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In the rigidly feudal society of ancient times, women's fates often drifted like duckweed, especially in marriage, where they had little say in their own destiny. However, the matriarch of the Sheng family, with extraordinary wisdom and decisiveness, orchestrated a classic divorce battle during Shulan's marital crisis.

As a woman of feudal times, the matriarch of the Sheng family should have been bound by traditional etiquette, silently enduring marital problems. However, when she keenly sensed that Shulan's marriage was beyond saving, she resolutely stepped forward. This rationality and clarity were especially valuable in the social environment of the time. Unlike ordinary women, she did not succumb to endless pain and entanglement, nor did she cling to the outdated notion of "family scandals should not be aired in public," attempting to maintain this already riddled marriage through compromise and concession. She knew that lingering in a flawed marriage would not only fail to bring happiness but would also cause Shulan to sink deeper into the mire of suffering. Therefore, she made a decisive decision to cut her losses in time, demonstrating a clear understanding that transcended her era.

In handling Shulan's divorce, the matriarch of the Sheng family demonstrated her decisive and ruthless approach. She didn't try to influence the unreliable Sun Zhigao through manipulation, nor did she hesitate on the issue of divorce. Once she made up her mind, she acted swiftly and decisively. She understood that any compromise or attempt to salvage the marriage with someone of Sun Zhigao's questionable character would be futile, only putting the Sheng family at a disadvantage in this marital entanglement. Her decisiveness not only secured a chance for Shulan to escape her misery but also prevented the Sheng family from incurring further trouble and losses.

Every step of this divorce battle showcased the decisiveness of the matriarch of the Sheng family. She knew that once the divorce battle began, it had to be resolved swiftly, leaving no room for the opponent to prolong the conflict. Every day of delay meant another day of psychological torment for Shulan. She meticulously planned and deployed her resources, seizing the initiative from the outset and giving the Sun family no respite. This decisive approach minimized the psychological damage to Shulan and also demonstrated the matriarch's deep love for her granddaughter.

To ensure victory in this divorce battle, the Sheng family, led by the matriarch, made full use of their advantages and made extremely thorough preparations. They did not underestimate their opponent because of their strengths, but instead conducted a deep investigation into the background of Sun Zhigao's confidante, successfully finding her household registration at a brothel. This crucial information became a significant bargaining chip in later negotiations.

As the battle began, the first strategy employed by the eldest matriarch of the Sheng family was to "cut off their supply lines." She instructed the Sheng family members who had accompanied her dowry to remain with the Sun family to swiftly retrieve all her dowry items back to the Sheng family. In ancient society, dowry items were not only a woman's private property but also a symbol of her status in her husband's family. Retrieving all the dowry items deprived the Sun family of control over the situation and shifted the Sheng family's negotiating position from passive to active. This move was like setting fire to the Sun family's backyard, disrupting their plans.

In terms of personnel arrangements, the matriarch clearly defined the roles. She meticulously planned and deployed the Sheng family members involved, including Sheng Wei, Li Shi, and Sheng Yun, possibly even conducting rehearsals beforehand. Everyone understood their tasks and responsibilities, and on the day of the divorce, they each performed their duties with perfect coordination. Some played the "good cop," communicating with the Sun family in a gentle manner; some played the "bad cop," intimidating them with a firm stance; some provided support, creating a favorable public opinion environment; and others accompanied the officials to ensure the entire process complied with regulations. This orderly division of labor allowed the Sheng family to form a powerful synergy during the negotiations.

On the day of the divorce, the matriarch invited all the relevant government officials and figures involved. The government represented the authority of the law, local dignitaries wielded considerable social influence, and the elders of both families were concerned with their families' reputation and honor. Furthermore, she specifically invited Shulan, Pinlan, and Minglan to observe the proceedings; this was both a form of education for them and a demonstration to the Sun family of the Sheng family's seriousness and determination regarding the divorce. The gathering of so many figures made the entire divorce process solemn and serious, placing immense pressure on the Sun family.

During the negotiations, the Sheng family cooperated flawlessly. When the Sun family attempted to resist, the Sheng family adopted a strategy of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao." They attacked the issue of Sun Zhigao's concubine's lowly social status, which was undoubtedly a major weakness for the Sun family in a society with a strict feudal hierarchy. This attack caused the elders of the Sun family who spoke up for Sun Zhigao to waver psychologically. They worried that marrying a prostitute would bring shame to the family and affect its reputation and status. Thus, the Sun family's psychological balance began to tilt towards the Sheng family.

To gain the support of the surrounding community, especially the local elders, the old lady appealed to their emotions. She shared her own family's story of how a prostitute had ruined them, using a real-life example that resonated with everyone. These stories made those present deeply aware of the severe consequences of being involved with prostitutes. People felt sympathy for Shulan's plight and expressed dissatisfaction with the Sun family's actions, and public opinion gradually shifted in favor of the Sheng family.

Besides appealing to his emotions, the old lady also reasoned with him. She thoroughly analyzed the serious impact marrying a prostitute on Sun Zhigao's career. In ancient times, the selection of officials had strict requirements regarding personal character and family background. If news of Sun Zhigao marrying a prostitute were to spread, his career would be severely hampered. The old lady's analysis struck at Sun Zhigao's weak spot, breaking down his psychological defenses and making him begin to re-evaluate the pros and cons of this marriage.

Faced with the still hesitant Sun Zhigao, the matriarch employed a strategy of coercion and bribery, offering money to avoid further trouble. She threatened to parade Sun Zhigao's lover through the streets, letting everyone in Youyang County see the demeanor of this supposedly talented young man. Sun Zhigao, a man concerned with his reputation, was terrified by this threat. At the same time, the matriarch used half of Shulan's dowry as bait, making Sun Zhigao see an opportunity for profit. Under the combined pressure and persuasion of the Sheng family, Sun Zhigao ultimately weighed the pros and cons and chose to compromise. The matriarch, holding the upper hand, voluntarily spent money to avoid further trouble, securing Shulan's freedom at minimal cost and preserving the Sheng family's reputation.

In this divorce battle, the matriarch acted swiftly and decisively, resolving the issue on the same day, leaving the Sun family little room for maneuver. Afterwards, she even redeemed the dowry servants, demonstrating the Sheng family's benevolence and magnanimity. These actions not only helped Shulan escape her suffering but also effectively preserved the Sheng family's reputation in the area.

As the mastermind behind this divorce battle, the matriarch fully demonstrated her rational, decisive, and shrewd character. Her strategies and tactics in the negotiations were intricately linked and truly remarkable. First, she cornered Sun Zhigao, making him realize that continuing the marriage would be pointless for him; then, she proactively showed weakness and made concessions, leaving room for the Sun family and preventing a complete breakdown in relations; finally, she lured him with money, persuading him to willingly agree to the divorce. This process is a classic negotiation case, worthy of repeated study and learning.

However, it's regrettable that this capable old lady herself had experienced marital misfortune. Abandoned by her husband, she nearly lost everything. This inevitably raises the question: what kind of people were the old master and his courtesan concubine that could cause such a capable woman like the old lady to suffer such a loss? Did the old lady learn from her mistakes after being abandoned, developing her current wisdom and decisiveness? Or was the old master simply too heartless, showing no affection for his wife and children, allowing his concubine to run rampant? Or was the concubine simply too cunning and ruthless, making it impossible for the old lady to resist? These questions, like a mist, linger in people's minds, sparking endless speculation.

The matriarch allowed Shulan, Pinlan, and Minglan to observe this divorce battle, likely wanting to give her granddaughters a vivid life lesson in advance. This was valuable life experience she had gleaned after countless hardships and trials. She hoped her granddaughters could learn from Shulan's marital tragedy, remain clear-headed and rational in their future lives, bravely face life's difficulties and challenges, and make the right choices. This divorce battle not only changed Shulan's fate but also became an important lesson in the growth of the younger generation of the Sheng family, with a profound and lasting impact.