Volume One, Chapter Six: Facing the Courtroom

“Bang, bang, bang!”

Su Ziwen struck the drum at the Jingzhao Prefecture’s main hall.

A commotion arose in the rear chamber. Lin Sen, the Prefect of Jingzhao, quickly changed into his official robes and hurried to the court.

Several night-duty constables stood at attention on both sides.

The grand courtroom felt somewhat desolate.

“Who dares to beat the drum and raise a grievance at this hour?” Lin Sen wondered in surprise.

“Official Lin, I, this young lord, am divorcing this jealous, malicious, and fierce woman. I want to end the marriage!” Su Ziwen stormed into the hall in anger.

Behind him followed Yun Jinhua, clad in armor and sword at her side, walking with measured steps.

Lin Sen glanced at Su Ziwen’s battered face, resembling that of a pig, then at the scowling Yun Jinhua. He furrowed his brows; this girl was just as fierce and combative as her valiant father.

The matriarch observed Lin Sen’s subtle change in expression and felt relieved.

The rumors might indeed be true.

“Yun Jinhua, why did you strike your husband?” Lin Sen asked routinely.

“He deserved it! I want a divorce,” Yun Jinhua replied coldly.

Her icy eyes, like frost and snow, were so sharp and merciless.

Lin Sen’s gaze froze in place.

What on earth?

Divorce…?

“Official Lin, listen to this shocking and outrageous claim, an act of great disrespect! The Pingyang Marquis’s household has been accommodating at every step, yet Yun Jinhua has overstepped her bounds. Relying on her military merits, she entered the household and beat her husband, defied her in-laws, and even disregarded me, her grandmother, openly speaking back to me multiple times.

Yun Jinhua has violated four of the seven grounds for divorce: disrespect to in-laws, childlessness, jealousy, and excessive speech. With so many offenses, it is reasonable to dismiss her from the household.

However, our families have been close for many years, and now she is left alone and helpless. I cannot bear to see her suffer hardships in the future. I ask you, Official Lin, to declare publicly that the two children are born of a separation by mutual consent!” The matriarch sighed.

Lin Sen nodded slightly; in that case, the Pingyang Marquis’s household had already done all they could.

---

“Matriarch, at your age, deliberately confusing right and wrong, twisting black into white — are you not afraid of the tongue-cutting hell after death?” Bai Zhi, unable to restrain her anger, sneered.

“Bang!” Lin Sen struck the judge’s wooden block sharply. “No bystanders shall speak! Defendant, do you plead guilty?”

“Official Lin, I do not! As a daughter of the Yun family, I will never accept such treatment. I returned from battle to find Su Ziwen already with children. How can I obey in-laws who are unjust and untrustworthy? I was at the border on my wedding day—how could I have borne children then?

Su Ziwen wronged me first, and his concubine Ling Xuan stole my dowry. The matriarch uses the seven grounds for divorce to suppress me, coveting the Yun family’s wealth. Am I not allowed to defend myself?

Such a heartless man and shameless family! I fear for the Yun family’s honor and must sever ties completely.” Yun Jinhua exposed the Su family’s shame without reservation.

“What? You didn’t know that Su Ziwen took a concubine?” Lin Sen was greatly surprised. “Su Ziwen’s taking of a concubine was done openly, with a banquet for relatives and friends. The Su family announced to the public that you were magnanimous and understanding, and since you were away on campaign with no fixed return date, you voluntarily allowed your husband to take a concubine to continue the family line.”

“We exchanged letters for three years; he never mentioned this,” Yun Jinhua shook her head in ignorance.

Lin Sen’s gaze shifted to the Pingyang Marquis’s household members, his expression changing.

The Su family glared resentfully at Yun Jinhua—family scandals must not be exposed, yet how dare this wretched woman be so brazen?

“Official Lin, which man doesn’t have three or four wives? Even you are no exception! Yun Jinhua has violated the seven grounds for divorce and should be dismissed. I am old and have little time left; I want to hold a great-grandson soon. Su Ziwen took a concubine out of filial piety—what’s wrong with that? I ask you, sir, to decide swiftly.” The matriarch wielded her age as authority.

The Pingyang Marquis’s household’s status ranked even above the Prefect of Jingzhao.

“I have never concealed taking a concubine, nor have I been disloyal. In court, we judge cases. If the matriarch believes I lack virtue, she may report me to the Censor. ” Lin Sen’s face grew cold.

The matriarch was speechless.

That was not her meaning.

“Su Ziwen has taken a concubine in betrayal, and Ling Xuan is guilty of theft. I ask for your clear judgment, sir,” Yun Jinhua countered in time.

“My taking a concubine is out of filial duty. Once you entered the Su household, everything belonged to them. Ling Xuan’s expenses are for the household. What crime is there?” Su Ziwen defended slyly.

Lin Sen rubbed his forehead. He had never expected the Pingyang Marquis’s household to behave so disgracefully.

“The law not only lists seven grounds for divorce but also three conditions under which divorce is forbidden. The Yun family has disappeared without a trace. The Pingyang Marquis’s household does not have the right to dismiss the wife. Since Su Ziwen and General Fuyuan have discord, let it be a separation by mutual consent!” Lin Sen pronounced the verdict.

Yun Jinhua narrowed her eyes. This Official Lin was quite fair.

“No, not a separation, but a divorce. Official Lin, your judgment is unjust. The Pingyang Marquis’s household will not accept it.” The matriarch’s last vestige of kindness vanished.

They no longer wanted this daughter-in-law, but they could not allow her to take away such a large sum of silver.

---

“Yes, not a separation, I want a divorce,” Yun Jinhua remained adamant.

“Official Lin, I am divorcing my wife. There is no turning back,” Su Ziwen insisted angrily.

What wife resorts to violence at the slightest dispute?

“Official Lin, I want a divorce. There is no room for negotiation,” Yun Jinhua declared decisively.

Lin Sen’s head ached from the noise. Then an idea struck him.

“Divorce is absolutely impossible. As for a divorce initiated by the husband, that requires imperial judgment.” Lin Sen cupped his hands respectfully.

After all, no precedent for this existed in Nanling.

“Yes, we request imperial judgment!” The Pingyang Marquis’s face flashed a dark smile.

Yun Jinhua had pacified the border and achieved great merit, overshadowing the civil and military officials at court, even the emperor who had hastily ascended the throne three years prior appeared mediocre and unaccomplished.

The Yun family held high rank and power. The late emperor had long harbored suspicions toward the General’s household.

Could the reigning Emperor Xuān Píng tolerate a young woman so boldly assert herself?

Yun Jinhua’s best outcome would be to relinquish military command, receive a reward, and withdraw from court affairs.

Leaving the Pingyang Marquis’s household, powerless and without family support, bearing the title of “divorced woman,” she would face a lonely old age.

“I ask Official Lin to dispatch men to retrieve my dowry, to be temporarily held by the government. I cannot trust this pack of wolves. After the emperor’s judgment, I will decide its rightful ownership.” Yun Jinhua requested.

“This is my duty. I will assign two constables to escort these soldiers and secure the sixteen chests in the Jingzhao Prefecture’s storage,” Lin Sen agreed.

The Su family watched helplessly as the sixteen chests were carried into the prefecture’s warehouse and sealed, their pain as though their hearts were being torn out.

“Rest assured, they will be returned exactly as they were taken,” the matriarch said with certainty.

Yun Jinhua’s mission in battle was complete. Now, Your Majesty, it is time to discard the grindstone.