"Who says divorce is a stain?" Shen Qing's voice came from behind. "If there's a stain, you are the stain on her. Aunt Liu's decision to sever ties with you is the wisest move."
"Pah!"
Shen Yan spat at Li Shi. "Bad woman! Don't you dare speak ill of my mother. I won't ever feel ashamed!"
The Liu family didn't expect Shen Qing to be there. They were all stunned. Liu's mother said anxiously, "Xuan'er, this is a family matter. How could you let an outsider know?"
Liu Xuan took a step back. "Who's the outsider? I've already severed ties with you. If anyone's an outsider, it's you."
She guessed that her mother and younger siblings were so desperate that they didn't care about their reputation. There must be something they couldn't solve at home. They urgently needed the betrothal money from the wealthy Mr. Liu, which was why they were so eager to sell her off again.
It was a pity that their plan was bound to fail.
Liu Xuan took a deep breath. All the remaining affection she had for the Liu family had vanished. She looked at them icily.
"I severed ties with you in Ying Tianfu. It was personally judged by Lord Qin. I'm no longer a member of the Liu family. But you signed the marriage contract without my permission and sold me to a man over fifty. If I go to Ying Tianfu to sue you, guess how Lord Qin will judge?"
Hearing this, the Liu family took a step back. This girl really had the document of severing ties. If she really turned against them, things would be difficult.
At this moment, Zhuxing came back from outside. She walked quickly to Shen Qing and held a piece of paper in her hand. "Miss, it's done."
Seeing what was in her hand, Shen Qing gave her an approving look. "You've worked hard. Go and rest."
After Zhuxing left, Shen Qing walked to Liu Xuan with the paper in her hand. She patted Liu Xuan's hand reassuringly, then looked at the Liu family. "The Liu family is in the brewing business. You came here to make trouble because Mr. Liu took a fancy to your distillery and threatened you to hand over the brewing recipe by monopolizing the grain for brewing, right?"
The Liu family was all stunned. They didn't expect Shen Qing to know their intention in such a short time.
Liu's mother looked at Liu Xuan pleadingly. "Xuan'er, Mom has never asked much of you. Just think of it as repaying the family for raising you. Please agree! If you don't, our family's ancestral business will be snatched away!"
"So, you're going to sell me for a recipe?"
Liu Xuan's words left Liu's mother speechless.
Shen Qing's mocking voice came. "I'm afraid that's not all. If it were just a recipe, why would you lower yourselves so much?"
Shen Qing continued, "It was because Liu Yu gambled with Mr. Liu's son in the gambling house three days ago. He not only lost the family's secret recipe but also beat Young Master Liu so badly that he couldn't get out of bed. Mr. Liu said that if you couldn't give a reasonable explanation, he would sue you. You saw that Mr. Liu had been unable to find a suitable wife after his wife died, so you offered Aunt Liu to them voluntarily, right?"
"That Mr. Liu is not only over fifty, fat and ugly, but also contracted syphilis in the brothel years ago. His first wife died of syphilis because he infected her. That's why he has never been able to marry again, not even a concubine."
Everyone present was extremely angry. How could someone find such a marriage for their daughter?
Wasn't this just forcing someone to death?
The Liu family looked at Shen Qing in horror.
Liu Xuan was no less shocked than the Liu family. The reaction of the Liu family showed that what Shen Qing said was true.
She suddenly laughed. "You want me to marry such a man for the family's distillery and my younger brother's future, not even caring about my life. So in your eyes, I'm the only one who needs to sacrifice for the family, right?"
Liu's mother said, "Xuan'er, listen to Mom's explanation. Those are not true. Mr. Liu is not..."
"You're still defending that Mr. Liu!"
Liu Xuan was completely disappointed.
Seeing that Liu Xuan was relatively calm, Shen Qing handed the paper in her hand to Liu Xuan. "Aunt Liu, they are your relatives. You should be the one to cut the ties."
Shen Yan was a little worried. "Sister, can Mom do it?"
Shen Qing stroked his head. "We should believe in her."
Liu Xuan nodded and looked at the Liu family. "I'll give you two choices now."
"First, I'll handle the matter with the Liu family. From now on, I'll completely sever ties with the Liu family. Even if Mom and Dad pass away, don't bother to call me back!"
Liu Xuan took a deep breath.
"Second, I'll sue you in Ying Tianfu. We'll all go down together. If you won't let me live a good life, I won't let you either. And don't forget, I have a son. He won't ignore me, but you..."
The Liu family originally disagreed when they heard the first choice, but the second choice left them with no way out.
"First choice. We choose the first one!"
Liu Yu's wife, Yao Shi, jumped out.
"Father, Mother, quickly agree. Otherwise, our family's future will be ruined!"
Strictly speaking, Liu Xuan was no longer a member of their family. But they had really signed the marriage contract to control her. If Liu Xuan sued them, she would surely win!
She had nothing to lose, but they still had a whole family to support!
After some weighing, Liu's father and mother had no choice but to agree.
Liu Yu shouted, "The results of the autumn imperial examination will be announced soon. It can't take too long. Ten days. You must handle this matter within ten days!"
Liu Xuan agreed. "Okay, ten days."
Liu's father looked at Liu Xuan disappointedly. "Don't regret it in the future. Even if you do, don't come back to the Liu family!"
In Liu's father's eyes, Liu Xuan was ruining her own future by turning her back on her family.
Liu Xuan didn't even bother to respond to Liu's father. She just told someone to show the guests out.
Shen Qing said, "Aunt Liu, don't worry. That Mr. Liu has done many evil deeds. I've already sent Zhuxing to collect evidence. With that evidence, the Liu family won't dare to act recklessly."
Liu Xuan didn't say a word. Suddenly, she knelt down in front of Shen Qing and Jiang Shi with a thud, which startled both of them.
Shen Qing quickly helped her up. "Aunt Liu, what are you doing?"
Liu Xuan didn't want to get up. "I, Liu Xuan, can never repay the kindness of Madam and Miss in this lifetime. I can only serve you like a beast of burden to show my gratitude!"
She knew very well that if it weren't for Shen Qing, all that awaited her would be a broken hemp rope.
Shen Qing said, "I have more than enough people around me. I don't need Aunt Liu. Besides, the more they act like this, the better Aunt Liu should live. Be an example for all the women who want to escape the abyss. Divorce is not a stain on them but the beginning of a new life."