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

Upon hearing this, Su Yuyan's face turned pale.

"Uncle, you are wise, Yu Yan did not..."

"No?"

Marquis Yong'an interrupted her, taking a step closer and speaking with a mocking tone.

"You think you can fool anyone with your little schemes? Do you really think I'm senile?"

"You lowly thing, don't you even know your place in society? How dare you covet the position of the heir apparent's wife in my Marquis's mansion?"

Gu Yan paused, his eyes growing even colder.

"It is a misfortune for my Gu family to have produced someone like your aunt, who is all show and no substance, full of evil and a traitor."

"You still want to imitate her and cause trouble in my Marquis's mansion?"

"Uncle!"

Su Yuyan's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled.

"You've wronged Yu Yan! I just heard my cousin was drunk... and wanted to come see him..."

Don't give me that crap.

Marquis Yong'an sneered.

"When I was playing with women, you were still in your mother's womb."

"You vixen, the moment you blink, I know what you're plotting."

He raised his hand and gave instructions to his trusted aides behind him:

"Take her to the west wing and let her keep her company. She is not allowed to wander around Jinghuai's courtyard without my permission."

Su Yuyan panicked.

"Uncle! The west wing is cold and drafty, how can anyone live there? I..."

"Why can't we stay here?"

Marquis Yong'an's eyes sharpened.

"Your aunt lives there. Aren't you using the excuse of taking care of her to freeload off her?"

"Perfect, I'll go keep her company."

Gu Yan glanced again at Su Yuyan's fair thighs, barely concealed beneath her gauze dress, and sneered through gritted teeth:

"You should also avoid going to other parts of the manor, lest you offend our distinguished guests and make people think that all the women in my manor are like you. I, the Marquis, cannot bear that kind of embarrassment!"

The confidant stepped forward, his tone polite yet undeniably firm.

"Miss Su, please."

Su Yuyan looked at the resolute back of Marquis Yong'an, then at the expressionless servant, and knew that arguing any further would be useless.

He could only endure the humiliation and follow the servant to the west courtyard.

West Courtyard.

The window paper had a large hole, and cold wind was blowing in, stirring up the dust on the ground.

Lady Su, the wife of the Marquis, sat on the cold edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), wrapped in an old, faded cotton robe. Her face was as sallow as an old sheet of paper.

Her back injury hadn't healed yet, and the cold wind made her wince in pain, her voice filled with hostility.

"If it weren't for your greedy father, would I have been locked up in this godforsaken place by the master?"

"And I had to copy that damn 'Admonitions for Women,' my back was covered in pus, there was no medicine, I couldn't even get a sip of hot soup!"

Su Yuyan had just been "invited" in by the servant, still carrying the bundle she had brought from the guest courtyard.

Upon hearing this, he quickly put down his things and moved closer to the edge of the kang (heated brick bed):

"Aunt, please calm down. It's all Yuyan's fault; she couldn't persuade Father..."

"advise?"

The Lady Hou suddenly turned her head and glared at her, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes crinkling together.

"If your father really listened to advice, would he let me steal silver from the Marquis's mansion to pave the way for him?"

Now look what's happened! He's gained face in front of the Wing King and secured the position of military procurement officer. He's enjoying immense prestige!

And me? I'm locked up in this drafty, dilapidated courtyard, and even a servant dares to give me attitude!

I don't believe your father didn't know, yet he didn't even show his face. Was he afraid of getting bad luck?

Su Yuyan lowered her eyes and spoke softly.

"Aunt, Father is not that kind of person."

He has just arrived in the capital, and it is a crucial time for him to make a good impression on His Highness Prince Yi.

He really couldn't interfere in the Hou family's affairs, lest he give others cause for gossip.

Su Yuyan paused, her eyes gleaming as she looked up.

"But think about it, once Father has rendered meritorious service to the Prince of Yi, he will be able to accomplish a few impressive tasks."

"If you become a favorite of the Wing King in the future, will your uncle still dare to treat you like this?"

Su was taken aback, but was clearly persuaded.

"When my father held a low-ranking official position, my uncle would scold you whenever he wanted, and he would often flatter those concubines, making things difficult for you both openly and secretly."

Su Yuyan pressed her advantage, her voice filled with certainty.

"But what if Father becomes powerful and influential? Uncle will be too busy currying favor with him to dare let you suffer any more grievances."

"At that time, who in this Marquis's mansion wouldn't have to live according to your wishes?"

Su's expression softened completely, and her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the cuffs of her old cotton robe.

Yes, if her brother truly gains power, she will naturally be able to stand tall in the Marquis's mansion.

Seeing that she had finally stopped targeting her, Su Yuyan sighed softly again.

"Speaking of this incident, it's all that bitch Yun Shuyao's fault."

If it weren't for her relentless pursuit of the shop issue, even taking it to court.

How could my uncle have known you took money from the Marquis's mansion, and why was he so angry with you?

These words struck a nerve with Su, and the softening on her face instantly turned into resentment.

"That's right! It's all that little bitch's fault! Just because she has some evidence, she dares to keep attacking us!"

"Don't worry, Auntie."

A ruthless glint flashed in Su Yuyan's eyes.

"She won't be able to keep this up for long. Once she's married into the family, she'll be at her aunt's mercy..."

Lady Hou looked at her, then suddenly smiled, reached out and took her hand, her touch filled with an inexplicable warmth.

"Our Yu Yan is so thoughtful."

"Don't worry, the position of Crown Princess will be yours sooner or later."

She lowered her voice, her tone sinister.

"The reason for letting her marry into the family is twofold: firstly, due to the Marquis's arrangements, and secondly, for her generous dowry."

After a few days, once the turmoil in Kyoto has subsided, I will secretly give her a slow-acting drug...

When she dies, her dowry will be yours, and Jinghuai will be yours too.

"I'll put in a good word for you with the master, and the position of the young mistress of the Marquis's mansion will be yours for the taking."

Su Yuyan smiled shyly yet proudly and nodded gently.

"It's all up to my aunt to decide."

"At that time, my aunt and I will support each other in the Marquis's mansion, and with Father's influence, let's see who dares to look down on us."

The wind outside the window picked up, making the torn window paper rustle, as if providing accompaniment for the "sweet dream" of the aunt and niece.

Old house.

Yun Shuyao didn't sleep well that night. It wasn't until the next morning, when the sunlight shone through the window onto her face, that she slowly opened her eyes, and her headache eased a little.

Zhao Hu rushed in after he had just finished washing up, his expression grave.

"Miss, we've found it."

Su Wenbin arrived in Beijing yesterday and was appointed as the Procurement Officer for Military Supplies in the Ministry of War, a rank of fourth grade.

"Military procurement?"

Yun Shuyao stood up abruptly, feeling as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer.

Is Su Wenbin employed in military procurement?

This news was like a key, unexpectedly unlocking her long-buried memories.

At this moment, all the fragments seemed to be connected.

She stood there, stunned, her fingertips cold, as her hazy memories began to reassemble in her mind.

The image of my maternal grandfather's entire family being executed in my past life suddenly flashed clearly into my mind.

That day, flames soared into the sky as officers and soldiers broke down the door, carrying files accusing the soldiers of "passing off inferior goods as superior ones and delaying military operations."

The maternal grandfather, uncle, and cousin knelt on the ground, repeatedly shouting "Injustice!", but no one listened.

She couldn't understand it.

The Yun family has been imperial merchants for generations, relying on the rule of "full weight and no adulteration".

My maternal grandfather valued integrity above all else; how could he possibly tamper with military rations?

What's even stranger is that, after investigating the case, only the Yun family was punished, along with a few minor officials who were escorting them.

None of the officials in charge of military procurement and acceptance into storage were implicated.

At the time, she thought it was just officials protecting each other, but now she thinks it's probably not that simple.

"Seven hundred thousand taels... Marquis's residence... Su Wenbin... Military supplies procurement... Prince Yi..."

She repeated those words softly, her eyes gradually clearing.