The Double-Chapter 625 - 185: Divorce_2

Mother Shen’s pain was real, because she had only one son, Shen Yurong, whom she raised through hard work and bitter sacrifice, placing all the family’s hopes atop his shoulders. Yurong indeed lived up to expectations and truly attained high office, only to stumble inadvertently. Mother Shen was accustomed to blaming everything on others, so since Princess Yongning was of no further use, naturally, she blamed everything on her.

Jiang Li sneered inwardly, as Mother Shen was now recklessly creating a scene, disregarding all else. Due to various reasons, Prince Cheng and Empress Dowager Liu were unable to save Princess Yongning, but that didn’t mean they truly didn’t care about her. For Empress Dowager Liu and Prince Cheng as well, it was precisely because of Shen Yurong that Princess Yongning found herself in such straits. Without Shen Yurong, the subsequent events would never have occurred. Mother Shen’s rage targeted at Princess Yongning would surely invoke Empress Dowager Liu’s wrath against the Shen family. Yurong was dead, and Mother Shen’s irrational cursing would naturally provoke Empress Dowager Liu as well.

I fear after the execution, Mother Shen wouldn’t live much longer either. Empress Dowager Liu, already infuriated with Shen Yurong, how could she tolerate an ordinary woman insulting her only daughter.

If Shen Yurong still had any thought for his mother, he should have spoken up at that moment, to remind Mother Shen a word or two. Others’ words might not reach her, but Shen Yurong’s would surely hold some influence with her.

But Shen Yurong did not; he just searched the crowd persistently, hopelessly, and obsessively, over and over. His gaze was so evident that many in the crowd sensed it and exchanged glances, even thinking he was waiting for someone to storm the execution ground and rescue him.

But there was no one, nothing. No rescuer came, nor did the person Shen Yurong hoped for appear.

Until the appointed moment arrived.

The executioner stood behind Shen Yurong, as his blade rose and fell, a flash of silver light followed by a rolling head, spilling blood onto the ground, indiscernible in the mud.

Beside Shen Yurong, Princess Yongning screamed, as if she finally understood the terror, shouting "no," but before she could finish, the deadly blade followed in quick succession.

The crowd suddenly erupted into cheers, as if achieving a tremendous feat.

Jiang Li lowered her gaze, turned away expressionlessly, and walked off. Everything was over.

...

No matter how shocking the "Top Scholar’s Wife Murder" case was, with Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong executed, everything seemed to have ended.

On the streets and inside teahouses and taverns, people still talked about the case, lamenting the innocence and pitiful fate of siblings Xue Fangfei and her brother, but the discussions gradually dwindled.

The good had gotten their vindication, the evil punished, which appeared to be a perfect ending. With spring, everything again bustled with activity; farmers busied themselves with sowing, children started attending school, learning new characters, everything thriving.

Jiang Li’s days also passed calmly day by day. After this matter resolved, there were times she didn’t know what she should do. Like an ordinary young lady, she should embroider, practice her calligraphy at home, live a peaceful and content life, waiting for the day she’d marry into a well-matched family, don her wedding gown, bear children for her husband, manage household affairs, seemingly concluding the second half of her life.

But Jiang Li was unwilling to do so. Having become Xue Fangfei, she had already gone through it once, exhausted all her energy and life; she honestly didn’t have the courage for a repeat. Moreover, she was adverse to the idea of marriage. As the daughter of the Grand Secretary’s family, it was very likely she would be married off by Jiang Yuanbai to some young talent she had barely met, only hearing of his superficially good traits. She had once thought she knew Shen Yurong well, only to find she never really understood him—let alone someone she had hardly ever seen.

Yet, she couldn’t defy this fate; she was now the daughter of the Jiang family, the Grand Secretary’s daughter. No matter how headstrong, in the matter of marriage, it appeared she couldn’t break free from destiny.

Jiang Li still visited the Ye family often, as Xue Huaiyuan was still residing there, even though he mentioned a few times wanting to return to Tongxiang of Xiangyang. But Ye Shijie strongly persuaded him to stay; on one hand, Ye Shijie could learn many principles of being an official from Huaiyuan, greatly beneficial to his future career, and on the other hand, Prince Cheng likely still harbored resentment toward Huaiyuan. Allowing Huaiyuan to go out alone would probably be dangerous.