After transmigrating into the book, I helped my mother reconcile with her divorced husband.

Xie Chaoyun agreed, not because of what Old Madam Lu had said, but because of Lu Zhiyuan. Who knows what her clever daughter is up to now?

Seeing Xie Chaoyun agree, Old Madam Lu and Ji Wanwan exchanged a glance, their brows relaxing. They had never been to the palace and were unaware of its rules. They thought that by sending Lu Jinyao in, they could seize the opportunity to shine, but little did they know that there was a barrier between maids and young ladies.

In the original storyline, Lu Jinyao rose to fame because she used the identity of the legitimate daughter of a marquis's family. The Empress favored her because she was the daughter of the Lu and Xie families. Without this identity, she wouldn't even have the chance to speak in the palace.

Instead of getting entangled with Madam Lu here, it's better to go along with their wishes and let Lu Jinyao suffer in the palace.

Having achieved her goal, Ji Wanwan swayed her hips and gracefully descended, saying, "Sister, there is something else I want to discuss with you, elder sister."

Xie Chaoyun looked at her without saying anything.

Ji Wanwan didn't mind, and put on a particularly intimate look with Lu Huai: "Sister, you don't know, Aunt gave this power of managing the household to me. It's not that I'm overstepping my bounds, but that I care about Aunt and don't want her to be bothered by these trivial matters. Once you recover, I will naturally return this power of managing the household to you."

Xie Chaoyun raised her eyelids slightly: "Thank you for your hard work, cousin."

Ji Wanwan was stunned; this was not the reaction she had imagined. Xie Chaoyun should have berated her, should have shouted and yelled, should have demanded that she return the power to manage the household. In her dream, she and Xie Chaoyun had fought tooth and nail over that key, to the point that Lu Huai found Xie Chaoyun utterly repulsive.

Xie Chaoyun's calmness made Ji Wanwan extremely uncomfortable. After a long while, she finally said to Lu Huai, "When Jin Yao was sick, I took care of her while also managing the accounts in this manor. There wasn't much silver in the treasury, and with the income from the various estates, it was barely enough to cover the expenses of the Marquis's manor for about half a year, and that was under the condition that there were no emergencies."

"That's true," Lu Huai said. "Does Wanwan have any good ideas?"

Ji Wanwan lowered her eyes: "Whether it's a noble family or a poor commoner, if you want to get rich, you have to increase your income and reduce your expenses. I think the expenses in your courtyard are too high, and Yuan'er's medicinal herbs are all very expensive. They should be reduced appropriately."

Upon hearing this, everyone present, except for Lu Huai, looked at her as if she were a fool.

"Look at what you're saying, madam. It's as if the medicine my young lady takes is bought with the Marquis's money." Liu Ying pouted. "Who in the manor doesn't know that the medicine my young lady takes is either bought with the Madam's dowry money or sent by the eldest young master? Madam, you're in charge of the accounts, and you're even interfering with our Madam's private treasury and the Xie family's affairs."

"Liu Ying, don't be rude!" Xie Chaoyun said, "It's not easy for my cousin to manage the Marquis's mansion. As the mistress of the mansion, Yunniang should give her her full support. From today onwards, Yuan'er and I will have our expenses covered by my private treasury. What do you think, cousin?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Wanwan was secretly delighted, and then her face lit up with joy: "Sister, are you really going to use your own private treasury?"

Xie Chaoyun nodded, "It's just a little money, cousin, you don't need to worry about it. But you need to think of more ways to make a living in this Marquis's mansion. Don't end up like me, who has been married into the Marquis's mansion for ten years and only knows how to clumsily use her dowry money to make ends meet. Cousin, you are very smart and will definitely be able to solve the problem from the root."

After saying that, she curtsied to Old Madam Lu and Lu Huai: "If there is nothing else, Yunniang and Yuan'er will take their leave first."

Before Lu Zhiyuan and Xie Chaoyun could even step out the door, Old Madam Lu pointed her cane at Ji Wanwan's nose: "Are you stupid? Our Marquis's mansion is entirely dependent on her dowry money. Instead of finding a way to get it from her, you've let her take it away. How are you going to support this huge Marquis's mansion? Relying on that little bit of silver in the treasury?"

Ji Wanwan panicked.

She only thought about controlling and deducting from Xie Chaoyun's money, but forgot that the Marquis's mansion originally relied on her dowry to survive.

Seeing that Madam Lu was angry, he quickly came up with a clever idea: "I'm afraid that Xie Chaoyun will take advantage of our Marquis's mansion. Mother, don't worry, I have a few ways to make money. As long as we take over the shops, we will definitely make a fortune every day."

Madam Lu was not easily fooled and immediately asked, "What method?"

Ji Wanwan pursed her lips and lied, clenching her fingers: "My late husband's ancestors were wine merchants, producing imperial wines with a secret recipe. When he passed away, he passed the recipe to me. Everyone loves wine, especially in the capital. Once we open a business, we're sure to make a fortune, a sure-fire way to make money."

Madam Lu's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she urged Ji Wanwan to bring out the prescription. Lu Huai then mentioned the shops he had given to Ji Wanwan years ago, one of which happened to be a tavern.

Ji Wanwan dared not tell Lu Huai that she had sold those shops, so she stammered for a long time before making up an excuse. She was waiting, waiting for the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet at the palace.

In her dream, her daughter Lu Jinyao became famous at the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, not only winning the favor of the Empress but also being betrothed to Prince Yue, who was of similar age. Compared to Jinyao, Xie Chaoyun's other daughter was even more insignificant. For the sake of the Marquis's future, they joined forces to eliminate the Xie family and seize their wealth.

Three days. Just three days, and Xie Chaoyun's identity, status, and wealth will be hers. At that time, who will care about those shops? Her little hand tickled Lu Huai's palm, and Lu Huai's heart stirred. Under the pretext of looking at the shops, he pulled Ji Wanwan out of Fulin Courtyard.

"As far as I know, your deceased husband's ancestors were not wine merchants. Are you trying to fool your mother?" As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, Lu Huai pinned Ji Wanwan against the wall.

“You’ve hurt me. Even if I had the guts of the world, I wouldn’t dare to lie to you and Mother.” Ji Wanwan kissed his lips: “The prescription is real, and the deal is real too. It’s just that the ancestors weren’t my late husband’s ancestors, but his maternal ancestors.”

Lu Huai switched from defense to offense, and Ji Wanwan responded enthusiastically, wrapping her arms around his neck and entwining with him.

The butler's voice could be heard from not far away.

"My lord, someone from Weinan has arrived."

Seeing that the two were still locked in a stalemate, the butler raised his voice.

"They say they are the cousin's in-laws, and they came carrying a coffin. Your Excellency, you should go and see for yourself."

The area in front of the Marquis's mansion was bustling with activity. Besides those dressed in mourning clothes, there was also a large, black coffin. A woman with gray hair sat on the steps, holding a memorial tablet, and wept hoarsely to those around her.

The woman said her husband's surname was Zhu, and his ancestral home was Weinan. They made a living by trading timber and were considered an extremely wealthy family in the area. Ten years ago, her son, Zhu Guozhi, came to the capital to discuss business. Somehow, he met a woman named Ji Wanwan, fell in love with her at first sight, and insisted on marrying her despite his family's objections.

With the marriage already fait accompli, the Zhu family had no choice but to accept it. Ever since Ji Wanwan entered the family, the Zhu family has never had a peaceful day. First, she encouraged Zhu Guozhi to move out of the old house, and then she encouraged him to buy an official position.

Buying an official position wasn't an easy thing to do. After all the fuss, he not only failed to buy the position but also squandered most of the Zhu family's wealth. Seeing that Zhu Guozhi had no hope of getting an official post, Ji Wanwan secretly had an affair behind his back. To cover up the truth, she conspired to murder her husband.

Before her son's body was even cold, Ji Wanwan moved with her newborn daughter into the house that man had prepared for her, and even her daughter took that man's surname, Lu.

Upon hearing this, the onlookers immediately understood that the "he" the old woman was referring to was none other than Lu Huai, the Marquis of Pingnan, who had just returned from Weinan a few days earlier. And the Lady Ji who had returned with him was none other than Ji Wanwan, whom the old woman had accused of having an affair and conspiring to harm her husband.