The Empress immediately understood: the messenger hadn't said goodbye to the Emperor...

The Empress was speechless; she was probably jealous...

Emperor: Why are you so reluctant to part with Jinmei and Xiaotuantuan, but you completely ignore me? Give me back my rewards!

After Chuanwen and the others left, the room fell silent. Several officials glanced at the emperor's expression, feeling a little uneasy.

They were discussing the emperor's promise to send troops to the Little Liang Kingdom when they were suddenly interrupted by Chaoyang Luoshui. Should they continue now?

——

After the old lady returned to the Changxing Marquis's residence with her children and relatives, she called everyone to the living room, except for Chuanyi and Chuanwu, because the old lady felt that these people were the most unreliable in the family, and she could not let these two know anything important.

So he dismissed all the maids and servants, leaving only a close and loyal old woman to serve him.

Seeing this, Chuanze knew something big had happened at home. Seeing his grandmother's grim expression as she looked at his mother, he was even more certain that his mother's affair had been discovered. But then he glanced at Chuanrui and the others, wondering why his grandmother had called them over. Shouldn't such a shameful affair be kept to a minimum?

Marquis Changxing, Chuanhai, and Chuanrui were all unaware of what had happened and were somewhat confused.

"What's going on?" Chuanrui whispered to his wife, snuggling close together.

Xu Yan then dragged out the tone and began to speak in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh dear~, someone is jealous that our daughter has won the favor of the Emperor and Empress, and is afraid that we will compete for the title of Marquis of Changxing. They actually want to drown our daughter!"

As he spoke, he rolled his eyes at Wang.

Xu Yan actually understood Wang Shi's situation. If she were in Wang Shi's position, and a family suddenly appeared, including the old lady's biological son, she would also have to be wary. However, she didn't need to go so far as to harm someone's life.

Although it wasn't Wang's idea to push Xiaowen into the water, it actually happened, so who wouldn't be angry?

Wang was quite embarrassed upon hearing this, and knelt down to beg for forgiveness. The old lady had a gloomy face, and Marquis Changxing and Chuanhai and Chuanrui were all stunned.

After realizing what had happened, they all quickly looked at Chuanwen, pulled him over to check him over from left to right, and only breathed a long sigh of relief after confirming that Chuanwen was alright.

Chuanrui then said to Wang Shi, "Sister, even if I were interested in this title, you would be the one harming me. What kind of behavior is it to harm my daughter?"

It's only because the other party is a woman, and even his nominal sister-in-law; if it were anyone else, he would have already kicked her and started fighting.

Wang was so embarrassed by what she said that she couldn't lift her head. Chuanwen chimed in, "That's right. Once my brother has figured out the Changcang Dabao, the emperor will make him the Marquis of Dingguo. Who would care about a Marquis of Changxing?"

Marquis Changxing, standing to the side: Uh.....I'm not trying to put her down, little girl.

Hearing this for the first time, Lady Wang looked up in surprise, "The Marquis of Dingguo?"

When did this happen? How come she doesn't know?!

For some time now, Madam Wang has been acting mysteriously, and no one knows what she's been busy with. She wasn't home when the Emperor came, so she didn't know about this. When she returned, she only knew that Chuanwu had gone to the manufacturing camp, and she thought it was arranged by Marquis Changxing.

Chuan Hai was busy with official duties, and the two of them didn't have time to talk about it. At this moment, Chuan Hai sighed, feeling somewhat guilty. He wished he had found an opportunity to talk to his wife earlier.

Chuanze was a little confused during the conversation. Wasn't the topic supposed to be his mother's secret rendezvous? How did it turn into Chuanwen?

At this moment, the old lady spoke up, "Madam Wang, a mere title of Marquis of Changxing versus the prestigious title of Marquis of Dingguo, if it were you, what would you choose?"

Chuanrui had said as soon as he returned that he was not interested in the title of Marquis of Changxing. In fact, they did not know each other very well at that time, and she did not quite believe that Chuanrui was not interested in the title. After all, Chuanrui was just an ordinary person before. Now that he had the opportunity to come into contact with the upper echelons of power, how could he not be tempted at all?

However, later, Chuanrui and Xu Yan focused on running the shop. Each day, as long as they made money, they were content and planned what dowry to provide for Chuanwen. One day it would be a set of gold and silver jewelry; the next day, if they earned more, they would buy several nice estates. Their lives weren't filled with intrigue; although they were frugal, they were warm and content. Even the old lady began to yearn for it, and she gradually came to believe that Chuanrui truly had no interest in the title.

Furthermore, with Chuanwen around, even without the title, the emperor wouldn't mistreat them. For example, the promise of the Marquis of Dingguo's title was inevitably made without considering Chuanwen's influence. Even if Chuanwu hadn't been discovered to possess the skill of researching the Long Granary Bag, the emperor would have rewarded them in other ways, perhaps even granting them a marquisate or a high-ranking position.

However, Wang, who was unaware that Chuanwen's true feelings had been revealed, found it hard to believe. Since she didn't believe it, she decided to use another method to eliminate the estrangement between them.

As expected, Lady Wang was speechless. Of course, she would choose the Marquis of Dingguo; they were simply not on the same level! In the history of their Great Jin Dynasty, there had only ever been one Marquis of Dingguo who was enfeoffed at the founding of the dynasty! The Marquis of Dingguo was entitled to an actual fiefdom!

Marquis Changxing was a little embarrassed after being dragged down again. It felt like his title of Marquis had been reduced to that of a worthless piece of trash, the kind that no one would want even if you threw him on the street.

Seeing that Madam Wang looked somewhat dejected, the old lady believed that she would no longer target Chuanwen and the others, so she looked at Chuanze.

"Ze'er, is there anything you want to say?"

Chuanze, who was suddenly called out, was stunned. He looked at his mother and felt that she was doomed this time. So he knelt down and said with a firm expression, "Grandmother, what Mother did was indeed wrong to Xiaowen. I dare not plead for Mother. Please punish me, Grandmother!"

He knew nothing about her secret rendezvous with someone, he had absolutely no idea!

Chuanze prepared himself mentally.

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