The elegant foyer was filled with the aroma of tea. Mu Zhao Yun sat at the head of the table, Ling Yue beside her. Both women furrowed their brows, gazing at the empty foyer. "What on earth is that girl up to? Why hasn't she shown up?" For some reason, Mu Zhao Yun felt an uneasy sensation. Her heart pounded with anticipation, hoping nothing untoward would happen. "Mother, do you think that girl is playing us?" Ling Yue tapped impatiently on the tea table, the rhythmic clinks standing out sharply against the quiet of the foyer. "Good morning, Your Excellency," came the servant's greeting from the door. General? Mu Zhao Yun and her daughter were startled—had they misheard? Had the General (her father) returned? "General, how is it that you've come back?" Cold and composed, General Ling Pei Yuan radiated an aura of sternness. With a firm set of his lips, he strode toward Mu Zhao Yun. He flung his letters and documents at her, the sheets scattering like snowflakes around her. Mu Zhao Yun was taken aback—such fierce anger she had never seen before. Her inner unease grew stronger. Suppressing her fear, she gathered the letters and read them—her face turned pale. "This... this must be someone trying to frame me!" How could it be? All the evidence of the attempted assassinations of the lowly maid had suddenly appeared here at the general's office? A flicker of panic flashed through her luminous eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. Overflowing with sorrow, she turned to Cold Pei Yuan and pleaded, "Is it really a frame-up? You must know that yourself." Cold Pei Yuan scoffed, not missing the panic in her eyes. His own anger deepened—he had been stubbornly denying everything up until now. "Father, Mother, what exactly is going on?" Cold Yue'er was shaken by her father's outburst, trembling as she picked up the letters. Upon reading them, she grew pale, her hands shaking so much that the letters scattered and fell to the ground. How could this be possible? "What more can you possibly say?" Cold Pei Yuan watched his eldest daughter's reaction, growing more resentful with each passing moment. He now believed that even a well-behaved daughter had been thoroughly corrupted by this sharp and ruthless woman. "What else Mu Zhaoyun saw the firm determination and coldness on her husband’s face, her heart sinking as if plunged into an ice cellar. This man was her heaven, her lifelong hope. Yet after twenty years of marital devotion, how could he be outmatched by a mere common girl? How could she not feel chilled to the core? Even if she wished to eliminate that girl, it was not merely for her own sake. She wanted to safeguard the future of her children and the stability of the General’s household. "Have I done anything wrong? I have only ever wanted to protect the General’s household. That girl is impetuous and capricious—how can one be certain she won’t bring disaster upon the household someday?" She had not done anything wrong; her refined features were etched with resolute strength. "Protect the General’s household?" Cold Pei Yuan laughed, eyes fixed on her. "How beautifully you've put it—how about your private ambitions? Didn’t you fear that Wanwan would take away your power? Didn’t you fear she would avenge her mother?" He didn’t need to say it—he knew. How could the pregnant concubines suddenly fall ill and miscarry? How could Wanwan’s own mother be Could this man, with his cold gaze and relentless pressure, be the lifelong companion she had always longed for? For over twenty years, she had been deceiving herself—his heart had never truly belonged to her. In fact, he had resented her; everything she had done seemed selfish to him. What could such a man possibly cherish? Her heart was now utterly lifeless, her proud demeanor now as faded as autumn leaves. "Father, how could you say such things about Mother?" Cold Moon saw her father so unjustly blaming and accusing Mother, and couldn't help but speak with growing frustration. "What exactly has Mother done wrong? What have I ever done? Why have you never loved us? From childhood to now, you've never even held me in your arms. Why? Why?" She didn't understand—though in ordinary families, filial piety and parental warmth were expected, her beloved father had never shown her a warm, affectionate smile. She had always thought him distant, indifferent to everyone. Yet, since that lowly girl had arrived, everything had changed. She only realized then that her father wasn't incapable of smiling or unkind—he simply had given all his love to that lowly girl. Cold Pei Yuan listened to Cold Yue'er's complaints and felt a growing sense of regret. It was his fault; he shouldn't have lost affection for his children simply because he disliked Mu Zhao Yun. Yet even with his regret, their actions could not be erased. With a firm heart, he ignored the tearful, resentful expression on Cold Yue'er's face. "Bring the brush and ink," he commanded, waving his hand toward the servants outside. "Are you going to divorce me?" Mu Zhao Yun stared at him, stunned—her heart, which had seemed to have died, now ached once more. How could he, how could he, be so callous, choosing to divorce her in favor of that lowly girl? "Father, please don't!" Cold Yue'er was speechless, falling to her knees and clutching his legs tightly, holding fast to the edge of his robe. "Father, you can't divorce Mother. Wouldn't you rather have me and my brothers and sisters all grow up without mothers?" "You're also past the age for marriage now. Do you really intend to carry "Lin Wan smiled coldly, taking graceful little steps into the room." "Had I known this would be the case, why did we start in the first place? You only thought about your siblings losing their mother—did you ever consider how my mother died in such obscurity? Did you ever think of the innocent children in the secondary consorts' wombs?" "You—!" Lin Yue stared at the shorter Lin Wan. "You're making it up!" She simply wouldn't believe that her mother had been responsible for all these things. "Isn't that what you're saying? Then why don't you ask her yourself?" Lin Wan lifted her gaze, looking toward Mu Zhao Yun. "Mother, you said it wasn't like that, didn't you?" Lin Yue looked at her mother, full of hope. Mu Zhao Yun's face turned pale. Lin Wan's words had brought to the surface the guilt she had long buried. She couldn't forget the blood seeping from the consorts' legs, nor the resentful gaze of Xiao Lian. She leaned sideways, her body slipping off the chair, her head buried in her hands, helpless and embarrassed. "Mother—" Lin Yue gazed at her mother, who seemed to be Could it be that Father never had any other children because of her? Could it be that her mother also died at her hands, and thus now she is truly seeking revenge upon them? Helpless, incredulous, countless emotions surged within her. Could it be that from the very beginning, it wasn’t her—this lowly girl—stealing what was rightfully hers, but rather they who had wronged her first? The steadfast truth she had always believed in seemed to collapse like a castle in an instant, leaving her stunned. "This is the divorce decree. From now on, you shall no longer be my wife." Cold Pei Yuan’s expression remained cold. Though this woman had been his wife for over two decades, bearing him two sons and one daughter, he had never failed to feel grateful. Yet, because of her, he had lost the chance for many more children—lives spilled like blood. If he could not avenge those children, then perhaps a simple divorce decree would suffice—let them become entirely separate. "A divorce decree?" Mu Zhao Yun took the document, stunned. "Hahahaha…" She clutched the paper tightly, laughing with profound sorrow. Over two decades of marriage, and what had she received but a mere divorce How could she, so proud, bear it? Her demeanor had already grown wildly erratic. "Mother, mother, what's wrong with you?" Cold Moon-er was terrified by沐昭云's frenzy, clutching her tightly and calling out repeatedly. Tears streamed down her face—why? Why now, in this very moment? ——— The Nine-Year-Old Demon Princess ——— Upcoming Chapter Preview: "Wu-Nan Chu Xieheng," the second male lead is about to make his entrance. Following him, the male lead and the third male lead will take the stage one after another. Can't wait! Leng Peiyan: For my daughter, I have divorced my first wife.