Seeing Chen's panicked look, Shen Ningyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled.

He asked knowingly, "Madam Ji, didn't you bring Old Madam Ji to the palace to plead with His Majesty? Why are you back so soon? Could it be that His Majesty has agreed to release Master Ji and not reduce the Marquis's title?"

Chen's face froze and she was about to shake her head to deny it.

Shen Ningyuan didn't give her this opportunity and immediately pretended to be very excited.

"That's great! Lord Ji won't have to suffer in prison, and he can keep his title as marquis!"

Seeing Shen Ningyuan's excitement, Chen opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything to refute.

But in the end, he could only bite the bullet and say, "Yuan'er, His Majesty has not promised to let the Ji family go. I guess he will eventually strip the Ji family of their titles."

"Shouldn't that be right?" Shen Ningyuan deliberately asked, "Doesn't Madam Ji have an imperial decree? Your Majesty doesn't even give a little face to a madam personally appointed by the late emperor?"

Hearing this, a trace of embarrassment appeared on Chen's face. She shook her head and said, "No...no."

"Why?" Shen Ningyuan asked knowingly.

Chen didn’t expect that Shen Ningyuan would keep asking her questions.

She knew in her heart that if she didn't make things clear today, Shen Ningyuan would probably keep asking until the end.

So, Chen had no choice but to bite the bullet and explain, "The old lady's imperial edict was bestowed by the previous emperor. She had to see the imperial edict plaque. She was so angry that she kicked us out."

"The imperial edict of the previous dynasty?" Shen Ningyuan pretended to be surprised. "Has the old lady lost her mind? Why would she come to the current emperor with an imperial edict from the previous dynasty to ask for a favor? How is this any different from publicly slapping the emperor in the face?"

Chen said helplessly, "Yuan'er, please stop talking. If I had known this earlier, I would never have brought the old lady into the palace!"

Seeing Chen's annoyed look, Shen Ningyuan tried not to laugh out loud.

He continued to ask deliberately: "So now, what's the situation with the old lady?"

Chen's expression was even more helpless than before.

"Oh, stop talking!" Chen almost cried, "I sent the old lady back to the old house!"

"Hmm?" Shen Ningyuan looked confused.

This time, she was really stunned.

I really didn't expect that Chen would act so quickly. As soon as she returned to the Ji family, she sent the old woman away.

Chen explained, "She has been kept in the old house for many years and has long suffered from hysteria, but the people in the old house have not revealed any information. Now, in order to help the old lady recuperate, I can only send her back to the old house to recuperate!"

"So that's how it is." Shen Ningyuan sneered, "Madam Ji has really worked hard for the Marquis' Mansion. You didn't even know about the old lady having hysterics, such a big thing."

Chen sighed again: "Alas, who said it wasn't true?"

After the ridicule ended, Shen Ningyuan had enough fun and then her face turned cold.

He asked directly: "So, what is the reason why Madam Ji came to see me now?"

Chen opened her mouth, still hesitating as if about how to start.

Shen Ningyuan urged: “Madam Ji, if you have anything to say, just say it directly.”

Chen then said with a stiff upper lip, "Yuan'er, you know the Ji family's current situation very well. If His Majesty really strips the Ji family of their titles, we will have no choice but to move out of this house and return to our old home."

Chen looked at Shen Ningyuan and said earnestly, "You have been pampered in the general's mansion. I really can't bear to let you follow us to the countryside to suffer!"

A hypocritical mother image who only cares about Shen Ningyuan.

After hearing this, Shen Ningyuan laughed even more happily.

He immediately said, "It's okay, Madam Ji, don't worry. I have money. I can buy a house in the capital. I will take care of myself."

Then he added: "If it really doesn't work out, I can go back to my parents' home and let my parents take care of me."

"you……"

Chen was so angry that she gritted her teeth and wanted to tear open Shen Ningyuan's skull to see what was going on in her mind.

But for now, she could only suppress her anger and said patiently, "What if there is a simpler way to preserve the Ji family's title and the old house?"

"What method?" Shen Ningyuan asked again, knowing the answer.

"Go find your father and mother and ask them to help preserve the Ji family's title." Chen became more and more excited as she spoke, and she actually grabbed Shen Ningyuan's hand, "Yuan'er, now only you can save the Ji family!"

Here it comes, Chen finally asked for help.

Seeing Chen's panic, Shen Ningyuan deliberately said: "Madam Ji, I also want to help the Ji family, but you know, my parents have always been very angry. In the past year since I married into the Ji family, the Ji family has spent so much of my dowry. After the last dowry incident, my mother repeatedly emphasized to me that I must not help the Ji family in any way, even if the Ji family is exterminated, it has nothing to do with me."

"What do you mean?" Chen was shocked. "Are you saying that only if I pay back the 500,000 taels of silver that the Marquis' Mansion owes you will you let your parents help the Ji family?"

"Yes." Shen Ningyuan smiled meaningfully.

But Chen stopped talking.

He lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking.

Seeing this, Shen Ningyuan continued: “Madam Ji, five hundred thousand taels, and the Ji family’s title and a lifetime of glory, this deal is worth it.”

"What's more, aren't these five hundred thousand taels all the money you owe me? In fact, the Ji family didn't pay a penny, right?"

Shen Ningyuan's tone was cold and gloomy, with a hint of bewitching.

Chen's brows furrowed even more, obviously considering Shen Ningyuan's suggestion.

After a while, Chen still did not respond.

Shen Ningyuan said in a cold voice: "Mrs. Ji, have you considered it?"

"If you haven't made up your mind, why don't you go back and think about it again?" Shen Ningyuan ordered him to leave. "Lan Yin, send Madam Ji back. I want to rest."

"Yes, young lady."

Lan Yin said this, walked forward, and stretched out her hand as a "please" gesture.

"Madam Ji, I will take you back."

"No, I won't go back!" Chen suddenly shuddered and looked up at Shen Ningyuan, "Is it true that as long as I return the 500,000 taels to you, you will agree to help the Ji family this time?"

"Of course." Shen Ningyuan raised an eyebrow, a complex smile in her eyes, "Preserving the Ji family's title will also benefit me, isn't it?"

After hearing this, Chen no longer hesitated, "Okay, I promise you, tomorrow I will find a way to raise 500,000 taels and return it to you without a cent less."

"Chen Ningyuan, I hope you keep your word and don't break it!"

At this point, Chen's attitude was not as polite as before.

Shen Ningyuan has become accustomed to her behavior of changing her attitude at any time.

He smiled meaningfully and said, "Don't worry, Madam Ji. I will definitely not break my promise. I will definitely find a way to preserve the Ji family's title..."

As for how to insure it and under whose name, she has the final say!