The beloved is reborn as a substitute, and the tyrant begs for forgiveness every night.

When her father, Jiang, asked for her opinion, Xu Leyao pondered for a moment.

After a moment, she finally spoke.

“She did something wrong, so she should be punished by her father.”

Xu Leyao casually shirked responsibility with a single sentence.

Just now she was wondering why Jiang's father would be so kind as to let her punish Jiang Xiuxiu.

But now, Xu Leyao suddenly understands.

Father Jiang wasn't being kind; he clearly didn't want to take the blame.

As long as the punishment is announced through Xu Leyao, no one can blame Jiang's father.

Xu Leyao, however, is not responding.

Mr. Jiang's face darkened for a moment, then he put on a smile again.

“Weiwei, you are kind-hearted after all. Fine, since you are unwilling to punish her, then let’s do as your mother said and make her kneel in the ancestral hall for five days.”

After saying this, Father Jiang waved his hand, and immediately someone took Zhang Xiuxiu away.

This time, Jiang Xiuxiu didn't plead for her; instead, she looked at Xu Leyao with increasing disgust.

If it weren't for Xu Leyao, how could she have done these wrong things?

No matter what happens later, she will definitely not let Xu Leyao off the hook.

Receiving her resentful look, Xu Leyao raised an eyebrow slightly.

These days, the world has really turned upside down.

Instead of reflecting on their own mistakes, they try to shift the blame onto others.

Xu Leyao didn't take Jiang Xiuxiu's hateful gaze to heart.

However, she has always understood the importance of taking precautions.

Being prepared for a rainy day is never just an empty phrase.

Just as Xu Leyao was pondering, Jiang's father spoke up again.

However, this time, the murderous aura emanating from him was stronger.

"The maidservant beside Xiuxiu failed to protect her mistress and offered her advice, instead aiding and abetting the evildoer. She shall be given thirty strokes of the cane and sent away."

Xu Leyao didn't say a word after he punished her like this.

However, she looked at Jiang's father with a hint of annoyance.

Although the maid was also at fault, Father Jiang was ruthless enough.

As a maidservant who was close to the young lady, how could that maidservant have done any heavy work?

Naturally, her body was weaker than that of an ordinary maid.

In this situation, those thirty strokes of the cane would almost have killed her.

It sounds nice, but it's only thirty.

In reality, the people of the Jiang family were ruthless, especially since it was Jiang's father who personally punished them.

Xu Leyao could almost imagine the maid's ultimate fate.

He was beaten thirty times and thrown out, and with no money on him, he was left to fend for himself.

Thinking of this, Xu Leyao lowered her eyes slightly.

"Alright, that's enough for today. No one is allowed to mention this again in the future."

Father Jiang rubbed his tired brow and said sternly.

Mother Jiang and Madam Jiang naturally had no objections.

Jiang Da breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Jiang Xiuxiu was only punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall, and dared not raise any further objections.

All eyes were on Xu Leyao.

Xu Leyao neither confirmed nor denied this, only nodding slightly.

This incident did not lead to more serious consequences, and Jiang's father's punishment was probably because he felt it was too severe.

Since that's the case, there's no need to say anything more.

Ultimately, he wouldn't punish Jiang Xiuxiu severely.

Xu Leyao has a clear understanding of this.

On the contrary, Jiang's mother softened a bit when she saw Jiang's aggrieved appearance.

"I recently acquired a few gilded butterfly hairpins for my room; I'll have someone deliver them to you later."

Hearing this, Xu Leyao nodded and accepted it without hesitation.

She was the victim in this incident, so it's only right that she receives some compensation.

Jiang's mother breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her daughter was not arguing with her.

In the end, her own daughter was more considerate and sensible, and she didn't do anything to embarrass her in such a situation.

Thinking this way, Jiang's mother found Xu Leyao a bit more pleasing to the eye.

Once this matter was settled, everyone dispersed.

After returning to the courtyard, Xu Leyao had someone keep a close eye on Jiang Xiuxiu.

However, the person she found this time was someone she bribed with money.

Xu Leyao has not yet gained a firm foothold in the Jiang family, so it is extremely difficult for her to gain the loyalty of others.

Rather than that, it would be better to prioritize interests.

As long as there are benefits involved, Xu Leyao doesn't believe that no servants or maids would be tempted.

Even the maids around Jiang Xiuxiu could be bribed.

Of course, she wasn't as foolish as Jiang Xiuxiu, who would give someone else leverage over her.

This time, she instructed Pearl to do it.

She made it very clear that she wanted Pearl to find the cook in the kitchen.

Then, "casually" reveal the news to the maidservant who was with Jiang Xiuxiu.

Jiang Xiuxiu is no longer as favored as before, and the maidservant beside her is not as loyal as the one who was dismissed today.

Moreover, the person accompanying her today was not a maid who had signed a death contract.

Such a maid naturally has her own little schemes.

Xu Leyao's news had only been out for a short time, and it was spread through Jiang's mother's name.

The maid immediately contacted the cook and offered to work for Xu Leyao.

Of course, she only thought she was doing things for Jiang's mother.

In this way, any other problems that arise in the future will not involve Xu Leyao.

Xu Leyao was very careful in these matters.

She never looked down on anyone.

Meanwhile, Zheng Zhihe in the palace also learned about what happened at the Jiang residence that day.

"So, Weiwei only slept in the ancestral hall for one night?"

Zheng Zhihe raised an eyebrow and put down his pen.

Li Huanian nodded and recounted to Zheng Zhihe all the information he had learned from his meeting with the secret guards that day.

“Miss Weiwei only slept in the ancestral hall for one night, and even stole a lot of the offerings the next day. This made Old Madam Jiang very angry.”

Hearing her simple retelling, Zheng Zhihe found it amusing.

He used to think that Jiang Yuwei looked somewhat like Xu Leyao, which is why he paid more attention to her and doted on her.

But now it seems that Xu Leyao is a wonderful person.

In this way, all the effort he put into Xu Leyao wasn't wasted.

Moreover, his decree has only just been issued.

Zheng Zhihe was also curious to see how the Jiang family would respond.

Open the ancestral hall and publish the family genealogy.

Women are not allowed to be included in the family genealogy, but Zheng Zhihe insisted on making the Jiang family lose face.

Actually, he also hoped to take this opportunity to test what Jiang's father was really thinking.

If Jiang's father obstructs in every way, or even defies the imperial decree.

After that, Zheng Zhihe felt no remorse whatsoever when dealing with the situation.

Just then, Zheng Lingjia arrived.

"Prince Su has arrived."

Upon hearing the noise from outside, Zheng Zhihe immediately had someone invite him in.

As soon as Zheng Lingjia walked in, he saw Zheng Zhihe looking at him with eager eyes.