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

Jiang Su hesitated at the door for a long time before deciding to leave.

He recalled Qin Yao's unwavering support for him, whether it was money or manpower; she never held anything back.

Even after he had many wives and concubines, Qin Yao still kept the Qin family's businesses out in the open, and his confidant Jiang Liu was involved in almost all of the Qin family's business dealings.

Qin Yao had no selfish motives towards him and trusted him completely.

If it weren't for... if Qin Yao hadn't killed Xia Qiutang, then he... perhaps wouldn't have treated her that way.

Jiang Su then thought of the two thousand taels of silver notes in Xia Qiutang's hand. If it were Qin Yao, she would definitely... she would definitely take them out to save him!

She must also be reluctant to see his family suffer.

Jiang Su sighed, and as he turned around, he saw a carriage slowly approaching.

Qin Yao got downstairs with the help of her maid.

Jiang Su was caught off guard by the unexpected meeting and was visibly nervous.

He was still thinking about how to strike up a conversation with Qin Yao, but Qin Yao didn't even glance at him and brushed past him.

Jiang Su paused for a second before calling out to her.

"Qin Yao!"

Qin Yao turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

His clothes looked familiar; the fabric was from last year. This time, his headdress was simpler, without even a crown, and his shoes were made of ordinary material.

It seems the Jiang family is really on its last legs.

"Is there something you need, young master?" Qin Yao tilted her head and looked him over before asking with a smile.

Jiang Su looked at the person in front of him. He was still the same, but the warmth in his eyes was gone.

And she actually called him...this young master?

Even though he knew she might have the same memories as him, Jiang Su still couldn't accept her indifference.

Qin Yao loved him so much, how could she turn against him and never speak to him again just because he locked her up and hit her?

"Qin Yao, shall we... talk?"

Qin Yao looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Is there anything else we can talk about? Oh, are you trying to give me the position of a secondary wife again? Do you think I'm desperate for someone to support me?"

Qin Yao pointed to the people in her own household.

Qingzhi quickly replied, "We don't need it. Miss is already exhausted from supporting us, there's no need to add to our burden!"

"I...I didn't mean that." Jiang Su naturally knew what his mother had said, but he really didn't mean it that way. He just wanted to talk to her.

"Then I'll be blunt, no discussion!" Qin Yao said, turning around and leaving.

Qingzhi rolled her eyes at him and went inside with Qiuliu.

"Bang!" The door was slammed shut.

He hadn't been to this place since he and Qin Yao got married, and now he was being locked out.

He really just wanted to talk to her.

These past few days, he has felt really helpless. Jiang Liu asked him for advice. His mother and sister stay at home all day and then complain and argue about clothes and food.

Xia Qiutang went even further. He thought she was a good person, so he gave her most of the food and took care of her when she was sick.

Unexpectedly, she had hidden so much silver behind her back and was even secretly eating it...

Jiang Su stood at the Qin family's gate for a long time before turning around.

Think about when he started having such bad luck?

It seems like things have been going wrong ever since he broke off his engagement with Qin Yao.

If, as I remember, he married Qin Yao, then he is now diligently studying for the imperial examinations.

The Jiang family won't be stripped of their titles, they won't be expelled from the Marquis's mansion, and he won't be in such a sorry state...

But then he would lose Xia Qiutang in his life...

Jiang Su thought about what happened today again, and for a moment, he doubted himself again. Was his choice really the right one?

Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky. Jiang Su returned home and pushed open the door. Xia Qiutang was crying, her head on the dressing table.

It wasn't a major mistake, Jiang Su sighed again. This was someone he had been waiting for for so long, and he should give her a chance.

"Alright! Stop crying. I don't blame you. From now on, our lives will be better, and you can have whatever you want to eat."

She was just a bit greedy; she used all the hidden silver notes to buy food. She lived and used the same things as them. Jiang Su selectively ignored the hardships he had endured in prison and the fact that she hadn't taken out any money when he was sick a few days ago.

He was just craving something sweet, he told Xia Qiutang, and himself.

He kept deceiving himself, unable to admit that he had chosen the wrong person.

Once he reaches a high position, what will he lack?

Even Qin Yao... would only grovel at his feet.

In this life, he has Xia Qiutang and Qin Yao... If she is willing to continue supporting him, it wouldn't be bad to let her be a concubine.

At this moment, he also selectively ignored Qin Yao's reluctance...

"Husband, you are so good to me!" Xia Qiutang turned around and hugged Jiang Su's waist.

She was really crying, but it wasn't Jiang Su she was crying for, so she shouldn't blame herself.

Instead, they cried over the money they had worked so hard to save.

How much hardship did you endure to hide it? How much suffering and pain did you endure during this time?!

Now they've even given away the hidden silver notes.

She truly has nothing left now.

Jiang Su was still comforting her, stroking her head gently.

Xia Qiutang felt utterly disgusted; Jiang Su was ruined.

She can't go back to the Xia family either; she doesn't want to live in this slum for the rest of her life!

She has to get out of here!

However, she cannot afford to break ties with Jiang Su now.

"Husband, it's raining outside. Are you alright?"

Xia Qiutang looked up at him with teary eyes, her face pitiful, and touched her clothes several times to make sure they weren't wet.

"It's okay, it only started raining when we got back." Jiang Su took her hand and scooped her up.

Xia Qiutang gasped in surprise and shyly fell into his arms.

As if to prove something, Jiang Su picked up Xia Qiutang and walked towards the bed.

With something like this happening today, how could Xia Qiutang dare to resist? She could only accept it with trepidation and disgust.

Outside, Xiao Liu, with a blade of grass in his mouth, spat and then left.

Today, Jiang Liu, that lackey, was finally not around, but it still hasn't come to fruition.

Xia Qiutang is so lucky! He'll have to be more careful next time and make sure to catch them red-handed!

Once he's dealt with that scoundrel, he can retire gracefully.

No way! He dares to sell them out? He'd have to sell them all out too!

The next day, Jiang Su woke up feeling refreshed.

After dinner, he and Jiang Liu went out.

These past few days, the students have all come, and Jiang Liu suddenly remembered the popular "Top Scholar Bureau" from his previous life.

Although it has been a long time, it does not affect their ability to remember the top scholars in the provincial and national examinations.

They only need to look at the names to know who the top scholar of this year's examination is! Winning this bet is a piece of cake, isn't it?

The two went to Fuguang Tower full of confidence.

At this time, Fuguang Tower was already packed with people, and the names of many people, all of whom were expected to win the championship, were displayed in the middle of the hall.

The two finally managed to squeeze in and frantically searched for names on the list.

If it is, they will definitely be able to recognize it.

"There! There it is!" Jiang Liu shouted excitedly.

Jiang Su looked and recognized Bai Ziyu—it was him!

"Is he the top scholar in the provincial examination or the top scholar in the imperial examination?" Jiang Su asked in a low voice.

"It's all him!" Jiang Liu said with absolute certainty.

In his previous life, Qin Yao paid close attention to scientific expeditions, so he was naturally the one who specifically inquired about them, and he knew this better than anyone else.

Jiang Su, on the other hand, was rather ignorant and incompetent in the early stages.

It's already quite good that I know this person.

Having confirmed the person, Jiang Su gave the silver notes to Jiang Liu.

A full five hundred taels of silver were placed on Bai Ziyu!

With a payout of 1 to 5, you'll win back all your capital.

Jiang Liu originally wanted to add more points, but there was a limit set here, so he would have to wait for the next champion to come again.

……