The merchant's rebirth led to the complete downfall of the Marquis's mansion.

Qin Yao and Liu Qingping were very interested in the Wu family's affairs.

The next day, they met up with Wu Shiyun, and the three of them set up a stall in Qin Yao's courtyard.

We set out fruit and shaved ice and listened to Wu Shiyun talk about Wu Shiqi.

Wu Shiqi was someone who appeared out of nowhere. Her mother was Wu Daren's cousin, and the two were childhood sweethearts who grew up together.

However, by a twist of fate, this cousin did not marry Lord Wu, but instead married a wealthy family in their area.

After passing the imperial examination, Lord Wu married Madam Wu. The two lived happily together and had three children. Although he also took two concubines, it did not affect their relationship.

The problem arose five years ago when Wu Shiqi suddenly came to her door. Only then did Madam Wu realize that her husband had met his cousin, who had been kicked out of her husband's family, a few years after their marriage.

The two secretly became pregnant.

Her cousin was settled in one of her estates, and it wasn't until she fell ill and passed away five years ago that she realized the two of them had been living happily under her nose for so many years.

Madam Wu was clearly aware of the situation and even helped cover it up.

After Wu Shiqi returned, the old lady showed her favoritism to the fullest extent.

Even Wu Shiyun's two older brothers had to avoid her.

The old lady always said that her sister had a hard life, and her niece had a hard life, so she had to treat Wu Shiqi even better.

But what does this have to do with them?

Wu Shiyun was very confused.

Her mother came from a good family, so she owes them something? She's her mother's daughter, so she owes Wu Shiqi something?

What's the point?

Her father was the same; not only did he keep a mistress of dubious descent, but he also argued with her mother because of the mistress's daughter.

Wu Shiqi is always causing trouble, and she and her mother are exhausted. Their home is a complete mess.

Wu Shiyun ate the osmanthus cake and continued:

“Last time she went to worship Buddha with the Empress Dowager, she also tried to snatch it.”

Wu Shiqi knew that the Wu family was going to send a daughter, so she ran to her grandmother and begged her to accept. Her grandmother readily agreed.

Fortunately, her father wasn't senile and explained the situation.

However, she understood that if it weren't for the fact that they had specifically requested the legitimate daughter, Wu Shiqi would probably have already succeeded.

It's all because her father felt sorry for his cousin who had met the wrong person, and he felt sorry for Wu Shiqi who had lost her mother.

She, a legitimate daughter with both parents and a glamorous life, had to give way to her.

"Such a lack of discipline, and no one is in charge?" Liu Qingping thought of her time in the Princess's residence, where she was constantly being lectured.

Both the nanny and Xiaolan advised her every day not to make the slightest mistake.

She also returned home halfway, but she dared not be reckless.

Qin Yao understood somewhat.

"I'm afraid the power in Auntie's hands has already been taken away!"

How can a proper matriarch not be properly disciplined? It's simply that she can't be disciplined at all.

“Yao Yao is right,” Wu Shiyun sighed.

Her mother wasn't intolerant; she treated all the concubine's daughters and sons in the family equally.

Wu Shiqi acted recklessly because she was favored by her grandmother and father.

Not only did they disobey orders, they also repeatedly filed false accusations against others.

This caused his mother to be scolded and ultimately led to him losing his control of the household.

Liu Qingping was shocked, but she didn't know what to say.

It was a family matter, not a matter of favoring concubines over wives. It was just that the wife mistreated her illegitimate daughter, and the punishment was a minor one to serve as a warning. The court couldn't interfere.

"Auntie is too sentimental; otherwise, this wouldn't be a big deal."

Qin Yao leaned back in her chair and said calmly.

Madam Wu is very capable of managing the household; you can tell just by looking at how well the Wu family has been doing in recent years. However, she is reluctant to let go of her responsibilities.

Wu Shiyun nodded in agreement, "That's right, after all, it's been so many years of relationship, and my mother can't bear to part with it."

She couldn't bring herself to punish Wu Shiqi, fearing it would alienate her father and cause her to go against her family... As a woman, she always felt somewhat insecure.

Qin Yao: "Sister Wu, if a person isn't ruthless, their position will be unstable."

In his previous life, Jiang Su took a full ten years to dare kill her, precisely because she controlled the food, clothing, and daily necessities of her family.

If she had been more generous and relinquished all power, she might have died long ago.

How similar is the situation that Madam Wu is facing now to mine.

Gambling on a man's feelings is the most useless thing; it's better to get something tangible in return.

Lord Wu was a man who came from the bottom of society. He had no assets. Even if he had some after becoming an official, it wouldn't be enough to support his family.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept a mistress at his wife's estate.

Without Madam Wu, Lord Wu's life would be far from easy.

Not to mention Old Madam Wu.

It's hard to go from extravagance to frugality!

Doesn't that give you back your rights?

Wu Shiyun sat upright and thought for a while, and suddenly she understood.

"I understand. You two continue chatting. I'll go back and talk to my mother right away."

Wu Shiyun stood up and left, her face full of smug smile.

Qin Yao didn't try to keep her, but just told her to be careful.

Wu Shiyun has two older brothers, both legitimate sons, so no one can challenge Madam Wu's position.

Her dowry was also her source of confidence.

Since the old lady doesn't want to live a peaceful life and the father is biased towards Wu Shiqi, then let them live their own lives.

Without her mother's money, let's see how carefree they can be.

Only after Wu Shiyun left did Liu Qingping belatedly realize what had happened.

"Sister Qin, are you asking Madam Wu to cut off the Wu family's expenses?"

Qin Yao naturally denied it, "I didn't say that!"

As for what Madam Wu decides to do, that's her business.

“I understood everything. Sister Wu must have understood too. She must have gone back and dealt with them together with Madam Wu.”

Looking in the direction Wu Shiyun left, Liu Qingping continued, "I really want to go see it; it must be amazing."

It was also very satisfying.

She hadn't forgotten that arrogant and domineering Wu Shiqi.

Qin Yao took the invitation from Qingzhi's hand and waved it in front of her.

"That's easy, we can go together in a few days."

Madam Wu's birthday banquet is in five days.

"Did I receive it too?" Liu Qingping glanced at the post and excitedly ran back to check.

He had just gotten up when he sat back down.

"By the way, Sister Qin, I've been wanting to ask you something! Jiang Xiaoxiao ran away yesterday, and that thing on the ground... did she have someone pick it up?"

The one on the ground is naturally Liu.

Qin Yao shook her head. She had seen Liu Qingping and Madam Wu off yesterday, and she had waited for them for a while.

Thinking that she was Jiang Xiaoxiao's mother after all, she wouldn't just let her lie on the street!

To everyone's great disappointment, Jiang Xiaoxiao never returned.

She didn't care how Liu died, but leaving the body in front of her shop was definitely unacceptable.

Qin Yao sent someone to find Jiang Xiaoxiao, but unsurprisingly, they were kicked out.

There was no way Qin Yao could just collect her body!

So they called the people from the mortuary to take the body away.

As for how they decide to handle it, that's none of her business.

After hearing this, Liu Qingping was deeply disturbed. What kind of person was this?!

She remembered that Liu Shi had always been very protective of Jiang Xiaoxiao, so why was this daughter unwilling to even take care of her body at the end?

That's so heartless!

……

What they didn't know was that the people at the mortuary didn't keep the bodies for long anyway.

After a few days when no one claimed the body, they dumped it in a mass grave...

The once high-ranking Lady Hou became a member of the mass grave.

The corpse was devoured by wild dogs and became a lost soul.