He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

The news spread like wildfire, reaching the entire capital in less than half an hour.

When Jiang Bingning heard Chuntao's message, she was pruning a pot of clivia for her mother.

The scissors cut off an extra leaf.

The last trace of reluctance she felt for Jiang Yuerong was extinguished with that one cut.

She put down the scissors and gave the order calmly.

"Go and fetch Granny Zhang, prepare the carriage, and head to the Lin family's villa."

When Jiang Bingning's carriage stopped outside the Lin family's villa, the place was already packed with people.

She didn't step forward; she simply watched the unbearable farce unfolding in the courtyard from across the crowd.

Wang Kun seemed to have gotten tired of beating her. He stood with his hands on his hips, spitting at Jiang Yuerong, who was lying on the ground, disheveled and looking like a madwoman.

"Shameless slut! You think you can marry into the Wang family? Dream on!"

"Are all the daughters of the Jiang family this lowly?!"

He got carried away with his cursing.

"They're all eager to be men's playthings!"

A murmur arose from the crowd.

Just then, a clear and authoritative voice suddenly rang out.

"Young Master Wang, please be careful with your words!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhang Mama, who was standing next to Jiang Bingning, looking at Wang Kun with a serious expression.

"By order of the Queen Mother, I hereby inform you of something."

"Madam Liu officially divorced Jiang Chengxuan yesterday, and the documents have been submitted to the government."

From then on, Madam Liu and her children had no further connection with the Jiang family.

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the disheveled Jiang Yuerong in the courtyard, her voice devoid of any emotion.

"Any actions of that Second Miss Jiang in the courtyard are her family's business and have absolutely nothing to do with Miss Jiang Bingning, the distinguished guest of my Prince Xin's Mansion!"

These words resonated deeply, and the crowd instantly erupted in uproar.

All eyes darted back and forth between the two figures inside and outside the courtyard.

On one side, Jiang Yuerong, with her hair disheveled and clothes torn to shreds, lay on the ground crying uncontrollably, her reputation ruined, becoming the biggest laughingstock in the capital.

On the other side, Jiang Bingning stood tall and straight, dressed in an elegant lake-blue dress, her clothes neat and spotless, standing aloof from the crowd, her expression calm as if watching a play that had nothing to do with her.

One is in the mud, the other is in the clouds.

The onlookers pointed and whispered among themselves.

"My God, are they really sisters?"

"One is shameless, the other is refined and virtuous."

"What a difference!"

The murmurs among the crowd grew louder, and Lin Wenbo's face revealed a timely hint of embarrassment and heartache.

He stepped forward and helped Wang Kun, who was still about to throw a tantrum.

"Brother, please calm down."

Wang Kun flung him away, his eyes bloodshot.

"Calm down? Lin Wenbo, how the hell am I supposed to calm down! I'm wearing this green hat perfectly well!"

Lin Wenbo sighed, his voice extremely low.

"Now that things have come to this, I, Lin Wenbo, am not an irresponsible person."

"I am willing to take Yue Rong as my concubine, to give her a proper status, and to give my brother an explanation."

Taking a concubine?

Wang Kun felt as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"It's your business what you do with a worn-out shoe you've worn out, but you think you can just sever all ties with me after insulting me like this?"

"Lin Wenbo, you've got a good plan!"

Lin Wenbo's face darkened, and he abruptly pulled Wang Kun aside, his voice carrying a hint of coldness.

"Brother Wang, haven't you made enough of a scene?"

"Are you really going to break ties with the Lin family over someone like this?"

He leaned close to Wang Kun's ear.

"We both know that someone like Jiang Yuerong is fine to play around with, but bringing her into the household would only tarnish our reputation."

"You vented your anger today, and I gave you a way out, so why are you still being so relentless?"

Wang Kun was panting heavily, clearly still furious.

Lin Wenbo chuckled and slightly raised his chin toward the carriage of the Prince Xin's mansion not far away.

"Brother Wang, look over there."

"The true phoenix of the Jiang family is right there."

"He's completely innocent, and a favorite of the Dowager Princess Xin. Now he's even severed ties with the Jiang family, free from that troublesome father."

"Compared to this slump, wouldn't marrying such a beauty as my principal wife be far more prestigious than anything else?"

Wang Kun paused, following his gaze.

The carriage curtains remained perfectly still, yet they exuded an indescribable air of nobility and aloofness.

The anger raging within him instantly found a new outlet.

-----------------

The Lin family did not give Jiang Yuerong any respect.

As evening fell, a dusty gray cloth sedan chair was silently carried into the Lin residence through the side gate of the detached courtyard.

There was no music, no guests, not even a piece of red silk.

The sedan chair bypassed all the ornate courtyards and was carried directly to a small, remote courtyard in the Lin residence.

An expressionless old woman threw a document in front of her.

Two large, vividly black characters were written on it.

"The Concubine's Book".

Jiang Yuerong trembled all over, and only then did she fully understand.

What a glorious life for the eldest daughter-in-law of the Prime Minister's mansion!

What a harmonious and loving couple.

It was all a dream!

The noble concubine she longed for was just a dream; the lowly concubine before her, worse than a pig or a dog, was her true destiny.

-----------------

Xinwangfu, inner residence.

Liu Jingyi was summoned by the Empress Dowager.

"Now that the divorce is settled, you can settle down here in peace."

Liu Jingyi respectfully replied, "Yes."

The Dowager's voice remained calm, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

"But you need to keep an eye on your daughter."

"Don't get involved in any of the filth outside."

"Jiang Yuerong is a member of the Jiang family. Her life or death has nothing to do with our Prince's Mansion or you at present."

"The reputation of the Prince Xin's Mansion is more important than anything else."

Liu Jingyi's heart sank suddenly.

"...Yes, I understand."

The next morning, Jiang Bingning went to pay her respects to the Dowager Empress. Before the Dowager Empress arrived, Ji Zhaowu launched his attack.

"The rumors circulating outside are getting more and more horrible."

"They said that the second daughter of the Jiang family was shameless and had lost her virginity before marriage, causing a great uproar throughout the city."

He paused deliberately.

"Tsk, like mother, like daughter."

"They're all troublesome."

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly.

Jiang Bingning didn't even blink.

"I don't understand what you mean, little brother."

"My mother always taught me that a daughter's character is a reflection of her mother's upbringing."

"I imagine that my brother's mother must have been a woman of upright conduct and noble character when she was alive."

She changed the subject, her gaze falling on Ji Zhaowu's face.

"I don't know why, but when she got to Shao Huan's place, she went astray and actually did something like putting poison powder into the elders' medicine bowls."

"It must be that Sister Shaohuan herself is disappointing and has failed the Princess's teachings."

"you!"

Ji Zhaowu's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

When Ji Chengyun arrived after hearing the news, Ji Zhaowu was still throwing a tantrum.

"Brother! Look at her! An outsider, how dare she ride roughshod over me!"

Ji Chengyun's face was terribly gloomy.

"shut up!"

He gave a low shout, and Ji Zhaowu trembled in fright.

"What kind of behavior is this?!"

"Shouting and yelling, smashing cups and throwing goblets in the Dowager Consort's courtyard—is this the rule of the Prince's residence?"

Ji Zhaowu was left speechless after being lectured.

Ji Chengyun ignored him and turned to walk in front of Jiang Bingning.

His expression softened instantly.

"I'm sorry you had to suffer."

Jiang Bingning shook her head.

Looking into her calm and unwavering eyes, Ji Chengyun solemnly made his promise.

"You can stay here in peace."

"Within the Prince Xin's mansion, no one can humiliate you."