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

Everyone ate lunch at Diancui Pavilion. Qin Yao specially reserved some food for them, which was also a way to build up the reputation of her family's restaurant.

Everyone was having a great time, except for Wu Shiqi.

They either complained that the food was bad or that the drinks were unacceptable.

Qin Yao ignored it; everyone here is intelligent and has their own judgment.

Madam Wu maintained her airs as the mistress of the house and did not abandon her, so she, as Madam Wu, said a few words that were neither meaningful nor meaningful.

She brushed it aside lightly, and to outsiders, she appeared to be a weak matriarch who dared not reprimand her illegitimate daughter.

As a result, people started to look at Wu Shiqi from a different perspective.

Anyway, Yiqin wouldn't consider it, and her own daughter should stay away to avoid being implicated.

Wu Shiqi was completely oblivious; she was still gloating over how she had made things difficult for Wu Shiyun's so-called friend.

After lunch, the evaluation results were announced, and unsurprisingly, Chef Xu came in first place.

While offering her congratulations, Qin Yao also made sure to present gifts to all the ladies and young women.

The gift wasn't particularly valuable, but it was unique.

It not only features the Qin family's logo but is also adorned with unique turquoise gemstones.

Everyone accepted it with a smile, except for Wu Shiqi.

"Never mind, I won't accept it, so as not to make Miss Qin spend money!"

She emphasized the word "spending" so much that it was impossible not to understand what she meant.

Those who heard this shook their heads and kept their distance from her.

Nothing at Diancui Pavilion is cheap, especially since this item is only available to them.

It will be something to brag about in the future.

This Miss Wu is truly a fraud, she doesn't know her own worth!

She didn't want it, and Qin Yao didn't want to give it to her either.

"Then I'll trouble Miss Wu to consider this for me!" Qin Yao took the box from the shop assistant and had it put away.

Wu Shiqi's expression changed slightly, and she snorted before leaving.

"She still doesn't want it?"

Liu Qingping spent half a day selecting stone materials, and as soon as she came out, she heard this unattractive woman say that she didn't like the gift. She was so angry that she snatched the box from the shop assistant's hand.

"Princess!" People around who knew her began to bow in greeting.

Liu Qingping, annoyed, told them not to stand on ceremony.

"Who is she?"

As soon as Liu Qingping asked the question, Madam Wu stepped forward.

"She was a concubine's daughter in the family. The concubine was Madam Duan, the wife of Wu Chang of the Hanlin Academy."

Liu Qingping glanced at Madam Wu, then at Wu Shiyun behind her, and decided not to say anything too harsh.

"This was designed by Princess He herself for this competition. Since it can't catch the eye of Lord Wu's concubine's daughter, then I'm afraid the Princess's mansion will also fail to catch her eye in the future."

This is to cut off Wu Shiqi's future chances of entering the Princess's residence.

Madam Wu was more than happy to oblige, and tried hard to suppress the smile on her lips. "Yes, I understand."

"Hmph!" Liu Qingping picked up the box and left. "I'm giving this to the princess's mother."

This surprised everyone even more, because not only was this item designed by the princess herself, but the eldest princess also had it.

It would be so face-saving if you tell others about it.

The ladies and young women left happily.

Mrs. Wu and Wu Shiyun stayed until the end.

"You must be Miss Wu?" Liu Qingping looked at Wu Shiyun with great interest.

"Yes! Princess, just call me by my name."

"Being on good terms with Sister Qin must be a good thing, so I'll call you Sister Zu from now on."

Wu Shiyun was surprised and quickly refused, "How can this be? The princess's status is too noble..."

Liu Qingping immediately interrupted her.

"Oh, it's settled then. Now we'll have one more person to hang out with next time."

Qin Yao: "..." One of the people being played.

Mrs. Wu was very pleased and did not allow Wu Shiyun to refuse again.

She's already being overshadowed by the concubines in the Wu family, so why wouldn't it be good for her daughter to have some support?

Qin Yao saw them to the door, where the carriage was already waiting.

There was one more person at the door, or rather, two people.

One was lying on the ground.

Liu Qingping pointed to the girl who was crying uncontrollably next to Wu Shiqi.

"That...that's Jiang something who almost became your aunt's..."

“Jiang Xiaoxiao!” Qin Liu added.

Wu Shiyun didn't say anything. She knew Jiang Xiaoxiao, of course, but what was going on here?

"Shiqi, what's going on?" Madam Wu asked.

"What happened? You'll have to ask Miss Qin!"

Qin Yao, glared at by Wu Shiqi, was speechless.

What should she know?

"Miss, please don't blame Sister Qin. It's all my mother's bad luck, it's all my bad luck."

Jiang Xiaoxiao started crying loudly, which made Wu Shiqi feel a pang of heartache.

"Get up! How can you not blame her! If it weren't for her, your mother wouldn't have died, and you wouldn't be selling yourself here to bury her!"

"Qin Yao, your actions have resulted in the death of a person. I must report this to my father and have you punished!"

Qin Yao remained silent, and the others were also speechless.

What is she saying?

Killing people?

Is there anyone in Kyoto who doesn't know about the Jiang family and Qin Yao's affair?

Qin Yao found it amusing; was this Miss Wu out of her mind?

"I wonder what Qin Yao did to make Miss Wu so angry?" Qin Yao asked.

"You don't even realize it! Do you know this person?"

Qin Yao glanced at Jiang Xiaoxiao.

"know!"

"And what about this one?" Wu Shiqi pointed to the person on the ground.

"Maybe... they know him too?" Qin Yao looked at the corpse whose face was covered.

"Then what else do you have to say?" Wu Shiqi concluded.

Qin Yao almost laughed out of anger.

"I don't know. What does it have to do with me knowing her or what I did?"

"Of course you're related! You were engaged to his family, then they fell on hard times and you broke off the engagement. Now that they're ruined, don't you bear any responsibility???"

Qin Yao turned her head to look at Wu Shiyun, and Wu Shiyun then said:

“My half-sister just returned from the south, so she probably doesn’t know much about what happened before.”

He was also quite stupid, which is why he fell for Jiang Xiaoxiao's trick.

"Hmph! If you had admitted your mistake and made it up to them, I would have let you off the hook. But now!" Wu Shiyun pulled Jiang Xiaoxiao up.

"Qin Yao, I must expose your hypocrisy!"

After saying that, he ignored Madam Wu and Wu Shiyun who were still standing to the side and got into the carriage with Jiang Xiaoxiao.

"Is she... alright?" Liu Qingping asked in astonishment.

Without even understanding the truth, they acted arrogantly and even went to court...

Who does she think Lord Wu is? Someone who cares about this?

"Something's probably wrong!" Qin Yao pointed to the person on the ground.

Liu was still lying there.

Jiang Xiaoxiao, who kept saying she was selling herself to bury her mother, and Wu Shiqi, who wanted to rescue Jiang Xiaoxiao, both forgot about Liu Shi, who was still lying on the ground.

What a show!

When Madam Wu arrived, she used two carriages, which made things easier for Wu Shiqi. She took Jiang Xiaoxiao and left without a second thought.

As for the Liu family that remained...