Favoring a concubine and destroying the wife? I'll abandon my husband and children and wipe out

As soon as Wang Kesheng left, Ye Ruyue came back from around the corner, followed by Sanmei!

She stared intently in the direction Wang Kesheng had left and asked, "Did you put the things inside?"

Sanmei nodded, then said fearfully, "But wouldn't that be a bad idea? What if what happened just now is discovered? It would damage your reputation. Even if it succeeds, you'll have made a grudge against Madam!"

Ye Ruyue sneered: "This feud started a long time ago! Besides, Cheng Nanzhi has already wronged me so much. If I don't get my revenge, she'll think I'm easy to bully!"

She turned and walked back.

He scoffed, "Besides, I'm sure I'll succeed, and nobody will know about this. Heaven is really on my side; otherwise, how could I have happened to run into Wang Kesheng and have this one-on-one opportunity!"

She didn't notice that Sanmei, who was following behind, had an extremely cold expression.

He thought to himself, "Of course I'm giving you a chance on purpose!"

To maintain appearances, Sanmei pretended to advise, "Miss, you should give up now. If something really happens to the shop, it will be the Zhao family's loss. If the master and the old lady find out, they will definitely punish you."

Ye Ruyue retorted, "It's not my interests that are being harmed, and they're not giving it to me anyway, so why should I consider their interests at this time?"

Even if we're going to share both glory and shame, we'll have to wait until the Zhao family truly falls into her hands!

"Why are you talking so much nonsense?" Ye Ruyue looked at Sanmei with displeasure. "I'm warning you, if you don't keep your mouth shut, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Sanmei bowed her head in agreement.

Meanwhile, Wang Kesheng quickly returned to his own residence and opened the box to look at the account book with a smug look on his face.

From a young age, he knew that Cheng Nanzhi was of noble birth and destined for a life of boundless wealth and honor. If he gained her favor, he would surely have a bright future as well!

By helping his parents and himself to become commoners, it would be no problem for his descendants to enter officialdom in the future!

However, upon closer inspection, Wang Kesheng's eyes widened in surprise.

Underneath the ledger were pink ribbons and the corner of a garment, which turned out to be a bellyband embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water!

How come this thing was in the box the lady gave him?

Wang Kesheng suddenly realized that this was taken from the madam, so it also belonged to the madam?

Why would the lady give him something so private?!

Wang Kesheng recalled the scene at Guantang Courtyard. He wondered if it was just a hallucination, but the lady seemed to be smiling very gently at him, and she spoke to him with great affection and reliance.

Could it be... that the lady is interested in him?

Wang Kesheng slammed the box shut in shock, his cheeks flushed red, and his heart pounded.

But I'm also puzzled. I've heard that Madam and Lord Zhao have an unbreakable bond, so why would Madam treat him like this...? However, Madam has been away from home for three years, so it's possible that she and Lord Zhao have drifted apart...

"Give birth to a son!" Granny Li suddenly pushed the door open and entered at that moment.

Startled by his wild thoughts, Wang Kesheng guiltily covered the box and asked, "Mother, why are you back so early? Weren't you and Father inspecting the estate in the outskirts of the capital?"

"I heard you caught the Madam's eye, so I rushed back to check on you. Your father is still there." Seeing Wang Kesheng's pale face, Li Mama asked with some concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Wang Kesheng coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment, saying it was nothing, and changed the subject to the shop that Cheng Nanzhi had entrusted to him to manage.

Granny Li's eyes gleamed.

"Mother knows, this is one of the Zhao family's best shops, and many officials frequent it. It's a good place to make connections! It seems that Madam really values ​​you! Sheng'er, you must seize this opportunity!"

Wang Kesheng only noticed the phrase "valued," and immediately felt a little smug.

So the lady really had feelings for him, and he wasn't mistaken?

"Don't worry, Mother, I will make the most of this opportunity!"

……

At the Zhao residence, Zhao Ye went to see Cheng Nanzhi as soon as he returned from court.

"I heard you've already given the shop's account books to Granny Li's son. Are you sure he's alright and a capable helper?"

After all, it was one of the most important shops in the Zhao family. Zhao Ye was counting on it to make money to support his work, and he also wanted to leave it to Ze Ge'er in the future. He was ultimately not at ease handing the shop over to outsiders.

Cheng Nanzhi turned a page of the book in her hand, without looking at Zhao Ye, and said, "Of course it's certain. My husband knows how capable and useful Li Mama is, as she is an old servant of the Prince of Anyang's mansion. As Li Mama's son, Wang Kesheng is naturally the same."

"Could it be that my husband is questioning the Prince's judgment in choosing men for me?"

Zhao Ye said awkwardly, "How could that be? I was just asking casually."

He changed the subject, asking, "Madam, do you still have dealings with the Prince's mansion?"

Cheng Nanzhi paused slightly as she picked up the book.

Before she could say anything, she heard Zhao Ye's inner thoughts.

If there's prior contact, things will be much easier.

[The Third Prince needs help now, and the Prince of Anyang is the Emperor's right-hand man. If he gets his support, the Third Prince will have a better chance of winning the throne!]

Although it's still early, we need to make plans soon. Once we've successfully won him over, I'll report back to the Third Prince; he'll definitely think more highly of me then!

Zhao Ye became increasingly smug, as if he could already see his future rise to prominence and become a key figure in Xinhuang.

He didn't notice Cheng Nanzhi watching him coldly.

Cheng Nanzhi put down her book and feigned sadness: "Husband, do you not believe me again?"

Zhao Ye was taken aback: "What makes you say that?"

Cheng Nanzhi said, "In the past, didn't my husband not want me to have any more contact with the Prince's Mansion, so that people would think that you were currying favor with the royal family and seeking fame? I have done so until now, without daring to disobey in the slightest. My husband, are you asking me this now because you suspect that I have secretly contacted the Prince's Mansion against your wishes?"

Zhao Ye choked up as he listened.

The reason I asked Cheng Nanzhi to do that was that I had long planned to have Yue'er replace her. The fewer people she had to support, the easier it would be for her to succeed in the future!

Secondly, the Prince of Anyang's mansion was still supporting the powerful Fifth Prince at the time, while he had long intended to side with the Third Prince. He was afraid that the Third Prince would misunderstand that he also supported the Fifth Prince, so he wanted to sever ties with the Prince of Anyang's mansion.

Moreover, the Prince of Anyang's mansion looked down on him and constantly found fault with him, even mocking him for trying to use Cheng Nanzhi to get promoted. He disliked them even more!

Things are different now. The Fifth Prince lost his position three years ago during the autumn hunt, and the Anyang Prince's Mansion is becoming increasingly unsupportive. It would be best if they could be won over!

Of course, he would never bow down to the Prince of Anyang's mansion; only Cheng Nanzhi could do it.

But Cheng Nanzhi's words made it difficult for him to speak.

Zhao Ye's eyes darted around, and he said, "I feel sorry for you staying in the mansion after returning to the capital. Even if you don't say it, I understand that you have become estranged from your old acquaintances and have few people to visit. But the Prince of Anyang's mansion is different. You grew up there since you were a child. I'm sure the Prince and his wife still love you and are willing to visit each other."

He looked righteous and solemn.

"As long as you're happy, I don't mind suffering some grievances! After all, you're the one I care about most!"