After the divorce, I was adorned in a phoenix robe, while my ex-husband's entire family dug up

Next, the Marquis's residence began renovations.

The Hou Mansion was so dilapidated that it was completely lacking in both bricks and tiles.

Based on the Hou family's savings over the years, it's simply not enough to make up for it!

Although Lu Ze had Bai Yunxiao's support, the investments in those silver were all clearly documented in black and white, with the profits and losses agreed upon in writing.

The shop's business isn't doing particularly well, at least not as well as in his previous life. He can't even recoup his initial investment. He's struggling to make ends meet even when gambling, let alone trying to fix the holes in the Marquis's mansion.

The Prince's Mansion always sends people over, so they no longer dare to plot against Wei Zhaoning.

For a moment, no one knew what to do.

*

Liu Xiang had been kneeling in the ancestral hall for two days, and her eyes were bruised. She struggled to stand up, wondering how the madam had been doing these past few days.

Is your leg okay?

Most importantly, she had to go back and discuss countermeasures with the madam. Wei Zhaoning was so kind in saving her; there must be some kind of conspiracy involved.

Her legs were numb. She struggled to stand up, but fell heavily back down as soon as she got up.

"hiss--"

She stood up again and ran towards the main courtyard.

Along the way, she saw that the Marquis's mansion was empty and dilapidated, which made her even more uneasy. She felt that something had happened to the lady.

She didn't care about the people pointing and whispering as she passed by.

"lady!"

She rushed into the house and shouted.

The scene that came into view left her stunned.

Wei Jiaruo lay on the bed, a maid she didn't recognize feeding her grapes. The two seemed to be chatting, their eyes crinkling with laughter.

Liu Xiang felt as if she had been pricked.

At that moment, Wei Jiaruo looked towards the doorway in the direction of the sound and saw Liu Xiang. A look of surprise flashed across her eyes. "Liu Xiang, you're still alive!"

Liu Xiang couldn't describe her feelings; she only felt a dull ache in her heart.

Wei Jiaruo's eyes darted around, and she smiled, "My leg was injured, and the imperial physician said there was a risk of disability. I couldn't go there that day because my legs were really weak. I thought something had happened to you. I cried for a long time last night and even burned paper money for you. Seeing that you're alright, I'm relieved."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiang took a step back without making a sound. She looked Wei Jiaruo up and down; her eyes weren't even a little puffy.

She is lying.

Everyone in the manor knew that Liu Xiang had been saved by Wei Zhaoning.

But she didn't realize that if she had just asked, she would have gotten the answer.

Liu Xiang trembled slightly. "Madam, who is she?"

Wei Jiaruo looked somewhat uneasy. "The Marquis said that I had no one to take care of me and insisted on sending a maid to take care of me. Since you are alright, I will send her away."

"What are you still standing there for? Get out of here!" she snapped at the unfamiliar maid.

The maid didn't dare look at her and immediately withdrew.

Liu Xiang pursed her lips, trying her best to control her expression.

She grew up with the lady of the house and knew her temperament better than anyone.

I thought that she was different from others in the lady's heart.

She was overthinking it.

She suppressed her emotions and went to help Wei Jiaruo with her washing and grooming.

"Fragrance lingers."

"You won't tell anyone, right?" Wei Jiaruo suddenly stared at her, not missing a single expression on her face.

"Your younger brother will be taking the imperial examination in two years. We all hope he will achieve good results, don't you think?"

Liu Xiang's fingers froze in mid-air, her heart sinking to the bottom.

Even if the lady didn't threaten her, she wouldn't say a word.

But the lady said something else entirely.

Her younger brother studied hard from a young age, but his problem was that he was the son of a poor family. He had offended the son of a powerful person and was warned that he was forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations.

Wei Jiaruo agreed to help her plead on her behalf.

She said, "Madam, I won't speak carelessly."

Wei Jiaruo narrowed her eyes, as if trying to discern the truth in her words.

It took her a while to calm down.

Liu Xiang recalled the scene yesterday when the Regent wanted to beat her to death, and felt a wave of fear.

After Wei Jiaruo fell asleep, she inquired with several of the maids she was on good terms with in the courtyard.

"What paper money? Madam didn't even leave the courtyard yesterday."

"I didn't ask about you, but I think I heard the lady pleading with the Marquis to pick another clever maid for her last night."

Liu Xiang froze on the spot, as if a large hand was gripping her throat tightly.

It turns out that in the lady's heart, she meant nothing.

If she fails again next time, will she be the one to take the fall?

She walked on, completely lost and disoriented.

A tall woman in a goose-white cloak was standing in front of them, seemingly waiting for someone.

Upon closer inspection, it was Wei Zhaoning.

Liu Xiang stepped forward, thought for a moment, and decided to thank her anyway, regardless of her motives for saving her.

"Thank you for your help, Madam."

Wei Zhaoning raised an eyebrow. "If she drags you into this as a substitute next time, do you think she'll care about your brother once you're no longer of use to her?"

"Or, the time after that, when your younger brother passes the imperial examination, do you think she might try to control you by falsifying his results?"

Liu Xiang's mind went blank for a moment. "What is Madam talking about? This servant doesn't understand."

"Compared to her maternal family, the Marquis of Dongyang, who do you think has a better chance of winning, the General's Mansion or her maternal family?"

"If you're going to choose a backer, choose a truly great tree. Her branches are so lush and beautiful, it's easy to miss, but you might not be able to hold onto her at all."

Wei Zhaoning gave her a look.

This is the third bird.

*

That day, Lu Zhufeng returned from court with a dark expression.

When His Majesty heard about this, he secretly detained him in the palace, fined him half a year's salary, and suspended him from his post for three months.

Wei Jiaruo sat in a wheelchair, being pushed out by Liu Xiang to bask in the sun.

"My lord, what's wrong?" she called out from afar.

Lu Zhufeng, whether he didn't hear him or for some other reason, ignored him and walked forward with his head down, his face so gloomy it looked like it was about to bleed.

Wei Jia laughed twice and then saw her sister-in-law, Lu Jieshuang.

As soon as Lu Jieshuang saw her, she turned away and even glared at her as if she had seen something dirty.

Lu Jieshuang thought to herself, others may not know what she did, but does she?

If I get too close to her again, I might offend someone else next time.

She wondered if it was just her imagination, but now, looking at her sister-in-law, she actually found Wei Zhaoning less pleasing to the eye.

Although Wei Zhaoning was annoying, he never caused any trouble for the Marquis's mansion!

Wei Jiaruo frowned slightly.

In the past few days, although no one in the Marquis's mansion has caused her any trouble, everyone has been very cold towards her.

She felt a surge of panic. She had done so much to please them, how could it have turned out like this?

No, this absolutely cannot continue.

She cannot lose the hearts of everyone in the Marquis's mansion, otherwise how can she gain a foothold?

"Liu Xiang, push me back to my room," Wei Jia Ru said impatiently.

She twirled the jade bracelet on her wrist, thinking that she had already come up with a way to change the situation.