Reborn and married in a swapped marriage, my aloof husband is too ruthless.

The Drunken Red Mansion is a place of carved beams and painted rafters, filled with the fragrance of cosmetics.

Su Jinxin walked in gracefully, and the noisy hall instantly quieted down. Everyone was stunned by the undeniable aura emanating from her.

Aunt Hong swayed her hips and greeted them with a beaming smile: "Madam Yan, your presence is truly an honor to our humble abode!"

Su Jinxin nodded slightly and walked straight upstairs to the private room.

Aunt Hong understood immediately, and instructed the servants to serve fragrant tea and snacks. Then she dismissed everyone around her and carefully closed the door.

"Madam Yan, is there anything you need today?" Aunt Hong asked tentatively, knowing full well that this seemingly weak woman was not to be underestimated.

Last time, Su Jinxin asked her to spread the news that Su Xiaoxiao was in a brothel, and she received a lot of benefits. This time, she naturally expected a generous reward as well.

Su Jinxin took a sip of tea and did not answer directly. Instead, she slowly put down the teacup and looked sharply at Aunt Hong: "Aunt Hong, you have been in this world of pleasure for many years. You must have seen all kinds of people and understand the meaning of reputation."

Aunt Hong's heart skipped a beat. What did Su Jinxin mean by that? Was she not here to give her money?

"What does Madam Yan mean by that..." Aunt Hong was a little confused.

Su Jinxin chuckled lightly, "Aunt Hong, we're both women, so some things don't need to be said so explicitly. You should have heard about Su Xiaoxiao's current situation. She's even willing to sacrifice her reputation for a man. Is a woman like that worth the risk?"

Aunt Hong's expression changed slightly. Although she was profit-driven, she also knew how to seek advantage and avoid harm.

Su Xiaoxiao is now at her limit, while Su Jinxin is at the peak of her career. She naturally knows what choice to make.

“Madam Yan is right, Miss Xiaoxiao is indeed…” Aunt Hong hesitated, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Su Jinxin didn't urge her, but quietly sipped her tea, waiting for Aunt Hong's reply.

After a moment, Aunt Hong took a deep breath, as if she had made a major decision: "Madam Yan, I understand. Don't worry, I know what to do."

Su Jinxin nodded in satisfaction and got up to leave.

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned back to Aunt Hong: "Aunt Hong, it's better for both of us to do some things more cleanly."

Aunt Hong was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized what was going on and nodded in response, "Don't worry, Madam Yan, I know what I'm doing."

Su Jinxin then left, leaving Aunt Hong alone in the private room, carefully savoring the deeper meaning behind Su Jinxin's words.

She walked to the window, looked at the bustling crowd below, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

"Su Xiaoxiao, Su Xiaoxiao, let's see what you can do to turn things around this time." Aunt Hong muttered to herself, a cold glint in her eyes.

She walked to the table, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write a letter...

Aunt Hong truly lives up to her reputation as the helmsman of Drunken Dream Pavilion; the speed and accuracy with which she spreads information is astonishing.

Within half a day, news spread throughout the streets and alleys that Su Xiaoxiao was paying off Xu Mingxuan's gambling debts in a brothel, and even went so far as to sleep with other men.

In teahouses, taverns, and on the streets, people gossiped and exaggerated, portraying Su Xiaoxiao as a promiscuous and wanton woman.

The Xu family's reputation was damaged once again, and Xu's father became the target of ridicule, with people saying that he had raised an unvirtuous daughter-in-law who had disgraced the family.

Yan Chengan accompanied Su Jinxin out of the Drunken Red Pavilion. The night was getting dark and a cool breeze was blowing.

He took off his cloak and gently draped it over Su Jinxin.

Su Jinxin smelled the familiar, faint scent of sandalwood on the cloak, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

This taste was one she had never noticed in her previous life, yet now it felt so comforting and so dear to her.

"Is everything settled?" Yan Chengan asked gently, his gaze falling on Su Jinxin's face with a hint of barely perceptible concern.

Su Jinxin nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Everything is proceeding according to plan." She looked up at Yan Chengan's sharply defined face, secretly relieved that in this life, she could finally rely on her own strength to protect herself and those around her.

"Thank you for your hard work." Yan Chengan reached out and gently stroked Su Jinxin's hair, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze.

Su Jinxin shook her head and gently rested her head on Yan Chengan's shoulder, feeling the warmth emanating from him.

At that moment, she felt incredibly peaceful and happy.

In the distance, a carriage slowly approached and stopped in front of the Xu residence.

A woman in tattered clothes and looking haggard stepped down from the carriage; it was Su Xiaoxiao.

She stumbled to the gate of the Xu residence, pounding on it and crying out, "Open the door! Open the door!"

The gatekeeper opened the door a crack and, seeing Su Xiaoxiao, gave her a disdainful look: "Oh, isn't this our Xu family's young mistress? What happened to you?"

Ignoring the gatekeeper's mockery, Su Xiaoxiao cried, "Let me in! I want to see the master! I want to see Mingxuan!"

The gatekeeper sneered, "Neither the master nor the young master are here, you'd better leave!" With that, he was about to close the gate.

Seeing this, Su Xiaoxiao quickly reached out to block them, crying out, "No! I have to go in! I have something important to say!"

Just then, Xu's father's voice came from inside: "Who's making a fuss outside?"

Upon hearing Xu's father's voice, Su Xiaoxiao grasped at a lifeline and cried out, "Dad! Dad! It's me! Xiaoxiao!"

Mr. Xu came out and was stunned when he saw Su Xiaoxiao's appearance. He asked with a stern face, "What happened to you?"

Su Xiaoxiao threw herself at Xu's father's feet, sobbing, "Father! Please save me! Mingxuan... he sold me..."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Xu's expression changed drastically. He grabbed Su Xiaoxiao's shoulders and asked sternly, "What did you say? Mingxuan sold you? Where did he sell you to?"

Su Xiaoxiao cried even harder, saying intermittently, "Sell...sell to...Drunken Red Mansion..."

Upon hearing the words "Drunken Red Mansion," Xu's father felt dizzy and his vision went black; he almost fainted.

He pointed at Su Xiaoxiao, his voice trembling, and said, "You...you..."

Su Jinxin stood not far away, taking in everything. A slight, cold smile appeared on her lips.

"It seems the real show is just beginning..." she said softly, then turned and left.

Xu's father staggered backward, his finger trembling as he pointed at Su Xiaoxiao.

“Drunken Red Mansion…you actually…you actually…” He was so angry that he couldn’t speak, his old face turned red, as if it was about to explode at any moment.

He never imagined that his carefully chosen daughter-in-law would do something so immoral!

Su Xiaoxiao cried uncontrollably, clinging tightly to her father's leg. "Dad, I was wrong! I was really forced into it! Mingxuan owes a huge gambling debt, and they were going to sell me to that kind of place. I... I did it to protect the Xu family's reputation..."

"Preserve the Xu family's reputation?" Father Xu laughed angrily, throwing Su Xiaoxiao aside. "You've done such a disgraceful thing, you're the one who truly ruins the family's honor! You've completely disgraced the Xu family!"

Su Xiaoxiao collapsed to the ground, crying out in despair, "Dad, please, don't send me away! I'll never do it again! I'll definitely turn over a new leaf!"

Just then, several magnificent carriages stopped in front of the Xu residence.

Su Jinxin, dressed in fine clothes, stepped gracefully down from the carriage, followed by several well-dressed merchants, who were now her business partners.

Upon seeing Su Jinxin, Xu's father's expression darkened further. He knew that Su Jinxin's power now far exceeded that of the illegitimate daughter she once was, who could be manipulated by others.

Su Jinxin walked up to Mr. Xu and smiled slightly. "Mr. Xu, how have you been?" Her tone seemed polite, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Suppressing his anger, Mr. Xu said with a forced smile, "Miss Su, what brings you here today?"

Su Jinxin glanced around, her gaze settling on Su Xiaoxiao, who was slumped on the ground. A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "I've come here today only to inform Mr. Xu that my business will never again be threatened by the Xu family. As for the rest..." She paused, her sharp gaze sweeping over the Xu family members, "I hope Mr. Xu will take heed of his words."

The Xu family members dared not speak out in anger and could only watch helplessly as Su Jinxin and her business partners drove away triumphantly.

Su Xiaoxiao watched Su Jinxin's departing figure, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, blood slowly trickling from between her fingers… She murmured, “Su Jinxin, I won’t let you get away with this…”

Su Xiaoxiao watched helplessly as Su Jinxin led her people away triumphantly. Her heart was in turmoil, filled with a mixture of jealousy and hatred that threatened to consume her.

She was unwilling to accept it. Why was Su Jinxin so successful while she had fallen to such a state?

She bit her lower lip tightly until she tasted a hint of blood, and a fierce glint flashed in her eyes.

With nowhere else to turn, she had only one thought at this moment—revenge, revenge at all costs!

She stumbled to her feet and yelled at Xu's father, "It's all Su Jinxin's fault! She ruined everything for me!" Xu's father frowned in disgust, utterly disappointed in this daughter-in-law.

"Guards, lock her in the woodshed!" he ordered coldly, unwilling to look at Su Xiaoxiao again.

Two burly servants immediately stepped forward and dragged Su Xiaoxiao toward the woodshed.

Su Xiaoxiao struggled desperately, but to no avail, and could only let out desperate cries.

After being locked in the dark and damp woodshed, Su Xiaoxiao curled up in a corner, her heart burning with rage.

She felt that fate had been unfair to her. Why could Su Jinxin have everything, while she had to suffer such humiliation?

"Su Jinxin, I curse you..." she gritted her teeth, her voice hoarse, filled with intense hatred.