This was the first time Zhao had ever been so angry at Yan Linglong. Usually, she would turn a blind eye to her, out of sight, out of mind.

But this brat is too arrogant. She thinks she can control everything in the mansion. Does she really think I wouldn't dare to touch her?

Yan Linglong was suddenly lifted up into the air and was completely dumbfounded. She never expected that Zhao would actually lay a hand on her.

How dare my mother touch her? The City Lord's Mansion owes its current status to her contributions!

The city lord's mansion will have to rely on her in the future.

Not only was Yan Linglong stunned and shocked, but even Yan Shanxing's expression changed, and he was dumbfounded for several breaths.

For a long time, Yan Shanxing and Zhao Shi had lived in peace and treated each other with respect.

Therefore, he never knew that there was such a skilled person secretly protecting Zhao.

The reason he had always been so obedient to Zhao and acted as a loving husband was simply because he respected the reputation of the thirteen prestigious families.

He feared that if he made a move against the Zhao family, it would be tantamount to slapping the Zhao family, one of the thirteen prestigious families, in the face.

At that time, even if it wasn't for his wife's sake, but just for the sake of the Zhao family's reputation, the Zhao family would certainly not let him off the hook.

But now, his wife's forceful methods have truly frightened him.

I never expected that his wife would have secret guards protecting her!

"Madam, you mustn't! You absolutely mustn't touch Linglong. Linglong is, after all, the face of my City Lord's Mansion. Wouldn't it be a waste to just abandon her like this?"

Besides, this child is truly quite capable, as you, Madam, surely know, right?

"Hmph, I only didn't bother with her before because she had some skills and could bring some benefits to the manor. But she just doesn't use those skills for good and instead uses them against my daughter. So I won't let her off the hook."

I think if I don't teach her manners properly, she'll start to act like she owns the place and ride roughshod over me, the mistress of the house.

"Let's lock you up for three days and let you calm down."

Yan Shanxing was no longer calm; his brows furrowed with anxiety.

"Madam, Linglong's health has always been poor; she can't withstand being confined for three days."

Zhao sneered repeatedly.

"So Qingxue can endure this humiliation? She's just a concubine's daughter, still a child. She's the one who arranged the marriage. Who does she think she is?"

If word got out that a concubine's daughter was overstepping her bounds and taking charge of the household, how could I possibly face the noble ladies? How could my City Lord's Mansion possibly have the face to stand in Green City?

"Yan Shanxing, you'd better wake up! To obey a concubine's daughter like this? How can you, the lord of a city, do such a thing? Don't you feel ashamed?"

Yan Shanxing pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and his gaze was cold and sharp.

Although outsiders saw him as incredibly glorious, only he knew that he had always been oppressed by his wife and lived a life of utter humiliation and resentment in the mansion.

The one who could make the decisions was not him, the city lord, but his powerful wife.

They don't even have the power to decide their daughter's marriage. If word gets out, who's really ashamed?

This is something that truly makes one lose face in their own home, isn't it?

Is there anything more shameful than him having to watch his wife's face?

While the commotion continued, Yan Qingxue was leisurely enjoying tea and snacks in Zhao's room. After half an hour of this, Zhao entered with a cold and livid expression.

Yan Qingxue burst out laughing when she saw that look!

Alright!

Judging from this, I can tell that I've really angered my mother. It seems that this matter has been exposed.

"Mother, what did Father say? Should we still discuss my marriage with the He family? Did that little bitch Yan Linglong make things difficult for you?" Yan Qingxue deliberately asked the last question.

The purpose was to demonstrate that Yan Linglong's status was higher than her mother's.

Only in this way can she make her mother feel threatened and take action against that little bitch Yan Linglong.

"That little brat has really grown up. She actually dared to act arrogantly towards me. If I don't teach her a lesson, she'll really turn my mansion upside down."

"Then how did you punish her, Mother?" Yan Qingxue's eyes sparkled. Upon hearing this, she immediately perked up, no longer slumped on the couch, but straightened up and pressed for an answer.

Zhao paused, her expression hard. "With her half-dead body, how can we punish her? If we use family law, she'll be tortured to death."

They've put her in solitary confinement; that's enough to give her a hard time.

"If she really dies, her death is a small matter; what's serious is that my reputation for mistreating my illegitimate daughter will spread."

Yan Qingxue pouted, then slumped back down listlessly. "What? I thought I was going to teach her a lesson."

Zhao curled her lips into a smile, a ruthless glint in her eyes.

"How could it be over like this? The worst is yet to come. She's waiting for us. Killing her is easy enough, but we want her to suffer a fate worse than death."

"That brat dares to treat you like this! See how I deal with her!"

Yan Qingxue raised an eyebrow. "Then, Mother, what's your idea?"

"Since she's so eager to get rid of you, why not get rid of her first? On my family's side, there's a mentally challenged nephew who's about her age. He had a fever when he was little and it damaged his brain. Why don't we marry him off to her?"

She's too young now, so I'll just have to figure out a way to arrange a marriage first, and then I'll give her a good dressing down!

Yan Qingxue rolled her eyes. "How could Father possibly agree to marry her off to a fool?"

Zhao disagreed.

"Hmph, my family is a prestigious one, after all. Does your father have the right to refuse me?"

“That’s different, Mother. Yan Linglong is a princess, after all. Not to mention Father, even you, Mother, can’t just make a decision on your own.”

If it's lily of the valley, then of course it goes without saying.

However, Linglan is different from that little slut Yan Linglong. She has always been well-behaved and often makes little things for me. She treats me so well and truly regards me as an older sister.

Mother, you must find a good husband for Linglan.

"Madam, the master is here." The maidservant outside the door walked over quickly and reported to Madam Zhao.

"He still has the nerve to come here? Hmph, he's here to plead for that little brat, isn't he? Let him go, don't see him."

"Oh, Mother, please don't! Let Father come in and see what he has to say. Mother, you must make Father give me an explanation about my marriage in person here. Otherwise, what will I do if Father comes to me and brings up the He family matter again?"

"Give him the guts, let him try?" Zhao sneered, but then her smile vanished as she remembered Yan Shanxing's explanation to her.

He hesitated for a moment.

This matter of making money does sound quite important.

The fact that the City Lord's Mansion was able to receive protection from the Zhao family was not without reason.

She goes back to her parents' home every year to give them money.