Only after being reborn did I realize that I was the white moonlight of a powerful minister.

Xie Bohuai really did take people to Prince Hui's residence. The town government was on official business, and they were so conspicuous that it made people wonder if something had happened to Prince Hui, which was why so many people from the town government had been alerted.

Even Prince Hui was caught off guard. When he first went to Xie Bohuai, Xie Bohuai only said that he would know when Princess Hui returned.

When Princess Hui returned, Prince Hui was so angry that he felt a tightness in his chest. He slapped Zhaoyun across the face, saying, "You wretched child! Didn't I tell you to behave yourself? Why have you repeatedly disobeyed?"

Princess Zhaoyun's cheek instantly bore a slap mark, her head buzzing. Princess Hui looked on with heartache, "It's Xie Bohuai's petty nature. There was nothing serious today, why did Your Highness hit him so hard?"

"Do you know how many people the Prince's Mansion will offend by saying such things? A doting mother spoils her son. If you continue to pamper her and ruin my plans, I will submit a memorial to divorce you!" Prince Hui was truly angry. He had previously thought about disciplining Zhaoyun, but this time he didn't even want to bother with her anymore.

Princess Zhaoyun was stunned by the beating and cried in her mother's arms, but she didn't receive a single word of comfort.

Princess Hui knew how serious the matter was. After Prince Hui left, she sighed, "You were foolish this time. Xie Bohuai is determined to punish you. Neither your father nor I can protect you now."

"But Mother, where exactly did I go wrong?"

Hearing that her daughter still didn't know she was wrong, Princess Hui was utterly disappointed. She didn't only have a daughter; she also had a son to worry about, and the future of the entire royal family. If the royal family was implicated by her daughter, her wealth and glory would also come to an end.

At this moment, even the last bit of affection from Princess Hui vanished; all she could think about was how to properly handle the aftermath.

At this moment, Prince Hui met Xie Bohuai and said, "I will send Zhaoyun out of the capital to cultivate in seclusion. After her marriage is settled, I will bring her back to prepare for her wedding. I guarantee she will not bother you again."

“Last time, His Highness made a promise.” Xie Bohuai wasn’t buying it.

"Then what do you want?" King Hui was, after all, a prince, and being manipulated and threatened by a mere subject filled him with rage.

Xie Bohuai didn't answer, but asked instead, "It's not about what this humble official wants, but what Your Highness wants for the future?"

They were all seasoned shrewd officials; who wouldn't know about Prince Hui's ambitions?

Prince Hui has been feeling immense pressure lately, and if Xie Bohuai were to cause him further trouble, he would truly be unable to cope.

Xie Bohuai refused to budge, so Prince Hui had no choice but to say ruthlessly, "If a life of quiet contemplation is not possible, then send her to a nunnery for ascetic practice. Is that alright?" Sending a princess to a nunnery would be incredibly shameful, but he couldn't care less. She was just a daughter, and no matter how much he doted on her, he had to give her up.

"The Jing Shui Nunnery outside the city is secluded, so let's send her there and let the princess learn proper manners. I am clear about right and wrong, so please remember what I said today, Your Highness, and don't give me any more leverage."

Life at Jing Shui Nunnery was notoriously austere. It was often a place where noble families would send widows or girls with tarnished reputations. As long as Zhaoyun stayed at Jing Shui Nunnery, the reputation of the Prince Hui's mansion would be hard to improve.

However, since Xie Bohuai had already indicated the location, King Hui did not want to dwell on it any longer and agreed to Xie Bohuai's proposal.

When Princess Hui arrived and heard the words "Jing Shui Nunnery," her legs went weak and she almost fell over. "Your Highness, how can it be Jing Shui Nunnery?"

"If Zhaoyun isn't going, why do you want to go?" Prince Hui now dislikes Princess Hui too. If Princess Hui had properly raised her daughter, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

Upon hearing this, Princess Hui knew her days in the palace were numbered. As the mistress of the house, her husband's favor wasn't the most important thing; respect was. But for Prince Hui to say such things directly indicated that he was beginning to tire of her.

She didn't dare say a bad word and silently had people pack their things.

When Xie Bohuai left the Prince Hui's residence, Xie Lingyi was already waiting in the carriage. He stopped beside the carriage and said coldly, "Xie Lingyi, your mind has gone astray. I'll give you two choices: marry far away, or stay in the Xie family's estate forever."

"Uncle San, I..."

"Or if you want to die, I can help you." Xie Bohuai didn't want to hear any of Xie Lingyi's explanations, interrupted her, and turned to mount his horse.

Inside the carriage, Xie Lingyi could no longer hold back her tears and began to sob through gritted teeth. She was the legitimate daughter of the Xie family, a family that could easily have produced a princess. Her future was bright; she would have a capable husband, be granted an imperial title in a few years, and become a noblewoman in the capital that everyone envied.

But now, whether she marries far away or goes to the village, it's tantamount to ruining Xie Lingyi's future.

With Xie Bohuai's involvement, the family he finds for her will surely be ordinary and incompetent, and they might even have to rely on her dowry to make a living. But she'd rather die than spend her whole life in the village!

Xie Lingyi returned home in tears. She wanted to ask her mother and grandmother for help in finding a husband, but she found the main courtyard very lively. Her eldest cousin was kneeling in the courtyard with whip marks all over his back, and her aunt was crying so hard she could hardly breathe.

Upon asking, I learned that my eldest cousin had gone to a brothel and was caught by my third uncle. The key point is that my eldest cousin had only been wearing underwear the whole way back.

Xie Zhongyuan had just finished beating his grandson to vent his anger when he learned that his granddaughter had caused trouble again, and he almost fainted again.

Prince Hui and Princess Hui were furious that they were sending Princess Zhaoyun to Jing Shui Nunnery. Naturally, they wouldn't let Xie Lingyi get away with it. They specially sent a female official to deliver a message: "The prince said that Miss Xie's conduct is improper and she is not worthy of being called a lady of a prominent family. If the Xie family cannot discipline her properly, she will be sent to Jing Shui Nunnery along with the princess."

After being shocked by these words, the Xie family members looked at Xie Lingyi with different expressions.

The eldest son's family had no objection to this. Madam Xie the Second was ill and did not come over, and Master Xie the Second was still at the government office and had not returned.

Grandpa Xie said there was no need for the second wife and son-in-law to come and discuss it. Upon learning that his youngest son had made a suggestion, he said directly, "The Mu family in Yunnan is a business family. Lingyi should marry into the Mu family."

“Grandfather, the Mu family are business people, and they have no chance of passing the imperial examinations. If my granddaughter marries into the Mu family, wouldn’t that be a disgrace to the Xie family?” Xie Lingyi was unwilling.

Xie Bohuai sneered, "You offended the Prince Hui's Mansion today, so you're being nice to the Xie family? Since you don't want to marry into a merchant family, find another one. A poorer family would be more suitable for you."

"Grandfather!" Xie Lingyi knelt on the ground and kowtowed, but in the eyes of the old master Xie, Xie Lingyi was already an abandoned child and no longer important. He randomly chose a family and had someone drag Xie Lingyi away and lock her up.

As for Xie Yun'en, he fainted after kneeling for only a short time, and Madam Xie begged for a doctor. Being his grandson, Old Master Xie had Xie Yun'en carried to the ancestral hall and then sent for a doctor.

After everyone left, Old Master Xie looked at Xie Bohuai and said, "Are you satisfied now? You've ruined a perfectly good family like this, are you happy now?"

"Father is mistaken. Is it Ruyi who is in charge?" Xie Bohuai stood up and walked to the door. His tall figure blocked most of the light. Facing Xie Zhongyuan, his face was dark. "If you hadn't investigated me, Xie Lingyi wouldn't have known about me. I wouldn't have run into Xie Yun'en at the Wan Hua Lou. Let me give you a piece of advice: if your son is no good, don't expect him to be. While you can still move, have two more children."

Xie Bohuai paused deliberately, then said sarcastically, "After all, aren't you the one who loves to force others?"

After saying that, Xie Bohuai left the house without looking back.

Old Master Xie didn't even have the strength to curse anymore. "You unfilial son, you're such a bastard!" He was angry that Xie Bohuai had become too independent and disobedient, and even more angry that his eldest and second sons were incompetent and muddle-headed.

He felt increasingly hopeless and eventually fainted.

Xie Bohuai felt no remorse whatsoever. In just a few days, everyone would know about what happened today, and the rumors and speculations would be terrible. He had Shuyan spread the word, "Just say that Princess Zhaoyun was out of her mind and that's why she hit people randomly."

"I understand." Shu Yan thought to himself, his master was truly thoughtful.

Qingshan dared not stay in the room and followed Shuyan out of the room. Puzzled, he asked, "Didn't you say that Third Master has feelings for Miss Ye? If he does, why doesn't he just propose marriage directly? Anyway, Master can't control Third Master."

"I advise you to speak less, and it would be best to keep your mouth shut. If Third Master hears this, you can expect to be sent to guard the frontier." Shu Yan shook his head at Qing Shan. The more his master valued someone, the less he wanted that person to come to the quagmire of the Xie family. His master was the kindest person in the world.

Shuyan left, and Qingshan couldn't get an answer. He felt terrible and couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried. He could only sit on the steps, frowning and thinking hard.

He only caught up with his master after the master came out of the house. "My lord, where are we going now?"

Xie Bohuai glanced at Qingshan, who immediately covered his mouth.

Oh no, he forgot Shuyan's instructions to keep quiet. Seeing that his master didn't speak, Qingshan silently breathed a sigh of relief and followed his master to the backyard of a rouge shop. Just as he was wondering what his master was doing climbing over the wall to get here, he saw the second master of the Ye family.