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

"Let's wait a bit. Didn't you hear Ranran say she wanted to go into business? Those scholars and wealthy families are definitely strict and don't like to be in the public eye. Let's wait until things are more stable at home before we talk about it."

Judging from her daughter's words, she is planning to move to another place.

Can they change their daughter's mind? If they're really forced into a corner, who knows what the consequences will be?

Ji Chunhua was a little speechless. She turned over, her back to the man. She didn't know that Yu Man was full of worries and hadn't let his guard down despite their improved financial situation.

Without power or influence, even if they have a little money, it's incredibly easy for the powerful and wealthy to kill them, like crushing an ant!

While the Yu family was filled with trepidation and having uneasy dreams, the main courtyard of the Duke's mansion was brightly lit. The Duke's family was gathered together for a rare family banquet.

Xiao Xiyu, the concubine's daughter, was only four years old and was born weak. Not long after the banquet began, she began to sway against her chair. Zheng Peipei asked the maids and servants to take the child back to rest.

Those who remain are the true family, enjoying a harmonious meal together.

Zheng Peipei looked at her son Xiao Bochen with heartache, noticing the dark circles under his eyes.

"Chen'er, you look so tired. Have you been working too hard with all the social engagements during the New Year? Make sure you get some rest at home after the holiday."

"Is he working hard?"

Duke Xiao Wen picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in his own bowl. Hearing this, he sneered, "Is he busy with his two new concubines in the inner quarters, huh? What a good-for-nothing!"

The chopsticks slammed heavily into the bowl.

Xiao Baichen had a nonchalant look on his face, not taking his father's attitude to heart.

“Father, it’s good that I’m not successful in a family like ours. If I were successful, would some people be able to sleep at night?”

He pointed north.

"shut up!"

Xiao Wen felt a sudden chill and slammed his chopsticks heavily on the table.

Looking around, everything was fine! The lady was always shrewd and had dismissed the servants early on. Only the Crown Princess, who had been acting as an invisible person, and her daughter Xiao Yao, who was as beautiful as a peacock spreading its tail, were sitting in the room.

Seeing Xiao Yao's bewildered expression and head full of jewels, he felt a headache coming on.

This child must have suffered too much in the past, and now that she's suddenly back in the Duke's mansion, she can't adapt, which is why she's acting this way. There's nothing we can do but let her mother teach her slowly.

But undeniably, he felt a vague sense of regret.

In the past, when the whole family sat around the table for meals, his greatest joy was having that child he was so proud of. Capable in both academics and physical activities, thoughtful and filial—who wouldn't praise him?

The original plan was to take advantage of the Emperor's birthday celebrations to send the child to the capital to broaden his horizons and, incidentally, to garner goodwill for the Duke's family. Perhaps…

Thinking of his secret wish that he had never told anyone, he shook his head inwardly and looked at Xiao Yao again.

How can I possibly present this to anyone?

Fortunately, the Wei family was within the sphere of influence of another duke, so the arranged marriage was unlikely to change. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but give his daughter a serious warning.

"Yaoyao, the Wei family is the family you are betrothed to. After the spring, Young Master Wei will go to the capital to take the imperial examination. Once he returns with his degree, you will choose a date to get married."

He took a sip of his drink and emphasized his words.

"During this time, you must get along well with Bai Feng and not be willful and capricious, lest you offend him!"

He was furious when he heard the news that Young Master Wei had been injured by his daughter.

He painstakingly cultivated a relationship with Prefect Wei, which allowed the Duke's Mansion to comfortably act as a local tyrant in this small border region for many years.

If the relationship with the Wei family falls apart, and Prefect Wei goes all out to deal with the Duke's Mansion, wouldn't that be exactly what the court wants?

Their Xiao family wasn't exactly royalty. This title and fiefdom were only granted because their ancestors were founding fathers who knew when to retire gracefully, thus receiving the protection of the founding emperor.

Over the years, the imperial court may have wanted to strip the Xiao family of their status and reclaim their fiefdom, but he managed to maintain it through his cautiousness.

Prefect Wei is a protégé of the Emperor, and this marriage alliance must be maintained at all costs. If a different prefect were to come, he might not be so easy to deal with, and it could be a disaster for the Duke's mansion.

Xiao Wen glanced at the people present with a hint of disdain.

Apart from that child, no one in the Duke's mansion could understand or soothe his hidden worries.

Xiao Yao said dismissively, "Father, I understand!"

She's the daughter of a Duke; the Wei family is incredibly lucky to have her as their daughter-in-law. However, one shouldn't judge a book by its cover…

At first, I thought Wei Baifeng was handsome, had a good background, and was talented. But after getting to know him better, I found him to be really bland and uninteresting. When I invited him to go out, he said it was impolite; when I went to his house, he said he had to study!

That stingy guy, could it be that I accidentally hurt him last time and he's holding a grudge? Or...

I can't forget that fake product!

The thought of this possibility made her feel as if she were being boiled in oil.

Hmph, even if she doesn't want this stinky man, she can't just watch Yu Wanran get away with it.

That fake woman is only fit to marry some country bumpkin! She'll never leave Qingping Village, generation after generation!

She ruined her life, so why should she be able to turn things around?

Lowering her head, Xiao Yao's eyes flashed with a chilling light.

The Crown Princess silently sipped her wine, her expression numb, as if everything around her was just a backdrop.

After the banquet, the Duke went back to the front courtyard to talk with his advisors late into the night. Zheng Peipei left her daughter-in-law alone, her face full of disappointment.

“Manman, as the Crown Prince’s wife, why don’t you advise the Crown Prince? Why do you let him carry all sorts of women, good and bad, to the backyard? He is your husband. If he is ruined by wine and women, who will you and your daughter rely on in the future?”

Tang Manman lowered her head, remained silent, and obediently accepted the scolding.

Faced with a daughter-in-law who was as unresponsive as a scalding hot pot, Zheng Peipei felt a tightness in her chest.

Before she married into the family, she was afraid her daughter-in-law would be unruly, so she set rules for her for several years. As a result, her daughter-in-law was well-trained, and her son was completely unrestrained in the backyard.

Before, when Ranran was around, at least she could talk to her daughter-in-law and help advise or even discipline her son. But now that Ranran is gone, her own daughter has come back…

She's always causing trouble and getting into mischief with her little whip; you should be secretly happy about that!

With a weak wave of her hand, Zheng Peipei dismissed her daughter-in-law and lay back down on the bed, continuing to slump over. She seemed to be in a bad mood and ill.

Tang Manman left her mother-in-law's room and walked into the courtyard, where she heard the sound of a whip cracking. Without a doubt, she knew it was her vengeful sister-in-law taking her anger out on someone again.

In her eyes, everyone owed her something and looked down on her. She had nowhere to vent her frustration, so she followed those around her and always ended up suffering.

Tang Manman thought the girl was stupid.

If you want others to respect you, you can't win their respect through beatings and scoldings. With Yu Wanran's skills and personality, as long as she's open-minded, she can live well even without the status of a county princess.

She envied her former sister-in-law, who was able to escape the lifeless Duke's mansion and go out to live a different, free life.

"Useless! You can't even handle such a small task..."

The person Xiao Yao beat and scolded turned out to be Deng Tongzhi's servant who had brought the news.

Deng Xueyi, the son of Magistrate Deng, took the initiative to curry favor with her, offering to help deal with the counterfeit goods.

She survived the entire year thanks to this unexpected piece of good news. But now, the other side's servant has come to report that the plan has failed?

What's the meaning!

Is it fun to fool her?