Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 440 There is another voice

Everyone present, including the Wang and Xie families and the onlookers, was stunned. They never expected that this Wang family daughter would not only be so rude to her husband, but also speak so arrogantly to her own parents. In today's world, parents are often seen as inherently wrong; even if parents are truly unkind to their children, they usually keep it hidden, unwilling to let outsiders know. How could someone like the Wang family daughter be so reckless, directly exposing everything and trampling on her parents' dignity?

But Wang Heng felt incredibly relieved. She had kept these words bottled up inside for twenty years, wanting to tell the couple all along, but she had never found the opportunity. Today, speaking them in front of so many people in public, she felt much more at ease, and the suffocating feeling from before was gone.

Wang Heng felt especially excited when she saw the couple clutching their chests, trembling, and unable to utter a single word.

"I'm just telling you the truth, and you can't accept it? I've lived like this all these years, yet you haven't felt guilty or regretful. Do you think only your lives matter, while mine don't? Ha, it's utterly ridiculous. You call yourselves a noble family, but today I'll let the whole world see that the five families and seven surnames aren't as noble as legend says. They're just a bunch of filthy things in human skin."

Wang Heng's words had a far-reaching impact, causing those around her to murmur amongst themselves. Seeing this, Xie Kun seized the opportunity to offer words of comfort.

“Ah Heng, I know you’re upset. I’ve neglected you all these years. But your parents raised you. Even if they’ve made mistakes, can’t you forgive them for their age? Besides, you’ve brought your family’s private affairs to the attention of outsiders. What about their dignity? Come back with me. I know I was wrong before, and I’ll never treat you like that again. Let’s not become a laughingstock. Furthermore, His Highness the Prince has his own matters to attend to. It’s really impolite for us, as strangers, to live in his house.”

Wang Heng gave a cold laugh; she was already immune to such words.

"Don't you feel guilty saying such things? Xie Kun, don't even think about letting today's events slide. I have something to tell you: I'm not divorcing you."

Xie Kun's face suddenly lit up with wild joy. "Great! That's wonderful!" he thought. He'd always believed that Ah Heng still cared for him, even if today's incident was rather ugly. It didn't matter; time would heal all wounds. Eventually, no one would mention it anymore. But before he could even step forward to express his feelings, Wang Heng suddenly raised her voice and uttered a shocking statement.

"I want a divorce!"

Take a break? Take a break for what?!

Not only was Xie Kun stunned and bewildered, as if struck by lightning, but even the onlookers who were there to watch the spectacle and gather information looked as if they had swallowed a fly. What had they just heard? This Wang family woman actually said she wanted to divorce her husband? From ancient times to the present, it has always been men who divorce women, never women who divorce men.

Even the Wang couple, who had been trembling as if they were about to collapse, were now furious. The head of the Wang family immediately grabbed his cane and was about to rush up to beat this unfilial daughter, but he was stopped by the guards of the Wang mansion.

The Wang family head narrowed his eyes slightly, then burst into tears, kneeling before Jiu Que and sobbing. "Your Highness, look at my ignorant daughter! Listen to what she just said! She's already in her forties, her son is all grown up, and we've been through so much together. What can't we discuss calmly? Why did she have to embarrass both the Wang and Xie families in front of so many people? I think my son-in-law is right, she's gone mad. Your Highness, before her marriage, my daughter was a beloved child in the family. Now that she's gone mad, I have no face to let her continue as the matriarch of the Xie family. Please allow me to take her back to the family temple to care for her for the rest of her life; that would be enough for her. Your Highness is young and intelligent, but unmarried, and cannot understand the love a parent has for their child. However, Your Majesty will surely understand my love for my daughter. Your Highness, please don't stay with my mad daughter, lest you be harmed by her..."

"This old man is mistaken."

Jiu Que didn't care how much sarcasm was in the other party's words. She only understood the key point: the other party wanted to take Wang Heng back under the pretense of having gone mad. Once they took her back, would they let her come out again? It would be good enough if she was alive. Moreover, this old thing even wanted to complain to the Emperor. Did he really think he was a reincarnated bodhisattva who wouldn't get angry?

She appeared gentle and polite, but her attitude was very firm.

She really didn't need to be polite to this old man who would disregard his own daughter's more than 20 years of suffering for the sake of his own reputation.

"I see that the Hermit of Wuwei is clear-headed and speaks logically, not like someone who has lost her mind. But this old man, you keep saying that she has lost her mind, what evidence do you have?"

"What evidence do we need? Why don't we just have the doctor I keep at home come and take my pulse?"

“What you say makes sense, sir. However, there’s no need for your family’s doctor to make such a long trip. My residence has a royal physician bestowed by His Majesty. Why don’t we invite her to come out and examine the pulse of the Hermit of No-Wuwei in public?”

If that imperial physician comes out, wouldn't it still be up to Prince Chen to decide what he says?
They realized that Prince Chen was clearly siding with Wang Heng. They couldn't understand how Wang Heng, a woman despised by both her husband's and her own family, had won Prince Chen's favor, and why he was willing to risk a bad reputation to help her. This was going against the will of the world! If those upright officials found out, how could they allow Wang Heng to live in this world?
No, if Prince Chen were here today, they wouldn't be able to take Wang Heng back. The only way now is to spread the news as quickly as possible and then go to the palace to see His Majesty. They can't do anything to the favored prince, but there are countless upright scholars in the land; even a single spit from them would be enough to tarnish Prince Chen's reputation. At that point, could she still protect Wang Heng? As long as she stands on the side of righteousness, she can regain the face she just lost. With such an unfilial daughter as Wang Heng in front of them, who will care about her past experiences?
After thinking it over, the Wang family head exchanged a glance with Xie Kun, knowing that he wouldn't get away with it today, and sighed helplessly. He did a very good job of maintaining appearances, bowing politely to Jiu Que before leaving with a look of reluctance on his face.

Chunyu Shuang glanced in the direction they had left, feeling a little nervous. A tough battle was about to begin.

"Your Highness, if we're talking about reputation among the Qingliu faction, it seems we can't compare to the Five Families and Seven Clans."

"Don't worry about it. They think the voice of the righteous is the loudest. But there is another voice in this world that can shake the heavens and the earth!"