After transmigrating, I became a stepmother.

The old lady's move was brilliant! By keeping the second master by Wang's side, he would have little chance to go to that Lanfang Residence anymore.

"Let's do as Mother says." Gu Liunian also thought this method was very good.

Let's leave that matter aside. As for the Second Master's opinion, no one cares. He wouldn't dare disobey the Old Madam's orders after hurting Wang Shi, otherwise no one would be there to mediate for him in front of the Wang family.

However, Lin Hao did develop some interest in Lanfang Residence, or rather, in the girl Yinxue.

After all, the Second Master was a man who cared a lot about his wife’s background, so it was hard not to be curious about what made this girl so special!

"Go and find out what kind of person that Miss Yinxue is!" Lin Hao instructed Zhu Jing.

"Yes." Zhu Jing thought she was worried that this Miss Yin Xue might do something and wanted to keep an eye on her, so naturally she agreed.

A few days later, Zhu Jing came to report back.

"Madam, I have inquired and found out. That Miss Yinxue is indeed a person with a tragic fate."

"How so?" Lin Hao pressed.

"She was indeed the daughter of an official, but her elders committed a serious crime. The men were exiled and the women were sold into slavery. As for why she ended up in our small county, no one knows."

"In that case, fate is indeed unpredictable!" Lin Hao couldn't help but sigh. If you enjoy wealth and honor, you must also bear risks. This is the true meaning of the saying that misfortune may be a blessing in disguise and blessing may be a misfortune in disguise!

"anything else?"

"I don't know how this Miss Yinxue persuaded the madam of Lanfangju to agree to let her sell her art but not her body, thus preserving her chastity." Zhu Jing scratched his head; he really hadn't found out about this.

"But just because of her reputation, there are many people who want to see her! It's just that many people are scared off by the money!" Zhu Jing said, thinking to himself, "So much money to go see her and not be able to do anything, what a waste! Only a fool would do that!"

Uh, he didn't mean any disrespect to the Second Master!

"Scared away by money?" Lin Hao asked, recalling what Wang had said about the second master spending money like water.

"That's right, it costs one tael of silver for an hour to see Miss Yinxue!" Zhu Jing's tone was full of disbelief, considering that he had only received five taels of silver when he sold himself into servitude.

"So expensive?" Lin Hao was also taken aback. This price didn't even include the cost of drinks. No wonder Wang was so upset.

"Is that Miss Yinxue really that beautiful?" she was genuinely curious.

"I've never seen her either, but I've heard she's as beautiful as a fairy. Everyone says she's skilled in poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, and chess, and even many talented men in our county admire her greatly!" Zhu Jing's eyes lit up slightly as he spoke, wondering what this Miss Yin Xue looked like.

Lin Hao was also very curious about this girl. She had never seen the courtesan before and wondered if she was the same as the one in later generations.

Unfortunately, she never got to see it!

As the days went by, Wang's injuries gradually healed after the second master stopped going to Lanfangju.

On this day, the two bid farewell to the old lady.

"Now that you can move around, go back and live a good life!"

The old lady looked at them, neither pleased nor angry, only hoping that the two of them could stop now.

The two of them made promises without mentioning it, but Madam Wang, grateful for Lin Hao's help when she was injured, specially thanked her and, fearing that she would refuse, gave some things to Gu Yu, the little bun.

Lin Hao thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, Zhu Jing came to tell her some news that very evening.

The Second Master went to Lanfang Residence again!

Lin Hao had something on her mind, but she didn't know whether she should say it or not!

What's wrong with this person? It's only the first day, why is he so impatient?

Lin Hao told Gu Liunian what had happened, and he frowned, clearly not expecting the Second Master to do such a thing!

"Tomorrow, I'll ask him what he's really thinking!" Gu Liunian frowned, completely baffled. She had never thought Gu Jingnian was such a lecherous man before!

"Yes, yes, we need to resolve this before the Wang family makes a scene!" Lin Hao nodded.

The couple's plan was good, but unfortunately, the second master's secrecy was really poor.

The next morning, Zhu Jing told Lin Hao that the second wife had caused trouble again last night, and this time, Wang Shi was insisting on going back to her parents' home!

Lin Haoshen felt a headache coming on; why couldn't these two just give him a break!

Gu Liunian wouldn't be back until evening, and Lin Hao couldn't let such a sordid matter interfere with his studies, so she decided to go herself.

She immediately ordered someone to hitch up the carriage and went to the second wife's residence.

Without waiting for the servants to announce his arrival, he entered the main courtyard, where, sure enough, the couple was arguing.

"Alright, stop making a scene!" she shouted.

Startled by her sudden outburst, the two calmed down and stopped arguing.

"Sister-in-law, if you trust me, don't rush back to your parents' home. Let me find out what my second brother thinks before making a decision. It won't make a difference if we wait a little longer!" Lin Hao gently advised.

After a slight hesitation, Wang nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll give my sister-in-law face!"

Lin Hao breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Gu Jingnian, saying, "Look, where would be a convenient place for us to talk?"

Gu Jingnian was taken aback. He hadn't had much contact with this young woman and hadn't expected her to suggest such a thing. He hesitated slightly, "I'm afraid this is inappropriate!"

“What’s wrong with that? And is it inappropriate for the two of you to be like this? If you want to avoid suspicion, it’s simple. Sister-in-law, just send a maid or servant you trust to accompany the two of us. Isn’t that too much trouble?” The last words were spoken by Lin Hao to Wang Shi.

Wang was just pondering this matter, so she was naturally delighted to hear this and flattered, "Sister-in-law, you've thought of everything so thoroughly!"

She wasn't worried about anything between the two of them. After all, as long as the two brothers weren't blind, they wouldn't choose Gu Jingnian over Gu Liunian. She was just worried that the two of them might conspire to deceive her. With her there, she felt at ease!

In the end, Lin Hao and Gu Jingnian sat together in the front hall, with Wang Shi's wet nurse standing next to them.

"Tell me, what are you really thinking?" Lin Hao didn't want to waste any more time and asked directly.

Gu Jingnian saw through her meaning and gritted his teeth, saying, "I want to take Miss Yinxue as my secondary wife!"

Lin Hao could understand why Wang Shi was so hysterical. Gu Jingnian actually wanted a prostitute as a concubine, which was an insult to her!

She really wanted to see if Gu Jingnian's brain was filled with water, otherwise how could he be so dizzy!

"Did you and Wang say the same thing?"

"Yes. But she wouldn't listen to my explanation and started yelling at me. Sister-in-law, tell me, isn't she jealous?" Gu Jingnian said indignantly.