You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

Chu Nianci put on a peacock feather cloak and strode towards the west side room.

Upon entering, one sees the maids Tuanyuan and Hongying bound tightly and thrown on the ground, their mouths stuffed with rags.

She quickly stepped forward to untie the two of them.

"Are you alright, young lady?" Hongying, who knew martial arts, jumped up and checked her over. "This servant is useless. Someone hit me on the back with a club. It must be those heartless people in the manor trying to steal my dowry..."

The chubby little Tuanyuan, panting heavily, got up: "That's so unfair! They ripped off the sugar custard I just steamed..."

Looking at the two girls who had been with her since childhood, Chu Nianci felt a pang of sadness.

The two maids were the same age as her, Hongying was a month older than her, and Tuanyuan was two months younger than her.

The pretty and fiery Hongying stood up to her mother-in-law to protect her, but later mysteriously disappeared. When she was found again, she had been raped and died. Tuanyuan stayed with her until the end, but was tied up in a water dungeon by her sister-in-law and starved to death.

She held their warm hands, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Hongying quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears: "Don't worry, Miss. I heard the young master has returned. I'll go and beg him to intervene!"

"Don't go," Chu Nianci said coldly, stopping him. "From now on, I have nothing to do with him anymore."

The two exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised...

In the past, whenever the young lady heard news of the prince, she was always overjoyed.

Why do I feel like I'm seeing an enemy now?

Chu Nianci coldly recounted Lin Jingfan's attempted adultery: "My in-laws wanted to use him to 'produce a child' for me. The young master just caught us in the act, and my sister is still in my room..."

She recounted what happened that night, changing only one thing, claiming that she had sensed something was wrong beforehand and had taken precautions.

Hongying was so angry that her eyebrows shot up and her almond-shaped eyes widened: "They have no conscience! You spent so much money to enter the manor, and this is how they treat you? I'm going to settle accounts with them!"

"Sister Ying," Tuanyuan quickly stopped her, "this person was sent by that old hag. Who are you going to settle scores with?"

With bloodshot eyes and nowhere to vent her anger, Hongying slammed her fist on the table in frustration.

"Ying'er, don't be angry, be careful not to scratch your hands," Chu Nianci said calmly. "I have my own ways of dealing with these people."

Tuanyuan's eyes lit up: "Girl, what are you planning to do?"

"I've locked Lin Jingfan in his room. He took an aphrodisiac, and it'll take effect soon tonight. Hongying sent someone to fetch Lin Jingrui from the front. He's having a housewarming party with his friends there. I'll see them off so the family of three can be reunited..."

As Tuanyuan was putting pastries into his mouth, he heard the words "a family of three reunited."

He choked, coughing and rubbing his chest.

Hongying, her eyes red and sulking, burst into laughter when she saw her coughing violently. She poured her a glass of water and said, "If this is the case, then we'll fight to the death. Should we call all of us over?"

"No need, I reckon they won't dare to make a fuss," Chu Nianci said confidently.

Lin Jingfan had deserted and returned. They bribed the Ministry of War to report their deaths in battle and were even commended by the court. If this got out, the first person to suffer would be her good mother-in-law.

Chu Nianci sat at the table and calmly gave the instructions, saying, "Hongying, you need to be quick. Immediately notify our people to pack their bags and prepare to leave. Then, send a letter to your uncle in Tongluo Lane."

Chu Nianci sat under the lamp, picked up his pen and wrote a letter, clearly explaining his situation, and handed it to Hongying.

Although his uncle Qiao Zhaoling was a merchant, he was not an ordinary merchant.

Three years ago, he donated military funds and was awarded a gold plaque by the late emperor that read "Exemplary Figure of the World." He also became on good terms with the Duke of Zhenguo's family.

With his assistance and support, the plan can be completely successful.

"I've long since given up on this wretched place," Hongying said excitedly. "I'll escort you away tonight."

Chu Nianci shook her head: "We can't sneak away. This marriage concerns the entire clan. If we run away, the Earl's Mansion will turn around and accuse us of absconding with the money. We'll be unable to defend ourselves."

She tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her gaze calm. "I can't drag my mother down with me. If I'm going to leave, I have to do it honestly and openly."

Thinking of her mother, Chu Nianci's eyes welled up with tears.

Her mother, Qiao Yanshu, was the beloved daughter of the richest man in Yangzhou. She was pampered and cherished from a young age.

Unfortunately, being from a merchant family, she couldn't find a suitable husband, and when she turned eighteen, she finally succumbed to gossip and married her father, who already had a concubine... Chu Maolin, the prefect of Yangzhou.

Her mother was strong-willed and, after giving birth to her, lived in a separate room from her father. She even took the initiative to arrange for him to take a concubine.

Unexpectedly, his father brought back a courtesan named Yao from outside... Chu Shunqing's birth mother.

The mother absolutely forbade prostitutes from entering the house, which caused a complete falling out with the father, and from then on, she devoted all her attention to her daughter.

Fearing that her daughter would suffer because of her birth, the mother arranged a marriage for her in the capital early on, hoping that the generous dowry would protect her for life. In order to ensure that her daughter would be able to protect herself in the deep mansion, she also sent her to study medicine.

At sixteen, she returned from her studies at Medicine King Valley. Upon first seeing Lin Jingrui, she was struck by his handsome and extraordinary appearance, and her heart immediately fell for him.

The following year, her mother prepared a dowry of one million and tearfully sent her off on her wedding day: "I have finally found a good match for my son. I wish you and your husband a harmonious and peaceful life together."

Little did I know that this would be the last time I saw him.

Not long after she married into the Earl's family, her mother passed away. They conspired to keep the news from her and prevent her from returning home for the funeral.

On the day she was granted the title of Second-Class Lady, Chu Shunqing, filled with jealousy and resentment, let slip: "Your mother died long ago. Now my mother is a legitimate second wife, and I am also a legitimate daughter!"

In this life, she will protect her mother and never repeat the same mistakes.

Thinking of this, she asked Hongying, "How much have we subsidized in the past six months?"

"I spent over eight thousand taels of loose silver, and the jewelry, jade, and precious objects I gave away were worth about ten thousand taels. Fortunately, the million-tael silver note and the land deed for the pharmacy in the capital haven't been touched yet." Hongying listed them off as if they were her own treasures. She had a good memory and could also use an abacus, so she managed all the accounts.

Hearing this number, Chu Nianci felt a pang of pain in her heart.

When the Earl's family married her, the betrothal gifts amounted to only a few hundred taels of silver. However, when she arrived at the mansion, she discovered that the "hole" was nearly 100,000 taels of silver.

Fortunately, she was careful and used the excuse that she was not yet married to avoid putting the money in.

Hongying stamped her foot angrily, "Girl, we can't let these ungrateful wretches get away with this! They have to give back what they gave away!"

Looking at the flustered young girl, Chu Nianci smiled faintly: "Don't worry, we'll make them give it back. First, we'll collect all the jade and precious items that were given away and pack them all up."

She brought over fifty servants with her to the capital this time, all of whom were shrewd and capable. Since she had decided to enter the palace, these people could not be left at the Earl's residence, so they were arranged to stay temporarily at her uncle's place.

"Young lady," Tuanyuan asked hurriedly, "what about the jewelry?"

Hongying eagerly said, "I'll search each room and bring it back!"

Chu Nianci chuckled: "Don't rush with the jewelry."

If she gave in, this girl could really pull something out of others, but she didn't want to push them too far at this point for such a small thing.

As they were talking, they heard noises coming from the next room. Chu Nianci glanced at the two maids, waved her hand, and told Hongying to follow the plan. She then took Tuanyuan and listened carefully to the sounds coming from next room.

Tonight, another tough battle awaits.

She wanted to confront the tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves of this world.

Seeing that his sister had left, Chu Shunqing got up and blew out the oil lamp, leaving only a dim bedside lamp.

She felt a little thirsty, and seeing a pot of rose syrup on the table, she poured herself a bowl and drank it.

She then took off her outer robe, wearing only a pink nightgown, and slipped into the bed curtains, eagerly awaiting Lin Jingrui's return, wanting to give him a surprise.

But not long after, she realized something was wrong.

A sudden surge of inexplicable heat rose from my body, my consciousness gradually blurred, my face first felt hot, and then saliva uncontrollably dripped down my chin.

The drug took full effect, and she groaned and writhed in agony.

At this moment, Lin Jingfan, who was hiding in the secret room, had already heard everything clearly.

As the groans came, his breathing became heavy.

He gently pushed open the door a crack and saw a figure moving inside the bed curtains, appearing ambiguous in the dim light.

Driven by lust, he murmured, "My beauty, your husband is here..." and pounced on her, following his instincts...

In the front hall, Chunzai Hall, Lin Jingrui was chatting and laughing with several friends.

Tomorrow he will marry both of the Chu sisters, a time of great joy and success for him.

He was quite pleased with the constant flattery from the men.

Just then, a young maidservant, whose face she didn't recognize, bowed her head and whispered to him, "Young master, Madam requests your presence..."

Lin Jingrui was taken aback at first, but then a look of joy flashed across his cold face.

It seems that Shunqing persuaded the stubborn Chu Nianci, and he has softened his stance and sought peace with him!

He thought to himself with smug satisfaction: After all, a woman's husband is her heaven; how can an arm twist a thigh?

He gracefully cupped his hands to his friends and said, "Please have a seat, I'll be right back."

Having said that, he walked towards Wei Ruixuan with a smug look on his face. At that moment, a full moon hung in the sky, a perfect time for a beautiful night, and his steps became even lighter.

But as soon as he reached the corridor, he suddenly stopped.

A series of indescribable groans were clearly emanating from his new room...

Lin Jingrui's face turned pale instantly, as if all the blood in his body rushed to his head, and his face turned ashen.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

"You slut, how dare you steal someone..." A surge of anger, fueled by deep humiliation and betrayal, instantly engulfed him.

He could no longer think, slammed his fist into the door, and then kicked it open with a bang.

In the flickering candlelight, on his new bed, Chu Nianci was entangled with a man.

Lin Jingrui's mind went blank, his vision went black, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and the anger in his chest almost burst forth.