The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Song Wenjun's words completely broke the old Marquis. He slumped into his chair, his cloudy eyes filled with despair.

Is the Hou family's century-old legacy really about to collapse?

“Father, we can’t hesitate any longer.” Song Wenjun pressed on, giving him another boost: “Even if you don’t think about others, you should think about Yan Yan. He is the future of the Marquis’s mansion. As long as we’re alive, we can always rebuild.”

After a long while, the old Marquis finally turned his gaze to Song Wenjun: "You, aren't you afraid of being implicated?"

If Gu Huaizhou becomes a commoner, Song Wenjun will no longer be the wife of the Marquis.

The old marquis looked at her with a mixture of heartache and bewilderment.

Song Wenjun adopted a very humble attitude: "My daughter-in-law will stand with the Marquis's family through thick and thin. I am a member of the Gu family in life and in death."

Her words pleased the old Marquis, who also acknowledged Song Wenjun's righteous act.

The old Marquis slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "You're right. The Marquis's mansion cannot ruin the future of the Gu family because of Gu Huaizhou alone. Sacrificing him to save the rest of the clan is the only option. Wenjun, you did a great job."

“I have decided to hand over the Marquis’s treasury to the Emperor. Fortunately, you still have the silver treasury. You will also keep the remaining jade treasury.”

Song Wenjun feigned surprise and looked at the old Marquis: "Father, what's going on?"

"Wenjun, you may not be able to accept what I'm about to say, but you have to accept it for the sake of the child." The old Marquis said to Song Wenjun earnestly, "For Yan Yan's sake, I want you to divorce Huai Zhou, and I will transfer all the Marquis's property to Yan Yan's name. Do you understand?"

Is divorce finally the way to get rid of Gu Huaizhou?

Song Wenjun laughed inwardly, thinking, "Heaven has eyes!"

After lying low for so long, she was finally going to cut ties with him.

She felt a surge of anger welling up inside, but on the surface, she feigned a pained and reluctant expression: "No, your daughter-in-law won't leave."

"This is an order, and also a plea." The old Marquis now trusts Song Wenjun completely, not only because she acts prudently, but more importantly because Gu Jinyan is the eldest grandson of the Marquis's family.

As long as Gu Jinyan is around, Song Wenjun can't cause much trouble.

The family business all went under Gu Jinyan's name, and Song Wenjun was at best a handyman.

The family business will still belong to the Marquis's mansion in the future.

The old Marquis had a clever plan, but Song Wenjun was no pushover either.

It all comes down to who has the higher level of skill.

Clearly, the old Marquis was one move short.

He never imagined that Gu Jinyan was not the legitimate grandson of the Gu family.

As long as Song Wenjun doesn't reveal this secret, no one will question the child's identity.

Song Wenjun cried her eyes out, but she was actually happy.

The feeling of getting revenge is so exhilarating.

In her previous life, Gu Huaizhou schemed against her, causing her immense suffering. This time, it's his turn to experience the same fate.

"But will the Marquis agree?"

The old marquis gave a deep snort: "Things have come to this point, he has no choice. I will send someone to the Ministry of Justice to arrange for you to go to the Court of Judicial Review and get the divorce settled as soon as possible."

He took out a jade key from his sleeve and handed it to Song Wenjun: "This is the key to the jade warehouse. You take it."

Song Wenjun took the keys with both hands and held them tightly in her hands.

She now has two of the three warehouses, which is enough.

After the old marquis finished speaking, he coughed violently again.

Scattered bloodstains bloomed on the old marquis's palm, but Song Wenjun felt a sense of doubt upon seeing them.

The crimson was mixed with specks of dark brown, and her eyes widened suddenly.

The old marquis was poisoned.

The only person who could poison him without him even realizing it was someone who served him closely.

Who exactly poisoned the old Marquis, and how could he remain unaware?

Filled with many speculations, Song Wenjun reluctantly got up, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and walked out crying.

Inside the house, the old Marquis collapsed to the ground, like a broken string on a musical instrument.

There was a loud thud, as if something heavy had fallen to the ground.

The concubine waiting outside rushed in anxiously: "Old Marquis, Old Marquis..."

The old Marquis, forcing himself to stand, looked at the beautiful women surrounding him and sighed, "Now that the Marquis's mansion is in trouble, if any of you want to leave, I will not stop you, but there is one condition: the children must stay in the Marquis's mansion."

If all these concubines and children were released, even if the Marquis's household had no ulterior motives, it would still be subject to excessive speculation by those with ulterior motives.

When the news reached the Emperor's ears, things took a different turn.

The old marquis had no choice but to sacrifice his pawns to save his king; they were nothing more than illegitimate sons and daughters, insignificant compared to his legitimate sons.

The concubines knew that disaster was imminent. They looked at each other with fear on their faces, and then rushed out in a panic.

Only Aunt Shen didn't leave.

The old marquis asked her, puzzled, "Why don't you leave?"

"The world is vast, but where can I go? What will happen to the children if I leave?" Aunt Shen wiped away her tears with her handkerchief, crying pitifully.

The old marquis nodded repeatedly with satisfaction: "Good, very good."

He patted Aunt Shen's hand and helped her up: "Meiniang, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Don't worry, I will definitely protect you and your child."

"Once this matter is settled, I will bestow upon you the title of my noble concubine."

Lady Shen smiled through her tears: "I thank you, my husband."

She was extremely careful when calling him "husband," as she was merely a concubine and had no right to address the old Marquis as such.

But the old Marquis did not punish her; instead, he smiled at her, indicating his approval.

"Go, take Mingzhu and Mingyan back to the courtyard."

Ms. Shen smiled shyly and left with the child.

The steward entered the room, and the old Marquis gestured for him to come forward, instructing him: "Go to the Ministry of Justice and make some arrangements so that Wenjun can visit Huaizhou."

"Yes, Your Excellency." The steward withdrew and went to handle the matter.

Song Wenjun went to the Ministry of Justice the next day, wearing a hood that covered her entire face.

The old Marquis had already made arrangements with the Ministry of Justice, so she could enter without any hindrance.

They arrived at the place where Gu Huaizhou was being held.

In the dimly lit cell, Gu Huaizhou sat on straw, dressed in prison clothes, his hair disheveled and his eyes lifeless.

Not far from my feet was a bowl of porridge and a hard cornbread.

I took a bite of the cornbread and drank half of the porridge.

Since being imprisoned, Gu Huaizhou has not relaxed for a single moment.

Upon hearing footsteps, Gu Huaizhou tensed up. He stared nervously at the corner, initially thinking it was the menacing prison warden who was about to torture him.

Unexpectedly, Song Wenjun, dressed in a black cloak, appeared before him.

Upon seeing Song Wenjun, Gu Huaizhou was first surprised, then his eyes filled with joy.

He rushed anxiously to the prison door and cried out, "Wenjun, I didn't expect you to come to see me. You've come to rescue me, haven't you?"

Gu Huaizhou was like a drowning man grabbing a piece of driftwood, his eyes filled with the desire to survive: "Did Father send you here? I knew you wouldn't abandon me. Take me away quickly. It's dark and cold here, with rats and bedbugs. The food is all spoiled. I can't stay here for another second."