Qiao Zixi looked at Qiao Ziming who walked in with an expression of disbelief.

"Brother, what are you saying?! Have you lost your mind?! That Su Muxi is neither talented nor beautiful, and her status is low. How can the Princess be on equal footing with her, given her noble status?! You wronged the Princess back then, and now you want Su Muxi to disgust her?! The Princess only said she didn't mind being a secondary wife because she was afraid of putting you in a difficult position, but you can't let her suffer!"

After Qiao Zixi injured her face at the age of six, Bai Mengying would always bring her all sorts of strange and interesting trinkets when she visited. In her heart, she always regarded Bai Mengying as her sister-in-law, which was one of the reasons why she disliked Su Muxi.

When Bai Mengying was mentioned, Qiao Ziming's expression began to waver.

He had wronged Yingying before, but Su Muxi had been kind to him, so he couldn't be ungrateful and divorce her.

If that were the case, not only would he be implicated, but Yingying would also be pointed at and gossiped about, so Su Muxi could not quit.

“Yingying is the most sensible person; she will definitely understand me.”

After saying this, Qiao Ziming looked at Qiao Zixi and said, "Don't mention the matter of divorcing your wife again in the future, otherwise what will outsiders say about our Marquis of Anyang's mansion?! It's just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks, why must you drive Su Muxi out? If you really drive her away, how will she, a weak woman, live outside the mansion?! After all, she has healed your face!"

Qiao Zixi was full of resentment and was about to say something when Jiang interrupted her, saying, "Alright, listen to your brother, don't mention divorcing your wife."

After saying that, he pressed his hand to his temple, looking as if he was extremely dizzy.

Jiang's original intention was to remind Qiao Ziming of Su Muxi's unfilial behavior, but unexpectedly, she heard Qiao Ziming say, "Mother, I went to the pharmacy to buy you two ginseng roots and have already asked the kitchen to make chicken soup for you."

"What?! You went out to buy ginseng?! We have it in the manor, why did you go out to buy it?! It's one thing for Su Muxi to disregard me, but she doesn't even respect you, her husband?! It seems her previous obedience was all an act! My son, it's not that your mother is ungrateful, it's just that Su Muxi has gone too far! This woman must be divorced! Otherwise, where will you put your face?! Where will I put my face?! Where will the Anyang Marquis's manor put its face?!"

Jiang spoke righteously and eloquently, but she did not sway Qiao Ziming in the slightest.

Looking at his mother, who was full of energy, Qiao Ziming suddenly thought of the three century-old ginseng roots.

For a fleeting moment, I felt sorry for Su Muxi.

After thinking for a moment, he took out an account book from his bosom and handed it to Madam Jiang. “Mother, these are the medicinal herbs that the manor has taken from Mu Xi’s dowry shop over the past three years. Please take a look. If there are no problems, please have the accountant give the money to Mu Xi.”

Jiang took the book with displeasure, and after looking at the accounts, she tore it up without saying a word.

"Outrageous! She's just the daughter of a mere head of the Imperial Medical Academy, and marrying into my Anyang Marquis's household isn't enough for her; she's even eyeing my Anyang Marquis's wealth?!"

Qiao Ziming patiently explained, "Mother, those medicinal herbs were originally taken from Mu Xi's dowry shop, so it's only right to give her the money now."

If it were one or two hundred taels of silver, Madam Jiang would give it.

But that's over ten thousand taels of silver. If it were given to Su Muxi, the Marquis's estate would lose more than half of its wealth.

Therefore, she would absolutely not give them the money!

"Since Su Muxi has married into our Anyang Marquis's mansion, she is now a member of our Anyang Marquis's mansion. What kind of logic is it to ask her for money just to get some medicinal herbs from her?! Does that mean that after you married Princess Chang Le and moved into her mansion, you had to pay her rent every month? You are Su Muxi's husband, her everything, yet she's talking to you about money?! In my opinion, she just wants to use money to force you to cancel your engagement with Princess Chang Le. Otherwise, why bring up the account books now of all times?!"

Seeing the hint of doubt on Qiao Ziming's face, Madam Jiang quickly added, "My son, a woman like Su Muxi will only take an inch and want a mile. She's testing you step by step, but don't let her manipulate you so easily! You wronged Princess Chang Le three years ago, and you absolutely cannot wrong her a second time!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Zixi hurriedly interjected, "Yes, Princess Sister-in-law is of noble birth, yet she is deeply in love with Brother. Even when Brother broke his leg, she never abandoned him. If Brother hadn't said so many hurtful things to her, Princess Sister-in-law wouldn't have been forced to marry far away to Ganzhou and become a widow! Princess Sister-in-law's life is truly tragic. Brother, you mustn't be deceived by Su Muxi's tricks and let Princess Sister-in-law down!"

Qiao Ziming believed Jiang's words, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Su Muxi wanted to take the opportunity to force him to cancel his engagement with Yingying. It was ridiculous that he had actually felt guilty towards Su Muxi before.

In that case, he couldn't possibly owe Su Muxi any more money, lest Su Muxi use this matter to threaten him again.

"No matter what, I don't want to owe her this money. Mother, you can have the accountant give it to her. As for the matter of divorcing her, I will consider it."

Madam Jiang sighed and nodded, "I understand. I'll give her the money in a couple of days. You can go now, I'm tired."

After Qiao Ziming left, Qiao Zixi picked up the account book from the ground. Upon seeing the amount of silver recorded on it, she exclaimed in surprise, "Mother, are you really going to give the silver to Su Muxi?! That's more than ten thousand taels of silver!"

"No! I need to have someone thoroughly investigate these ledgers. Su Muxi must have tampered with them, otherwise how could there be so much silver?!"

Madam Jiang nodded, "It's good to investigate. It will also let the Marquis see Su Muxi's true greedy nature! As for the silver, I have no way of giving it to her. I only said that to appease your brother. You know how stubborn he is. If I say no, he will definitely continue to make a scene with me."

"What if Su Muxi doesn't get the money and comes to cry and make a scene with her brother?" Qiao Zixi hesitated.

But then Jiang chuckled and said, "Then I'll say that I have too much money and need time to prepare it. I didn't say I wouldn't give it to you. But it's wrong of Su Muxi to make a scene! The more she makes a scene, the more your brother will despise her. Even a life-saving grace can be exhausted eventually. Besides, Su Muxi only treated your brother's leg; there was no danger to his life."

…

On the other hand, although Su Muxi was not clear about Jiang's true nature, she already knew the Qiao family's attitude.

Aside from Qiao Ziming's reluctance to divorce her due to his pride, both Madam Jiang and Qiao Zixi hoped that she could get out of the Marquis of Anyang's mansion as soon as possible.

They are all ungrateful people, and there is nothing in the Marquis of Anyang's mansion that she should stay for, so she must leave as soon as possible.

If she waits for Marquis Anyang to return to the capital, she fears it won't be so easy for her to divorce Qiao Ziming.

So the next morning, Su Muxi knelt outside Anning Palace, hoping that the Empress Dowager could make a decision for her.