The commotion quickly spread from the gates of the Yongchang Marquis's residence to the entire street, and then to the whole of Kyoto.

Even the palace was alarmed.

Upon learning that the old gentleman Li, whom he had tried three times to persuade to come to the palace, was going to become a teacher at the Jin family's private school, the figure in bright yellow robes paused for a moment in the palace, then narrowed his eyes slightly, "Seventh Prince, you've chosen a good princess consort..."

The sound was barely audible, only heard by the old man who had served her his whole life, a hint of relief appearing in his cloudy eyes.

Phoenix Palace.

The Empress smashed the newly presented teacup to pieces. "Go and summon the Second Prince to me!"

The palace maid was so frightened that she quickly went to call for help.

Consort Zhang's Haolan Palace was also in a mess. Consort Zhang held a red-tasseled spear and fired several shots at the Third Prince. The Third Prince, Li Gong, was so frightened that he dodged repeatedly, and his clothes were torn in a big gash.

If you dodge too slowly, it won't just be the hem of your clothes that gets torn!

Li Gong dodged while shouting, "My son likes talented women, not ugly women..."

"Pah!"

"You idiot who tries to pass off a fish as a pearl! How can that delicate little illegitimate daughter compare to the legitimate daughter? If you want to marry her, you should at least see if she even wants you!"

"I'm so angry!"

"You wretched thing, you have to become an apprentice of Master Li no matter what, or I'll skin you alive!"

Li Gong shouldered his spear and ran, shouting, "I'm not going! My uncle has already promised to let me join the army!"

"Stop right there!"

Consort Zhang drew her gun and gave chase, shouting, "You come back here!"

The palace maids hurriedly dodged, fearing that they might be accidentally injured by the spears.

In Consort De's palace.

The Fifth Prince, Li Jue, remained kneeling, refusing to rise. Consort De's face was ashen. "Do you really... intend to marry that illegitimate daughter?"

Li Jue remained silent.

But his stubborn back was his best answer.

Consort De's eyes were icy cold. "You said you had a plan to marry that legitimate son as well, and I believed you. But you—not only did you fail to do it, but the Empress also caught you red-handed and reported you to His Majesty. You lost the job you had in your hands!"

"How can I trust you again?"

“If you had married the legitimate daughter from the beginning, the Jin family would have been our greatest support! And there's also Old Master Li…”

Li Jue's fingers trembled slightly uncontrollably. "My son will definitely become an apprentice of Master Li."

Consort De's expression hardened slightly, and after a long while, she said, "Alright, I'll trust you one more time."

Outside the palace gate.

The thirteenth prince rushed in, "Mother... Mother..."

Consort De's icy expression instantly melted, her eyes and brows filled with warmth. She hugged the little girl tightly, "Yu'er, you're here? Why did you leave in such a hurry? Were you thirsty? Hungry?"

A hint of envy flashed in the eyes of the Fifth Prince, Li Jue.

The little girl shook Consort De's arm, "Mother, can you ask my brother to get up and play with me?"

"good."

Consort De smiled and agreed, giving Li Jue a long, thoughtful look. "Get up."

"Go with Yu'er. You should know that in this entire palace, only Yu'er is your true brother. If you can become a disciple of Master Li, don't forget your true brother."

Li Jue stiffened. "Yes."

The thirteenth prince grabbed Li Jue's sleeve, "Brother—come on! Come with me for a ride!"

"I'm going to beat you this time!"

The seven or eight-year-old boy, with a round body, grabbed Li Jue and walked away.

Behind them came the voice of Consort De, "Protect him well, don't let him get hurt."

Li Jue paused slightly, clenching and unclenching his fist. "Yes."

...

The Yongchang Marquis's Residence.

Jiang Qingyun gritted her teeth and glared at Jiang Jiaojiao, "I had no idea you knew Mr. Li."

Jiang Jiaojiao looked bewildered and innocent. "I don't know him!"

"You don't know Mr. Li, so why are you writing to him!"

"Send another letter to Mr. Li, saying that you have changed your mind and will let him teach at the Yuan family's private school!"

"How could the Jin family, mere merchants, be worthy of Elder Li!"

Jiang Qingyun gave a cold shout.

Jiang Jiaojiao couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her father wasn't just getting older, but he was also getting more and more shameless!

How could he say that?

The Jin family is her maternal grandmother's family, while the Yuan family... is the old lady's maternal family, Jiang Xue's maternal grandfather's family.

Based on the old lady's dislike for her and Jiang Xue's scheming against her, she would absolutely not agree.

Jiang Qingyun had barely finished speaking.

Jin stormed in, yelling, "You shameless bastard! If you're so capable, why don't you build a private school in the manor? I'll definitely hire the best teachers for you!"

"Let my daughter hire a tutor to teach those ungrateful wretches? No way! Don't even think about it!"

Jiang Qing's face turned ashen. "You—a woman follows her husband after marriage… Now that you've married into my Marquis's mansion, you're a member of my family. Mother's words…"

"Pah!"

"Married women obey their husbands? Fine! Then you'd better return all the expenses my family has incurred in the Marquis's mansion over the years! What Marquis's mansion? If it weren't for my family, we would have ended up like the Earl's mansion next door, unable to even keep our house!"

"You eat and drink at my family's house all day long, yet you look down on my family? Fine! Then let's get a divorce!"

Since breaking ties with Jiang Qingyun, the Jin family has gone all out.

What's the point of a noble family or a prestigious clan? Just look at the Earl's mansion next door. If he dares to sow discord between Jiaojiao and the Jin family again, or pressure Jiaojiao, she'll divorce him. Anyway, Jiaojiao's marriage is already arranged, so she's not afraid anymore.

As for those two heartless sons...

She can be with whomever she wants; she has her own little darling, and that's enough for her!

Jin Shi, content with her daughter, was so aggressive that Jiang Qingyun was furious. Pointing at Jin Shi, he couldn't speak, "You—you—shrew!"

"Yes! I am a shrew! Come on! Give me the divorce papers!"

Jin realized that this was a cowardly blusterer who was all bark and no bite. The more she flattered and coaxed him, the more arrogant he became!

She'd been married to him for over twenty years, and had poured her heart and soul into this manor, yet she'd never received a kind word from him. Even if she were raising a dog pup, she should know right from wrong by now. She'd raised a pack of wolves! Ungrateful wretches!

Jiang Jiaojiao silently gave her mother a thumbs up!

That's how you deal with her pedantic father! Come on! Let's all just give up!

"No—this is utterly absurd!"

Jiang Qing turned and left, declaring, "I'll go to the Jin family myself!"

Jin jumped up to stop him, but Jiang Jiaojiao grabbed her arm. "Mother, let him go."

Jin became anxious, "You don't know, your maternal grandfather loves me the most, he would never want me to be in a difficult position..."

"mother--"

Jiang Jiaojiao took the opportunity to cling to her mother's arm and said coquettishly, "The Jin family is not the same as it used to be."

"Our most important task right now is not to go to the Jin family, but... to clean up the brats in our own mansion and let them know who is in charge of this Marquis's mansion and who is paying them their monthly wages!"

She had barely sent out a letter when Jiang Qing came knocking on her door; the news had spread far too quickly.

Jin paused, then stormed off!

Jiaojiao is right. There are more than just one or two ingrates in this Marquis's mansion. Today, she will catch them all and send them all away without leaving a single one alive!