My wife wants a divorce; if she ruins my life, I'll leave.

The people in the mansion were filled with unease, holding their breath and remaining silent for fear of incurring their master's wrath, and were much more obedient than ever before.

After hearing about what happened to Granny Li, Song Tian went to Rongxi Courtyard, said something, and then threw down the curtain and ran to Qingfeng Courtyard.

"Sister-in-law, why did you send Granny Li away?"

Since taking her to the banquet, Song Tian has become more polite to Meng Ruohua.

Meng Ruohua's gaze slowly fell on her, and she said, "Sister, you're wrong. I didn't drive Li Mama away!"

"Huh? Didn't you say that Granny Li's family embezzled money?"

"Sister, what nonsense are you listening to? We're out of money in the manor. I helped Manager Li sell some cloth yesterday. It was Madam and Master who discovered the cloth shop's affair. It has nothing to do with me."

Song Tian paused, wondering why this was different from what her mother had said.

Since you want to smear me, then I won't hold back.

Meng Ruohua pulled Song Tian to sit on the low couch and said very seriously, "Sister, do you not know what trouble the Li family has caused?"

"It's just..." Seeing that there was no anger in Meng Ruohua's eyes, Song Tian boldly continued, "Not giving money to sister-in-law."

"It's not that I won't give you money, what would I do with money? It's all for the household expenses!" She revealed a mysterious smile, pulled Song Tian and whispered, "But their shop clearly has money but claims to have none. In the end, thanks to Master's methods, they found a lot of gold and silver ingots in their house. Where do you think that money came from?"

Song Tian's eyes widened as if she suddenly realized something. "Granny Li has embezzled all of my family's money?"

Oh dear, just a few days ago she wanted to buy a few more pieces of jewelry, but her mother said she didn't have the money. It turns out all the money had been embezzled by Granny Li's family!

I told you, we have quite a few shops and estates at home, and my father and brother also have salaries, how could we not have money!

These lowly servants dare to embezzle their master's money; kicking them out would be the least they can do.

"Go ask your mother!"

After seeing Song Tian off, Meng Ruohua leisurely ate the chestnut cake that Aunt Li had just made.

She wondered how Yang Sanshu's search was going. She wasn't in a hurry, but seeing how excited Yang Sanshu was, she started to look forward to it too.

Two days after they made the decision, she went back to the Meng residence to tell her mother and sister-in-law. Both of them said they would prepare some things for Uncle Yang to take with him.

Judging by the time it comes, we should receive news by tomorrow or the day after.

She wrote a letter and asked Aunt Li to prepare some easily stored food, some for Uncle Yang to eat on his journey and some for her father and brothers.

My father and brother have lived in the Northwest for many years. Every year when the seasons change, my mother would prepare many new sets of clothes and send them over, so I never lacked clothes. Meng Ruohua made two sets of knee pads herself as a token of her affection.

Most importantly, the large clothes she makes are really not good!

She disliked needlework and threading from a young age, and was even more impatient with embroidery; her needlework skills were only average.

With nothing else to do, she, along with Linglong and Yuye, continued to sort through her dowry, reclassifying and registering it. They kept everything that could be kept and used what they could.

It will be cheaper when moving the dowry later.

As evening falls and the city lights begin to twinkle.

Song Chen'an entered Qingfeng Courtyard, bringing with him a chill.

He was wearing a thick outer robe, and the heat inside the room made him feel hot all over. He wanted to take it off to relax, but there was no one to serve him. He glanced at Meng Ruohua, who was sitting calmly on the low couch, and his anger suddenly flared up.

"Are they all dead? If you don't know how to serve them, just sell them off!"

Meng Ruohua held a storybook in her hand, looking at him with icy eyes, "How majestic! Where did you suffer a humiliation, Second Master, that you're taking it out on in my Qingfeng Courtyard?"

"What do you mean, Qingfeng Courtyard? Aren't you living in the Song residence?" Song Chen'an asked.

Looking at his angry face, Meng Ruohua felt nothing. She straightened the hem of her clothes and asked slowly, "Just say what you have to say. There's no need to beat around the bush."

Yesterday, Li Qingsong disappeared without a trace, unaware that his family had been expelled from the mansion. This morning, after he came to his post, Tian Guangzhi, the second steward of the outer courtyard, pulled him aside and explained the situation in detail. Only then did he rush home to inquire about the whole story.

Granny Li scolded Meng Ruohua in a low voice, then urged him to go into the mansion to plead with the Second Master.

Song Chen'an and Li Qingsong grew up together and have an extraordinary relationship.

After waiting outside the Hanlin Academy all day, Song Chen'an was finally dismissed from his post, and he rushed forward to cry and plead his case.

He dared not say that his family was honest and law-abiding, nor did he dare say that he had forgiven his parents. He only said that he himself was honest and law-abiding and really did not want to leave Song Chen'an.

They've been playing together since they were four or five years old; their friendship over those ten-plus years is genuine.

Song Chen'an couldn't bear to see his humble appearance, so as soon as he returned to the manor, he went to Rongxi Courtyard to plead for Li Qingsong.

Who would have thought that Mother would be so heartless, refusing to budge and showing no regard for the two or three decades of service Li Mama had given her, saying that they were not honest and she would never dare to use them again.

Having no other choice, Song Chen'an thought of asking Meng Ruohua to plead for help, or at least send them to the estate, so that the Li family would have a place to settle down.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered Qingfeng Courtyard, the maids in the corridor greeted him and then scattered in all directions, without a single one thinking of lifting the curtain for him.

Ugh, it's even more infuriating once you get inside. Everyone's giving you the cold shoulder, and there's not a single person to serve you!

Are all these maids and servants kept in the mansion just to feed and clothe them like young ladies?

Seeing Meng Ruohua's completely indifferent attitude, his anger suddenly erupted.

"Who's bringing up other things?" Song Chen'an picked up the storybook on her desk, glanced at it, and then threw it down heavily. "You can't even manage the household properly, all you do is read storybooks!"

"Where did my steward go wrong?" Meng Ruohua asked, raising an eyebrow. After a few moments, she suddenly realized, "Second Master thinks I'm not managing things well, so I'll resign tomorrow."

Let whoever wants to manage it manage it!

She knew why he was causing trouble; it was nothing more than a matter concerning Manager Li's family.

She deliberately pretended not to know, to see how she would dare to speak up.

Song Chen'an thought Meng Ruohua would bring up Manager Li, but to his surprise, she refused to take on the job of housekeeper!

Looking at her nonchalant expression, Song Chen'an felt that she was a complete stranger.

Meng Ruohua used to be gentle and quiet, or at least understanding. When did she become so unreasonable and domineering?

Upon reflection, he realized that he hadn't spent the night at Qingfeng Courtyard for over three months, and Meng Ruohua had never contacted him.

Oh well, she's not the woman I like anyway. It's fine to treat each other with respect and not bother each other.

However, we must not let her continue to cause trouble!

Song Chen'an sat down on the other side of the small table with an air of authority, took a deep breath to calm himself down, and said, "Ms. Meng, let's forget about Granny Li's matter. You must never go to the shop to withdraw money again, and you must never sell the goods privately."

"Alright, from now on, whenever I'm in charge of the household, if there's no money in the mansion, I'll ask Second Master for help." Although she planned to pass on the household management duties, her anger flared up whenever she saw Song Chen'an, and she simply couldn't stand it.

Suddenly she chuckled softly, "No need for later. I'll go back to the Second Madam tomorrow. I'm incapable of managing the household; let her find someone more capable!"

Song Chen'an choked on her words, and his suppressed anger resurfaced. "Do you think this kind of fuss looks good? The Li family has served us for decades. How can you so heartlessly kick them out? What will outsiders think of my Song family?"

Meng Ruohua put down her storybook, looked at him expressionlessly, her eyes filled with undisguised sarcasm, "What have I done wrong?"

Did I falsify the accounts?

Did I embezzle the money?

Did I drive the Li family out?