The next day.

Because Song Wanning had already agreed to Wen Tingbai's request to take Cui Xiaoxiao to the Pingyuan Marquis' residence, and Wen Tingbai felt that bringing two carriages would be too ostentatious, he let Cui Xiaoxiao and Song Wanning ride in one carriage. Wen Tingbai rode his horse in front of the carriage, and the group marched forward in a mighty procession.

In the carriage, Cui Xiaoxiao saw Song Wanning taking a nap with her eyes closed. Remembering that she was now in power, she naturally didn't want to miss this opportunity to taunt her. "Hey, Song Wanning. You're a legitimate daughter, the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, and you've ended up like this. Don't you feel like a failure?"

Seeing that Song Wanning remained silent, Cui Xiaoxiao felt even more resentful. She looked at Song Wanning and continued, "Don't women in your area value dignity and respectability the most? Now that you've lost your power as housekeeper, you're forced to ride in a carriage with your concubine when you go out. How can you tolerate such a shameful thing? If I were you, I would have divorced you long ago. Otherwise, I would have jumped into the well and drowned myself."

"So Miss Xiao Xiao is so aware of her own status and knows that being a concubine is not something you can present in public." Song Wanning slowly opened her eyes and looked at Cui Xiaoxiao, saying lightly, "Since you know it's embarrassing for the wife to ride in the same car with a concubine, you still continue to hang around in the car, making the Second Master embarrassed outside. Don't you always say that you love him? Is that how much you love him?"

"You..." Cui Xiaoxiao was furious after hearing what Song Wanning said. She was about to curse back when she remembered something and said with a smile, "You can only beat me in verbal skills. I have already obtained the power of housekeeper, and you, the wife, are living worse than a concubine. It's really pitiful."

"It's not just Tingbai, even your son Xu'er is on my side." Cui Xiaoxiao continued to laugh. "I heard a while ago that your father was a mighty general in the current dynasty, but unfortunately he's been away from home. If your father knew what you've become, would he be disappointed?"

Song Wanning looked at Cui Xiaoxiao. Song Wanning had a pair of very beautiful eyes, and she looked very charming at every turn. But Cui Xiaoxiao felt a little scared when she saw her, and stammered, "You, why are you looking at me like that?"

Song Wanning chuckled softly and said word by word, "If my father and brother were still here, would they still allow you to be so arrogant? I'm afraid you would have died a thousand times."

Cui Xiaoxiao was momentarily frightened by Song Wanning's words, gasping for breath as she leaned against the carriage. She knew in her heart that what Song Wanning said was no joke. In this place, power can crush anyone. That's why she clung to Wen Tingbo so tightly, unwilling to let go.

Cui Xiaoxiao had just recovered when the carriage from the Zhongping Marquis' Mansion arrived at the Pingyuan Marquis' Mansion.

Pingyuan Hou's third son Fang Sui stood at the door to greet the guests. There were also many servants and maids standing at the door. As long as they saw a carriage stop, they would quickly step forward to greet the guests. It was quite a grand ceremony.

When the gatekeeper, Xiao Si, saw Wen Tingbai and the carriage behind him, he quickly shouted to the back, "Mr. Bai and Mrs. Bai are here—"

After a while, two little maids ran out and stood beside the carriage, waiting to greet Song Wanning who got out of the carriage.

Seeing the curtain being lifted, the little maid reached out and lowered her head, waiting for Song Wanning to help her get off the carriage. Soon, Cui Xiaoxiao naturally reached out and placed her hand on the back of the maid's hand. The maid saw a pair of hands supporting her and thought it was Song Wanning, so she helped Song Wanning walk to the door.

Cui Xiaoxiao was very pleased to be treated like this and soon walked to Wen Tingbo's side.

Fang Sui was standing at the door. When he saw Wen Tingbai, he stepped forward to greet him. He looked at Wen Tingbai and said, "Brother Tingbai, it's been a long time since we last met. I didn't expect to have you here. It's a great honor for my humble abode. Please come in."

"My dear brother, you are too polite." Wen Tingbai said with a smile, "Now that your family has a big happy event, I should come no matter what."

Fang Sui saw Cui Xiaoxiao beside Wen Tingbo and felt unfamiliar with her. However, Cui Xiaoxiao was holding Wen Tingbo's arm, looking like they were very close. Fang Sui casually asked, "Brother Tingbo, who is this..."

Wen Tingbai looked at Fang Sui's eyes. Now Cui Xiaoxiao was holding Wen Tingbai's arm. Wen Tingbai didn't feel proud, but only felt his face burning. He said vaguely, "Her name is Xiao Xiao, she is... from my house..."

Fang Sui understood what Wen Tingbai was doing and didn't make things difficult for him. He looked at Wen Tingbai and said, "Second sister-in-law didn't come today? She is very close to my wife, and my wife was looking forward to her coming."

Wen Tingbai breathed a sigh of relief when Fang Sui changed the subject. He looked at the carriageway behind him and said, "Here they are! They are almost getting out of the carriage."

Fang Sui immediately glanced at the little maid behind him and said, "Mrs. Bai is still in the car, why don't you go get it quickly?"

The little maid beside Fang Sui hurried forward, but before she reached the carriage, Song Wanning's personal maid Cai Que had already taken Song Wanning down from the carriage.

When Fang Sui saw Song Wanning, he quickly stepped forward and greeted her with a smile, "Second sister-in-law, I've finally had you here. Yuyuan was saying yesterday that she was worried you wouldn't come."

When Song Wanning heard about Liu Yuyuan, she smiled a little and looked at Fang Sui and said, "How dare you not come? If I don't come, I'm afraid she will come to my house in a few days to teach me a lesson."

"Please come in, sister-in-law. Yuyuan is waiting for you in the yard now." Fang Sui said as he made a gesture of invitation.

Cui Xiaoxiao stood beside Wen Tingbai and saw that Song Wanning was treated much better than her. She became displeased for a moment and tugged at Wen Tingbai's sleeve, saying, "Tingbai, I'm the mistress of the Marquis' Mansion now. Why is Song Wanning being treated like this?"

"General Song has made great military achievements, and Wan Ning is a close friend of Brother Fang's wife, so it's normal for them to be close." Wen Tingbai watched the maid lead Song Wan Ning into the yard through the side door, and just comforted Cui Xiaoxiao, "Xiao Xiao, don't think too much."

Cui Xiaoxiao snorted coldly and followed Wen Tingbo into the inner room.

The full moon banquet at the Pingyuan Marquis Mansion invited all the nobles and officials. When they learned that Wen Tingbo had brought his concubine to visit someone else's home, they looked at Wen Tingbo with strange eyes.

Wen Tingbai felt embarrassed and regretted bringing Cui Xiaoxiao to the Pingyuan Marquis' residence. If he had brought Song Wanning alone, he might have received praise from his colleagues. After all, Song Wanning was extremely well-mannered and could hardly have been faulted in such an occasion.

Wen Tingbai was thinking this, but he didn't know that people in the backyard of Pingyuan Marquis' Mansion were also talking about him and Cui Xiaoxiao.

Liu Yuyuan came from a family of high rank, her ancestors all scholars. After hearing about what Wen Tingbai had done, she became even more surprised. "Wan Ning, are the rumors out there true? Did Wen Tingbai really let a concubine run the household in the Marquis' Mansion?"