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

"You mean, Madam Mei is targeting Mei Wanqing in order to obtain her mother's dowry?"

Today, the weather was unusually fine, and the sun peeked out. Zhu Xiaoxiao nestled on the chaise lounge by the window in Gan Cai'er's warm pavilion, basking in the sun while munching on melon seeds. She was extremely relaxed and content.

"Judging from Ding Peilan's tone, it seems that's the case," Gan Cai'er nodded.

“But that doesn’t make sense either.” Zhu Xiaoxiao shook her head, indicating her disagreement. “As soon as Mei Wanqing gets married, she will take her mother’s dowry with her, unless she never gets married again.”

"But last time, didn't Madam Mei arrange for her to look at the Deng family? It doesn't seem like she's going to keep her confined to the Mei residence forever."

Gan Cai'er thought about it seriously for a moment and said, "I didn't know much about the Mei family in my previous life. When I met Mei Wanyin, she had already been married to Meng Yu for many years and had long been the mistress of the Duke of Wei's mansion."

“I once heard the servants in the mansion say that when she got married, the procession was extremely grand. The length of her dowry was not enough to describe how much she had. Moreover, because she was backed by the Mei family, she was the only one who could do whatever she wanted in the Duke of Wei’s mansion. Even the old lady had to give her a lot of face when she saw her, and she almost always went along with her wishes.”

"Moreover, in my memory, no one around me has ever mentioned Mei Wanqing, as if she didn't exist at all."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaoxiao's expression also turned serious.

"In other words, when you entered the Duke of Wei's mansion, Mei Wanqing was either imprisoned or already gone. Moreover, Madam Mei used the Mei family's influence to keep the upper-class families of the entire capital silent about this matter."

Gan Cai'er suddenly shivered, a chill rising from the bottom of her heart.

"Xiao Hong, what happened to the hairpin I ordered last time? What did the shopkeeper say?" Gan Cai'er suddenly asked.

"It's not ready yet!" Xiao Hong replied immediately.

"I just asked a few days ago, and the shopkeeper said that the craftsman who made the hairpins had been sick for a while, so the delivery of the hairpins would be delayed. He also said that he could offer a discount of 10% as compensation to us."

"Which one did the Mei family order?" Gan Cai'er continued to ask.

"They didn't do it well either. The shopkeeper was afraid that Mo Yan would cause trouble, so he specifically mentioned that the Mei family's work was also not done well," Xiao Hong replied.

"And what's the story behind this hairpin?" Zhu Xiaoxiao asked curiously.

So, Gan Cai'er told them about their chance encounter with Qiao Que and how they ordered a red gold filigree peony hairpin.

“It’s common for women to have a beautiful hairpin made to resemble one. Why do you think there’s something wrong with that hairpin?” Zhu Xiaoxiao asked, frowning in confusion.

"I'm not sure if there's anything wrong with the hairpin. But Qiaoque later became Mei Wanyin's most trusted maid, yet now she's staying by Mei Wanqing's side... I have a feeling that something's not right."

"So, I kept an eye on it and made a similar hairpin, thinking it might come in handy. But now, this hairpin seems even stranger, and I'm afraid there really is something fishy about it," Gan Cai'er said.

"But what can a hairpin do?" Zhu Xiaoxiao muttered to herself as she ate sunflower seeds.

"Of course it's a frame-up, what else could it be?" Huan'er chimed in quickly.

Gan Cai'er and Zhu Xiaoxiao both looked at her intently.

"That's how it's written in storybooks, isn't it? Handkerchiefs, hairpins, undergarments—these things that women wear intimately, once they fall into the hands of a talented man, mean they should pledge their lives to each other," Huan'er said.

Upon hearing this, Gan Cai'er and Zhu Xiaoxiao both looked away.

Zhu Xiaoxiao scoffed: "Heh, if Mei Wanqing's reputation is really ruined by a scheme, then she'll have to get married. Once she gets married, the dowry that Madam Mei wanted will be gone. It would be better to keep saying that she's 'unlucky for relatives and friends' and keep her confined in the Mei mansion."

Gan Cai'er nodded and said, "Yes. It's easier to keep an eye on things."

"Most importantly, where did Mei Wanqing go a few years later?"

"Xiao Xiao, how about we go to the Mei residence again?"

"Heh, do you think the Mei family will let us in?" Zhu Xiaoxiao sneered.

"It all depends on people."

Next July, Mei Wanyin will marry Meng Yu. If they are not mistaken, then Mei Wanqing's time is running out.

Gan Cai'er took out the jade pendant given to her by Mei Wanqing, and gently stroked it in her hand, saying, "I think Prime Minister Mei still cares about Mei Wanqing very much. Perhaps her situation is not as bad as we imagine."

"Where did you get that idea? If Prime Minister Mei really doted on Mei Wanqing, how could Madam Mei dare to treat her like this?" Zhu Xiaoxiao scoffed.

Gan Cai'er shook her head and said, "Mei Wanqing lost her mother at a young age and has been confined to the mansion for a long time, rarely showing her face. If Madam Mei really wanted to make her disappear, it wouldn't be difficult. But why would she rather go to great lengths to ruin her reputation little by little, instead of daring to take direct action against her?"

"I think there's only one possibility: Prime Minister Mei still values ​​this daughter highly, and she wouldn't dare to directly get rid of Mei Wanqing."

Zhu Xiaoxiao disagreed: "A-Cai, I think you're being too naive. It's true that Prime Minister Mei values ​​Mei Wanqing, after all, she's his eldest daughter. But how much does he value her? I doubt it."

"Madam Mei has been mistreating Mei Wanqing for more than a decade, not just for a year or two! As the current Left Prime Minister, how could Prime Minister Mei possibly hide these tricks from Madam Mei? The reason Madam Mei has dared to continue doing this is because he has been turning a blind eye!"

"If there's a stepmother, there's bound to be a stepfather; that old saying is really true!"

Gan Cai'er paused for a moment. She felt that Zhu Xiaoxiao's words made sense. After all, it was impossible for Prime Minister Mei to be completely unaware of Madam Mei's actions. However, she still held a sliver of hope for Prime Minister Mei. Even tigers don't eat their cubs, and she felt that Prime Minister Mei still cared about Mei Wanqing. Perhaps he was Mei Wanqing's only chance for survival.

“Having a father is better than not having one!” Gan Cai’er gripped the jade pendant tightly in her hand.

"Alright, when do you plan to go?" Zhu Xiaoxiao couldn't argue with Gan Cai'er, so she had no choice but to compromise.

“We have to find a reasonable reason.” Gan Cai’er smiled.

For this reason, Gan Cai'er went to Fo Guang Temple again.

Zhuge Yunzhi looked at the string of white jade Buddhist prayer beads that Gan Cai'er handed him, lowered his eyes, shook his head, and refused.

“You should consult the masters in the temple to consecrate Buddhist artifacts. I only study Buddhism and do not do these things.”

"Oh, then forget it." Gan Cai'er didn't insist and took the bracelet back.

Zhuge Yunzhi was quite surprised to see her give up so easily. In his memory, this Madam Lan was not an easy person to talk to; on the contrary, she was someone who would not give up until she achieved her goal. He had personally experienced her persistence and indomitable spirit.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Yunzhi couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

“Brother Jingwu is quite knowledgeable in the consecration of Buddhist artifacts. Would you like me to introduce you to him on behalf of your wife?”

"No need," Gan Cai'er said magnanimously, waving her hand.

"Whether this ritual object is consecrated or not is not important. I just need to tell people that you consecrated it."

Zhuge Yunzhi's face darkened for once, and he said, "Madam Lan, a monk does not lie."

“Oh, but I’m not a nun.” Gan Cai’er smiled brightly.

Zhuge Yunzhi sighed helplessly and said, "Madam Lan, I really don't know how to consecrate magical artifacts."

Gan Cai'er didn't care at all and said, "Master, it's alright. I don't need you to actually know it. As long as I came here today, that's enough. I just want to borrow your name for a while."

"Hehe, that's because you have such a big reputation."

Gan Cai'er walked away with a smile.

Everyone says that Zhuge Yunzhi is aloof and detached, immersed in Buddhism, untouched by worldly affairs. If it weren't for the three-foot-long white silk ribbon from the Duchess of Xinguo that held him back, he probably would have already entered the Buddhist order.

However, Gan Cai'er found Zhuge Yunzhi to be quite easy to talk to, completely unlike the aloof and unapproachable persona portrayed by outsiders. For example, even though he knew she was being unreasonable and had ulterior motives, he didn't point it out directly, but instead showed great tolerance.

Therefore, she once asked Zhuge Yunzhi: "Master Fanjing, you know that I am not sincerely devoted to Buddhism, so why don't you drive me out and instead give me a lecture?"

Zhuge Yunzhi turned the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand and smiled faintly: "Madam Lan, didn't you once say that one must go through eighty-one tribulations to obtain the true scriptures?"

"If one can convert someone who knows nothing about Buddhism, that is also a form of spiritual practice."