Fortunately, Wushuang was always by her side…
Though she had lost her kin, she still had someone who loved her—deeply, truly loved her.
Shangguan Liqian’s grip on Luo Wushuang’s hand tightened instinctively. In the next breath, her hand was carefully enveloped within a warm palm.
That cautious, protective stance and gentle strength stood in stark contrast to the hypocritical smile on Shangguan Qingyun’s face across from them.
Maintaining his sanctimonious facade, Shangguan Qingyun saw the utter despair on Shangguan Liqian’s face upon learning of their severed relationship. A surge of joy rose in his heart; it seemed his previous suspicion was correct.
This daughter of his had gone through all this trouble just to get his attention.
Otherwise, why would she look so heartbroken the moment she learned he had disowned her?
Relieved, Shangguan Qingyun was already mentally rehearsing his silver-tongued speech. He would coax her back first, and then…
Then, he would educate her on how she could not disregard the family’s reputation for her own selfish gains.
And there was also Qinglan. Although today’s events had brought shame upon the clan, as long as Shangguan Liqian pleaded with Her Majesty, the Empress Regnant likely wouldn’t pursue the matter further.
As for his own failure to discipline his daughter, which led to her “causing chaos in the imperial harem,” perhaps that could be dealt with leniently as well…
Ugly in soul and delusional in mind, Shangguan Qingyun reassumed his posture as the head of the household. He pointed at the legal documents in Shangguan Liqian’s hand and spoke.
“If you don’t believe me, you can see for yourself. This document does not bear the official seal of the magistrate’s office. I only intended to scare you…”
Before Shangguan Qingyun could finish his sentence, Shangguan Liqian turned the fully unfurled document toward him, her face a mask of sorrow.
The three large characters for “Letter of Severance” were exceptionally piercing.
Even more conspicuous than those words, however, was the bright, shimmering red seal of the magistrate’s office.
The excuses died in Shangguan Qingyun’s throat. His eyes filled with utter disbelief.
In order to leave himself a path for retreat, he had specifically told the Historian not to apply the official seal!
How could the magistrate’s seal be on the document now?
Seeing Lord Shangguan looking as if he had been struck by lightning, Ling Feng—the guard who performed good deeds without seeking credit—lowered her head and stifled a laugh.
When she had accompanied Historian Ming to retrieve the document earlier, she noticed it lacked a seal. She assumed Historian Ming was simply too busy with official business and had forgotten.
Being the helpful soul she was, she had immediately asked the Historian for the seal and applied it herself.
Oh my! It was just a small favor; Lord Shangguan really didn’t need to get so worked up over it.
Come to think of it, Historian Ming had seemed just as “excited” as Lord Shangguan at the time.
Truly, she felt these civil officials were far too polite. It was just a minor task, so what was there to be so formal about?
Trembling with rage, Shangguan Qingyun instinctively looked through the crowd for Historian Ming, but his search yielded nothing.
Finally, his gaze landed on Ling Feng. His voice shook as he asked, “Where… where is Historian Ming?”
Thinking of the Historian, whom she had practically shaken the life out of during their frantic ride, Ling Feng replied without batting an eye.
“Historian Ming is of advanced age. After traveling so quickly, he seemed to lack the physical strength to continue. When I left, his lordship was still resting.”
Remembering the way Historian Ming had collapsed into a chair, unable to even stand, Ling Feng nodded emphatically.
Indeed! Historian Ming was resting. As for why he needed to rest, don’t ask!
Hearing Ling Feng’s response, Luo Wushuang nearly burst out laughing. It took a sharp pinch from Shangguan Liqian to keep the wise and mighty Empress Regnant from losing her composure in front of the public.
Earlier, Ling Feng had used a secret sound transmission to briefly explain what had happened at the magistrate’s office. The reality was far more “exciting” than what Ling Feng had just described.
Of course, Ling Feng’s “helpfulness” at the office had been done under her secret instructions.
It was specifically to prevent Shangguan Qingyun from leaving himself a backdoor.
When her sister said she wanted to sever ties with this old man, Wushuang had worried the old fox would refuse.
Now that Shangguan Qingyun had raised the idea himself, she wouldn’t allow him any room for regret.
He wanted to sever their father-daughter relationship but still leave himself a way to exploit her sister in the future?
Not a chance. She wasn’t just closing the door; she was nailing the windows shut!
Looking at Shangguan Qingyun, who was staring at the seal as if he wanted to burn a hole through the paper, Luo Wushuang cleared her throat and spoke solemnly.
“The document, the seal, and the witness are all present. It seems Lord Shangguan is truly determined to sever his relationship with Shangguan Liqian?”
Shangguan Qingyun froze. Just as he was about to retort, the Empress continued.
“Since Lord Shangguan wishes to disown my Sister, what say you, Sister?”
Under the collective gaze of the crowd—some sympathetic, some merely curious—Shangguan Liqian slowly raised her eyes.
Her ethereal face was filled with sorrow, and her glistening eyes were swimming with tears. It was a sight that tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.
The sight of a beauty weeping was captivating, eliciting pity while making the onlookers want to demand justice on her behalf.
Shangguan Qingyun’s brow furrowed deeply. He was clearly struggling between saving face and protecting his interests.
Shangguan Liqian’s gaze remained fixed on the hypocritical man. Her lips parted, but before she could speak, a tear escaped.
Only after ensuring everyone’s hearts were firmly on her side did she speak. Her voice trembled with a mixture of indignance and despair.
“A child should not speak of a father’s faults, nor should they defy a father’s will.”
With that, Shangguan Liqian lowered her head. In a shaking voice, she began to read the words of anger and condemnation Shangguan Qingyun had written on the document, word for word.
When the crowd heard how Shangguan Qingyun had shamelessly accused his “rebellious daughter” of using her charms to bewitch the monarch—calling it an act that would bring ruin to the state and its people…
The officials who served alongside Shangguan Qingyun felt like spitting on him.
Bah! Shameless!
The Shangguan family had happily accepted the official titles and rewards, yet now they were biting the hand that fed them, blaming the woman for everything.
As a daughter of the Shangguan family, the girl truly was cursed with bad luck.
Shangguan Qingyun, unaware that he had become as loathed as a rat crossing the street in the eyes of his peers, didn’t even have time to explain before Shangguan Liqian continued reading.
“…The rebellious daughter, Shangguan Liqian, respects neither her elders nor her brother. She disregards the bonds of siblings and has failed the grace of her parents’ upbringing, blah blah blah…”
Shangguan Liqian was putting on a masterful performance of a frail woman abandoned by her father and cast out by her clan.
Listening from the side, Luo Wushuang grew so angry she nearly jumped.
Did this dog of a man have no conscience? Her sister had done so much for the Shangguan family, and now he dared to speak of her this way?
She truly wanted to carve his heart out just to see if it was black!
Shameless! Shameless! Utterly shameless!
In the midst of her “passionate” reading, Shangguan Liqian caught a glimpse of Luo Wushuang’s expression out of the corner of her eye. The Empress looked like she was about to explode with rage. Liqian felt a mix of amusement and warmth.
Fearing that Wushuang might actually kick the man and ruin the plan if she continued, Liqian stopped abruptly.
Then, she shifted her tone. Without giving Shangguan Qingyun a chance to speak, she cried out through her tears.
“Since Father has so many grievances against me and has decided that I am unworthy of being a child of the Shangguan family, then today…”
At this point, she seemed heartbroken to the extreme. Tears the size of pearls hit the ground, and with them, the hearts of everyone present.
Shangguan Qingyun hadn’t expected that a moment’s hesitation would lead to this.
Caring no longer for his pride, he scrambled to speak. “I didn’t truly mean to—”
He barely started before Shangguan Liqian interrupted him with a sob.
“Today, I shall grant Father’s wish. I sever my relationship with you. From this day forth, Shangguan Liqian has nothing to do with you or the Shangguan family!”
Having said her piece, she appeared so emotionally drained that she collapsed into the Empress Regnant’s arms.
Luo Wushuang’s pupils shrank. She pulled the woman into her embrace. Although the fire and hostility in her eyes were nearly uncontrollable, her movements remained gentle as she patted her sister’s back to soothe her.
Sensing the increasingly tender touch, Shangguan Liqian frowned slightly. The play was almost over; why wasn’t Wushuang following the script…
Just as the fury in Luo Wushuang’s eyes reached its peak, she caught Shangguan Liqian’s urging gaze. Startled, the Empress realized her cue and spoke sharply.
“Since it is so, then let it be witnessed by Us and all our ministers. Shangguan Qingyun and Shangguan Liqian have severed their father-daughter relationship this day. Henceforth, they shall enjoy their fortunes and suffer their calamities separately; neither shall be held responsible for the other!”
Luo Wushuang’s voice, clear yet tinged with a sharp edge, rang out, dealing the final verdict on the matter.
