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

The night was filled with chaos; not only Liu Yuansheng and the others were disturbed, but even the old lady got up and went to the Buddhist hall to chant sutras.

With so much chaos at home all at once, it seemed impossible to live a peaceful life. For the next few days, Liu Yuansheng could hardly sleep at night, and it wasn't until the fifth day that everything finally settled down.

Yuan Min was divorced and imprisoned in an abandoned courtyard to await death. Xiao Jingting was sent to the family temple and was forbidden from visiting for three years.

He Manniang was thrown into prison by Xiao Jinghan, while Wang Hanxuan was unharmed. It is said that Liu Jingyuan has already begun to arrange their wedding.

On the seventh day, Liu Yuansheng regained some of his strength and immediately went to Baohe Hall to visit the old lady.

She originally thought that the old lady was too frightened and would have an emotional breakdown after learning about the family scandal. Unexpectedly, the old lady was very calm. First, she scolded Yuan Shi, then she blamed Xiao Jingting, and finally she started talking about Xiao Jinghan.

"He's always like this; when he strikes, it's all thunder and lightning. But from these things, I can also see his determination to protect you, which is good. It's just a pity for that child, Qinghe."

As Liu Yuansheng slowly applied medicine to the old lady's knees, she listened to what the old lady was saying.

The old lady's leg ailment was still fluctuating, and recently, as the weather got colder, it had become increasingly severe. These ointments were formulated by her after consulting medical books some time ago, but she hadn't had time to give them to the old lady until these past two days. She finally had some free time to make the ointments and give them to the old lady to try, to see how effective they were.

"In a few days, you can come with me to my hometown for a while." The old lady looked at Liu Yuansheng with heartache and said, "Ever since you married into the family, life has been anything but peaceful. And now that the weather is getting cold, your health is weak, and you are prone to getting sick if you stay in the capital. Why don't you come with me to the south? Firstly, you can recuperate, and secondly, you can avoid your family and avoid having to deal with the trouble of your father's adopted daughter's wedding."

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback upon hearing this.

Two days ago, the butler Han Bin sent a message to Ying'er, saying that Liu Jingyuan intended for Liu Nianxi and Wang Hanxuan to get married next month, and invited her and Xiao Jinghan to go back to attend the wedding.

She naturally didn't want to go, but if she didn't, the Liu family would definitely say that she was arrogant and looked down on her own family after marrying into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. She didn't care, but she didn't want Xiao Jinghan to be criticized. So as long as she stayed in the capital, she would have to show her face whenever the Liu family had something to do.

Who told her that she had the blood of the Liu family flowing in her veins?

But if he went to the old lady's hometown in Xuzhou, it would be different. He could say that he was taking care of the old lady in Xuzhou and declined the Prime Minister's invitation.

It must be said that the old lady truly cared for him.

However, this was not what she wanted; what she wanted was Xiao Jinghan's divorce agreement.

She had originally planned to bring up the matter with Xiao Jinghan after the Mid-Autumn Festival and the completion of Xiao Jingzhuo's engagement banquet, but so many things have happened. If she were to divorce Xiao Jinghan at this critical juncture, what would people outside say about the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?

Liu Yuansheng didn't want to cause Xiao Jinghan any trouble, yet she was truly eager to divorce him, leaving her hesitant and indecisive. The old lady, waiting in vain for her reply, couldn't help but ask, "Why are you taking so long to consider this? Is there something you're worried about?"

Liu Yuansheng looked up and saw the old lady gazing at her with a kind expression. She bit her tongue hard and finally mustered up her courage, "Grandmother..."

"Madam, the eldest young mistress has come to see you."

Before Liu Yuansheng could speak, Granny Tian walked in and said.

"Oh, Qinghe is here." The old lady sat up from the cushion. "Let her in."

"Yes."

Granny Tian went to deliver the message, and the old lady patted Liu Yuansheng's hand, "Alright, child, get up, no need to massage anymore. Have a cup of tea and rest."

Helpless, Liu Yuansheng had no choice but to swallow her thoughts, stand up, and sit down to the side.

A moment later, Xie Qinghe came in.

She wore a long, pomegranate-red satin dress embroidered with gold thread depicting peonies, the petals inlaid with tiny freshwater pearls. Over this dress was a smoky-colored, translucent silk gauze robe, with silver thread embroidered with flowing clouds.

Her hair was styled in a full and intricate bun, adorned with a golden phoenix inlaid with kingfisher feathers and pearls, and decorated with coral flowers with pearls and tourmaline flat ornaments. Delicate silver tassels hung from her temples, swaying and shimmering as she walked.

Even with gorgeous clothes and exquisite makeup, she couldn't hide the fatigue in her eyes.

She lifted the curtain and entered, first glancing at Liu Yuansheng, who was dressed in a plain blue Hangzhou silk dress, without any makeup, and with a pure and refined beauty, before curtsying to the old lady. "Granddaughter-in-law has come to pay her respects to Grandmother. Lately, the weather has been dry, so this morning I stewed some bird's nest and lotus seed soup and kept it warm in the small stove. It's just the right consistency now, so I brought some for Grandmother. Please drink it while it's hot to nourish your body."

As Xie Qinghe spoke, she instructed a maid to take a bowl of bird's nest and lotus seed soup from the food box and place it on the rosewood lotus-patterned kang table in front of the old lady. The old lady smiled and said to Xie Qinghe, "Good child, you are so thoughtful. Please sit down and have some snacks with me."

As soon as she finished speaking, the servants immediately placed tea and snacks on the kang table. Xie Qinghe nodded in agreement, then asked Liu Yuansheng, "When did you arrive, Third Sister-in-law?"

"I've been here for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, sister-in-law."

"Oh," Xie Qinghe said, "I see dark circles under your eyes, you must not have rested well these past two days. When you get back, rub them with an egg, it should help."

"Okay," Liu Yuansheng said. "Thank you for your guidance, sister-in-law."

Xie Qinghe smiled gently and withdrew her gaze. The old lady looked Xie Qinghe up and down and said calmly, "The household has been quite unsettled lately, and I'm sorry to have troubled you two, especially Qinghe."

The old lady leaned against the pillow, looking at Xie Qinghe with a kind yet serious expression, and said, "I know you feel wronged. Anyone would feel wronged in this situation, and it would be easy to get upset. But you have to think long-term. You are the legitimate young mistress of our household, and your grandmother knows the respect and dignity you deserve. I will never let you suffer any injustice or lose face."

"I understand, granddaughter-in-law." Xie Qinghe suddenly felt a little teary-eyed. She raised her hand and pressed her eyes together, saying, "I understand all these principles."

"It's good that you understand," the old lady said. "I have already ordered people to take back all the private properties under the names of Yuan Shi and Jing Ting, and hand them all over to you to manage. From now on, you three sisters-in-law must help each other, get along well, manage the internal affairs of the mansion together, and safeguard the family property of the Duke of Zhenguo. You must not let any discord arise and disrupt the order of the inner quarters."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng and Xie Qinghe stood up together and replied, "Yes."

After chatting with the old lady for a while, the two left Baohe Hall.

Xie Qinghe, who had been holding her breath, collapsed instantly, weakly saying to Liu Yuansheng, "Fourth sister-in-law is about to enter the manor. Tell me, is our manor becoming more and more desolate, or more and more lively?"

Xie Qinghe kept looking up at the sky as she spoke, her eyes red, as if she was about to cry.

Since meeting Xie Qinghe, Liu Yuansheng had never seen her so upset. She had always been so spirited and cheerful, never so disheartened.

This was destined to be a failed marriage, but Liu Yuansheng couldn't bear to see Xie Qinghe become depressed because of it.

But she had no idea how to comfort Xie Qinghe, after all, she herself was also troubled by love, and was constantly sad and frowning.

Everyone has their own sorrows.

Xie Qinghe lowered her head and saw Liu Yuansheng looking at her with a pained expression, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

She gave a bitter smile and comforted Liu Yuansheng, saying, "Yuansheng, you don't need to look at me like that. Everyone has their own fate, and I accept it."

Liu Yuansheng paused for a moment, then asked, "When did you find out?"

"Sigh, I found out the next day," Xie Qinghe said. "Although Third Brother kept the news as tight as an iron barrel, there are no secrets in this world. I'm afraid that after a while, the whole capital will know, and we will become a laughing stock."

Xie Qinghe sighed again as she spoke, and Liu Yuansheng couldn't help but sigh as well, "If a person is trapped in rumors and gossip, then there's really no point in living."

"Who says otherwise?" Xie Qinghe chuckled. "It seems that my third sister-in-law is trapped in the gossip."

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback, and for a moment he couldn't understand what Xie Qinghe meant by those words.

Xie Qinghe: "Don't overthink it, I was just saying it casually." She paused, then asked, "Yuansheng, if you were me, what would you do?"

This stumped Liu Yuansheng again.

She hasn't recovered from the previous question yet.

"Me?" Liu Yuansheng thought about it seriously and gave her answer, "I will get a divorce."

Divorce.

Xie Qinghe's heart skipped a beat.

She suddenly recalled the words Xiao Jingting had said to her when he left the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

She hated Xiao Jingting to the core, disgusted by his behavior, and wanted to find him and give him a good beating to vent her anger. But when she got beaten up, Xiao Jingting just laughed, a sinister laugh that sent chills down her spine.

She asked Xiao Jingting why he was laughing, and Xiao Jingting replied that she had nothing to be proud of. After he and Yuan Min fell, Xiao Jinghan's next target would be her.

She seized control of the household management from her and handed it over to Liu Yuansheng, thus completely taking control of the entire Zhenguo Duke's Mansion and rendering them powerless.

At that time, their every breath will depend on Xiao Jinghan and Liu Yuansheng's expressions.

If she proposes a divorce, Xiao Jinghan will take everything under her name and give it to Liu Yuansheng, leaving her with nothing.

Why? Why?

Xie Qinghe clenched her fists tightly, forced a smile, and said, "Divorce isn't that easy. Even if I don't care about my own reputation, I still have to consider the reputation of my family."

"Sigh, it's just so hard being a woman."

Xie Qinghe sighed softly, easily changed the subject, and chatted with Liu Yuansheng as they walked away...

Back at Chenxiang Courtyard, Liu Yuansheng was completely exhausted.

As soon as they entered the room, Ying'er brought over some medicine and told Liu Yuansheng to drink it and sleep for a while.

Liu Yuansheng took the medicine and was very sleepy, but she couldn't fall asleep. Ying'er couldn't help but ask, "Miss, won't you rest for a while? You haven't been sleeping well these past few days and you've lost weight. You finally have some free time, so please take a break."

"I want to sleep, but I can't," Liu Yuansheng said, leaning back on the bed. "My mind is in turmoil."

"Don't even mention Miss, I'm terribly panicked too!" Ying'er leaned closer and whispered in Liu Yuansheng's ear, "I heard that Madam and the eldest young master were having an affair, and the young master caught them red-handed! Is that true, Miss?"

Liu Yuansheng glanced at Ying'er but didn't say anything.

Xie Qinghe is right. Even though Xiao Jinghan blocked all the news, rumors still got out.

"Miss, tell me! I'm so curious!" Ying'er always loved gossip. "I also heard that Fourth Miss was... was... given... to... by some Lord Wang's son or nephew! Is it true?"

Liu Yuansheng was in a real bind.

These past few days, all this messy stuff has almost killed her.

Actually, she didn't do anything, but just standing aside watching Xiao Jinghan clean up the mess made her feel tired for him. She hadn't slept well these past few days, but at least she had some sleep. Xiao Jinghan, on the other hand, had truly been unable to sleep at night and had stayed up for several nights.

Moreover, it seems she hasn't seen Xiao Jinghan for a whole day and night. Wasn't everything handled properly? Where is he?

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Xiao Jinghan walked in, saying, "What's this about real or fake? You silly girl, instead of doing chores, what are you asking around about?"

Upon hearing this, Ying'er immediately stood up straight.

Liu Yuansheng also sat up and looked at Xiao Jinghan.

He wore a dark blue brocade robe with gold cloud patterns and a round collar. The wide sleeves were neatly fitted, and a jade belt with a jade pendant hung at his waist. He had a dark green thumb ring on his hand. With each step, the brocade robe fluttered lightly. He had a dignified and elegant demeanor, and his presence was imposing without anger.

Despite not having slept well for several days, he was still full of energy, and when he entered, the whole room seemed to light up.

"Your Highness," Liu Yuansheng greeted Xiao Jinghan, "you've arrived."

"Well, I took care of some business at the government office. Did you go visit your grandmother?" Xiao Jinghan said casually as he sat down next to Liu Yuansheng.

Liu Yuansheng nodded and said that he had met Xie Qinghe at Baohetang. "My sister-in-law is very sad because of my brother's matter. I am worried that she might do something to hurt herself."

"Sister-in-law is a strong-willed woman; she wouldn't do anything rash," Xiao Jinghan said, looking at Liu Yuansheng. "You care so much about others, but have you ever taken care of yourself? The dark circles under your eyes are so thick they could be used as ink."

Ying'er chuckled beside her, and Liu Yuansheng awkwardly raised his hand and touched his face.

"Laugh, laugh, what are you laughing at?" Xiao Jinghan glared at Ying'er. "Go get two cold tea bags and put some on your young lady's eyes."

"yes!"

Ying'er stopped laughing and ran off in a flash. As soon as she left, Xiao Jinghan immediately sat on the bed and said, "I'm exhausted. Seeing this bed makes me really want to sleep."

Liu Yuansheng stared intently at Xiao Jinghan. "Young Master, how did you find out about what happened in the manor?"

"You're interested in solving cases?" Xiao Jinghan looked up and said, "There's a lot more to it than meets the eye; it could take three days and three nights to explain. Are you sure you want to hear it?"

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback.

She really didn't know where to begin, or what to listen to, so she picked up on something she hadn't figured out yet and asked, "Was it you who arranged for Wang Hanxuan to come?"