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

Song Lanfang was dressed in a cloud-patterned brocade outfit, with a red-gold hairpin inlaid with rubies tucked into her hair, making her look even more luxurious and radiant.

She entered the room and sat down in the armchair at the head of the table.

"I've come to discuss with you the apology gifts prepared by the Duke of Anguo's mansion. You told me before that you have a three-hundred-year-old ginseng, but that's not enough. We'll also buy some cordyceps, deer antler, lingzhi, and the like."

"The Duke of Anguo has returned to the capital in triumph and is now extremely wealthy. Ordinary things are beneath his notice. What he values ​​most is the old lady in his household. Sending these precious tonics is the best way to show his sincerity."

Gu Mingshuang almost burst out laughing when she heard this.

"The medicinal herbs that my elder sister asked me to bring out add up to at least a thousand taels of silver."

The Marquis's public account only had a little over five hundred taels left, yet Song Lanfang immediately demanded a thousand taels of silver from her.

Song Lanfang frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.

"Mingshuang, you and I are both women who once single-handedly supported our families. I thought we were on the same page when it came to understanding the bigger picture."

"Now that you are the Crown Prince's consort, you should prioritize the Marquis's residence and Lin Yuan. Otherwise, how can you, as the future matriarch, command respect?"

Gu Mingshuang lowered her eyes, a hint of sarcasm on her lips.

While staying at the inn, Song Lanfang would often come over, tears streaming down her face, and would pull her aside, saying that she would only feel at ease if she handed over the Marquis's mansion to her, choking back sobs as she recounted the hardships and difficulties she had endured over the years.

This was one of the reasons why she kept filling the deficit of the Marquis's mansion even before she entered the household, but now, she only felt heartbroken.

She looked at Song Lanfang, and after a moment, couldn't help but ask:

"Does my elder sister know that I'm not even listed in the family genealogy? My mother-in-law still made me, the legal wife, perform the concubine's rites for my cousin. And now, I'm even being asked to take the blame for my cousin?"

Song Lanfang interrupted Gu Mingshuang.

"You've already entered the family, how can you be so petty? Ayu has served her mother in place of Linyuan for over ten years, and she even saved Linyuan's life. Can't you tolerate her?"

"Besides, Lin Yuan will inherit the title in the future, and our Marquis's mansion is small in number. There will inevitably be other women around him. You should learn to be more magnanimous."

Gu Mingshuang's last bit of patience vanished.

Meng Shi or other clansmen may not know the hardships and sacrifices she has made, but she has spent several months with Song Lanfang.

When she sold her family property and used the money to replenish the Hou family mansion, Song Lanfang stood by her side, tears streaming down her face, expressing her gratitude.

She thought that at least Song Lanfang would say a word for her.

Seeing that Gu Mingshuang didn't speak, Song Lanfang's patience dwindled even further.

"Mingshuang, you went to great lengths to steal Ayu's position as the principal wife, is this how you're going to be a wife? All I asked you to do was some work for the Marquis's mansion, and you made excuses and even caused a scene outside. How can you hold onto your husband's heart like this?"

She frowned and said:

"Just listen to your mother's arrangements, and don't tarnish Lin Yuan and A Yu's reputation. That's what it means to be virtuous..."

Gu Mingshuang interrupted with a sneer.

"Such a virtuous act, why doesn't the eldest sister-in-law take the blame? Even the young master and the cousin will speak well of her."

Song Lanfang's face darkened, and she slammed her teacup down.

"It's just going to the Duke of Anguo's mansion to apologize. You just need to bow your head once."

Lingxiang couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward to say:

"Has Madam forgotten that before the Earl's mansion's wedding, they reneged and wanted you to marry a concubine's son? Everyone in the Marquis's mansion also advised you to back down. It was my daughter who went to the Earl's mansion and made a scene for you, saving your marriage!"

Song Lanfang's face stiffened slightly.

"Like master, like servant! Even a small matter can ruin the whole family's mood!"

Gu Mingshuang reached out to stop Lingxiang.

"Lingxiang, you may step back."

Lingxiang didn't want to cause any more trouble for her young lady, so she suppressed her anger and took a few steps back.

At this moment, Gu Mingshuang slightly raised her eyebrows and looked at Song Lanfang indifferently.

"So, in my eldest sister's eyes, I'm the one who makes the whole family unhappy?"

She got up, pulled a ledger from the table, and threw it at Song Lanfang.

"When my elder sister got married, the Marquis's mansion couldn't afford twenty dowry items, and half of them were just empty decorations. My elder sister came to me and cried for several days."

Song Lanfang glanced at the account book, her face stiffening.

"you……"

Gu Mingshuang looked at the gold hairpins dangling from her head and yanked them off with her backhand.

"These pearl and jade ornaments on your head, elder sister, were made for you with the money from selling your shop."

Gu Mingshuang grabbed Song Lanfang's sleeve and sneered:

"This cloud and mist brocade was made overnight by dozens of weavers from Jiangnan who worked tirelessly for me."

"And those ten missing dowry items, I added to them to make a good impression for you."

Song Lanfang's face flushed red and then turned pale, before she finally softened her voice after a moment.

"Mingshuang, I was just in a moment of panic. We've always been close, how could I not understand your sacrifices for the Marquis's mansion?"

"As long as you spend more money to help the Marquis's mansion settle this matter, even if Ayu enters the household in the future, the servants will show you more respect."

Gu Mingshuang laughed in anger, looking at Song Lanfang.

In their eyes, she was willing to give herself away so much for a vague and uncertain title?

Is the position of Crown Princess, which isn't even listed in the family genealogy, really worth thousands of taels of silver?!

It seems they were certain that she, an orphan girl from Qingzhou who had married into the family, had no powerful backing and could only be manipulated by them.

Gu Mingshuang suppressed the fierce look in her eyes.

Since the Marquis's family was unkind first, they shouldn't blame her for being unjust!

Lingxiang's face was already extremely ugly; she wished she could rush up and fight this ungrateful wretch!

Gu Mingshuang held Lingxiang down and gestured to her with her eyes that she didn't need to panic.

Then, Gu Mingshuang concealed the coldness in her eyes, calmly looked at Song Lanfang, and said:

"Eldest sister is right. Duke Anguo is an exceptionally cruel and bloodthirsty man who kills without blinking an eye. If we don't appease him after smashing his mansion, the Marquis's mansion may face a great disaster."

"Besides the precious medicinal herbs that my elder sister just mentioned, we also need to prepare some rare and exotic treasures. If he's happy, he might not only pardon the heir but also promote him."

Seeing that Gu Mingshuang had finally come to her senses and had returned to her usual docile self, Song Lanfang happily took Gu Mingshuang's hand and smiled:

"That's exactly right! You've finally come to your senses. I'm completely devoted to you! If you can make Mother happy this time, she might change her mind and add you to the family register ahead of schedule!"

As she spoke, Song Lanfang shook off her vexation, got up and wandered around Qingwu Garden again, selecting a few of Gu Mingshuang's hairpins as usual.

"Mingshuang, I have something to tell you since I came back this time. My mother-in-law's birthday is coming soon, and these hairpins of yours match my new clothes very well."

"And this mutton-fat white jade Ruyi-shaped vase is perfect as a gift for my mother-in-law, for good luck."

Lingxiang was extremely anxious as she watched Song Lanfang start rummaging through things again, but then she saw her young mistress gently agreeing to everything.

Song Lanfang was overjoyed and immediately had these items packed up and sent to the carriage.

Seeing Gu Mingshuang escorted to the courtyard gate, Song Lanfang sat in the sedan chair and smiled:

"Mingshuang, listen to my advice. Don't think that just because you've become the legal wife, everything will be fine. Learn from Ayu how to please Lin Yuan. You don't have any family backing you up. If you don't gain favor, how will you survive in the future?"

Gu Mingshuang was too lazy to speak anymore. Her gaze passed over Song Lanfang's face and landed on the sedan chair she was sitting in.

A faint hint of coldness flashed in her eyes. Gu Mingshuang did not move, but her toes under her skirt gently kicked the bottom of the sedan chair, causing an inconspicuous wooden pillar to move slightly.

Soon, the group left in a grand procession. Lingxiang couldn't hold back any longer and, with red eyes, stepped forward to urgently persuade them:

"Young lady, you mustn't be foolish! You don't have much money left, how could you agree to the young lady's request?"

"And those jewelry and jade artifacts were part of your dowry; she shouldn't have taken them to the Earl's mansion!"

Gu Mingshuang withdrew her gaze and calmly spoke:

"Don't worry, she can't leave."

Lingxiang was stunned, not understanding. Just as she was about to ask, a cracking sound came from the direction the sedan chair had left.

"what!"

Song Lanfang's shrill scream rang out.

Lingxiang rushed forward and saw her aunt being dragged out of the flower bed, crying and wailing. She was clutching the jewelry and jade that had just been packed and was shouting that her leg was broken.

She almost burst out laughing. No wonder the girl said she couldn't leave today; so that's why she couldn't leave.

Running back to the girl's side, Lingxiang said angrily again:

"But those things are still in Auntie's hands! She's holding onto them tightly! What should we do?"

Gu Mingshuang gazed into the distance, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"I not only want her to return these things, but I also want her to spit out everything she took in the first place!"

Lingxiang looked up in surprise.

"Young lady, do you have a solution?"