During my escape from famine, I survived by eavesdropping on the whispers of food.

"What did you say?"

Lu Jun frowned, and his lips parted slightly, conveying an invisible pressure.

"Your Highness, I am unworthy of you. It would be better to divorce you as soon as possible and give you peace and freedom," Qin Shuangshuang said in a miserable voice, her eyes ashen.

Lu Jun rubbed the calluses on his palms, a sense of unease rising in his heart. He said coldly, "Ning Shi, do you know what you're saying?"

"Please grant my request, Your Highness." Qin Shuangshuang lowered her head, making it impossible to see her expression; all that could be seen was a section of her slender, snow-white neck.

He became even more agitated.

He roughly lifted her chin, looked into her calm, dark eyes, and said, word by word, "Want a divorce? Fine, pack your things and get out of the palace right now!"

Qin Shuangshuang's breath hitched, and she lowered her head and said, "Yes."

Ok, good, good!

You've finally shown some backbone!

Lu Jun flicked his sleeve, turned and left, the hem of his robe slicing sharply through the air.

Qin Shuangshuang took a deep breath and packed her bags with Bicai. She had been married into the family for a year, but her belongings were pitifully few. The two of them, mistress and servant, each carried a bundle, which was enough to pack away all traces of their marriage.

Bi Cai went to call for a carriage first, but was turned away.

He returned, looking troubled, and said, "Your Highness, the gatekeeper said... His Highness has given an order that we are not allowed to use the palace carriages. Should we... still go?"

Qin Shuangshuang gave a sarcastic smile: "If there's no carriage, we still have our legs. We'll walk back. Also, from now on, call me Miss."

Upon learning that Qin Shuangshuang was also leaving the East Palace on foot, Lu Jun felt utterly humiliated and smashed an entire set of longevity cups presented by foreign dignitaries.

Qin Shuangshuang was walking down the long street when suddenly, she heard the sound of horses' hooves behind her.

"Zhaoyi?" The man's deep voice was filled with uncertainty.

She paused slightly and turned around.

It is Lu Zhijing.

The two families lived next to each other and were childhood sweethearts.

The Lu family is currently very powerful, and Lu Zhijing has just been appointed as a fourth-rank general.

The young man rode a tall horse, his black hair tied up with a green hairpin, wearing a green official robe. His handsome face was angular and chiseled, truly embodying the phrase "a young man in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse."

And she was in such dire straits.

Lu Zhijing spurred his horse forward, bent down and took the baggage from Qin Shuangshuang's back, tossing it onto the horse: "Are you going to the Ning residence?"

“Lu Zhijing, I’m not going, I’m coming back,” Qin Shuangshuang retorted.

Lu Zhijing carefully considered the difference in wording and looked at her in astonishment.

He composed himself, his expression solemn, and bowed respectfully: "I... will give you a ride."

The carriage started moving, swaying and rocking.

Upon arriving at the Ning residence, they bid farewell to Lu Zhijing.

Qin Shuangshuang entered the mansion, looked around, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.

Along the way, everything was dilapidated and deserted.

Upon entering the backyard, Madam Ning was personally mending and embroidering a screen.

A strange merchant's wife stood to the side, speaking with disdain: "Madam Ning, you're too slow. Your family's debts are snowballing with interest. Even if this screen is repaired, you still won't be able to pay it off..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Ning pricked her finger with a needle.

But they quickly moved it away, afraid of soiling the screen.

“Mother…” she ran and threw herself into Madam Ning’s arms.

Madam Ning was so thin she was almost unrecognizable, her eyes were dull and lifeless, and her brows were furrowed with worry.

Seeing Qin Shuangshuang, she both cried and laughed: "Ah Zhao, who told you to come? If I had gone earlier, I would have told you not to interfere..."

When the merchant girl saw Qin Shuangshuang, she tugged at her sleeve, "Oh! Is this the Crown Princess? Are you here to return the money?"

Qin Shuangshuang took a deep breath, shook off the merchant girl, and said sternly, "How dare you! You dare to be so disrespectful to my mother..."

The merchant girl was shocked and knelt down to pay her respects, but she kept her mouth shut: "Your Highness, why don't you give me ten thousand strings of cash so I can leave?"

Qin Shuangshuang whispered instructions to Bicai.

"Yes." Bi Cai responded and led the merchant girl away to settle her in.

Qin Shuangshuang took a deep breath. Just now, she could only have Bicai calm the merchant girl down.

Fortunately, she brought some treasured calligraphy and paintings with her when she left the palace, which she could use as collateral to get by.

Those paintings and calligraphy were sold out in the market. One painting of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums quietly entered the East Palace. The eunuch held the painting and calligraphy and said ingratiatingly, "Your Highness, this painting is the work of Mr. Kongchen. It is usually priceless and hard to find. It was bought by Minister Xu of the Court of Judicial Review, who knew that you had a refined taste, as a special gift for you."

Lu Jun put down his brush, his brows furrowed. "Someone who loves painting so much... has actually been forced to sell his paintings?"

"Who are you talking about?" the eunuch asked, puzzled.

"Where is the Crown Princess Ning?" he asked instead of answering.

The eunuch replied, "Her Majesty should have arrived at the Ning residence by now."

Lu Jun threw the wolf-hair brush on the table and said coldly, "Prepare the carriage for Ning Mansion."

Ning Mansion, Flower Hall.

Qin Shuangshuang looked at the things Lu Zhijing had brought and said with a troubled expression, "Lu Zhijing, I'm so grateful for your help today, and I haven't even thanked you yet, and now you've brought so many things..."

Lu Zhijing stood tall and elegant, interrupting Qin Shuangshuang, and took out a bamboo flute.

"Zhaoyi, we grew up together, so don't be so formal. I came here without telling our parents. If you ever need my help in the future, just play the flute in the backyard, and I'll have someone keep an eye out for you. You can always find me."

Qin Shuangshuang's eyes softened slightly. When she and her brother were young, they always made appointments by communicating with each other through bamboo flutes because their aunt Lu was always strict.

Suddenly, a cold shout rang out.

"I can call you anytime? I had no idea that the position of General of the Central Army was such a leisurely one!"

A young man dressed in a robe with four claws and a python design strode in.

His voice was indifferent, his eyes sharp, as if he were a born ruler, exuding endless pressure.

Qin Shuangshuang was taken aback, biting her lower lip slightly. Why was he here...?

Lu Zhijing was also taken aback for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Highness, that was not what I meant just now..."

"Is that so? Then what do you mean?" Lu Jun stood tall and elegant, his hands behind his back.

"Your Majesty, I only..." Lu Zhijing began to speak, but was interrupted.

Lu Jun smiled coldly.

"You just want to have your way with my women?"

"Brother Lu isn't that kind of person, Your Highness, please be careful with your words!" Qin Shuangshuang said in surprise, her red lips slightly parted.

Lu Jun's face looked even worse, terrifyingly so.

His eyes were practically spitting fire as he grabbed Qin Shuangshuang's wrist and dragged her outside.

Qin Shuangshuang staggered, her face slightly bitter.

He was incredibly strong, and in the blink of an eye, he had pinched her wrist until it was covered in bruises.

"Your Highness...it hurts..." she protested.

Lu Jun took a deep breath, the nameless fire in his heart burning endlessly.

He pushed Qin Shuangshuang into the house and began to coerce her step by step.

"Weren't you and your childhood sweetheart just a moment ago getting all lovey-dovey? Now you know what pain is? Pain will make you remember whose woman you are!"

Qin Shuangshuang's heart pounded.

He took another half step forward, and her calf was pressed against the edge of the couch.

One wrong move and you'll fall backward.

Qin Shuangshuang knew something was wrong and tried to get up, but her shoulders were pressed down by a pair of large hands.

"Rip..." The sound of tearing cloth rang out.