The whole family of villains listens to my heart, the Regent Prince treats me dearly.

Afternoon, at the Minister's residence.

The shadows of the trees swayed, and the soft, pleasant sunlight danced on the stone table.

Fifth Aunt sat in the courtyard, a slight worry on her brow, chatting idly with the maidservant beside her.

She put down her embroidery and sighed.

"Sigh, I wonder how the Second Miss will resolve the land deed issue."

"Don't worry, Auntie. Second Miss is a woman of her own mind. Since she said she'd leave this matter to her, she'll definitely handle it well," the maid said.

Through her observation of the second young lady over this period of time, she discovered that she had changed a lot.

This is quite different from his previous reckless and thoughtless personality.

Although his behavior is sometimes a bit outrageous and his actions are often baffling, he always manages to get things done very well.

Fifth Aunt nodded: "You're right, I should trust Second Miss."

She lowered her head, looking listless. "I just feel a little sorry for her."

At this moment, a servant came to report that Old Madam Sun had arrived.

Before she could finish speaking, Old Madam Sun stormed into the courtyard and went straight to Fifth Concubine.

"Snapped!"

A heavy slap landed on Fifth Aunt's face.

"Mother!"

Fifth Aunt covered her swollen face and looked at the newcomer in disbelief.

"Don't call me mother!"

"Do you still care about me as your mother?!"

Madam Sun pointed at Fifth Concubine and angrily cursed, "How could I have raised such an ungrateful wretch!"

The servants and maids fell silent in fear.

"Everyone, go down first," Fifth Aunt said, closing her eyes.

"Yes."

The servants left the courtyard one after another.

Fifth Aunt opened her eyes and said calmly, "I don't understand what Mother is saying."

"You do not understand?"

A sharp glint flashed in Madam Sun's eyes as she rebuked:

"Wasn't it you who instigated Minister Zhai to deal with our Sun family?"

"Wasn't it you who colluded with outsiders to bully your elder sister?"

"You dare say you don't understand!"

"I think you understand perfectly well!"

Madam Sun plopped down on a nearby stone bench, her face flushed with anger.

Fifth Aunt opened her mouth, and a burning pain shot through her cheek.

"Didn't Mother ever think that my sister was wrong?"

"Was your sister wrong?"

Madam Sun snorted through her nose.

"She only asked for your jewelry shop, what could she have done wrong?"

"What food and drink you've had since you were born wasn't from the Sun family?"

"Your sister is the eldest daughter of the Sun family, and her status is far more noble than yours! In the future, the entire Sun family will belong to her!"

"All I wanted was a jewelry store, and this is how you retaliate?"

"Is this how you repay the Sun family for raising you?"

Madam Sun slammed her hand heavily on the stone table. "Do you even care about me and your father anymore?!"

Fifth Aunt just found it funny.

What I've wanted to gain all my life is the love of this person.

She has endured all her fate for so many years, yet she has never received a single bit of care.

Whatever.

Some things, in the end, cannot be forced.

Her heart turned cold, and she said, "Master dotes on his daughter. Since my sister took over the second young lady's jewelry shop, she will naturally suffer the consequences."

“If Mother truly cared for my sister, she should have advised her to return the land deed, instead of coming over to criticize me.”

"You!" Old Madam Sun was surprised that she would talk back, and after a moment of surprise, she said, "Very well, very well indeed."

She gave a cold laugh, her wrinkles looking somewhat ferocious.

"I think you've had too many good days in the Minister's household, and now you've grown too big for your britches!"

"How dare you talk back to me!"

"If you don't go to your in-laws' house today and plead for the release of the Sun family, you'd better not call me 'mother' anymore!"

"You don't need to go back to the Sun family's gate!"

"My Sun family will pretend we never had a daughter like you!"

Fifth Aunt felt no more emotion.

She said sternly, "In that case, Madam Sun, please go back."

"You! You!"

Madam Sun seemed not to have expected that Fifth Concubine would actually dare to reply to her like that, and was stunned for a long time.

Do you know what you're saying?

In the past, when he used this to blackmail her, she was always terrified and cried and begged for mercy.

Why do you seem like a completely different person today?

Madam Sun felt uneasy.

“I said, from this day forward, I will have no further connection with the Sun family.”

Fifth Aunt spoke coldly, enunciating each word clearly.

"From now on, you don't need to come to me about the Sun family's affairs."

"I can't control it, and I don't want to control it."

"Come here, see the guests off!"

"You, how dare you!" Old Madam Sun gritted her teeth, her face contorting with bulging veins.

She shrieked, "You'd better not regret this!!"

Fifth Aunt turned and went into the house indifferently, letting the servants drive Old Madam Sun out.

……

Madam Sun returned to the Sun residence in a fit of rage.

As soon as I walked in the door.

Master Sun rushed out and grabbed her arms, his voice anxious: "How is it? Has Minister Zhai relented?"

"Give in what way! I haven't even seen Minister Zhai yet."

"It's all your fault for raising such a wonderful daughter!"

"I don't know what's gotten into him, but he's saying he doesn't recognize us as his family anymore!"

"You want to sever ties with us!"

Old Madam Sun, unable to vent her anger, forcefully broke free from Old Master Sun's grasp.

"How could this be so..."

Master Sun was stunned for a moment, then his eyes suddenly sharpened.

"She's always been the most obedient, how could she cut ties with our family? Did you say something to her?"

Madam Sun felt a little guilty, her eyes darting around nervously.

What can I say?

"She's just a concubine's daughter. I, as the mistress of the house, went to beg her personally, but not only did she not appreciate it, she also ordered her men to throw me out!"

"They have absolutely no manners!"

She looked at Mr. Sun and said:

“Master, I think the Minister’s mansion is nothing special. We have so many properties and more money than we can spend. Why should we lower ourselves to suffer such humiliation?”

"What do you know, you woman!" Master Sun was about to be driven mad by her.

"What use is our vast wealth! With just one word from Minister Zhai, we can make it impossible for us to stay in the capital!"

"Do you even realize the implications of this?!"

Madam Sun pouted.

How could it be that serious?

Minister Zhai isn't the emperor.

At this moment, several servants rushed in to report:

"Sir! The Maritime Trade Office found prohibited goods on our ship and has seized it!"

"Sir! People from the Dali Temple came this afternoon! They said they want to thoroughly investigate our warehouse!"

"Sir! Several shops in the south of the city have been shut down! They're saying we evaded taxes!"

"Sir! Several groups of people have come to the construction site demanding payment and have stopped our project!"

……

Master Sun was so angry that he fainted.

"Master!" Old Madam Sun cried anxiously, "Quickly help him up!"

She had no idea things would be this serious!

Thinking about how she had just slapped that illegitimate daughter, she felt a pang of regret.

As soon as Mr. Sun slowly woke up, he slapped Mrs. Sun across the face.

"Look what you've done!"

"My Sun family has committed a terrible sin! To have raised such a bunch of good-for-nothings!"

"Father." Madam Sun walked in.

"Since things have already come to this, no matter how much you scold me and Mother, it won't make a difference."

A calculating glint flashed in her eyes.

"Now that the land deed for Lanyue is in my hands, the shop is now frequented by high-ranking officials and dignitaries. As long as we hold Lanyue firmly in our hands, why should we worry about not being able to make connections?"

"No matter how powerful Minister Zhai is, he can't control everything in the capital!"

Madam Sun moved closer and whispered:

"Moreover, I heard that the Fifth Prince even sent someone to inquire about Lan Yue. It seems that this shop has already attracted the attention of the palace."

"If we manage things properly, it's only a matter of time before we make a comeback!"

She puffed out her chest.

When the time comes, I'll make that annoying second young lady kneel down and wipe her shoes!

"Is this really happening?"

Mr. Sun suddenly felt that he could breathe again.

A glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes.

The Fifth Prince has made considerable achievements in politics; if we could obtain his help…

Then even Minister Zhai can't do anything to him!