【Past Life · A Late Encounter】
In the sixth year of Jing'an, Jiang Yunshu turned twenty-three.
She had been reborn into this world—this was her twenty-third year since transmigrating into the Great Qi Dynasty.
It was the seventh year of her marriage to Duan Jinxing, the third year of his tenure as Chancellor, and also the third year since she had been granted the title of First-Rank Noble Consort.
To the outside world, everyone envied her.
They all said Chancellor Duan was unwavering in his devotion, that despite rising to such a high position, he had neither concubines nor even a single maidservant for pleasure.
Only those within the Chancellor's residence knew the truth—Jiang Yunshu and Duan Jinxing had long since lived apart.
No, it wasn’t just separate rooms. The entire estate was divided in two: Duan Jinxing occupied the eastern wing, Jiang Yunshu the western, and even the kitchens were duplicated, one on each side.
Unless absolutely necessary, the couple never saw each other.
All of this stemmed from one discovery Jiang Yunshu had made the previous year—though Duan Jinxing had no concubines or maidservants, he… entertained courtesans.
Jiang Yunshu remembered that day with painful clarity.
As Chancellor, Duan Jinxing had countless social obligations, and since their marriage, Jiang Yunshu had always managed them for him.
That day’s banquet had been no exception—she had spent over half a month meticulously planning every dish, every piece of tableware.
The guests were merry, many drunk. At some point, someone had sent servants out to summon courtesans for entertainment.
Jiang Yunshu hadn’t known at first. When she heard, she rushed over—only to see a young, delicate-looking courtesan perched on Duan Jinxing’s lap, his arms wrapped around her.
The courtesan took a sip of wine, then pressed her lips to his, passing the drink to him…
Jiang Yunshu didn’t remember how she left.
Duan Jinxing had seen her, yet he didn’t follow. He continued feasting with the guests until deep into the night, returning to their chambers reeking of alcohol.
He dismissed it casually: "My lady, pay it no mind."
"My heart belongs only to you."
"Those courtesans—how can they even be considered people? They’re no different from spoons, chopsticks, or wine cups."
To Duan Jinxing, a courtesan feeding him was no different from using a spoon; one offering him wine was the same as drinking from a cup.
He had merely played along for the occasion—never keeping any overnight—and believed this already made him morally superior.
He expected Jiang Yunshu to forgive him instantly.
But her heart turned to ice.
Staring at the stranger beside her, she woke as if from a dream.
Seven years of marriage, and she had never truly known him.
Now she understood: they were from entirely different worlds—no, different species.
Seven years of "love" had been a lie. Jiang Yunshu severed all ties with Duan Jinxing at once.
In the Great Qi Dynasty, divorce was difficult, and life afterward even harder for women.
Her first act was to split the Chancellor’s estate in two, ensuring they would never cross paths.
Strangely, she felt no pain doing this.
Upon reflection, she realized the truth: in those seven "loving" years, she had never actually loved Duan Jinxing. She had only believed she’d found an ideal husband in this ancient era and had dutifully played her role.
At first, Duan Jinxing pleaded for reconciliation. But after repeated attempts, his patience wore thin.
He couldn’t fathom why she’d react so drastically—just because he’d pretended to embrace a courtesan?
To him, Jiang Yunshu had lost her mind! Why throw away the prestige of being a First-Rank Noble Consort? What more could she possibly want?
No woman in the capital lived better than her—who wouldn’t envy her?
He tried to force her compliance, only to find he had no leverage.
While he had climbed the ranks, Jiang Yunshu hadn’t been idle—she, too, had been quietly building her own strength.
