My best friends both transmigrated into a book and married powerful officials; she left me and I lef

Sang Luan paused, her eyes filled with confusion.

The next moment, Feng Hengzhi slowly reached out and tucked a stray strand of Sang Luan's hair behind her ear.

A sudden chill ran down her side, startling Sang Luan so much that she involuntarily trembled slightly.

With an unnatural smile, she reached up and touched her hair. "The maid must have been lazy while she was getting ready."

Just now, Feng Hengzhi's gaze towards her actually carried a hint of tenderness.

Feng Hengzhi's eyes were already deep, but when he stared straight at someone like this, there was a hint of tenderness in them than usual, as if his eyes were telling a story of endless sorrow.

Sang Luan silently took a step back, creating a safe distance between herself and Feng Hengzhi.

Feng Hengzhi suddenly came to his senses, his hand paused slightly in mid-air, and then he calmly withdrew it.

He coughed lightly, his expression returning to normal, his eyebrows slightly raised, his gaze towards Sang Luan still icy.

He glanced at Sang Luan casually, remaining silent.

Immediately, he lifted his foot and left the place.

Sang Luan was instantly relieved. That's right, that aloof and distant demeanor was exactly what Feng Hengzhi was like.

All the preparations for Red Barn Shop have been completed in the past few days, and the shop has been completely renovated.

Sang Luan and Meng Youning need to keep a closer eye on them.

Once you've earned your first pot of gold, you can go to the palace to request an imperial decree.

Thinking of this, Sang Luan couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Soon, she'll be able to run away!

Sang Luan let out a heavy sigh and waved her small hand, "Let's go back to the manor."

Half an hour later.

Sang Luan had barely stepped inside when she stopped abruptly.

She slightly raised her eyebrows and saw Liu Wenxian sitting upright in the main seat of the front hall, her face very cold.

The moment Sang Luan stepped through the door, Liu Wenxian glanced at her indifferently and said, "You're back."

His voice betrayed no emotion.

Sang Luan immediately sensed something was wrong.

Liu Wenxian is an impatient person who can't hide anything. Now she's clearly here to settle scores with me, but she doesn't show it on her face, which means she's already lost her temper.

She lowered her eyes, slowed her pace, and gracefully stepped forward to give Liu Wenxian a curtsy, saying, "Mother."

Liu Wenxian glanced at her and said calmly, "Kneel down."

Sang Luan pursed her lips and remained silent.

At the same time, she slightly turned her body and with just a glance, Jin Rui, who was serving her, said loudly, "Guards, take this criminal away and enforce the rules of the manor."

No sooner had she finished speaking than two burly old women stepped forward, grabbed Yu Po's wrists, glared at her fiercely, and pulled her forward.

Yu Po panicked for a moment, her face turning pale before the punishment even began.

She lost her footing and fell to the ground, her hands hanging limply at her sides.

The Feng family's rule for punishing maids who made mistakes was to use a thin bamboo skewer, as thin as a hair, to suddenly pierce their fingernails.

Two rough-looking old women each grabbed one of Yu Po's arms, preparing to attack.

Yu Po's pupils widened suddenly, and she murmured something softly, her gaze fixed on the rough old woman's hands.

She's most afraid of pain!

Sang Luan's brows furrowed tightly, and a hint of anger appeared in her eyes.

She bent down slightly, reached out and lifted Yu Po up, her gaze fixed on Liu Wenxian who was sitting on the upper seat. "Yu Po came with me as part of my dowry. Even if she has made a mistake, I should personally teach her a lesson."

She paused, then said, word by word, "Besides, even if the person in the palace wants to punish someone, there must be a crime, right? May I ask, Mother, what wrong has Yu Po committed?"

Beside Liu Wenxian, a maidservant was bowing her head, glancing at Sang Luan every now and then.

She had noticed this figure from the moment she entered the room.

She knew exactly who was around Liu Wenxian, and this person was clearly not from Jing Si Tang.

Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes; the person seemed somewhat familiar.

Liu Wenxian could no longer hold back. She stood up abruptly, glaring angrily at Sang Luan, "How dare you say that! How could my Feng family let a woman like you into our home!"

Sang Luan smiled and tilted her head. "I wonder what Luan'er has done wrong this time to make Mother so angry."

Yu Po, who had been pulled to her feet, stood silently behind Sang Luan, tucking the hem of Sang Luan's clothes with her right hand.

Liu Wenxian took a breath and said, "Fine, since you don't want to admit it, then let me ask you, where have you been these past few days, leaving the mansion at Chenshi (7-9 AM)?"

Sang Luan blinked, looking completely innocent. "Go find some food to warm my husband's stomach."

Liu Wenxian quickly followed up with, "What about the food you brought?"

Without Sang Luan saying a word, Yu Po, who was behind her, stepped forward and opened the food box she had been carrying, revealing the exquisite food inside. "Madam, this is the food that the young mistress brought back."

Liu Wenxian leaned forward, her tone softening somewhat, "You can go anytime, why do you only set off at Chen Shi (7-9 AM)?"

Sang Luan blinked and answered matter-of-factly, "My husband doesn't like to eat breakfast, so I thought I'd go out early so he could eat when he comes back from court."

Liu Wenxian glanced at her without changing her expression, and didn't seem to be lying.

Sang Luan spoke up again, "So I wonder what exactly Luan'er did to displease Mother? Is it because you care too much about your husband?"

The anger on Liu Wenxian's face had long since dissipated, and she said somewhat awkwardly, "Of course not."

Sang Luan continued, "Was it because Luan'er saw some interesting things on her way back that made her a little late? Or did someone say something to Mother?"

Her gaze drifted, intentionally or unintentionally, to one of the people next to Liu Wenxian.

Liu Wenxian turned to the side, rubbed her temples, and lowered her voice, "Did the people who went with them see anyone else?"

Jin Rui paused for a moment, glanced down at Sang Luan, and then shook her head.

Liu Wenxian abruptly turned her gaze away and slammed her hand on the table.

Suddenly, the woman in green who had been standing beside Liu Wenxian panicked and knelt down abruptly. Pointing at Sang Luan, she said in a trembling voice, "Madam, the young mistress must have discovered that someone was following her beforehand, which is why we couldn't catch her today."

Her eyes lit up, as if she had suddenly thought of something. "Yes, this servant was right behind the young mistress today. She must have discovered me at that time, which is why she turned the tables on me. If you don't believe me, you can torture Yu Po again. She will definitely know the truth."

A barely perceptible hint of anger flashed in Sang Luan's eyes. She slowly walked up to the man and said, "No wonder Mother is so angry. It turns out you were the one who instigated this."

The woman in green shook her head violently, then subconsciously looked at Liu Wenxian, who was in the main seat. "No, that's not how it is, Madam."

Liu Wenxian looked impatient and slightly raised her hand, "Take him away."

Jin Rui clicked her tongue, and two rough-looking old women immediately stepped forward, grabbed the green-clad woman by the arms, and dragged her out, leaving only the green-clad woman's protests echoing in the air.