I just got divorced, and this cold, ruthless, and powerful minister is begging for a third child eve

At this moment, Xie Lanyu reached out and grabbed Qi Huan's sleeve. The dark circles under her eyes could not be hidden, but the pride in her eyes remained undiminished.

"With my senior brother's help, can this building hold out for ten days?"

Qi Huan turned around, a stern look appearing on his handsome and refined face.

"Junior Sister, didn't you hear what I just said? This building won't last ten days!"

"While this building is technically superb, its crossbeams are its Achilles' heel; the taller it gets, the more flimsy it becomes!"

Xie Lanyu stood in front of him, remained silent for a long time, and then suddenly looked up.

"I only need ten days... My birthday banquet is in ten days, and I don't want it to break down before that day..."

Qi Huan stared into Xie Lanyu's eyes, momentarily lost in thought.

Really similar.

Like the little girl who used to sit quietly in the snow outside Qingzhou City watching him draw.

Qi Huan withdrew his gaze, his voice softening.

"Junior Sister, I will do everything in my power to protect this building. After the birthday banquet, this building must be destroyed."

Xie Lanyu looked up with delight and reached out to tug at Qi Huan's sleeve.

"I knew my senior brother was the best to me."

Qi Huan looked down and saw the wound on her wrist.

"How did you get hurt?"

Xie Lanyu shook her head.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury."

Qi Huan frowned.

"If anyone treats you badly, be sure to tell your senior brother."

Seeing the aloof and composed girl nod slightly, he felt as if the softest spot in his heart had been pierced.

His junior sister rarely spoke up, but this time he was determined to make it happen for her no matter what.

"Don't worry, I will secretly reinforce it tomorrow."

Xie Lanyu's eyes curved slightly.

"Alright, I'll see my senior brother out."

Behind the flower stand, watching the two leave, Lingxiang clutched Gu Mingshuang's sleeve and asked anxiously:

"Miss, isn't that Lord Qi? Why would he help Miss Cousin? And why is he calling her 'Junior Sister'?"

Gu Mingshuang shook her head.

"I don't know either."

Seeing Xie Lanyu see Qi Huan off, Lingxiang pulled Gu Mingshuang aside and said urgently:

"Young lady, since you know Lord Qi, please go out and tell him..."

"It's no use." Gu Mingshuang interrupted Lingxiang, her voice very soft. "Senior Brother Qi is now wholeheartedly protecting Xie Lanyu. Even if I say something, he will only think that I am deliberately trying to sow discord."

"Besides, I wasn't close to him back in Qingzhou. After all these years, it's hard to say whether he even recognizes me."

Lingxiang frowned.

"That……"

Gu Mingshuang's gaze fell on the direction Qi Huan and Xie Lanyu had left.

"It's alright, let Xie Lanyu be smug for a few days."

Seeing someone vaguely heading towards Qingwu Garden, Gu Mingshuang quickly pulled Lingxiang back into the courtyard.

Just as he blocked the hole in the wall, the lock on the courtyard gate was opened, and Song Linyuan stood at the door, holding a silver note in his hand.

Upon seeing Gu Mingshuang, he handed over the silver notes.

"Ming Shuang, here is three thousand taels."

Gu Mingshuang didn't take it. She glanced at the silver note and asked:

"Where did it come from?"

Even if Song Linyuan sold land, he wouldn't be able to raise three thousand taels in just a few hours.

Song Linyuan lowered his eyes.

"For my sake, Ayu sold a blueprint for a pavilion to a lady."

Gu Mingshuang turned her head away.

"Was this money repaid by the young master or by Xie Lanyu?"

Song Linyuan's cheeks felt slightly hot.

"Of course it's me."

Gu Mingshuang smiled gently, looking at the silver notes held in mid-air, without moving.

"You returned it? Then tell me, what did you use to exchange for those three thousand taels with Xie Lanyu? What kind of person are you?"

Song Linyuan's face darkened.

"Ming Shuang, do you have to be so aggressive?"

Gu Mingshuang scoffed lightly.

"I won't accept this money."

"How much more do you want to pressure her?" Song Linyuan's face darkened further.

"Do you know that Ayu never uses her talent to make money? She did this for me this time!"

"And last night, she was really sick. I was so worried about her that I missed the ritual. Why did you have to make such a scene?"

Gu Mingshuang thought of Xie Lanyu, whom she had just seen, smiling radiantly beside Qi Huan, showing no discomfort whatsoever.

She didn't say much, only coldly stating:

"Your Highness, I have never forced anyone. I just want to leave cleanly and peacefully."

As she spoke, Gu Mingshuang reached out her hand to him.

"Where's the keepsake?"

A surge of anger welled up in Song Linyuan.

He gripped the jade pendant tucked into his sleeve and gritted his teeth, saying:

"I can give you the jade pendant, but you must promise me one thing."

A hint of coldness flashed in Gu Mingshuang's eyes.

"You still want to negotiate with me now? Song Linyuan, you're a nobleman's son now, not some street thug!"

Song Linyuan's face flushed red with embarrassment, and he said in a deep voice:

"I only ask that you come with me to the Duke of Anguo's mansion to resolve Ayu's matter, and then I will return the jade pendant to you."

Gu Mingshuang said sternly:

"Song Linyuan! I wanted to part ways with you gracefully!"

Song Linyuan's clenched fingers turned white at the knuckles.

"If you don't agree to this one thing, then I'm afraid I can't comply."

Thinking about what Ayu had done for him, he really couldn't just sit idly by.

Gu Mingshuang gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Okay, I promise."

Song Linyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Gu Mingshuang's cold and distant face, he felt as if something was gripping his heart, and a dull pain came from it.

"Ming Shuang, don't worry, I will make it up to you..."

Seeing the young master leave, Lingxiang said urgently:

"Miss! You're being foolish! How can you go to a man as tyrannical as the Duke of Anguo?"

Gu Mingshuang said calmly:

"It's alright. I need to leave the manor tomorrow anyway, and it will be more convenient to travel under this pretext."

"As for that Duke of Anguo, I think he's more straightforward than those monsters and demons in the Marquis's mansion."

As she spoke, Gu Mingshuang walked back to the corner of the wall, moved her fingers deftly a few times, and soon a hole was revealed in the wall.

Lingxiang looked at her daughter with a proud expression.

"Girls are the best!"

Gu Mingshuang chuckled softly.

"You think your daughter is the best at even crawling through walls."

Lingxiang said earnestly:

"That's right, my daughter is the most talented girl in the world. Otherwise, why would Pavilion Master Yun, who never takes on disciples, accept her?"

You should know that the formidable Lord Qi only received a little guidance after staying by the Pavilion Master's side for two years; he was never able to become his disciple!

Lingxiang sighed and said:

"Young lady, why don't we go find the Pavilion Master? With him and Madam Yun there, you'll have someone to back you up!"

Gu Mingshuang paused in her hand movements and said:

"My master has been searching for a cure for my mistress's health for many years. Last year, he finally met a miraculous doctor in the Western Regions. Now is the critical time for her treatment. How can I let them worry about me?"

Lingxiang nodded, but couldn't hold back her anger.

"But the Marquis's mansion is truly going too far; the young lady has been genuinely kind to them!"

Gu Mingshuang pushed aside the last brick, turned around and looked at Lingxiang, saying:

"Don't worry, your daughter won't swallow this insult for nothing."

As she spoke, Gu Mingshuang quietly led Lingxiang out of the courtyard wall.

She had seen the blueprints and knew that this hidden road led to Shou'an Hall by a small path.

Lingxiang crept along the wall toward Shou'an Hall, lowering her voice as she spoke:

"Young lady, are we really going to Shou'an Hall tonight?"

Gu Mingshuang nodded and quickened her pace with Lingxiang.

Inside Shou'an Hall.

Meng frowned.

"I only want to deal with Gu Mingshuang, why did you insist on bringing that old woman back? Don't you know how much Mother has suffered at her hands?"

Song Lanfang held Meng's hand reassuringly.

"My grandmother was a military officer, and she was decisive and efficient. She despised scheming women like Gu Mingshuang who used tricks to manipulate people. Having my grandmother take care of things saved us a lot of trouble."

"Even after this is all over, Grandmother will still be leaving, right? At that time, Mother will still be in charge of the Marquis's mansion."

Meng shook her round fan in annoyance and nodded reluctantly.

"That's the only way."

Then, Meng continued reassuringly:

"You don't know yet, do you? This time, Ayu gave Yuan'er three thousand taels of silver to pay off his debts."

Song Lanfang asked in surprise:

"Ayu brought so much silver?"

A look of pride appeared on Meng's face as she said:

"Six months ago, after she fell into the water while saving Yuan'er, she fell ill upon returning. When she woke up, she secretly went to learn construction techniques from a master."

"She was extremely talented, and within a year she was already sought after, with even the powerful and influential in Kyoto vying to get to know her."

"I heard from Yuan'er that her talent is priceless; she earned three thousand taels just from selling a single blueprint!"

Song Lanfang was even more astonished after hearing this.

"After only six months of study, a single drawing is worth three thousand taels!"

Meng nodded.

"Yuan'er said that her paintings would sell well, but Ayu is proud and unwilling to exchange her talent for money. This time, she made an exception to help the Marquis's family."

Song Lanfang remained silent for a moment, her joy almost uncontrollable.

"That Ayu is truly a lucky star for our Marquis's mansion. Mother, rest assured, with her here, the Marquis's mansion will not fall!"

Xie Lanyu's voice came from the doorway.

"Mother, the medicine is ready."

Gu Mingshuang hid in a dark corner, staring at Xie Lanyu for a long time.

Lingxiang whispered in Gu Mingshuang's ear:

"Miss, was the young lady eavesdropping too?"

Gu Mingshuang scoffed lightly.

"Xie Lanyu is much smarter than them..."

Upon seeing Xie Lanyu, Song Lanfang eagerly stepped forward to take the tray.

"Look at you, you're too sensible. You're not even fully recovered yet, how can you do this kind of work? How can you draw with your hand injured?"

Xie Lanyu sighed.

"I feel a little more at ease now that I was able to help my mother and cousin this time."

"However, the matter of the Duke of Anguo's mansion cannot be kept secret for long. My reputation has been damaged, and it is inconvenient for me to go out anymore. I may not be able to draw anymore in the future."

Meng, however, spoke calmly.

"Don't worry, Yuan'er just came by. He has already persuaded Madam Gu to go to the Duke of Anguo's mansion to confess your guilt."

Xie Lanyu looked up in surprise.

"Is my cousin's wife really willing?"

Song Lanfang scoffed.

"Doesn't she understand that to Lin Yuan, you are number one, and she is nothing?"

Song Lanfang smiled meaningfully.

"With Lin Yuan protecting you, you can still go out to study and host banquets, everything will remain the same."

Xie Lanyu shook her head.

"When I travel, everything I own is quite expensive. The Marquis's mansion is currently facing its most difficult time, and I cannot afford to spend the Marquis's money any longer."

Song Lanfang's eyes flickered slightly as she grasped Xie Lanyu's hand.

"Why are you being so distant with us? You are a daughter of the Marquis's family, so naturally the Marquis's family should pay to support you. As for money..."

She paused, as if it were just a casual remark.

"You offered three thousand taels, yet Madam Gu is still being coy. She probably wants more. It's only right that her dowry paves the way for you."

Xie Lanyu looked up.

"Elder sister, my cousin's things, she said she was going to take them with her."

Song Lanfang smiled and pressed down on the back of her hand.

"How could someone like her not be greedy when she sees money? It's just a matter of haggling."

"Those things of hers should rightfully be yours, Mother, don't you agree?"

Madam Meng leaned back on the soft couch and responded softly.

"Of course."

Xie Lanyu did not withdraw her hand, but lowered her eyes and said slowly:

"Mother and elder sister can handle the matters in the manor. I'll head back now."

Outside the window, Lingxiang clenched her fist and crushed a handful of leaves.

Lingxiang couldn't help but lower her voice and grit her teeth as she said:

"Young lady, it's fortunate we came here, otherwise how would we have known they still had the nerve to covet your dowry!"

Gu Mingshuang squatted down beside her, her face grim.

She had hoped to part ways amicably.

But they actually wanted to skin her alive, pull out her tendons, and eat her until there were no bones left!

With a loud bang.

Lingxiang glanced at the sky, her face pale, and said:

"Girl, it's thundering!"

Gu Mingshuang also looked up, watching the bolt of lightning flash across the sky, illuminating the outline of the roof of Shou'an Hall.

She said softly:

"This is the lightning we've been waiting for..."

After saying that, she quickly walked towards the side wall.