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

Liu Jingyuan was taken aback upon hearing this and asked, "Whom did the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion send?"

"Madam Yuan, the second wife," Han Fu said.

Upon hearing that the visitor was Madam Yuan, Liu Jingyuan's expression turned solemn, and he said, "Since it is Madam Yuan who has come, why don't you quickly welcome her into the main hall?"

"Yes, sir."

Han Fu withdrew. Shortly after, Yuan Min, the stepmother of the Duke of Zhenguo, and her servants entered Qingfeng Hall.

Liu Jingyuan rose to greet her, "Madam Yuan, it is an honor to have you here. I apologize for not being able to welcome you properly and for not waiting for you. I hope you will forgive me."

"Prime Minister Liu, you are too kind." Yuan Min said calmly and slowly, "I came in a hurry, and I may have disturbed Prime Minister Liu."

"How could that be? How could that be?" Liu Jingyuan gestured for Yuan Min to sit down while instructing a servant, "Serve tea to Madam."

Yuan Min raised her hand to stop her, "No need for tea. I'm here to talk about something important, and I'll leave after I'm done."

Having said that, he raised his head, looking at the disheveled Liu Yuansheng with disdain, and said, "What are Prime Minister Liu's plans regarding last night's events?"

Liu Jingyuan said solemnly, "I have failed in my duty to educate my daughter, which has led to such a disgraceful incident and implicated the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. I cannot shirk my responsibility. It has now been decided that she will be confined to the Buddhist hall to reflect on her mistakes. After a month, she will be sent to the estate to fend for herself."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Min chuckled and said, "Let them fend for themselves? That won't do. My matriarch has ordered that Liu Yuansheng, the eldest daughter of the Liu family, be married into the manor and become the third young mistress of the Duke of Zhenguo's manor."

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in uproar.

"What? You're going to marry her? Did I hear that right?" Liu Nianxi stared at Madam Yuan in disbelief, her neck stiff.

"Madam Yuan, how can a woman like her be worthy of entering the prestigious Zhenguo Duke's mansion?" Liu Yunze was equally incredulous. "A person like her should be beaten to death as a warning to others!"

"You two, shut up!" Liu Jingyuan glared at them, angrily rebuking them. "How dare you spout nonsense in front of such an honored guest!"

Liu Nianxi and Liu Yunze exchanged a glance, then awkwardly retreated behind Liu Jingyuan. Liu Jingyuan lightly flicked his sleeve and said, "Does Madam Yuan mean that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is willing to marry Yuan Sheng?"

"Yes," said Madam Yuan. "Prime Minister Liu must also understand that such a thing has brought shame to both our families. Rather than letting the two of them become a laughing stock in the capital, it would be better to tell the outside world that the two of them have long been deeply in love with each other and that it was only natural for them to become husband and wife."

Liu Jingyuan remained silent for a while after hearing this.

The Duke of Zhenguo's family has been a prominent and wealthy family for generations, enjoying a life of luxury and prestige. They are among the most prestigious noble families in the capital. Xiao Jinghan, as the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, has a limitless future. It would be ideal to form a marriage alliance with him, but…

Liu Jingyuan coughed a few times, glanced at Liu Yuansheng who was standing there like a wooden stake, and said, "Yuansheng, do you have anything to say?"

Liu Yuansheng lowered her eyes, which remained calm and still, and did not respond.

She remained silent, and Madam Yuan, having no time to waste, twirled the handkerchief in her hand and said coolly, "My matriarch said that the ninth day of next month is an auspicious day. The wedding sedan chair from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will come to fetch you then. Liu Yuansheng, are you willing?"

Liu Yuansheng remained expressionless, still appearing as if she were in a daze.

Seeing this, Liu Nianxi was extremely anxious and wished she could rush out and agree for her! But Su Tinglan held her tightly, not allowing her to act recklessly.

The whole family remained silent, which Yuanmin took as tacit agreement. She then stood up and said, "I have said what I needed to say. I won't bother you any longer. Farewell."

Yuan Min nodded in acknowledgment, turned and left. Just as she stepped out of Qingfeng Hall, Liu Yuansheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly said, "I don't want to."

Yuan Min abruptly stopped in her tracks. "What did you say?"

"I said, I don't want to," Liu Yuansheng repeated.

Yuan Min frowned slightly, staring at the slender figure kneeling on the ground with some surprise. Liu Jingyuan, Su Tinglan, and the others were even more dumbfounded, standing there blankly, seemingly unable to believe that Liu Yuansheng had actually rejected Madam Yuan.

"Yuansheng, are you confused? This is the best outcome for you," Liu Yunheng said anxiously.

Liu Yunze scoffed dismissively, "You should be grateful that Young Master Xiao wants you! You've done things like that, what are you trying to prove?"

Liu Jingyuan quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "This child must be confused; Madam, there's no need to take it to heart." He smiled and bowed slightly to Yuan Min, saying, "I'm sorry to trouble Madam Yuan to make this trip. However, our children's marriage is a major matter; please allow me a few days to consider it."

Yuan Min raised her beautiful eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Five days. If you still can't make up your mind after five days, then let's just leave it at that."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

As soon as Yuan Min left, Qingfeng Hall descended into chaos. Liu Nianxi rushed out crying, shouting, "Why? Why should she marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? I don't agree!"

"I didn't expect Xiao Jinghan to be so easy to manipulate; she actually succeeded in her scheme!" Liu Yunze gave Liu Yuansheng a thumbs up and said sarcastically, "Good plan, congratulations!"

"You bitch, I'll tear your face apart!"

Consumed by jealousy, Liu Nianxi grabbed Liu Yuansheng, about to scratch her face, but Liu Jingyuan quickly pushed her away, saying, "Nianxi, what are you doing?"

"Father, she stole my beloved! The young master is mine! He's mine!"

"Are you crazy? Get out of here!" Liu Jingyuan shoved Liu Nianxi into Su Tinglan's arms, glanced at Liu Yuansheng whose clothes were disheveled by Liu Nianxi, and ordered, "Guards, lock the Third Miss in the Buddhist hall. No one is to release her without my order!"

The chaotic Prime Minister's residence finally quieted down after nightfall.

Liu Nianxi, her eyes swollen from crying, complained in a hoarse voice after being dragged back to her own courtyard by Su Tinglan, "Auntie! Why are you stopping me? I'll smear her face and see how she marries into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!"

Although Su Tinglan was officially recognized as Liu Jingyuan's wife, Liu Nianxi and her two siblings never changed their address to her and still called her Aunt. Liu Nianxi lost her mother, Bai, when she was three years old and was almost raised by Su Tinglan. She regarded Su Tinglan as her birth mother and was willing to listen to any advice Su Tinglan gave her.

The events that occurred at the Princess's residence were actually orchestrated by Su Tinglan, who helped Liu Nianxi eliminate Liu Yuansheng, a thorn in her side.

According to the plan, after Liu Yuansheng faints, he will be sent to a side hall. Then, the people they arranged in advance will enter the side hall, have sex with Liu Yuansheng, and then Su Tinglan will lead the crowd to expose their shameful affair to the public.

If the plan succeeds, Liu Yuansheng will never be able to turn things around!

Unfortunately, the person Su Tinglan had arranged got lost in the princess's residence. By the time he found him, Xiao Jinghan, who was drunk, had already gone to sleep in a side hall, and that's when the rest of the story happened.

When Su Tinglan rushed to catch the adulterer, she was also startled by Xiao Jinghan's sudden appearance. But things had already turned out this way, so she could only grit her teeth and continue the act.

Originally, I thought that Liu Jingyuan would severely punish Liu Yuansheng and kick her out of the house! In that case, it would be the same as the original goal, albeit by different means.

Who would have thought that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would actually send Yuan Min to negotiate peace, and actually want to marry Liu Yuansheng into the family!

Su Tinglan was at a loss for what to do, but she knew she couldn't let Liu Nianxi act recklessly, so she kept trying to comfort her: "Xiao Jinghan is indeed handsome and capable, but his character is flawed, and he's really not a good match for you!"

"Haven't you heard? A while ago, he brought a newborn baby back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and it caused quite a stir. Do you want to marry into the family and become a stepmother to another woman's child? Do you want to compete with another woman for a man?"

"I don't care if he has children! I don't care if he has other women! I'm going to marry him!" Liu Nianxi pleaded, clinging to Su Tinglan. "Auntie! Please think of something for me!"

"Okay, okay! Your aunt will think of a way for you, don't cry!"

Su Tinglan was gently comforting Liu Nianxi when her maid Caiyue suddenly rushed in, saying, "Madam, something terrible has happened! The Third Miss committed suicide in the Buddhist hall!"