My wife wants a divorce; if she ruins my life, I'll leave.

After returning home, Meng Xin gathered his entire family together and explained the Emperor's intentions.

Meng Zeyuan, unaware of what had happened, couldn't help but ask, "Isn't Yu Yan perhaps plotting something?"

Seeing that the whole family was looking at him with displeasure, he hurriedly explained in a simple and honest way, "I'm not saying that my sister is bad, it's just that someone of Yu Yan's status, no matter what family background he could marry, why would she be my sister?"

Worried that Meng Xin would blame him, Meng's mother quickly explained, "Perhaps it was Princess Yangcheng who asked for it. She had hinted at this idea when we were at Guangsheng Temple."

Even family members couldn't say that Yu Yan and Meng Ruohua had made a private engagement.

After saying this, Meng's mother couldn't help but glance at Meng Ruohua, her eyes filled with reproach. She thought, "How dare you! I don't even know how long the two of you have been seeing each other."

Meng Xin said, "I have already agreed. Once the imperial decree is issued, I will discuss the marriage arrangements with the Marquis of Yong'an's family!"

After a few more casual words, the family dispersed, leaving Meng Xin to speak with his mother, "You know the situation of the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion. If they act improperly, then we'll see what Princess Yangcheng thinks."

Mencius' mother said, "I know, no matter what they do, can they go against the princess's wishes? The princess would not wrong our daughter."

"You also know?"

Meng's mother smiled and said, "Your daughter has long been recognized by Princess Yangcheng. The princess invited our family to offer incense and admire the flowers, and took the opportunity to let the two children meet!"

Meng Xin nodded and said, "That Yu Yan is not easy to fool. I'm just afraid our silly girl will suffer."

"Look at you, how can you call your own daughter stupid?"

Meng Xin glanced at his mother without speaking, but thought to himself: I was too obedient before because of your discipline, and I only learned my lesson after suffering a loss.

Fortunately, Meng Ruohua was resilient and didn't dwell on the matter. She was happy every day and became much more lively and cheerful than before.

Meanwhile, Princess Yangcheng was also discussing with Yu Yan, "Your marriage still needs to be handled by the Marquis's mansion. I will go and talk to them tomorrow."

Yu Yan paused for a moment and said, "Mother can talk to the grandparents, and I will talk to Father."

“Who talks about their own marriage? Do you think I’m afraid of your father?”

Yu Yan smiled and said, "No, my mother is a princess, so what is there to be afraid of?"

It wasn't fear, but worry that my mother would be angry.

Princess Yangcheng laughed and said, "Alright, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for you. What can I possibly argue with them about? Even if I were to argue, it would be..."

Let's settle this after the wedding.

Despite saying that, Yu Yan still stopped Yu Zhiyuan the next day and said it himself in the study in the front yard.

Yu Zhiyuan slammed his fist on the table and said, "Do you even respect me as your father? Are you discussing marriage with me? This is clearly an announcement!"

Yu Yan looked at him expressionlessly, but in his heart he realized that the man was right; he had never considered discussing marriage with him.

Seeing that Yu Yan did not refute, Yu Zhiyuan became even angrier, "I used to arrange marriages for you, but you refused this and that. Now what's gotten into you? Whose daughter have you taken a fancy to?"

"The Meng family's."

"The Meng family?" Yu Zhiyuan's mind raced, and finally he slapped his thigh and asked, "Doesn't the Meng family only have one daughter? The one who got divorced last year?"

Before Yu Yan could speak, he waved his hand and said, "No, I don't agree!"

"Why do you choose to marry that divorced woman when there are so many noble ladies in the capital?" Yu Zhiyuan said angrily. "No way. If you want to get married, I'll find you a few good ones."

Yu Yan remained unmoved, his voice unchanged, "His Majesty has already agreed, and the imperial edict will be issued in a day or two. Father need not worry."

Yu Zhiyuan's arrogance immediately subsided. The Emperor had already agreed?

For a moment, she felt a surge of resentment. The Emperor was truly carefree, having arranged his own marriage and now he had to arrange his son's marriage as well!

What kind of imperial edict is this? It's nothing but shackles that imprison people.

If he hadn't married Princess Yangcheng, he could have married the woman he truly loved and lived a happy and harmonious life, at least better than he is now.

Yu Zhiyuan, however, did not have the courage to disobey the imperial decree. He slumped weakly in his chair and cursed, "I have already obtained the imperial decree, so what are you talking to me about?"

Those two are masters at using the emperor's position and status to intimidate people!

Yu Yan said, "I will naturally tell my father about my marriage."

Yu Zhiyuan snorted coldly, "Alright, I understand."

Yu Yancheng is here to get him to do the work and pay for it!

Watching Yu Yan's departing figure, Yu Zhiyuan gritted his teeth in hatred. Back then, he was also a dashing young man in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, but he was suppressed and unable to make achievements, and could only spend his days in the inner quarters.

Of his four sons, only Yu Yan has obtained an official position thanks to the emperor's favor; the other three, regardless of age, have accomplished nothing.

"Sigh!" He sighed softly. No matter how talented his three sons were, they probably would never amount to anything in this lifetime.

He sighed for a while, then felt it was all rather pointless, so he got up and went to the backyard to find his concubine, who was good at singing, to listen to her music and relieve his boredom.

Upon hearing this, Princess Yangcheng coldly instructed Granny Liu in front of Lady Yong'an, "Invite the young master here; I have something important to say."

A short while later, Granny Liu returned alone and bowed, saying, "The young master said he already knows, but when the time comes for him to appear, he certainly won't put on airs."

Worried that Princess Yangcheng would be displeased, Lady Hou quickly sent someone to invite her again, saying, "Tell her she must come!"

Yu Zhiyuan did come this time, but his nonchalant attitude made Princess Yangcheng too lazy to even speak to him. She simply recounted the events.

Yu Zhiyuan, sitting idly, said casually, "It's just this little thing, I already told you I knew."

His lewd gaze fell on Princess Yangcheng. "Princess, rest assured, how could I dare disobey His Majesty's decree? I will certainly do my best to ensure that you do not disgrace me!"

Lady Hou intervened in public, preventing Yu Zhiyuan from saying anything even more offensive.

Princess Yangcheng left after speaking, without mentioning the betrothal gifts, and no one from the Marquis's residence brought it up either.

After learning the news, Marquis Yong'an stroked his beard and pondered for a long time before a smile finally appeared on his lips.

Two days later, the imperial edict finally arrived.

This imperial edict not only concerned the marriage between the two families, but also subtly conveyed a signal that the emperor trusted Meng Xin very much; otherwise, how could his divorced daughter have married so well?

Of course, some people speculated that Princess Yangcheng went to ask for it herself, but most people did not believe it. After all, there were countless noble ladies in the capital, so why would she choose to marry someone who had divorced and returned home?

Therefore, this imperial decree caused a small stir in the capital, and even some oppressed young wives began to consider divorce.

Look at Meng Ruohua, she was able to marry into a wealthy family even after her divorce. I don't need to marry into a wealthy family, but I can just marry into a well-off family and live a comfortable life!

Several women, fed up with their in-laws' mistreatment and feeling sorry for their daughters, started divorce proceedings. The capital was in an uproar, with something new to talk about every day.