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

That slap landed heavily on Xue Shi's face, extinguishing her enthusiasm.

Even Song Wenjun, who hadn't gone far outside the door, heard it.

She paused slightly, feeling as if the slap had landed on her own face.

The pain was so intense, it felt like a knife had been plunged into her heart.

Inside the room, the grievance in Xue Ning's eyes faded, and she looked at Madam Xue with an indifferent expression, a bitter smile curling at the corner of her lips.

She had already guessed that this would be the outcome, yet she still held onto hope.

That's so stupid.

Madam Xue, still furious, snorted heavily and sat down in her chair. Pointing at Xue Ning's nose, she scolded, "You're really stupid! As the mistress of the house, you're exposing your own family's shameful secrets to the public, as if you're afraid others will laugh at you. Now your family is being dragged down with you and is being criticized. How are we supposed to face people in the future?"

Five finger marks appeared on Xue Ning's face. Listening to Madam Xue's sharp and sarcastic words, she smiled self-deprecatingly: "What did I do wrong to make Mother so angry? I am the one who was hurt, I am the one who miscarried, and I am the one who was framed. I have never expected anything from Mother. At least you could comfort me when I am in trouble."

“But my mother slapped me without even asking what happened, and I was not happy about it.”

Xue Ning burst into tears. She couldn't understand why everyone was blaming her when it wasn't her fault.

"You, you wretched child, how dare you criticize your mother?" Madam Xue trembled with rage, slamming her hand heavily on the table. "Jealousy and rivalry are commonplace in this mansion. I've been through it myself. You let a concubine climb over you and she even miscarried. Instead of trying to kill her, you cowardly ran away from home, making yourself a laughingstock to everyone. Is that all you've got?"

Xue Ning's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her voice was barely audible: "I just want justice."

"Justice is something you have to fight for. The inner quarters are like a battlefield. Once you enter the inner quarters, you are a warrior. If the enemy attacks and you don't bravely rush forward to fight, but instead get beaten and lose your armor, aren't you ashamed?"

"But……"

"There are no 'buts.' Either you die on the battlefield, or you surrender. You only have these two paths." Lady Xue's face turned ashen with anger, and her chest heaved violently.

The way he looked at Xue Ning was one of disappointment and frustration.

Upon hearing this, Song Wenjun, who was outside the door, finally managed a slight smile.

I originally thought Lady Xue was a clueless person, but I never expected that she was actually a person of great wisdom.

These were words that only Lady Xue could say to Xue Ning.

What others say takes on a different meaning.

Song Wenjun stopped eavesdropping and hurriedly left with Xiao Tao.

With Lady Xue in charge, she had nothing to worry about.

Seeing her daughter's expression soften, Madam Xue sighed, "Take your good friend Song Wenjun for example. The fact that she was able to extricate herself from the Marquis's mansion is enough to show that she is smart. If she had been a little more foolish, she would be a prisoner now. How could she live in such a nice mansion and live so freely? Everyone says she is heartless and ungrateful, but in my opinion, she is the smartest. You should learn from her."

Xue Ning frowned slightly: "I don't have her abilities. My daughter has long been used to the peaceful life in the inner quarters. If we were to divorce, I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to survive even a day."

As she spoke, she burst into tears again.

Lady Xue, upon hearing this, wished she could tear open her head and dissect it to see what was going on.

What else is left in her mind besides love and romance?

"You took men too seriously, and that's why you've ended up like this. If you want a peaceful life, you have to make sure your husband's heart is with you, but your heart can't be with him, understand?"

Xue Ning looked at Madam Xue with surprise: "But weren't you and Father very much in love?"

Madam Xue scoffed coldly: "It's all just for show. I've been so smart all my life, yet I gave birth to such a foolish daughter like you. It's infuriating!"

"Mother, then please teach your daughter what to do?"

"Before things escalate, go back to your residence and recover. Once you're fully recovered, you can deal with that vile concubine slowly. Do I need to teach you these things?"

Xue Ning was somewhat at a loss: "But what about my husband?"

"Although Wenjun is of humble status, she is far superior to you in this regard. You should ask her for advice."

Lady Xue changed her tone at this point: "Daughter, you can't be too attached to a man. Most men in the world are fickle. Even the best feelings will turn into bland water over time. You have to let him know that he can't do without you. Being the mistress of the house is not something anyone can do."

She patted Xue Ning's shoulder heavily, then left.

Xue Ning pondered her mother's words carefully, as if she had grasped something from them.

When Song Wenjun came in, she had changed from her previous dejected state and looked much more energetic.

"Wenjun, I've really troubled you these past few days. I'll need to trouble you again some more time," Xue Ning said with a smile.

Song Wenjun breathed a long sigh of relief: "I'm so happy to see you cheer up. I was terrified when I saw you looking so dejected the other day."

“I was being too stubborn. Fortunately, my mother slapped me and woke me up. It wasn’t my fault, so why should I suffer like this?” Xue Ning said, her eyes flashing with a sharp light.

She has truly come to her senses; punishing herself for someone else's mistakes is a grave error.

"Wenjun, could you teach me what to do?"

Song Wenjun looked at Xue Ning with a firm gaze: "Are you really sure?"

"Yes, I've thought it through. I don't want to give up like this. I want them all to pay the price they deserve. Please help me, Wenjun."

Song Wenjun nodded gently: "Okay, I'll help you."

Xue Ning happily grasped her hand: "Thank you, Wenjun, but my situation is a bit complicated. What do you think I should do to get back what is rightfully mine?"

"Delegate authority." Song Wenjun slowly uttered the two words.

"Relinquish power?" Xue Ning looked surprised. "You mean you want me to hand over control of the family?"

Song Wenjun nodded: "That's right."

She picked up a white chess piece with her slender fingers and placed it in the very center of the chessboard.

This piece is like Xue Ning, surrounded by black pieces, facing defeat on all sides.

Xue Ning's situation was different from Song Wenjun's. She didn't have Song Wenjun's strong financial resources to support her, nor did she have a family to rely on.

With numerous concubines in her household, the power she clung to in managing the household was a tempting piece of meat that everyone coveted.

The concubines went to great lengths to drag Xue Ning down with them. Xue Ning was like a target, and everyone wanted to hit the bullseye and replace her.

Only by delegating power can the concubine lower her guard and think that she has lost.

On the contrary, if Xue Ning relinquishes control, the power to manage the family will inevitably fall into the hands of someone else.

The concubines would naturally shift their focus.

Xue Ning seemed to understand something, and she asked again, "So what's next?"

"Promote her." Song Wenjun took out two chess pieces and placed them next to Xue Ning, immediately relieving her predicament.

Xue Ning still didn't understand, so Song Wenjun patiently explained to her: "You're all alone and it'll be difficult for you to move an inch. Building up your own power is key. Promote two young and beautiful concubines to serve you. No man is immune to lust. First, this will solidify your position, and second, he'll be grateful and think you're magnanimous. And you..."

At this point, Song Wenjun picked up one of the black pieces and tossed it aside, her red lips curving into a smile of unparalleled elegance: "Sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight."