Chapter 13: The Table Split in Two

　　When they reached the main courtyard of the Zhu residence, the sky had grown even darker.

　　Lanterns hung at intervals throughout the main courtyard. The darkness couldn’t hide the light spilling from them.

　　Yinxing lifted her lantern, blew out the candle inside, and led Qianli Xun and Kuqiao through a long corridor to the courtyard of the main hall. The courtyard was spacious, paved with stone tiles. Thanks to the lantern light, they could clearly see three magnolia trees planted on each side. The flowers were in full bloom—white, purple, and yellow.

　　Qianli Xun was drawn to the flowering trees and paused to admire them for a moment.

　　Yinxing urged, “If you like them, Miss, you can come see them tomorrow at dawn. The flowers are even more beautiful in sunlight. For now, we should hurry to dinner with the master and madam. If we’re late, the master will be upset.”

　　Qianli Xun had no choice but to move on. As she walked, she pondered: when she met Zhu Shuzhen’s father, should she treat him the way Zhu Shuzhen would, or follow her own style? She finally decided to observe first, following Zhu Shuzhen’s approach. She reminded herself: Zhu Shuzhen’s routine was to bow first, then keep silent.

　　Just as she was thinking, they arrived at the dining area of the main courtyard. Several maids were carrying trays into the room.

　　Yinxing stopped and announced, “Master, Madam, the miss has arrived.”

　　A man’s voice came from inside, calm yet cold. “Let her in.”

　　Yinxing said, “Miss, the master has permitted you to enter.”

　　Qianli Xun took two steps forward, then noticed Kuqiao hadn’t followed. She turned and asked, “Why aren’t you coming?”

　　Kuqiao said, “I’m not qualified to enter, Miss. I’ll wait outside for you.”

　　Yinxing said, “Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll take Kuqiao to the maids’ quarters for dinner.”

　　Qianli Xun sighed, “Alright, looks like I’ll have to face my father alone.”

　　As she walked into the main hall, a large screen blocked her view. She couldn’t see what was inside. She stopped and reminded herself: Stay calm. Be polite. Keep silent.

　　A maid came over and whispered, “This way, Miss.”

　　Qianli Xun followed the maid around the screen, and the scene inside the room came into full view.

　　Facing them was a sitting couch with a square wooden table on top. On one side sat Madam Xiang. Seeing her daughter enter, she didn’t speak, only smiled to acknowledge her. On the other side sat Zhu Shuzhen’s father. He held a book, completely absorbed, not even glancing up at his daughter.

　　Qianli Xun studied her father carefully. He was in his forties, with a beard, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. His facial features were well-defined, and his complexion was clear. In his youth, he must have been a handsome man.

　　Qianli Xun thought, So Zhu Shuzhen looks like her father.

　　Qianli Xun stepped forward and bowed. “Father, Mother.”

　　Madam Xiang nodded, still silent.

　　Zhu Xiyan didn’t look up, but instructed, “Sit down.”

　　Qianli Xun found a seat and kept reminding herself: Stay silent. Stay silent.

　　After holding on for a while, she grew bored. Watching the maids coming and going to set the table, she thought, Three people eating, yet so many dishes. That’s too extravagant!

　　Madam Xiang hadn’t yet found a chance to inform the master about her daughter’s situation, because she didn’t dare speak freely in front of him. When her daughter walked in, she observed carefully. Shuzhen walked gracefully and sat quietly, no different from before. A smile naturally appeared on Madam Xiang’s face.

　　Then she heard her daughter say, “Father, Mother, dinner is ready. Let’s hurry over and eat. Eating too late makes it hard to digest, and it’s easy to gain weight…”

　　A tear rolled down Madam Xiang’s cheek. The daughter before her was no longer the Shuzhen she knew. She turned her head and quietly wiped away the tear with a silk handkerchief.

　　Zhu Xiyan was quite surprised. He looked up and glanced at his daughter.

　　Meeting her father’s gaze, Qianli Xun couldn’t help but shiver inwardly. His eyes were so stern. She didn’t dare continue and quickly lowered her head, resuming her silence.

　　A maid came over and bowed. “Master, Madam, Miss, dinner is ready.”

　　Qianli Xun thought, Finally! She was the first to stand up, but before she could take a step, she saw Madam Xiang shaking her head, gesturing for her to sit back down. Qianli Xun had to sit back down and steal glances at Zhu Xiyan. She watched him put down his book, step off the couch, and pass in front of her.

　　Madam Xiang also stepped off the couch, walked to her daughter’s side, helped her up, and followed Zhu Xiyan to the dining table, seating her daughter in the proper place.

　　Qianli Xun sat down. In all her life, she had never experienced such an uncomfortable dining atmosphere. She felt very uneasy and decided to break the silence.

　　Hearing Zhu Xiyan say, “You may begin,” she finally couldn’t hold back. She picked up a piece of duck with her chopsticks and placed it in Madam Xiang’s bowl. “Mother, eat this.”

　　Madam Xiang shook her head at her again.

　　Qianli Xun didn’t want to pay it any more attention. She picked up another piece of duck and held it out to Zhu Xiyan. She had just called out “Father” when she saw his gloomy expression. He looked very displeased. She withdrew her hand. “If you won’t eat it, I will.” She quickly popped it into her mouth and began chewing heartily.

　　A maid beside her came over and whispered, “Miss, eat in silence, and mind your manners.”

　　Qianli Xun was quite annoyed. She thought, Eating in my own home, and I have to mind this and that. Not comfortable at all. Forget it. I need something from this father. Look at him—a grown man eating like a bird, not making a single sound. How unmanly.

　　She observed Madam Xiang again. Her movements as she picked up food were graceful. When eating, she parted her lips slightly, also chewing slowly. Qianli Xun tried to imitate her. After one attempt, she found it funny herself—it was so different from her style. She had practiced Qianli Fist since childhood, hanging around martial artists. When eating, she had always been the uninhibited type. When had she ever been so delicate? She decided not to make herself uncomfortable and returned to her normal self. She completely let go and began wolfing down her food.

　　When Madam Xiang saw this, she set down her chopsticks, her face full of surprise. How could this be her daughter Shuzhen! That way of eating—like a village woman from the mountains. Tears welled up again, and she reached for her handkerchief. The attending maids exchanged glances, surprised smiles on their faces.

　　Then came a loud crack. Zhu Xiyan had slammed his chopsticks onto the table. Everyone around was startled.

　　Qianli Xun was just about to grab a chicken leg when the sound made her yank her hand back. She touched her forehead and started pretending to be in pain. “Ouch! My wound on my forehead hurts so much!”

　　Madam Xiang asked worriedly, “Shuzhen, are you alright? Someone, hurry and get the medicine for the miss’s wound.”

　　The maid quickly brought the medicine and applied some to the miss’s forehead.

　　Madam Xiang asked anxiously, “Does it still hurt?”

　　Qianli Xun said, “Much better.” She hoped this act would draw her father’s concern or quickly lead to the topic she needed to bring up.

　　Surprisingly, the trick worked. Zhu Xiyan finally spoke, his expression still stern. “I hear you want a mutual divorce from Lin Jue. Is this true?”

　　Now that the conversation had opened, how could Qianli Xun let such a good opportunity slip away?

　　“Father, you can see for yourself. The wound on my forehead was caused by Lin Jue. You must have noticed that I’m very different from your daughter before. That’s because Lin Jue beat your daughter unconscious. After she woke up, she became like this, and she doesn’t remember anything from before. He even brings merchant courtesans into the house. Isn’t that going too far? Letting such a person continue to be your son-in-law—wouldn’t that be pushing your daughter into a living hell? I beg you to step forward and help with the divorce.”

　　“Do you still have Young Master Xu in your heart? I might as well tell you today. The Xu family has moved north. Young Master Xu is already married and now has both a son and a daughter.” Zhu Xiyan’s expression was blank. He didn’t even glance at his daughter.

　　Qianli Xun remembered. Kuqiao had mentioned Young Master Xu, Zhu Shuzhen’s childhood sweetheart. To her, Young Master Xu was nothing more than a stranger.

　　“What Young Master Xu? I was beaten by Lin Jue until I lost my memory. I don’t remember anything.”

　　“Not remembering is best. Then there’s even less reason for a divorce. Just live your life honestly and don’t think about it.”

　　Zhu Xiyan’s words surprised Qianli Xun. His own daughter had been beaten like this, yet he didn’t feel the slightest bit of heartache. What kind of father was this!

　　“Father, he beats me and sees merchant courtesans. Do you think I can continue living with him?”

　　“Hmph! You think I don’t know anything? Lin Jue came to the prefectural office to see me today. He explained the situation clearly and knelt before me to admit his mistakes. He injured you, but you also injured him badly. He brought a merchant courtesan home, but are you without fault? If you had consummated the marriage earlier, none of this would have happened.”

　　Lin Jue had beaten her to the punch and played the victim. Qianli Xun was furious. She stood up. “Father, you can’t just listen to his side of the story!”

　　“And should I only listen to your side?”

　　Qianli Xun grew even angrier. She thought this father’s focus was truly bizarre. She continued to emphasize, “Father, Lin Jue has already beaten your previous daughter to death. I am Zhu Shuzhen reborn in your daughter’s body. I’m not your real daughter. I don’t have any of her memories. Haven’t you noticed? Based on this alone, you should punish Lin Jue for murder and lock him up.”

　　Zhu Xiyan looked up and studied his daughter carefully. She was indeed different from before, though her appearance was the same. He lowered his eyes again. “The idea of rebirth is just nonsense made up by country folk to fool people. How can it be taken seriously? If you’re not Shuzhen, then who are you?”

　　Qianli Xun raised her clenched fist. “I know martial arts. Did the previous Zhu Shuzhen know martial arts? I beat Lin Jue. The previous Zhu Shuzhen could only be beaten by Lin Jue. Do you still think your previous daughter wasn’t beaten to death by Lin Jue?”

　　Hearing this, Madam Xiang burst into tears. “Oh, Shuzhen! You died so tragically!”

　　The maids were quite astonished by this conversation, but with the masters present, they didn’t dare whisper among themselves.

　　Zhu Xiyan said in a calm but forceful voice. “What are you crying about? The matter isn’t clear yet, and you’re joining in the chaos!”

　　Madam Xiang immediately stopped crying and continued wiping her tears.

　　Then Zhu Xiyan said something Qianli Xun never expected. “Since you’re not my daughter Shuzhen, I have even less reason to step forward for your divorce from Lin Jue. Leave. With you here, I can’t even finish a meal in peace.”

　　Qianli Xun’s eyes widened. She never expected Zhu Shuzhen’s father to be so heartless.

　　“What if I were your daughter?”

　　“Then you should divorce even less. Obey your parents’ arrangements and live peacefully with Lin Jue. When I married you to him, it was to make you understand that life isn’t all moonlight and roses.”

　　Qianli Xun was truly enraged. She really wanted to use her fists to force Zhu Xiyan to step forward and support her divorce. But in everyone’s eyes, he was her father—what could she do? Her anger had gathered strength in her fists. She needed to find a way to release it.

　　Zhu Xiyan continued enjoying his meal as if nothing had happened. Qianli Xun was so angry she couldn’t contain herself. She slammed her fist down. With a deafening crack, the solid table split cleanly in two. The bowls, plates, and food on it all crashed to the ground. Madam Xiang and Zhu Xiyan dodged to the side. The maids were terrified by the reborn miss.

　　After venting, Qianli Xun withdrew her fist and said to Zhu Xiyan, “No matter what, I still call you father. Since you won’t step forward for me, I’ll figure it out myself. I’ll get this divorce with or without your help!” With that, Qianli Xun strode out.

　　Left behind in the room: Madam Xiang, still wiping tears, and Zhu Xiyan, expression unchanged. Yet even he had to admit—the girl who had just stormed out was no longer the Shuzhen he knew.