Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Chapter 20 tells us! Where did the money go?

"Rebellion! Outrageous!"

Yun Chongshan was so angry that he trembled all over. He grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it on the ground, scattering porcelain shards everywhere.

"What is an unmarried young woman planning to do by owning a house outside the home and supporting people?"

Do you want to completely ruin the reputation of the Yun family?

Qin was so frightened that her face turned pale and she knelt down with a thud.

"My lord, please calm your anger! I will go find her right away! I will definitely persuade her to come back!"

"You're going to try and persuade them?"

Yun Chongshan pointed at her nose, his tone fierce.

"If you could persuade her to come back, she wouldn't be like this now."

"Qin, this is the fine daughter you gave birth to! Discipline her yourself! If she dares to embarrass you again, I'll punish you too!"

Mica knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face, but dared not utter a single word in her defense.

She knew that her husband was serious. In his eyes, she, a woman from a merchant family, was not worthy of the Duke's mansion.

Now that her daughter has been punished, she doesn't even have the right to plead for her.

Yun Shuwen stood aside, watching her mother tremble, but felt no sympathy, only annoyance.

He couldn't understand why his sister had to make such a fuss. Wouldn't it have been better for her to marry into the Marquis's household peacefully, be a good wife and mother, and raise children quietly?

The father disliked the mother, and by extension, he disliked his two legitimate children as well.

Now that his sister has caused this trouble, it's hard to guarantee that his father won't take his anger out on him in his fury.

Feng Yiniang's son, born to a concubine, has recently become increasingly favored and is clearly showing signs of coveting his position as heir.

Look at that mother, how well she knows how to please her husband? How well she plans for her children?

And look at his mother and sister, they only hold him back!

As night deepened, only Yun Chongshan's still-angry breathing and Qin Shi's low sobs echoed in the empty hall.

Meanwhile, in the old house on the outskirts of the city, Zhao Hu was leading his guards to clear the weeds in the yard, while the maids were tidying up the habitable side rooms.

Yun Shuyao stood under the corridor, looking at the repair drawings that Zhou Heng had sent. The moonlight shone on her face, revealing a calmness she had never shown before.

There are no family rules here, no coercion, only the sound of the wind blowing through the wild grass.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but knew that it was far from over.

The Yong'an Marquis's Residence.

The candlelight in the prince's study was dim, illuminating Gu Jinghuai's back as he lay on the couch.

His back injury had been treated with medicine, but he still felt excruciating pain with every movement, so he could only maintain one position, his face as pale as paper.

"Hiss—" He gasped, sweat beading on his forehead from the pain, his teeth itching with hatred.

Yun Shuyao! Xiao Fang!

Those two names pierced his heart like needles.

Someone dared to sue him in public, causing him to lose face completely.

One of them was even more lawless, and beat him up in the lobby just because he said he "didn't like him".

He was gritting his teeth when a loud "bang" suddenly came from outside the door, and the study door was kicked open.

Marquis Yong'an, Gu Yan, stormed in with a livid face. He hadn't even had time to change out of his official robes, clearly having just finished his shift and rushed back.

"The traitor!"

Gu Yan pointed at Gu Jinghuai, trembling with anger.

"Tell me, what exactly happened in the manor?!"

Gu Jinghuai shuddered in fright, which aggravated the injury on his back, causing him to grimace in pain.

"Father……"

"Don't call me father!"

Gu Yan slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups jump.

"As soon as I returned to my residence, I discovered that most of the items in the storeroom were missing! The silver in the accounting office had also been emptied!"

The servants said, "You and your daughter were arrested and taken to the government office, and you were even flogged in public?!"

He grew angrier and angrier, pointing his finger at Gu Jinghuai's nose and cursing:

"What trouble have you caused? You've made such a mess of the Marquis's residence!"

Just then, a palace eunuch rushed over to deliver a summons.

The father and son dared not delay, and quickly changed into their court robes and went to the palace to meet the emperor.

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

The censors of the Censorate knelt upright, holding the impeachment memorials, their voices booming like bells.

"Your Majesty! Gu Yan of the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion and Gu Jinghuai, the heir of the Yong'an Marquis, have allowed their family members to swindle their future daughter-in-law out of her dowry."

The amount involved is a staggering 700,000 taels of silver, a blatant disregard for propriety and law, and an unfit example for any subject. Your Majesty, I beg you to punish this severely!

The emperor on the throne looked displeased, his gaze sweeping over the pale-faced Gu Yan and his son, and he said in a deep voice:

"Gu Yan, is this true?"

Gu Yan knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed against the cold gold brick.

"Your Majesty, those are merely family matters, Your Majesty..."

"Housework?"

The emperor snorted coldly.

"Seven hundred and eighty thousand taels of silver is just an ordinary family matter?"

"He embezzled his daughter-in-law's dowry before even marrying into the family. If word gets out, how will the officials of our Great Jing Dynasty maintain their dignity?"

The Emperor waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Gu Yan and Gu Jinghuai, kneel before the Hall of Supreme Harmony to reflect on your mistakes. You are not to rise until pardoned!"

"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

The Marquis of Yong'an and his son dared not utter another word, for fear of angering the emperor and further intensifying his dislike of them.

The square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was completely exposed to the scorching sun, which beat down on the golden bricks so hard that it was almost impossible to stand still.

The Marquis of Yong'an and his son, dressed in heavy official robes, knelt there upright.

Sweat streamed down his face, soaking his clothes.

Gu Jinghuai's back injury was so painful from being soaked in sweat that he almost fainted.

The two knelt from midday sun until the moon was high in the sky. Their official robes were soaked with dew, and they were completely exhausted. Their knees ached as if they had been split open.

It wasn't until late at night that a eunuch slowly strolled over.

"His Majesty has decreed that Lord Gu and Prince Gu may return to their residences."

Gu Yan couldn't get up at all. He struggled for a long time before finally standing up, staggering and barely managing to stay upright.

He looked at his equally disheveled son, his eyes blazing with fury.

They planned to return to their residence first and then settle accounts with the woman!

But as he limped back to the main courtyard, he heard a loud crash of porcelain shattering coming from the main room.

Gu Yan's face darkened further. He pushed open the door and went in, only to see Madam Su lying on the couch, hysterically throwing things around.

"What are you doing? Don't you have any manners as a Lady of the Marquis?"

When Lady Su saw Marquis Yong'an, she froze on the spot.

Her hair was disheveled, her face was streaked with tears, and she was still holding the teacup she hadn't had time to smash.

Then, in an instant, her expression changed, and she cried pitifully, begging for mercy.

"My lord, you must stand up for me!"

"That Yun Shuyao, and that Prince Zhenbei's heir, they've gone too far!"

"Snap—"

With a sharp crack, Gu Yan swung his arm and slapped Su Shi hard across the face.

Su was knocked to the side by the blow, blood instantly seeping from the corner of her mouth, and two of the gold hairpins in her hair were knocked off.

She covered her face, which had swelled up instantly, and looked at Marquis Yong'an in disbelief.

"Master...you hit me?"

"I'll be lenient by hitting you!"

Gu Yan pointed at her nose, trembling with anger.

"You stupid woman! Who gave you permission to touch Yun Shuyao's dowry?"

She's not married into the family yet; that's her private property!

If you want to make money, why don't you wait until she marries into the family and then do it slowly?

Now look what's happened! The whole court knows, even His Majesty has been alerted. Are you satisfied now?

Su was so scolded that she dared not utter a sound. After a long while, she cried out in grievance:

"I'm doing this for the sake of the Marquis's mansion too..."

"fart!"

Gu Yan roared angrily.