This time, Xiao Ruojun was silent for even longer. She took two sips of tea before speaking with a low mood, "He will. This time, he will agree."

He will agree to the divorce.

"He is a very responsible person, both to me and to his family. Now, the Xiao Family is no longer what it used to be, while the Xiang Family is at the pinnacle of its success. Even for the sake of the Xiang Family, he should find another girl from a family that matches theirs to marry."

Xiao Ruojun married Xiang Weinan because of that imperial decree requested by the Noble Princess Consort Xiao to the late emperor.

The Xiang Family, with its grand Count Mansion, and Xiang Weinan, a young and talented top scorer at the peak of his reputation, could marry any girl he wanted. Yet, due to an imperial decree, he was tied to her, and even mistakenly thought to be aboard the Xiao Family’s ship.

So stifling, not only for Xiang Weinan but for the Xiang Family and their relatives and friends, Xiang’s mentors and classmates—all of whom felt pity for him. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Now with the Xiao Family’s decline, and Xiao Ruojun having lost her backing, surely those people would help persuade him to dissolve the marriage. No one would label Xiang Weinan as heartless and unjust; he had already done all he could by saving her and her parents.

Additionally, if Xiao Ruojun took the initiative to propose a divorce, both could maintain their dignity. It would be as if she paid back his kindness by setting him free.

Xiao Ruojun took a deep breath, lifted her head to look at Shu Yu, and smiled, "He saved me and my parents; I certainly can’t repay kindness with ingratitude by holding him back any longer. Fortunately, there are no children between us. Ending well now is undoubtedly better than ending up as a resentful couple."

Those were the words, yet her forced smile gradually stiffened, and the smile she struggled to maintain still eventually faded.

Shu Yu quietly sighed in her heart. Although she found Xiao Ruojun’s words reasonable and realistic,

for some reason, she felt that Xiang Weinan would not agree to divorce.

But this was a matter between the couple, and the outcome they reached would be their own choice.

Seeing Xiao Ruojun low-spirited, she slowly held her hand on the table, smiled, and said, "Whether you stay together or divorce, we will remain friends. If you really leave the capital, you can write to me. You know that I often travel for business, so maybe I’ll pass through the place you’re at, and we can still meet."

Xiao Ruojun held her hand back, her eyes slightly blurred, and responded with an "um," "Yes, we are friends. After all this time, the thing I don’t regret the most is running to Jiangyuan County and meeting you."

She had not spent the last few years in aimless idleness.

In the end, Xiao Ruojun didn’t stay at the Lu family for dinner. She was set to depart tomorrow, planning to leave the county town before the gates closed and return to the Manor.

Shu Yu saw her off at the door, but as she was just getting into the carriage, Shu Yu seemed to remember something and suddenly said, "Wait for me here; I’ll be right out."

Xiao Ruojun, full of confusion, nodded and quietly waited in the carriage.

Nanny Gu was still with her, having initially been sent to the Xiao family’s Manor by the Xiao Family and later brought back by Xiang Weinan. She also came this time to Jiangyuan County to fetch Xiao Ruojun.

Watching the girl she had watched grow up, her eyes filled with calm sorrow, Nanny Gu felt deeply pained.

"Miss, perhaps we should just stay in Jiangyuan County; you were quite happy here, weren’t you? We don’t have to go back to the capital." If they didn’t go back, they wouldn’t have to face the outcome of divorce.