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

That evening, news spread that Gu Mingshuang had regained control of the household, shocking the entire mansion once again.

Just when everyone thought the Crown Princess had completely lost power, the old lady returned and the lady and the eldest daughter were punished. The Crown Prince then asked the Crown Princess to intervene.

When Meng, who was being punished by copying Buddhist scriptures in the ancestral hall, learned of this, she angrily swept away a table full of Buddhist scriptures and writing implements.

"She's always disliked Ayu, so why would she genuinely organize a birthday banquet for her?"

Granny Yan comforted her:

"Madam, even if the Crown Princess doesn't genuinely care about Miss Ayu, she still has to consider your feelings and wants to get that document from you."

Meng composed herself.

"Yes, she wouldn't dare to misbehave, or I'll teach her a lesson! Don't think she'll be smug just because the old lady punished me when she gets back! I think the old lady will only look down on her even more!"

Granny Yan quickly helped Madam Meng kneel down again and tidied up the writing brush and ink on the table.

"That's for sure. The old lady was a military officer by birth and has a ruthless nature. She has always looked down on women who are scheming and only know how to climb the social ladder. She is the kind of woman that the old lady despises the most."

Meng turned her head and gave the order:

"Go tell her in a bit that tomorrow, not only will you be holding Ayu's birthday banquet, but you also need to take care of the things I asked her to do. Otherwise, she shouldn't even think about getting what she wants from me."

"If Ayu cannot become the Crown Prince's consort, then she will not be allowed to leave anywhere; she will have to lower herself to become a concubine!"

The words quickly reached Gu Mingshuang's ears. Lingxiang was so angry that she wanted to rush out to argue, but Gu Mingshuang stopped her and said to Granny Yan, who was relaying the message outside the door:

"Tell my wife I understand."

Granny Yan smiled slightly, thinking that Gu Mingshuang was sensible, but before she could leave, Gu Mingshuang's voice came again.

"However, there will be many expenses tomorrow. If we can't manage them in time, it might make us look foolish and embarrass you. It would be better if you sent some money as soon as possible so that I can do my best to serve you."

Granny Yan's expression hardened; she hadn't expected Gu Mingshuang to still be able to negotiate for money at this point.

Unfortunately, there was no other way at this time, and she had to keep her calm. So, Granny Yan quickly went back to report and persuaded Meng Shi before she took out three thousand taels of silver.

Seeing that the lady had actually brought the silver notes, Lingxiang said with satisfaction:

"This is the first time that Miss has received money from Madam while handling affairs in the manor."

Gu Mingshuang glanced at the silver notes and said indifferently:

"Go find some craftsmen to wait; I have other instructions for tomorrow."

Lingxiang nodded repeatedly.

That evening, several stewards from the Marquis's residence also came to pay their respects.

Gu Mingshuang did not make things difficult for them, but simply instructed them to take on the tasks they would be responsible for the next day.

Over the past year, these managers have all worked under Gu Mingshuang and have all received her favors.

At this moment, they all sighed and offered their advice:

"The Crown Princess has devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Marquis's mansion, and today the Crown Prince has finally seen her goodness."

Gu Mingshuang lowered her eyes, gave a casual reply, and dismissed them.

Watching the person's departing figure, a chill crept onto her face.

There aren't that many stories of sudden repentance; it's just a temporary shift in opinion based on weighing the pros and cons.

If she is useless to Song Linyuan, then he will discard her like worn-out shoes.

Putting away tomorrow's list, she glanced at the yard and asked:

"I haven't seen Lühe in a long time, where is she?"

Upon hearing this, Lingxiang looked around and frowned, saying:

"It really is! Where did that girl run off to?"

They called Jianlan over to ask, but they couldn't find Green Lotus either.

Just as Lingxiang was about to go out to look for someone, a figure entered the courtyard.

"Green Lotus? Where have you been?"

Green Lotus approached and bowed in greeting.

"This servant went to the front yard to collect the fabric, but took the wrong turn."

Gu Mingshuang's eyes flickered slightly, and seeing that she was about to leave, she called out to her.

"Wait, when you first came to the manor, you said you would tell me the truth about your mother switching the children. You said your mother was framed, right?"

Green Lotus lowered her head and only said:

"Your Highness, I was confused for a moment and that's why I said those nonsense in front of you."

Gu Mingshuang narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Oh? This is nonsense? So you're saying everything you said before was a lie?"

Green Lotus knelt down.

"Please spare this servant, Your Highness!"

Gu Mingshuang got up and walked to Green Lotus.

"Tell me, if I were to tie you up and send you before the Madam, how would she treat you?"

Green Lotus turned pale, but she didn't say anything, only clenched her sleeves tightly.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Sister-in-law, I've come to ask for a maid."

Gu Mingshuang glanced at Lingxiang, gesturing for her to open the door.

Xie Lanyu opened the door and walked into the courtyard, her gaze falling on Gu Mingshuang and Lühe.

"I knew that my cousin-in-law didn't like that maid, Lühe, but there's a pattern on my dress for my birthday banquet tomorrow that I need her to do."

"I've brought two clever maids to exchange for Green Lotus. I wonder if my cousin-in-law would be willing?"

Xie Lanyu wore a thin, moon-white gauze cloak at night, moving gracefully like a fairy, but her eyes held a calculating look.

Seeing Xie Lanyu come to demand her return, Jianlan blocked Lühe's escape attempt and grabbed her shoulder with one hand.

"The Crown Princess has not agreed to release them, so no one can take the people from Qingwu Garden away."

Green Lotus was in so much pain that her face turned deathly pale, but when she met Sword Orchid's cold face, she didn't even dare to cry out in pain.

Xie Lanyu frowned and looked up at Gu Mingshuang.

"Is my cousin-in-law unwilling to give me Green Lotus?"

Gu Mingshuang looked at the trembling Green Lotus, then raised her eyes to look at Xie Lanyu, who was determined to win.

Sure enough, after she left the green lotus to dry for two days, the green lotus couldn't sit still anymore.

After a long selection process at the Marquis's residence, Green Lotus chose Xie Lanyu.

"Gu Mingshuang, you're just a maid. Are you really going to make a scene in front of your cousin? You know he doesn't like your narrow-mindedness, and he might punish you again."

A moment later, Gu Mingshuang suddenly raised her lips.

"Miss is right, she's just a maidservant, how could I not want to part with her?"

Gladiolus raised her hand and tossed the green lotus over.

Green Lotus rolled twice on the ground and stopped at Xie Lanyu's feet.

She cried out in pain repeatedly, and it took her a while to stop.

Xie Lanyu immediately instructed Ruhua, who was beside her, to call for an old woman to carry Lühe away.

She looked at Gu Mingshuang, took a step forward, but then stopped two steps away from Gu Mingshuang, wary of the fierce-looking Jian Lan.

"My cousin is entrusting you with the management of my birthday banquet tomorrow. I want to remind you that there will be important people attending tomorrow, so you'd better behave yourself and not try to do anything underhanded at the banquet."

"Otherwise, not only will your cousin not let you off the hook, but that benefactor will also make a move."

Gu Mingshuang understood; the important person she was referring to was the rarely seen Princess Zhennan.

Now that Xie Lanyu has the backing of the Prince of Zhennan's mansion, his arrogance has indeed increased even more.

However, she was quite curious to see how Xie Lanyu would maintain her reputation for unparalleled talent when her dream collapsed.

Seeing Xie Lanyu's smug expression, Gu Mingshuang couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"You have quite the refined taste, Miss. Your sister-like daughter was forced to have her head shaved, and the lady who treated you like her own daughter was forced to kneel in the ancestral hall. Yet you only care about your own future and glory."

She used to find Xie Lanyu's strange words odd, but now she realized that Xie Lanyu was indeed no ordinary woman.

It seems that Song Linyuan wasn't Xie Lanyu's true motive.

She still can't figure out what Xie Lanyu is trying to do.

In truth, although Xie Lanyu was a cousin of a marquis, she was actually just an orphan. In the face of true power and wealth, Xie Lanyu was no different from her.

But Xie Lanyu does have some extraordinary qualities, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to own so many famous shops.

At this moment, Xie Lanyu frowned unhappily.

"What right do you have to lecture me? You should worry about yourself first. Now you understand that there is no place for you in this Marquis's mansion."

"I gave you a chance before, but you never realized your place. Now, even if you want to leave with dignity, you have no chance."

Gu Mingshuang's eyes flickered slightly as she stared at her.

How do you know I can't leave?

Xie Lanyu chuckled softly.

"I know you want to get the divorce papers and go back to Qingzhou. After all, even though you're an abandoned woman there, you'll still have some of your savings left over, which should be enough to make you live a comfortable life."

"Unfortunately, you can't leave. Not only that, you'll have to watch yourself go from wife to concubine, and eventually wait to die day by day in this mansion's inner quarters."

After saying that, Xie Lanyu turned and left without looking at Gu Mingshuang again.

In her opinion, talking to Gu Mingshuang all this time was a waste of breath.

After she becomes famous in the capital tomorrow, she will leave the Marquis's residence.

Gu Mingshuang stood still, coldly watching Xie Lanyu's figure.

She suddenly remembered the book she had brought back from Hengwu Bookstore.

The book describes how women can create their own new world as long as they don't accept their fate and refuse to give up. It also tells stories of female generals, female fortune tellers, and women who have made their mark in various industries.

The waiter said that the book was written by the owner himself and was loved by many noble ladies.

Looking at the elegant and refined sentences in the book, she simply couldn't connect them with Xie Lanyu in front of her.

If she was truly a heroine who spoke up for women, why would she be so sharp-tongued and mean to women in the inner quarters?

Tossing the book aside, Gu Mingshuang gave a cold laugh.

At this moment, Lingxiang and Jianlan anxiously stepped forward.

"Young lady, will Green Lotus betray you?"

Gu Mingshuang shook her head, looking at Lingxiang reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I took precautions the day she entered the Marquis's residence. Everything she knows in Qingwu Garden is something I want her to spread."

"As for the shady matter of her entering the manor, Xie Lanyu will not expose it, otherwise it would also reveal her impure intentions."

Gladiolus frowned and asked:

"If this young lady wasn't trying to expose her master, then why did she take Green Lotus away?"

Gu Mingshuang raised her eyes and said:

"Green Lotus holds leverage over Madam Meng; what she wants is to control Madam Meng."

Lingxiang looked up in astonishment and said in disbelief:

"The Lady of the Marquis truly treats her like her own daughter, and has even arranged for her to become the heir apparent's wife, intending to ensure this orphan girl's future well-being. How could she do this?"

Gladiolus was astonished.

"If she falls out with the Lady of the Marquis's mansion, how will she maintain her position within the mansion?"

Gu Mingshuang's eyes flickered slightly, and she boldly guessed:

"What if her original intention wasn't to establish herself in the Marquis's household?"