Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 361: Divorce and Remarry

Given the circumstances, Minister Wang had no choice but to swallow his pride.

"But how could Guangzhi, as a grandson of the Lin Family, even if he caused such a mess, deserve to be beaten to death?"

"Our Lin Family is not like your Wang Family, indulging children who are ignorant of their limits. Back when your sister-in-law and Mrs. Wang colluded to take a fortune from the Lin Family, do you not have any sense of how much that was? Not divorcing her back then was already saving face for the Wang Family, and now you have spoiled the child into such misbehavior, it’s utterly despicable."

"I was able to tolerate her once, but not repeatedly. As for such a disgrace to the family name, why keep her? If you’re not afraid of the Wang Family losing face, go ahead and make a scene outside. I dare to see whether it will be my Lin Family or your Wang Family that collapses first!"

Hearing this, Minister Wang was speechless.

Indeed, his daughter had siphoned a substantial amount from the Lin Family in the early years.

Now that Prime Minister Lin had leverage over the Wang Family, they had no grounds to cause trouble.

Yet, he still gritted his teeth and said,

"We’ve been in-laws for decades; even if she did something wrong, there’s no need for a divorce, right? Once she’s better, I’ll personally discipline her, and I beg the Prime Minister to show mercy."

"No need. Since you’re here today, take her back with you. Whether to send her to the village or keep her at home is the Wang Family’s issue. As for the Lin Family, you needn’t worry—we will carve our own path to the future."

Minister Wang didn’t expect Prime Minister Lin to be so heartless and immediately resorted to threats.

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose everything by taking my daughter to Yingtian Prefecture?"

Prime Minister Lin sneered and immediately produced a letter.

"No need for you to complain; I will file the complaint myself. Such behavior doesn’t make him fit to serve in court, does it?"

Minister Wang took two steps back, utterly shocked.

The Prime Minister Lin, in his fury, would not even spare his own son.

To sever his son’s prospects and force a divorce on his daughter-in-law.

What kind of calamities are these?

In the end, Minister Wang left the Prime Minister Lin’s study in dismay and could only order a carriage to be prepared for his daughter.

As for the dowry Mrs. Wang had in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, it remained untouched for the time being.

Soon, a declaration came from the Lin Family.

It claimed that Mrs. Wang had contracted a contagious disease and had also infected Lin Guangzhi.

Thus, the mother and son were sent to the countryside to recover.

However, the disease was so vicious that both Mrs. Wang and Lin Guangzhi succumbed to it.

Once dead, for fear that their burial might cause an epidemic,

their bodies were cremated to ashes.

Prime Minister Lin then paid a visit to the Emperor, and after a long conversation, he left.

By the next day, news from the palace confirmed it.

It was approved for Prime Minister Lin to retire and return home, and Mr. Lin, to care for his father, voluntarily demoted himself to a county magistrate and went with him.

Though outsiders suspected some hidden motives, no one could discern the true reason.

Ultimately, the chaos of the Lantern Festival overshadowed the entire incident.

Within the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Princess Rongkang, who had been bedridden for a long time, hadn’t seen Prime Minister Lin.

Yet, today when he entered Ronghe Hall, he held a porcelain jar.

It wasn’t large but was wrapped in black cloth.

Upon seeing it, Princess Rongkang suddenly started to cough violently.

Her health had been robust, but she couldn’t withstand the blow of the Prince Zhan Mansion’s downfall, leading to her illness.

The medicine she took three times a day showed no improvement.

Her condition worsened instead.

The once-young-and-dignified person was now shrunken to just bones.

Her eyes were sunken, spiritless; her cheeks were gaunt, blood at the corners of her mouth.

"Princess, the Prime Minister has come to see you."

The maid serving her said softly in her ear, waking the slightly resting Princess Rongkang.

"The Prime Minister... is here..."

Her voice was no longer vibrant but rather dry like bark.

Upon hearing her voice, Prime Minister Lin felt a slight twinge of compassion, which quickly vanished.

"Yes, today I’m taking the second family back to our ancestral home. The journey is long and arduous, and you’re unwell, so stay behind."

Princess Rongkang couldn’t believe it.

She never expected her partner to forsake her as well.

So, she just gave a bitter laugh.

Tears fell, without another word.

Soon after, Prime Minister Lin’s voice was heard again.

"Oh, I brought you something you liked, thinking it might comfort you. That boy Guangzhi died of disease, fearing it would spread. I took the liberty of having his body burned. Originally, this ash wasn’t meant to be kept, but I thought you might want to express your condolences, so I brought it."

Hearing this, Princess Rongkang couldn’t suppress the blood in her chest.

She coughed it up at once.

It splattered on Prime Minister Lin’s hem, looking especially poignant.

"He...he was your own grandson!"

"Yes, he was my grandson, but he was worthless. What use is he? Almost brought down the entire Lin Family."

"Oh, I also arranged the divorce with Mrs. Wang and elevated Aunt Guo as the legitimate wife, so Runzhi is our true grandson. Rest assured, once we return home, I will personally educate him to ensure he brings glory to the Lin Family name!"

He then stepped closer to Princess Rongkang and whispered in her ear.

"This way, you can rest in peace."

Having been his wife for most of her life, Princess Rongkang finally saw through him at this moment.

After pondering, she coughed twice and asked,

"Did you tamper with my medicine?"

"Yes."

Prime Minister Lin admitted frankly, not seeing it as a significant matter.

He calmly added,

"You were going to die anyway, so it doesn’t matter telling you. Prince Zhan’s entire family was exterminated, thanks to evidence I submitted to the Classical Examination Department."

"Why?"

Princess Rongkang’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t believe it.

Sadly, Prime Minister Lin had no time for further words.

He left her with one last remark.

"Don’t think you can manipulate me. In this world, I only trust myself."

Then he strode away.

Leaving Princess Rongkang on her sickbed, she could only smile bitterly; as she laughed, she began spitting blood.

Spitting blood, she seemed to return to those early days.

Back to the moment she first laid eyes on Prime Minister Lin, when that single glance sealed her fate.

That night, Princess Rongkang, clutching a black jar, passed away.

She appeared peaceful in death.

But only those maids close to her knew how much she had suffered recently.

With the last heavy snowfall in Shengjing City, the old grievances and disputes also faded with winter.