After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

The Mei family of Kyoto was a prominent family with three generations of nobles and officials, and a century-old clan.

In Kyoto, if you mention the Mei family, even a three-year-old can give you directions. The Mei family's prestige in Kyoto reached its peak after Mei Qingru took over as Left Prime Minister.

As the Mei family's prestige soared, its members became increasingly discreet in their conduct. Mei family members were required to be cautious in their words and actions, to practice self-discipline and propriety, and to never indulge in extravagance, debauchery, or frivolousness.

Mei Qingru, on the other hand, is even more low-key.

November 8th was his 43rd birthday. Because it wasn't a full year, the birthday banquet was very simple. Only a few direct relatives from the clan, a few in-laws, and a handful of friends were invited. All of them were people he knew well and who visited him frequently. There were no outsiders.

Therefore, Lü Zhi was quite surprised when the doorman reported that two unfamiliar women had arrived with invitations. She was even more surprised when she learned that the invitations were from Mei Wanqing.

"Heh, when did Qing'er make friends?" Lü Zhi chuckled softly, her delicate hands adjusting Mei Qingru's robes.

Her smiling eyes swept over the gatekeeper who came in to report, a hint of coldness flashing across them.

Old Zhang quickly lowered his head, avoiding her gaze.

"Have someone lead them to the young lady's Sunset Garden," Mei Qingru instructed.

“Master, today’s guests are all regulars. We don’t know these strangers or where they’ve come from, and it would be bad if we offended them. Perhaps we should ask them to come another day,” Lu Zhirou said softly.

"It's alright, it's rare that Qing'er has someone she wants to invite. However, since there are two women here today, most of them are relatives, so even if we are a little impolite, it's not a big deal. It's just that we'll have to trouble you, Madam."

“Master, you’re being too polite. Household affairs are my responsibility, and I’ve always taken care of everything,” Lü Zhi said with a light reproach, glancing at him.

Although she was over thirty, she was very well-maintained, and her every glance exuded charm. Her eyes were both delicate and alluring, making one's heart flutter.

“However, Master is right. Qing’er doesn’t have many friends, and it’s rare for someone to come to visit, so we should treat them well. I was just overthinking things and didn’t consider things carefully.”

"Old Zhang, let the old woman lead them to Luoxia Courtyard."

Old Zhang lowered his head, responded, and then left.

At this moment, Gan Cai'er's carriage was parked outside the southeast corner gate of the Mei residence, where she and Zhu Xiaoxiao were sitting in the carriage staring at each other.

"We've sent the invitation and shown them the jade pendant, but they still make us wait. I don't think this jade pendant is of any use," Zhu Xiaoxiao said, turning the jade pendant over and over in her hands.

“I think it works,” Xiao Hong said.

“Miss Zhu, you didn’t see it while you were in the carriage. When I asked to see Miss Mei, the gatekeeper didn’t even lift his eyelids and said that Miss Mei doesn’t see outsiders.”

"I handed over the invitation, but he only glanced at it and said that the young lady was not feeling well and would not see guests today, and asked us to come another day."

"Then I took out the jade pendant. The gatekeeper was very impatient and wanted to kick me out. But then an old man came over and said that there were indeed guests being invited to the mansion today, and that I should be careful not to offend the guests. He suggested that he take the invitation and ask first."

"He even told me to go back to the carriage and wait for news. I think there's a chance."

"Tsk, tsk, it seems Madam Mei really wants to isolate Mei Wanqing from the world." Zhu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but click her tongue and shake her head.

"Ah Cai, I don't think you have much of a chance of saving Mei Wanqing. You might as well give up. You should focus on figuring out how to deal with the younger one."

“Actually, it’s not like we have no chance of winning.” Gan Cai’er took the jade pendant from Zhu Xiaoxiao.

"This jade pendant was a gift from Prime Minister Mei, so her father must have loved her very much."

"So what?" Zhu Xiaoxiao curled her lip in disdain.

"Prime Minister Mei mostly doesn't concern himself with matters of the inner quarters, otherwise Mei Wanqing wouldn't have been raised like this."

"That vicious woman Mei Wanyin is a master of acting. She pretends to be weak and magnanimous in front of others, then twists the truth and frames others. It seems that she learned these methods from Madam Mei."

"If Prime Minister Mei knew the truth, Mei Wanqing would be able to escape Madam Mei's control."

"I think it's difficult." Zhu Xiaoxiao shook her head.

"Let alone Prime Minister Mei, I think even Mei Wanqing herself doesn't feel that Madam Mei is trying to harm her at all."

“Ah Cai, what you’re doing is pleasing neither side. If you’re not careful, you might even get yourself into trouble. It’s not worth it.”

Zhu Xiaoxiao tried to persuade her earnestly.

Gan Cai'er lowered her eyes, looking at the jade pendant in her hand, gently stroking it again and again.

“Xiao Xiao, when I met Mei Wanyin in my past life, I never heard anyone mention Mei Wanqing. It was as if this person did not exist in the world.”

“This is a jade pendant that her father gave her, and she gave it to me. I can’t just stand by and do nothing about it.”

"Whether it succeeds or not, we have to give it a try."

Zhu Xiaoxiao fell silent. She remembered when she was little, she fought with Gan Cai'er, and she couldn't beat her. She even sprained her ankle, and Gan Cai'er carried her home.

She clung to Gan Cai'er's back, constantly pulling at the other's hair. Although Gan Cai'er cursed and yelled the whole way, she couldn't shake her off.

Later, she asked Gan Cai'er why she carried her home. Gan Cai'er said that she had shared some osmanthus candy with her, but she couldn't remember it anymore.

Gan Cai'er is the kind of person who would go to great lengths for her friends, but of course, she's also the kind of person who would betray them.

Zhu Xiaoxiao sighed helplessly. What could she do with a friend like this?

Just then, an old voice rang out from outside the carriage: "Madam Lan, Miss Zhu, please come with this old servant into the mansion."

Gan Cai'er raised an eyebrow at Zhu Xiaoxiao and said smugly, "See, isn't the chance of winning here?"