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

The weather is getting warmer, but the business of Guozhongxian Hot Pot Restaurant is booming.

To provide guests with a better experience, Qin Yao added ice chests to the private rooms.

They also launched many different kinds of iced drinks, which improved the customer experience and naturally boosted business.

Chen Yiru's wedding date is getting closer and closer, and she can no longer go out.

Whenever Qin Yao comes up with a new drink, she sends her a few servings.

After the princess's residence sent the gifts twice, Liu Qingping came looking for them.

After that, she and Qin Yao came to the store together, tasted the food themselves first, and then took it back to the princess's mother and her brother.

Today is no exception.

Having received Qin Yao's letter, Liu Qingping skipped breakfast and came straight over to wait to eat with Qin Yao.

Qin Yao was already used to it and didn't pay any attention.

She's happy to have someone with her.

After breakfast, the two of them took a carriage to Guozhongxian.

Throughout the journey, Liu Qingping kept marveling at how well the store was run.

Princess's mother used to be such a serious person, but now she always smiles whenever she sees anything from Guozhongxian.

If it weren't for maintaining the princess's dignity, she would suspect that the princess's mother would come to the hot pot restaurant every day.

"Why do you think the princess's mother wouldn't let me bring her hot pot?"

Liu Qingping asked abruptly.

She thought that since her mother liked it, but couldn't visit often, she could simply have the pot delivered and cook it on the spot.

However, the princess's mother disagreed, saying that she was giving bad advice.

"Perhaps, the princess sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off," Qin Yao replied thoughtfully.

"What's wrong with it? It's all about eating, isn't it?" Liu Qingping asked, puzzled.

Qin Yao shook her head, looking at her with amusement.

"Then why didn't you wait at the princess's residence for me to deliver the things?"

Hmm? That stumped her!

Liu Qingping thought for a moment and said, "It seems a little off."

Eating at home and eating in a restaurant are the same things, even though the food is the same.

But that feeling was never quite right.

Yeah! That's just a feeling.

"I understand!" Liu Qingping nodded. "The occasion is wrong, the people are wrong, so the atmosphere is wrong too!"

As she spoke, Liu Qingping suddenly felt sorry for the princess's mother.

Qin Yao sensed Liu Qingping's low spirits.

"In a few days, we'll invite the Princess over! On behalf of the three of us, we'll express our gratitude to Her Highness."

Liu Qingping couldn't hide her excitement, "Great! Great!"

Qin Yao could only try to comfort her.

Upon arriving at the shop, Qin Yao and Liu Qingping went directly to the backyard.

The cook, who had already prepared the iced drinks, immediately brought them over.

As soon as the iced drinks arrived, Liu Qingping couldn't wait to start choosing.

Faced with a mix of red and green, Liu Qingping found it difficult to choose.

The cook was very happy to see Liu Qingping's affection for her, her plump face beaming with smiles.

"Miss, as you requested, I added color, and the shaved ice is also plentiful."

Qin Yao was very satisfied. "You did a great job. As always, I'll give you a one-cent bonus for every drink you sell."

"Oh!" the cook said happily. "Then, Miss, please try it first. If there are any problems, I will make some changes."

The cook left with a smile.

Liu Qingping couldn't resist picking up a bowl and starting to eat.

"Do you have a name?"

Qin Yao shook her head, "You choose one."

Looking at her father-in-law's shaved ice in her hand, Liu Qingping said, "Let's call it 'Red Crispy Hands'!"

Qin Yao nodded, agreeing.

After tasting them all, Liu Qingping was satisfied and decided to take them all back for the princesses' mothers to try.

"This cook's food is getting better and better. Aren't you afraid she'll run away?"

Qin Yao shook her head: "I'm not afraid."

This cook is from the Qin family; her whole family lives in the Qin family, and the treatment she gives is something other families can't afford.

After having a few copies sent to Chen Yiru, Qin Yao and Liu Qingping returned home together.

On the Chen family's side, Chen Yiru learned of Jiang Shi and Jiang Qianqian's plans and has been avoiding them.

She spent half a month embroidering her wedding dress in her room.

But in order not to arouse their suspicion, she would still go out and have meals with her father when he came home.

She doesn't have enough people around her; she needs someone truly devoted to her investigation.

After looking around, she decided to ask Yu Zhi for help.

Soon, Yu Zhi sent the person over.

She also told him why she wanted him, and that they would be husband and wife in the future. She also felt that Yu Zhi was a reliable person.

From now on, her maternal family will also be Yu Zhi's in-laws, and he will not stand idly by.

Once the person arrived, Chen Yiru instructed him to monitor the two Jiang brothers and Qu Jing.

Surprisingly, they all thought things were under control and were completely unprepared, spending their days frequenting brothels.

Her clothes were retrieved easily.

She took out all the clothes with embroidered patterns and had them burned in a certain place.

The next day, she told the embroiderers in the mansion to use her own savings to make clothes for everyone, both inside and out.

The embroiderer went to each courtyard and collected patterns.

Jiang Qianqian's embroidery pattern was then in her hands, and within two days, Jiang Qianqian's undergarment was delivered.

Looking at the fabric in my hand, which was the same as the one on my clothes, I couldn't tell the difference without looking closely.

Chen Yiru was very satisfied and immediately had it delivered to Qujing.

Her own little clothes were made of very ordinary fabric, with a rabbit in the corner, but the color of the embroidery thread used for the rabbit had changed.

Who can prove that her underwear was ever in that man's hands?

Her actions did not escape Caixia's notice, and naturally, the first thing she did upon returning was to find out who had touched her clothes.

The maids who did the laundry, the nannies, the maids who delivered the clothes, the nannies, and her own maids.

After a while, she realized that danger lurked all around her.

Over the years, Jiang has been in charge of the household, and the Chen family is full of her people. As long as Jiang asks, her clothes will be sent over directly.

During that time, Caixia was taken away, and she didn't even realize that she was missing a piece of her undergarment.

Caixia had also observed it and even had someone sent by Yu Zhi follow her; there were no problems.

Caixia saw her actions but did not tip her off.

Caixia would never ask Chen Yiru what she was asked to do.

Chen Yiru was very satisfied. She didn't tell Caixia because she didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

This is a very important matter, and she doesn't want any accidents to happen.

……

And in Junnanfang.

Jiang Zu was beaten to the point of near death, lying on the ground covered in blood.

He doesn't want to.

He's a man, how could he be with another man...?

Just when he thought he was going to die, he heard his sister's voice.

The door was kicked open, and two men dragged a little girl inside.

"elder brother!……"

The little girl screamed in fear.

Jiang Zu propped himself up, struggled to open his eyes, and looked at his sister in disbelief.

"Yan'er!"

"What are you doing! Let go of my sister!"

Jiang Zu wanted to step forward, but he was too injured to get up and fell back down as soon as he moved.

"Tch!" The burly man at the head of the group scoffed dismissively.

“Look carefully, this is your sister. If you don’t want her to come, then let her do it. Think it through, your sister probably won’t last a night.”

"You're breaking the law!" Jiang Zu spat out a mouthful of blood. "My sister is a law-abiding citizen."

"A law-abiding citizen? Ha..." The burly man pulled out a contract of indenture and held it up to him. "Look carefully, we're here according to the requirements. We don't do anything illegal!"

Jiang Zu was literate, and his eyes widened as he looked at the bright Jiang family seal below.

"How could that be! My sister didn't sell herself! She was a law-abiding citizen who was released from the manor with special permission from the Old Madam!"

Yan'er was sobbing uncontrollably, and stammered as she spoke:

“Brother…brother! It was…it was the young master…and his wife, they…sold us, our parents…were sold! Waaaaah…”

Jiang Zu lay on the ground, his eyes filled with despair.

His parents worked for the Jiang family their whole lives, and this is the consequence they suffered.

"Young master, you're too cruel!!!"