Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Unworthy of Divorce
"Fine, I'm not entitled to a separation."
Chu Nanli hadn't expected Ye Yunting to be so petty as to not give her the last bit of dignity.
"Then divorce me."
Ye Yunting's eyes flashed with a hint of astonishment; he hadn't expected Chu Nanli to say that.
Chu Nanli, however, was indifferent. As someone not from this era, she didn't care about titles.
She just wanted to live happily on behalf of the original host and take good care of the child the host had left in this world.
"Chu Nanli, are you using retreat as advance?" Ye Yunting stared intensely at Chu Nanli, attempting to spot flaws on her face.
Chu Nanli looked at Ye Yunting's expression and was bewildered instead.
Considering Ye Yunting could sit in this position, he was absolutely not a fool, even should have mastered the arts of deception and trickery.
Then why did he have doubts about her "using retreat as advance" but never doubted his seemingly weak concubine?
Chu Nanli scoffed coldly and didn't want to waste more words with such a despicable man.
"You pick a date then; there's no day like today – let it be today."
Looking at Chu Nanli seriously preparing even paper and pen, Ye Yunting finally realized she was serious and suddenly felt an unprecedented rage swelling inside him.
This woman, who had eagerly presented herself at the Prince Residence wanting to marry him, how could she now just decide to leave as she pleased!
"Chu Nanli, why should I listen to you! Even if it's a divorce, it should only happen when I say so!"
Ye Yunting clenched his fists tightly, puzzled why he felt so suffocated, his mind involuntarily revisiting the day he first met Chu Nanli.
That day, Chu Nanli entered the Prince Residence with a small bundle, her face flushed and naively smiling, "Aye, didn't you say you would commit yourself to me? Here I am to marry you!"
Before this, he had never met Chu Nanli nor had he ever promised to commit himself to anyone.
He merely thought this woman was shy yet exceptionally bold, pursuing him in a novel way.
At that time, he needed a Princess Consort of "pure" descent, unaffiliated with any family powers, so he simply went with the flow and married her.
Although they never shared marital intimacy, their relationship had been amicable before Yingying entered.
Thinking of this, Ye Yunting's attitude softened somewhat.
"Take good rest. If you have any demands, just say so. But don't think about separation again!"
Chu Nanli startled, unclear why Ye Yunting was suddenly unwilling to divorce, but his attitude appeared very firm.
Chu Nanli's mind raced.
Staying in the Prince Residence to nourish the fetus was not out of the question. During this period, she could cultivate her own power base, and it wouldn't be too late to leave once she was fully prepared.
Having understood this, Chu Nanli spoke directly, "No separation is fine, but I have a condition."
"What condition?"
Chu Nanli's eyes turned cold, "I want Nanny Hua's life."
This meddlesome servant had caused the death of the original host and had constantly framed her, helping Lin Fuying do evil deeds.
Since she couldn't touch Lin Fuying yet, she would start by cutting down her servant.
After speaking, she looked at Ye Yunting, only to see his face darkening again.
"Impossible!"
"Why? Nanny Hua is just a servant. Don't I, as Princess Consort, even have the right to deal with her?"
"Nanny Hua is Yingying's personal nanny. Yingying would be heartbroken," Ye Yunting said gravely. "Choose another condition."
"Tsk, you are quite considerate of others," Chu Nanli's lip curled with a hint of sarcasm. "Fine, don't kill her, but return all my dowry to me."
"The Prince should know the amount of dowry I brought with me was considerable. Yet over the years, it's nearly all been spent on Lin Fuying's medical care."
Ye Yunting recalled that Chu Nanli did bring a half bundle of silver notes when she first entered the residence. At the time, she merely mentioned her father was a traveling merchant and therefore wasn't short of money.
Seeing Ye Yunting furrowing his brows as if deep in thought, Chu Nanli hastily added, "Prince, what are you hesitating for? You can't be unable to produce that, can you?"
"How could I not afford it!" Ye Yunting's expression darkened, "Ye Yi, tally up ten thousand taels of gold for the concubine!"
When Ye Yi received the order, he was so shocked that he was speechless. Was the Prince really opening his private treasury for the Princess Consort? Ten thousand taels of gold, only the private treasury held so much...
"What are you standing around for, go quickly!" Ye Yunting ordered coldly.
"Yes!"
After Ye Yi had gone, Ye Yunting turned a stern face to Chu Nanli, "Are you satisfied now?"
Chu Nanli nodded her head, satisfied, truly satisfied.
Ten thousand taels of gold was at least several thousand more than her initial dowry.
Actually, when she initially demanded Nanny Hua's life, it was strategic.
First demanding an unacceptable condition, then pushing for an easier one regarding money—Ye Yunting was likely to agree.
Only she hadn't expected him to agree so swiftly. Tsk, Nanny Hua's life indeed had its price.
Ye Yunting would rather give her an extra few thousand taels of gold than bear to upset Lin Fuying, talk about "blind love."
But well, money was now in hand.
As for Nanny Hua's life...
She wanted that too!