After being divorced, she overturned the capital and seized the empress's position!

Fan Lianyi looked at Shen Ruyun, hoping that as his wife, Shen Ruyun would at least offer some advice, but Shen Ruyun acted as if she hadn't seen him at all and didn't intend to say anything.

Instantly, Fan Lianyi became very dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law from a wealthy and powerful family.

“Princess…” she wanted to say something more.

Princess Jiahua's face already showed impatience: "If you, Miss Jiahua, are so compassionate and can't bear to see people suffer, you should become a nun. I am educating people, and it is not your place to interfere."

Fan Lianyi's face turned deathly pale, her eyes filled with tears, and her fingertips almost dug into her palms. Reason told her that she couldn't act impulsively.

She lowered her eyes and apologized.

In the following days, Princess Jiahua always found a reason to severely punish Song Hengchuan, forcing him to kneel, copy scriptures, and so on.

Shen Ruyun pretended not to see it.

I arrived at Yuehua Pavilion a long time ago, but didn't leave until it was dark at night.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Before they knew it, it was Song Yao's wedding day. The Duke of Jingguo's mansion was bustling with activity from early morning. According to custom, it should be Princess Jiahua, the legal mother, who came to send off the bride and offer gifts.

Princess Kejiahua would never respect Song Yao, so she excused herself by saying she was unwell and did not appear.

This matter fell to the Grand Madam.

After the matriarch drank the newlyweds' tea and instructed Song Yao, who was wearing a red veil, to live a good life in the future, she was urged by the matchmaker to send Song Yao to the bridal sedan chair.

As the biological mother, Yuan Fuling was not entitled to appear at the wedding; she could only secretly wait for news in the backyard.

Yuan Fuling felt a little uneasy when her daughter suddenly got married.

At the same time, the Prince of Zhennan's mansion was holding a wedding. Pei Zhao, the groom, did not go to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, but went to the Prince of Qing's mansion in person.

The journey was filled with music and celebration, making it quite a lively scene.

"On such a joyous day, why is there not a single smile on the groom's face?"

"The one from Prince Qing's mansion is disfigured, and the one from Duke Jing's mansion is no longer innocent. Who would be happy about that?"

"That's true."

There was a lot of chatter in the crowd.

Pei Zhao sat on horseback, his face slightly pale, one hand gripping the reins tightly as he tried to suppress the frustration in his heart.

Two bridal sedan chairs landed one after the other at the entrance of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion.

Pei Zhao mechanically followed the matchmaker's instructions, kicked the sedan chair, lifted the curtain, and welcomed the brides out. The two brides were dressed in bright red wedding gowns, looking exceptionally radiant.

Amid cheers from the crowd, they stepped over the brazier and entered the Zhennan Prince's Mansion.

There weren't many guests at the Prince of Zhennan's mansion today; it was even rather deserted. None of the prominent figures dared to come.

They only sent a congratulatory gift.

After the ceremony, Pei Zhao felt even worse, as it meant that from now on he would have no further connection with the Third Miss.

With the matchmaker's words, they were led into the bridal chamber.

Pei Zhao's sleeves were grabbed from both the left and right.

"Cousin Zhao."

"Brother Zhao."

The two of them called out to him at the same time.

Pei Zhao frowned.

Even the matchmaker was stunned. She had never seen two brides start fighting over a man right after the wedding ceremony. It was rather unseemly.

"Zhao'er!" Princess Zhennan winked at Pei Zhao.

Pei Zhao gently brushed Song Yao's hand away: "Go back first, I'll visit you later."

Under the red veil, Song Yao's face contorted with rage. Helpless, she could only be helped to the bridal chamber. As soon as the maid closed the door, Song Yao ripped off the red veil: "You shameless vixen, I spit on you!"

"Madam." The maid gently nudged Song Yao's shoulder, glancing around with a troubled expression.

Song Yao finally snapped out of her daze and looked up at the layout of the room. One look almost made her faint with anger. The room was small and cramped, not even as spacious as the room she had before she got married. Even the furnishings were very shabby.

The shelves were decorated only with cheap vases, a banquet table with dragon and phoenix candles and a few kinds of dried fruit, and there wasn't even a screen; you could see the whole thing at a glance.

"What kind of courtyard is this? Where does Zhao Qingyan live?" Song Yao asked.

The maidservant quickly went to inquire and returned a moment later: "Madam, this is Qingqiu Courtyard. The young master's wife lives in Lanhua Courtyard."

She had heard of Lanhua Courtyard. It was a large and spacious courtyard, right next to Pei Zhao's study. She had even taken a look at it once. At that time, Madam Tan had smiled and said that if this courtyard were to be used as a wedding room in the future, she had asked her what kind of decoration she liked.

She had thought she would be staying at Lanhua Courtyard this time, but instead she was sent to Qingqiu Courtyard. It was the first time she had ever heard of Qingqiu Courtyard, and the name itself sounded unlucky.

"Madam, the Prince of Zhennan's mansion hasn't even prepared dinner for us." The maid sniffed, sounding a little aggrieved.

Song Yao was furious.

Looking out the window, it was already dark.

"Where's the prince?"

"The young master is in Lanhua Courtyard."

Song Yao took a deep breath: "Wait a little longer, I refuse to believe that I will be outdone by an ugly monster."

She waited all night, and Pei Zhao did not return even after the wedding candles burned out. With the time for the morning greetings approaching, Song Yao had no choice but to change into her wedding dress and redo her makeup.

She clenched her fists, vowing to avenge the humiliation of the previous night.

After changing into a pretty pale yellow dress, Song Yao went to the front hall with her maid, but she was stopped at the door after only a few steps: "Madam, the Princess said that you do not need to go to serve tea."

"Why?" Song Yao raised her eyebrows and stared at the old woman at the door with displeasure.

The old woman said, "This is the Madam's wish, please don't make things difficult for this old servant."

Song Yao was so angry that she cried. She had been treated unfairly on her wedding night, and now she was even being deprived of the right to serve tea.

It's simply too much.

The other main hall

Zhao Qingyan offered tea to the Princess of Zhennan with a shy expression. The Princess of Zhennan felt uncomfortable seeing that her face was covered, but she still had to force a smile and pulled her up: "Qingyan, we are family from now on, there is no need to be so formal."

“Yes, Mother,” Zhao Qingyan whispered.

Pei Zhao, standing to the side, lowered his eyes.

Princess Zhennan knew he was unhappy, so she told him to treat Zhao Qingyan well before letting her go.

Zhao Qingyan watched her husband stride away, her delicate brows furrowing.

“Qingyan, it’s an indisputable fact that Song Yao has entered the family. I know Zhao’er; he’s always been compassionate towards the weak. If he doesn’t go today, he will go sooner or later. You need to find a way to win Zhao’er’s heart. As for Song Yao, she’s nothing but a shameless, scheming, and low-class concubine’s daughter. I don’t even care about her.” Princess Zhennan pulled Zhao Qingyan and continued to persuade her, “The most important thing now is to give birth to the eldest legitimate son as soon as possible.”

Before her marriage, Madam Tan repeatedly reminded Zhao Qingyan to be obedient and listen to the Princess of Zhennan, otherwise making a fuss would do her no good.

Zhao Qingyan nodded obediently: "Qingyan will remember Mother's words."

...

Pei Zhao, who hadn't appeared all night, indeed came to visit Song Yao. From afar, he saw Song Yao sitting on the veranda, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Pei Zhao felt a little uncomfortable and stepped forward: "Yao Yao".

Song Yao turned around abruptly, looking at the person who had just arrived with surprise: "Brother Zhao!"

He moved forward and sat down in the opposite seat. He looked around the courtyard and realized that his mother had made Song Yao live in Qingqiu Courtyard because she was angry about Song Yao's forced marriage.

"I've wronged you."

Song Yao shook her head: "No, I'm not wronged."

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant hurriedly entered and handed Pei Zhao a sachet. Pei Zhao took it curiously and opened it to find several handkerchiefs inside.

Song Yao recognized the handkerchief as hers at a glance.

"What is this?" Pei Zhao asked.

The servant stammered and looked at Song Yao: "This was sent by the Second Young Master Han. He said it was to be returned to its rightful owner and that he wished the lady many children and grandchildren."

Upon hearing this, Song Yao was so angry she almost fainted. She retorted, "Nonsense! When have I ever given that scoundrel a handkerchief?"

Pei Zhao looked at the character "Yao" embroidered on the bottom of the handkerchief. He had seen Song Yao carry this handkerchief before. Today, when Han Feng returned it, Pei Zhao couldn't help but think of the scene at the Shen family that day, when Song Yao was hanging disheveled on Han Feng.

The heartache and pity in Pei Zhao's eyes faded away.

He handed the handkerchief to Song Yao: "I have other things to do, I'll come to visit you again in a couple of days."

"Brother Zhao!" Song Yao grabbed Pei Zhao, her eyes brimming with tears. "I've been framed. Don't you know how much we've been together all these years?"

Pei Zhao might have been soft-hearted in the past, but after learning how Song Yao bullied Song Yue in the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, he felt disgusted.

That handkerchief was even more glaring.

He brushed Song Yao's hand away, his tone still gentle: "You should rest well. If you need anything, just tell the maid."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

"Brother Zhao!"

No matter how much Song Yao called out to him, he didn't even turn his head.

Enraged, Song Yao slapped the messenger and tore his handkerchief to shreds, demanding, "Who is behind this?!"