The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 744 Dancing in front of the original wife
Soon, the person who had been inquiring about Lu Zhaozhao sent the message to Caiming.

Caiming knelt before Princess Mingyue and reported Lu Zhaozhao's situation to her in detail.

“You know the daughter of the Lu family, the royal merchants of Ningcheng. Her brother is Princess Lu Zhaoyang, the top scholar three years ago,” Caiming said. “That Lu family daughter is covered in the stench of money. She said that when she arrived in Shengjing, she opened the largest rouge shop on West Market Street. At first, she even stood in the shop herself, promoting rouge and face powder to customers.”

“How can a merchant’s daughter who is so obsessed with money be worthy of the students of the Imperial Academy?”

Caiming looked down on Lu Zhaozhao's behavior.

"The daughter of the Lu family."

The Lu family, the imperial merchants of Ningcheng.

Princess Mingyue didn't take the Lu family seriously at all.

She also believed that Gu Jingzhe married Lu Zhaozhao because he was after the Lu family's money.

Otherwise, she really couldn't understand why Gu Jingzhe, with his looks and status as a top scholar, would want a merchant's daughter.

If he can covet the Lu family's money, he can covet the power of the Prince Yu's mansion.

So what if they're imperial merchants? They just have more money at home.

For the royal family, crushing merchants is as easy as crushing an ant. The old master of the Lu family used to curry favor with her father in order to get business in the palace.

Even though the Lu family has produced a Lu Zhaoyang, he hasn't yet become a force to be reckoned with. Compared to the prominent families of Shengjing, his foundation is too shallow, and he'll have to work hard to climb up the ranks. He can't be a powerful asset to Gu Jingzhe in his future official career.

After analyzing the situation, Princess Mingyue felt that she had a very good chance of winning.

“Gu Jingzhe’s words of righteous indignation are nothing more than a desire to avoid the stigma of betraying the original wife while still wanting a respectable title as a prince consort. He wants both,” Caiming said, trying to fathom Princess Mingyue’s thoughts. “Princess, he has not met you and does not yet know how good you are. In addition, his mother and sister caused a scene in the Golden Palace last time, so he naturally cannot agree to anything you want. I think you should not push him too hard.”

Princess Mingyue asked, "Then what should I do?"

Princess Mingyue felt a surge of irritation.

Although she felt that Gu Jingzhe would eventually give in, she was still annoyed that Gu Jingzhe wasn't giving her a friendly look.

In addition, she was about to set off for Longhua Temple, where she would stay for three months. During this time, her first wife would keep trying to win Gu Jingzhe over, and she would have to spend a lot of effort persuading Gu Jingzhe.

No, she couldn't go to Longhua Temple. Thinking of this, Princess Mingyue stood up to beg Prince Yu not to go to Longhua Temple.

Seeing that Princess Mingyue had a new idea, Caiming quickly said, "Princess, you just asked me what to do. I wonder if this will work? Gu Jingzhe is only concerned about the reputation of abandoning his wife who has shared his hardships. What if Miss Lu leaves him on her own initiative?"

Princess Mingyue's furrowed brows relaxed.

She was planning to meet Gu Jingzhe's first wife. She wanted to see what kind of person that woman, who reeked of money, was that could get the young and promising Gu Jingzhe to marry so early.

Two days later, the old emperor held a grand welcoming banquet for his grandson at the palace.

Tong Huaqiong and the Gu family were invited.

Gu Jingzhe was going to study at the Imperial Academy, and Lu Zhaozhao, who was pregnant, naturally did not want to suffer in the palace. Gu Taohua stayed at home to accompany Lu Zhaozhao.

Tong Huaqiong, along with Chen Sufen, Liu Yue'e, Zhao Shi, and others, entered the palace to attend the banquet.

Gu Jingzhe went to the Imperial Academy, leaving only Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Taohua at home.

Since taking over part of the Lu family's business, Lu Zhaozhao has been inspecting the various shops every three to five days.

Since being diagnosed with pregnancy, she rarely went to the shops to check on things. Instead, each shop manager would bring their account books and report on the business situation to her every seven days.

Now that she is more than four months pregnant, Lu Zhaozhao felt that her body was not having much of a reaction and had not been to the shop for two months. So she wanted to go to the rouge shop to check on things and get some fresh air.

When Gu Taohua heard that Lu Zhaozhao was going to inspect the shops, she naturally wanted to go with her.

Ever since learning that Princess Mingyue had designs on Gu Jingzhe, Gu Taohua had been quite nervous, always feeling that the wicked woman outside would turn her love into hatred and turn her attention to Lu Zhaozhao.

Lu Zhaozhao said she was worrying too much, but Gu Taohua touched Lu Zhaozhao's belly and said that they should not be careless. The two of them, accompanied by their maid, took a carriage to the rouge shop on West Market Street.

As usual, business was booming at the shop.

Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Taohua entered the shop, inspected it first, and then went upstairs to check the accounts.

Lu Zhaozhao was very satisfied with the shop's operation and income.

Princess Mingyue's carriage stopped in front of the largest rouge shop on West Market Street.

Originally, Prince Yu had asked the Emperor for permission, and Princess Mingyue went to Longhua Temple to pray for blessings after attending the Crown Prince's welcome banquet.

Before entering the palace in the morning, Princess Mingyue said that she had lost face at the Peach Blossom Dessert Shop some time ago and did not want to be laughed at at the banquet in the palace.

She was going to stay home to prepare for her trip to Longhua Temple.

No sooner had Prince Yu and Princess Yu left the palace than Princess Mingyue went to West Market Street.

At this moment, Princess Mingyue stared intently at the rouge shop, her face as somber as if someone had dug up the Zhao family's ancestral grave.

In her imagination, a merchant's woman reeking of money must be vulgar, ugly, and unpresentable.

But the woman who was called the boss just now, even though she only saw her back, the aura she exuded had already given her a shock.

She was initially unwilling to believe that the alluring figure was Gu Jingzhe's first wife, but she recognized Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua took the woman's arm and affectionately called her Third Sister-in-law.

However, Princess Mingyue quickly regained her disdain for Lu Zhaozhao.

So what if she has a noble air? She's still just a businesswoman.

Moreover, this businesswoman knew perfectly well that Gu Jingzhe was a scholar, yet she disregarded his reputation and went out to do business herself.

How can someone so obsessed with money help Gu Jingzhe rise in her official career, or be a good future noblewoman?

Shengjing is not short of rich people, nor is it short of powerful people. The Lu family's money may not be able to bring Gu Jingzhe a bright future, but their power can.

If Gu Jingzhe were smart, he would know that the Prince Yu's residence, located near the center of imperial power, could easily elevate him to a position that money could not buy.

Princess Mingyue alighted from her carriage and entered the rouge shop.

In order to overwhelm Lu Zhaozhao with her presence, Princess Mingyue made a special effort to dress up.

The shop assistants had the sharpest eyes; they could tell from Princess Mingyue's attire that this customer was no ordinary person.

There are many powerful and influential people in Shengjing, and it's easy to offend someone without being careful.

The waiter greeted them warmly.

Princess Mingyue disdained dealing with the shop assistants, so Caiming said to one of them, "This is Princess Mingyue. Is your boss here? Have your boss come and greet her."

The waiter was so frightened that he hurriedly bowed to Princess Mingyue.

The shopkeeper recognized Princess Mingyue and hurried over, intending to personally serve her.

But Princess Mingyue had an arrogant face, and Caiming insisted that the master entertain them.

Everyone in Shengjing knows Princess Mingyue; she's the kind of person who causes trouble wherever she goes. Plus, the news of her disturbance at Peach Blossom Dessert Shop a few days ago has spread throughout the city, so the shopkeeper thought Princess Mingyue was taking this opportunity to cause trouble at the Rouge Shop.

After all, the owner and Peach Blossom Dessert have an inseparable relationship.

The shopkeeper hurriedly ran up to the second floor.

"Master, Princess Mingyue has arrived."