Seeing that Jiang had been sitting still since he entered the room, Marquis Yongping's anger grew even stronger.

Marquis Yongping understood that Jiang was only looking down on him because her brother was now a confidant of the emperor. After all, compared to before, Marquis Yongping's wealth and social status had declined significantly.

Marquis Yongping glanced at Jiang and began pacing in front of the kang (a heated brick bed). Seeing Marquis Yongping's sullen face and his silence, Jiang asked him, "What are you doing? Did you get upset somewhere and are you taking it out on me here?"

Upon hearing Jiang's words, Marquis Yongping stopped in his tracks, sneered twice, and said, "You ask me where I was wronged? Why don't you ask what you did? You come from a prominent family and are now a marquis's wife. Don't you know what to say in what situation? If you really don't know, please go home and ask your mother-in-law. Let her teach you properly."

Upon hearing these words, Madam Jiang slammed her hand on the table in anger and shouted, "My lord, if I have done something wrong, just say it directly. Why do you have to stab me in the back with these words?"

Marquis Yongping nodded and said, "Alright, I'll tell you. Do you remember what you said at Marquis Jianning's residence the other day?"

Jiang nodded and said, "Of course I remember. It's just about sending Yuli to be Xingge'er's concubine. Yuli is a girl from a good family. Even if she's going to be a concubine, she should be a noble one."

Marquis Yongping took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said, "Do you know what trouble your words have brought to the Marquis's mansion?"

Jiang sneered twice and said, "Trouble? Ever since that Xu woman entered the family, haven't we had enough troubles?"

Marquis Yongping sneered twice and said, "You say the troubles in the family were caused by Madam Xu? Then let me ask you, in all these years you've been in charge of the household, do you even know how much debt you've accumulated? You used Madam Xu's dowry to cover your losses, do you think outsiders don't know that? Madam, we're not a monolithic entity. There are so many servants in the mansion, do you think everyone is on your side?"

Jiang has never tolerated anyone saying that she used Xu's dowry to make up for her own deficit. She slammed her hand on the kang table and said, "My lord, if you want to speak properly, then speak properly. If you don't want to speak properly, then go back to where you came from."

Marquis Yongping trembled with anger and said, "Fine, fine, you caused this mess anyway. Now that her family has come knocking on our door, you should go to the front and explain to them yourself. Hurry up and have someone help you wash and change your clothes, then go to the study in the front yard and explain to the people from Marquis Yongning's residence. I also need to tell you that this time Marquis Yongning came with his second master and five nephews. You can think carefully about how to explain to them when you get there."

After finishing his speech, Marquis Yongping turned to leave, but Madam Jiang was not about to let him go. She quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and grabbed his sleeve at the door, saying, "My lord, how can I, a lady of the inner quarters, go to the front yard to talk to men outside? This is something you should be concerned about."

Jiang Shi had to grit her teeth to say these words. Despite her usual dignified demeanor, she was actually quite intimidated when it came to the Marquis of Yongning. She had been able to bully Xu Shao back then because she was certain that the Marquis of Yongning wouldn't stand up for Xu Shao. But ever since Zhao Sixing got married, the Marquis of Yongning had become a completely different person. Not only did he stand up for Xu Shao, but he also took care of Xu Shao's three children in every way. Jiang Shi knew that her eldest granddaughter, who had previously had a very difficult time in her husband's family, had recently been living a much easier life.

It was only at this moment that Jiang began to regret the words she had spoken at the Marquis of Jianning's house the day before. At the time, she had only felt resentful because she saw Xu Shao's calm demeanor. In recent years, Jiang had not gained any benefits from Xu Shao, and it was actually quite difficult to get someone who was used to taking advantage of others to stop.

Marquis Yongping turned to look at Madam Jiang and said, "Since that's the case, hurry up and wash up, then come with me to the front yard to explain to Marquis Yongning."

Jiang didn't want to go, but seeing that she didn't move, Marquis Yongping said, "You'd better go. Otherwise, our marriage with Marquis Yongning will be over. Yes, your brother is now favored by the Emperor, but you are still the mistress of the Marquis Yongping's mansion. Our mansion is in turmoil. Do you think losing the support of the Marquis Yongning's mansion will benefit us?"

After pondering for a long time, Jiang finally had the old woman from before help her wash and change her clothes.

When Marquis Yongping mentioned what happened at Marquis Jianning's residence the day before, Feng Yuli, who was eavesdropping behind the house, felt her heart leap into her throat. After listening to Marquis Yongning and Jiang Shi's conversation, Feng Yuli felt her heart adrift and adrift, unable to find its place. She knew that it was impossible for her to become Zhao Sixing's concubine, but she wondered what kind of marriage Jiang Shi would find for her in the future.

However, based on what the Marquis of Jianning said, Feng Yuli knew in her heart that it was impossible to find a good marriage in the capital.

Thinking of her Shen family, Feng Yuli felt a surge of sadness welling up in her heart. She squatted down, covered her mouth, and tears streamed down her face.

Jiang dawdled along, and just as she and Marquis Yongping reached the courtyard gate of the study, they saw several people supporting the unsteady-footed Prince Zhao Ziqi as he entered from outside.

When Marquis Yongping saw Zhao Ziqi, before Zhao Ziqi could even finish his greetings, he kicked him, sending Zhao Ziqi sprawling to the ground, where he was completely stunned.

Not only Zhao Ziqi, but even Jiang was stunned. Zhao Ziqi was over forty years old, and yet he was kicked to the ground in front of the servants in the mansion. How could Zhao Ziqi bear this?

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