Shen Yuan married into the Gu family and spent three years as a virtuous, dignified young madam.
The day Gu Yanting decided to take a concubine, she was in the kitchen watching the chicken soup simmer.
A maid rushed over to tell her that the concubine had already moved into the east courtyard.
The spoon in Shen Yuan's hand paused. She ladled out the soup and carried it to the study.
Gu Yanting kept his eyes on the account books. "Rou'er is frail. Take good care of her."
Shen Yuan said yes. Then she placed a neatly written divorce agreement on Gu Yanting's desk.
She took only the things listed in her dowry inventory, not even a single item of clothing the Gu family had bought for her.
After reading the agreement, Gu Yanting laughed.
He was certain Shen Yuan would come back. Where could a woman with no support from her family go after leaving the marquis's estate?
Shen Yuan didn't return to her family. She went to Jiangnan and used her dowry to buy an embroidery shop on the verge of going under.
Three months later, Gu Yanting saw Shen Yuan at a palace banquet. She was seated beside Pei Changyuan, heir to the Prince of Dingbei, leaning down to shield him from the wine.
