After transmigrating into the book, I helped my mother reconcile with her divorced husband.

At the Pingnan Marquis's residence, the eunuch in charge of delivering imperial decrees lifted his eyelids and asked, "Lord Lu, where is the Madam? Is the Emperor still waiting?"

Madam Lu said anxiously, "But the Xie family has been beheaded, and the Emperor wants to exterminate nine generations of their family, including Xie Chaoyun's head? Father-in-law, the Xie family's rebellion has nothing to do with our Marquis's mansion."

The father-in-law rolled his eyes and kindly reminded her, "Madam, you don't need to wait. If you feel unwell, you can go back and rest."

Unfortunately, neither Madam Lu nor Lu Huai understood the implied meaning. Madam Lu, in particular, urged Lu Huai in front of her father-in-law to sign the divorce papers as soon as possible so as not to implicate the Marquis's mansion.

The eunuch snorted coldly. He'd seen fools before, but never one this foolish. What emperor would send a mere eunuch to deliver a decree before beheading someone? Did he think he was some kind of imperial bodyguard? He flicked his pinky finger, about to speak, when Xie Chaoyun's carriage returned. The eunuch turned around, took two arrogant steps forward, and turned back to Lu Huai, saying, "Lord Lu, hurry up and sign that divorce agreement, lest the emperor sends another decree, causing trouble."

Old Madam Lu became increasingly certain that the Xie family was doomed. Her legs went weak, and she grabbed Lu Huai's arm, saying, "Where's the divorce agreement?"

Lu Huai was absent-minded, staring at the imperial edict in his father-in-law's hand: "My son didn't bring it."

Madam Lu urged him, "Where did you put it? Go find it quickly! If you wait any longer, it will be too late."

Outside the door, the eunuch's deliberately amplified voice came: "Although Lady Xie is a woman confined to her chambers, her heart is with Bei Liang. The Emperor has specially decreed that you be granted the title of Third-Rank Imperial Lady. These clothes have already been made and will be delivered to you shortly. I will not announce the decree; you can see for yourself."

Lu Zhiyuan nudged Liu Ying and muttered, "My scumbag father must be furious! He schemed and worked hard, only to get a fifth-rank official position thanks to his family's influence. He originally had a chance to be promoted to the fourth rank, but now that he's brought Ji Wanwan back, his promotion plans are probably ruined."

Liu Ying covered her mouth and glanced at her father-in-law, thinking to herself: That's what the Marquis deserves, who told him to wrong the Madam.

In the courtyard, Lu Huai, who was being urged by Old Madam Lu to go back and get the divorce papers, suddenly stopped. Old Madam Lu nudged the nanny beside her and asked in confusion, "Am I hearing things? Xie Chaoyun has been granted an imperial title? And a third-rank one at that! Wasn't she supposed to be implicated in the Xie family's rebellion? How come she's been granted an imperial title?"

"Where did Grandmother hear these rumors? The Xie family is full of loyal martyrs, utterly devoted to Beiliang and the Emperor, as Heaven and Earth can attest." Lu Zhiyuan pouted: "Third-rank imperial consort, personally bestowed by the Emperor."

Old Madam Lu swayed slightly, forcing a smile: "Look at what Yuan'er is saying, it's as if Grandmother is hoping for something to happen to the Xie family. Isn't Grandmother afraid?"

"Yes, I'm afraid, afraid of the Xie family, afraid that my mother will implicate the Marquis's mansion. She's been urging my father to write the divorce papers." Her gaze shifted to Lu Huai: "Father is a filial son, but did he listen to his grandmother and sign the divorce papers?"

Lu Huai looked embarrassed and avoided Lu Zhiyuan's gaze, turning to Xie Chaoyun: "Yunniang, why did the Emperor suddenly bestow a title upon you?"

After saying that, as if realizing his tone was off, he quickly added, "After you entered the palace, I contacted several colleagues, wanting to clear the name of the Xie family and my father-in-law. Before the memorial was even finished, the eunuch delivering the imperial decree arrived, and my mother and I were wondering... what's going on?"

Xie Chaoyun lowered her brows slightly, looking somewhat tired.

“The Xie family is fine. Someone tried to frame the Emperor with forged evidence, but it was exposed. Those imperial guards were protecting the General’s Mansion and my two elder brothers.” She smiled, but upon closer inspection, she saw a hint of panic flash in Lu Huai’s eyes.

"Being granted this title is a favor from His Majesty. It is because over the years I have used the name of the court to send a lot of supplies to the soldiers on the border to fight the enemy, and His Majesty intends to reward me. In addition, there was the matter of suppressing bandits in Luoxia Mountain, which is why His Majesty issued the imperial decree. Not only me, but my eldest brother and second brother have also been rewarded. My second brother has been promoted to Minister of Revenue."

"Minister of Revenue?" Lu Huai's tone was somewhat dazed. "What about the original Minister of Revenue? There can't be two ministers in the Ministry of Revenue, can there?"

"I resigned due to illness. I heard it was because my child was kidnapped at home, which caused me to have a heart attack and triggered my old illness."

"I wonder who the person who falsely accused the Xie family is? They must be furious right now." Lu Zhiyuan looked at Lu Huai and said, "They originally wanted to harm the Xie family, but in the end, my eldest uncle and mother received honors, and my second uncle was directly promoted to the second rank. The Xie family has truly become a high branch that some people can't climb."

As she spoke, she glanced at Lu Huai.

Lu Huai's face was pale, his fists clenched tightly, and he said insincerely, "This is a good thing, and it is an honor for the Lu family and the Marquis's mansion."

“That’s not necessarily true.” Lu Zhiyuan raised her head high. “Father wants to divorce Mother, and the Marquis’s Mansion wants to sever ties with the Xie family. The glory of the Xie family has absolutely nothing to do with the Marquis’s Mansion or the Lu family.”

"You little brat, how can you talk to your father like that?" Unable to bear Lu Zhiyuan scolding her son, Old Madam Lu jumped up in anger: "Who said your father wanted to divorce your mother? That divorce agreement was written for outsiders to see, to protect you, and for your own good. How can you be so ungrateful? Don't mention the divorce agreement again, or you'll only anger your grandmother."

Madam Lu walked up to Xie Chaoyun and said earnestly, "You are a sensible child, so you naturally know that those things were all out of necessity. Promise your mother that you will live a good life with Huai'er in the future. Huai'er also contributed to the matter at Luoxia Mountain. Why didn't you mention it to the Emperor? Also, those supplies you sent to the border all came from our Marquis's mansion. Huai'er should receive a share of the rewards for his contributions. It wouldn't be unreasonable for the Emperor to bestow upon him a third-rank official title, would it?"

Xie Chaoyun sneered, wondering why she had never noticed before that her mother-in-law had such a thick skin, comparable to a city wall.

The Xie family has served in the military for generations. The glory of the General's Mansion was earned by them through fighting and risking their lives on the battlefield. The brothers, nephews, and sons of the Xie family are all outstanding individuals. If it weren't for the Emperor's wariness, Xie Yubai would be far more than just one person who has established himself in the court.

In contrast, the Pingnan Marquis's family obtained their title by chance. By the time of Lu Huai's generation, they were not only incompetent in both literature and martial arts, but also lacked the humility and self-awareness of the old Marquis.

In terms of background, wealth, and ability, Lu Huai was no match for Xie Chaoyun, yet Xie Chaoyun was deceived by his handsome appearance and willingly married him.

After getting married, in order to protect Lu Huai's pitiful self-esteem, she deliberately distanced herself from her family and her brother, but what she got in return was his deception and betrayal for ten years.

She exhaled a breath of stale air and said to Old Madam Lu, "Mother is wrong. It is precisely because Yunniang is sensible that we should grant the Marquis and Sister Ji's wish to reunite your family and ensure that the Marquis's mansion has a successor."

"The matter of Luoxia Mountain has nothing to do with the Marquis. When the bandits were captured, the Marquis was still imprisoned in the granary. As for the supplies sent to the border, they all came from Yunniang's dowry and had nothing to do with the Marquis's mansion. Mother's desire to help the Marquis gain merit is good, but the Marquis must earn this merit himself to make it legitimate and justifiable."

Madam Lu became anxious: "A woman's husband is her heaven. As long as you are still a member of the Lu family, your husband deserves a share of the credit. You cannot refuse."

Lu Zhiyuan said coolly, "Grandmother is so powerful, why doesn't she go and talk to the Emperor? Mother can't get Father promoted anyway."