The gate of the mansion fell silent instantly.

Even the imperial eunuch who had just been personally escorted onto the carriage by the Fifth Prince lifted the curtain, looking utterly astonished.

Have the Yuan family gone mad?

Where do they get the nerve? Their daughter was crippled, yet they still want to marry another daughter into the family.

The Fifth Prince's face was also terribly gloomy.

He had always looked down on the Yuan family, and even more so on this second wife of the Yuan family. Back then, Yuan Bao'er's mother died of postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth to Yuan Bao'er in order to save the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was grateful for her life-saving grace, which is why she promised Yuan Bao'er the position of the Fifth Prince's wife.

Who would have thought that only half a year after Madam Yuan's death, Lord Yuan married this second wife. What was even more astonishing was that this Madam Yuan also brought a three-year-old stepson who looked exactly like Lord Yuan.

It turns out that this second wife, Madam Yuan, was not even a concubine; she was a lowly mistress.

The mistress entered the house and became the second wife.

Such a thing never happened in the entire capital. Noble ladies from prominent families would never bother to invite this Madam Yuan to their banquets. However, Madam Yuan was shameless, and coupled with her marriage ties to the Fifth Prince's family, she could always be seen at banquets of all sizes.

As for this young master Yuan, he is a well-known playboy in the capital, and he is extremely arrogant and domineering as the brother-in-law of the Fifth Prince.

With such a stepmother and stepbrother, one can imagine what kind of life Yuan Bao'er had growing up.

If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's summons and gifts during festivals, he probably wouldn't have survived to adulthood.

She had finally reached marriageable age and married into the Fifth Prince's household, only to find herself in a den of wolves and tigers again. Now that she had a second chance at life and had finally gained her freedom, how could she possibly want to return to the cage?

Hearing Madam Yuan's shameless words...

Yuan Bao'er laughed in exasperation, "Do you think the Yuan family is some kind of 'golden goose'?"

"Pooh--"

"You wretched hussy, it is your fault that has implicated our entire Yuan family and ruined your sisters' marriages. You should kneel down and beg His Highness for forgiveness, and make amends by arranging marriages for your sisters!"

Madam Yuan was determined not to lose the marriage with the Fifth Prince no matter what. Even if she couldn't become the prince's principal wife, she could become a concubine. The Fifth Prince's household had no sons yet, and Concubine Jiang's child was gone. As long as her daughter entered the household and became pregnant, she could gain status through her son and easily become the prince's wife.

Thinking of this, Madam Yuan rushed over again, adopting a motherly demeanor, and commanded as usual, "Kneel down and kowtow to His Highness, begging for his forgiveness and allowing your sister to enter the manor to serve His Highness and atone for your sins!"

"boom--"

"Ouch, how did you bump into my foot? Luckily I'm standing firm, or you would have knocked me over. Madam didn't come to drink today, how come she's drunk?"

Jin Yuwan slowly withdrew her foot and patted her skirt.

As juniors, Jiao Jiao and the others couldn't make a move, but Jin Yuwan had no such scruples, not to mention that she was now a fifth-rank Yiren personally appointed by His Majesty.

Madam Yuan has always been a scheming woman, spreading rumors about Jiao Jiao everywhere.

It's as if stepping on Jiaojiao and her Jin family's reputation will make those noble ladies look at them with more respect.

Look at how high and mighty she is towards Bao'er. If you only know her, you'd think it was the Empress Dowager in the palace who was mistreating her stepmother's daughter.

Kneel and beg for mercy from the Fifth Prince?

They even begged the Fifth Prince to take their younger sister into his harem?

What a huge face!

"Ouch!"

Madam Yuan sat down on the ground and cursed loudly, "Jin Shi, you shameless woman! You were divorced, and you conspired with your stupid and wicked daughter to get this little slut divorced too! You are utterly despicable and deserve to be a discarded woman!"

New and old grudges caused Madam Yuan to lose her temper and curse angrily.

Jin Yuwan's face darkened. "Granny Zhen, what is the crime of publicly insulting a fifth-rank lady in the street?"

"Madam, insulting an imperial decree is a serious crime. You may decide on the matter as you see fit!"

Granny Zhen answered respectfully.

Madam Yuan was instantly horrified. She had momentarily forgotten that the Jin family was no longer the merchant's daughter who could be bullied and insulted at will, but a fifth-rank lady bestowed by the Emperor himself.

"Then slap him twenty times as a warning!"

"yes!"

Following orders, Granny Zhen began slapping Madam Yuan repeatedly. Despite her old age, Granny Zhen possessed immense strength and moved with incredible speed. Before anyone could react, she had delivered twenty slaps.

After the beating was over, Madam Yuan's howling finally broke out.

Jiang Jiaojiao secretly gave her mother a thumbs up, then sneered at Madam Yuan, whose face was swollen like a pig's head, "Hehe, Bao'er's marriage was arranged by the Empress Dowager herself. If you're so capable, Madam, you can go and ask the Empress Dowager for a marriage decree!"

Let's see if the Empress Dowager doesn't tear her apart!

Upon hearing this, Madam Yuan's eyes darted around, and she immediately stopped wailing.

She scrambled to her feet, covered her face, glared venomously at Jin Yuwan, and ordered Yuan Bao'er, "You go to the palace immediately and beg the Empress Dowager for a marriage decree!"

Once her daughter becomes the Fifth Prince's consort, she will surely be granted an imperial title. At that time, she will definitely repay the slap she received today!

Madam Yuan's shameless behavior made everyone at the gate of the mansion laugh in anger.

Young Master Yuan, upon hearing this, was overjoyed. "That's right! That's right! The Empress Dowager likes you the most. As long as you plead for her, she will definitely agree. I will still be the Fifth Prince's brother-in-law! Let's go, let's go!"

As he spoke, he disregarded the proper separation between men and women and tried to grab Yuan Bao'er, but was blocked by a burly figure that suddenly appeared.

The thirteenth young master glared at him fiercely, "Get out—"

Startled, Old Yuan took several steps back, nearly tripping and falling over.

Upon seeing the Thirteenth Young Master, with whom he had always been at odds, he immediately cursed, "Bah—Luo Thirteen! What business is it of yours!"

"A dog catching a mouse is meddling in other people's business! Bah!"

Old Yuan roared angrily.

At first, this young master Yuan also intended to curry favor with the general's mansion, but for some reason, Luo Shisan always disliked him and even fought with him a few times, as if they were destined to clash.

He lost all desire to curry favor with Luo Shisan, and seeing how much Luo Shisan was loved and how everyone was eager to curry favor with him, he became increasingly jealous and resentful.

"You—you, a grown man, actually laid a hand on a weak woman! It's despicable! I..."

Luo Shisan's ears turned bright red, and he didn't dare to turn around. He hadn't expected his body to react faster than his brain, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue, "I... I was just trying to help someone in need!"

"Pah, you son of a bitch! She's a member of the Yuan family. Even if I beat her to death, it's none of your business!"

Old Yuan cursed, his eyes suddenly sweeping over Luo Shisan and Yuan Bao'er. "Heh heh, you don't happen to have your eye on this little slut, do you? Trying to pull this hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress act, do you?"

Luo Shisan froze, his cheeks instantly turning red.

When Yuan Laoda saw her, his eyes lit up. He looked at Yuan Bao'er as if she were an item waiting to be sold, filled with greed and calculation.

If this divorced woman could manage to marry into the general's household...

Then he would not only be the Fifth Prince's brother-in-law, but also the General's brother-in-law. Wouldn't he be able to walk sideways all over the capital?

Thinking of this, Old Yuan changed his usual confrontational tone and said, "Hahaha! I didn't expect that I would hit the nail on the head! Hehe... Luo Shisan, if you want to marry my sister, you'd better show your sincerity."

"Otherwise... once my mother arranges her marriage, you'll be out of the picture!"