After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

Lantingzhou is gone.

Gan Cai'er sat there blankly, her mind a complete blank, seemingly unable to understand.

Gan Cai'er had expected Lan Tingzhou to be furious when she brought up divorce, as she had experienced it once in her past life. Compared to her past life, Lan Tingzhou's anger seemed much less intense this time. At least the two of them could sit down and talk, whereas in her past life... when she brought up divorce, Lan Tingzhou almost strangled her to death.

But Lan Tingzhou's actions against Meng Yu completely surprised Gan Cai'er. Her suggestion of a divorce to Lan Tingzhou was meant to help him reunite with his beloved. Perhaps he would be angry because the suggestion was so sudden, but why would he want to cause trouble for Meng Yu?

Putting aside the many benefits of divorce for him, offending the Duke of Wei's mansion alone was extremely unwise. The Duke of Wei's mansion was a first-rate power and influence in the capital. Offending the Meng family would be detrimental to his future career.

Thinking back to the child and the dilapidated temple, Gan Cai'er suddenly realized that what she knew about many things in her past life might not be the whole truth. And her understanding of Lan Tingzhou seemed far from complete.

Lan Tingzhou locked himself in his study for three whole days without stepping out. He also took a long leave from the Hanlin Academy and didn't go on duty.

The story of death and rebirth that Gan Cai'er told him seemed absurd and unbelievable to him. He didn't want to believe it, yet he had no choice but to. He knew that Gan Cai'er couldn't have fabricated such a meticulously crafted story.

In Gan Cai'er's narration, he will become a Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy, a tutor to the emperor, a famous minister, highly valued by Emperor Jinghe. Moreover, Gongsun Yi's execution should be his own revenge. In the end, he will have a beautiful wife by his side, and they will live in harmony and love.

Gan Cai'er believes she should be living a happy and fulfilling life. But Lan Tingzhou knows that the reality is quite different.

Shen Yunxi was learned, knowledgeable, gentle, and elegant—truly the ideal wife he had always imagined. If only he hadn't met Gan Cai'er.

Gan Cai'er was an unexpected event in his life.

Shen Yunxi is undoubtedly talented, and he certainly admires and likes her. But this admiration and liking is no different from his admiration and liking for Wei Shi'an, Wang Xishi, and others.

Meeting them brings joy, and we have pleasant conversations. When we part, we wave goodbye, and though the world is vast and distant, there is no great sorrow. Perhaps there is a fleeting sense of longing, but that is all. It has absolutely nothing to do with romantic love.

But Gan Cai'er is different.

He met Gan Cai'er when he was eleven years old, and she occupied half of his twenty-one years of life. She was like a wild vine, forcibly invading his world, binding him tightly with her domineering and stubborn nature, and growing into his flesh and blood.

Lan Tingzhou was inherently proud and aloof, and never subject to coercion, but he was the only one who submitted to Gan Cai'er. She had long since become a part of his life; she was his responsibility, and also half of his life.

Yes, they genuinely dislike it. But just like disliking your own limbs for not being dexterous enough, can you cut them off and replace them with something better?

Impossible. It's a bond ingrained in his blood; let alone severing it, even the slightest movement would cause him excruciating pain. When Gan Cai'er brought up divorce, he was instantly filled with shock and anger, making him want to kill.

Lan Tingzhou stood by the window, looking at the newly sprouted buds on the treetops in the courtyard. He thought to himself, if what she said was true, that she had left him for nearly ten years in his previous life and had children with another man... Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated, and he suddenly couldn't breathe. A surge of blood rushed to his head.

He couldn't help but bend over and cough, and to his surprise, he vomited a mouthful of blood.

Was I not insane in my past life?

How did they manage to survive ten years?!

Only Lan Tingzhou truly understands Lan Tingzhou; in his past life, he was indeed insane, but no one knew it.

In his past life, after Gan Cai'er left, Lan Tingzhou appeared outwardly normal, but inwardly he had already gone mad. If it weren't for the plight of the world holding back his last shred of sanity, he would have ensured Meng Yu's utter annihilation, then kidnapped Gan Cai'er, imprisoned her in the inner quarters, and deprived of sunlight day and night. He wanted to drink her blood, devour her flesh, and then stuff her back into his already crippled body.

Fortunately, before he went completely insane, Mei Wanyin drove Gan Cai'er out of the Meng family mansion. It wasn't until Gan Cai'er returned to the Lan family mansion that his madness truly subsided.

He endured the ten years Gan Cai'er was gone because he was waiting for a sliver of hope, hoping that Gan Cai'er would come back. In the end, he got her.

"Young master, it's late, why don't you get some rest? You haven't slept for two nights." Mo Yun tiptoed in and whispered his advice.

For the past two days, Lan Tingzhou has neither eaten nor drunk anything, nor spoken a word. His face is pale and his expression is cold and stern, making him and Mo Yan afraid to even breathe.

"What has Madam been doing these past two days?" Lan Tingzhou asked in a cold voice.

“Madam has stayed inside the house the whole time and hasn’t gone anywhere,” Mo Yun said in a low voice.

Lan Tingzhou didn't leave his study, and Gan Cai'er didn't leave her bedroom. Everyone in the mansion guessed that the two had quarreled.

"Ha, now that she's gone, she doesn't go out every day anymore." Lan Tingzhou sneered through gritted teeth.

Mo Yun trembled with fear upon hearing this, and dared not say another word before leaving the study.

The startled cry he'd heard that day from the Star-Picking Tower suddenly echoed in Lan Tingzhou's ears. He clenched his fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand. He glanced coldly in the direction of the main courtyard, then strode out of the study.

In the middle of the night, Gan Cai'er suddenly woke up. Her heart skipped a beat, and she woke up inexplicably. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a tall figure sitting in front of her bed, and she immediately gasped.

"Ah~~~"

"Miss, what's wrong?!" Xiao Hong rushed in, still wearing her clothes.

Then, the master and servant saw the dark figure get up, walk to the table, and slowly light the lamp.

The room was brightly lit, and the person there was none other than Lan Tingzhou.

"You, you, how did you get back? You scared me to death!" Gan Cai'er said, clutching her chest, still shaken.

"You really don't want me to come back?" Lan Tingzhou looked at her indifferently.

Seeing Lan Tingzhou's unfriendly expression, Xiao Hong quickly interrupted, "Young Master, would you like me to help you wash up?"

"Get out. No one is allowed in tonight," Lan Tingzhou said.

Xiao Hong hesitated for a long time before leaving with a heavy heart.

Seeing Lan Tingzhou approach again, Gan Cai'er involuntarily shrank further into the bed.

Although Lan Tingzhou usually had a calm demeanor with little expression, this was different. At this moment, Lan Tingzhou exuded a chilling aura beneath his calm exterior, making Gan Cai'er inexplicably afraid.

"Are you scared now?" Lan Tingzhou looked down at her from his superior position.

"What, what are you going to do?" Gan Cai'er gripped the blanket tightly.

"What did I warn you about before?" Lan Tingzhou asked coldly.

"What, what..." Gan Cai'er stammered nervously.

“The laws of the Great Yong Dynasty state: ‘A woman who is unfaithful shall be punished with thirty strokes of the cane and stripped naked.’” Lan Tingzhou spoke slowly and deliberately, each word distinct.

Gan Cai'er instantly bristled, jumping eight feet high and glaring at Lan Tingzhou: "What unfaithfulness?! I haven't been unfaithful at all!!"

“You meet with Meng Yu every day, isn’t that infidelity?” Lan Tingzhou stared intently at her.

“When have I ever seen him every day?! Who wants to see him?! I go out every day to check on the shops!” Gan Cai’er shouted, her chest heaving violently, as if she were extremely angry.

Lan Tingzhou's expression softened slightly as he sat down by the bed.

"So what did you and Meng Yu do together?"

Gan Cai'er hesitated, then lowered her head, feeling a little guilty, and whispered, "I just made a purse, and, and a piece of clothing."

Lan Tingzhou's face darkened slightly. Seeing this, Gan Cai'er quickly explained, "These two items are gifts I gave him as a thank you after he helped me. No, they weren't given to me casually."

Then, Gan Cai'er told Lan Tingzhou everything that happened at the Mei residence and Meng Yu's promise to protect Mei Wanqing.

After hearing this, Lan Tingzhou stared at her with a dark look in his eyes: "Where did he touch you?"

Gan Cai'er choked, opened her mouth, but couldn't answer, nor did she dare to. In the end, she only said, "Anyway, I didn't do anything to wrong you."

Lan Tingzhou's cool fingertips pinched Gan Cai'er's earlobe, his voice icy: "He touched this place?"

Gan Cai'er was startled and immediately shook her head in denial: "No."

Lan Tingzhou suddenly smiled and said, "A-Cai, when you lie, your body stiffens. Your nods or shakes are far less honest than your body's reactions."

Gan Cai'er froze completely.

Lan Tingzhou's fingers gently caressed her face again, and he asked in the same cool tone, "And here?"

Gan Cai'er pursed her lips and remained silent.

Then, Lan Tingzhou began to caress her lips and asked the same question again.

Gan Cai'er's whole body was tense, extremely tense.

As Lan Tingzhou's fingertips traced her face and neck, her expression darkened with each passing moment, her eyes growing ever more profound. Her cold, dark gaze was fixed on Gan Cai'er, filling her with fear.

However, when he lifted Gan Cai'er's collar and his fingertips moved down to her neck, Gan Cai'er's body noticeably softened. Lan Tingzhou paused.

"I...I really didn't do anything to wrong you," Gan Cai'er murmured softly, her voice tinged with grievance.

"However, he can be a bit reckless at times."

"I won't have anything with him before we get a divorce."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tingzhou smiled coldly and said, "Since ancient times, 'men and women should not touch each other.' You've hugged and kissed him. And you actually tell me that you didn't do anything with him, that you weren't unfaithful?"

Faced with Lan Tingzhou's questioning, Gan Cai'er was speechless for a moment, feeling extremely wronged. She didn't want to be hugged and kissed! It was clearly that bastard Meng Yu who forced and harassed her, and she was no match for him.

Lan Tingzhou took out a ruler, pointed it at Gan Cai'er, and said, "Take off your clothes."