Chapter 121: The Letter of Severance

Shangguan Qingyun hadn’t held the position of Chancellor for so many years by being a fool.

As he sensed the shifting attitudes of the subordinates who had once been so eager to please him, fury simmered in his chest. However, he forced himself to remain calm, mentally dissecting the current situation.

His eldest daughter, Shangguan Qinglan, had committed such a scandalous disgrace that she would undoubtedly have to be discarded. It was a pity to lose the powerful support of the Marquis of Dingyuan’s Manor, but seeing the way the Heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan looked as if he wanted to tear Qinglan apart, Shangguan Qingyun could only sigh inwardly.

How had things spiraled so far out of control?

He had originally valued the Marquis’s Manor for their military authority and the favor they enjoyed from Her Majesty. It was for those reasons that he had married his most prized legitimate daughter to the Heir. Who could have guessed that this daughter would be so clumsy? Not only had she allowed others to grab her by the throat, but she had also turned her blade against her own family.

With matters reaching such a state, he naturally didn’t have the face to continue claiming kinship with the Marquis of Dingyuan.

However…

Recalling the news from the palace, the Empress Regnant intended to invest that rebellious daughter of his as the Empress Consort.

A sharp glint flickered in Shangguan Qingyun’s eyes as a sliver of hope resurfaced. He reasoned that Her Majesty likely wouldn’t use this opportunity to strike him down. After all, it wouldn’t look good for the Empress of a nation to be the daughter of a disgraced official.

The reason today’s events had escalated so dramatically was probably because Her Majesty wanted to teach him a lesson. Could it be that the rebellious girl had complained to the Empress?

The more Shangguan Qingyun thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Otherwise, why would the Empress suddenly start targeting the Shangguan family?

Reflecting on Shangguan Liqian’s previous treatment within the manor, a rare flash of regret crossed his eyes. Had he known this daughter could bewitch Her Majesty to such an extent, he would have put in more effort. At the very least, he would have maintained a facade of harmony so that things wouldn’t have become so estranged.

But, he mused, since Shangguan Liqian went through the trouble of convincing the Empress to put on such a grand show, she must want me to see her value again.

After all, he still held the bait of “freedom” in his hands. He could use it to keep her working for the family indefinitely. Even if she had changed her mind and no longer wanted freedom but rather a secure position as Empress, it didn’t matter. If she wanted to sit firmly on that throne, the support of her maternal family was indispensable.

“In that case…”

Shangguan Qingyun’s eyes flickered as he looked down, a silent sigh of relief escaping him. This matter wasn’t entirely beyond redemption.

Though he felt nothing but disdain for his daughter’s entanglement with another woman, he had to admit that when it came to Shangguan Liqian, even the Empress Regnant was forced to compromise. It was precisely because of this that he could use the girl to secure benefits for the family’s younger generation.

To break the current deadlock, his best move was to play the “emotional card” with Liqian in front of Her Majesty.

In the past, the self-important Shangguan Qingyun might have hesitated to do such a thing in public, but now… looking at the chaotic scene before him, he finally lowered his supposedly noble head.

Before he could speak, however, Ling Feng’s voice rang out from outside the hall.

“Your Majesty, the Letter of Severance between Lord Shangguan and Lady Shangguan has been retrieved.”

Shangguan Qingyun’s brow furrowed. Why did it have to arrive right now of all times?

Luo Wushuang glanced at Shangguan Qingyun, whose expression was now more unsightly than if he had just swallowed filth. A flash of mockery crossed her eyes.

This old fox had been so impatient to sever ties with her Sister when he thought the person inside the hall was Liqian. Now that he saw there was no room for maneuver, he suddenly remembered he could beg for mercy?

There was no such cheap deal in this world. As long as her Sister didn’t change her mind, she would give this old thief the thrashing he deserved today!

Luo Wushuang let out a cold, disdainful snort. When her phoenix eyes caught sight of Shangguan Liqian appearing outside the hall, she quickly stepped out to meet her. She didn’t want her Sister to witness the filth inside that room.

Shangguan Qingyun, who had been feeling uneasy, felt a secret surge of relief when he saw Shangguan Liqian. Compared to the Empress Regnant, he believed his daughter was much easier to persuade and manipulate. Furthermore, based on today’s banquet, her status in the Empress’s heart was clearly significant.

For the sake of the Shangguan family, he wasn’t above bowing his head first.

Believing he had seen through Liqian’s thoughts, Shangguan Qingyun stepped forward, intending to speak. However, he was unceremoniously shoved aside by Leng Yu.

This Chancellor is really something, Leng Yu thought irritably. He’s an old man, yet he has no situational awareness at all. Can’t he see the Empress wants to speak with Lady Shangguan? Why is he diving in front like he’s lost his mind?

As Leng Yu grumbled internally, she caught an appreciative glance from Luo Wushuang. Her eyes lit up instantly. It seemed there was hope of getting back the six months of salary she had been fined.

While Shangguan Qingyun was still stumbling from the shove, Luo Wushuang took two quick steps and discreetly took Shangguan Liqian’s hand. She pointed toward the document in Ling Feng’s hand.

“This is the Letter of Severance from Lord Shangguan, severing all ties with you. Sister, what are your thoughts?”

Having already heard the gist of the situation from the Secret Guards, Shangguan Liqian caught Luo Wushuang’s hint and entered her role in a heartbeat.

Her hand trembled as she took the document from Ling Feng. A moment later, tears filled her eyes. Her gaze toward Shangguan Qingyun was thick with sorrow. Her lips quivered as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, no sound came out.

She perfectly embodied the image of a discarded pawn—someone who wanted to resist but was utterly powerless against her family’s cruelty.

This performance held no difficulty for Shangguan Liqian. After all, in her past life, Shangguan Qingyun hadn’t just unilaterally declared a severance of ties; he had ensured her life ended within the walls of that calculating, filthy manor.

If Wushuang hadn’t appeared in the end to help her exact blood vengeance and resolve her lingering regrets, she would have been desperate to destroy the Shangguan family the moment she was reborn.

But now was not too late.

Perhaps because she was thinking of her past life, the sorrow in Liqian’s eyes became even more genuine. Her grip on Luo Wushuang’s hand tightened until her veins were visible.

To the onlookers, this scene was damning. Everyone began to glare at Shangguan Qingyun with open condemnation.

They all knew how much tangible benefit this old fox had gained by exploiting his daughter. To be so heartless the moment he thought she had fallen from grace… it made their skin crawl.

From the looks of it, Shangguan Qingyun’s reputation for being approachable and respectful to scholars was likely just a mask. If he could be so cold-blooded toward his own flesh and blood, how much more ruthless would he be toward others?

In an instant, the gaze of everyone present shifted from disdain to deep wariness.

Sensing the strange looks directed at him, Shangguan Qingyun felt like vomiting from frustration, yet he couldn’t show it. He swore to himself that after today, he would show these people exactly what he was capable of.

For now, he could only force a smile and step forward.

Luo Wushuang felt the pressure of her Sister’s grip increase and her heart tightened. Does Sister still care about the Shangguan family after all?

When she met Luo Wushuang’s sorrowful phoenix eyes, Shangguan Liqian was stunned for a moment. She gently scratched the Empress’s palm with her fingertip.

She was simply feeling physically nauseated because Shangguan Qingyun was approaching. Is this fool overthinking things again?

Feeling the soft touch against her palm, Luo Wushuang’s heart settled back into place. Oh? So Sister is just acting for the crowd. Good, that’s good. Otherwise…

Just as she was thinking this, Shangguan Qingyun’s grating voice sounded before them.

“Qian… Liqian, there is no need to be sad. This was merely an act done in a moment of anger. In my heart, I have never truly thought of severing our relationship.”

Shangguan Liqian feigned exhaustion, leaning weakly into Luo Wushuang’s embrace. She lowered her eyes, hiding the cold mockery swirling within them.

If she remembered correctly, this was the first time her so-called father had ever called her by her name so “affectionately.” In her past life, she might have been moved. Now, it only made her feel sick.