Chapter 256 Divorce
Hearing Meng Xi admit that he was the God of Medicine, Xiao Jun felt as if all the blood in his body had been drained. His face turned pale and his expression froze. He stared at Meng Xi woodenly, his lips moving but he did not reply. After a long while, he reluctantly stood up, bowed to the prince and said:
"Your Highness, please forgive me for my rudeness. I have some family matters to attend to today and cannot accompany you. One day, I will come to your house in person to apologize."
Didn't the Second Master have a brain? This is the prince, how dare he order him to leave? So what if he is from a noble family ? He is the son of His Majesty. He will punish you for disrespect. The Second Master's words made Zhiqiu's heart rise to his throat, and he looked at the Second Mistress with a worried look on his face.
After hearing what Xiao Jun said, the prince was stunned. His smile froze on his face. He looked at Xiao Jun for a long time and was about to speak when Meng Xi said:
"Brother, I have some family matters to attend to today, so please step aside. Li Du has already mentioned the plague in the south to me, so I will discuss it with you another day."
After hearing Mengxi's words, the prince looked at her, then at the Second Master, and suddenly came to his senses. He thought that he should give them some time first and let them explain things clearly before discussing the matter of going south.
Thinking of this, the prince smiled again and said:
"Okay, sister, I'll do as you say. I'll come back tomorrow."
After the prince finished speaking, he unconsciously turned the ring on his thumb, pondered for a long time, slowly walked to Xiao Jun, looked at him with clear eyes, and said slowly:
"Since Xiao Jun has family matters to deal with, I will not stay long today. You may not know that my father sent an imperial decree to Yichun Hall yesterday, summoning my second brother, oh no, my second sister to the palace to see the Queen Mother. Li Du has reported to my father, saying that my second sister is ill in the south and cannot enter the palace immediately. This is a crime of deceiving the emperor and exterminating the clan. If Xiao Jun does not want my second sister to be executed by my father, please do not publicize her identity for the time being. I will mediate."
Hearing this, Xiao Jun was shocked, turned his head to look at Mengxi, and saw her nodding, and nodded subconsciously. The prince saw it and said:
"Okay, Xiao Jun, let's say goodbye today. I will come again tomorrow!"
Seeing Xiao Jun bowing in return, the prince walked out. When he was almost at the door, he suddenly remembered Xiao Jun's unfriendly face, and a trace of worry arose in his heart - it was for Mengxi.
Hesitating for a moment, he turned around and almost bumped into Mengxi and Zhiqiu who followed him. He quickly stepped back half a step to steady himself. The prince coughed and said:
"I remember when I first met my second sister two years ago, she asked me if I could no longer stay in this world, would I be willing to ride the lakes and rivers with you and forget about the mountains and rivers... I didn't have time to answer her at that time, and she left. Today I tell you, if that day really comes, I will definitely ride the lakes and rivers with you..."
After hearing this, Zhiqiu's face turned pale. She wished she could abolish this prince who was only afraid of chaos in the world. Unfortunately, she was not the emperor! She secretly regretted why she didn't join the street petition team. This prince should have been sacrificed to the gods long ago!
Sweat, isn't this a naked provocation! What does the prince want to do? Is he still dissatisfied with the chaos? Hearing this, Meng Xi was stunned. She was just drunk at the time. After so many years, she had forgotten it long ago. She didn't expect that the prince would bring it up again in front of Xiao Jun.
Feeling guilty, Mengxi stole a glance at Xiao Jun, only to see that veins were bulging on his forehead. It had been a long time since she had seen him look so furious. Mengxi's heart began to beat hard, and she wished she hadn't been the one who said those drunken words.
She looked up and saw the prince looking at her eagerly. If she didn't say anything or denied it, it would seem petty. She suppressed her pounding heart, took a half step back, bowed gently to the prince, and said:
"Big brother has been very kind to me, and I can't thank you enough."
After hearing this, the prince smiled and nodded, looked at Xiao Jun with a playful look, turned around and strode out, only to hear the second master shouting behind him:
"Xiao Yan, escort His Royal Highness the Crown Prince out of the palace!"
Xiao Yan ran over upon hearing the sound, and led the prince who had just left the house to the second gate. The prince's two followers saw their master coming out, and hurried out of the guest room to follow behind.
The prince left. Xiao Jun, who had calmed down, stood there stiffly, looking at Mengxi with a cold gaze. Mengxi's heart trembled. She would rather he was like he was two years ago, with a dark face, smashing everything in the house in anger, than face him who was so cold in his bones. He made her shudder, like a pool of ice water, suffocating her. She stood there woodenly, looking at Xiao Jun who was slowly approaching her. For the first time, she lost her usual composure and was no longer calm and composed.
"Li Mengxi, Li Mengtan, I'm so stupid. For so long, even though you have shown your talent in medicine everywhere in the mansion, I have never linked these two names together!"
"Second Master..."
Hearing Xiao Jun's voice coming from the horizon, revealing a sense of emptiness and ethereality, Meng Xi couldn't help but call out, but Xiao Jun didn't respond, he just continued to look at her and said:
"Master of Yichun Hall, the prince's sworn brother, the current God of Medicine, how famous! Xi'er, I never knew you had such a powerful force, so powerful that it scared me. You only need to say that you are the God of Medicine and that I, Xiao Jun, am not worthy of you, and I will let you go. You are having fun playing the cat and mouse game, right? Watching your prey suffer in pain every day, watching our Xiao family members kneel down in front of you like clowns, watching grandma faint, watching mother vomit blood, you are satisfied, right?"
"Second Master..."
"Xi'er, I know you have suffered a lot of injustice in the Xiao Mansion. I have always blamed myself for having treated you wrongly. If you are just seeking revenge for the wrong things I have done and the way the Xiao family has treated you wrongly, then I am telling you now that you have chosen a very good way to avenge yourself. You win!"
Xiao Jun's words were no longer full of emotion. It seemed as if he was just stating one thing, but every word was like a knife, cutting Mengxi's heart. She stood stiffly in front of Xiao Jun, shaking her head subconsciously. She really wanted to tell him that it was not like that. She had become a dowry and opened Yichuntang just to find a place to settle down with her meager skills... She had never thought of revenge. She just wanted to pursue a free life. Was she really wrong?
Meng Xi's face was pale, and her lips moved, but she seemed to be out of control and could not make a sound. Xiao Jun showed a self-deprecating expression on his face and continued:
"You are determined to leave the Xiao Mansion. I have always believed that the Xiao family's ancestral teachings and my mother would not tolerate you. I have always believed that you are unhappy in the mansion. I have been desperately dealing with the things at hand, hoping that my third brother will become familiar with the family business as soon as possible. Then I will take you away from the Xiao Mansion and travel far away to accompany you to do what you like."
When Xiao Jun said this, he couldn't help laughing until tears came out of his eyes. Then he stopped laughing and said:
"I'm really funny and stupid, right? I know you don't like me, but I always hope that one day you will be moved by me. I have been pestering you and trying to keep you because I'm afraid that you can't survive alone. Xi'er, I know today that I was wrong, really wrong, so wrong. You have been strong enough that you don't need anyone's protection. I can't keep you at all. I always thought that you tried your best to leave the mansion, but the Xiao Mansion didn't allow you to leave. Today I know that you and the prince had an agreement. Okay! I will fulfill your wish today. Before I regret it, take your people and leave, stay away from the Xiao Mansion, and we will settle our grievances from now on!"
Standing there woodenly, as if all the blood had been drained out of her, Mengxi's face turned pale and her whole body was trembling.
Take your people and go away, stay away from the Xiao Mansion!
Take your people and go away, stay away from the Xiao Mansion!
It was like a thunderclap that kept ringing in her ears, making them buzz and making her unable to think.
Finally free, but no joy!
He finally let her go. This was what she had been pursuing tirelessly for two years. Why did her heart hurt so much when she finally got what she wanted?
Holding Zhiqiu, he forced himself to calm down. No matter how much he loved her, their relationship would not have any result. Especially now, because of the plague in the south, she had to go south with the prince. The future was uncertain and her life and death were uncertain.
There is no turning back for her and him, they are destined to part ways. Cursing each other is always better than lingering on.
Perhaps this deep hatred would make him completely forget her and break up with her, and prevent him from being branded as unfilial for her and falling deeper into the trap...
He took a breath silently, and finally did not explain a word. He raised his head and said calmly:
"Mengxi thanks Second Master for your help. I beg you to write a letter of divorce for Mengxi!"
"Second Grandma..."
After hearing this, Zhiqiu, who was holding on to the second grandmother, screamed. Her face turned pale and her body could no longer hold back the shaking.
Meng Xi's ruthless words made Xiao Jun's originally pale face flushed instantly. He couldn't help coughing violently. He quickly took out a handkerchief to cover his mouth, turned around and held the wall. After a long time, he took away the handkerchief in his hand and looked at the pool of bright red blood on it. Doctor Li's words lingered in his ears again.
"The Second Master has tuberculosis..."
"The Second Master has tuberculosis..."
Thinking of what Doctor Li said, Xiao Jun couldn't help but smile bitterly. He went south originally intending to find the God of Medicine to cure his illness so that he could be with her forever. The person he had thought he would find by all means turned out to be in his inner room. In order to save her, he gave up all his dignity and knelt in front of Yichun Hall on the street. But she was so cruel that she still turned around and left without mercy. Now, can he turn back to beg her and wag his tail to beg for mercy?
When all efforts turned to ashes, and even giving up everything still couldn't shake that cold heart, he had no choice but to let go.
Forget it. The Xiao family had long been involved in the political whirlpool and was already in a precarious situation. His health was also declining and could not withstand any blows. Why bother wasting her youth? He should have let go long ago. He had already disobeyed his parents for her and broke his grandmother's heart. Now, he should do his part for the family and make some compensation. If the prince really lost power, he could let this unfilial son be buried with the family. With the Fulishan Copper Mine he founded, and with his eldest brother and third brother, the Xiao family would not be cut off from the descendants and roots...
Slowly folding up the bloody handkerchief, wiping the corners of his mouth, and slowly turning around, Xiao Jun had regained his composure and said decisively:
"Okay, I'll write it for you!"
After Xiao Jun finished speaking, he walked a few steps to the desk, spread out the paper, picked up the brush on the desk, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote:
Xiao Jun, the eldest son of a noble family in Pingyang, is now going south to take care of business. Due to the rampant plague in the south, he may not be able to survive after leaving. My wife, Li Mengxi, is young and is willing to sign this divorce letter. I am willing to let her remarry without any disputes. This is my own will and I am not forced to do so. I am afraid that I will have no evidence in the future, so I sign this agreement as a reference.
Xiao Jun
August 12, the seventh year of Emperor Jin
