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

After leaving the Marquis's residence, Gu Mingshuang rode in a carriage and followed it all the way to the jewelry shop.

Watching Xie Lanyu and Li Rong enter the jewelry shop, Gu Mingshuang put on her veil and signaled Jianlan and Lingxiang to quietly follow.

Unaware that someone was behind her, Li Rong shook off yesterday's gloom and smiled as she pulled Xie Lanyu into the jewelry shop, where they sat down in a private room.

"Lanyu, tomorrow is your special day, so you must choose the most stunning jewelry of all today!"

A faint smile appeared in Xie Lanyu's cold and aloof eyes.

"Jewelry is secondary; the masterpiece from my backyard will be enough to make me famous in Kyoto."

Li Rong nodded emphatically, her face full of pride, and whispered:

"Who would have thought that you are the renowned Master Yulou! All the noble ladies in Kyoto must be green with envy!"

Xie Lanyu smiled slightly.

"I don't care what others think. The Princess Consort of Zhennan will be here tomorrow."

Li Rong couldn't help but smile happily:

"The Princess Consort of Zhennan has lived a secluded life for many years, rarely returning to the capital, and has never attended a banquet. You've really put a lot of face on her this time!"

"With the Princess Consort of Zhennan vouching for you, even members of the royal family will have to show you respect from now on!"

Xie Lanyu curled her lips slightly, walked inside, and murmured to herself:

"Even royalty has its hierarchy. What I want is to make a complete and stunning debut. Otherwise, wouldn't this trip have been in vain?"

Looking at the bustling streets around her, Xie Lanyu slightly raised her chin.

Even if she rises step by step to the very top, so what? Isn't this world meant to be made for her?

The shopkeeper stepped forward and presented the most luxurious headdress and jewelry.

"Master, these are all made from the finest pieces selected from that batch of Western Region jewels."

Upon hearing the incredibly respectful address of "Master," Li Rong looked at Xie Lanyu beside her with even greater reverence.

"Those who gossip about you behind your back would be furious if they knew this Golden Jade Pavilion belonged to you!"

Xie Lanyu smiled and picked out two hairpins to put on Li Rong's head.

"You were wronged yesterday, so here's a lucky charm hairpin for you to ward off bad luck."

Li Rong, holding Xie Lanyu's hand, said with great emotion:

"Lanyu, you're so kind! If it weren't for you, why would the Princess Consort of Zhennan have bothered with such a trivial matter concerning the Li family?"

Xie Lanyu looked at her reassuringly.

"If you've been bullied, of course I'll help you."

Li Rong touched the lucky charm and couldn't help but praise it:

"I wore the beauty bracelet you gave me last time for only a few days, and my face became noticeably smoother! This lucky charm will definitely help me get rid of bad luck!"

Looking at the aloof and noble Xie Lanyu before her, Li Rong felt an even stronger hatred for Gu Mingshuang.

Compared to Lan Yu, Mingming is like the moon in the sky and Lan Yu is like mud on the ground. How dare that country bumpkin bully Lan Yu!

Could she understand? Lan Yu is a rare and extraordinary woman in this world! She's heard that such women are celestial beings reincarnated into the mortal realm to undergo tribulations!

At this moment, not far outside the private room, Jianlan stood for a while and then quickly walked to a corner.

After hearing Jianlan recount the news she had heard, Gu Mingshuang frowned.

"It was Xie Lanyu who asked the Princess of Zhennan to intervene. I underestimated her."

Lingxiang asked urgently:

"Young lady, who is the Princess Consort of Zhennan? How could a mere princess consort influence the Duke?"

Mentioning the Princess Consort of Zhennan, Gu Mingshuang's expression turned somewhat solemn as she spoke:

"I first heard about this Princess Zhennan when I was learning the etiquette of the capital from Lady Hou. After the Prince of Zhennan passed away early, she lived as a widow in Jiangnan and rarely came to the capital."

Lingxiang said, puzzled:

"Then wouldn't she have even less standing in the court?"

Gu Mingshuang shook her head.

"Although she did not concern herself with affairs in the capital, she had raised the emperor for several years and therefore enjoyed his deep trust. In the emperor's eyes, her status was comparable to that of the empress dowager."

Gladiolus also said:

"That's right, the Princess Consort of Zhennan holds a position in the capital comparable to that of the Empress Dowager."

Lingxiang gasped, frowning in confusion, and said:

"That young lady actually managed to get close to the Princess Consort of Zhennan, such a powerful figure! I have no idea how she did it!"

Gu Mingshuang frowned.

Even if Xie Lanyu did not regain her true identity, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family, and therefore not qualified to establish a relationship with such a noble figure as the Princess Consort of Zhennan.

Then there's only one possibility.

Her other identity.

Mr. Yulou!

Gu Mingshuang looked up and said to Jianlan:

"Is there any way you can help me investigate some things?"

She had already figured it out yesterday: Qin Mo had a subordinate named Jianxin who was extremely good at gathering information.

Jianlan nodded and quickly relayed the information Gu Mingshuang wanted to investigate via carrier pigeon.

At this moment, Gu Mingshuang looked at the Golden Jade Pavilion with a solemn expression.

Another surprising thing for her today was that this shop actually belonged to Xie Lanyu.

She really underestimated this cousin.

She had previously investigated Xie Lanyu. Although she was favored by the Meng family, most of what Xie Lanyu received, like Song Lanfang, consisted of expensive jewelry and fabrics.

The Meng family held onto their shops and estates very tightly, only taking one or two out to maintain appearances when their daughters got married.

When Song Lanfang married into the Earl's family, she couldn't stand it and gave her a piece of fertile land.

Now that Xie Lanyu has been found out that she is not his biological child, Meng cried and said that she couldn't bear to part with her and wanted to raise her by her side, but she knew that Meng had secretly changed the dowry list prepared for Xie Lanyu.

Many of the valuable items on it were replaced.

Therefore, she was certain that this jewelry shop had little to do with the Marquis's mansion, after all, the shop was quite famous in the capital.

Many noble ladies would go to great lengths to have their jewelry custom-made here. They don't just make simple jade pieces; the jewelry here is full of valuable Western Region gems.

Moreover, it is said that the jewelry in this Golden Jade Pavilion can also improve one's appearance, bring good fortune, and grant whatever one desires. This is the reason why the powerful and wealthy flock to it.

She is an expert in construction and studied algorithms, so naturally she doesn't believe in such absurd talk.

But she really didn't expect that the shop actually belonged to Xie Lanyu.

At this moment, Xie Lanyu led Li Rong out of the Golden Jade Pavilion.

As the two walked into the bookstore diagonally opposite, the shopkeeper once again fawned over them.

"The boss is here!"

Hearing this, Gu Mingshuang frowned slightly.

The recently popular Hengwu Bookstore is actually Xie Lanyu's business?

Even Lingxiang's eyes widened in surprise, since many of the novels she loved to read came from Hengwu Bookstore.

"Young lady! How come this is Miss Cousin's shop?"

Gu Mingshuang was equally surprised and said in a deep voice:

"I manage the Marquis's household accounts, and there has never been any record of these two shops. If they really belong to Xie Lanyu, then there is only one possibility: she has been keeping it a secret from the Marquis's household."

Lingxiang clicked her tongue in surprise.

"That young lady, an unmarried girl, could actually do these things behind the Marquis's back? This...this is simply unbelievable!"

Gu Mingshuang's eyes flickered slightly, and she asked Lingxiang to deliver a letter to Xue Zhao.

Perhaps Xue Zhao can investigate this matter thoroughly.

Just then, a rustling sound came from overhead, and a snow-white carrier pigeon landed on Jianlan's arm.

Jianlan's eyes lit up, and she immediately took out the letter. After reading it, she hurriedly said to Gu Mingshuang:

"Master has returned to the manor!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Mingshuang immediately led the two of them into the carriage.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the Duke of Anguo's residence.

However, when Gu Mingshuang got off the carriage, she encountered Jianying alone.

Gladiolus stepped forward first.

"Big brother!"

Upon seeing Jianlan, Jianying quickly turned around.

"Fourth Sister?"

The next moment, Jianying saw the Crown Princess beside him and quickly stepped forward to bow.

"Your subordinate greets the Crown Princess."

Gu Mingshuang hurriedly told him to dispense with the formalities and interrupted him.

Where is your master?

Sword Shadow glanced into the distance.

"Master? He just left."

Gu Mingshuang pressed on urgently:

"Didn't he just leave the palace? Where has he gone now?"

Sword Shadow quickly said:

"My lord has left the city on imperial orders and will not return for two days."

Gu Mingshuang frowned and looked in the direction of the palace.

He did not return home overnight, and the next day, he went out of the city to run errands as soon as he left the palace.

Although no decree of demotion or reprimand was issued, what does this mean?

Her unease and guilt grew stronger, and she asked:

"Where is the old lady?"

Sword Shadow replied quickly.

"Last night, the old lady accompanied the Empress Dowager to the palace to worship Buddha. She returned to the manor with the Duke this morning and is already in the courtyard."

Gu Mingshuang nodded and immediately had someone inform them.

Soon, Gu Mingshuang entered the backyard of the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

The sword shadow led Gu Mingshuang forward.

Just as she was about to turn the corner of the corridor, Gu Mingshuang ran into a group of people, the leader of whom was a well-maintained noblewoman.

Sword Shadow explained in a low voice:

"This is the second wife who lives in the Duke's mansion and helps with daily chores. According to seniority, she is the Duke's aunt."

Gu Mingshuang stepped forward and performed the junior's greeting.

"This junior has come to pay respects to the old lady."

Second Madam Qi glanced at Gu Mingshuang's bright and eye-catching face, feeling somewhat displeased. She gave a curt reply and walked past.

Sword Shadow frowned and explained:

"The second wife comes from a prominent family and has a proud and aloof nature."

Gu Mingshuang didn't mind, after all, she was just a guest.

However, at this moment, Qi stopped at the end of the corridor, glanced back, and looked at Gu Mingshuang's slender and shapely waist. Thinking of that face, she felt very uncomfortable.

"Go and find out who this girl who visited the old lady today is."

Getting into the Duke's mansion is no easy feat.

She pursed her lips, her heart filled with apprehension.

At this moment, Gu Mingshuang had already entered Madam Qin's Rongjing Hall.

The servants were still hurriedly tidying up Rongjing Hall, and it was clear that the owner of the courtyard had returned in a hurry.

Gu Mingshuang guessed that Old Madam Qin must have been summoned directly from Bailong Temple to the palace.

Thinking that she had implicated Qin Mo and caused the Qin family to suffer this calamity, she felt very guilty and went into the inner room.

"Ming Shuang greets the old lady."

On the chaise lounge, Old Madam Qin was lying on her side, her face still looking somewhat haggard.

A smile appeared on her face when she saw Gu Mingshuang enter the room.

"Why did you come so early in the morning? You don't look well; you obviously didn't sleep well."

Gu Mingshuang stepped forward with a guilty conscience and knelt down solemnly.

"Madam, this time it's Mingshuang's fault."

Old Madam Qin hurriedly got up and helped Gu Mingshuang up.

"What nonsense are you talking about, you little brat?"

Gu Mingshuang bit her lip and said:

"I offended someone, and it was only because the Duke intervened that the Qin family was implicated. This whole affair started because of me..."

Old Madam Qin interrupted her and pulled her to sit down beside her.

"You are extremely intelligent, but sometimes you are too intelligent."

As she spoke, Old Madam Qin looked at Gu Mingshuang, slapped the table beside her, and said loudly:

"Let me tell you, don't even mention Qin Mo, even if it were me, this old woman, I'd teach that Li family bastard a lesson right there in the street!"

"If Qin Mo doesn't care, then I really despise him!"