CHAPTER 343: CHAPTER 343: THE PRINCESS CONSORT GOES MAD

Three days after the marriage alliance between the Lin and Feng families concluded, Feng Qi and Jiang Huanqing set off for the Northwest.

Accompanying them were three thousand troops, carefully selected by the Fourth Prince.

Although not truly capable of one soldier defeating ten, at critical moments, they could protect the two and ensure their escape with their lives.

The Fourth Prince and Lin Xingzhi stood atop the city wall, watching the troop depart swiftly, feeling both anxious and hopeful for their successful return.

Only when their figures disappeared, leaving behind strands of hoof prints, did the Fourth Prince finally speak.

"Let’s go; we still have matters to attend to."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Currently, the Imperial Guard was under Lin Xingzhi’s command, the Imperial City Department under the stewardship of his father-in-law, Feng Jichun, and the Imperial Armor Army protecting all of Shengjing City under the Fourth Prince.

Strictly speaking, they were like grasshoppers tied with the same string.

Having such concentrated power in one family was most threatening to Prince Zhan.

The Marquis of Northwest fundamentally had no presence here, so even if the defenses changed a hundred times, it mattered not to him.

He simply frowned slightly upon hearing that Feng Qi and Jiang Huanqing were heading to the Northwest.

Then continued as before, remaining quietly at home.

Publicly claiming: convalescing.

Unlike his calm demeanor, Prince Zhan lately encountered successive misfortunes.

What baffled him most was when, upon returning from the Empress Dowager’s dowry estate, Princess Consort Zhan presented a divorce letter to the Emperor!

This usually meek and submissive Princess Consort dared to openly humiliate him like this!

He could hardly believe it.

He cursed loudly within the mansion.

"Has she gone mad?"

Staring viciously at the messenger, had it been Princess Consort Zhan herself, she might have already been slapped to death!

Unfortunately, even with fear and trembling, the messenger was of no use, as the story had already spread far and wide outside.

"Where is the Princess Consort?"

"At the post station, the one delivering the message is from the eldest lady’s side, she said..."

"Said what?"

"Said the Princess Consort will not return to our mansion anymore, and it has nothing to do with us from now on."

"Ridiculous, since when do this mansion’s decisions rest in the hands of those mother and daughter! They disregard me completely, let’s go! I shall see who dares stop me at the post station!"

He finished and, in a fury, led a group toward the post station.

The resoluteness of Princess Consort Zhan’s stance made it so no one dared to oppose.

The Fourth Prince Consort, having first heard the news, burst into laughter facing the sky within the mansion, and then hastened to the post station ahead of Prince Zhan.

Upon seeing Princess Consort Zhan for the first time, her eyes welled with tears.

She spoke, exasperated by unheeded advice.

"After decades, you finally took the advice! Leaving that shameless old man, live your life well from now on!"

Upon hearing her old friend’s words, Princess Consort Zhan was also moved to tears.

There were many past instances when, unwilling to heed advice, she somewhat avoided the Fourth Prince Consort.

Now that she had come to her senses, she realized the gravity of her past mistakes!

"I’ve been truly blind to other people’s wicked words while ignoring your kind advice, just foolish! Luckily, this time Jie’er explained everything clearly to me. To hell with Prince Zhan Mansion, what nonsense Princess Consort and legitimate son, all of it’s fake! After wasting half of my life, from now on, I’ll live for myself!"

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince Consort finally breathed a true sigh of relief.

Once a person realizes the truth, clarity follows.

The stubbornness that once lingered on Princess Consort Zhan dissolved, now replaced with genuine serenity.

Yu Wenjie and Yu Wen Jia, who witnessed this scene, were equally pleased for their mother.

Turning to the Fourth Prince Consort, their eyes were filled with gratitude.

"Throughout the years I wasn’t in the capital, we relied on the help of the Fourth Prince Consort for my mother and younger brother to live a bit peacefully. Jie’er has nothing to repay with but asks the Fourth Prince Consort to accept my bow of gratitude!"

As she spoke, she solemnly knelt down.

Seeing his sister kneel, Yu Wen Jia did not hesitate.

He too knelt down.

Though he had been wayward these years, he understood right from wrong.

Father was indifferent, mother powerless.

Without the help of a few brothers from the Fourth Prince Mansion, who knows how he might have turned out in the capital!

Therefore, his kneeling was only fitting.

The Fourth Prince Consort sighed, "Quickly, get up, get up."

She wanted to stop the two children from kneeling but was halted by Princess Consort Zhan.

"You are like a second mother to them, deserving of this homage."

Upon hearing Princess Consort Zhan’s words, the Fourth Prince Consort did not adhere strictly to formality.

Her status certainly warranted their sibling kneeling, so she accepted tranquilly.

Once the siblings stood up, the Fourth Prince Consort looked at them with full contentment.

Then she spoke.

"I have an estate in Yunzhou, serene and elegant, although within the city, it is peaceful. I have brought the title deeds with me today, once the divorce is settled, your mother will take you there. Embrace this new beginning, do not waste your youth."

Having said that, the Fourth Prince Consort produced an ornate box containing several keys.

Beneath the keys lay the house and land deeds, and the deeds of ten or so servants.

The Fourth Prince Consort had thought this through carefully, therefore, the preparations were thorough.

This Prince Zhan was not a good person.

In the end, if the divorce couldn’t be finalized and it turned into a case of dismissal, they wouldn’t be able to stay in Shengjing City.

Yu Wenjie could return to Xidi without much issue.

But as for them, it wasn’t possible.

Better to set forth to distant lands instead.

A new place, with a fresh start.

Seeing this, the mother and her children were all deeply moved.

It’s easy to find those offering kind words, they are numerous in the world.

But true help in desperate times is rare.

The Fourth Prince Consort’s actions truly warmed the hearts of the mother and her children.

Princess Consort Zhan returned the grasp of her good friend’s hand, her eyes full of tears, and said.

"Do not worry, after the divorce, we’ll follow Jie’er to Xidiji City. Please keep the Yunzhou estate for your own future travels, your kindness I’ll never forget, being friends with you in this lifetime is my greatest fortune."

"Ji City? You’re heading to Xidi?"

The Fourth Prince Consort was slightly surprised by the news.

She turned her gaze toward Yu Wenjie.

Yu Wenjie smiled as she explained.

"Sang Deng’s fief is in Ji City, not far from the Southwest of Da Wei, thus culturally very similar. Rest assured, Fourth Prince Consort, my mother and brother will be well settled with me."

Lin Wanyi had previously suspected, and indeed, there had been significant changes in Xidi.

The fief was already determined, it appears, that the accession of Xidi’s new king is not far off.

No wonder they would change people at the last minute, fearing the Crown Prince would miss the timing to congratulate them.