You Divorced Me for a Noble Lady? I'll Take My Dowry and Remarry

Jiang Yu, a merchant's daughter, spent thirteen years supporting Qi Yuanhong from a destitute orphan to the top scholar in the imperial examination. She funded his education, maintained his social connections, and waited faithfully for his return. However, upon his success, Qi Yuanhong, accompanied by Su Yuezhen, the fourth young lady of the powerful Qingshan Mansion and niece to the Imperial Concubine, demanded a divorce. Su Yuezhen, arrogant and entitled, looked down on Jiang Yu as a lowly commoner and insisted that Jiang Yu step aside to clear the path for her union with Qi Yuanhong. The confrontation escalated when Jiang Yu revealed that she had discovered Su Yuezhen’s secret affair with Song Yushu, a talented actor employed by the Qingshan family. By introducing Song Yushu into the meeting, Jiang Yu exposed the scandal publicly, turning the tables on her oppressors and humiliating Qi Yuanhong and Su Yuezhen in front of witnesses.

Faced with the threat of scandal destroying the Qingshan family’s reputation, Su Yuezhen and Qi Yuanhong were forced to comply with Jiang Yu’s demands. Jiang Yu did not simply accept a divorce; she meticulously calculated every expense Qi Yuanhong had incurred over the thirteen years, including tuition, living costs, clothing, and gifts, adding compound interest to the total. She demanded the repayment of over twelve thousand taels of silver. When Su Yuezhen attempted to pay with her jewelry, Jiang Yu refused, insisting on hard silver. The couple, desperate to avoid further public disgrace and eager to marry quickly, pawned their valuables and paid the debt. Jiang Yu then finalized the divorce legally, ensuring a clean break while stripping Qi Yuanhong of his dignity and financial security.

Following the divorce, Jiang Yu’s true identity was revealed. She was not merely a merchant’s daughter but the long-lost eldest granddaughter of the Duke of Chu, a position of immense power and influence in the capital. Her biological family had searched for her for years after she was abducted as a child. Upon arriving at the Duke’s mansion in the capital with her adoptive parents, Jiang Yu was welcomed by her biological mother, Lu Yifang, and her grandfather, the Duke of Chu. However, the family dynamics were complex, with her elder brother and sister-in-law displaying subtle disdain and calculating attitudes toward the newly returned relative. Jiang Yu remained composed, recognizing the political nature of the noble household and the need to establish her own position.

Her return to the capital was not without danger. During the journey, Jiang Yu was attacked by an assassin, an attempt likely orchestrated by Su Yuezhen, who had ordered the burning of Jiang Yu’s former home and the murder of her family. Jiang Yu’s quick reflexes and martial arts training, developed from her previous life’s experiences, allowed her to survive the attack. She was rescued by Qin Jingwei, the Sixth Prince, who observed her calm demeanor and combat readiness with interest. This encounter marked the beginning of a significant connection between Jiang Yu and the powerful prince. Jiang Yu also learned that her abduction years ago was not a random act but a calculated conspiracy, a fact her grandfather hinted at during their private discussions.

Jiang Yu’s strategy moving forward involved leveraging her dual identity. She planned to publicly expose the scandal involving Qi Yuanhong and Su Yuezhen, forcing the Qingshan family to acknowledge their wrongdoing. Simultaneously, she intended to use her status as the Duke’s granddaughter to protect herself and her adoptive parents from further retaliation. She rejected the notion of remarrying for convenience, asserting her independence and desire to carve her own path in a society that often marginalized women. Her relationship with her adoptive parents remained her priority, and she ensured they were settled comfortably near her residence in the capital. The narrative sets the stage for Jiang Yu to navigate the treacherous waters of noble politics, seek justice for past wrongs, and redefine her destiny on her own terms, all while managing the growing intrigue surrounding her and the Sixth Prince.