After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

"You think you can just say no and then deny it?" Xie Qinghe said. "Guards, bring the evidence!"

"yes!"

Before long, two old women carried up a box, which was covered in snow.

"It's just a box of gold; that doesn't prove anything," Liu Yuansheng said. "Based on that alone, I won't hand over Ying'er."

Seeing Liu Yuansheng's eagerness to protect her servant, Xie Qinghe said, "Granny Xia, you speak."

The old woman in charge of carrying the box in stepped forward, bowed to Xie Qinghe and Liu Yuansheng, and said, "Reporting to the young mistress, this servant saw with her own eyes the maid Ying'er carrying this box out of the storeroom and hiding it in the snow, suspected of theft."

"No sooner had Ying'er left than I led people to search for her, dug up this box, and tried to catch Ying'er, but the maid ran off quickly and went straight to find the Third Young Mistress."

"Yuan Sheng, you understand everything now, right?" Xie Qinghe said coldly. "With witnesses and physical evidence, you'd better hand over Ying'er."

"If this is true, how does your sister-in-law plan to deal with Ying'er?" Liu Yuansheng asked.

"Of course, we should kick her out." Xie Qinghe glared at Ying'er. "Yuan Sheng, the rules of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion are here. You can't disobey them for a mere maid, can you?"

Liu Yuansheng remained silent for a while.

Even if Ying'er hadn't done it, she still wouldn't have handed Ying'er over.

If Ying'er had made a mistake, Xie Qinghe, as her older sister, would naturally teach her a lesson. But in this situation, it was clear that Xie Qinghe was afraid Ying'er would expose her affair and was eager to punish Ying'er.

The excuse of kicking Ying'er out is just that—an excuse. I'm afraid that as soon as Ying'er leaves, Xie Qinghe will send someone to kill her.

Liu Yuansheng grew increasingly frightened as she thought about it. She glanced at the box full of gold and said, "Just now, this Granny Xia said that she saw Ying'er hiding gold with her own eyes. But when Granny Xia brought this box of gold in, she still needed another nanny to help her. How can you be so sure that Ying'er, who is so weak, can carry such a large box of gold around the manor all by herself?"

Upon hearing this, not only were Granny Xia and Xie Qinghe stunned, but even Ying'er was taken aback.

Her daughter is so smart!

Ying'er immediately stood up straight and said, "That's right, you say I stole gold, but this gold is so heavy, I can't move it at all."

Xie Qinghe's expression changed repeatedly. Clearly, she was so focused on taking the blame for Ying'er that she forgot to consider the practical reasons, which allowed Liu Yuansheng to take advantage of the situation.

"What kind of reason is that? You've got plenty of strength to get your hands on something for money." Unable to persuade Liu Yuansheng, Xie Qinghe began to put on the airs of the eldest young mistress to suppress her. "Yuansheng, I know your third brother dotes on you. But I manage the household affairs in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and I'm your sister-in-law. Can't I even punish a little maid?"

"Of course, sister-in-law can punish my maid, but she hasn't done anything wrong. Why should she be punished?" Liu Yuansheng didn't want to get entangled with Xie Qinghe any further. Considering their past friendship, she didn't want to fall out with her, so she said, "How about this, let's each take a step back and investigate this matter when we get back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?"

Xie Qinghe did not respond.

Of course it was bad. The reason she was in such a hurry to deal with Ying'er at the manor was because she was worried that things might get complicated if she waited too long and Ying'er would strike first.

After all, compared to stealing gold, what she committed was an unforgivable mistake.

"It seems you're determined to oppose me today." Xie Qinghe draped her arm over the armchair and said, "In that case, don't blame me for disregarding our past relationship and being ruthless towards you. Guards!"

Xie Qinghe summoned his subordinates, "Arrest this Han Ying'er and interrogate her severely!"

"yes!"

The servants swarmed forward and surrounded Liu Yuansheng and Ying'er. Ying'er, despite being trapped, did not forget to protect them. She stood in front of Liu Yuansheng with her arms outstretched and said, "You can arrest me if you want, but don't hurt my young lady."

"Ying'er!"

Liu Yuansheng wanted to save Ying'er, but he was too weak and could only watch helplessly as Ying'er's arms were tied behind her back and she was pinned to the ground by the nanny.

"Ying'er!" Liu Yuansheng was anxious and angrily said to the haughty Xie Qinghe, "Make them release Ying'er, or I will not be polite."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a very authoritative male voice rang out, "What's all this commotion? You can't even keep quiet now that you're at the manor. What's going on this time?"

It's Xiao Jinghan's voice!

Liu Yuansheng immediately looked towards the door and, sure enough, saw Xiao Jinghan.

He was wearing a black fox fur coat, and his hair was covered in snow. As soon as he entered, he went to her. "Are you alright?"

Liu Yuansheng's eyes welled up with tears, and she took the initiative to greet Xiao Jinghan, "Your Highness, you've come."

Xiao Jinghan nodded, comforting Liu Yuansheng while taking off his fox fur coat and saying to Xie Qinghe, whose face had turned pale, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Why have you made Yuansheng's eyes red?"

Liu Yuansheng's eyes reddened after seeing Xiao Jinghan, but since Xiao Jinghan had already said so, she took the opportunity to grab Xiao Jinghan's sleeve and said, "Young Master, please save Ying'er. Ying'er has been wrongly accused of theft."

"Oh?" Xiao Jinghan then looked at Ying'er, who was kneeling on the ground. "You stole something?"

"Young Master, I didn't!" Ying'er struggled fiercely. "I've followed Miss around; what haven't I seen? The things Miss has bestowed upon me are far more valuable than this box of gold! Why would I risk stealing?"

"Hmm, that makes sense." Xiao Jinghan glanced at the old women with a cool look. The old women were terrified and quickly let go of Ying'er.

"Ying'er!"

Liu Yuansheng helped Ying'er to her feet, originally thinking that since Xiao Jinghan had arrived, she should quickly leave with him to avoid trouble. However, Ying'er, still furious, knelt down before Xiao Jinghan and blurted out, "Young Master, this servant wants to accuse the eldest young mistress of adultery!"

These words shocked the entire room.

Xie Qinghe, who had been sitting steadily in the main seat, suddenly stood up. "Ying'er, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Liu Yuansheng couldn't bear to see Xie Qinghe's reputation ruined, so he stopped Ying'er and said, "Ying'er, don't talk nonsense."

"Miss, I'm not lying!" Ying'er looked up at Liu Yuansheng and said, "Miss, you don't need to be soft-hearted and cover for the eldest young mistress. You care about the eldest young mistress, but she doesn't care about you. Just now, the eldest young mistress even had the servants push you. She even wanted to kick me out and kill me."

Liu Yuansheng was speechless, while Xiao Jinghan asked with curiosity, "Oh, the eldest young mistress is having an affair? With whom?"

"A man from the village!" Ying'er said. "I remember what he looked like."

"That's good." Xiao Jinghan ordered, "Go, immediately summon all the men in the manor, not one less. Anyone who dares not to come, I will kill them."

After these words were spoken, who would dare to hide and not come to see Xiao Jinghan?

After all, being found out about having an affair with Xie Qinghe might not necessarily lead to death, but not coming to see Xiao Jinghan would definitely lead to death.

The villagers knelt on the ground in droves, which gave Liu Yuansheng a terrible headache. Xie Qinghe was even more out of the question; from the moment Xiao Jinghan walked in, she seemed like a completely different person, as if her soul had left her body.

"Look who it is," Xiao Jinghan asked.

Ying'er looked through the rows of houses, then pointed to a farmer with his head bowed, a strong build, and a handsome appearance, and said, "That's him!"

The peasant, who was already trembling, kowtowed twice upon hearing Ying'er's accusation, saying, "Young Master, I was forced! The eldest young mistress coaxed me gently. If I hadn't agreed, she would have definitely retaliated!"

This means they've admitted it.

Xiao Jinghan waved for the others to leave, giving Xie Qinghe some face. "Sister-in-law, what do you say about this?"

Xie Qinghe squeezed her eyes shut.

Ying'er wasn't caught red-handed, but she was.

"I have nothing to say. I just accept it." Xie Qinghe slumped into the armchair, a desolate smile on her face. "I originally wanted to cover it up even if it meant certain death, but then you came. The moment I saw you, I knew I was finished."

After saying that, he smiled at Liu Yuansheng and said, "Yuansheng, I really envy you. In critical moments, your third brother always appears to protect you and support you. I have been married to Xiao Jingting for several years, and he has never protected me once. He has even slept with me a handful of times."

Liu Yuansheng's pupils twitched. "Sister-in-law, are you confused?!"

"Am I confused? It's alright, I'm very happy." Xie Qinghe laughed maniacally. "Why are they allowed to do whatever they want, but I'm not allowed to indulge myself? Just because I'm a woman? What's wrong with being a woman? Yuan Min can sleep with her own stepson, I'm just unwilling to live a life of widowhood, so I'm looking for a man to have some fun. Am I wrong?"

Liu Yuansheng was at a loss for words.

"If you and your elder brother were to divorce, that would be one thing, but this..."

"What is this?" Xie Qinghe rudely interrupted Liu Yuansheng. "What? You think I'm lowly and lewd? Heh, Yuansheng, don't forget, when you first entered the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, your reputation was just as bad as mine now. You just met someone who loves you."

Those who love her?

Liu Yuansheng subconsciously looked at Xiao Jinghan, who happened to be looking at her as well.

Their eyes met, and Liu Yuansheng quickly looked away, slightly flustered, and said, "Now that this has happened, sister-in-law, how are you going to clean up this mess?"

Her words were full of emotion, clearly showing that she was genuinely worried about Xie Qinghe's situation and did not want to see her actually be punished for this.

Xie Qinghe was taken aback, probably not expecting that Liu Yuansheng would still be willing to consider her, especially after how she had just treated her.

Xie Qinghe felt a pang of sadness. Did she regret it? Yes, she regretted it, but even more so, she felt hatred.

"Third brother, do you know that ever since I found out about Yuan Min and your eldest brother, I've been hoping they would die?"

"But Yuanmin's family is powerful. They've been protecting her openly and secretly, saying they wanted to starve her to death. Look how long it's been, and she's still alive and well."

"What are you trying to say?" Xiao Jinghan asked.

Xie Qinghe shook her head: "I don't want to express anything, I just feel it's boring."

She wiped her nose and said, "You are the head of the Xiao family. Do with me as you see fit."

After saying that, Xie Qinghe stood up, glanced at Liu Yuansheng, and said, "Yuansheng, do you know? Xiao Jingting warned me before that one day, my third brother would help you take my place in the Xiao family."

"At first, I was really scared and on guard against you at every turn, but you didn't argue with me at all. It was my fault for causing such a shameful situation and ruining our friendship."

"Spend quality time with your third brother. Actually, I envy you."

After Xie Qinghe finished speaking, she left. Liu Yuansheng, however, was still unable to react and stared blankly at the armchair where Xie Qinghe had just been sitting.

Xiao Jinghan quickly made a decision.

He locked Xie Qinghe in the manor, forbidding her from stepping into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

When the old lady learned of this, she was so angry that she fell ill and did not recover for a long time. In addition, the weather was getting colder and colder, and her body became weaker and weaker.

Xiao Jinghan then suggested that Liu Yuansheng go to Xuzhou with the old lady for the winter.

"The winters in the capital are too cold, and it might harm the old lady's health. Why don't we have Yuansheng accompany her back to Xuzhou for a while, and she can come back when the weather warms up?"

Inside Baohe Hall, the underfloor heating was burning brightly. Xiao Jinghan and Liu Yuansheng stayed by the old lady's bedside, keeping her company and talking to her.

The old lady was furious with Xie Qinghe. After all, Xie Qinghe was someone she had personally promoted, and she was well-liked and had a steady demeanor. Who would have thought that such a thing would happen?

Xiao Jingting found it even stranger. He knew all about Xie Qinghe's mistakes, yet he didn't propose a divorce. It was as if he was deliberately torturing Xie Qinghe, leaving her in that remote manor, facing the place where she had made her mistakes every day.

Xie Qinghe was resolute and endured it all, but nothing happened. However, Yuan committed suicide, and no one knows the specific reason.

Not long after Yuan's death, Xiao Jingzhuo brought good news: Sun Zhiyao was pregnant.

The old lady, who was half-dead with anger, mustered her strength and thought of her unborn great-grandson. Looking at the well-behaved and sensible Liu Yuansheng, she couldn't help but sigh. It's been so long, why haven't these two gotten married yet?

Is there something wrong with their bodies, or did they simply not have sex for two days straight?

But the two of them seem to have a very good relationship, which shouldn't be the case...

The old lady's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, but she didn't answer Xiao Jinghan's question. Xiao Jinghan had no choice but to repeat himself, "Grandmother, what I mean is, let Yuansheng accompany you to Xuzhou for the winter. What do you think?"

"Should Yuansheng come with me?" The old lady changed her mind and said, "No, if you two are separated, how will you have a child?"

Liu Yuansheng, who was massaging the old lady's legs, paused.

She slowly raised her head, looking at the old lady somewhat awkwardly. The old lady patted her shoulder and said, "It's not that your grandmother is urging you, but look, even the newlywed Sun Shi is pregnant. You and Jinghan have been married for so long, why can't you get pregnant?"

Liu Yuansheng's eyes flickered, and then she lowered her head again.

She and Xiao Jinghan have never had sex, so of course she can't get pregnant.

As for the future, it will be even more impossible for her to conceive.

Because she wanted to divorce Xiao Jinghan.

"Grandmother, I don't know how to explain this to you," Liu Yuansheng said after a long silence. "Actually, I..."

"We will try our best."

Before Liu Yuansheng could finish speaking, Xiao Jinghan suddenly grabbed her cold hand and said, "Next year, next year I will definitely bring you good news!"