Jiang Yao and Zhenzhu settled into Shengan Courtyard.
Yang Shi sent two young maidservants to serve them.
Jiang Yao didn’t have to worry about anything, eating and sleeping well in Shengan Courtyard.
Early the next morning, a maidservant from Yang Shi’s side came over, “Eldest Miss, the Marquis and Madam request your presence for breakfast.”
Jiang Yao nodded and followed the maidservant to the courtyard where Marquis Wu’an resided.
The Wu’an Marquis Manor had a simple household. Besides Marquis Wu’an and Yang Shi, there were their two children, Shen Yuanwu and Shen Yuanjia, as well as Shen Laofuren.
Shen Laofuren practiced vegetarianism and worshipped Buddha, usually staying in her own courtyard to pray, rarely leaving.
Shen Yuanjia lived at the academy, only returning home for a two-day break every seven days.
When Jiang Yao arrived, only Marquis Wu’an and his family of three were present.
As soon as she saw her, Yang Shi immediately smiled and said, “Yao Yao, come sit quickly. See if breakfast suits your taste. If you don’t like it, you can tell me your preferences. Tomorrow, I’ll have the kitchen prepare dishes you enjoy.”
Shen Yuanwu also pitifully said, “Sister, I was wrong about what happened at the Guogong Fu. At that time, I was too worried about you and lost my composure…”
She was trying to absolve herself and play innocent.
And in her heart, she utterly despised Jiang Yao, who had caused her to lose so much face!
These past few days, she still couldn’t understand why the person caught in adultery had become Hongxiu!
Naturally, she didn’t want to come and apologize to Jiang Yao either; it was her father who forced her.
Jiang Yao didn’t give her the chance to play innocent.
She looked even more aggrieved, tears falling as soon as she spoke, “I thought my sister couldn’t wait to bring people to catch the adulterers. Otherwise, with my sister’s literary talent and cleverness, how could she make such a mistake? My husband also immediately listened to my sister’s words and wanted to demote me to a Qie. I even thought you two…”
At this point, Jiang Yao trailed off, leaving her words unfinished.
But the implication was already very clear.
She had thought there was something between her husband and her sister; otherwise, why would they act that way at the banquet?
Upon hearing this, both Yang Shi and Marquis Wu’an’s expressions changed slightly.
Neither of them knew that their daughter had some private relationship with Pei Muzheng; they each had their own selfish motives.
Shen Yuanwu clenched her palms, almost unable to maintain her aggrieved expression.
She hadn’t expected Jiang Yao to insist in front of her father and mother that there was something between her and Pei Muzheng.
To say there was anything specific between her and Pei Muzheng—well, not exactly.
Since she was twelve, she could compose poetry effortlessly. Over the past six years, some of her poems had been hailed as masterpieces by the young ladies and gentlemen of the capital, circulated widely, and everyone knew she was a talented woman.
She had also invented a very convenient wheelchair—lightweight and capable of self-controlled steering and movement.
The world saw her as intelligent, righteous, compassionate, and kind-hearted.
She was very popular in the aristocratic circles of the capital, well-liked by many, regardless of gender.
The man she liked had to possess not only exceptional talent but also graceful demeanor and an outstanding family background.
But over the years, no one had met all three criteria.
Ning Wang did fit, but he was a madman.
At fourteen or fifteen, when a young girl’s heart first stirred, she had privately confessed her feelings to him.
She had thought that by then, her talent and abilities were already renowned throughout the capital.
Many young masters from noble families in the capital admired her; Ning Wang should have also fallen for her.
But after her confession, Ning Wang looked at her as if she were already dead.
She still remembered Ning Wang’s gaze and his words to this day.
He looked at her with utter disgust. “Stay away from me. If you come within two meters of me again, I’ll kill you.”
She knew Prince Ning meant every word—if she continued pestering him, he would truly run her through with his sword.
After that, she stopped considering Prince Ning as an option.
She even began to wonder if the prince was blind!
Pei Muzheng wasn’t a bad alternative either. Though he possessed exceptional talent and stood as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, his family background was unfortunately too humble.
But he seemed to adore her.
A year ago, on the eve of his wedding, he got completely drunk and encountered her in the study.
He actually pulled her into a corner, pinned her against the wall, and murmured to her:
“Miss Shen, it’s always been you I’ve liked. Why must fate play such cruel tricks? Miss Shen, I want to marry you. If you agree, I’ll immediately break off the engagement with the Jiang family and wed you instead.”
Even in his drunken state, Pei Muzheng’s exceptional elegance and handsome demeanor remained unaffected.
Though she normally scorned his family’s status, in that moment, Shen Yuanwu felt her heart stir.
But she refused—the Pei family’s standing was simply too inferior.
Later, Pei Muzheng still frequently corresponded with her through letters.
The incident at Dingguo Duke Manor was actually planned by Pei Muzheng after she wrote to him, suggesting they stage an “adultery trap” to ruin Shen Yuanwu.
Because in her letter, she mentioned how her birth parents doted more on Jiang Yao and looked down on her, which made her deeply unhappy.
Pei Muzheng replied to her:
“Wu Wu, I’m suffering too. She always looks down on me and the Pei family because of her wealth. I can’t live with her anymore—I’ve never even shared a bed with her. Among all the women in the world, it’s only you I love, Wu Wu. I’ll find a way to marry you and make you my official wife. Since she treats you this way, I’ve thought of a plan to ruin her reputation and break her pride…”
Hence, this “adultery trap” was arranged.
But truly, nothing substantial had ever happened between her and Pei Muzheng.
She never expected this scheme would end up dragging her down too!
Shen Yuanwu hurriedly said, “Sister, I truly know I was wrong. I’ve barely even met brother-in-law a few times—how could you suspect such things?”
Jiang Yao gave Shen Yuanwu a faint, mocking smile and didn’t press further.
After all, she’d already said what needed to be heard by the Marquis Wu’an and his wife.
Shen Yuanwu had initially thought that after apologizing to Jiang Yao today, she should be forgiven.
Yesterday, her father had summoned and scolded her harshly.
He said, “How could you do something so foolish at the duke’s manor! You spoke without even witnessing it firsthand, and she’s your sister no less. Go apologize to her tomorrow.”
Shen Yuanwu vaguely understood why her father had acknowledged Jiang Yao.
They truly couldn’t afford to let Jiang Yao develop grievances against the Hou Mansion yet.
Watching Jiang Yao carefreely eating and drinking while ignoring her, Shen Yuanwu felt utterly stifled with anger.
After finishing her meal, Jiang Yao returned to Shengan Yuan and temporarily settled there.
Jiang Yao lived quite comfortably in Shengan Yuan.
Shen Yuanwu, likely afraid of visiting and being subjected to Jiang Yao’s suspicious up-and-down glances, never came to see her.
So Jiang Yao ate well and lived well in Shengan Yuan, her skin nourished until it was as tender and fair as fresh tofu.
While Jiang Yao resided peacefully at Wu’an Marquis Manor, the Pei family was in complete disarray.
After Chen Momo handed over the Guanjia Quan to Liu Shi, she paid no mind to how Pei Manor was managed.
Muyun Yuan had its own small kitchen.
Before leaving, Jiang Yao had entrusted the management of the small courtyard to Chen Momo, leaving everything to her arrangements.
Now, Muyun Yuan was occupied only by the six maids who had come as dowry and Chen Momo herself.
Additionally, after the young mistress married into the Pei family, she purchased two maids for rough work and two junior maids for menial tasks.
Along with the small kitchen, she hired a pair of cooks from outside—a mother and daughter—whose culinary skills were quite good.
Thus, the meals at Muyun Yuan remained no different from before.
However, the Pei household was in complete disarray.
Liu Shi had been repeatedly warned by her mother-in-law not to go to Jiang Yao’s courtyard and not to force her way into Jiang Yao’s storeroom.
But how could Liu Shi possibly listen?
She had no other choice.
She had originally assumed that the Pei family couldn’t possibly be completely without any assets.
So she went and opened the Pei family’s storeroom, only to find it truly empty—not a single item remained.
She then went to check the Pei family’s accounts.
To her shock, there wasn’t a single coin recorded!
Liu Shi was incredulous and immediately cried out, “How can there not be a single coin listed here?”