"Besides, we have never mistreated Madam Zou, so I doubt she would slander the Marquis's mansion without cause, would she?"

The Marquis of Zhenbei stared wide-eyed, his smile still on his face, but his expression had already frozen.

Ye Lanyin smiled faintly and turned her head to look at Zou Shuang'er.

Zou Shuang'er's eyes were red from crying as she hugged Zou Wanqing and leaned against Old Madam Lin.

"A petty thief who stole from me, how can he escape punishment?"

Madam Sheng disliked Zou Shuang'er's foxy manner to begin with, and now that she saw that the Marquis of Zhenbei was not protecting his wife but instead speaking up for outsiders, she suddenly cast a sympathetic glance at Ye Lanyin.

Seeing the pity in her eyes, Ye Lanyin turned her head away.

"Today, the Princess and everyone here are here to bear witness that this Madam Zou stole my hairpin, and I will report her to the authorities!"

Just as Madam Sheng finished speaking, three government officials walked in. When they saw the Princess, they knelt down.

"Your humble servant greets the Princess."

"Get up, all of you. Today, the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion is holding a full moon celebration. Madam Sheng's bracelet was stolen by thieves. The thieves have been caught. You are all to be detained."

The princess, fearing the officials might have mistaken someone for someone else, pointed to the wrong person.

"Na, that's the one holding the child on the side, Mrs. Zou in the pink dress."

"Yes, Your Highness."

With a wave of his hand, the leader led the two men behind him toward Zou Shuang'er.

Zou Shuang'er was so frightened that she wanted to run away.

"No, no, I didn't, I didn't, don't arrest me."

"Ye Lanyin, it must be you who ruined me, Ye Lanyin..."

The officers quickened their pace, grabbing Zou Shuang'er's arms on both sides.

"It's not up to you!"

No matter how much Zou Shuang'er struggled, the officer did not let go.

Zou Wanqing cried out, "Mother, Mother, Mother, please come back!"

"Waaaaah..."

After the man was taken away, the group lost their appetite and ate a few bites before leaving one after another.

The Ye family left very reluctantly.

Ye Lanyin persuaded them for a long time before finally getting them onto the carriage.

"Hmph!" Madam Sheng glared disdainfully at the Marquis of Zhenbei. "Hypocrite!"

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and hurriedly left.

at night.

The Recluse of the Marquis's Mansion.

"Brother, what should we do? Mother has been imprisoned." Lin Shiming stood behind Lin Shixuan, tugging at his sleeve, his eyes red from crying.

"Alright, stop crying."

Lin Shixuan put down his book in frustration. Today, he had listened to his mother and put the bracelet on her body. His mother hadn't even noticed, so how did the bracelet end up on her body?

To his surprise, no sooner had Madam Sheng mentioned reporting to the authorities than the constables arrived.

What a coincidence! There's only one thing to it: the mother had already figured it out.

Startled by his own thoughts, his hands trembled slightly.

"Shiming, do you think Mother has sensed something?"

Lin Shiming wiped away his tears. "Big brother, Mother's heart has always been with little sister. How could she have sensed anything?"

"But how did that bracelet end up on Mother?"

Lin Shiming was taken aback. "Big brother, what do you mean? Could it be... that you put that bracelet there?"

"My mother told me to put it there."

"Waaah..." Lin Shiming cried even louder after hearing this, which attracted the servants at the door to run in.

"Young Master, Fourth Young Master, what's wrong with you?"

Lin Shixuan frowned: "Get out."

"Yes, young master."

"Alright, Shiming, stop crying. Your mother will be released in a few days."

"Really?" Lin Shiming wiped away his tears.

“Yes, we should stay away from Mother from now on. Mother is a thief now, which is bad for our reputation.”

Although Mother stole, she was caught and the items were returned to their rightful owners. She won't be locked up for long.

But what about them? If their mother knew that their mother was a mistress, would they also be found out?

What if their mother finds out who they are?

He dared not think about it, nor did he want to.

"Big brother, I'll listen to you."

That night.

The Marquis of Zhenbei and his wife suffered from insomnia all night, while only the people of Qingxin Courtyard slept soundly through the night.

The next day.

Before dawn, the old lady went to the study to find the Marquis of Zhenbei.

The Marquis of Zhenbei stood up, his eyes gleaming with darkness.

"Mother, why are you here so early?"

"Dehong, I can't sleep. Go and see how Shuang'er is doing today. Last night, Wanqing cried all night, wanting to find her mother."

"Waaah, Daddy, I want Mommy." Zou Wanqing hadn't slept all night either; her eyes were swollen from crying.

Yesterday, she clearly saw that her older brother placed the bracelet on Ye Lanyin, so how did it suddenly end up on her mother?

No, I should say, why are there two!

Marquis Zhenbei tenderly embraced Zou Wanqing and wiped away her tears. "Wanqing, be good, don't cry. Father is here. Father will find a way to rescue your mother."

"Waaaaah, Daddy, why does that naughty child have to hold a full moon celebration? If he didn't, everything would be fine, right?"

"Waaaaah, it's all her fault! She's a jinx! My mother stopped smiling the moment she was born."

Ye Wanqing's innocent words were taken to heart by Old Madam Lin and Marquis Zhenbei.

The two looked at each other and sighed.

Meanwhile, on this side...

Madam Sheng, who returned from the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, also did not sleep all night.

As soon as it was light, she sent a visiting card to Ye Lanyin.

When Ye Lanyin received it, she was a little surprised. This was the first time in so many years that she had received an invitation from someone else.

In the past, when was it ever not a direct visit?

"Just say that I am free today, she can come over anytime."

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