Her eyes reddened, and she suddenly felt that she had never felt so confident in her past and future lives.

Past lives and present lives, everything suddenly seems less important.

Meeting him made everything worthwhile!

The people from both prefectures, who had just been fed a bellyful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection), were all dumbfounded on the spot.

Gu Boyu chuckled, "Third brother and sister-in-law, this is even more touching than a storybook."

Xie Zhaozhao withdrew her gaze from Gu Shaoyu, forcefully suppressing her pounding heart.

Xie Xiangxiang felt a mixture of envy and jealousy at that moment; her own affairs were a complete mess.

She didn't want to let Guan Yingying off the hook.

"This woman is a liar, she can't leave!" she shouted angrily.

“Lady of the Crown Prince, you have three choices. First, report to the authorities and have the Crown Prince and this woman executed by castration and hammering. Second, let this woman come into the manor as a concubine and let you handle everything. Third, report to the authorities, propose a divorce, and seek compensation.”

Xie Zhaozhao said, "She not only committed adultery, but more importantly, she swindled the wife's dowry to squander."

Even if men are allowed to have multiple wives and concubines, having one mistress while encouraging a man to deceive his legal wife is still extremely despicable.

Guan Yingying exclaimed, "I never used her dowry! Moreover, the young master returned all her capital to her."

"You cheated her out of her money as capital, and after making a profit, you returned the capital to her. You think you did nothing wrong? You're completely innocent?"

Do you believe that borrowing and repaying money is a sign of good credit? Is this the custom in your hometown?

Moreover, you've only repaid her half of the loan! You must compensate the Crown Prince's wife for her dowry, principal and interest!

Xie Zhaozhao glanced at Granny Wei, who then took out a piece of paper and began to read.

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Crown Prince's wife used 20,000 taels of her dowry for the Grand Canal project. In the first month, she earned a total of 50,000 taels. 20,000 taels were given to Tu Qianyue and squandered, while the Crown Prince squandered the remaining 30,000 taels.

"Of the dowry money of the young master's wife, the young master only returned 10,000 taels. The rest was used to purchase a teahouse, a courtyard, and some furniture for Tu Qianyue in the eastern city, totaling 5,000 taels."

"The Crown Prince's wife purchased a floral crown for one thousand taels of silver, which the Crown Prince then gave to Tu Qianyue."

"The income from the shop owned by the young master's wife, which Gu Yuebai used to purchase clothing, maids, and other items."

...

"In short, the young master and the adulterous woman should jointly compensate the young master's wife with 60,000 taels of silver."

The second young lady spends her money with perfect reason and justification!

As Granny Wei read, her heart bled.

This survey data was provided by Yuanyuan, and it seems to be entirely true.

"The accounts can't be calculated like that!" Madam Tu said through gritted teeth.

The money has been squandered by that slut. If Yan'er is asked to pay it back, how could she possibly afford it?

Gu Shaoyu looked at Gu Boyu and Gu Chengyan and said, "The account is clear: 60,000 taels. However, this is an internal matter of the eldest son's family, and the compensation should come from the eldest son's private treasury. The public funds must not be used."

Gu Boyu laughed awkwardly, "This, this is too much of a loss, isn't it? I don't have the money, so Yan'er will have to figure out a way to pay it off herself."

Madam Xu said, "I don't care where you got the money, but no one would embezzle a daughter-in-law's dowry. This money must be returned to my son."

It wasn't just Granny Wei who was heartbroken; Madam Xu, Xie Xiangxiang, Madam Tu, and the Old Madam were all heartbroken too!

That damned woman has emptied the Marquis's mansion time and time again. Where does she get the audacity to think she can just walk away?

Are you still thinking about Gu Chengyan abandoning his wife and home to have an affair with her?

The old lady no longer cared about Tu's niece and shouted angrily, "Shameless slut, seducing men and violating moral principles, drag her out and beat her to death!"

Gu Chengyan stood beside Guan Yingying, desperately pleading for mercy for Xu Shi and Xie Xiangxiang.

Xu felt a pang of heartache; she had failed so badly! She had spoiled Xie Xiangxiang rotten, and look at Xie Zhaozhao—in every way, she had tried to destroy Gu Chengyan and that woman.

"Xiangxiang, let's get a divorce!" Madam Xu said, taking a gamble. "Let's report it to the authorities and follow the law!"

Granny Wei nodded firmly: "Second Miss, let's report it to the authorities!"

Xie Xiangxiang remained silent; she did not want a divorce.

The old lady, Madam Tu, and Xie Zhaozhao all understood Xie Xiangxiang's hesitation.

She could no longer return to the Xie family, and the reputation of divorce was simply too tarnished; she had nowhere left to retreat.

Ms. Xu was in so much pain that she couldn't breathe. Even if there's no way out, you still have to put on an act and try to gain the greatest benefit!

That incredibly stupid daughter!!

The old lady immediately berated Gu Chengyan: "You wicked child, why don't you apologize to your wife? You've only been married for half a year, and you want a divorce? If you want a divorce, I will immediately report to the court, revoke your title, expel you from the Marquis's mansion, and never allow you to enter the Marquis's mansion again."

Gu Chengyan's crotch hurt, but his head didn't.

Xie Xiangxiang cannot report it to the authorities, nor will she.

Xie Xiangxiang didn't want a divorce, and neither did he. Xie Tingting was already the Crown Prince's concubine, and they couldn't afford to lose this powerful patron.

Why not take advantage of today's opportunity to openly and legitimately bring Guan Yingying into the Marquis's residence?

"Qian Yue, kneel down before Madam!" he said sternly to Guan Yingying. "Daganlu, no matter what our reasons were for being together, it's adultery... You're coming to the Marquis's residence; Madam will personally discipline you from now on!"

Guan Yingying stubbornly said, "No, I absolutely refuse to be a concubine!"

Xie Zhaozhao slightly raised her eyelids and said, "Either become a concubine, or suffer the beating. Of course, the folk method of drowning in a pig cage is also an option. The choice is yours!"

Granny Wei immediately chimed in, "Riding the wooden donkey is fine too!"

Madam Xu then played the good cop: "Whether she becomes a concubine or not is none of my son's business. Grand Secretary Gu is here, and the Marquis is here too. You must give my son an explanation, right?"

Gu Chengyan panicked and pleaded with Madam Xu: "Mother-in-law, please forgive your son-in-law! Madam, please forgive me. I will definitely repent and live a good life with you."

He roughly dragged Guan Yingying over, pressed her to the ground, and made her kowtow to Xie Xiangxiang, shouting, "Kowtowing to the mistress!"

Guan Yingying knew it was for her own good; in this era, even if the powerful and wealthy beat her to death, it would be like the death of a dog.

She understood riding the wooden donkey and being drowned in a pig cage, but what was hammering? Was it hitting someone's stomach with a large hammer?

She trembled at the thought of ancient punishments.

She and Gu Chengyan were simply in love and living together, so how could that be adultery?

In this messed-up ancient era, who could she reason with?

She knelt before Xie Xiangxiang in humiliation, remaining silent. Gu Chengyan pressed her head down and kowtowed three times, telling her to call him "Mistress".

Guan Yingying didn't shout, but Xie Xiangxiang said, "Give her a good beating."

Granny Wei grabbed a leather whip and was about to lash out when Gu Chengyan stopped her, glaring at Guan Yingying and shouting angrily, "Shout!"

Helpless, Guan Yingying cried out, "Your Majesty, I..."

After shouting, she burst into tears.

The old lady roared, "You don't want to? Drag her out and beat her to death!"

Gu Chengyan wanted to coax her, but with so many people watching, Madam Xu could change her mind at any moment and send him to be castrated.

He hunched over, pressed down on Guan Yingying, and shouted, "Shut up, quickly beg Madam for forgiveness."

"My lady, I was wrong!"