My husband faked his death so I could remarry, but I got involved with my crazy brother and can'

"My father-in-law really spoils her too much. She should be severely punished. How can she disobey her husband's family?"

With just a few words, the truth was revealed, and Su Zhirou's face turned extremely ugly.

Marquis Shunyang's face darkened: "Kneel down!"

Su Zhirou hurriedly knelt down, lowered her head, and tried to argue, but met Su Yingxue's teasing gaze.

She must have spent a fortune to bribe the prince again!

Otherwise, why would the prince play along with her act?!

That bitch!

Once we get back to the manor, she'll definitely give her a good dressing down!

"Father, I really didn't mean it..." Su Zhirou said in a weak and vulnerable manner.

Marquis Shunyang was so angry that he almost choked.

It was clearly her own fault for angering the prince, yet she tried to shift the blame onto Su Yingxue. Not only that, but she also made him lose face.

What if the prince notices that he is favoring one side over the other?

"How dare you say that? You don't dare admit what you did, so you blame it on your sister. Is this how I've always taught you?!"

Seeing that the Marquis of Shunyang was furious, Aunt Feng hurriedly knelt down as well. She tugged at the Marquis's sleeve and said, "My lord, Rou'er certainly didn't mean it. Rou'er is still young. Please forgive her this time."

Normally, if Consort Feng were to speak up, Marquis Shunyang would surely resolve the matter peacefully.

But now, with Xie Huaiyun watching with great interest, it can't be resolved so easily.

Since Xie Huaiyun brought it up, it means she is dissatisfied with Su Zhirou.

If he, as the father, doesn't intervene, Su Zhirou will likely face even more severe torment upon returning home.

If they lose favor because of this, what hope will they have in the future?

Thinking of this, Marquis Shunyang sneered, "Bring the family rules!"

"My lord, what are you doing? Aren't you the one who dotes on Rou'er the most? Rou'er is delicate, how can you punish her with family law?" Aunt Feng asked in surprise.

In the past, the Marquis of Shunyang would never lay a finger on Su Zhirou, let alone use family law. What's going on now?

"She spouted nonsense, made the young master sick, and framed her sister. Shouldn't she be punished?" Marquis Shunyang's words were cold and stern. "Rest assured, son-in-law, I will teach this unfilial daughter a good lesson today!"

As they spoke, the steward handed over the family rules, and Marquis Shunyang gritted his teeth, "Stretch out your hand!"

Su Zhirou's eyes were red, and seeing that Marquis Shunyang was determined, she could only tremblingly extend her hand.

Su Yingxue watched coldly from the side, her face calm and expressionless.

This was the first time that Marquis Shunyang had hit Su Zhirou.

I used to get beaten up quite a bit.

At first, she thought her father was strict, but later she realized that it wasn't her father who was strict at all.

Instead, he was harsh on her.

To Su Zhirou, he was simply a loving father.

He never gave her a single bit of his love.

"Snapped!"

Marquis Shunyang, his face contorted with rage, slapped Su Zhirou's palms several times, his heart aching terribly.

This was his beloved daughter since childhood, so naturally he couldn't bear to see her being beaten.

"Father-in-law, is this considered a lesson?" Xie Huaiyun glanced at Rong Jing, who immediately stepped forward and took the family discipline from the Marquis of Shunyang's hand.

Marquis Shunyang felt a pang of panic: "My dear son-in-law, she is still your wife, now the Crown Princess. What if something serious happens to her?"

He originally only intended to make a token gesture, after all, although the young master was angry, Su Zhirou was still his wife in name only.

He has to consider his reputation to some extent.

But now, he seems completely unconcerned, and even wants to take matters into his own hands.

Why is that?

Aren't wealthy families the most concerned with appearances?

Or is it that the Crown Prince's affection for that wicked girl has reached an unparalleled level?

Upon realizing this possibility, Marquis Shunyang's face paled.

"Yes, Your Highness, my daughter is your wife after all. If she is beaten on her first day back home, the whole Duke's mansion will be a laughing stock. Please, Your Highness, show mercy and spare Rou'er this time, okay?" Aunt Feng said cautiously.

She was, after all, Xie Huaiyun's mother-in-law. Since she had said that, he should at least give her some face, right?

Xie Huaiyun scoffed, "It seems this Marquis's mansion has long since lost its manners. A concubine dares to talk back to her master? Truly a rare sight!"

"What concubine? Young Master, this is my mother, and also your mother!" Su Zhirou was not expected to be humiliated by Concubine Feng, and immediately defended Concubine Feng.

"Oh? The Marquis's mansion is so unruly? How dare a concubine be worthy of being the mother of this young master?" Xie Huaiyun's voice was cold, and she seemed genuinely angry.

Indeed, it was a great disgrace for him to have a concubine as his mother.

Marquis Shunyang hurriedly spoke up: "What nonsense are you talking about? This is your mother! She's just a concubine, your stepmother! Does she think she can overstep the bounds of the main wife?!"

"Father......"

Su Zhirou was incredulous that the Marquis of Shunyang would speak so disparagingly of Aunt Feng.

My father has always favored my aunt and never allowed anyone to speak ill of her. What's wrong with him now?

"Shut up!"

Marquis Shunyang was furious.

What time is it and you still can't see that the young master is angry? If this gets out, it will do no good for the reputation of the Marquis's mansion.

"You go down first! No one is allowed to show up here later!" Marquis Shunyang scolded in a low voice.

Aunt Feng's eyes instantly reddened, but she knew this was not the time to make a scene, so she nodded and shook her head at Su Zhirou.

"Yes, I will take my leave now."

After saying this, Aunt Feng slunk away from the main hall.

"Mother!"

"From now on, call her 'Little Mother'!" Marquis Shunyang corrected.

Su Zhirou bit her lip and didn't say anything more.

Marquis Shunyang looked at Xie Huaiyun beside him, his voice softening: "So, is my son-in-law satisfied?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Huaiyun looked at Su Yingxue beside him and asked, "Is Madam satisfied?"

Whether he is satisfied or not is not important; the key is whether Su Yingxue is satisfied.

Su Yingxue smiled slightly: "I hope Father is not just putting on a show. He will treat Mother badly when we return. The hierarchy in this family has been reversed for more than ten years. I hope Father will not disappoint his daughter."

"Don't worry, this will not happen again." Marquis Shunyang was furious and wished he could strangle his daughter.

She really knows how to cause trouble for her father; she's not nearly as well-behaved as Su Zhirou.

It would have been better to give birth to an egg than to her.

"Then what about your younger sister? Who is your mother?" Su Yingxue asked softly.

Su Zhirou gritted her teeth and bowed to Madam Qian: "Mother."

Madam Qian said in a calm voice, "Alright, don't come back unless it's absolutely necessary. Every time you come back, you turn the house upside down."

Su Zhirou really wanted to say that it wasn't because of her at all, but because of Su Yingxue, but she opened her mouth and then didn't say anything more.

Since Qian is Su Yingxue's mother, she naturally sides with Su Yingxue.

Ultimately, she was also a concubine's daughter.

But what if her mother became the mistress of the house? Wouldn't her status then be perfectly legitimate?

A ruthless glint flashed in Su Zhirou's eyes. She didn't want to eat with them, so she nodded lightly and said, "Mother, I understand. I'll take my leave now."

Seeing the coldness in Xie Huaiyun's eyes as she looked at her, Su Zhirou gritted her teeth and left.

Although the Marquis of Shunyang was somewhat reluctant, he still insisted on having dinner with Xie Huaiyun and invited her to sit down.

The meal tasted like chewing wax.