A look of embarrassment flashed across Song Zhaoyang's face.
"People always say it's better to reconcile a couple than to encourage them to divorce. What on earth did your husband do to land you in this mess?"
Tears welled up in Yan Yazhang's eyes instantly. She choked with sobs and said, "He owed money to the gambling house and actually sold me, his lawfully wedded wife, to pay off the debt!"
"What? How could a man do such an immoral thing!" Although Song Zhaoyang had already investigated these matters, she still feigned shock on her face.
Yan Yazhang cried even more sorrowfully.
"My husband and I were betrothed when we were kids. He was my father's favorite student, passing the provincial examination at twelve and the metropolitan examination at fourteen. After we got married, he went to the capital to take the imperial examination, but unfortunately, he failed. He failed three times in nine years. Since then, he changed. He indulged in gambling all day long and became a complete gambler."
"He squandered our entire family fortune and even gambled away my dowry. Now that the creditors came to our door, he didn't even care about our marital affection and sold me to pay off his debts..."
Saying this, Yan Yazhang covered her face and wept.
Song Zhaoyang slapped the table hard, her face full of anger. "Despicable! He's truly despicable!"
"Madam Yan, don't worry! Nanny Xia, take some people with Madam Yan and get the divorce papers!"
Nanny Xia responded with an affirmative "Yes" and helped Yan Yazhang, who was kneeling on the ground, up.
But Yan Yazhang insisted on kneeling. She bowed to Song Zhaoyang and said respectfully, "Thank you, Madam Xue, for your help. After I get divorced, I will surely serve you like a slave to repay your kindness."
Song Zhaoyang smiled faintly and said, "Saving a life is better than building a seven - tiered pagoda. Madam Yan, you're being too polite."
---
Yan Yazhang led Nanny Xia and the guards of the Xue family to the small house they had rented outside the capital city for many years.
As soon as they entered the house, they found it in a complete mess. Cui Qiming was lying on the ground, his palm covered in blood, and two of his fingers had been cut off.
Yan Yazhang's expression remained cold at the sight of this.
Nanny Xia frowned and said to the guard beside her, "Wake him up."
Cui Qiming was splashed awake. When he saw Yan Yazhang, he became extremely agitated.
"You bitch! If you had just gone with them obediently, I wouldn't have had two of my fingers cut off. You've ruined my life!"
Yan Yazhang stepped forward and slapped Cui Qiming hard across the face. She said in a cold voice, "Cui Qiming, we're getting divorced!"
Cui Qiming's face contorted with anger. He roared ferociously, "In your dreams! Once you married me, Cui Qiming, you'll be a ghost of the Cui family even in death!"
"You..." Yan Yazhang became extremely emotional. Before she could say anything, Nanny Xia stopped her.
Nanny Xia looked down at Cui Qiming haughtily and said indifferently, "It's up to you whether you want a divorce or to go to jail. Master Cui, I'm sure you know that once you pass the imperial examination at the county level, you're not allowed to gamble. Otherwise, your title will be stripped. And you're even a jinshi! I'm sure the prison of the Magistrate of the Capital will welcome you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Cui Qiming's face turned pale.
---
Seeing the relieved look on Yan Yazhang's face when she returned, Song Zhaoyang asked, "Did you get the divorce papers?"
Yan Yazhang nodded and then knelt on the ground. "Thank you, Madam Xue, for your help. From now on, you'll be my master."
Song Zhaoyang didn't expect Yan Yazhang to sell herself to her. After a moment of surprise, she shook her head and said, "I helped you not because I wanted you to sell yourself to me."
Yan Yazhang looked at Song Zhaoyang in surprise.
This official's wife in the capital helped her out of the blue, which always made her feel uneasy.
After all, they knew nothing about each other. This act of helping a stranger in trouble seemed a bit unbelievable.
Song Zhaoyang noticed the confused look in Yan Yazhang's eyes but didn't explain much. She just smiled faintly and said, "You have no relatives around you now. Do you want me to send someone to take you back to Huai'an to reunite with your family?"
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, Yan Yazhang's face turned ugly.
"No! I can't go back!"
Song Zhaoyang looked at the fear in Yan Yazhang's eyes and asked in confusion, "Why?"
Yan Yazhang's eyes turned red. Her voice was hoarse as she said, "My biological father is the dean of Huating Academy. He attaches great importance to etiquette. If he knew that I divorced Cui Qiming, he would never forgive me. He might even punish me with family rules."
Song Zhaoyang was surprised. Huating Academy was one of the most famous academies in the country.
She didn't expect Yan Yazhang to come from a scholarly family. No wonder she would become a well - known female tutor in the capital later.
Nanny Xia was also shocked by Yan Yazhang's family background. She said, "I've heard that Dean Yan of Huating Academy is very erudite. Many of his students are officials in the court. He shouldn't be so strict, right?"
Yan Yazhang smiled bitterly and said, "Cui Qiming didn't dare to go back to Huai'an after failing the imperial examination three times not only because he was afraid of losing face but also because he was afraid of being scolded by my father."
"In my father's eyes, face is more important than anything else. He once said that if Cui Qiming couldn't pass the imperial examination, he would disown him as his son - in - law. If he knew that I divorced Cui Qiming, he would definitely drive me out of the family for the sake of his face."
Song Zhaoyang frowned. She didn't expect there to be such a strange father in the world.
In the Song family, her grandfather and father would never treat a married - off daughter as water that had been spilled. If they knew that she was having a hard time in her marriage, they would definitely find a way to help her get divorced.
In her previous life, she had dragged the Song family down. In this life, she not only had to protect her own small family but also ensure the safety of the Song family.
Song Zhaoyang's deep gaze fell on the sad Yan Yazhang in front of her.
Now that Yan Yazhang hadn't yet become famous in the capital, if she could be of use to her, she might become a great help.
She then asked, "Madam Yan, no! I should call you Miss Yan now. Have you been studying since you were a child?"
Yan Yazhang nodded. "Yes. My father taught me since I was a child. I know a little about the four arts of the Chinese scholar."
Song Zhaoyang thought Yan Yazhang was being too modest. It wasn't just a little; she was clearly proficient.
She said, "Since Miss Yan doesn't want to go back to Huai'an, I can arrange a place for you."
"My niece from my mother's side is just at the age of enlightenment. She lacks a female tutor. I wonder if Miss Yan would be willing to teach my little niece."
Yan Yazhang hesitated for a moment and asked, "I've never been a female tutor before. I'm not sure if I can do it well."
Song Zhaoyang smiled gently and said, "Everything has a first time. Your father is the dean of an academy, and you grew up in an academy. You should know how to educate people."
Yan Yazhang thought for a while and said, "Then I'll give it a try."
Seeing that Yan Yazhang agreed, Song Zhaoyang said with a smile, "Great! I'll send someone to take you to the Song Mansion tomorrow."
In the evening, Xue Chucheng came to the villa. He joked, "I heard that my wife helped a stranger in trouble?"
Song Zhaoyang looked at Xue Chucheng's teasing expression and snorted. "What? Is my acting as a chivalrous woman so hard for you to accept?"
"Of course not." Xue Chucheng bowed in apology and said with a smile, "My wife is truly chivalrous."
Song Zhaoyang also laughed.
"Don't worry, husband. I didn't save her for nothing. She's the daughter of the dean of Huating Academy and is proficient in the four arts of the Chinese scholar. I want her to teach my niece in the Song Mansion. If she does a good job, she can teach Yaoyao when she grows up."
Xue Chucheng was surprised and then joked, "I didn't expect my wife to plan so far ahead. But is this person reliable?"