In her previous life, Song Qingning spent Mid-Autumn Festival at the Jiang family's house.

Madam Jiang resented her for marrying into the Jiang family, which caused Jiang Sheng to fail the imperial examination. All her resentment was directed at her. She defended herself by saying only one sentence: Jiang Sheng was never learned.

This provoked Madam Jiang to go berserk like a shrew.

Madam Jiang opened the courtyard gate and outside the Jiang residence, she cried and wailed, cursing her for being unfilial to her mother-in-law and disrespectful to her husband, calling her a wicked daughter-in-law.

She should really be a wicked daughter-in-law!

Jiang Tong's voice came again from the courtyard, filled with anger.

"Mother, that Song Qingyan is really outrageous. I went to ask her to come and help you wash your feet, but she scolded me and told me to go back to my husband's family. She even called you an old hag."

"Mother, you know that I'm worried about my brother and you, which is why I live at home and take care of everything for the family, regardless of what others think."

Jiang Tong felt very wronged.

Madam Jiang comforted her with heartache, "Mother knows that no matter what outsiders say, you don't need to listen to them or take them to heart. You truly care for your brother. Even if he gets married, you should still manage his household. Only when you take care of it will I feel at ease."

"And then there's Song Qingyan, she's your sister-in-law, you should also keep an eye on her, it's for her own good."

Jiang Tong sighed, "But she doesn't listen to me. Sigh, my brother's wife is not virtuous at all. If she were virtuous, my brother wouldn't have failed the exam and now we don't know where he is."

"It's all because of her," Madam Jiang said viciously.

Madam Jiang was filled with worry at the thought of her son, Sheng'er, being missing.

In recent days, people in the neighborhood have been inquiring about Sheng'er's whereabouts.

Madam Jiang knew that those people were gamblers who were betting that Sheng'er would win the top spot, and they were inquiring about Sheng'er's whereabouts with ill intentions.

Madam Jiang had the door locked, and she herself dared not even leave the door.

Worry and frustration turned into resentment towards Song Qingyan. "If she doesn't listen, I'll torment her until she obeys."

Madam Jiang said to grind, and that was it; she immediately began grinding.

Then he led Jiang Tong to Song Qingyan's room.

Song Qingyan was organizing the paintings she had brought from the Marquis's residence on the day of her return visit to her parents' home. She still placed her hopes on these paintings.

There's no curfew tonight for the Mid-Autumn Festival, so she's going to take these paintings and gamble.

She had made a plan and bribed the old woman who had the key to the back door.

Later, when the Jiang family mother and daughter had gone to bed, she would go to the back door, where the old woman who had the key would open it for her.

"I must see Prince Yun tonight." Song Qingyan clutched her embroidered handkerchief and carefully packed the paintings away; these were her only remaining bargaining chips.

She needed to find a way out as soon as possible; she didn't want to stay in the Jiang family for another second.

Song Qingyan waited in the room for the Jiang family mother and daughter to rest.

Jiang Tong's voice came from outside the door again.

Song Qingyan looked disgusted and didn't intend to pay any attention; the maid outside the door would stop Jiang Tong.

But then they heard the maid's panicked cries, and then the door was kicked open.

Madam Jiang and Jiang Tong were accompanied by servants and two burly old women.

"Bring the young mistress out," Madam Jiang ordered.

Two old women rushed in and easily dragged Song Qingyan out.

Madam Jiang had a chair brought over and sat down in the courtyard.

She originally intended to take Song Qingyan outside the mansion gate and complain to the neighbors that this daughter-in-law was unfilial to her mother-in-law, using the neighbors' gossip to condemn her.

But she didn't dare open the door.

They were afraid that those who were trying to find out Sheng'er's whereabouts would take the opportunity to cause trouble.

"Let me go! I am the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family. How dare you treat me like this? My Marquis's family will not forgive you!" Song Qingyan struggled, her eyes filled with rage.

Jiang Tong sneered.

"So what if she's the legitimate daughter of a marquis's family? She's married to my brother, so she's now a member of the Jiang family. Your disrespect for your mother-in-law is the marquis's fault for not raising you properly. Even if you cause a scene at the marquis's mansion, what can they say? My mother just wants to set rules for her daughter-in-law. Which new bride hasn't gone through that?"

Jiang Tong thought back to when she first got married, and how her mother-in-law set rules for her.

Seeing her mother setting rules for her sister-in-law again, she felt at peace.

He then ordered the old woman, "Make her kneel down."

The two old women used force to press Song Qingyan's legs down to her knees.

With a thud, Song Qingyan knelt on the ground, her eyes instantly turning red.

She had never suffered such humiliation; how dare the Jiang family mother and daughter bully her like this!

"Qingyan, now that you're married, don't always try to use your family background to pressure your husband's family."

"You should be focusing your attention on my brother. He's been missing for a while now, and you're not worried at all. How can you be a good wife like this?" Jiang Tong said.

Thinking of Jiang Sheng, Song Qingyan couldn't help but roar, "Jiang Sheng... I wish he were dead out there."

Madam Jiang's face darkened, and she stood up and slapped Song Qingyan hard across the face.

"How dare you curse my Sheng'er to die!" Madam Jiang trembled with rage. "Tong'er, go get the family rules. Today I'm going to teach her a lesson."

In the alley.

Song Qingning listened to the sounds coming from inside, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes.

Xie Xuanjin was listening and noticed the emotions in her eyes.

In the dream, they met at the dilapidated temple. She was dressed as a woman, and she had been married before.

Based on what Xie Xuanjin had heard about her eavesdropping at the City God Temple and what happened at the Yongning Marquis's residence, she could guess that in her dream she married Jiang Sheng.

She must have experienced the same hardships as Song Qingyan, and probably even more.

Xie Xuanjin stepped forward carrying a rabbit lantern, letting its light dispel the darkness before her eyes.

"Not all brides suffer at the hands of their mothers-in-law. Your mother likes you very much," Xie Xuanjin said.

Song Qingning was slightly taken aback.

If she were to marry the Prince of Huai, Empress Meng would be her mother-in-law.

Song Qingning wholeheartedly agreed with him, "The Empress will be an excellent mother-in-law; I am very lucky."

In this life, the Jiang family members were returned to Song Qingyan.

Song Qingning happily accepted the rabbit lantern from Xie Xuanjin, "Thank you, Your Highness."

She thanked him for helping her carry the lantern.

With a light and cheerful voice, she carried a lantern and walked out of the alley.

Xie Xuanjin followed behind her, and the two walked back into the crowd.

At the Jiang residence, Song Qingyan was disciplined by the family, which suppressed her arrogance, but the hatred in her heart only grew stronger.

She hated the Jiang family mother and daughter, and even more so Song Qingning.

All of this should have been borne by Song Qingning.

"Young Miss, Madam Jiang has already retired for the night," the maidservant reported cautiously. She wanted to ask if she needed some medicine for her injuries.

Song Qingyan couldn't wait any longer.

She hurriedly changed her clothes, grabbed her bag, and rushed out of the room, heading towards the back door.

The old woman who kept the keys was already waiting there.

The old woman opened the door, and as Song Qingyan was about to leave, the old woman stopped her, saying, "Young Madam, you must come back on time, otherwise I will be held responsible if Madam finds out."

The old woman didn't want to help the young mistress, but she gave her a whole bag of silver.

"I understand." Song Qingyan didn't want to come back.

But she knew that her marriage to Jiang Sheng had been officially approved by the government.

Born a member of the Jiang family, die a member of the Jiang family.

She needed to escape the Jiang family and also deal with the authorities. If she didn't return, it would be considered an escape, and the Jiang family wouldn't let her go. She could only hide like a rat.

She wanted to be aboveboard and receive both honor and favor.

Song Qingyan clutched the painting in the package tightly; she needed to hurry and find Prince Yun.

Before she could even leave the alley, a hand grabbed her ankle.

Song Qingyan was terrified.

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