Zhang Yanyan stayed there for a short time before returning home.

Xie Xiangxiang, Gu Jiaojiao, and Gu Xuanxuan admired the lotus flowers for a long time under the pavilion by the lotus pond. Gu Jiaojiao sighed and said, "Everything in our Marquis's mansion is good, except for one person who is not harmonious."

Xie Xiangxiang thought she was referring to Xie Zhaozhao, who had just left.

Anyone who is at odds with Xie Zhaozhao is definitely an ally!

Xie Xiangxiang nodded insincerely: "Don't take it too seriously. People who are arrogant will eventually be punished."

Gu Xuanxuan said, "Second Aunt has always been jealous of the heir to the title. I heard that Second Aunt is always making things difficult for Sister-in-law? A few days ago, I also heard Third Sister scolding Sister-in-law for not being as well-behaved as the rumors say..."

She stopped abruptly, as if she had let something slip.

Xie Xiangxiang was immediately furious. She had been wondering why Madam Lu had always been disrespectful to her; it turned out she wanted to seize the title!

On the day of the tea ceremony, Madam Lu and her elder sister made things difficult for her. A few days ago, after the incident involving the witchcraft doll came out, she started jumping around and acting strangely.

"Heh, what a big face. Her son looks like a pickled mustard green, and he wants to compare himself to the young master? A beggar picking up gold, always dreaming good things."

Xie Xiangxiang sneered, "Third Miss is also very well-mannered. The fact that she can slander the young master's wife like this shows that she has learned manners very well."

The man she was scolding was Gu Chengsi, the legitimate son of the second wife, who was currently studying at Chunyang Academy. It was said that his grades were mediocre and his appearance was not as refined and dashing as Gu Chengyan.

Third Miss Gu Huanhuan, the legitimate daughter of Madam Lu, it's unexpected that such an inconspicuous second daughter would dare to speak ill of the Crown Prince's wife!

Like a child who had made a mistake, Gu Jiaojiao hurriedly apologized to Xie Xiangxiang: "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. It was my fault for being so talkative. I shouldn't have told you all this nonsense."

"How can this be your fault? I've only been married to the young master for a few days, and I don't even know everyone in the Marquis's mansion yet, and I'm already being looked down upon by others." Xie Xiangxiang was both angry and heartbroken.

"Sister-in-law, don't be angry. Getting angry with others is just punishing yourself. Second Aunt is always like this. She not only wants her son to take away my brother's title, but she also wants Gu Huanhuan to marry into a high-ranking family and put her above our eldest branch!"

Upon hearing Gu Jiaojiao's words, Gu Xuanxuan clenched her fists, her eyes bloodshot: "Gu Huanhuan is not worthy? With her looks, she is only fit for the illegitimate sons and grandsons of impoverished families."

Gu Jiaojiao said, "What's the use of hating her? Who told you to have such a bad background? She is the legitimate third young lady born of the principal wife! You crawled out of your aunt's womb, and that alone puts Gu Huanhuan in a very difficult position."

She was truly a master at sowing discord; with just a few words, she struck at Xie Xiangxiang and Gu Xuanxuan's sore spots, making the two of them utterly hate Madam Lu and Gu Huanhuan.

Gu Xuanxuan clenched her hands under her sleeves, looking at the lotus pond with indescribable anger in her heart.

Seeing her angry, Xie Xiangxiang said, "What's there to be angry about? Just marry someone better than her."

Gu Xuanxuan immediately grabbed her arm excitedly: "Sister-in-law, can you help me? If you can help me marry into a good family, I will make a longevity tablet for you for the rest of my life."

Seeing how moved she was, Xie Xiangxiang suddenly realized that illegitimate daughters were really easy to manipulate, natural pawns.

She could only be a nominal husband and wife with Gu Chengyan in the Marquis's mansion for her entire life, so she had to find something interesting to do.

When Gu Jiaojiao saw that Xie Xiangxiang was going to help Gu Xuanxuan, Gu Xuanxuan was so excited that she cried and even hugged Xie Xiangxiang's leg while crying.

"Second sister, don't cry. Your sister-in-law will definitely help us. We are family, and we can't let the second branch of the family dominate us."

Gu Xuanxuan said resentfully, "Second Aunt is disrespectful to her sister-in-law, so don't blame me for being impolite."

And so it is...

Xie Xiangxiang listened to Gu Jiaojiao and Gu Xuanxuan talk about their plans. She did not object and even offered some pointers.

He pretended to be virtuous and said, "I won't participate in your games, and don't tell me about them again. I'll just pretend I don't know anything."

After talking for a while and seeing no one else around, the group went back to their rooms.

The newly hired maid Chunling came over and whispered to her, "Madam, the eldest daughter of the Zhang family has come to visit the third wife. It seems that the eldest daughter of the Zhang family has encountered something serious. I saw that her eyes were red and swollen."

"Really?" Xie Xiangxiang was surprised.

In her memory, her elder sister and Zhang Yanyan, Liu Yiyi and the others were all very close friends, with excellent manners, and they would never show their emotions in front of others.

"Go and find out what happened right away!"

Something terrible must have happened to the Zhang family. She just wanted to see the Zhang family suffer, to see her eldest sister suffer, and to see her lose one good sister after another.

In no time, she had already imagined Zhang Yanyan entering the building!

There's nowhere left to stay; we must find out the news as soon as possible.

Knowing that ordinary servants couldn't enter Qingpu Courtyard, she said to Chunling, "You and Xiahua go and deliver a basin of ice to our elder sister, and listen to what they're saying."

Chunling and Xiahua, carrying a basin of ice, were panting heavily when they met Beichen, whose injuries had healed, at the entrance of Qingpu Courtyard.

"The young master's wife said it's too hot and asked us to send some ice to the third mistress," Chunling said, her eyes glancing towards Qingpu Courtyard.

Qingpu Courtyard is too big, and there's a screen wall, so you can't see anything.

Furthermore, no sound could be heard. Young ladies from prominent families like Xie Zhaozhao and Zhang Yanyan would never chatter incoherently.

Bei Chen thanked them and told them to put the ice down.

He called out to Mo Yan and Xu Li, and they carried the ice inside.

A little while later, Manman personally brought out a basin, which contained two extremely sweet cucumbers. She thanked them at the door.

Chunling said with a grin, "Sister Manman, we have guests in the yard?"

Manman said, "Yes, she is a good friend of the lady."

"You're here so late?"

"Yes, they are good friends, and Madam likes them to visit anytime."

Having no further reason to stay, the two carried the cucumber back home.

Xia Hua said, "What should we do? We haven't been able to find out a single thing."

"Isn't Miss Zhang's maidservant by the carriage? Shall we go and ask her?"

"Yes, yes, let's go ask the maids."

Who knew that the Zhang family's maid was also very tight-lipped, and she couldn't get anything out of her. She only said that her young mistress had come to visit a friend, whom she hadn't seen for a long time and missed.

"Pah!" Chunling and Xia Hua were very unhappy when they returned. "It must not be good news, they kept it a secret for so long!"

Upon entering Fanghua Garden, they happened to meet Gu Chengyan returning. The two hurriedly bowed to Gu Chengyan with shy expressions and greeted him.

Gu Chengyan entered the courtyard and saw Xie Xiangxiang cooking lotus seed porridge.

"Madam is cooking porridge? It smells so good!" Gu Chengyan came over with a smile, took her hand and led her into the house. "Come here, I have something to tell you."

Xie Xiangxiang entered the room and looked at Gu Chengyan, whose features were delicate and refined, and whose gentle demeanor was like jade. She felt a pang of longing, but also a sense of helplessness.

"What's wrong?" She looked at his extremely happy expression. Could it be that his testicles had grown back?