My stepmother is here, all the rebellious sons and evildoers should kneel down!

Two days later, the emperor personally issued an edict, summoning Lu Zhanyao and Wen Qiqi to the palace to meet him.

Everyone knew that if they entered the palace at this time, the two would definitely divorce.

Old Madam Lu was out of character. When she saw Wen Qiqi in the morning, she burst into tears and said that she was reluctant to part with her daughter-in-law.

Lu Xingcheng also wiped his tears, apologized to his mother, and knelt on the ground, begging his mother to consider their mother-son relationship and not to divorce his father.

"Mother, I have finally gained your care and love. If you leave me, who will teach me in the future? I can't bear to leave you!"

Lu Xingcheng cried miserably, as if he didn't hold any grudge against Wen Qiqi for exposing his hidden illness in public...

There were hundreds of servants in the Lu Mansion, and many of them were whispering just looking at the scene.

"Madam, you are too cruel! As the saying goes, a husband and wife for a day are bound by a hundred days of grace!"

"Yes, she can't have children. The young master treats her as his own mother. How can she bear to give up the child she has raised?"

"After all, she is not a biological child. Madam is the daughter of the Wen family, how could she take the Lu family seriously! If it weren't for...General Ye's accident, Madam would not even look at Lord Lu!"

"I heard that Madam chose you just to settle the dispute between the Thirteenth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince! I guess you and me have not been on the same page over the years, and now you want to get rid of me."

Although the discussions were not loud, they were still audible.

Diejiu, Xinyi, Mengyi and Ruyi followed the lady and sent her to the door.

"Madam, you have been worthy of the Lu family in the past few years. You don't have to take what others say to heart."

Die Jiu said in a low voice.

Wen Qiqi smiled knowingly: "Don't worry, he and I will definitely get divorced today. These gossips can't shake my heart."

"Ma'am, we'll be waiting for you."

"it is good!"

Wen Qiqi got on the carriage and never opened the curtain again.

Lu Zhanyao stood there for a long time, and only after he calmed down did he climb onto the horse.

He knew that no matter how much he tried to keep her or how much he was moved, it would be in vain.

Since Wen Qiqi has made up her mind, the only thing she can do after entering the palace today is to leave a good impression in front of the emperor and the empress dowager.

Soon, the Lu family's carriage entered the Forbidden City.

Since it was not a matter of state, the emperor was waiting for the couple in the Empress Dowager's Baoxian Palace.

The day when the marriage was granted was also in Baoxian Palace.

The emperor treated Wen Qiqi's affairs as his own family affair. Unexpectedly, within less than five years, Wen Qiqi proposed for divorce.

Seeing the two men walking in and kneeling on the ground, the emperor felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

"Qiqi, do you really have to divorce?"

The emperor's words were not meant to stop or blame, but were out of his heartfelt heartache.

In ancient times, if a woman divorced, her status would plummet.

Even though the Thirteenth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince both love Wen Qiqi, if Wen Qiqi is an abandoned woman, it is impossible for her to become the principal wife of the two princes.

Not to mention the royal palace, even the low-ranking ministers in the capital might not be willing to be Lu Zhanyao's scapegoat.

"Your Majesty, Qiqi wants a divorce, and she must do so."

Wen Qiqi said decisively.

The emperor nodded and said, "Okay, I know what you mean. But I have a few words to ask you and Lu Zhanyao, lest you two just act on impulse out of a momentary conflict. I granted you marriage in the beginning, but now you are getting divorced, and you must announce it to the world. Once this is implemented, there will be no turning back."

Wen Qiqi nodded: "Your Majesty, Qiqi is all ears!"

The Empress Dowager waved to Qiqi and said, "Don't be so reserved. Come sit next to me and reply to the Emperor's request."

Wen Qiqi walked over and the Empress Dowager personally offered her a seat.

Lu Zhanyao stood far away and wiped the sweat from his palms.

The first question the emperor asked Wen Qiqi was that he had personally granted the marriage and Wen Qiqi had agreed to it at the time, but she acted on impulse and now regretted it?

The emperor asked this not to embarrass Qiqi.

You know, the emperor's marriage granting is a major event in the court.

Even if Wen Qiqi is getting divorced now, she still has to give an explanation for agreeing to this marriage.

Otherwise, all the civil and military officials in the court would definitely talk about it. People's words are scary. The emperor was thinking about Qiqi, and also to find a way to save face for the marriage he had arranged that year.

Wen Qiqi looked at the emperor, stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, it was Qiqi who caused trouble for you. When the emperor granted the marriage, Qiqi was indeed sad because of Lord Ye's matter, and was anxious to settle the matter between the Thirteenth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince... But all this was not the main reason why Qiqi agreed to marry Lu Zhanyao."

She did not shirk her responsibilities, but was honest and forthright, which won the admiration of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

For an ordinary woman, with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager making the decision, she would surely cry and whine when entering the palace for a divorce, always talking about her own reasons and never saying a single word of "no".

Wen Qiqi continued, "I chose Lu Zhanyao because I thought he was a scholar, and he must be humble, polite, and handsome. At that time, Qiqi was determined to make her his wife and the mistress of the Lu family."

The emperor nodded with a look of regret on his face.

Lu Zhanyao also frowned tightly. He didn't dare to interrupt. His mind was filled with Wen Qiqi's dedication to him, his mother, and the entire Lu Mansion during the first few years after she entered the mansion...

A good hand, but a poor one!

He thought that the Wen family had fallen into decline, with only the women and one Wen Xiaoliang left, and that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager would soon forget about them.

There are many generals in the court, but no one has replaced General Wen's position in the emperor's heart...

The Empress Dowager also loved Wen Qiqi very much, and this love has continued to this day.

If I had known this, I should have been nicer to her in the past few years.

The second question the emperor asked was why Wen Qiqi insisted on choosing divorce.

Wen Qiqi stood up again and said firmly: "Your Majesty, Queen Mother, Qiqi is getting a divorce because she is completely disappointed with Lu Zhanyao and the Lu family."

"Qiqi... I have heard a little about what happened in your house. You heard me say that I was favored by the late emperor, but I still couldn't live a peaceful life. Don't take small things to heart. If you do, you will suffer."

The Empress Dowager obviously listened to Lord Yu's one-sided story.

Wen Qiqi smiled bitterly: "Empress Dowager, Qiqi has a short life and cannot be compared with the Empress Dowager. The late emperor really loved the Empress Dowager, but Lord Lu has no sincerity towards Qiqi!"

Lu Zhanyao couldn't bear to listen any more.

He hurriedly stood up, took two steps and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, Queen Mother, although I have hurt Qiqi's heart, I am really wronged... I am sincere to Qiqi!"

The emperor looked at Lu Zhanyao, who was already in tears.

"I know that I have done many things wrong in the past few years, but I was busy with government affairs, and Qiqi and my sister took care of the affairs of the mansion. I didn't even know that Qiqi was wronged. Now I wish I could die to apologize!"

After saying that, Lu Zhanyao slapped himself hard several times in front of the emperor and the empress dowager.