Inside Ci'an Hall, the doors and windows were all wide open.

The rich sandalwood scent is slowly dissipating.

After hearing Pei Zhixuan recount the whole story, Xu was so angry that she smashed the water cup in her hand.

"Grab that girl and chop off her hands first!" Madam Xu gritted her teeth. She never expected that An'er, who usually seemed so docile and obedient, would dare to do such a despicable thing!

"That little slut, I'll never let her get away with this! I'd better beat her to death with sticks!"

Xu spoke in a vulgar manner, showing no trace of the demeanor of a noblewoman.

Even Madam Pei, upon hearing this, couldn't help but turn her head and cover her mouth with her handkerchief, pretending to cough a few times.

Shen Yunjiao watched coldly from the side, thinking to herself: She's wrong, but you're no better.

Xu had a lot of money in her hands, yet she was so stingy, deducting the monthly wages of her servants.

Moreover, that money was meant to save her mother's life by treating her illness.

Although An'er made a mistake, Xu Shi was definitely not a good person either.

Shen Yunjiao stepped forward and said slowly to Madam Xu, "The laws of Dayong state that private punishments cannot be used arbitrarily. His Highness has already decided to hand this girl over to the authorities."

Unexpectedly, Xu was furious when she heard this.

"You! How could you be so soft-hearted towards the person who poisoned and murdered your mother-in-law? You're a heartless bastard too!" Madam Xu casually threw the jade ruyi beside her at them.

"Shen Yunjiao!"

Pei Zhixuan suddenly stood up, trying to protect Shen Yunjiao.

But the jade ruyi had already smashed heavily into Shen Yunjiao's waist.

Shen Yunjiao's lips curled into a cold smile: "I didn't expect Mother to recover so quickly. She already has the energy to teach people a lesson as soon as she woke up."

She noticed that Pei Zhixuan was holding her arms with both hands, his whole body blocking her.

Shen Yunjiao quickly took a big step back, keeping her distance from Pei Zhixuan.

"It seems my mother-in-law doesn't need me anymore."

Shen Yunjiao rubbed her side and turned to leave, but Pei Zhixuan called her back.

A hint of heartache flickered in Ru Mo's dark eyes.

"If your back hurts, I'll have Ping An get some ointment and deliver it to your room tonight."

Shen Yunjiao paused, then turned back and said with a mocking smile, "I can make whatever medicine I want myself, Your Highness doesn't need to pretend to be kind."

Pei Zhixuan's expression instantly turned somewhat ugly.

"Let her go! What kind of daughter-in-law is so unruly!" Xu cursed from the side.

“Mother.” Pei Zhixuan turned around, his eyes cold. “Your poison was cured by Shen Yunjiao. Mother, please don’t speak ill of her anymore.”

Madam Xu was somewhat surprised to hear this, "This Madam Shen also knows medicine?"

Then she snorted coldly: "Could it be a fluke? I don't think she has that ability."

Pei Zhixuan's slightly furrowed brows hinted at a hint of impatience.

But he still took a deep breath and bowed to Madam Xu: "Mother, I have something to do. I'll come and keep you company tonight after I'm done."

"Good Xuan'er, where are you going?" Xu Shi probably knew that her words were unpleasant and had displeased Pei Zhixuan, so she quickly tried to get up and stop him.

"Mother, please rest well and do not get angry again, as this will harm your health," Pei Zhixuan said.

He looked at Doctor Li, who was standing aside trembling and waiting for his fate, and said, "Doctor, go and prescribe the medicine. If you make another mistake this time, I will never let you off the hook."

After saying this, he turned and hurriedly left Ci'an Hall.

Madam Pei stood by and watched. After Pei Zhixuan left, she sat down by Xu's bedside.

"Sister-in-law, do you know how awful Shen Yunjiao is? We were taking care of you over there, and she came here just to show off her power as the Crown Prince's wife, and she kicked me and the Second Master out!"

"really?"

“The servants all saw it. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them.”

Madam Xu sneered, "It seems she wants to take my place and become the matriarch of the Pei family."

Madam Pei brought a cup of tea to Madam Xu, saying, "Sister-in-law, calm down. There's nothing we can do about it. She has powerful connections; no one in the manor is as arrogant as her."

"Hmph, just you wait and see. In a few days, she'll die by my hand, and then she'll know what I'm capable of!" Madam Xu pounded the quilt with hatred.

The second wife's instigation successfully ignited Madam Xu's anger towards Shen Yunjiao.

A hint of smug satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

While Xu was still fuming, she noticed the woman her son had brought back, who was standing silently at the foot of the bed with her head down.

"Why haven't you left yet?" Xu shouted at her impatiently.

Fang Ziyu originally wanted to leave, but the thought of Shen Yunjiao stealing the spotlight in front of the young master made her very unhappy.

So she knelt down.

"Reporting to Madam, Ziyu has been practicing medicine for many years. Madam has just woken up, so there must be some discomfort in your body. Ziyu will stay here to observe Madam for a few hours. If Madam is well, Ziyu will leave immediately without disturbing Madam's rest."

Fang Ziyu's voice was gentle and weak, the kind that sounded very easy to manipulate.

Seeing this, the second wife quickly said, "Miss Ziyu is very kind to stay and take care of my sister-in-law. Unlike that princess consort, who doesn't even bother with formalities! She says she'll help detoxify, but does she even know how to treat illnesses? I think she's just trying to fool Zhixuan."

Upon hearing this, Madam Xu made no attempt to hide her disgust for Shen Yunjiao.

She looked at the docile Fang Ziyu and beckoned her to come forward.

Fang Ziyu quickly got up, slowly walked to Xu Shi and squatted down again.

Madam Xu carefully examined the purple jade. She was of average appearance, but fortunately, she had a good personality. Using her to deal with Shen Yunjiao would be just right.

"I didn't ask you to kneel just now, so why did you kneel?" Madam Xu's tone was deliberately gentle. "Since you have this filial piety, I won't pursue the past. From now on, you will have good days ahead if you serve me and Xuan'er well."

Fang Ziyu's tears immediately streamed down her face. "Thank you, Madam. I will remember your teachings."

"Your wedding is approaching, is there anyone left in your family?" Madam Xu asked, rubbing her forehead.

"Madam, my elderly mother still lives in the countryside," Fang Ziyu replied cautiously.

"Then send a servant from the Pei family to your countryside to bring her to the Duke's mansion for a short stay before the wedding," Xu said, patting Fang Ziyu's hand.

The second wife noticed that the two of them seemed to have a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship on the surface, and it appeared that they wanted to join forces to deal with Shen Yunjiao.

The thought of making the Crown Princess, who had repeatedly embarrassed her in front of others, suffer was very gratifying to the Second Madam.

She just can't stand seeing Shen Yunjiao doing well.