It's all ruined, who cares about the chastity arch

Zheng Chengyuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and he immediately knelt down and saluted: "Thank you for your kindness, old lady."

Fearing that something unexpected might happen to them again, Old Madam Zheng used the excuse of feeling tired and urged them to go downstairs and rest early.

Zheng Chengyuan was full of anticipation and excitedly pulled Pei out of the old lady's yard.

Halfway through the journey, Pei angrily shook off his hand and said unhappily, "Zheng Chengyuan, I'm afraid your family has set their eyes on the gold and silver treasures I brought as a dowry!"

Zheng Chengyuan chuckled a few times, trying to calm her down: "This trip to the palace will benefit both of us. Spending a little money on the clothes is just a trivial matter."

Mrs. Pei was not convinced: "It's a small matter? It's not your money, so of course you don't feel bad! No, you have to go back to the old lady and ask her to pass this matter to the second sister-in-law. The second sister-in-law is very wealthy, so it's not uncommon for her to spend several thousand taels."

Zheng Chengyuan held her hand tightly and whispered: "My dear wife, don't say such things casually. Look, my second sister-in-law is so close to the new concubine Guo. Who in the mansion dares to offend them?"

"Even my second brother can't do anything about them now."

Pei ignored all this: "If you don't dare, then I will go! I don't believe that she is so stingy!"

Zheng Chengyuan held her tightly and said softly, "It's late at night. We can discuss it tomorrow."

After saying that, he pulled her towards his courtyard with force.

On the way, they accidentally ran into Zheng Chengyan who was drunk.

He had apparently slipped away from the banquet at the Prince Regent's Palace and went to a tavern alone, where he drank more than a dozen pots of wine in a row. He was now so drunk that he could not tell east from west and north from east, like a wild bull that had run away from its reins.

Pei couldn't hold back any longer and yelled at him, "Second brother, stop drinking and try to please your second sister-in-law. Don't let her enter the Zheng family without giving her a penny!"

"She is also the daughter-in-law of the Zheng family. Why can she stay out of this and let us pay for it?"

In fact, Zheng Chengyuan's family has not yet officially separated, and the household expenses of the past three years have all been carefully managed by Su Wanyu.

With this mentioned, it seems that Pei is taking advantage of the situation.

Zheng Chengyan, who was always friendly to them on weekdays, now had a fierce light in his eyes and stared at Pei: "What did you say just now?"

Pei was frightened by his gaze, and Zheng Chengyuan beside her hurriedly pulled her away, signaling her to say less.

However, the more they pulled, the angrier Pei seemed to be. She clenched her hands, raised her chin, and said tartly, "Second brother, I am telling the truth. She is your wife, and she has the Su family as her backer. Why can't she contribute some financial resources to the family!"

"You are incompetent and you can't control her!"

Zheng Chengyan's anger was like a volcanic eruption, hot and fierce, instantly igniting the surrounding air.

He strode forward, each step seemed as heavy as a thousand pounds. The wine jug in his hand became a weapon for him to vent his anger. He was like a god descending from heaven, with unparalleled strength, he threw it fiercely at Pei.

When the word "roll" came out of his mouth, it was like a sharp blade made of Arctic ice, striking directly into people's hearts, cold and piercing.

The force of this throw was so great that it seemed as if thunder was roaring in the sky, causing a hideous crack to appear on Pei's forehead. Blood gushed out like a blooming red plum, quickly staining her hands and delicate clothes red.

She was in unbearable pain and screamed continuously, her voice filled with helplessness, despair, and resentment at the unfairness of fate.

"Someone beat me! I want to go back to my mother's house! Tell my father!"

She shouted at the top of her lungs and rushed towards the gate of the mansion desperately, like a wounded deer, trying her best to escape from this cage even though she was covered in wounds.

Zheng Chengyuan's eyes were sharp, as if they could penetrate people's hearts. He glared at Zheng Chengyan fiercely. His eyes were complicated, with both blame for his brother's behavior and helplessness for not being able to change the status quo.

"Brother, the strong bully the weak. How can this be considered a heroic act?"

Every word of his accusation was powerful.

As for Zheng Chengyan, alcohol had long since numbed his rationality. Gu Linjun's indifference during the day and his brother's questioning at night were all the accumulated resentments that spread like wildfire, devouring all his thoughts. Without thinking, he threw a punch at Zheng Chengyuan.

Fortunately, Zheng Chengyuan was very skilled. He dodged the storm-like attack with a nimble move to the side and then quickly left.

Zheng Chengyan lost control of his center of gravity due to his weak steps, and eventually fell into the filthy quagmire in front of him. He fell into a chaotic coma, murmuring: "No, she is my wife! No one can take her away! Never... Gu Linjun... don't even think about it..."

On the other hand, the bloodstains on her body recorded Pei's pain and struggle, but she did not really escape back to her mother's home which was full of rules and constraints.

In the Pei family, the boundary between legitimate and illegitimate children was as solid as an iron wall. Even though Pei was a noble concubine, her status as a illegitimate child made her subject to strict restrictions within the family.

Her mother, an ordinary concubine, had a low status in the family. From the moment she stepped into the Zheng Mansion, the journey home became as difficult as climbing to the sky.

After crying bitterly, she finally obediently followed Zheng Chengyuan back to the courtyard. Although she said nothing more, the humiliation and resentment were like a shadow, tightly entwining her heart.

Early the next morning, Su Wanyu heard about this farce quietly. There was also news that Zheng Chengyan was still lying in the mud and sound asleep when he was found by servants in the early morning.

When Yun Yi heard this, a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips: "It's really retribution."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Su Wanyu's fingers gently slid across the delicate stitching of the pair of tiger-head shoes. Compared to her sympathy for Zheng Chengyan's experience, she was more looking forward to reuniting with her brother.

"Miss," Yun Yi asked softly, "When the time comes, can this servant and Si Qi also accompany you into the palace?"

Su Wanyu nodded slightly: "Of course, you will be my right-hand men from now on."

Yun Yi was overjoyed when he heard this.

On this day, Su Wanyu had another important appointment and did not dare to delay any longer. She quickly changed into gorgeous clothes, dressed up carefully, and prepared to set off.

In recent days, ladies in the capital have invited her to banquets one after another, and she never refuses, and today is no exception.

The host of today's banquet is none other than the eldest lady of the Pei family's eldest house, Yuan, the aunt who has a deep hatred for Pei Sina.

The Yuan family thinks highly of themselves and have always looked down upon people of Su Wanyu's background. This banquet was more for the purpose of observing this upstart up close, while also plotting to improve their own status by winning over Luo Wenxuan.

As a favorite of the Regent, Luo Wenxuan became the best springboard for her to climb the social ladder, so she planned to marry one of the unpopular concubines in the palace to Luo Wenxuan, so as to form a marriage and get closer to the Regent.

The irony is that they never thought that the niece who had been ruthlessly humiliated and driven out of the Pei Mansion by them was the powerful person they were now eager to win over.