You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Xiao Xie, the housekeeper, accompanied her as she inspected each store.

"The princess's decision before the New Year was brilliant. The high-quality charcoal stockpiled by the charcoal shops could not meet the demand, and the ordinary charcoal was sold out before the spring. This year's profits are more than three times higher than in previous years."

As the housekeeper spoke, she held up the ledger for Xie Wanru to examine.

Because of her memories of her past life, Xie Wanru was able to seize this opportunity. However, she has been busy dealing with other matters lately and has not paid much attention to making money. It has been handled by Steward Xie and Little Steward Xie.

Lin Qing knew that she would be looking at the account books all day, so she went back to the Lin residence early in the morning. She had no interest in account books or such things, and besides, she had been staying with Xie Wanru for several days. If she didn't go back soon, her husband, Minister Lin, would have her arrested and taken back.

After reviewing the accounts, Xie Wanru instructed the steward, Xiao Xie, to give the charcoal shop workers an extra month's salary, which made them extremely happy.

Everyone had a smile on their face.

Afterwards, Xie Wanru, accompanied by Dongzhu and Xiao Xie the housekeeper, walked on the bustling street. Xie Wanru was dressed in an elegant dress and always had a gentle smile on her face.

Butler Xiao Xie was familiar with everyone around him. Shopkeepers or employees would often come up to greet him, and he would respond gently to each one.

Although these shops are scattered in different places, they are all well-organized and profitable under his careful management.

Arriving at a silk shop, Xie Wanru stopped and went inside, carefully examining the newly arrived silks.

These silks were of fine texture and vibrant color. She already had a plan in mind: to select a few of the finest pieces and send them to the palace.

The Empress doesn't lack these things, but what she gives is her heartfelt gift, and the Empress will like it very much.

Just as she was making her selections, a woman dressed in glamorous clothes led a group of people into the store, her sharp eyes scanning everything inside, as if searching for something.

"Oh, isn't this Princess Wanru from the Xie family, who just got divorced? What, you've come to take care of these mundane matters yourself?"

The woman's tone was laced with sarcasm and disdain as soon as she spoke.

Xie Wanru looked up, her gaze calmly meeting the woman's, a faint smile playing on her lips: "So it's you, what a coincidence."

The person who came was Shen Mengyan, the second daughter of the Shen family who was married to Lou Li.

Shen Mengyan snorted coldly, walked closer to Xie Wanru, and whispered, "I heard that the Xie family has recently gotten into some trouble in the Northern Territory and even had a conflict with the Northern Barbarians. I wonder if this is true? I also heard that your third brother has been kidnapped and his whereabouts are unknown. And you still have the mood to go shopping?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the noble ladies who had appeared with her began to discuss among themselves.

Those who know about Xie Yanting's rescue know it's no small matter, but ordinary people will have to wait a while to find out.

Xie Wanru's smile remained unchanged. "Shen Mengyan, you're all talk and no action. Do you think you have the right to criticize these things? Don't you know that the Emperor closely monitors every move of the Xie family's men? If the Emperor finds out that you're leading unfounded suspicions behind my back, do you think your little Shen family can withstand the consequences?"

After Xie Wanru finished speaking, the other people stopped talking. In the end, everyone was afraid of the imperial power, without exception.

Shen Meng blushed instantly. She hadn't expected Xie Wanru to so directly and forcefully invoke the Emperor to pressure her. The gazes of the noble ladies around her also became subtle.

"Hmph, I was just saying it casually, why are you so nervous? You're making a mountain out of a molehill."

Shen Mengyan forced herself to remain calm, trying to save face, and she didn't think it was just a few words, so why was it so serious?

Xie Wanru smiled lightly, her eyes revealing a hint of disdain: "Just a casual remark? Shen Mengyan, do you know how much unnecessary trouble your casual remark might bring to my Xie family? I dislike it most when people gossip behind my back without any evidence. I will let it go today, but if I hear similar things again in the future, don't blame me for being impolite."

After saying this, Xie Wanru turned around and continued selecting silks, ignoring Shen and his party.

Seeing this, Butler Xie immediately stepped forward and spoke quietly with the owner of the silk shop to arrange the purchase. At the same time, she subtly guided the other customers, gradually isolating Shen Mengyan and the others in a relatively quiet area.

Once the boss learned Xie Wanru's identity, he would rather offend Shen Mengyan than dare to offend Xie Wanru, and would obediently cooperate.

Shen Mengyan watched Xie Wanru's composed figure, her heart filled with resentment, yet she was powerless to do anything about it. The noble ladies around her began to quietly disperse, unwilling to be drawn into this invisible contest any longer.

After all, some of them had witnessed how much the Empress indulged Xie Wanru.

In the end, Shen Meng left the silk shop in a hurry with her maid, her face full of resentment. She was originally walking behind Xie Wanru.

When her companions learned that Xie Wanru was there, they told her, which is why she deliberately dragged them over to see Xie Wanru make a fool of herself. In the end, she herself became the laughingstock.

Xie Wanru selected several bolts of fine silk, and Dongzhu beside her whispered a reminder: "Miss, Shen Mengyan suffered a loss today, and I'm afraid she won't let it go easily in the future."

Xie Wanru smiled calmly: "It's alright. If she really wants to cause trouble, I, Xie Wanru, am ready to oblige. Besides, some people will only become more demanding if you keep tolerating them. We, the Xie family, have never been people who allow ourselves to be bullied."

After saying that, Xie Wanru, along with Dongzhu and the housekeeper, continued to stroll around the streets, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

Dongzhu nodded; she suddenly understood her princess.

After all, what her princess said made sense.

Because Xie Wanru knew a secret about Shen Mengyan, a secret that had caused quite a stir in her past life.

The younger sister took a liking to her brother-in-law and, taking advantage of her older sister's recent childbirth and inability to be in two places at once, climbed into her brother-in-law's bed, infuriating her older sister, Shen Mengning.

Shen Mengning originally wanted to settle things peacefully and find her an honest man to marry.

However, Shen Mengyan said that she had already taken Lou Li's child, that she loved Lou Li, and that she wanted to become Lou Li's concubine.

It's a beautiful story for sisters in the royal harem to share a husband, but it's different when this happens in an ordinary official's family, let alone the Lou family.

Grand Tutor Lou was furious. When he learned that Shen Mengyan was carrying the Lou family's bloodline, he did not soften his heart and said that he would never allow Shen Mengyan to enter the Lou family's gate.

Knowing they were in the wrong, the Shen family prevented Shen Mengyan from leaving the house, intending to secretly abort her unborn child and send her back to the countryside to be raised. However, Shen Mengyan broke free and ran straight to the Lou family's house.

Along the way, she revealed everything, attracting the attention of passersby. Some even helped her escape in order to hear her story, allowing her to reach the front door of the Lou family's house safely.

Because of this incident, the Lou family lost all their reputation in the eyes of the world.