Good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news spreads far and wide.
The matter of the White Tiger Duke, the Duchess, and the Taotie Douluo visiting Martial God's residence spread quickly.
People had mixed opinions about the whole incident.
Some thought Zhongli was heartless, while others thought Zhongli did the right thing.
Zhongli didn't care about this.
He just guarded his "one-third of an acre" and didn't care about the opinions of others.
The prestige and reputation of the White Tiger Duke's residence, as Zhongli had expected, plummeted in a short time.
"Dai Hao, Dai Hao, you are truly my lucky star!"
In the palace, Xu Jiawei laughed heartily.
The White Tiger Duke's residence was a "remnant of the previous dynasty." Knowing that Dai Hao had the idea of restoring the previous dynasty, as the emperor of the Star Luo Empire, he could do nothing about Dai Hao.
It was indeed because the Dai family was deeply rooted in the Star Luo Empire, and their prestige was unmatched by the Xu family.
This move by Dai Hao and the Duchess caused the Dai family's prestige and reputation to plummet, which was a great boon for the Xu family!
"As for the Duchess..."
At this point, Xu Jiawei's smile faded somewhat.
After all, the Duchess was from the Xu family, a princess.
Her actions could also be linked to the royal family.
Of course, since she had married into the Dai family, she was no longer a member of the Xu family.
Dai Hao had designs on the throne, but could it be that the Duchess did not?
Obviously, it was impossible not to have such thoughts!
"She is still a member of the Xu family after all. I have to go to Martial God to apologize..."
Although he said he was apologizing, the smile on Xu Jiawei's face did not diminish.
"Someone, convey my decree: The Duchess of the White Tiger Duke, as a noble of the empire, is so jealous and behaves in such a way that it is clearly not the quality a noble should possess."
"Strip her of her princess status and her identity as a member of the Xu family, and demote her to a commoner!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Xu Jiawei just smiled at the praise from the "eunuch" and didn't pay it much heed.
When was he not wise?
As for Dai Hao, he will not act against him for now. If he made any more mistakes, the ministers would surely demand punishment, and then... hehehe!
Xu Jiawei thought for a moment, selected a few precious... antiques and calligraphy from the palace treasury, and then headed out of the palace.
He had interacted with Zhongli a few times and knew what Zhongli liked. Sending antiques and calligraphy was also a way to cater to his preferences.
When Xu Jiawei arrived at the hotel where Zhongli was staying, the Seal-holding Eunuch also arrived at the White Tiger Duke's residence.
Dai Hao and the Duchess had quarreled after returning and were in a cold standoff when they heard that an imperial decree had arrived. They "made up" and came out to receive the decree.
Upon hearing the contents of the decree, the Duchess sat down on the ground.
The contents of the decree didn't harm her.
But Xu Jiawei wanted to completely sever ties with her!
Stripping her of her princess status and her identity as a member of the Xu family, and demoting her to a commoner, wasn't this completely severing ties?
A commoner?
She, a princess of the empire, will one day nominally become a commoner, which was hard for the Duchess to accept.
"Is that it?"
Dai Hao was puzzled. The decree had been read, but there was nothing about him?
Shouldn't Xu Jiawei take this opportunity to suppress the White Tiger Duke's residence?
At the very least, strip him of his title or something.
But Xu Jiawei only "cleaned up family matters," which made Dai Hao very confused.
The Duchess was from the Xu family, Xu Jiawei was the head of the Xu family, the Duchess was a princess, and Xu Jiawei was the emperor. From any perspective, Xu Jiawei was cleaning up family matters.
Even if Dai Hao was the Duchess's husband, he couldn't interfere!
Moreover, this was an imperial decree!
"Duchess, please receive the decree. This servant must return to report to His Majesty."
The eunuch, the Seal-holding Eunuch, was undoubtedly Xu Jiawei's most loyal person.
Eunuchs were incomplete people, so "his" self-reference was correct, a servant, not a slave.
Hearing this, the Duchess's face turned as black as coal, but she still accepted the decree.
She knew why Xu Jiawei did this, but she was just unwilling.
For the sake of the Xu family, her identity as a princess and a member of the Xu family had to disappear.
If she wasn't the Duchess, she might not have been demoted to a commoner but executed instead!
Just as the Seal-holding Eunuch was about to leave, as if he remembered something, he paused and said to Dai Hao, "Duke, although the Duchess has become a commoner, she is still the mistress of the White Tiger Duke's residence and your wife."
"Please think carefully before divorcing her!"
After saying this, the Seal-holding Eunuch turned and left. When "he" turned his back to Dai Hao and the Duchess, a strange smile appeared on his lips.
With Dai Hao's lack of brains, he still wanted to compete with the wise and mighty emperor for the throne?
The Dai family was just a group of brainless warriors.
As a eunuch, "he" understood one thing: only if Xu Jiawei was well off would "he" be well off.
If Xu Jiawei fell, "he" would definitely have a hard time!
The court ministers might not change, but the eunuchs in the palace would surely be replaced...
Dai Hao clenched his fists. He had just thought of divorcing his wife, but the other party directly blocked him with a single sentence.
The purpose of marrying the Duchess was her status, which could benefit the Duke's residence.
Now, the Duchess's status was stripped, and she became a commoner, meaning his legal wife was a commoner!
Not allowing him to divorce her, wasn't this an insult to him, Dai Hao?
"Good for you, Dai Hao, you actually want to divorce me!"
The Duchess was not stupid. Seeing Dai Hao's expression, she understood what he was thinking.
They say one day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of kindness. She had even borne Dai Hao two sons, but now that her status was stripped, Dai Hao actually thought of divorcing her.
If not for the Seal-holding Eunuch's reminder, she might have become the next "Huo Yun'er" tomorrow.
Dai Hao snorted coldly, ignored the Duchess, and went straight back to his room.
"Dai Hao, since you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust!"
"This green hat, you'll wear it whether you like it or not!"
The scene shifts to the hotel where Zhongli is staying.
Xu Jiawei respectfully placed the antiques and calligraphy down, picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and then cupped his hands towards Zhongli, saying, "Martial God, I have come to apologize."
"What crime have you committed?"
Zhongli waved his hand, pretending not to know.
Xu Jiawei was a smart person, and smart people don't do stupid things. Zhongli was very happy to deal with such a smart person.
"Martial God, the White Tiger Duke and his wife, only caring for their own selfish interests, came to cause trouble, it was simply courting death... ahem, too inhuman!"
"The Duchess is from the Xu family. As the head of the Xu family, I am guilty of lax discipline!"
"The Duchess abused her status, acted recklessly, and belittled common people. I have stripped her of her princess status and her identity as a member of the Xu family, demoting her to a commoner!"