenyi looked innocent, completely baffled as to how the Princess of Xiliang had become involved. He hadn't said anything about picking up any princess.
"What nonsense have you heard? When did I say I was going to pick up the Princess of Xiliang? Stop this and go back with me."
Feng Jin picked up a plate of sunflower seeds and cracked them open, eager to watch the show. He wanted to see how Chu Chenyi would handle this.
"Who wants to go back with you? I want a divorce!" Lin Yuwei shouted angrily.
Chu Chenyi was stunned. They had argued before, but never this fiercely. He patiently tried to coax her, "Let's go back first. We can discuss anything later."
"There's nothing to discuss between us. The divorce is set. You go pick up your Xiliang Princess, and I'll find a good match. Men and women marry and part without interference!"
Chu Chenyi's face immediately darkened, his brows furrowed. He said gravely, "I'll ask you one more time, do you want to come back with me!"
"Never!" Lin Yuwei was equally stubborn, determined not to go back with him.
"As you wish!" Chu Chenyi left after uttering those words.
Watching Chu Chenyi's retreating back, Lin Yuwei's anger surged. She grabbed an incense burner and threw it fiercely at his back.
The incense burner hit his back, and the man grunted softly, his steps pausing slightly before he continued to walk away without a moment's hesitation.
"Chu Chenyi, you scoundrel, this girl is determined to divorce you!"
Lin Yuwei gritted her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes, refusing to fall.
"It's alright now. If he wants to leave, let him. We can just find someone better."
The situation had unfolded completely unexpectedly, and Feng Jin felt a pang of regret. She stepped forward to comfort Lin Yuwei.
Suddenly being comforted, Lin Yuwei's pent-up grievances erupted. Tears streamed down like broken strings of pearls as she sobbed into Feng Jin's shoulder.
"I am determined to divorce this scoundrel. I consider myself unlucky for having been with him before," Lin Yuwei said with a tearful voice.
Wishing to mend rather than break relationships, Feng Jin was now at a loss. In the past, if Lin Yuwei and Chu Chenyi had no feelings for each other and wanted a divorce, it would have been fine.
But now, they clearly had feelings for each other. If they divorced due to these unresolved issues, they would surely regret it later.
"Calm down first. If you divorce in a fit of impulse and regret it later, you'll be the one suffering."
"I will never regret it. There's nothing worth reminiscing about someone like him."
Lin Yuwei wiped the tears from her face, her voice filled with grievance. Chu Chenyi was a scoundrel. Let him go, and let him never come back. Who cared about him?
"Calm down for two days, and then think it over carefully. If you really want a divorce, there's no rush."
Feng Jin dared not provoke Lin Yuwei further. She could only stabilize her emotions and plan accordingly.
Lin Yuwei did not want to return to Pingyang侯府, so she went back to Ling Mansion with Feng Jin.
"General Ling, I hope my staying here for a couple of days won't bother you," Lin Yuwei said proactively upon seeing Ling Mohan return.
Ling Mohan, as always, was expressionless, merely stating, "It's fine."
His gaze then searched the room for Feng Jin.
"You're back. Lu Shi said you would be back later," Feng Jin said from outside, her tone tinged with confusion.
"I finished my business early, so I returned sooner."
"Did the Emperor really order you and Prince Jing to welcome the Xiliang envoys?"
Lu Shi's words were ambiguous, and by the time she wanted to ask for clarification, Lu Shi was already gone.
"The Xiliang envoys will arrive in the capital tomorrow. The Emperor has ordered me to welcome them with Prince Jing. Chu Yanxi even suggested that the post station is too humble for the Xiliang envoys and Princess who have traveled from afar, and that it would be undignified for them to stay there. He recommended that they go to..."
Ling Mohan's voice trailed off, then he continued, "He recommended they stay at Ling Mansion or Prince Jing's manor."
"What?" The two women exclaimed in unison, a shared sense of disbelief.
"I knew Chu Yanxi was no good. He's full of malice. Why doesn't he let the Xiliang Princess stay at his manor!"
Feng Jin exclaimed angrily, her eyes blazing. If Chu Yanxi were present, she would have slapped him hard to vent her anger.
"Emperor Xuanwen is clearly muddled and has been instigated by Chu Yanxi to send you and Chu Chenyi to welcome the Xiliang envoys. He likely wants the Xiliang Princess to take a liking to you early on so he can stay out of it."
This explanation clarified everything. She had been somewhat confused as to why Emperor Xuanwen would send married princes to welcome the Xiliang Princess, along with Ling Mohan.
Anyone with eyes could see that the Xiliang Princess had come for a marriage alliance. Even if the Emperor wanted to show sincerity by sending princes, he should have sent an unmarried one. Sending Chu Chenyi was clearly inappropriate. Now it seemed to be Chu Yanxi's scheme to sow discord.
How could a prince, a man of integrity, stoop to using underhanded tactics and engage in such disreputable dealings?
"I hope Chu Yanxi doesn't fall into my hands, or I'll make his life worse than death!"
Feng Jin gritted her teeth and squeezed out the words. Her feud with Chu Yanxi was growing larger and larger.
After learning of this, Lin Yuwei's anger subsided somewhat. However, she reasoned that a fly wouldn't bite an egg with no cracks; if Chu Chenyi hadn't had such intentions, no one would have targeted him.
"Prince Jing has been too prominent lately, almost overshadowing him. He must be desperate. Furthermore, Prime Minister Feng has been repeatedly reprimanded by the Emperor, while the Pingyang侯府's influence is growing. If this continues, the danger to Chu Yanxi will only increase, and he will definitely find a way to retaliate."
Feng Jin analyzed the situation logically, believing that Lin Yuwei would understand the stakes.
"A stratagem of alienation," Ling Mohan stated concisely, summarizing everything.
"Then... then how should we respond?"
Lin Yuwei asked with some panic. Having lived under her parents' protection since childhood, she had no understanding of the intricate schemes of the imperial court. If Feng Jin hadn't enlightened her, she would have fallen right into the trap.
"Turn the tables on them. Deceive the enemy, make them lower their guard, and capture them all in one go."
Ling Mohan spoke with a hidden motive, as this was the only viable plan. Chu Yanxi was cunning and had deep-rooted influence in the court. With their current influence, they couldn't guarantee victory if they resisted him.
"Turn the tables on them..." Lin Yuwei repeated the phrase, "That won't do. What if the fake act becomes real?"
Feng Jin observed Lin Yuwei's expression and stifled a laugh, her mouth covered. Just moments ago, she had been resolute about divorcing, and now she was starting to worry. Humans were indeed fickle creatures.