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

At this time, the Zhao family was in a state of panic, and the servants were all trembling with fear.

When no clues were found about the traitor within the organization, Old Madam Zhao flew into a rage and gave Qian Yidong a severe scolding.

Cheng Nanzhi also symbolically lost her temper, demanding that Qian Yidong produce a result as soon as possible.

Qian Yidong had no way to express his bitterness. To make matters worse, Zhao Ye returned not long after, but he came back with a gloomy face. As soon as he entered the mansion, he cursed at every servant he saw. Anyone could tell that something had happened.

After returning to his study, Zhao Ye summoned Qian Yidong to inquire about the results.

Upon learning that nothing had been found, Zhao Ye smashed a lot of things, which frightened Qian Yidong so much that his face turned pale.

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!"

"If there's no result by tomorrow morning, you're fired. Go and take over for me!"

The commotion in the study was quite loud, and Old Madam Zhao quickly found out.

The thought that Zhao Ye had left the manor on official business again made Old Madam Zhao's heart skip a beat. She asked Zhang Mama to call Zhao Ye over and ask, "You came back and got angry. Did something serious happen on official business?"

Zhao Ye didn't hide it from Old Madam Zhao: "I'm afraid my promotion is over. My name was already on the list, but because of Ze Ge'er's big matter, my superiors crossed my name off."

"The list of appointees will be announced before noon tomorrow. If I can't prove my Zhao family's innocence before then, I won't be able to get promoted. With a tarnished reputation, unless I achieve great things, I'll have to stay in this position for the next three or four years."

Madam Zhao was shocked. "Is this matter really that serious?"

Zhao Ye hadn't expected this, but how much impact would it have on his reputation? Not to mention that his political achievements over the past three years had been mediocre, while his competitors had performed exceptionally well and had excellent reputations.

Of course, the boss would favor someone else.

Zhao Ye knew perfectly well that if it weren't for the Cheng family's influence, his superior might not have added his name to the list this time.

"Oh, right, go find Cheng Nanzhi! She's always been smart and has helped you a lot in the past. Maybe she can help you this time too!" Old Madam Zhao said without hesitation.

Zhao Ye, however, was not very keen on finding him.

If Cheng Nanzhi knew that he had made no progress in his official career for three years and now needed her to come up with a solution, where would he put his face?

There are no secrets in officialdom. If others find out that he relied on the Cheng family again this time, how much more ridicule will he have to endure in the future?

Old Madam Zhao knew exactly what he was thinking: "My son, who cares about face now? Protecting your promotion is the most important thing!"

She immediately told Granny Zhang to go find Cheng Nanzhi.

Zhao Ye opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his words with a pale face, clenching his hands and remaining silent.

At this moment, Cheng Nanzhi heard Lan's report.

"Did Ye Ruyue really have Sanmei impersonate her, and didn't want anyone to know that she went to the Purple Bamboo Pavilion this time?"

Seeing Lan, he said, "It's absolutely true."

"This is interesting."

Cheng Nanzhi smiled.

It seems she was right.

First, Zhao Ye did indeed obtain those poems and articles through Ye Ruyue. However, Zhao Ye did not know the original authors; only Ye Ruyue did.

Secondly, Ye Ruyue's reluctance to let Zhao Ye know that she went to the Purple Bamboo Pavilion proves that Ye Ruyue truly has exclusive knowledge of the original author's whereabouts.

However, Cheng Nanzhi did not expect that Ye Ruyue would actually send Sanmei to impersonate her and meet the so-called original author.

This illustrates something very interesting—the original author did not know Ye Ruyue, otherwise why would Ye Ruyue have someone impersonate her?

This also suggests that Ye Ruyue may have stolen those poems and articles without the original author's knowledge.

Ye Ruyue dared not let Zhao Ye know, and it was possible that Zhao Ye didn't know that Ye Ruyue had stolen those poems.

"Ye Ruyue is quite daring. She steals other people's things and claims them as her own to Zhao Ye, making him value and care about her even more. She's not afraid of the consequences if she's exposed," Cheng Nanzhi said with amusement.

Seeing Lan's astonishment, she said, "Miss Biao... she wouldn't do something so despicable, would she?"

“You underestimate her. She’s capable of anything to climb the ladder,” Cheng Nanzhi said.

However, this is for the best. The original owner did not know Ye Ruyue, and Ye Ruyue even stole the other party's things, so the two sides had a grudge against each other.

She can definitely stop this person from helping Zhao Ye and Ye Ruyue by focusing on this point.

But before that, she had to make sure her guess was correct.

"Has Sanmei found out who that person is?"

Jianlan shook her head: "Jianlan said that no matter how she asked, Miss Biao just wouldn't say. She was afraid that if she continued to ask, Miss Biao would become suspicious, so she stopped asking and will wait for an opportunity later."

Cheng Nanzhi nodded: "She's right. She needs to protect herself first and not arouse Ye Ruyue's suspicion. This is indeed not something that can be done in a short time. Let her think of another way."

It should be that I saw the orchid.

“But now, I need to think of a way to verify it first…” Cheng Nanzhi stroked her chin thoughtfully.

Suddenly, Qingdai knocked twice on the door to remind her and came in, saying, "Miss, Granny Zhang is here. She says the Old Madam needs your help."

Cheng Nanzhi slowly raised her head and couldn't help but smile: "The opportunity has come."

"Huh?" Qingdai and Jianlan were both taken aback.

Cheng Nanzhi didn't explain further, but asked, "Did Granny Zhang say what it was about?"

Qingdai shook her head.

"Who else is with the old lady?" Cheng Nanzhi asked again.

“This servant has someone keep an eye on things,” Qingdai stepped forward, lowering her voice so that the people waiting outside wouldn’t hear. “The master returned to the manor not long ago, threw a tantrum, and then went to Shou’an Hall. Not long after, Zhang Mama came to invite you, Miss.”

It was exactly the opportunity she had in mind.

“Since my mother-in-law has come to invite me so late, it must be something very important. I’ll go then.” Cheng Nanzhi got up with a smile, asked the two women to help her change her clothes and do her hair, and then asked Lianruo and two maids to go with her.

Granny Zhang was getting impatient waiting outside.

"Madam, this has taken too long. It has really delayed the old lady's urgent business. Please hurry over there."

Cheng Nanzhi glanced at her coldly: "Did you say earlier that there was an emergency? Since you didn't, I'm going to do my makeup and wash carefully to show my respect for my mother-in-law. What's wrong with that? If you have any objections, you can go and complain to my mother-in-law first. I'm not feeling well, so I won't follow you."

Zhang Mama choked slightly: "Please forgive me, Madam, this old servant did not mean that."

"Even if you didn't mean it that way, you're still disrespecting my lady. If you did, what would happen?" Lianruo said unhappily. "According to the rules, does the nanny know what to do?"

Cheng Nanzhi stopped and looked at Zhang Mama calmly.

Granny Zhang clenched her fists, remembering that Old Madam Zhao needed Cheng Nanzhi's help, and with a determined heart, she slapped herself hard before apologizing.

Cheng Nanzhi then said, "I understand your intentions, Madam. How could I blame you? Let's go, don't keep your mother-in-law waiting." With that, she asked Lianruo to help her forward.

Granny Zhang took a deep breath and followed.

Inside Shou'an Hall, both Old Madam Zhao and Zhao Ye were growing impatient.

"If she doesn't come now, she's clearly just waiting to see me make a fool of myself! We just had a quarrel during the day, and now I'm begging her? She'll be so smug!" Zhao Ye slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "Mother, you can wait any longer, I'm not waiting!"

Zhao Ye, who was already seething with anger, finally snapped and turned to leave.

Old Madam Zhao hurriedly called him, but Zhao Ye didn't turn around. Just as he was about to leave, he ran into Cheng Nanzhi, who was arriving late.

"My husband is here too? What's wrong? Why does he look so pale?" Cheng Nanzhi feigned surprise.

Zhao Ye asked directly, "Mother called you here, why are you so slow?"

Old Madam Zhao felt something was amiss, but then she noticed that Zhang Mama's face was red and swollen, and she looked aggrieved. She asked, "Zhang Mama, what happened to your face?"

Just as Granny Zhang was about to speak, Lian Ruo said crisply, "Granny was disrespectful to my mistress, and knowing she was guilty, she punished herself by slapping herself, which only delayed things a little."

"What?" Old Madam Zhao and Zhao Ye looked at Zhang Mama.

Granny Zhang replied, feeling frustrated.

"My lord, I did not mean to be late. Why are you questioning me without even asking me anything?" Cheng Nanzhi said aggrievedly.

Zhao Ye felt a lump in his throat, unable to utter a sound, and his heart was filled with unbearable pain. But he couldn't say anything at that moment, only managing to stammer, "Nothing of the sort happened."

Madam Zhao was even angrier. Zhang Mama was her person, and even if she was wrong, she should have come over to talk to her. Instead, Cheng Nanzhi was making a fuss in Guantang Courtyard. What was the difference between that and slapping her in the face?

Madam Zhao's face turned cold.

"Come sit down first, we need to talk about important matters."