When she made the decision to defy the imperial decree, it was inevitable that many people would think she was infatuated with Liang Jue. After all, she wasn’t a rigid traditionalist, not even close to being a proper gentleman. Refusing marriage was definitely because she couldn’t let go of her infatuation.

Liang Rong’s reaction, her mother’s reaction, and the reactions of others were all within her expectations. She thought Liang Jue would be touched by this and would worry about her, but she couldn’t help but feel happy when he actually said she was wrong and should have agreed.

Shen Meng sat up, grabbed a pillow to lean against, and tapped his ear, squinting as he said, “Repeat what you just said.”

Liang Jue enunciated each word heavily, as if each one was squeezed out of his teeth with great effort, “I said, when the Empress decreed the marriage, you should have agreed.”

Shen Meng had been half-opened eyes, but now she opened them fully, staring at his face, as if trying to detect any trace of falsehood, but there was none. Liang Jue’s eyes were clear, looking at her candidly, although his eyes were a little red, there was no hint of deceit.

He couldn’t lie to her when he faced her. Obviously, these were his sincere words, coming from the bottom of his heart, without any falsehood.

In the previous life, Shen Meng’s divorce was semi-coerced. She had written the divorce letter early, waiting for Liang Jue to sign it. At that time, she thought it would take some time to persuade him, but Liang Jue agreed, not wasting her energy.

Until then, she always thought Liang Jue didn’t like her as much as he said. In this life, she could feel Liang Jue’s love more clearly, but sometimes, she still couldn’t understand his thoughts.

Just like now, he actually said she should have agreed to the Empress’s request. Shen Meng didn’t think Liang Jue was lying, she just thought Liang Jue was crazy.

She stared at his handsome face, “Do you really hope I marry someone else? If so, why did you bother to seek this marriage in the first place?”

She really couldn’t understand this legitimate husband of hers. She had spent two lifetimes trying to understand him completely. Not all men were as difficult to understand as Liang Jue, at least her stepfather, Shen Lishi, she hardly needed to use her brain when dealing with him.

Shen Meng choked up, tears streaking down her face, her voice choked, “Of course, I don’t want you to marry someone else. Having just you for a lifetime is enough for me. But that’s the Empress, how can you defy her decree? More than that, I hope you can live well.”

He wasn’t so magnanimous as to bless the person he liked to live happily with someone else, so he tried his best to arrange this marriage. But he hadn’t reached the point of forcing it.

Being with Shen Meng naturally is very good. But under coercion, he still prioritizes the safety of his loved one. Rather than the short time spent with Shen Meng, he only hopes she can live well and healthy for the rest of her life.

Shen Meng didn’t expect this to be his reason, and her expression was somewhat moved. After all, although she refused the Empress’s decree of marriage, it wasn’t just for Liang Jue.

She wasn’t that infatuated. In the previous life, she could divorce Liang Jue semi-coercively for her own sake. Although she did have some affection for Liang Jue, it was more for her own interests.

The new legitimate husband was a prince, greatly favored, with his own mansion. If she married him, she would have to move to the prince’s mansion. As a former legitimate wife, what would it mean for her to bring a former legitimate wife along?

At that time, the Liang family’s status was not low either. She didn’t want to become enemies with the Liang family, nor did she want to bear the reputation of being heartless.

Divorce, being good to Liang Jue, wasn’t bad for her either. After all, she really didn’t have much attachment in terms of emotions and didn’t mind her ex-husband remarrying. If she hadn’t been a lonely ghost after death in the previous life, attaching herself to Liang Jue’s hairpin, she might have had the same attitude towards him in this life.

Even in this life, when she refused the marriage, it wasn’t because she thought Liang Jue would be sad if she agreed, but because if she did, it would create too much deviation from the previous life’s situation, making it too difficult for her to control.

She instinctively felt that the Third Prince was related to her death in the previous life. After all, when she died, she still had a significant role to play for the princess she sided with, and they hadn’t reached the point of burning bridges.

Awareness in light, enemies in darkness. She didn’t like situations beyond her control, so she refused the Empress’s seemingly absurd decree of marriage.

“You don’t need to be upset about this. Actually, whether you were here or not, I would have refused this marriage.” If her legitimate husband wasn’t Liang Jue but someone else, she would have refused as well, not because he was special, but because of her principles.

But Liang Jue interpreted this as her deliberately comforting him. Mist clouded his eyes, tears brimming as he looked at her.

He could hardly meet Shen Meng’s eyes, only lowering his head, revealing his fragile and fair neck, “You don’t need to comfort me. You really don’t need to. We’re both men, I can tell, the Third Prince really likes you. If you marry him, you’ll have a good life. And didn’t you say it yourself, you and him were once acquainted.”

Compared to Shen Meng’s life, who she’s with doesn’t seem so important anymore. Shortly after marrying her, he had thought that if one of them were destined to leave first, he hoped it would be him, so he wouldn’t be so sad.

Although he didn’t want to admit it, he could still feel that the Third Prince sincerely liked his wife. Perhaps because Shen Meng was a bit dense and hadn’t noticed.

He actually thought like this. Shen Meng leaned back, lazily propped against the pillow, her eyes closed, resting, her eyelashes fluttering slightly like the wings of a butterfly.

The lamp in the room burned quietly, the blue flame occasionally making a faint crackling sound in the air.

Liang Jue gazed at her face almost greedily, as if wanting to etch her final appearance into his heart forever.

After a moment of silence, when Shen Meng was almost falling asleep, he suddenly burst out, “If it really can’t work out, let’s just divorce. Or you can divorce me.”

Shen Meng was almost asleep, and her head suddenly tilted from the pillow to the side. She coughed violently twice, pushed her body back up onto the bed, and struggled to open her eyes, asking him with effort, “Divorce you? Husband, you haven’t done anything wrong, why should we divorce?”

Liang Jue’s thoughts were really becoming more and more unexpected to her. She had known he was extremely jealous, a living vinegar jar. But now he was actually willing to let her go, which was truly beyond her expectations.

Although she hadn’t planned for a divorce, let alone to divorce her husband, she still asked this question.

Liang Jue pursed his lips, his voice heavy, “Of course, there is a reason. It’s written, I have been in the house for more than a year and have not borne a daughter for wife. Filial piety is paramount, and not having offspring is a major offense. I have committed one of the Seven Offenses, so being divorced is no big deal.”

He could be so ruthless to himself, which really woke Shen Meng up.

She asked him in incomprehension, “Do you know what you’re saying now? Don’t you regret it?”

After all, in their dynasty, the founding Empress was born on horseback, and men weren’t as restricted as in previous dynasties.

But women in this dynasty placed too much emphasis on carrying on the family line, and the prohibition of not being able to bear offspring was still retained among the Seven Offenses.

“Since you mentioned the Seven Offenses, you should also know that it refers to not having borne a daughter within five years, of course, except for cases where physical problems are found and it’s difficult to conceive a daughter. The doctor has checked you and found you to be healthy, it’s just not the right time yet.”Shen Meng had impregnated him with their child in the previous life, although they hadn’t been able to be born safely in the end.

She just calculated that in this life, that child should have already taken root in Liang Jue’s belly.

Liang Jue’s lips tightened into a straight line, his fingertips deeply pinched into his palm, leaving crescent-shaped marks. “As long as we both keep silent, no one will know.”

Shen Meng gazed deeply at him, as if trying to see into the depths of his eyes. “But by saying this, after we divorce, it will be difficult for either of us to find a good spouse.”

Liang Jue smiled, “If I divorce you, I never intended to remarry.”

It wasn’t the case in the previous life, but he had never thought of remarrying.

On this point, Shen Meng still believed him.

She sighed softly, “You always like to overthink. I have never mentioned divorce. Moreover, if you want a divorce, you need my consent. Since I don’t agree now, you shouldn’t think about these things anymore.”

“But how do we explain this to the Empress?” He remembered in the previous dynasty, a prince deeply favored by the Empress took a liking to a minister, and then the Empress ordered the execution of the minister’s legitimate wife.

Although the current Empress wouldn’t be so absurd, if Shen Meng offended the Empress, her fate wouldn’t be too good either. He and Shen Shilang thought similarly. Although the Third Prince liked Shen Meng now and could protect her, the Third Prince wasn’t young anymore. He couldn’t keep stalling without getting married.

Once the Third Prince had a legitimate wife, he certainly wouldn’t tolerate his husband having feelings for someone else. The wife selected by the Empress for the Third Prince wouldn’t have a low status, and after getting married, it would be difficult for her to defend Shen Meng.

When the Empress settled accounts, even if Shen Meng were promoted, she wouldn’t be so irreplaceable. The current Empress was vengeful and ruthless.

From how the Empress dealt with former officials, it was clear that when that time came, Shen Meng’s life would be in danger. Just thinking about it, he couldn’t bear the arrival of that day.

Shen Meng said, “According to your logic, if we divorce and you have a child, have you ever considered the crime of deceiving the Empress?”

Liang Jue said, “That’s just the fault of the doctor, not considered deceiving the Empress. And if you marry the prince, the Empress won’t mistreat you.”

In that case, he would cherish the thought of having that child.

Shen Meng couldn’t help but find it somewhat ridiculous.

She raised her voice, “Stop overthinking. I’ll handle these matters. I’m a bit tired, so let’s sleep early. We still have some family matters to deal with tomorrow, and you need to conserve some energy.”

She didn’t quite understand how someone as deeply emotional as Liang Jue thought, but his deep affection for her was never a bad thing in her eyes.

Liang Jue wanted to say something more, but he noticed his wife’s breathing gradually becoming shallow, her body naturally shifting from a leaning position to sliding onto the bed, drifting into a deep sleep.