The whole family is obsessed with love? The princess woke them up one after another.

King Wu absolutely did not believe that Qi Zhiyu was making such a big fuss just to have some verbal dispute with Madam Jiang.

"Absurd! Foolish!" the Duke of Wei cursed angrily.

Then, he kowtowed deeply to Emperor Kangwu, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister is ashamed!"

Emperor Kangwu remained silent, for he knew that this was Chen'an's battlefield.

As expected, Qi Zhiyu scoffed and asked, "Jiang Shuyi feels sorry for Wei Yifeng... Why would she feel sorry for Wei Yifeng?"

"What exactly happened to Wei Yifeng that made Miss Jiang so distressed?"

"Is it because his father hasn't been reinstated as a marquis?"

"And his father is like this entirely because of me."

"So, you hold a grudge against me?"

"Otherwise, why would your mother target me?"

"Is my logic sound?"

After Qi Zhiyu finished speaking, she looked at Jiang Shuyi with a smile.

Jiang Shuyi broke out in a cold sweat: "No, Princess, I just feel that General Wei has had a tough time."

"He fought bravely on the battlefield, narrowly escaping death nine times out of ten..."

"Then, after all the effort he put into restoring his father's marquisate, I knocked him back to square one," Qi Zhiyu continued, picking up where Jiang Shuyi left off.

"Only this reason would make your mother hate me. Otherwise... if your mother were to harbor hatred towards a royal princess for no reason, wouldn't that mean she doesn't respect the royal family?"

Jiang Shuyi almost bit her teeth to pieces.

How should she respond to what Qi Zhiyu said?

It seems like she has two choices... but both choices are dead ends!

Duke Wei took a deep, painful breath, his eyes filled with despair.

Now, we have no choice but to reluctantly give it up!

Otherwise, not only would the Duke of Wei's mansion be implicated, but the King of Wu would also be dragged down with him!

"Jiang Shuyi, how could you be so blinded by love that you can't distinguish right from wrong?" Duke Wei shouted angrily.

Jiang Shuyi shuddered, her face turning deathly pale.

She knew her grandfather had made the choice, and she was the one who had to be pushed out to sacrifice.

When faced with the overall interests of the family, individuals have no choice whatsoever.

Many people have been sacrificed in the past, and now... is it finally her turn?

In the past, she felt that it was only right for people to sacrifice themselves.

But now it was her turn, and she...she was shivering with cold.

So this is what it feels like to be pushed out to be sacrificed.

"No! Father!" Madame Chiang suddenly exclaimed.

"Actually, Yi'er doesn't know anything."

"It was all my idea!"

Jiang Shuyi looked at her mother in shock.

Her vision blurred instantly, Mother…

"Yi'er is only distressed by the dangers General Wei faces in fighting the enemy; she knows nothing else." Madam Jiang took all the blame upon herself.

"Really?" Qi Zhiyu asked, amused. "So, with all these ladies gathered outside the abbot's residence, is Jiang Shuyi blind and can't see them?"

Madame Chiang stiffened her neck and pressed herself against herself: "Yi'er didn't know what I was going to do at first."

"Later, when they found out, they tried to persuade me, but how could a daughter disobey her mother?"

"Your Majesty, everything was decided by me on my own initiative; it has nothing to do with anyone else!"

The Duke of Wei also kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, it is all my fault for not managing the household properly."

Emperor Kangwu chuckled and said, "The heart of a loving mother?"

"I can understand, but the dignity of the royal family has been trampled on like this... My ancestors should not be able to understand."

Madame Chiang Kai-shek gritted her teeth and said, "This humble woman is willing to atone for her sins with her death!"

"Hey..." Qi Zhiyu advised, "There's no need for that."

"As a mother, I can understand your love for your daughter," Qi Zhiyu said with a genuine smile.

"Besides, the Duke of Wei's past achievements are there for all to see; we simply cannot allow you to die."

"However... while the death penalty may be avoided, the punishment will not be spared."

Qi Zhiyu looked at the Duke of Wei: "Duke of Wei, why don't you let your son divorce his wife?"

"After all, with such a daughter-in-law running your household, your family's traditions are likely to be in trouble."

"At that time, no matter how great your achievements are, it won't be enough to save your entire clan's lives."

Qi Zhiyu's words were quite magnanimous.

The reason for sparing Madam Jiang's life was out of consideration for the Duke of Wei's meritorious service to the court and his deep love for Madam Jiang's daughter.

The punishment was merely to have the Jiang family divorce his wife; it was already the lightest possible punishment.

Both the Duke of Wei and Madame Chiang should have been grateful.

But their expressions were all grim.

Grand Secretary Zhang clenched his fist and pressed it to his lips, turning his burst of laughter into a cough.

Princess Chen'an... her methods...

All he could say was, "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

Madame Chiang Kai-shek's family was not a noble or aristocratic family.

On the contrary, they were the families of merchants of humble status.

However, for the Duke of Wei to allow her to enter, that merchant family must be no ordinary one.

Madame Chiang Kai-shek's family business spanned various regions.

They might not be richer than a country, but their wealth is certainly enviable.

With such a daughter-in-law, the Duke of Wei's mansion is never short of money.

Moreover, Duke Wei not only supported the King of Wu in terms of military power, but also in terms of financial resources.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Duke of Wei's mansion was the King of Wu's money bag.

But if the Jiang family divorces Madam Jiang, how will her family send the money to the Duke of Wei's mansion?

In the past, since we were relatives, we could find an excuse, such as saying it was a holiday gift or something.

But if this relationship is gone, then sending it... that would be bribery!

If the King of Wu wanted to take more silver from this... he would have to think twice.

That silver... it's burning my hand!

King Wu stared intently at Qi Zhiyu.

it is good!

What a Qi Zhiyu!

She's taking it step by step; she's trying to drive him to his death!

The minor conflict between the women in the inner quarters was taken to extremes by Qi Zhiyu, escalating to the point of cutting off his purse!

If we're talking about ruthlessness, Qi Zhiyu is the one!

Not only that, but she also severely diminished the merits of the Duke of Wei.

Originally, the Duke of Wei had merits to rely on. If something happened to the Duke of Wei's mansion in the future, the Emperor could give him a break because of the Duke of Wei's past achievements.

Now, the merits that the Duke of Wei has rendered to the court are being used for this...

Qi Zhiyu, what exactly is she?

How did she manage to turn such a trivial matter into a huge disaster, causing them such heavy losses?

Duke Wei had naturally thought of this as well, but what could he say?

Should we tell His Majesty not to spare his daughter-in-law because of his past merits, and just let her die?

Can he do it?

Is it possible?

His merits in protecting his descendants were thus wasted.

The more you use someone's merits, the less they are appreciated.

Past merits are not a get-out-of-jail-free card!

Duke Wei was heartbroken, but he couldn't refute it and could only swallow this bitter pill.

Emperor Kangwu laughed heartily: "Chen'an, you are truly kind and magnanimous!"

"They treat you so rudely, yet you still understand their mother-daughter relationship."

"Rare indeed, truly rare!"

"I am very pleased!"