Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

Fanwaiyi

Upon returning to the Duke's mansion, Xiao Yao angrily smashed a room full of antiques and jade artifacts to pieces!

She knew that the wretched woman who had taken away sixteen years of her life of wealth and luxury was now enjoying immense prestige, marrying the young master of the Yan family at the Princess's residence in the capital!

But why?

That bitch, why is she so lucky?

Shouldn't she return to Qingping Village and experience the suffering she once endured?

For sixteen years, she went to bed hungry every night. Every morning when she opened her eyes, there was endless work to do!

No matter how good Ji Chunhua is to her, it can't make up for the grievances she has suffered over the past sixteen years!

Despite her relentless efforts to push that vile woman into the abyss, she somehow managed to pull herself out of the woods and seize a tremendous opportunity to rescue the crown prince and rise rapidly in rank.

She was filled with regret. Why hadn't she taken the opportunity to break her leg when she kicked the other woman out of the Duke's mansion that day?

As long as we cripple that scoundrel's martial arts, no matter how capable he is, he won't be able to turn the tables, right?

It's all that bitch's fault for taking Ji Chunhua and running away too fast; she didn't have time to react...

The maids outside hid furtively, both annoyed and afraid, and dared not enter the house to face their master.

Their mistress has been rejected by the Duke and Duchess, and has been under house arrest ever since she returned to the Duke's mansion. Even so, she still doesn't understand that all hope is lost, and she's going crazy every day!

Whoever serves this man is truly doomed.

A maid turned and quietly reported everything to Princess Tang Manman. Tang Manman said nothing, only instructing the maid to inform the Duke and his wife.

The Duke and Duchess sat in the courtyard where Yu Wanran had once lived, in silence.

Xiao Wang was filled with regret, and Zheng Peipei was heartbroken.

But undeniably, they now regret it, they deeply regret it!

If Ranran were still raised by them, wouldn't their Duke's Mansion be able to share half of the glory of the capital?

With such merit, even if the crown prince ascends the throne, the title and glory of their Duke's Mansion will remain as solid as a mountain.

But now, it's too late!

Just then, the maid came to report Xiao Yao's condition.

Xiao Wang's eyes held a deep killing intent.

"Madam, please get rid of that girl as soon as possible, a month from now!"

He's utterly useless, a fool who only causes him trouble! Now all he has left is the marriage alliance.

Cheng Pei-pei looked indifferent.

"Would the Wei family accept such a daughter-in-law?"

During his trip to the capital, Wei Baifeng gained a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of their Duke's mansion. In particular, Xiao Yao's various actions not only chilled the heart of her loving mother, but Wei Baifeng himself probably also despised Xiao Yao.

If Xiao Yao is married off, knowing that the Duke's mansion no longer values ​​this abandoned child, how can Xiao Yao have a good life?

She could also sense that Wei Baifeng still harbored feelings for Ranran.

Xiao Wang sneered.

"As long as the Duke's mansion remains in Tongcheng, that old bastard Wei Zhi will accept Xiao Yao as his daughter-in-law!"

This arranged marriage was a tacit alliance reached between the two parties from the very beginning!

However, at that time, Ranran and Wei Baifeng were childhood sweethearts who grew up together, which gave the arranged marriage a beautiful hue.

If you want wealth and status, you must make an equal sacrifice!

Is it so easy to be the daughter of a Duke?

"From now on, you should focus on self-cultivation in the inner quarters, and let the Crown Princess take over managing the household for you."

Xiao Wang reminded him.

The Duke's mansion has nothing to rely on now. If they want the Crown Prince to ascend the throne without reducing the power of the princes, they can only hope for Princess Huining's influence.

The Crown Princess has always been on good terms with Ranran, and it would be very beneficial for the Duke's mansion to have the Crown Princess take over at this time.

As for Xiao Yao, she's just a discarded pawn, to be thrown to the Wei family!

Cheng Pei-pei nodded silently, tears streaming down her face. She was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

Fanwaiji

In the dead of night, Zhong Yeliu, panting heavily, sat bolt upright in bed with a start.

She had a very vivid nightmare in which she dreamt that she followed her master and traveled the trade routes for more than 20 years.

But during one of his master's overseas trade voyages, he heard that his master had been ambushed by pirates and never returned!

With immense grief, she took over the management of the estate left by her master.

She couldn't believe that her usually cautious and shrewd master would fall into such a trap so easily and be murdered.

Under immense pressure, she tripled the value of her master's business in a short period. With money and manpower, and once she had enough influence, she finally uncovered the culprit behind her master's death: Princess Xiao Yao!

This county princess was ruthless and colluded with the Second Prince's faction. It is said that the Crown Prince's early death was also related to her.

She harbored immense resentment!

Those who harmed her master will all die a horrible death!

She poured everything into it, spending twenty years laying out a grand plan.

They sent someone to approach Xiao Yao's daughter and then escorted her to the palace for the imperial concubine selection. On the day the new beauty entered the palace, they secretly replaced her with an assassin.

Although the assassin fell short, failing to kill the second prince who had become emperor, he successfully implicated Xiao Yao. Her entire family was slaughtered by the cruel and suspicious Zhao Hongzheng!

As a result, the Duke's mansion was also reduced to commoners overnight.

Even Zhao Hongzheng himself was so shocked by this incident that he became completely despondent. Two years later, he died mysteriously in the palace!

On the day her great revenge was fulfilled, she embraced her master's memorial tablet in a secret room, weeping bitterly.

Although she successfully avenged herself, the master who had been her only family and had shown her immense kindness was gone forever!

She laughed and cried at the same time, collapsing in the secret room.

I woke up to find myself in bed.

She jumped off the bed barefoot and rushed into the princess's palace like a madwoman. Ignoring the fact that the prince consort was still standing there, she grabbed Yu Wanran and looked her up and down.

Only when she confirmed that the person in front of her was alive and steaming did she burst into tears and laughter, and hug her master tightly.

That's great, our master is still alive!

Unlike in the dream, there was no trace of the body.

Yu Wanran comforted her, looking completely bewildered.

Gently stroking her head, he looked at Yan Cheng'an, who was equally bewildered and rubbing his sleepy eyes, and said with a wry smile, "This girl! Why did she suddenly come over crying and laughing? Is she still half asleep?"

Fanwaisan

Three years later, Yu Wenrong married the second daughter of the Marquis of Ningguo's family.

The second daughter was gentle, virtuous, and beautiful. Although Ji Chunhua felt that she was inferior to her fourth daughter-in-law, who was well-educated and talented, and couldn't stand up straight.

However, the fourth son and his wife have a harmonious and respectful relationship. They prefer to live their quiet lives behind closed doors, hoping to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

Five years later, Zhong Yeliu, who had been recognized as Princess Huining's sworn sister, got married to Yan Xing'an, a close friend of Yan Cheng'an and a wealthy merchant in the capital.

Coincidentally, the Yan family had similarly strict family rules as the Yan family. A man was only allowed to take a concubine if he had no heir by the age of thirty. Furthermore, favoring a concubine over one's wife was absolutely forbidden.

Zhong Yeliu and Yan Xing'an had long-term business dealings, and unknowingly, they developed a tacit understanding and feelings for each other. Yu Wanran, following Zhong Yeliu's wishes, together with Yan Cheng'an, brought the two together.

At this time, the couple's overseas business flourished, acquiring properties and land in coastal countries and gaining considerable influence among the local elites. To say they were as wealthy as a nation would not be an exaggeration!

Yu Wanran generously gave Zhong Yeliu 100,000 taels of silver and a trade route that would later develop as her dowry.

Yan Bai never married and traveled overseas with Yu Wanran and her husband.

The carefree and lively Yanqing didn't settle down until after he turned thirty. He happily married the daughter of a respected elder in the martial arts world.

Extra four

Ten years later, Yu Xiaoxiang married in a grand ceremony, marrying Song Lianghan, the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examination.

Her third aunt kept her promise and sent her off with a ten-mile-long procession of red bridal procession.

Holding the golden apple that Aunt Zhong handed her with a smile, her third aunt helped her into the sedan chair. The moment she witnessed the wedding curtain being lowered, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

Although her mother and grandmother always said that she wasn't as clever as her younger brother, at only three years old, she could already recite poems along with adults, swaying her head as she did so!

She could see the disapproving look in her third aunt's eyes, but also her gentle and affirming encouragement. She believed that in her third aunt's eyes, she had always been the best one!

Her third aunt would always stroke her head, hold her in her arms, and tell her stories of how she and her third uncle sailed large ships at sea, engaging in trade, diplomatic relations, and naval battles.

Her horizons had broadened considerably without her mother and grandmother's knowledge. Their unintentional words of criticism could not shake her increasingly resilient spirit in the slightest.

Her third aunt also told her not to blame her mother and grandmother.

They meant you no harm.

They are simply limited in their knowledge and experience because they were born into a small world.

It's not that they don't love you; it's just that they're used to loving you in the way they think is best!

But she is different.

She grew up under the protection of her third aunt. One day, she will spread her wings and fly high to face the storms that await her!

Song Lianghan is her future partner. He will also be her comrade-in-arms, standing shoulder to shoulder with her through thick and thin, and relying on her for life!

Husband and wife are one, sharing both honor and disgrace.

Yu Xiaoxiang blinked, secretly wiping away excess moisture under her red veil.

A small smile quietly appeared on her lips.

How fortunate I am in this life!

She met her third aunt!

Complete text——

I'll stop writing on April 4, 2025!

(A side note: Thank you to the few angels who have been following the story! This book has very little romance; it focuses more on family and friendship. I was thinking about how the story should develop, and how it should develop logically.)

However, it failed the test!

People definitely prefer the kind of emotional entanglements between men and women. This is the most painful book I've ever written; I was practically suffering in isolation the whole time.

Hopefully, the next book will be better.

Finally, I wish my readers, like the heroine in the book, ever-growing careers and immense wealth!