The clingy concubine ran away, and the sickly prince lost control.

"Miss, you told the young master you had a way to deal with Ye Hui. What was that way?"

It was midday, and Luo Qingyan was feeling a bit sleepy in the swaying carriage, so she closed her eyes for a nap.

Despite her worry and lack of weariness, Granny Liu couldn't help but ask the question.

The girl still has the mind to sleep, but she's so worried.

"Hasn't Xiao Liu, whom Granny An helped arrange, already entered Qian Fanghai's Deyue Restaurant?" Luo Qingyan rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"That's right! Little Liu is quick-witted and has already gained face in front of Qian Fanghai. What does this have to do with Ye Hui?" Granny Liu asked, puzzled.

Luo Qingyan regained her composure and pursed her lips to organize her thoughts: "Here's what I'm thinking. Qian Fanghai is opening a business and I heard he's hired singers from Zuihonglou to entertain him. You should talk to Xiao Liuzi and encourage Qian Fanghai to make sure that Yan Zhi is among the people he invites. If he encounters any difficulties, let me know."

"Isn't Rouge Ye Hui's lover?" Granny Liu pondered. "Miss, I understand. Ye Hui will definitely come and make a scene when he returns."

"If he doesn't come, just have someone tell him that Miss Rouge has been taken a liking to Qian Fanghai, and he'll definitely come."

Luo Qingyan smiled slightly, "I want people to know that Ye Hui is competing with Qian Fanghai for Rouge from Zuihonglou. If Ye Hui dares to say that the young master stole his fiancée again, no one will believe him."

"Granny, the key here is to solidify Ye Hui's habit of competing with others for women."

"That's easy. My old sisters can spread the word about Ye Hui stealing women all over the streets with just a few spittles." Granny Liu was quite confident about this.

"Therefore, it would be difficult for anyone to believe that Ye Hui could slander the prince and steal his fiancée."

Luo Qingyan thought so.

"Girl, your idea is good. We need to let people know what kind of person Ye Hui is. He spends all his time visiting brothels. What kind of good person can he be? Who will believe what he says?"

"Hmph!" Granny Liu said angrily. Sun was greedy and tricked the girl into getting engaged to a regular customer of the Drunken Red Pavilion.

A moment later, the carriage stopped; they had arrived at the Luo residence.

Granny Liu helped Luo Qingyan slowly get out of the carriage.

The moment Luo Qingyan's feet touched the ground, the gates of the Luo residence opened.

"Greetings, Second Miss." Gatekeeper Zhao stepped forward, his face covered in greasy flesh, and bowed.

Luo Qingyan glanced at him, and this time she opened the door very quickly: "Does Gatekeeper Zhao recognize me?"

"Second Miss, you're making fun of me. I was blind to your greatness last time."

As he spoke, he slapped himself twice in the face.

The second young lady was dressed even better than last time. Times have changed, so he had to be careful.

Luo Qingyan stepped into the mansion. It was quiet all around, and there were only a few servants moving around.

"Second Miss, what brings you here?" Gatekeeper Zhao followed, bowing all the way.

"I'm looking for my father, but there are hardly any people in the manor?" Luo Qingyan asked curiously.

"Oh dear, Second Miss, you don't know, the other day when we were paying our monthly wages, the Eldest Miss somehow deducted half of everyone's wages, and a lot of people were complaining and refusing to do it. The Eldest Miss really sold everyone out."

Zhao the doorman looked heartbroken; he had also lost half of his monthly pay this month, and now he wouldn't even be able to afford alcohol.

Luo Qingyan curled her lips. Luo Haitang must have been heartbroken after spending 10,000 taels, so she squeezed money from the servants.

It's better to leave. Working in the Luo family was tiring and thankless, and I was often scolded and punished.

"Second Miss, I'll go and inform the master that you're back," said Zhao the doorman, swaying his fleshy frame as he jogged along.

Luo Daocheng, who was taking a nap, impatiently scolded, "What's all the noise about in the middle of the day?"

But as soon as she heard that Luo Qingyan was back, she sat up straight with a start: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

He quickly put on his outer garment and went outside.

"Sir, please slow down."

Even sending 10,000 taels of silver to the Duke's mansion couldn't rescue Madam Sun; it seems the Duke's mansion is still angry with them.

Qingyan is here to discuss a way to ease the tension with the Duke's mansion.

That idiot Sun did something stupid. If she really wanted to divorce Qingyan and send her to the Duke's mansion, she would naturally have to break off the engagement with the Ye family.

lobby.

Luo Qingyan curtsied.

"I have met my father."

"Please sit down, we're family, no need for formalities, bring some tea," Luo Daocheng said with a grin.

Luo Qingyan looked sorrowful and refused to sit down.

"Qingyan, what's wrong?"

Luo Daocheng's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the Duke's mansion had made some kind of request?

"I'm fine, I just feel sorry for my mother. We spent the money, but we still couldn't get her back." Luo Qingyan wiped her eyes.

"Sigh, well, let's just pay to avoid trouble. The Duke's mansion didn't say anything, did they?" Luo Daocheng asked, craning his neck with longing in his eyes.

"The Duke's Mansion didn't say anything, it's just this ten thousand taels. My sister wants me to return the ten thousand taels. Father, the money has already been given away, it's not easy to get it back, what do you suggest we do?" Luo Qingyan looked timidly at Luo Daocheng. Her father was indeed easy to manipulate. It seemed that not only would the ten thousand taels be forgiven, but the five hundred taels could also be given.

"It's good that the Duke's mansion didn't say anything. Don't worry about the ten thousand taels. I'll talk to Haitang later and tell her not to ask you for it. Just serve the young master well and don't upset him. Also, say a few good words for me to the young master. Maybe I can get promoted in this year's assessment."

There's no reason to ask for the money given as bribes back; Luo Haitang is truly insensible.

Luo Daocheng emphasized the word "promotion." He hadn't been promoted in over ten years, and he longed for it so much.

"I'm relieved to hear Father's words. I will definitely speak well of you in front of the Crown Prince. That's right, that's right." Luo Qingyan frowned, hesitating to speak.

"What is it? Tell me quickly!" Luo Daocheng asked anxiously.

"The person my mother injured is still unconscious, and they want to pay five hundred taels in compensation." Luo Qingyan feigned fear, her voice becoming much softer.

"It's just five hundred taels, don't worry, I'll have Haitang give it to you."

"Go and call the young lady."

Luo Daocheng gave instructions to his servant.

"I'm here, Father. I can't give you five hundred taels." Luo Haitang rushed over after hearing from her maid Huamei that Luo Qingyan had arrived. She had a feeling that Luo Qingyan wasn't as gentle and easy to talk to as usual, and sure enough, it couldn't be anything good. "I just took out ten thousand taels, and there's almost no cash in the manor. You can't use my dowry to pay for it."

"Sister, you're dressed so nicely. The family is in trouble; you can't just leave without contributing anything, can you?"

"Sister, this dress was a gift from the Duke's mansion. I said last time that there was no cash reward. We can't just take off the dress and pawn it, can we? How about we use your dowry to offset it? I don't even have a dowry. I'd like to help, but I'm powerless to do so. I'm sure Mother will have a way to make up for your dowry when she comes back." Luo Qingyan said in a gentle tone.

Her mother, Sun, never thought of preparing a dowry for her. She promised Ye Hui to her, and only prepared two loads of dowry filled with cotton quilts to make a show of it.

"Qingyan is right. Haitang, your dowry is no less than ten thousand taels, so you only need to borrow five hundred taels."

Luo Daocheng pulled Luo Haitang aside and whispered, "Don't provoke the Duke's Mansion."

Her face flushed with anger, Luo Haitang angrily went to fetch two sets of jewelry: "Sister, this is worth five hundred taels."

"Sister, Mother will be very grateful for all you've done. Please accept this, Granny Liu."

Luo Haitang held onto the brocade box tightly, but Liu Mama glared at her and suddenly snatched it away.

Luo Qingyan smiled and left, and Luo Daocheng escorted her to the carriage.

"Father, do you know how much silver is left in the household?"

Seeing Luo Qingyan walk away, Luo Haitang stomped her feet in anger.