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

Lu Jieyue and Wei Jiaru both raised their chins, waiting for Wei Zhaoning to be executed.

Wei Zhaoning stood tall and straight like a bamboo, and said calmly, "The Regent's Palace."

She then fabricated a story: "Upon hearing that Your Excellency had been punished, I used my connections at the General's Mansion to meet with the Regent and plead for Your Excellency. It was late, so I stayed in a side room at the Regent's Mansion. Your Excellency, is there a problem?"

Lu Zhufeng was taken aback, but felt a little smug. Wei Zhaoning was indeed trying to please him. He slowly released his grip.

However, he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Wei Zhaoning would not betray him. She loved him so much, how could she?

The Regent Prince was a good man, and it was even less likely that he would have any improper thoughts about her.

He suddenly realized what he was thinking. Even if the sky fell, Wei Zhaoning's feelings for him would never change.

Seeing that he showed no intention of punishing her, the old lady raised her voice: "Even so, now that you're married, there's no reason for you to stay out all night!"

Lu Zhufeng understood, and solemnly said, "Go and receive the family rules yourself. Even if you are the Regent, you cannot stay overnight at someone else's house!"

The punishment was too lenient, and Lu Jieyue and Wei Jiaruo were clearly not grateful.

"Zhu Feng, do you know that because of her actions, Brother Meng Yun is delaying our marriage?" Lu Jieyue's eyes reddened as she continued to sob.

Lu Zhufeng's expression darkened further. Wei Zhaoning was acting too willfully, and he pondered what lesson he should teach her.

Wei Zhaoning feigned obedience, "This was something I hadn't considered thoroughly. I own several shops, not as part of my dowry. Now that the Marquis's mansion is in trouble, may I incorporate those shops into the public treasury as compensation?"

Hearing this, the old lady was also reassured. The Marquis's mansion was in need of money at that time, and the shops under Wei Zhaoning's name brought in a considerable amount of income, which could be regarded as an extra layer of protection for the Marquis's mansion.

"My lord, mother, do I still have to go and receive family punishment?" Wei Zhaoning asked innocently.

Before Lu Zhufeng could speak, the old lady stood up and took her hand, her eyes full of kindness. "Mother knows you did it for the good of the Marquis's mansion, how could I bear to punish you? Zhufeng is really something, he doesn't know how to cherish a beautiful woman."

Lu Zhufeng chimed in, "It was just a misunderstanding, sister. I'll talk to Meng Yun myself. There's no use blaming Ningning now."

Lu Jieyue was still unconvinced, but she didn't say anything more.

Upon seeing this, Wei Zhaoning smiled faintly and said, "If you've never seen a face-changing act, you can come to the Marquis's residence to see the essence of it."

Wei Jiaruo clenched her teeth the whole time, her fingernails digging into her palms, drawing out traces of blood.

Suddenly, something occurred to her, and her expression twisted involuntarily where no one could see.

Since you're willing to hand over your shops to your death, I'll respectfully comply.

*

Back in the courtyard, it was finally quiet.

Wei Zhaoning hurriedly asked Dongxu to fetch pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and wrote a letter to Tana.

She watched with worry as the carrier pigeons flew into the sky.

Then, she took out several receipts from a wooden box. "A rice shop, a paper and pen shop, and a cosmetics shop. You will personally deliver these to the old lady later."

Dongxu took it, and asked doubtfully, "Miss, are you really giving it to me?"

"We finally got the money we spent on the Marquis's mansion back, why should we give it to them again?"

Wei Zhaoning's lips curled into a smile. "Fishing."

Dongxu didn't understand and continued, "But Miss, even if everything else is one thing, this Lingmei Pavilion is exclusively for the imperial concubines' use of rouge and face powder. The annual revenue is considerable. Are they just going to let the Marquis's mansion have it so easily? They don't deserve it!"

Wei Zhaoning said, "I have my own plans. Is your young lady the type to suffer losses? Go quickly."

Dongxu pursed her lips and reluctantly took the shop away.

"Wait a minute." Wei Zhaoning took out another jade pendant and handed it to Dongxu.

"Later, go out and find Qin Daru. He'll know what it means when he sees the jade pendant. Take him to teach Liuxiang's younger brother, but remember to be discreet."

"yes!"

Wei Zhaoning felt that Liu Xiang was a useful person.

This morning, when she returned to the manor, if Liuxiang hadn't told her that Wei Jia was going to cause such a scene today, she wouldn't have come up with this idea.

In his previous life, the general's mansion fell into ruin, which was considered a crime of treason.

One of the allegations is that his shops are suspected of using counterfeit goods to cheat the public and the national treasury, enriching themselves at the expense of others.

But that's only a small part of the reason.

She was in some kind of trouble at the time and didn't know what else she had done.

The only way is to start with Liu Xiang and proceed step by step.

My maternal grandfather was not short of money, so he had no reason or motive to do such a thing.

Therefore, someone must have had good intentions.

If I'm not mistaken, the businesses under my maternal grandfather's name have already started to be plagued by parasites.

Today, the shop she gave me is her own, and housekeeper Wei Jiaru will definitely take over the shop.

Given the extent of her self-hatred, she's bound to cause trouble.

The murderer usually uses the same methods to find out what she was up to, so that when necessary, he can expose the parasites in his grandfather's business.

*

Wei Jiaruo was having Liu Xiang massage her legs.

"I heard the shop has already been delivered to the old lady?" she said lazily.

Liu Xiang replied, "Yes, Madam. I heard that the old lady is very happy. Her favorite mica screen was pawned by Wei Zhaoning, and she is making arrangements to redeem it."

Wei Jiaruo's expression froze for a moment. "It seems she doesn't intend to let go of this shop."

"Madam, you haven't paid back the loan sharks you borrowed before, so it's only right that you take over managing this shop," Liu Xiang chimed in.

Wei Jiaruo nodded in satisfaction. She knew that Liuxiang understood her best.

Wei Zhaoning's shops are like a timely rain, allowing her to repay interest while also bringing her down. We must hold onto these shops tightly.

It will take some effort to get the shop back from the old lady.

A maidservant came in from outside to announce, "Madam, the Seventh Princess has arrived."

Wei Jiaruo was puzzled. The Seventh Princess? What was she doing here when she had no connection with her whatsoever?

She remembered that Wei Zhaoning had stayed at the Prince's mansion yesterday, so the Seventh Princess must be looking for Wei Zhaoning. However, the servants didn't know which Lady Marquis to call, so they came to inform her.

Thinking of this, she felt a little smug; it seemed the servants still respected her.

"You've got the wrong person. Have you forgotten that we have a Lady of the Marquis's Mansion in the side courtyard?"

Although I am in charge of the household, you don't need to report everything to me. My leg injury hasn't healed yet; you should be more discerning.

Despite saying that, Wei Jiaruo's lips never left her mouth.

The maid shook her head, her face anxious. "No, Madam, the Seventh Princess said that the person she is looking for is you."

"She also said she wanted you to go out and see her immediately, but from what I can tell, the Seventh Princess doesn't look too well."

Wei Jiaru sat up straight and was immediately helped into the wheelchair by Liu Xiang. "Let's go."

A calculating glint flashed in her eyes. What did the Seventh Princess want with her?