The pregnant woman pressed down on the wife, and the cousin collapsed into the prince's arms.

Ningxiang Pavilion

Shen Yunshuang cut two bunches of jade hairpin flowers from the garden and, along with the hibiscus in the yard, placed them into a round vase. As she was arranging them, Green Bud came in from outside and whispered, "Miss, the medicinal herbs have been prepared as you instructed and sent to Huanyun Residence."

Shen Yunshuang continued working, only giving a soft "hmm".

Green Bud didn't ask any more questions. She had served Shen Yunshuang for so long, but lately she couldn't quite figure out what her mistress was thinking.

Previously, the young lady was naturally weak, and her stepmother was unkind, so she often complained and lamented her fate.

Even after coming to the capital, with his wife protecting him, he didn't get much better. Instead, he fell seriously ill and almost lost his life.

Fortunately, the young lady pulled through, and after this illness, she felt that something about her young lady had changed. Although she was still as quiet as ever, she always felt that the young lady was thinking about something and had become more opinionated.

Just like today's incident, she thought that her mistress would agree to let Doctor Qian go over, after all, her mistress was kind by nature. But she never expected that her mistress would think so carefully. Thinking of how grateful Xiao Tao was just now, Lv Rui felt a little strange. When did her mistress become so... insightful?

However, looking at it from another angle, Green Plum felt that this was ultimately a good thing. Although she didn't know what her mistress was planning, making a good relationship was better than making an enemy, wasn't it?

Shen Yunshuang thought the same thing. Her gaze was focused, and her slender white fingers deftly moved the scissors, gradually trimming the bouquet into a neat and orderly arrangement.

An old saying goes, "If you're going to help someone, help them to the very end; if you're going to see someone off

Since you've started, you should do it well.

After tidying up the flowers, Shen Yunshuang went to Fuxi Hall, since it was not good to keep this matter from Wang Shi.

Wang was somewhat surprised, but since the girl was her beloved niece, she appreciated her kindness and didn't say anything.

Su Wanrou had not yet received the news, as she was preoccupied with another matter.

Early this morning, the young mistress of the Su family, who is Qin, Su Wanrou's sister-in-law, came to the door.

Qin was slender with high eyebrows and thin lips. She wore a sky-blue cardigan and a smoky pink lace skirt, which accentuated her shapely figure. She had fair skin and wore a delicate gold bracelet with shrimp-shaped hairpins on her wrist. At that moment, she was holding a handkerchief and sobbing softly.

"Sister, be the judge! I've tolerated Yi'an going out to drink and carouse and being away from home every day, but yesterday, she actually spent two thousand taels to buy an actress! This is outrageous!"

Her features were quite striking, yet she dressed in a gentle and refined manner, creating a somewhat contradictory impression.

The Qin family came from a merchant family; their ancestors were imperial merchants and the family was quite wealthy.

Even with her large dowry, she couldn't resist spending two thousand taels of silver, especially after buying that wretched woman, which made Qin Shi's heart ache with anger.

Su Wanrou's complexion was also very poor. Sitting in the chair, when she heard the two thousand taels, her eyebrows twitched involuntarily. She thought to herself that her younger brother was indeed reckless. The Su family was not wealthy. When did he become so extravagant?

His gaze fell on his younger brother and sister-in-law below him. Knowing that Qin had prepared a considerable dowry for his brother, he calmly comforted her, "Yi'an is really outrageous! How could the Su family allow an actress to be a concubine? Don't worry, neither my mother nor I will agree to it."

Qin had already had enough of this kind of lukewarm consolation.

Yes, she came from a merchant family, and marrying into the Vice Minister's household was already considered a step up for her.

But her husband was a good-for-nothing, and he didn't love her much. He spent his days doing nothing but philandering and womanizing.

Although her mother-in-law was kind, she handed over all the household management to her after she married into the family, which was considered to give her dignity.

But what has she gained in the past two years of managing the household?

Not only did she become ill from exhaustion, but she also lost count of how much of her dowry she had spent trying to cover the financial losses of the Su family.

After this incident, the mother-in-law scolded her husband on the surface, but secretly still told her to pay the money.

She could afford two thousand taels! But she didn't want to spend any more; she felt humiliated by it!

At this moment, she also realized something. What use was a loving mother-in-law? What use was the empty title of managing the household affairs? Her money was being spent like water.

That's why she came to her aunt today. Her aunt is married into the Marquis's family and is living a good life. It shouldn't be too difficult for her brother to clean up this mess, right?

Furthermore, if she wants to save face, she should discipline her absurd younger brother. Otherwise, if he causes trouble again in the future, will she have any pride? Will the young master have any pride?

She wiped away her tears and sighed, "Young Master is so virtuous and upright. I really envy my sister for marrying such a husband. However, it would be fine if Yi Anruo married a woman from a respectable family. But women from brothels are really not presentable. If word gets out, not only will the Su family be laughed at, but the Marquis's mansion will also lose face."

Although Qin's intention was flattery, it struck a chord with Su Wanrou, highlighting her desire for purity and self-discipline... Yes, Pei Jingnian previously had no concubines, but now...

This isn't a big deal. My sister-in-law doesn't know yet. But once she does, all the ladies in Kyoto will know, and who knows how they'll laugh at her.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Su Wanrou composed herself: "Have Yi'an come over tomorrow, and I'll personally tutor him. As for that actress, the Su family will never want her. Inform Mother, and she'll be dealt with."

"But what about the two thousand taels?" Qin pressed on. Su Yi'an had signed the invoice in black and white; there was no denying it!

Su Wanrou finally understood that Qin was asking her for money.

She couldn't help but resent Qin's stinginess; with such a large business, two thousand taels was like taking her life.

She frowned slightly: "I'll pay these two thousand taels for Yi'an."

As he spoke, he gestured with his chin toward Zhou's mother, who then lifted the curtain and went into the inner room. After a while, she took out a silver note with a face value of two thousand taels.

After receiving the silver notes, Qin's sorrow turned to joy, and she did not forget to flatter Su Wanrou: "It is only because you have a respectable position in the Marquis's mansion that you can take out this money without batting an eye."

Su Wanrou's heart was bleeding. Although the Marquis's mansion wouldn't make her pay for her dowry, her family background was still shallow, and her share of the public funds was limited. The purchasing was done by the old people around Wang Shi. Although there were many rewards during festivals, they were put into the storeroom and couldn't be turned into silver.

If she hadn't secretly lent money at exorbitant interest rates, she probably wouldn't have accumulated any wealth.