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

early morning.

Prefect Zhang of Shuntian Prefecture knelt before the steps, holding the dossier, and reported the matter in a trembling voice.

"Your Majesty, three thousand dan of stale rice have been seized at the western granary on the outskirts of the city. This was done by Su Wenbin in collusion with grain merchants, intending to replace military rations with stale rice and embezzle military pay..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the old emperor on his throne slammed his fist on the dragon throne, his anger reaching its peak.

"How dare he! Military supplies are the foundation of national defense, yet he dares to tamper with military rations! What about the soldiers on the border?"

All the officials and civil servants held their breath and remained silent, no one daring to utter a sound.

Unauthorized use of military rations is a major taboo for the imperial court, especially since the official involved in the case was the newly appointed military procurement officer by His Highness Prince Yi.

This involves more than just embezzlement.

The emperor shouted angrily in a low voice.

"Where is the prisoner? Bring him to me!"

After saying just those two sentences, the old emperor began to breathe heavily.

In recent years, his health has been deteriorating, and officials in the court have been secretly taking sides.

His princes were all ambitious for his throne, and they secretly fought each other.

The old emperor frowned as he looked at the court officials in the hall, who appeared respectful but were actually all harboring ulterior motives.

He was becoming increasingly powerless, allowing them to act with such lawlessness.

As for why the prince targeted the military rations, he didn't believe it was just for the sake of greed.

They cannot tolerate the rare lone minister in the court, the Prince of Zhenbei!

Does that ambitious third prince really think he can control the court?

We must give him a good scolding today!

Su Wenbin and the grain merchant were escorted to the main hall, their former dignity long gone, kneeling on the ground, trembling.

Seeing the emperor's fury, the grain merchant knew he couldn't hide it any longer and quickly kowtowed to confess his guilt.

"Your Majesty, spare my life! It was all Su Wenbin's doing!"

He ordered his underlings to hoard old rice, saying it would replace the army's rations, and promised them huge profits...

The grain merchants pinned all the blame on Su Wenbin.

Su Wenbin's face was deathly pale, but he gritted his teeth and admitted only that he was greedy for money.

"Your Majesty, please have mercy. It was my momentary lapse of judgment that led me to consider stealing the military rations."

He never mentioned the Wing King, because he knew in his heart that if the Wing King were involved, not only himself, but the entire Su family would be reduced to ashes.

The Emperor was so astute; how could he not see that he was hiding something?

However, according to the memorial submitted by Prefect Zhang, after an all-night interrogation, regardless of torture or inducement, Su Wenbin only admitted to embezzlement and refused to utter another word.

Looking at the grain merchant, all he knew was that Su Wenbin had told him to stockpile grain; he knew nothing else.

The emperor on the dragon throne remained silent for a moment, his eyes swirling with anger.

The military rations scandal must be severely punished, but Su Wenbin stubbornly refuses to implicate the mastermind, so he cannot directly deal with the Wing King.

Then the only option is to severely punish the Wing King's lackeys as a warning to others.

In the end, the emperor issued a decree in a cold voice.

"Su Wenbin, as a military procurement officer, committed embezzlement, a crime that is unforgivable!"

The Su family's property was immediately confiscated, and the male members were exiled to coal mines in Lingnan, to be executed without pardon.

All the women were sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), where they would never be freed from slavery!

Grain merchants colluded to commit crimes; their property was confiscated, and the entire family was to be executed immediately!

The grain merchant was so terrified that he couldn't possibly utter a word of thanks.

His entire family was to be executed immediately. His father, wife, and children all died tragically because of his momentary lapse of judgment.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty..."

After expressing his gratitude, Su Wenbin collapsed to the ground, his face ashen, yet he secretly hoped for a chance at survival.

He swore he wouldn't drag the Prince of the Wing into this mess, and perhaps His Highness, considering his unwavering loyalty, might spare his family a chance to survive.

The mastermind behind the smuggling of military rations has been apprehended; the Qin father and son are both innocent and will be released immediately.

They posted notices throughout the streets to clear the name of the innocent.

Upon the issuance of the decree, the entire court was filled with praise.

"Your Majesty is wise and discerning!"

No one expected the Emperor to sentence him so severely.

The Wing King remained silent throughout, his expression unchanged, still maintaining his gentle and refined demeanor.

Those who are unaware of the situation might think that this matter has nothing to do with him.

After news of the military rations scandal spread, the people of Beijing were abuzz with discussion, all saying that the Su family had only themselves to blame.

Some people began to feel indignant on behalf of the Qin family, bringing up the fact that the Qin family had been distributing porridge for many years.

Only the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion and Yun Shuyao's outer residence exuded an unusual tranquility.

Xiao Fang stood under the eaves of the Prince's mansion, listening to the servants report the case, his fingertips lightly tapping on the pillars.

It was expected that Su Wenbin wouldn't reveal the identity of Yi Wang; this old fox was more patient than anyone had imagined.

The Wing King... dares to touch his father, even the Heavenly King himself will pay the price!

In Yun Shuyao's bedroom, she was looking at the sunlight outside the window, her fingertips brushing against the bright red dress on the table.

"My uncle's family was saved, and the Su family was also saved."

Next, we should make good use of Su Yuyao, who has fallen into prostitution, and achieve our goal of annuling the engagement as soon as possible.

Chun Tao and Chun Zhi, the two young maids, looked at their mistress's calm profile with puzzlement, but couldn't help asking:

"Miss, what does the downfall of the Su family have to do with your decision to break off the engagement with the Marquis's mansion?"

Yun Shuyao chuckled lightly and answered in a rather pleasant mood:

"Su Yuyan is a parasitic flower; she can only survive by clinging to men."

Now that the Su family has fallen, she has also ended up in the brothel and been registered as a lowly slave.

This was an outcome that she, who was always proud and arrogant, could never accept.

It is said that a drowning person will desperately cling to the nearest piece of driftwood.

Gu Jinghuai was the only piece of driftwood she could reach at that moment.

It just so happens that Gu Jinghuai also has those kinds of feelings for her cousin... so he'll probably be willing to go along with it and bring her into his household.

Chuntao was even more confused.

"Going with the flow? Wasn't he hoping to marry you?"

"What he longed for was never me as a person."

Yun Shuyao put down her pen, her voice as soft as a sigh.

"It is the wealth of the Qin family, the power of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and the marriage alliance that will make him more popular with Prince Yi."

But I know that Gu Jinghuai still harbors feelings for Su Yuyan.

She recalled how Gu Jinghuai treated Su Yuyan in her past life, and her heart was no longer stirred.

In fact, Su Yuyan's methods were clearly clumsy, but Gu Jinghuai couldn't help but protect her.

So it's not that Su Yuyan is clever, it's that some people are knowingly confused.

Leaving aside the past life, let's talk about this life. He was already engaged, but he still secretly gave Su Yuyan a hairpin.

This affection, though not particularly deep, was enough to make him waver between "family arrangements" and "his true love".

"If the Su family falls, Su Yuyan will become a phoenix in distress, and Gu Jinghuai's pity will only grow stronger."

Yun Shuyao said slowly.

"Think about it, one is me, whom he doesn't like and who always goes against him, and the other is Su Yuyan, who is pitiful and only knows how to depend on him."

Which one will Gu Jinghuai choose?

Chuntao opened her mouth.

"But...the engagement is already set, can he choose?"

"Why not?"

Yun Shuyao smiled.

"He dared not disobey his father because he lacked the motivation."

But what if Su Yuyan is about to lose her virginity to someone else? What if his beloved cousin, Anlan, is humiliated and tries to kill herself?

In a moment of impulse, would the father still make things difficult for her?

She picked up the account book and pointed her finger at the dowry accounts that had been taken away by the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion.

"Gu Jinghuai will feel that I ruined Su Yuyan's family and that I drove her to a dead end."

Then I, the villain, will publicly announce the money and goods that the Marquis's mansion took from me.

I don't believe that, after comparing the two, Gu Jinghuai can still treat me without any resentment.

Yun Shuyao chuckled and added:

"There are always ready-made reasons to annul the engagement."

The Marquis's mansion might try to tarnish my reputation, saying that I am ruthless and jealous.

Bringing a wife like that into the family will only bring shame upon the family.

Chun Tao suddenly realized what was happening and slapped her thigh, saying:

"Miss, you're amazing! I finally understand that convoluted explanation!"

If you break Su Yuyan's crutch, she'll have to cling to Prince Gu. And if Prince Gu protects her, the marriage will naturally fall through!

Yun Shuyao didn't reply, but simply looked at the accounts again.

There are only three days left. We must make the Gu family completely give up on this marriage before the wedding.

This left Su Yuyan with no other hope but Gu Jinghuai.

This allowed Gu Jinghuai's hidden feelings for his family to completely override his consideration of family interests.

In this game, she was betting on people's hearts.

Su Yuyan's greed and obsession, Gu Jinghuai's wavering and pity.

Three days later, it should be her way out, whether it's coercion or not.