After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 221 Calculation
Madam Du asked Du Huan to see Bai Wanqing off. Before Bai Wanqing got into the carriage, Du Huan clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Thank you so much for your help, big sister."

Auntie was afraid of offending the Fang family and Prince Huai, but wasn't eldest sister afraid? Back then, even those people who had nothing to do with eldest sister, eldest sister stood up without a second thought.

Moreover, in the eyes of the Prince of Huai, the Bai family and the Du family are one entity. Can the Du family really sever ties?

Du Huan felt very depressed thinking about all this.

"No need, nothing has been done yet!" Bai Wanqing said softly.

Du Huan smiled and said, "Big sister, you've already done enough."

Du Huan watched Bai Wanqing's carriage drive away into the distance.

He returned to the front hall and saw his aunt writing a letter. He went up to her, wanting to continue to persuade her.

"aunt."

Du Wei raised her head, her previous dejection gone, replaced by a smile.

"I know you still want to try to persuade me."

"No need to persuade."

Du Huan was a little confused. "Auntie, don't you believe my older sister?"

"Or do you not believe that our Du family lacks backbone?"

"Even if we really lose this time, my nephew will definitely pass the imperial examination and restore the Du family's glory."

Madam Du narrowed her eyes slightly, smiled, and said, "I believe you!"

"Huan'er, I believe everything you say."

Du Huan was even more helpless now, "Auntie."

Du Wei handed the letter she had written to Du Huan, who quickly glanced at it and was stunned.

"Auntie, you... you've agreed."

Madam Du nodded slightly, "But I still need to discuss this matter with your father and uncle."

"When I said I was going to close the shop, it was because I really had no other choice."

"Whether from a business perspective or a political perspective, our Du family really has no chance of winning."

"Ke Wanqing is willing to help."

Madam Du did not continue speaking, because Du Huan already understood.

"Auntie, are you just waiting for eldest sister to make a move?"

Upon careful reflection, everything seemed to make sense.

It wasn't that the trouble at the cloth shop was something they only found out about today, but the Du family had been very quiet for the past two days. But today, when Bai Wanqing came, something happened in the front yard.

so.
"Huan'er, I really have no other choice."

"Given Lord Lin's current situation, if we were to approach him directly, Huan'er, our Du family simply cannot bring ourselves to do so."

Du Huan looked at his aunt in disbelief. "So, can we ask her now?"

“Aunt, why can’t you be more honest? You made me act out this whole charade.”

Du Wei pursed her lips. She naturally hoped to be honest, but sometimes...
For the sake of the Du family, she couldn't be honest. This was something Bai Wanqing had walked into on her own, not something the Du family had begged for.

In the future, the Bai family will not be able to use this matter to control the Du family or Du Huan.

Du Huan naturally couldn't think that much about Du Wei; he only knew that his beloved aunt had actually done something so hypocritical.

He'll probably never be able to hold his head up in front of Furong again.

Du Huanshen stumbled away from the front hall, secretly hoping that the Du family would give up this opportunity.

How can the humiliation gained by scheming against those around you be considered true justice?
Du Huan returned to his room dejectedly, by which time Fu Rong had already woken up from her nap.

"Husband, where is my eldest sister?"

When Furong was asleep, Bai Wanqing was still there. Now that she had woken up and couldn't find Bai Wanqing, she was filled with disappointment.

Du Huan didn't dare to look up, but whispered, "Big sister saw you were tired, so she went back first."

Although Furong was naive, she could tell that Du Huan was in a bad mood.

She raised her hand and cupped Du Huan's face in her hands. "Husband, if you encounter any difficulties, tell me."

"Tell the older sister that we will definitely stand by your side and help you."

Hearing this, Du Huan felt even more guilty. "Furong, what will you do if one day, my older sister, stops liking me?"

Furong didn't understand why her older sister would dislike her husband. After thinking for a moment, she blinked her big eyes and said, "Husband, my older sister doesn't dislike you."

Du Huan gave a wry smile: "Why?"

Furong smiled and said, "Because eldest sister likes Furong the most. With Furong around, eldest sister will definitely not dislike her husband."

Du Huan's smile froze on his face. What if one day Bai Wanqing stopped loving even Furong?
Du Huan didn't want this to happen, so he went to the Lin family that very night without Du Wei's knowledge.

When Fengniang saw Du Huan, she was startled, thinking that something had happened to Furong, and hurriedly ran to report to Bai Wanqing.

"Madam, the second son-in-law has arrived."

"You should go and check on her quickly, lest something have happened to the second young lady."

Bai Wanqing had just seen Furong during the day, but hearing Fengniang say this still made her heart tremble.

"Quick! Go get my medicine box!" Bai Wanqing ran to the door with her hair disheveled, not even having time to tie it up.

Seeing that Du Huan's expression wasn't in a dire situation, I slowed my pace slightly.

"Brother-in-law, what happened to Furong?" Bai Wanqing asked, panting heavily, her eyes full of worry.

Du Huan then realized that he had been somewhat rash when he came, having forgotten that Furong was pregnant, which had only added to Bai Wanqing's worries.

"Big sister, don't worry, it's not about Furong."

"If it's not about Furong, could it be about Aunt Du?" Du Wei wasn't in a good state when Bai Wanqing left.

Du Huan felt even more guilty at this moment, and he quickly shook his head, "No! None of that."

"Everyone is in good health, and no one has been in any trouble."

Bai Wanqing noticed that Du Huan's mood was off and said gently, "Then is there something else? Why don't you come in and talk?"

Du Huan looked into the courtyard and realized that he didn't even have the courage to step inside.

"Shall we go outside and talk?" Bai Wanqing took a step forward before Du Huan could react.

Seeing that he had already called the person out, Du Huan simply followed.

Bai Wanqing walked ahead, with Du Huan following behind. Fortunately, it wasn't too late yet, and many of the street food stalls were still open.

Bai Wanqing passed by Wei's wonton stall.

Wei Qian called out from afar, "Madam Lin, come and have a bowl of wontons."

"My mother prepared some fresh fillings today, so you can have a taste."

Bai Wanqing greeted Wei Qian familiarly, then found a corner and sat down.

Du Huan paused for a moment, then sat down next to him.

"Wei Qian, give us two bowls of wontons, with fresh filling."

Wei Qian smiled and replied, "Alright, coming right away."

Soon, two steaming bowls of wontons were served.

Bai Wanqing handed a pair of chopsticks to Du Huan, saying, "Furong and I ate quite a few snacks while chatting today."

"You haven't touched a bite; you must be hungry now!"

Du Huan took the chopsticks blankly, picked up a wonton, and put it in his mouth.

Its salty and fragrant aroma is truly unique.

Unaware of his surroundings, he ate it bite by bite, and soon the whole bowl was gone.

"Is it delicious?" Bai Wanqing asked.

Du Huan nodded shyly, "It's delicious."

"So you don't need to worry, anything good will always be recognized by someone."

"As long as someone recognizes it, it won't disappear."

Du Huan knew that Bai Wanqing was trying to comfort him. Her family was clearly plotting against her, but she was still trying her best to comfort him.

Du Huan felt uneasy.

"Big sister!" Du Huan finally spoke.

"Actually...actually, our family was...scheming against you."

"You know you'll help us later."

"The commotion this afternoon was all to get your attention."

After Du Huan finished speaking, he dared not look Bai Wanqing in the eye again. The two were silent for a while, and Du Huan felt as if the air had stopped.

It turns out that it's not easy to talk about your own unbearable experiences.

"Is there any difference?" Bai Wanqing's voice rang out, without anger or resentment, it just brushed past lightly.

“There are differences, of course there are differences. How can being willing and being schemed against be the same?” Du Huan started to get agitated, but his voice trailed off as he spoke.

Bai Wanqing smiled slightly, "That's because you don't understand your aunt's good intentions."

Du Huan was stunned. He didn't understand? She did!

Bai Wanqing did understand, just as her mother had done for her back then.

Why go to such lengths to support Meng Zhan's education? Isn't it all so that she can live a peaceful life in the Meng family?
Madam Du's thoughts were no different.

However, if this matter involves a binding and exchange of interests, then it can be said that no one owes anyone anything.

"Big sister, are you trying to comfort me?"

Bai Wanqing shook her head, "No!"

"Brother-in-law, this is a deal I made with your aunt."

"No one was plotting against anyone!"

Du Huan was confused. "How can this be considered a transaction?"

“It’s a transaction,” Bai Wanqing said coldly.

"Using my feelings for Furong as a bargaining chip?" Du Huan could hardly believe it; why was Bai Wanqing like his aunt?

Bai Wanqing shook her head, "Furong is not a bargaining chip. This matter is beneficial to Furong, so I am willing to make this deal."

"In the end, isn't it all for Furong?"

"Not entirely!"

"It's just that I can do this, and it happens to save the Du family and Furong, so of course I have to do it."

"Or to put it another way, even if the Fang family's opponent this time is not the Du family."

"I can do it too!"

Du Huan finally realized that it really was a deal. Bai Wanqing just wanted to use the Du family to deal with the Prince of Huai, just as the Du family wanted to use Bai Wanqing to deal with the Fang family.

Hahahaha! Du Huan suddenly burst into laughter. If that's the case, then he was worrying too much.

"I'm sorry to bother you, elder sister!" Du Huan stood up and bowed to Bai Wanqing with clasped hands.

"Then I'll leave the Du family's affairs to you, eldest sister."

After Du Huan finished speaking, he left without looking back.

After everyone left, Wei Qian came over to collect the bowls, feeling a pang of sympathy for Bai Wanqing.

“Mrs. Lin, you have clearly been doing your best to stop the Fang family from targeting the Du family.”

"Isn't it all for your girl?"

"Why are you unwilling to admit it!"

Bai Wanqing lowered her eyes, "We did try, but we didn't succeed, did we?"

"The Fang family has finally come after the Du family. Why bring up what they didn't accomplish?"

Wei Qian shook his head, "If we don't explain, wouldn't it really become a transaction?"

“If it weren’t for a deal, the Du family wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing this. After all, a relative’s help can be withdrawn at any time, but a community of shared interests will not.”

"Now that it's out in the open, there's nothing wrong with it."

(End of this chapter)