The male supporting character was actually myself.

What does that have to do with the main character?

The little dumpling was completely baffled and could only wait quietly to watch the excitement unfold.

Two days later, Xiuer, who had been properly arranged by Jiang Chen, was dressed in a finely made cheongsam, wrapped in a fur coat, and carrying an exquisite handbag. Her attire clearly indicated that she was a wealthy lady. After getting off the rickshaw at the Marshal's Mansion, she visited the eldest daughter-in-law, Zhang Ziqiu, according to the proper procedures.

"Who? Who did you say sent a visiting invitation?"

"She said her name is Xiu'er, and she used to be your maid, young mistress. Now she has married a fairly wealthy merchant and is preparing to move north with him to settle down. She came to say goodbye," the old woman at the side gate replied respectfully, handing over the invitation.

Zhang Ziqiu felt a little guilty when she heard Xiuer's name again.

During their intimate moments, she had let her guard down and jokingly teased her husband about their secret rendezvous at the other courtyard. Unexpectedly, he immediately turned hostile, not only beating and scolding her but also accusing her of deliberately spreading rumors to force him to marry her... After much thought, she concluded that no one but Xiuer could have done such a thing.

First of all, Xiuer already had some reservations about going to the appointment;

Secondly, to describe what happened so clearly, she must have witnessed it herself. Who else could it be but her? There was absolutely no fourth person in the villa at that time!

Fuming with anger, Zhang Ziqiu remembered the news that her parents were going south and came up with a plan. She went to ask Xiu'er for help, then turned around and sold her into a brothel to suffer all kinds of humiliation and make her wish she were dead, so that she could vent her hatred.

Afterwards, her brother asked about Xiuer's situation at the Marshal's Mansion, but she brushed him off, thinking that the matter had been kept secret. Who could have imagined...

"Let her come in through the side gate. I happen to have some free time and want to talk to her," Zhang Ziqiu replied softly after thinking for a moment.

Xiuer's sudden appearance frightened her. What if the other party was there to cause trouble?

If the entire Marshal's mansion found out that he had sold his personal maid, who had been with him since childhood, to a brothel, what would the servants say behind his back? What would Dongchen think? And what about the head of the household, the father-in-law? Although he came from a military background, he was kind to his servants and rarely beat or scolded them. What if this caused a scene?

Zhang Ziqiu was filled with unease, but she still pretended to be calm and waited in the room.

"Please come in, the young mistress is waiting for you in the living room." Not long after, the old woman's voice could be heard. With the sound of high heels clicking, the heavy curtain was lifted, and a woman dressed smartly in a fur coat and with a stylish curly hairstyle was none other than Xiu'er!

The other person had changed so much that she didn't dare to recognize them for a moment.

"Miss, oh, young mistress, we've finally met again."

Xiuer smiled and greeted her, then casually took off her fur coat, put down the gifts she was carrying, smoothed her hair, sat down in a chair, and said with a smile, "You probably didn't expect that we sisters would meet again, did you?"

It was quite a coincidence, I guess I owe it all to the young mistress. The day I was sold to the brothel, I thought my life was over. But I never expected to have such good fortune and meet a kind-hearted boss who took pity on me and redeemed me for just two silver dollars.

We fell in love and just officially got married a few days ago, so now I'm considered a wife, no less.

The second young master of the manor was invincible in battle, while Qin Laoxi suffered a crushing defeat and all his territory fell to the general's manor. My husband felt that going north was a good opportunity to do business, so I decided to move north with the whole family.

I've come to visit you today and I want to tell you a few things—first, I really didn't leak the secret meeting at the villa. According to information my husband's connections have gathered, at least two outsiders at the villa witnessed the whole thing clearly. The information was deliberately leaked.

Secondly, I really hated you for selling me out without asking any questions that day, but since I didn't encounter any misfortune afterward and instead benefited from it, my hatred naturally faded a bit. From then on, all the grudges and friendships between us were wiped clean.

You don't need to worry. No one else will know about this except for my husband and me, and we certainly won't tell anyone. As long as you listen to our young master and carefully navigate the power struggles within this mansion, you'll naturally be able to secure your position as the eldest young mistress.

Finally, I didn't want to inquire about the situation at your residence anymore, but since I know the news and you're leaving Yucheng, seeing you one last time is my way of showing you some concern as a sister. Your husband... is keeping two women outside. They were originally the mainstays of the Paramount Ballroom, but after being publicly paraded through the streets by the second young master of the Marshal's Mansion, they became prostitutes—the kind who sell their bodies but not their talents.

The two sisters, who were once the envy of countless men, have now completely captivated Young Master Li. He tells you he's been to school every day, leaving early and returning late, right?

Xiuer covered her mouth with her handkerchief, laughed and shook her head, saying, "My husband has heard me boast more than once about how he tricked you completely, but in fact he has never been to a school."

"Since a few days ago, he's practically taken root in that building, living a life of revelry every night and sleeping in the same bed every day. The two sisters are practically begging to serve this young master Li. It's said... the sisters have an astonishing variety of tricks up their sleeves. Your husband always compares you to them, saying you're so boring, like a block of wood, that he can't muster any interest in you."

Zhang Ziqiu had just breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the first part of her words, but when she heard the second part, she was struck dumb!

"No, impossible!" she shouted, her face flushed, trying to deny her predicament.

Xiuer looked at her with pity and shook her head, saying, "Miss, you're still the same as before, you haven't improved at all. I fought my way up to become the lady of such a small wealthy family, and your methods and scheming are really... No wonder Young Master Li despises you so much outside, and you didn't even notice that he's been keeping a prostitute for so long."

I'm leaving soon, and I'd like to give you a hand before I go, since we've been sisters for so many years.

"Come on, as long as you promise not to shout or cause a scene, I'll take you to see for yourself. You'll then know whether it's true or not!"

Zhang Ziqiu was completely stunned. She hadn't even been married for a hundred days yet, how could this be...?

She didn't know how she left the house in a daze, or how she followed Xiuer to the third floor of a small building opposite a bustling street. Then, she stared blankly at the luxurious and spacious room opposite, where Li Dongchen was undressing and whispering sweet nothings to a charming woman.

That deep affection and smile were never shown to me in the slightest.

"Li Dongchen! You, you actually..." Zhang Ziqiu was so angry that her nails dug into her flesh, but she felt no pain at all.

She felt a tightness and discomfort in her chest, as if a fire was burning fiercely inside.

Xiuer pushed Zhang Ziqiu, who had rushed to the window, aside and warned her in a low voice, "Before you came over, I repeatedly told you that you were being so impulsive, shouting and rushing to the window. Are you afraid that Li Dongchen can't see you? Let me tell you, this building belongs to my husband and is not inhabited year-round. The people across the street thought it was an empty building, so they didn't try to hide it so you could see it clearly."

Otherwise, would these prostitutes be so easily spotted seducing other people's men?

I'm trying to help you out of kindness, so don't be ungrateful and drag me down with you!

Zhang Ziqiu, whose mind was clouded by love after being scolded, watched as Li Dongchen fawned over a prostitute in the opposite room. Feeling empty inside, she couldn't help but cry out, "Xiuer! Xiuer, I'm so sorry! I was wrong back then! Please help me! For the sake of all these years we've grown up together, please help me win my husband back!"

"I can't stand seeing you like this!" Xiuer shook off her hand, gritting her teeth and saying with disappointment, "Master, Madam, and even the young master are all such shrewd and calculating people who can figure out the big picture. How could they have given birth to a daughter like you who loses her mind when she sees a man?"

Zhang Ziqiu, listen carefully and remember this—if you really want to keep your man in your hands, you can't just charge around and fight back!

"To strike a snake, strike its vital spot. You need to know where to start to cut off the foundation for Li Dongchen's extramarital affairs. Otherwise, even if you defeat Bai Moli and Ruan Xiangqin, what other women will come along, like Hong Moli and Hei Moli? Either pretend you don't know and remain calm; or strike decisively so he can never go out and find another woman."

Like a drowning person grasping at a last straw, Zhang Ziqiu collapsed to the ground, grabbing her skirt and pleading, "Xiuer, you know I don't have that kind of cunning, I'm too stupid! But now... only you can help me. My brother has been sent to a distant post and often can't come back. Without my trusted confidants in the Marshal's Mansion, I really have no other help!"

Faced with her desperate pleas, Xiu'er hesitated for a moment before asking instead of answering: "What do you want to achieve? Just to have Li Dongchen stay with you for the rest of his life? That's unlikely. These days, it's very normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines, especially in a marshal's mansion where there are already few offspring?"

"I..." The thought of having to share her husband with other women made Zhang Ziqiu feel so heartbroken that she couldn't breathe.

She then thought of the beautiful concubines who had been dismissed from the Marshal's mansion, as well as the younger and more beautiful concubines who had been brought in. The place was bustling with activity, but how many of them could truly win the favor of the emperor? And how many would have to spend their lives alone in empty rooms?

If Li Dongchen doesn't go to brothels in the future but takes a few concubines and keeps them in the mansion, can I control him? Can I manage him? He spends every night partying with his concubines and never comes to my room. What's the point of sitting in the position of the eldest young mistress?

The more Zhang Ziqiu thought about it, the colder she felt. Gradually, she calmed down and, after a while, she looked at Xiuer with a firm gaze and said, word by word, "You're right. You can still marry a concubine if you don't go to brothels."

Even if I, as the mistress of the house, could beat, scold, or sell those concubines at will, it would be of no use.

There are plenty of young and beautiful women in the world. If he wants them, he can bring them into his mansion. If I anger Li Dongchen, he might even find a reason to divorce me.

What should I do then?

I only want one person for life, one love. As long as I can keep Li Dongchen by my side and only have eyes for me, I'd be willing to castrate him and make him a widow!

“Eunuchs are not a good idea.” Xiu’er never expected her views on love to be so terrible. She shrugged and whispered, “As the saying goes, a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a stolen one, and a stolen one is not as good as one that can’t be stolen. That’s how fickle men are. The more they can’t get something, the more they want it.”

Actually, your goal is to make Li Dongchen belong only to you. If that's the case, you need to be more cunning and approach it from several angles at the same time.

First, we must cut off his source of income.

Keeping women, especially beautiful women outside the home, costs a lot of money. If he's broke, how could he possibly keep that slut? Do you know how much it costs to keep the Bai sisters for a day and a night? Li Dongchen has to pay the Paramount Ballroom thirty silver dollars!

They're currently in a stalemate, so you need to find a way to cut off his access to money. Without that hefty sum, you won't even need to lift a finger; someone will naturally keep him out.

Secondly, I heard from my husband that the Marshal's Mansion has a new rule—visiting brothels is prohibited.

Even when taking a concubine, one should choose a respectable young woman, not the kind of woman who has been used and discarded by others in brothels.

This is a great opportunity for you!

Think about who Bai Moli is. She's a famous courtesan known throughout the upper echelons of Yucheng, a woman who's been ridden by thousands and trodden by tens of thousands. If the Marshal finds out that Li Dongchen is secretly paying lip service and spending so much money to support a dirty woman, do you think, given the Marshal's personality, there's any chance he'll let them meet again?

Think about how it was when Li Dongchen suddenly left to study abroad when you were deeply in love? I saw it with my own eyes; for a long time, you were heartbroken, lost, and absent-minded every day.

The same applies to Li Dongchen suddenly losing Bai Moli; his father is used to break up the couple, attracting a crowd to watch and making him lose face, ridicule, and gossip.

In this time of hardship, only you remained gentle, considerate, and caring, sharing his joys and sorrows without complaint or resentment. In your father-in-law's eyes, you were sensible and understanding; in Li Dongchen's eyes, you were naturally a caring and considerate person who instantly warmed his heart.

On the one hand, he seized control of the finances so that he had no money to find women;

On the other hand, cater to his interests and have fun with him so he'll lose interest in pursuing other women. Then you'll be the most devoted wife in his life, and no matter how many concubines he takes, your position in his heart will remain unshaken!

Chapter Thirty: Transforming into a White Lotus

After coming out of the small building, Zhang Ziqiu was completely sober and calm.

Only now did she regret her resolute refusal to bring Xiu'er into the Marshal's Mansion as a dowry maid. At that time, she thought that Xiu'er had leaked the news to ruin her reputation, but she never expected that Xiu'er was actually a hidden master of palace intrigue!

It's a pity that Xiuer is now a wealthy businessman's wife, and apart from helping me out one last time, she can no longer offer any advice...

As for the news from the villa, if Xiuer's husband's information is correct, could it be that Li Dongchen brought people over but did not inform her?

There might be some inside information that she didn't know about the leak, and judging from the result, she was the one who benefited. Li Dongchen was obviously extremely unwilling... Completely puzzled, Zhang Ziqiu could only temporarily give up thinking about this matter, as there were more important things to do right now!

This time, since she was going out to catch her husband cheating, she didn't take the Marshal's Mansion's car. Instead, she called a rickshaw and headed straight to the school that had been given to the eldest son's family after the family division.

"The grass on the plain withers and flourishes every year..." Zhang Ziqiu had barely gotten off the bus and hadn't even gone inside when she could faintly hear the sound of students reading aloud in the school.

This place was originally the Li Family School established by the warlord. Previously, the two young masters of the mansion studied here. Later, the eldest young master went abroad to study, while the second young master spent his days practicing martial arts, so the school was left idle. After the family split up, the warlord opened the school to establish Yucheng No. 1 Primary School, enrolling eligible children to receive free education.

Therefore, the once secluded courtyard is now filled with the sound of reading aloud, brimming with vitality.

The school itself provides free compulsory education, and the teachers' salaries and all miscellaneous expenses are provided by special funds from the former Shuaifu Money Shop, which was renamed a bank.

In addition to his daily reimbursements, there was an extra reserve fund stored in the finance department, which Li Dongchen could withdraw and spend at will within a certain range. His monthly allowance at the manor was definitely not enough, so the money he used to support the Bai Moli sisters was naturally drawn from the school under various pretexts.

After Xiuer reminded her, Zhang Ziqiu immediately had an idea.

"Young Madam, what brings you here in this freezing weather?" The vice principal greeted her warmly.

With a gentle smile, she said softly, "The temperature has suddenly dropped these past two days, and it's been too cold. I was worried that Dongchen, being a grown man, might be careless and not take care of the details, so I came to check if the coal in the classroom for the winter is sufficient."

The vice principal evaded the issue, replying, "It's not too cold yet, and the coal mine at the Marshal's Mansion has already delivered some high-quality coal. The young marshal said we absolutely mustn't let the children get cold, and look how warm our classrooms are!"

"Where's Dongchen? Is he in his office? Last night, someone sent word that he's too busy at school because of the upcoming exams, so he's staying here tonight. He didn't even have time to bring a coat."

The vice principal was immediately alarmed, thinking to himself that the young master, this principal, hadn't shown up much for several days!

He's probably off somewhere indulging in debauchery again, yet he uses school matters to shut up his wife, leaving her to clean up his mess.

"The principal isn't here; he just went out on something... Young Madam, please come inside. It's too cold in the courtyard."

Zhang Ziqiu knew he couldn't possibly be at the school, so she smiled and waved her hand, "It's no trouble. I'll just walk around and see if I can do something for our school. Dongchen cares so much about the school, so I, as his young mistress, should also do my part."

After going around in circles, she went to the finance department to ask questions and look at the bills in detail.

Sure enough, in just the last few days, Li Dongchen has withdrawn nearly two hundred silver dollars under various pretexts. It seems that in addition to the high cost of keeping her, he has also bought a lot of luxury goods for those two bastards!

"There's still a surplus of two hundred silver dollars in the account this month. I just noticed that the conditions in our teachers' dormitory are a bit harsh. It's not easy for teachers to educate students, so how can they suffer in the cold winter?"

Come on, get a pen and ink. I'll sign a slip and receive thirty silver dollars. The logistics department will then purchase the best cotton quilts and mattresses, as well as new thermos bottles and cotton door curtains. They'll also provide each teacher with three sets of thick winter clothes. The cotton shoes must be the best; we can't let our feet get cold standing on the podium every day.

Also, I noticed that the coal business hasn't been recorded at all, which is unacceptable.

As the saying goes, even brothers should keep clear accounts. My second brother sent coal early as a token of his appreciation. We can't refuse to pay the mine since we appreciate his kindness. Burning coal all winter costs a lot of money.

Since our school has plenty of money in its account, we need to settle things clearly with them to avoid leaving a messy account in the future.

The heating stove needs to be replaced; safety is a serious matter and cannot be taken lightly.