Until her repeated foolish actions challenged the imperial family's dignity and she became the Shen family's abandoned child, the Empress Dowager no longer bothered with her.

  "Why did you think of coming with Rui Wang to see me today?"

  The empress dowager beckoned to Shen Youxia, who walked over and sat down beside her as usual. The empress dowager held her hand and asked with a warm smile.

  Shen Youxia knew that the Empress Dowager must have heard about their impending divorce and also knew the purpose of their visit to the palace. At this time, she pretended to be unaware, thinking about the reasons behind it all, Shen Youxia's heart was not feeling well.

  There are so many people around who care about me, why don't I cherish them well? Why did I waste their kindness time and time again, exhausting all my good relationships.

  Stupid, really stupid.

  "After returning to the palace, I discussed with Wang Ye and thought that instead of tormenting each other like this, it's better to set each other free. We want a divorce. Xia also knows that she has let down your kindness towards her, so please forgive Xia's willfulness once again."

  Shen Youxia knelt on the ground, speaking in a sincere and earnest manner.

  The empress's eyebrows slightly furrowed, in her heart Shen Youxia had always been a sensible and understanding child who knew when to advance or retreat. Although she was overly stubborn about the matter of Rui Wang, after all, he was still her own child, so she was biased towards him in many ways.

  But now, Shen Youxia knelt in front of her, with firm words, and had long lost the timidness and bravery when she begged her to take charge and marry Rui Wang half a year ago.

  She had also heard some news about the Rui Wang Fu, and before the marriage, she had discussed it with Shen You Xia. At that time, she was very determined and confident, believing that after marrying Rui Wang, she would improve her relationship with him.

  But who would have thought that in just half a year, she would be kneeling in front of him, begging for reconciliation and divorce. In the end, she had eaten her fill of bitterness in the Rui Wang Fu.

  The empress dowager pitied Shen Yuxia in her heart, but as the daughter of the Shen family, she had to consider her natal home and the entire Chu Qin.

  "Girl, do you know what He and Li represent?"

  Divorce is normal between Chu and Qin, but the royal children have no precedent for divorce. If Shen Youxia really divorces Rui Wang, the entire court and civilians will definitely view Dingguo Houfu differently.

  The Dingguo Marquis Manor is the strongest support of the Shen family. If the Dingguo Marquis Manor suffers from a bad reputation, the entire Shen family will not be well off, including her, the most noble woman in Chuqin.

  "I know."

  Shen Youxiang struggled to say these three words, from the beginning she knew what she would face after the divorce, and also knew what it might bring to Dingguo Houfu.

  But the relationship that was maintained with great difficulty in the previous life also led to the downfall of the Dingguo Hou Mansion, and also led to his own death in prison.

  Since it's come to this, she would rather die than be separated from him, and change the fate of Dingguo Hou Mansion and her own destiny.

  Unfortunately, the empress dowager would never know, nor would she understand.

  "I don't agree with your divorce, no matter what the reason is. Once you get divorced, Shen's family will be the first to bear the brunt of it. I am your elder, and I cannot watch you make a mistake and bring shame to the Shen family."

  The empress dowager's words were spoken lightly, but the strong tone of a superior was not to be ignored. However, this was exactly what Shen Youxia had expected. If the empress dowager had agreed directly, she would have found it strange instead.

  "Empress Dowager, what is the current situation of the Shen family? You are clearer than me. Is the decline of the Shen family really just because of my relationship with Rui Wang and his departure? Zhu Yunyan is Rui Wang, not the Crown Prince."