He Le'an and Shao Yingxue also looked at the shopkeeper with a strange expression. Ordinary people would be overjoyed, who cares if others intentionally want to cause trouble? As long as business people can make money, it's fine. However, they saw the shopkeeper respectfully bowing to He Le'an and saying:

  "Our boss said that as long as the princess of Yue comes, business will be suspended, and all things must be selected by you first."

  He Le'an didn't need to think about it and knew who their boss was. Zhao Yingxue smiled and said, "In that case, Xue'er, you can choose whatever you want."

  Shao Yingxue just nodded, Meng Duo Jiao walked and said with disdain, "The mountain chicken turned into a phoenix is indeed different from the others. Everyone is eager to fawn on it, but I want to see how long you can be in the limelight!"

  "I don't know how long I can stay in the limelight, but when I am, I can easily make you miserable." He Lian said calmly, "Boss, remember, pass on my order. From now on, if anyone from the Taining Hou Mansion comes to your store to buy something, don't sell it to them. If someone asks why, just say that the young master's wife of Taining Hou is asking for trouble herself."

  "You!" Meng Duo Jiao turned her head back in anger as soon as she walked out of the shop.

  He Le'an interrupted her, saying, "No matter how poor my family background is, I am better than you, who snatched away my sister's husband. My sister just passed away and you married him with a big belly. You and I are like river water and well water that don't interfere with each other. If you insist on coming to find fault, then don't blame me, the wife of the Duke of Yue, for teaching you a lesson. Just because I didn't follow one rule of etiquette, I can make you kneel here and receive a slap!"

  She let out a cold hum, even more disdainful than Meng Duo's earlier contempt. "A person is called a person because they have a brain, and the brain is a good thing. I hope you can consider finding it back. With that tasteless and lowly title of Young Master's wife, don't come to me looking for a sense of existence in such a ridiculous way!"

  "Yes! You're amazing! From a humble concubine to the wife of a duke! Everyone in this city knows that you are deep and wise, and you have easily recovered the city that has been lost for a hundred years. Not a single man doesn't praise you as a heroic woman!"

  It was when her husband despised her that he used her to belittle her, Meng Duo Jiao's anger rose from the bottom of her heart, and she sneered: "But what about it? Who is truly admiring you? Who doesn't say behind your back that you are a poisonous woman with a heart of venom?"

  He Le'an smiled lightly and said, "Even if you look down on me again, what's the big deal? When you see me, you still have to kneel and pay your respects. Isn't that enough? Your mouth is on someone else's face, I don't care what they say, but whether or not they pay their respects to me, I can take care of it myself. Otherwise, Mrs. Su, why don't you try violating the law first and see what kind of punishment you'll receive?"

  Meng Duo glared at her with venom, and the maid by her side reminded her to calm down as she was about to lose her mind. She stormed off in anger, truly regretting abandoning so many princes back then and getting drunk on Su Shuang's lips that had been laced with aphrodisiacs. Seeing He Le'an looking down on her from a superior position, jealousy sprouted in her heart. This was true for Cheng Shuwei, and also true for He Le'an!

  One relied on that face, looked down on her from the start, one unknown luck, married a merchant as a county king! And she picked and chose, only to pick a deceitful self, pulling herself into the mud pit of a scoundrel! Why is heaven so unfair! She could have been higher and happier than them, why did she have to meet Su Shuang?

  Why can't Cheng Shuwei and He Le'an meet him and be tortured and humiliated by him! Why!

  **

  It's night.

  Meng Duo Jiao had just come out of her son's room when a handsome man walked towards her, raised his hand and slapped her hard. "You slut! Didn't I tell you not to make trouble? But instead, you didn't even dare to mess with the Imperial Concubine Mei, but now you're going after the Consort of the Yue Prince?! Now the whole city knows that you've lost your mind, what a shame for the Tai Ning Marquis Manor!"

  "The face of the Tai Ning Marquis' manor was thrown out by you, and on that day, you said you wanted to marry me. But you don't love me, why did you marry me?! What's the point?!" Meng Duo Jiao glared at the man with resentment, her jealousy and grievances all turning into anger, venting out without care, "I don't want to see you, get out——"

  Another loud slap, the man indifferently looked at the woman who fell to the ground with blood flowing from her mouth. "Watch your tone, it was you who were eager to marry into this family back then, I never forced you. When you surrendered yourself to my bed, weren't you also very flirtatious and seductive? What's wrong, haven't been touched for a while, is somewhere itching?"

  He said, kicking Meng Duo's chest and pinning her to the ground, tearing open her collar. Looking at her with disdain, he said, "I let you go back home to get things, but you even lost them. What do I want a useless woman like you for? You're not even as good as throwing yourself at my capable subordinates to comfort them!"

  "You! Su Xuan, you're not human! You——"

  Another slap, Su Weng's lips curled coldly and said, "If I weren't a human being, how much better could you be than me? Dongfang Niang had just died, and you rushed to squeeze into the Hou Mansion. Are you forgetting your ugly appearance and willingness from that day on? I said I liked you, but I never said I would like you for a lifetime. I'm fed up, and I can change my mind anytime!"

  "Listen up, Meng Duojuan, stop messing with me again, or else don't blame me for throwing you and your son out to the wild burial grounds!"

  Meng Duo Jiao struggled and said, "Didn't I create an opportunity for you to get close to He Le An? You can deceive He Le An just like you deceived me back then! How is it that you think you're not a match for the King of Yue Guo? You——"

  Another slap, Su Weng looked at her swollen and ugly face with disgust: "Do you think all women are like you, greedy for vanity and easy to deceive? Even if you were reborn from your mother's womb, you can't compare to one of her fingers!" He suddenly admired: "He Le An is a woman worthy of men's careful consideration!"

  "You're incompetent yourself, don't think you can use your usual tricks to get me to help you ruin her."

  "You're stupid, I'm not foolish." Su Xuan raised her chin, looking at her with disgust, and spat out a mouthful of saliva, "The more I look, the more disgusting it is. Pass on my order, don't let this cheap goods take another step out of the yard. Which foot dares to disobey orders will be broken!"

  He left coldly, Meng Duo Jiao lay on the ground in despair for a long time before she couldn't help but burst into tears. The little boy who was woken up early, trembling with fear, slowly walked towards her, "Mother, mother, don't cry, don't cry!"

  Meng Duo's gaze, shining with tears, grew more and more venomous as she looked at the little boy, the son of this devil who had shed Su Xing's blood, the son who had made her struggle for so many years. Even if she regarded him as a treasure, as long as Su Xing said one word, they would still have no way to survive.

  No way! She can't let these people who humiliate her live a good life!

  She's unlucky! She also doesn't want them to be happy!!

  Since they all have to die, then she will drag them down with her as well!!!!!

  **

  In a magnificent mansion, amidst crimson and scarlet, joyful voices and laughter filled the air.

  He Le'an walked towards the crowd, and unexpectedly saw Ruiqin Wang walking over from the other side. He looked at her with a warm smile and said: "I thought that today at the Prime Minister's banquet, I would see the 17th brother and sister-in-law coming together in pairs, but I didn't expect this newly appointed Minister of War to be so busy."

  "He's good at fighting battles, but not at being an official. There are too many things to learn, and he's already overwhelmed. Hehe, my husband and I have been married for a long time, even people in the capital think we're a fresh couple. He's always been bad at socializing, so I can only help him out more often, or else everyone will think he's an uncouth man who's hard to get along with."

  Rui Qin Wang looked at her with a radiant gaze, and said with some envy: "Seventeen married a good wife, I often hear Your Majesty say that women like my younger brother's wife are gentle and resilient, now I understand a bit."

  "Ruiqin Wang has been promoted, but I'm just a weak and delicate woman." He Lian'an suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, "It wasn't long ago that people said I was cunning and ruthless, and no one dared to be sincere with me."

  Rui Qin Wang was taken aback, and then couldn't help but say with a smile: "Who can stay in the imperial city without being deep and cunning? However, the cruelty is too much. In the war between the two countries, the innocent civilians are also unavoidable casualties. Moreover, I have never heard that you, my brother's wife, are cruel to the people of other countries. The cities of Yingdong are all about land, not people."

  "No one wants to be troubled with the affairs of state, if possible, who wouldn't want to live a carefree and leisurely life?" He Lian said, "Day after day worrying about so many things, before the years have passed, hair starts to turn white from worry. It's better to be like Ruiqin Wang, not having to manage or worry about anything, with all the free time to travel around, enjoy the scenery, and feel younger no matter what."

  Rui's uncle burst out laughing and said: "Being able to make my younger brother's wife envy me, I'm actually quite pleased, so I won't be polite and accept this compliment."

  Through the winding warm stone path was the Chancellor's mansion guest courtyard, when suddenly Rui Qin Wang grabbed her arm, and with a surprised face, he pulled her to the wall, put his finger on his lips, signaling her not to make a sound, then pointed to the wall, taking advantage of the intimate distance, he whispered in her ear: "The commotion has stopped."

  At this time, He Le'an also heard the sound of swords and knives rubbing against each other from the wall. She hesitated for a moment, then gently pushed away Rui Qin Wang who was holding her, and slowly approached the gate of the courtyard.

  Suddenly, a large number of black-clad men appeared among the guests. After a brief moment of silence, a burst of screams erupted, one after another, as the black-clad men deliberately targeted the women and started killing them, regardless of age. Even men who were accidentally injured did not escape unscathed. He Le'an was also baffled by what was happening.

  However, the commotion was soon stopped by the arrival of the Prime Minister's guards and patrol soldiers. The black-clad men either escaped or were killed, and the entire courtyard was stained with blood, littered with gruesome scenes that shocked the eyes. Those elegant and noble lives slipped away easily, and the cries of terror and wailing sounded like devilish music, buzzing into He Le'an's ears, leaving only a sigh, without any extra emotions.

  After all, during the border campaign, she had seen even more massive scenes of death, which was like standing in hell at that time.

  Rui Qin Wang looked at her calm demeanor, vaguely recalling the faint fragrance that emanated from her body during their intimate contact earlier. A faint smile played on his lips, but it was quickly suppressed.

  **

  He Le'an came out of the Prime Minister's mansion and thought he would take a detour to visit Shao Yingxue at the Jin Ning Hou Fu's side house. He went around the route to buy some miscellaneous items in the market, but as soon as he walked into the honeyed fruit shop, he saw a face that was somewhat familiar, with an unfamiliar cold expression, walking out of the shop.

  As they faced each other, he seemed not to recognize her and brushed past her. The little servant smiled obsequiously and bowed, saying: "Young Master Xiao, slow down, welcome you next time, the thing you want, I will send it to Yining Hou Mansion immediately."

  Xiao Qi's pride was so high that it seemed as if he hadn't heard this polite speech, and he left directly.

  He Le'an continued with her original intention, carrying some back to the Qianqin Wangfu and some to the Jin'ning Houfu's side courtyard. As she came out, there was a woman making a scene next to the shop, attracting a crowd of onlookers. She glanced over casually and was about to continue walking when suddenly an old lady fell down in front of her.

  The onlookers didn't know what was happening and started to back away, just as people were about to trample the old woman. He Lian'an bent down to help her up, but a young woman suddenly rushed over to her, holding a basin filled with bright red liquid, and splashed it onto her. Before she could react, a dark green figure appeared out of nowhere and blocked her way!

  Her wide eyes only saw the bright red liquid splashing on his not-so-wide back. Yet, not a single drop fell on her body. His expressionless face slowly furrowed, as if the bright red liquid was not simple. The dark guard jumped out and pinned the person down. He Lian said, "Xiao Qi you——"

  "You said you're so bad, others want to splash dog blood on you." Xiao Qi squeezed out this sentence from between his teeth, fine sweat condensed into beads on his forehead, slid down his face, and he indifferently looked at the black-clothed men who jumped out to surround them in a circle. He self-mockingly curled up the corners of his mouth and said, "I almost forgot. You're already the high-and-mighty Princess Consort of Yue."

  His face turned deathly pale at a visible speed, He Lian said: "You don't speak anymore, come on, send him away——"

  "It's nothing." Xiao Qi said, and turned away coldly, only to feel a burning pain on his back, as if something was corroding and scorching him. The irony was that at this moment, he thought, it was really... good that these things hadn't fallen on her.

  He suppressed his discomfort, step by step, walking out of her line of sight until he turned into a small alley. Only then could he no longer bear it, leaning against the wall, exhaling a rough breath, and his vision gradually became blurred. Wanting to continue on, he instead softly fell to the ground, his lips slowly turning blue-purple, and just before losing consciousness, he saw a flash of light blue walking towards him.

  He Le'an watched as Xiao Qi fainted, instructing the Dark Guards to send him to a nearby medical clinic. She also listened in on the diagnosis, and the doctor said: "This is the juice of the No Flower Tree mixed with animal blood that was splashed down. Fortunately, you sent him over in time, otherwise his life would be in danger due to the large area affected. It's also fortunate that it didn't hit his face, or else he would have been disfigured!"

  She guessed that the newcomer was not good, and didn't expect it to be so vicious. She ordered a dark guard to stay here and report on Xiao Qi's treatment situation, then left the hospital and went directly to the government office prison to collect the young woman and the suspicious old lady. Looking at the young woman who was being flogged to death and the terrified old lady beside her, He Le An said: "Do you know who I am?"

  The big woman shook her head vigorously and begged for mercy, "No, no, I don't know, I didn't do anything, you... spare me!"

  "I am the Princess of Yue," He Luo An said, "You deliberately fell in front of me, indirectly snatching my attention, making me unable to guard against that mastermind. Now you tell me, you didn't do anything? Do you think I'm a fool?"

  "Do you know what crime it is to directly or indirectly harm a member of the royal family?"

  "You should be torn apart by five horses." She said, "But I'm willing to give you a chance to reform, tell me, who bought you off? If the information is useful, I can let the government release you directly."

  The old woman shook her head in shock and fear, saying: "I don't know, I really don't know! A young woman gave me money and told me to throw it there. That's all I know, I swear! I didn't know you were the Duchess of Yue, please spare my life! I won't dare do it again, please forgive me!" She kowtowed desperately, finally becoming incoherent with sobs.

  He Le'an said calmly, "I think the interrogation won't yield anything, let's just behead him and avoid letting him go only to harm others for that little bit of silver in the future."

  The official next to him nodded and turned around, ordering the bailiffs to drag away the big woman who had fainted from fright and the woman who was on her last breath after being whipped.

  **

  He Le'an stepped out of the government office. A bright red figure rushed towards her, and she smiled: "It's not a big deal, it's not worth you rushing over specially."

  "As long as it's about you, everything is a big deal. The rest are just trivial matters that aren't worth mentioning." Zhong Sun Yue gently kissed her face.

  He Lan allowed him to pull her hand and walk out, "I still want to go to the medical hall to see Xiao Qi."

  "Then I'll go too, he saved my family's An Er, I must personally thank him."

  However, when they arrived at the doctor's office, the doctor said that Xiao Qi had left. Just as they were about to leave the doctor's office, the secret guard who had quietly escorted Xiao Qi back to the mansion also returned, without needing to report. He Lian also learned of Xiao Qi's situation from the doctor and turned back to the mansion.

  Without waiting for He Le's proposal, Zhong Sun had already found some excellent medicine and sent it to Xiao's house with a servant.

  Seeing this, He Le An raised the corners of her lips and smiled, "What a thoughtful man, I really didn't marry the wrong person."

  "No matter what, he saved you, that's a fact." Zhong Sun Yue said, "You are my treasure, he saved my treasure, I'll give him some medicine, it's only right."

  The once-large Xiao family, after separating in Fengzhou City, only had the branch of Xiao Qi and his siblings to develop in the capital. After Xiao Qi's younger sister married into the Yin Ning Hou Fu, the Xiao family, as merchants, also gained a higher status. Xiao Qi's father seemed to have discovered that merchants were no match for the nobility, so he used all his energy to secure a small official position for Xiao Qi at the Dali Temple.

  These things, perhaps it can be said that the current situation in Beijing is a relationship where every household is connected and interdependent. From before, whether familiar or unfamiliar, since her return to Beijing, basically heard from Zhong Sun's mouth or eyes and ears.

  Besides, she had never liked attending messy banquets before, but His Majesty wanted her to be as high-profile as possible, so that others would have the idea of pulling her over, and only then would she attend some larger banquets or those in the mansions that 'looked bad to offend'.

  The next day, Xue Huiyu finally returned from her relative's house and heard all the rumors and gossip. She came to see Qian in the Wangfu and said, "First it was the Chancellor's residence that had an incident, and now it's you. This is really like the old saying 'the sow changes its belly', one thing after another. In a few days, there will be a banquet at the Tai Ning Houfu, don't go. Even if you've returned from the battlefield on the border, you're still just an ordinary person. It's normal to have been frightened and fallen ill."

  "Ye Ming also said so, and the Tai Ning Hou Fu has always been Su Xuan's territory, it's better for him to go." He Le An smiled, "You don't have to worry, His Majesty doesn't care about my life or death, but your older cousin does."

  Xue Huiyu had never had a good impression of Hui Xie, "Heh, even if you all suffer and struggle for him with one heart and mind, when the time comes that he needs to abandon you, he will do so without hesitation."

  "We're not doing it for him, but for the people." He Lian said, "You seemed to be in a pretty good mood when you came. Did something good happen?" She changed the subject and said.

  Xue Huiyu said, "I received news that my second brother is returning to the capital from Jiangnan to report on his duties. At that time, he will stay in the capital for a while, and I'll see if it's possible to transfer him back to Fengzhou City. It's been many years since I last saw him, just thinking about it makes me excited."

  "It's indeed a good thing." Xue Huiyu's second brother was also a Wen Shuangyuan graduate. At that time, the Jiangnan border area was plagued by bandits, and Emperor Huixi sent him to govern there. Later, when the situation improved, there happened to be a vacancy in Jiangnan, so he stayed there for about four or five years.

  "Uh-huh. Probably around early autumn I'll arrive in Beijing."

  He Le'an thought of Shao Yingxue living in the Jin Ning Hou Fu's separate courtyard and thought that after Xue Er returned, she wouldn't be suitable for staying in the Hou Fu either. He said: "It seems like Snow wants to stay in the capital, so it would be better to buy a house. You help me ask her what kind of house she likes, try to pick one she'll like." If he just gave her money to buy one herself, it would seem a bit strange.

  "It doesn't matter if she stays in another courtyard, the other courtyard is so big, my second brother hasn't gotten married yet, but he's not a reckless person either. If I tell him which courtyard has people living in it, he'll avoid it. You let Shao Er live alone outside. It's still not reassuring, it's better..."

  "I'm not worried that your second brother is unscrupulous, I'm worried about the power of public opinion. She's divorced and if she wants to marry a good family again, she needs to be even more proper. Some things we don't mind ourselves, but it doesn't mean others won't mind either. If careless words get out, it will also harm Xue Er. After all, this is the capital city, where rumors spread at a speed several times faster than in Fengzhou City."

  "That's good. After being with her for a few days, I can still see that she wants to remarry and misses her mother. She wants to marry into a good family again and then tell her mother about all the things that have happened over the years. Although they are divorced, fortunately, there are no children, and in every aspect, she is not bad, so it's not difficult for her to find a good family."

  After chatting for a while, He Lian and Xue Huiyu brought some pastries to visit the humble prince's wife.

  The King's humble wife had no daughters of her own, but she loved all her nieces and grandnieces dearly. She was delighted to see Xue Huiyu, but He Le'an thought she looked a bit off-color. So he asked if she hadn't been sleeping well lately or if there was anything that didn't feel right. She shook her head and said, "Nothing out of the ordinary, I'm afraid it's just the heat. Even with ice in the basin, the air still feels stifling."