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

The 26th day of the eighth lunar month was an ordinary day.

Lu Jingyuan, who was playing in the yard, saw a stray cat and chased it to the study. The mischievous cat squeezed through the crack in the door. Lu Jingyuan pushed hard a few times, and only when he looked up did he see that the door was locked.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard a kitten meowing at the window. Following the sound, I saw the window was slightly ajar. On a sudden inspiration, I climbed over the small tree next to the window and went inside.

He stepped on the table, knocking over the mahogany box that was placed on it, scattering the letters inside all over the floor.

Xie Chaoyun was not at home. Upon hearing the news, Ji Wanwan slapped Lu Jingyuan in front of the maids and punished him by confining him to his room. Lu Jingyuan became even more resentful after being slapped, crying and kicking the scattered letters all over the floor.

Ji Wanwan's identity was special, and Lu Jingyuan was the old lady's favorite. The maids were at a loss and had no choice but to invite Lu Huai over. Ji Wanwan seized the opportunity and handed the letter, which was suspected of being a traitor, to Lu Huai.

After a night of struggle, Lu Huai presented the letter to the Emperor.

It was the 28th day of the eighth lunar month. A light rain fell, and the chill seeped into the house through the cracks in the window. Before I could even get ready, I heard a commotion in the courtyard.

"What are you all arguing about so early in the morning?"

"Something's happened at the General's Mansion. We're discussing whether to tell Madam." A young maid with an unfamiliar face came over. "I'm Xiao Cheng, the one in charge of purchasing in the courtyard. I just came back from the street. I saw with my own eyes that the Imperial Guards have surrounded the General's Mansion. I heard from people around that the Xie family and the Xie Vice Minister's Mansion have also been surrounded by the Imperial Guards. They say... they say that General Xie is colluding with the enemy and that the Xie family is plotting a rebellion."

These words shocked the entire courtyard, but Xie Chaoyun, sitting in front of the dressing table, remained calm.

After all, it should come.

She lost the bet with Yuan'er.

Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Xie Chaoyun felt both sorrow and lingering fear. If she hadn't gone to Zuichunlou that day, if she had gone to another room, if he hadn't overheard Lu Huai and Ji Wanwan's plot, if she hadn't discovered that letter, the Xie family would have been wiped out.

He got up, walked outside, and looked in the direction of the General's Mansion. Faintly, he could hear the sound of horses' hooves.

She knew that these were just her illusions.

The courtyard is deep and secluded, surrounded by layers of walls; how could one hear the sounds from the street?

After standing for about half an hour, Xie Chaoyun finally moved her slightly stiff body: "Qingzhi, help me change my clothes."

"Let me go out and take a look first!" Qingzhi stepped forward quickly: "Master and the young masters would never collude with the enemy and betray the country. This must be a setup by someone. Miss's status is special, and it is not appropriate for her to leave the manor. I will go and find out for Miss."

"I'm not leaving the manor, I'm going to pay my respects to the Old Madam." Xie Chaoyun patted her hand: "Where's Yuan'er?"

“Young Miss is always a late riser, she’s probably still asleep right now.” Qingzhi glanced in the direction of Fangfei Courtyard. “I will tell Liuying to keep an eye on you and not let you go out. Master has many old friends in the capital, and the Second Young Master has some colleagues in the officialdom, as well as the Marquis… In short, the Xie family will definitely be fine, so please don’t worry, Young Miss.”

“I know the Xie family will be fine. It’s you who needs to calm down.” Xie Chaoyun turned around: “Go, go pick out a bright outfit for me that will make people happy.”

Qingzhi pursed her lips and walked towards the wardrobe with a look of deep worry.

Colluding with the enemy and plotting rebellion is a grave crime. Regardless of whether there is concrete evidence, those in power will make an example of them. The Xie family is at the height of their power and has long been feared by the emperor. It is feared that the emperor may have also been involved in this matter.

Seeing Qingzhi lost in thought, Xie Chaoyun took two pieces of clothing from the wardrobe herself. One was for the day after her wedding, and the other was specially made, originally intended for the Mid-Autumn Festival, the day she reunited with Lu Huai. Because of Ji Wanwan, and because she learned of Lu Huai's relationship with Ji Wanwan, she had put the clothes aside.

Today is a suitable day.

She changed her clothes and tidied her makeup in front of the mirror. Ten years into her marriage to Lu Huai, she had transformed from a young general who only knew how to wield swords and spears into Mrs. Lu, responsible for laundry, cooking, and business. She disliked this life, but for the sake of her beloved, she willingly accepted it.

Looking at the calluses on her hands from handling the abacus, Xie Chaoyun sighed.

Since there is no love between them, she will no longer be anyone's daughter-in-law or wife. From now on, she will only be a Xie family girl, and only be Xie Chaoyun, who gallops across the battlefield and dies on the battlefield.

When the news of the Xie family being besieged reached Old Madam Lu's ears, she was so frightened that she smashed a bowl and urged the nanny to go find Lu Huai. Ji Wanwan stopped the nanny, stepped forward, and said softly, "Aunt has forgotten, Brother Huai is in court right now."

Madam Lu collapsed into her chair with a thud.

Ji Wanwan soothed her heart, saying, "Aunt, don't worry. Although this matter arose because of the Xie family, it has nothing to do with Brother Huai. The Emperor is a wise ruler and would never make things difficult for Brother Huai because of the Xie family."

Old Madam Lu felt a sudden unease in her heart. Grabbing Ji Wanwan's hand, she said, "We are related to the Xie family by marriage! What if the Emperor wants to exterminate our entire clan..."

“The crime does not apply to married women. Xie Chaoyun is the mistress of our Marquis’s mansion and has no relation to the Xie family.” Suppressing her elation, she lowered her eyelids and whispered, “However… if the Xie family is truly suspected of colluding with the enemy, Xie Chaoyun, as the mistress, may implicate our Marquis’s mansion and hinder Brother Huai’s career.”

"What should we do then?" Old Madam Lu panicked. "We can't just let Huai'er divorce her, can we?"

“Why not?” Ji Wanwan’s eyes darted around. “Xie Chaoyun has already violated the seven grounds for divorce. If it weren’t for Brother Huai’s benevolence, she would have been divorced by him long ago. Now that the Xie family is in trouble, if she knows what’s good for her, she should take the initiative to propose a divorce, so as not to implicate Yuan’er.”

"Wanwan is right, Xie Chaoyun is a jinx." Old Madam Lu said angrily, "Where is she? It's already this late, why hasn't she come to pay her respects!"

"Perhaps they heard the news and ran away!" Ji Wanwan said deliberately, "Does Aunt know that Xie Chaoyun and Brother Huai went to the manor in the neighboring county?"

"I know!" Old Madam Lu nodded. "The steward of the estate is dead, and his death is shrouded in mystery. The deputy steward sent a letter asking the Marquis's residence to send someone to handle it. This estate has always been managed by Xie Chaoyun, so naturally she will handle it. In previous years, she went alone, but I was worried about her, so I sent Huai'er with her. What does this have to do with the Xie family's treason? Why are you bringing this up out of the blue?"

"Didn't Brother Huai tell you about what happened at the manor, Aunt?" She paused for a moment, then said, "Perhaps Brother Huai was afraid you would worry, so he didn't tell you."

Madam Lu frowned: "Speak plainly. Don't try to play tricks on me. I'm not Huai'er. I won't fall for your tricks."

“Aunt, look at what you’re saying, how could Wanwan dare to do that?” Ji Wanwan massaged Old Madam Lu’s arm. “That steward is called Lu Yong. He was promoted by Xie Chaoyun. He was originally just a tenant farmer on the estate. He was promoted because he stood up for Xie Chaoyun. Aunt, in what circumstances would a man stand up for a woman? Especially if he offended the steward.”

"You mean—" Old Madam Lu looked at Ji Wanwan: "She has an ambiguous relationship with Lu Yong, she's cheating on my son!"