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

Hou Mansion

Xia Qiutang finally had time to prepare to rescue the person, so she had someone count the silver notes and send two thousand taels over first.

The butler who was sent out at noon returned.

Xia Qiutang thought the matter was settled and was happy that she could pocket three thousand taels of silver when she heard the steward speak urgently.

"Princess Consort, something terrible has happened! The Prince is back!"

"You're back, so what? What do you mean it's bad? Watch your mouth!" Xia Qiutang lay back in the chair, pointing out the wrong statement with obvious displeasure.

"No! Princess Consort, only the Marquis has been released, the Madam has not!"

"Why?" Xia Qiutang sat up.

"This servant doesn't know either..." the steward said, perplexed.

"Let's go take a look!" Xia Qiutang led her maid out.

Upon arriving at the prince's courtyard, Xia Qiutang tried to enter but was stopped by Jiang Su's personal servant.

"The Crown Prince is taking a bath, please wait a moment, Princess Consort."

Xia Qiutang turned around and went to wait in the next room.

She knew in her heart that Jiang Su must be disheveled when he came out, and people like them were most afraid of others seeing their unsightly side.

Besides, she didn't want to see Jiang Su looking dirty.

After waiting for a long time, Xia Qiutang finally heard some noise and quickly came out to greet them.

Jiang Su had tidied himself up and returned to his former noble demeanor.

"Husband." Xia Qiutang walked over.

"Let's go inside and talk." Jiang Su led Xia Qiutang into the room they had just been in, closed the door, and then frowned as he spoke:

“That Jinyou didn’t die. She went to identify her mother herself and even threatened to die to prove her innocence in the capital. Yesterday, the nanny who was by her mother’s side was tortured, and this morning she confessed that it was her mother who angered her father to death.”

"What?" Xia Qiutang stood up in surprise.

"What did Mother say? Did Mother admit it?"

Jiang Su nodded helplessly. If his mother hadn't insisted that he was unaware of the situation, he probably wouldn't have been able to get out.

"Then...what should we do?" The law is very strict; a wife cannot sue her husband, let alone kill him.

This is a great sin!

"Go and ask your father-in-law for advice. After all, we are a noble family. See if your father-in-law can talk to the Prefect of the Capital and ask for a lighter sentence."

Jiang Su urged her on, but he didn't notice Xia Qiutang's unpleasant expression.

At this point, Xia Qiutang could not refuse, so she got up and asked someone to prepare a carriage.

As soon as Xia Qiutang left, Jiang Su ran to the old lady's room.

Unfortunately, the old lady is still in a coma and cannot give him any advice.

The old woman gently reminded him that the Marquis's coffin was still in the main courtyard, so Jiang Su had no choice but to ask the steward to prepare for the funeral.

Xia Qiutang went to the Vice Minister's residence, but she was kicked out by the mistress before she could even enter.

He bluntly stated that a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl; she hasn't even returned home for her first wedding visit, so what's the point of her coming now?

Xia Qiutang was furious. Did she not want to go back?

With such a major incident at home, how could she possibly leave? Besides, Jiang Su wasn't even home when she went back to her parents' house; how could she go back? Would she just let them laugh at her?

Even if she didn't come in person, she still sent a message and a homecoming gift. Why do you think she's like water spilled from a cup?

Xia Qiutang paced back and forth at the door, checking the time. Her father would be back soon, so she decided to hide in the carriage and wait.

As soon as Vice Minister Xia returned, Xia Qiutang jumped off the carriage and hurriedly stopped him.

"Father!"

When Vice Minister Xia turned around and saw Xia Qiutang, he frowned. He didn't say much and waved his hand to stop Xia Qiutang from speaking.

"I know why you came. No need to say anything more, just go back and wait for news!"

After saying that, he went into the mansion with his hands behind his back.

"Father!" Xia Qiutang wanted to say something more, but Minister Xia had already entered the mansion, and the door was slammed shut.

Xia Qiutang could only have someone drive back.

When we returned, the Marquis's mansion was already adorned with white sails and white lanterns.

Xia Qiutang went inside with a gloomy face and went straight back to her own courtyard.

Jiang Su came over as soon as he knew she was back.

Xia Qiutang didn't hide anything, "Father told us to wait for news!"

"What news are you waiting for? Has your father-in-law arranged for someone to take care of things?"

Xia Qiutang was speechless. How did she know?

"In short, they just want us to wait. Let's deal with your father-in-law's funeral first! We'll visit your mother tomorrow."

Jiang Su had no choice but to agree.

The Marquis's funeral was scheduled for five days later. Jiang Su went to see Liu Shi the next day, but it was no use. Liu Shi in prison could only cry and curse Jin You.

Jiang Su was extremely annoyed by what she was hearing. Wasn't it because she couldn't help but go and talk nonsense to her father?

Jiang Su regretted coming and hurriedly left after delivering some gifts.

With Xia Qiutang busy with the funeral arrangements, the old lady couldn't manage much. There were already few people and not much money left (it was money deducted from Qin Yao's account, and she was reluctant to take it out again).

The entire Hou residence exuded an air of simplicity.

Jiang Su didn't notice any of this and waited at home.

The funeral invitations have all been sent out; we're just waiting to hold the funeral.

Qin Yao also received the message.

Unfortunately, she didn't even look at it and just tossed it aside.

This has nothing to do with her. I really don't know what Xia Qiutang was thinking, giving her an invitation.

Do you expect her to send some money over?

On the fifth day, the Marquis's mansion was practically deserted. Apart from his own family members who came to see him off out of consideration for their past relationship, almost no one else came.

The funeral was not only simple, but the guests who came to pay their respects were not treated with any courtesy.

Xia Qiutang was too tired to invite them over today, so she went to her own courtyard to find some peace and quiet.

Her nanny, noticing her unhappy expression, brought over some refreshments:

"Princess Consort, you should think of things on the bright side!"

"What good things? My mother-in-law is imprisoned, my father-in-law is dead, and my grandmother is still bedridden! What good things could there be?" Xia Qiutang retorted irritably.

"That's true, but now that the Marquis is gone, isn't the Heir Apparent the new Marquis? And the Heir Apparent's status is different too!"

"You mean..." Xia Qiutang's eyes flickered, her previous fatigue vanished, and she was full of energy.

"Let's go! We need to get out of here; we can't let them see us like this!"

Xia Qiutang rallied and returned to the family funeral. Jiang Su, being a filial son, knelt before the coffin the whole time. After the guests had paid their respects, they all went to the living room, and only then could he rest.

Xia Qiutang asked a few words of concern, then went to the living room to greet the female guest.

She wasn't unhappy at all now; the old woman was right, it was wonderful news.

From today onwards, she will be the Lady of the Marquis.

Although it's just a title with no real power, it sounds nice!

Once Jiang Su obtains an official position, won't she then be granted an imperial title?

As Xia Qiutang greeted the group of relatives, she was already fantasizing about her wonderful life.

The old lady also came out with the help of her nanny. Illness strikes like a landslide, and her body is really failing. She was already panting when she reached the door, and the nanny hurriedly had a chair brought over for her to rest.

After resting for a while in a chair, the old lady continued walking forward.

Today is her son's funeral, and she has to go no matter what.

Everyone present sighed at the old lady's grief, lamenting that she, at such an advanced age, had to suffer such a blow as to outlive her son.

Jiang Su came over to help her up and asked worriedly, "Grandmother, are you alright?"

"Great! How could it not be great!"

If she's not doing well, how can this Marquis's mansion survive?

She had only been sick for a short time, and there were hardly any servants left in the house. She had to borrow money, and her son had been angered to death by his daughter-in-law.

If she doesn't behave well, this Marquis's mansion might not be able to survive either.

At this moment, Qin Yao was sitting quietly in the teahouse listening to the storyteller.

Qingzhi sighed and groaned to the side.

Qin Yao glanced at her and said irritably:

"What are you doing? You're spoiling the fun at such a great moment."

Qingzhi stamped her foot, "Miss, I feel sorry for the old lady. She was good to us before! She was already sick from the blow she suffered a few days ago, and today is the Marquis's funeral. I don't know if she can make it through."

"Do you think your young lady is too ruthless?"

"No, it's not that. Well, it's their fault, it's just... Qingzhi feels that the old lady is a bit innocent." Qingzhi twisted her sleeves and said hesitantly.

Although the old lady knew they weren't responsible for her son's death, they were still involved in today's events. What if something happened to her...

"Is this something we can control? Whether we get justice for Jin You or ensure that the Liu family receives the punishment they deserve, we can't dictate what those in power are thinking!"

All they can do is tell the facts; as for how to handle the situation and when to handle it, that's beyond their control.

“That’s true!” Qingzhi cheered up again. They hadn’t done anything wrong, so there was no need to blame themselves.

……

"The imperial edict has arrived!"

Everyone in the Marquis's mansion knelt on the ground, except for the Old Madam, who was exempt from kneeling.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Lady of the Marquis of Jinglin's household is disrespectful and unvirtuous... She is hereby stripped of her title and demoted to a commoner. This is the imperial decree!"

Jiang Su was still in a daze, and Xia Qiutang was even more bewildered. After the chief eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, no one stepped forward to receive it.

The old matriarch walked over shakily, knelt down, and accepted the imperial edict with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I accept the decree!"

The chief eunuch hurriedly helped her up.

"Grandma, please don't flatter your servant. The Emperor's decree does not include you. You will still be a titled lady and enjoy your old age in peace."

The old Marquis had been to the battlefield and still had some affection for the late emperor, which was why he kept the old lady by his side.

He certainly dared not be negligent.

"The imperial edict has been delivered, so I will return now."

As soon as the chief eunuch left, Jiang Su and Xia Qiutang collapsed to the ground, and whispers arose around them.

The Jiang family had only one prominent branch, and now that branch is gone, who would be willing to accept that?

Just then, the old lady coughed up blood, startling everyone. Servants rushed to help, and the entire main hall was in chaos.

"Young Master, the Lady of the Marquis has returned!" The gatekeeper rushed over.

Jiang Su stopped and asked Xia Qiutang to go and take care of her grandmother.

Upon seeing his mother, Jiang Su felt dizzy again.

Liu returned, but she was beaten unconscious and looked as if she had been soaked in blood.

The voice of the yamen runner from the Capital Prefecture was still ringing in my ears: "Lady Liu, the wife of the Marquis, is guilty of harming the Marquis and killing Jin You. She is sentenced to thirty strokes of the cane!"