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

Could it be that Gu Taohua doesn't like her cousin?
If you like someone, this indifferent reaction is inappropriate.

Her aunt often mentioned her victory over Min Baozhen in front of her.

Min Baozhen has a fiery temper and cannot tolerate even the slightest provocation; she will explode at the slightest provocation.

Taking advantage of this, Lu would often act like a manipulative and pitiful woman in front of Su Shihang, constantly provoking him, and Min Baozhen would fall for it every time.

In the end, Min Baozhen became a "crazy" woman known to everyone in Shengjing, which completely disgusted Su Shihang and broke their relationship. In the end, the strong-willed woman ended her life in a resolute way.

Auntie did indeed win, becoming the true mistress of the Su residence.

Under her aunt's constant guidance, Lu Yin'er became very familiar with her aunt's tactics, but she never had the opportunity to use them.

Now, using it for the first time, she discovered that her aunt's tactics for targeting her love rival were completely ineffective against Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua was not provoked; instead, she aroused Su Chengmin's deep disgust for Lu Yin'er.

Lu Yin'er felt a little flustered.

“Cousin.” Lu Yin’er said with reddened eyes and a wronged look on her face, “Uncle and Aunt are worried about you. Cousin, please come home with me. I’ve already tidied up your study for you.”

I refuse to believe that it can't stimulate the peach blossoms.

Gu Taohua chuckled.

They're both here to steal men, but Lu Yin'er and Zhao Xiyue are two completely different types.

Second Sister-in-law's description of Lu Yin'er is accurate; she is indeed delicate and charming.

Lu Yin'er's laughter was tinged with embarrassment and anger.

Tears welled up in her eyes; anyone who didn't know better would think she was being bullied by the two people in front of her.

Su Chengmin was furious and said, "Can't you understand what I'm saying? Who's your cousin? What are you trying to prove? Go back and tell your aunt to stop trying to curry favor with you."

Lu Yin'er bit her lip, and a sob escaped her lips.

"cousin."

Su Chengmin disapproved of her behavior, which reminded him of his stepmother when he was a child, always timidly standing between his parents with red eyes.

Feeling disgusted, she sneered, "I don't know where you learned this brothel-like mannerism from. Don't try to show off in front of me. Once you leave this place, you won't find anyone who likes you."

Lu Yin'er's face turned from pale to white, her mind reeling from those words.

What kind of person does Su's cousin take her for?

After leaving Dongshi Street and turning two corners, you'll reach Shengjing's famous brothel district.

Su Chengmin continued, "You are a girl from a good family, so don't learn these crooked and evil skills from your aunt."

Lu Yin'er immediately held back her tears.

His entire face felt like it was on fire.

Stumbling and staggering onto the street, I realized I had no idea how to leave Jufulai.

Su Chengmin's words were a huge blow to her.

She felt she had no face to see Su Chengmin again.

Lu Yin'er cried all the way back to the Su residence and didn't eat anything all day.

When Madam Lu noticed that Lu Yin'er hadn't come to flatter her after returning from outside, and she wasn't sure if she had sent food to Su Chengmin, she sent her maid to summon Lu Yin'er to her side.

Seeing Lu Yin'er's red eyes, I guessed that Lu Yin'er had been wronged by Su Chengmin.

So he coldly scolded, "Why are you crying?"

Lu Yin'er's tears flowed even more freely.

Madam Lu frowned and asked, "Did Su Chengmin bully you?"

Upon hearing her aunt mention Su Chengmin, Lu Yin'er's tears flowed even more profusely. Su Chengmin's words were like sharp blades, slowly cutting into her heart.

"What happened? Say something, what's the point of just crying?" Madam Lu raised her voice.

Mrs. Lu looked at her niece with an impatient expression.

This niece has such a seductive look, but she just doesn't know how to use it.

Su Chengmin returned three times, and she created many opportunities for Lu Yin'er, but she still couldn't win him over.

If it weren't for the fact that her niece was still useful and the Lu family had no other suitable girls, she would have given up on Lu Yin'er long ago.

Seeing that her aunt was angry, Lu Yin'er sobbed and said, "Auntie, I saw my cousin and the girl he likes today."

Lady Lu frowned. Was there really such a girl?
Yesterday, in front of the Emperor, she thought this girl was something Su Chengmin had made up.

If such a person really exists, then who is this girl?
Madam Lu asked, "Do you know that girl?"

Lu Yin'er said, "I know her, it's Gu Taohua."

Ms. Lu felt that the name was very familiar.

She couldn't quite place it in her mind, but she was certain it wasn't a daughter of a noble or official family. What wealthy family in Shengjing would give someone such a rustic name?

Even though Lu Yin'er was called Lu Huaihua when she was a child, after she came to Shengjing, she thought her niece's name was too rustic, so she changed it to Lu Yin'er.

Lady Lu asked, "Gu Taohua? Whose daughter is she?"

Lu Yin'er said, "Does Auntie know Peach Blossom Dessert Shop? It's her shop."

Madam Lu suddenly realized that she had seen this girl before. Last month, when her mother-in-law celebrated her birthday, she ordered a cake from Peach Blossom Desserts, and Gu Taohua personally came out to greet her.

She felt disdain; a pretty young woman like her was out in public as a merchant.

Peach Blossom Desserts recently gained renewed popularity due to Princess Mingyue.

She thus learned that the shop was backed by the Crown Prince.

So, this girl named Gu Taohua is the aunt of the Grandson in the common people.

Lu's eyes were unpredictable, shifting between light and shadow.

Su Chengmin actually took a liking to Gu Taohua.

It's easy to imagine that the feelings between the two of them developed in the countryside when he was on the run and down on his luck.

However, Ms. Lu did not believe that such a relationship could last.

Like Su Shihang, a down-on-his-luck scholar, he developed feelings for a woman from the same village. Later, she realized that Su Shihang married her for personal gain. She helped take care of her widowed mother-in-law and manage the household. Her family used all their savings to support Su Shihang's studies at the county academy and borrowed money from relatives and friends to send him to the capital for the imperial examination.

Su Shihang's vow that if he betrayed her, he would never be able to be reincarnated was still vivid in her mind, yet he still betrayed her when he passed the imperial examination.

That's how men are; they always want more after getting what they want. The reason they choose her when they're down on their luck is because she's the best option within their sight.

Later, he became successful and had better options, so he abandoned their years-long relationship.

She believed Su Chengmin felt the same way.

Thinking this, a pang of bitterness welled up in my heart, and at the same time, my hatred for Min Baozhen intensified.

Madam Lu glanced at Lu Yin'er and said indifferently, "I thought she was some rich girl from Shengjing, but it turns out she's just a female merchant from the countryside. So what if she has the Crown Prince as her backer? Let's not even talk about how the Crown Prince hasn't amounted to anything yet. Which of those relatives from when they were down on their luck do you still care about when they become successful? The Crown Prince is young now and treats his relatives from the countryside like a hot potato. When he gets a little older, he'll realize that those relatives from the countryside can only hold him back and can't provide any help. Sooner or later, he'll cut ties with the Tong and Gu families."

Regarding this, Madam Lu firmly believed that Su Chengmin's current entanglement with Gu Taohua was simply because of the Crown Prince.

Now that the Crown Prince has a greater reliance on the Emperor, Su Chengmin has more marriage partners to choose from.

She had seen Gu Taohua's straightforward and energetic demeanor at Peach Blossom Desserts; she was clearly a feisty girl, just like she was in her youth.

Such a woman is the strongest support for a man when he is down on his luck, but not a choice when he is successful. (End of Chapter)