As soon as he arrived, several guards at Moon Lake Garden immediately stood guard outside, and any passersby were driven away from a distance.

Looking at the people who appeared out of nowhere, Tu Shi began to feel uneasy.

However, she had been through many storms and knew that this was definitely not the time to talk about family scandals.

She smiled and said, "Third brother, weren't you at court? Why are you back at this hour?"

Gu Shaoyu didn't answer her nonsense. He strode up to Xie Zhaozhao and, in front of everyone, without taking her hand, asked gently, "Has the matter been settled?"

"Hmm, that's about it."

Are you tired?

"I'm a little tired."

Where's the car?

"It's next door."

He told Yuan Yuanman to help Xie Zhaozhao to rest, but Xie Zhaozhao shook her head: "They're attacking me!"

Gu Shaoyu turned his head, looked at Zhang Qing covered in blood on the ground, and asked Tu Shi, "What are you doing? How could you beat someone in this garden?"

Madam Tu said to the few servants who were not injured, "Carry Zhang Qing back."

Several managers were beaten by Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu, and when Gu Shaoyu arrived, they were all crying and groaning.

"What happened to these people? Who hit them?"

Tu was at a loss for words – “Your wife was caught cheating on you, and the adulterer beat her up?”

Based on her life experience, she felt that these words were absolutely unacceptable, as the consequences would be unbearable.

Xie Xiangxiang could no longer hold back and said earnestly to Gu Shaoyu, "Third Uncle..."

"Just call me Grand Secretary Gu!"

"..."

"What? You sent someone to inform me to come back. If you have something to say, say it quickly. Madam is tired and wants to go back to rest."

Xie Xiangxiang hardened her heart and said, "Today, my elder sister came to this garden with Second Young Master Yin and Second Young Master Li. We don't know what kind of shady things they did behind closed doors. Many servants in the mansion saw it."

"What did you see?"

"I saw her meeting with them here in secret..."

“Princess’s wife, watch your words. If you dare to speak nonsense, I don’t care who you are, I will send you to the authorities.”

"I would never dare to speak nonsense. Ask these people; they all saw it." Xie Xiangxiang pointed to a circle of servants from the Marquis's residence.

Those who had been beaten cried out in despair, "Your Excellency, we were beaten by Yin Er!"

"This servant was beaten by Li Er."

"This servant was beaten by Yin Er's servant."

Xia Hua gritted her teeth and knelt down, saying, "Your Excellency, I followed the carriage all the way and saw the Third Madam's carriage enter this garden with my own eyes."

With so many witnesses, Xie Xiangxiang suddenly felt confident: "They discovered that the Third Madam was having a secret rendezvous with Yin Er and Li Er here. To protect the Grand Secretary's reputation, they rushed in to arrest them and were beaten like this by Yin Er and Li Er."

She started crying as she spoke, whether from fear or excitement, it was hard to tell. Pointing at Xie Zhaozhao, she said, "She watched helplessly as the people in the manor were beaten, wishing she could kill us all to silence us..."

Seeing her weeping, Xie Zhaozhao felt disgusted and asked, "Lady of the Heir Apparent, Lady of the Marquis, how can you be so sure that I am here to meet someone in secret?"

Tu, who was singled out, looked unwilling. Wasn't it agreed that you two sisters would fight it out? I'm just here to reap the benefits; this has nothing to do with me!

Xie Xiangxiang: "If this isn't a secret meeting, what are you doing here? Few people come here, so you chose this place because you're sure no one will notice, right?"

Xie Zhaozhao looked at her coldly: "Xie Xiangxiang, I'm giving you one last chance. Were you instigated by someone else, or did you frame me yourself?"

"You don't need to stir things up. Who could instigate me? I naturally saw your carriage arrive for a secret rendezvous before I sent people to arrest you."

"Okay, you said it, I saw it with my own eyes!" Xie Zhaozhao stopped talking nonsense and said to Yuanyuan, "Go and call my second aunt and second brother."

Xie Xiangxiang was immediately confused. What second aunt? Second brother?

The Lu family? Gu Chengsi?

Did they collude together?

Nanxing brought over two chairs, one for Gu Shaoyu and one for Xie Zhaozhao.

The two sat in the shade, where a screen wall next to the gate blocked the view of passersby.

Soon, Yuanyuan invited Madam Xie and Xie Jue, who were waiting on the island in the middle of the lake, to arrive.

The island in the middle of the lake is quite a distance from the gate. On the way here, Madam Xie Er told Madam Xie Er what had happened.

Madam Xie was utterly dumbfounded, her worldview turned upside down.

"Second Miss, you brought people to catch...catching adulterers?" Madam Xie said incredulously. "This is her own sister, the Grand Secretary's wife, a first-rank imperial consort! How many heads does she have to slander her own sister like this?"

“It’s not just this time, Second Madam. You have no idea how many despicable things she has done. But the eldest young lady said that she can’t be thanked twice. If she loses face, it’s the Xie family’s face that’s lost, and it’s the master and madam’s heart that’s broken.” Yuanyuan said angrily. “But she invited Grand Secretary Gu here today. He just wants to beat the eldest young lady to death with one blow!”

Upon hearing that Xie Xiangxiang had invited Gu Shaoyu, Madam Xie was furious.

Even sisters, if they have some unspeakable secrets, will cover for each other. But she, on the contrary, led so many servants to catch her sister in the act! She even notified the Grand Secretary, and in broad daylight, she surrounded her own sister. Is she trying to kill her sister in one fell swoop?

When Madam Xie and Xie Jue arrived at the gate, they first bowed to Gu Shaoyu and said, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

Gu Shaoyu nodded and politely returned the greeting, "Greetings, Second Aunt."

"Weren't you in court? Why are you back at this hour?"

"It was the Crown Prince's wife who sent someone to call me back." As soon as Gu Shaoyu said this, Madam Tu wished she could kill Xie Xiangxiang.

They're more trouble than they're worth! How could they call Gu Shaoyu over before everything was completely settled?

Even if it's for the sake of his reputation, he would definitely turn the tables and take the initiative.

Xie Zhaozhao is difficult enough to deal with, but if Gu Shaoyu is added to the mix, she and Xie Xiangxiang are doomed.

Before Gu Shaoyu could ask any questions, Madam Xie asked Xie Xiangxiang, "I heard that the young master's wife brought so many people..."

She genuinely couldn't bring herself to say the words "catching someone in the act of adultery." She was so angry that her hands were trembling, but she still maintained her composure and dignity.

Xie Xiangxiang was completely dumbfounded. How could it be her second aunt from her maternal family?

"Second Aunt, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here because Miss contacted Second Young Master Yin and Second Young Master Li to arrange a job for Jue'er. The two young masters were a great help, and they actually arranged for her to be assigned to the Palace Guard."

Madam Xie said with impeccable manners, "I was just about to go back and report to the old lady that we should properly thank the Grand Madam, and also thank Master Yin and Master Li. Everyone from our Xie family, whether born of the principal wife or a concubine, even a maid or a servant, is upright and has a clear conscience. They must never be people who are ignorant of their place or ungrateful!"

Xie Xiangxiang was speechless. She had planned everything perfectly, but she never expected that Xie Zhaozhao had asked Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu to arrange a task for Xie Jue.

Madam Xie bowed to Gu Shaoyu and said, "Your Excellency, I must ask you to return to the court first, as matters of state are of utmost importance. If you trust me, I will certainly ensure that Your Excellency's wife is safely returned to the Marquis's residence. Can Your Excellency rest assured?"

Xie Zhaozhao also said, "Your Excellency, please rest assured. As a first-rank noblewoman, I cannot treat the powers I should exercise as mere decorations."

This is a battlefield for women; Your Excellency, please excuse yourself.