Listening to her daughter's heartfelt words, the pregnant Lady Hou went on a killing spree.

"At the time, Marquis Anshun did not tell me why he wanted to do this, but I kept an eye on him and found out after I followed him and heard him talking to his men."

The subordinate was instructed to place items suspected of being contraband at the Yu family's antique shop, and then spread the word so that people would report them to the authorities for seizure.

The Yu family would definitely panic at that time and would immediately go to the Marquis of Anshun's residence to ask for his help. At that time, he could make demands on the Yu family.

These past two days, the Lady of Anshun Marquis has been arguing with him about divorce every day. It's not that he doesn't want a divorce, it's just that he can't afford the Lady's dowry.

He planned to get some money from the Yu family to first raise enough for the Marquis's dowry.

After he finished speaking, Liu Quan kowtowed repeatedly to the Yu family members.

"Madam, Master, Second Master, Third Master, it's all my fault."

"I shouldn't have been blinded by greed and betrayed my master for a thousand taels of silver. I deserve to die. Please punish me, Madam."

Everyone looked at Marquis Anshun, who was trembling with anger as he pointed at Liu Quan, who was kowtowing repeatedly on the ground.

"You're talking nonsense!"

He had never said such things, let alone discussed them with the servants beside him. Liu Quan was practically courting death!

No, Liu Quan couldn't possibly have imagined these things, especially considering the unusual behavior of the Yu family today.

Could it be that the Yu family already knew about his trap and then turned the tables on him?

No wonder, no wonder the Yu family went so far as to ask him to file a complaint with the Kyoto government.

Madam Yu looked at Marquis Anshun with a pained expression.

"My lord, ask yourself honestly, have we, the Yu family, treated you or our two children badly? Why then do you treat our Yu family this way!"

The common people also looked at Marquis Anshun with the same disdain they would show for an ingrate.

It seems the rumors circulating outside were indeed true; the Marquis of Anshun's mansion did indeed embezzle the Marquis's wife's dowry.

Now that the Marquis of Anshun is making a fuss about divorce and can't afford the dowry, he's even eyeing his former in-laws' house. The Marquis of Anshun is truly a scoundrel.

"Madam Yu, this lowly servant is just making baseless accusations. Don't believe him."

After speaking, he turned to the Prefect of the Capital, who was sitting at the head of the table.

"Someone is definitely trying to frame me. I beg you, sir, to do me justice."

The pressure suddenly fell on the Prefect of the Capital.

The Prefect of the Capital cursed inwardly. This matter was not a big deal; the main problem was that the Yu family had come to file a complaint.

As long as the Yu family is dealt with, he will have no problems. But Marquis Anshun is being unreasonable. Why force him to do something if he doesn't deal with the Yu family?

[Mother, once today is over, Marquis Anshun's reputation will be completely ruined in the capital. People will be pointing fingers at him all the time. That's wonderful.]

"This is what we call 'boiling a frog in lukewarm water'."

The more miserable Anshunhou's life became, the happier the mother and son were.

Inside the lobby, Madam Yu continued her acting, appearing injured and unsteady on her feet. It was her eldest and second eldest sons who stepped forward to support her.

"Mother, you must take good care of yourself."

"My Mei'er is innocent. She likes you, and I, as her mother, didn't say anything. I gave her a large dowry and married her off to the Marquis of Anshun's mansion."

But she passed away less than a year after giving birth.

The people from the Marquis of Anshun's mansion spent her dowry, and our Yu family didn't say a word. Every time the two children came to the Yu family, our Yu family gave them plenty of money.

You're still not satisfied with this, Marquis? You've even set your sights on the Yu family's assets. If you want something, just say so.

"You don't need to beat around the bush to see how much of the Yu family's wealth you want."

Now, Marquis Anshun dares not admit it, and keeps saying it's a misunderstanding, but he really can't find anyone to take the blame for him.

Madam Yu waved away her two sons who were supporting her, stood up straight, and faced the Prefect of the Capital.

"My lord, my Yu family will not pursue this case, but I would like you to write a document severing ties between my Yu family and the Marquis of Anshun's mansion."

My daughter is dead, so there's no need for our two families to have any contact. As soon as the Marquis of Anshun's children return, I'll have them sent back to the Marquis's residence. From now on, I'll pretend I have no grandchildren, and our two families will be like strangers.

Marquis Anshun was anxious. If he really wrote the document severing ties with the family, wouldn't that confirm that he was the one who did it?

Although it is true that he did it, as long as he doesn't admit it, the Yu family can't do anything to him.

Originally, the Yu family never intended to bring down Marquis Anshun in one fell swoop; that was simply impossible.

Their only plan was to ruin the reputation of Marquis Anshun and then use this as an excuse to sever ties between the two families, so that Marquis Anshun would not try to take advantage of the Yu family again in the future.

"Madam Yu, have you thought this through? If this letter of severance is really written, your two families will truly become strangers in the capital."

In fact, the Prefect of the Capital wanted to advise them, but the Yu family was a merchant family, while the Marquis of Anshun's mansion was still a mansion. A merchant family could at least benefit from the mansion's influence by spending some money. The Yu family's move was tantamount to cutting off their own escape route.

Having offended Marquis Anshun, it's likely that doing business in the capital will become difficult in the future.

Madam Yu's mind was made up.

"My lord, my Yu family has absolutely no regrets. Please, my lord, make the decision for my Yu family and write a document severing ties."

No matter what Marquis Ren Anshun said, the document severing ties was still written down. Not only did Old Madam Yu step forward to write her own name, but even her three sons asked to write their names on it.

Marquis Anshun was now in a predicament where he had no choice but to resign himself to signing his name.

"Madam Yu, this matter was originally a misunderstanding, but your Yu family is making a big deal out of it."

Remember this: today, it is your Yu family that is severing ties with the Marquis of Anshun's mansion. It is not that the Marquis of Anshun's mansion is acting unjustly or cruelly. If you come begging for help again in the future, I will not care whether your Yu family lives or dies.

The document severing ties was made in duplicate. Old Madam Yu folded up the Yu family's copy and put it in her bosom, saying coolly, "Don't worry, Lord Marquis, even if my Yu family begs for food in the future, we will never be able to get any in front of the Marquis of Anshun's mansion."

Marquis Anshun squinted.

"I hope that when faced with similar situations in the future, Madam Yu will still be as resolute as she is today."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and strode away.

As he left, Marquis Anshun could still hear the whispers of the people behind him, and his pace quickened involuntarily.

The case was over and night had fallen, but the topic of the Marquis of Anshun's mansion and the Yu family spread throughout the capital overnight, and many young ladies from secluded families felt as if the sky had fallen.

After the old Marquis died, Lin Mufeng did not immediately succeed as the Marquis of Anshun.

He was too young at the time and was marginalized; the emperor simply ignored him.

It was through his talent that he passed the imperial examinations and became an official. Later, he caught the emperor's eye and was granted the title of Marquis of Anshun.

During his years in office, he enjoyed an excellent reputation, and his outstanding looks won him the hearts of many young ladies in the capital.

But now the building has collapsed so quickly.

First, there was the dowry dispute at the Marquis's mansion, then there was the scandal with Princess Changping, and now there's the sordid affair with the Yu family.

The young ladies felt their hearts breaking; what kind of person had they liked before?

[Mother, today is a special day, we should have an extra meal.]