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

Chen Yiru and Qin Yao drank tea at the teahouse for a while before getting up to go back.

The Chen family's carriage had already taken Jiang Qianqian back, so Chen Yiru and Qin Yao got into the Qin family's carriage together.

After saying goodbye to Qin Yao, Chen Yiru entered the Chen family's gate.

As expected, an unexpected event was already waiting for her.

As soon as Chen Yiru walked in, she saw the nanny who was by her mother's side waiting for her in the courtyard. It seemed that she had been waiting for some time. The nanny seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when she saw her.

"Miss, Madam requests your presence."

Chen Yiru nodded, knowing she couldn't avoid it, and naturally followed the nanny.

When they arrived at their mother's courtyard, they heard Jiang Qianqian crying even before entering the gate.

"Auntie...does my cousin dislike me, that's why she's humiliating me like this!"

Jiang Qianqian said, her voice choked with emotion.

Chen Yiru listened to her distorted words and had no reaction. Since she entered the manor, she had never won an argument.

"Mother!" Chen Yiru walked in and naturally bowed to her mother, as if she hadn't heard or seen Jiang Qianqian beside her.

Chen's mother casually waved her hand, indicating that she should sit down.

Chen Yiru didn't mind and found a place to sit down.

Jiang Qianqian tugged at Chen's mother's sleeve, looking at her with teary eyes. Chen's mother felt a pang of heartache and then turned to look at Chen Yiru.

"Ru'er, didn't we say we were taking Qianqian out to play today? Why did you let Qianqian come back alone?"

Chen Yiru looked at her mother. Years of etiquette training prevented her from losing her temper and throwing a tantrum, but she still felt incredibly bitter inside.

“Mother, I also came back alone. Caixia came back with my cousin, and the carriage also brought my cousin back. If I hadn’t made an appointment with a friend, I probably would have had to walk back.”

"This..." Chen's mother was speechless.

Jiang Qianqian was displeased when she heard her say that.

"Cousin, is this my fault? Didn't you and that businesswoman embarrass me first? You gave me awful tea and scolded me! Aunt!"

Chen's mother quickly comforted Jiang Qianqian and then admonished Chen Yiru:

"That's right, Ru'er, you should stop associating with that Qin family girl. She dared to instigate you to mistreat Qianqian today and was so rude. Who knows what she might do next time!"

"And you, you must protect Qianqian when you're out and about. She had a hard life before, and now that she's in the Chen family, we must treat her like family and never trust her!"

A chill ran through Chen Yiru's heart.

She raised her head and looked straight at her mother.

Her mother didn't listen to a word she said; she only cared about what Jiang Qianqian said and what Jiang Qianqian seemed to be aggrieved about.

"Mother? Do you know where I asked Qin Yao to go today?"

"Mingxiang Pavilion! We're drinking Zijuan tea."

Jiang Qianqian might not know, but how could Chen's mother, who had always been in Beijing, not know?

Mingxiang Pavilion gathers famous teas from all over the world and is a favorite place for high-ranking officials and nobles. As for Zijuan tea... it is the best tea besides tribute tea.

Chen's mother was speechless. Looking at it this way, it seemed that the other party had not mistreated Qianqian at all.

Seeing that Chen's mother was persuaded, Jiang Qianqian became unhappy and realized that this place and the tea were not ordinary.

"I asked you why you didn't say the tea was so bitter? And you even wanted to leave with that guy surnamed Qin!"

“Cousin!” Chen Yiru turned to her silent mother, “I have always been an old nanny in the palace teaching etiquette, and my mother should know what kind of person I am.”

Jiang Qianqian didn't want to hear these things; they made Chen Yiru sound so noble.

"Enough with the nonsense! Why don't you just tell me why you treat me like this!"

"Qianqian!" Chen's mother reminded her softly, but she couldn't bear to scold her.

“Your cousin is still young and grew up in a small town. You should give her face in public.”

“Mother, I ignored her because she didn’t like Zijuan tea. She spat the tea and tea leaves onto the tea table and questioned us about why we gave her such a bitter thing to drink.”

"Qin Yao and I wanted to go somewhere else, but she wouldn't let it go, saying we were ignoring her! Mother, what should I do?"

After all, she was someone from the Chen family, and she had been trying to protect her, not wanting the entire Chen family to lose face because of Jiang Qianqian's ignorance.

Qin Yao had no intention of making things difficult, but what did she become in Jiang Qianqian's eyes?

Chen's mother was stunned when she heard this; she had no idea that there was such a thing as spitting out tea leaves and water.

Such an act would be quite indecent even in an ordinary person's home, let alone in Mingxiang Pavilion.

"This... Qianqian..." Chen's mother looked at her with difficulty. This matter was indeed not Chen Yiru's fault.

Before Jiang Qianqian could say anything more, Chen Yiru stood up.

"Mother."

"My cousin has been here for a few days, but she hasn't bought anything. It just so happens that Diancui Pavilion and Xiangyi Residence have released new products. Why don't we take my cousin to see them and let her get to know the local customs and culture of Kyoto?"

Hearing that she wanted to buy something, Jiang Qianqian was naturally happy. She excitedly pulled Chen's mother's arm, showing no trace of her earlier sadness or embarrassment at being exposed.

He didn't show any smugness or displeasure towards Chen Yiru, and was quite satisfied with her tact.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Chen's mother agreed repeatedly.

"Then, Mother, I'll head back to the courtyard now." Chen Yiru bowed and took her leave.

After receiving a nod of approval from Chen's mother, he turned and left.

Watching Chen Yiru leave, Jiang Qianqian dropped her pretense and said, "Auntie! Didn't you say I was to be engaged to the Yu family? How come my cousin has already set the wedding date! How am I supposed to marry into that family?"

"I don't know what's wrong with her. We agreed on something, and then she suddenly changed her mind! It's okay, Qianqian, don't worry, you'll definitely marry into the Yu family!"

Chen's mother's eyes suddenly hardened.

I was originally planning to take it slow, but now it seems I need to speed things up!

"Don't worry, we've already found a suitable aunt! She can't cause any trouble!"

……

Chen Yiru was unaware of what happened next. After leaving her mother's courtyard, she saw Caixia kneeling outside the courtyard.

This was clearly done for her benefit.

After hearing Qin Yao's words, she no longer wanted to give in.

"Get up!" Chen Yiru stopped beside Caixia.

Caixia looked up in surprise and saw the seriousness in Chen Yiru's eyes. She quickly got up.

The supervising matron saw this, her face furrowed, and she said urgently:

"Oh dear! Miss, this maid has offended Miss Biao. Madam made her kneel here. We can't just make her get up like this."

“Granny! Caixia is my maid. Even if she did something wrong, I should be the one to punish her. Besides, she did nothing wrong. I believe Mother already knows the situation and doesn’t want to punish her.”

"Also, the nanny told Mother that I took Caixia with me. After all, she's a maid I'm used to, and I don't feel comfortable using other ones. I'll send another one to my cousin instead!"

After Chen Yiru finished speaking, she left with Caixia.

"Miss, can I really come back?" Caixia asked, following behind, her voice filled with grievance.

Since going to Miss Biao's place, Caixia felt like Nezha from the play, with three heads and six arms.

During the day, she had to stay by Miss Biao's side every step of the way, serving her meals, bringing her water and tea, massaging her shoulders and back, watching over her when she rested, following her when she went for a run, and even keeping watch at night.

If she continues like this, she's afraid she'll have to go see her great-grandmother soon.

Madam Mingming assigned her several maids, but Miss Biao only used her, saying she liked her. But she didn't feel that way at all; it was more like she was trying to work her to death.

Chen Yiru probably knew about Caixia's situation, and after offering her a few words of comfort, she reassured her.

"From now on, you will stay in my courtyard. Unless you come with me, if anyone calls you, just say that Miss has arranged something for you and you can't leave!"

The mother was too biased towards Jiang Qianqian. When the three of them were together, Chen Yiru even felt that Jiang Qianqian was her daughter.

Thinking this, she didn't even notice when she bumped into her father, Chen Yiru.

"Ru'er!" Chen's father frowned as he looked at his daughter's absent-minded appearance.

Chen Yiru looked at her father in his official robes and immediately came to her senses.

"Father!"

Mr. Chen nodded, looking at his daughter and then at the maid behind her with red and swollen eyes.

"what happened?"

Chen Yiru didn't want her father to worry, so she quickly shook her head.

"I'm fine, Father. It's my cousin who's not used to Kyoto. Mother is already comforting her."

Father Chen rarely interfered in matters of the inner quarters. He stroked his beard and nodded, saying:

"Okay! Let your mother worry about your cousin's affairs. You need to prepare for your wedding, so focus on those preparations and don't go out."

Mr. Chen was a man who valued family harmony and wouldn't care about trivial matters.

Chen's mother liked her family, and he wouldn't object. However, his daughter's affairs were a big deal, and he was worried that his mother's sudden decision to bring his niece over would affect his daughter.

“I have invited an elder from the clan to come over. You can rest assured about your marriage. Your mother doesn’t have time, but someone from the clan will help. You don’t need to worry.”

Chen Yiru was surprised, but still bowed and thanked her.

Chen's father left quickly.

Chen Yiru remained in a daze for a long time.

She suddenly realized that her father would always get involved in important matters since she was a child. For example, the nanny who taught her etiquette when she was young was an old woman whom her father had invited from the palace.

For example, when it came to engagements, the mother favored her own family, while the father had already arranged a marriage with the Yu family.

Upon closer reflection, one realizes that although her mother was good to her, she always had a vague and unclear feeling about her.

Unlike her younger brother, she couldn't cling to her mother and act spoiled. When her brother cried, her mother would hold him in her arms.

She always remembered that she was the eldest daughter of the Chen family and represented the face of the Chen family.

Under her mother's strict guidance, she became independent, self-disciplined, and calm.

But now, she feels that things shouldn't be like this.

That's how you should act in front of your beloved elders, just like your cousin.

What went wrong?