TRBDM -Chapter 240 The Second Wife Divorced

Xie Sheng clenched his fists and said in a deep voice, “I want to divorce my wife.”

“What!” Shen Zhizhi sprang up in disbelief, staring at Xie Sheng.

“Husband, what do you mean by this? I just gave birth to our little girl two months ago, and you want to divorce me?”

Shen Zhizhi no longer cared about appearances or whether they were in the Marquisate; she was desperate, her voice hoarse as she pointed at Xie Sheng and shouted.

Xie Sheng did not look at her, but at Wei Zhaorong.

“Mother, I once carried Shen Zhizhi into the Mingde Marquisate on a grand sedan chair. Now, before your eyes, I am divorcing her.”

Shen Zhizhi trembled with anger all over.

She had thought that today, Xie Sheng bringing her to the Mingde Marquisate was to formally recognize their little daughter in the family records.

After all, the current Marquisate was no longer as it used to be. Once the little girl was added to the genealogy, they could often show filial respect to Wei Zhaorong in her name, and it wouldn’t be impossible for the second household to move back into the Marquisate later.

Shen Zhizhi had thrown away her pride and come to the Marquisate, hoping to secure a future for herself and her child.

But now, Xie Sheng actually wanted to divorce her. Why?

“Xie Sheng, back when you were in prison, I was heavily pregnant and begged to get someone to save you. Is this how you repay me now?”

Mentioning this, Xie Sheng had no words.

He had wanted to live a normal life with Shen Zhizhi back then.

But the Shen family repeatedly pushed his limits.

He could no longer endure—it was unnecessary to endure further.

Shen Zhizhi had saved Xie Sheng before, so he had given her one last chance.

Xie Sheng said, “Shen Zhizhi, if you are willing to completely sever ties with the Shen family and stop caring about Shen Tianci, I will not divorce you. I ask you—can you do it?”

Shen Zhizhi froze.

Of course, she couldn’t. That was her own younger brother—the only child of the Shen family.

But now, Xie Sheng was using the Shen family to threaten her. If she didn’t agree, she would be divorced. She might as well pretend to go along with him.

Later, she could make Shen father and mother stop causing trouble at the Xie residence and appear to sever ties, hiding it from Xie Sheng.

Shen Zhizhi squeezed out two tears and looked at Xie Sheng pitifully. “Husband, I agree. As long as you don’t divorce me, I’ll agree to anything.”

Xie Sheng sneered coldly in his heart. He didn’t believe Shen Zhizhi’s words, not even her tears.

Her tears were too fake, full of scheming.

“Very well. Then, before your mother, write a letter formally severing ties with the Shen family, cut all connections, and send it to a respected elder of the Shen clan to witness it.”

“…”

Shen Zhizhi’s face turned deathly pale. “Husband, must you be so heartless?”

“What’s the matter? You don’t want to?”

Shen Zhizhi felt as if she were being roasted over a fire, her whole body burning painfully.

“Husband, why are you forcing me! I am the eldest daughter of the Shen family. If I sever ties with them, how will I face the ancestors of the Shen family after death?”

Even now, Shen Zhizhi remained unrepentant.

She had no idea what she had done wrong.

The second household had been burdened almost to suffocation by the Shen family; Xie Sheng no longer wanted to carry them along.

If Shen Zhizhi had given birth to a son, he might have tolerated it, but she had a daughter.

While the child was still young, he would replace her as the mother. The little girl would soon forget Shen Zhizhi.

“Shen Zhizhi, since you refuse to sever ties with the Shen family, don’t blame me for heartlessly divorcing you. Considering our years as husband and wife, you may take your dowry with you.”

Shen Zhizhi’s dowry was pitifully small.

All the Shen family wealth went to Shen Tianci, even most of Shen Zhizhi’s betrothal gifts were withheld. So her dowry was negligible.

Precisely because it was so small, Xie Sheng generously let her take it. If it had been as lavish as Dou Shuyuan’s, he would never have let it go.

Wei Zhaorong watched the second household’s marital drama coldly, not saying a word from start to finish.

The Xie residence and the Mingde Marquisate were now two separate households. It was none of her concern; she did not meddle in others’ affairs.

At this moment, Shen Zhizhi suddenly knelt before Wei Zhaorong, crawling a few steps on her knees, hands on Wei Zhaorong’s knees, tears flooding like a dam breaking.

“Mother, I beg you to decide for me! Since marrying my husband, I have never done anything to wrong him. I’ve managed the Xie household meticulously and raised our little girl healthy and plump. I have only been filial to my parents. Is that not enough? To divorce me for such reasons would ruin the reputation of the Mingde Marquisate if it spreads.”

Shen Zhizhi sobbed, sniffling and gasping for breath.

Wei Zhaorong felt no stirrings in her heart.

“Madam Shen, the second household has already separated from the family. They no longer have any connection with the Mingde Marquisate, so whatever Xie Sheng does will not affect the Marquisate’s reputation.”

“Mother, you and my husband are mother and son. Even if the second household separates, that fact does not change.”

Shen Zhizhi was right.

But Wei Zhaorong, who had lived two lifetimes, saw things more clearly than anyone.

Blood ties do not mean everything.

Legitimate blood can be selfish and calculate against family; illegitimate blood can sacrifice themselves to protect family.

Now, Wei Zhaorong had only three sons: Xie Chuan, Xie Lan, and Xie Yu.

Xie Sheng had long been abandoned by her.

“Madam Shen, the Xie family’s domestic matters have nothing to do with me. If the two of you came today only to discuss divorce, then go back. Once you return to the Xie residence, you can make as much fuss as you like, but don’t disturb the peace of the Marquisate.”