Qin Su then picked out two more types of forbidden shoes and asked the shopkeeper to pack them up.

"Lian Tao, pay the money."

"Wait a minute." A soft, charming voice came from the side.

Qin Su looked over in confusion and saw it was Madam Wang, who had just been bullied. She asked, "What happened?"

"Well, I'll pay. Consider it a thank you for speaking up for me, Miss Qin." She was rather frail and didn't fit the currently popular "grand and imposing" aesthetic.

Qin Su shrugged. "It's nothing, just a few words. It'll also let them know that I, Qin Su, am not someone to be trifled with."

Madam Wang shyly brushed a stray hair behind her ear and smiled gently. "Miss Qin thinks it's nothing, but this is a great favor to me. Please don't refuse me, otherwise I won't know how to handle myself."

Qin Su seemed to be thinking about this very seriously. "Let's forget about that. How about Madam Wang invites me to a meal? I rarely come to the south of the city and don't know where to find good food."

Madam Wang's watery eyes immediately filled with joy, "Alright! It's a deal!"

As if remembering something, she immediately pulled her son over and said to him, "Xiao Heng, quickly thank your sister."

Xiao Heng thanked her sweetly.

Qin Su smiled, "I should call her Auntie now."

After paying, Qin Su and Madam Wang walked out of the jewelry shop together.

Along the way, she learned from Madam Wang that her real name was Wang Manzhu. She rarely went out and didn't talk to people much, so she was very nervous when she spoke to her.

She usually enjoyed doing needlework, calligraphy, or painting, all of which were quite boring in Qin Su's eyes.

Through today's incident, Qin Su quickly improved her relationship with Madam Wang. She visited Chengnan twice in the following two days, and even went to her and Kang Lin's love nest.

These past few days have made her certain of one thing: Wang Manzhu truly didn't know Kang Lin had a family. She was convinced that her husband was doing something that needed to be kept secret. She felt that as long as they were in love, there was no need for them to ask too many questions.

Clearly, Wang Manzhu was a victim of deception.

Qin Su didn't want to say anything about it. Like everyone else, she didn't like mistresses. The very concept of a mistress was inherently unlikable; her very existence was a sin.

Wang Manzhu is a gentle and mild-mannered person who does things in a slow and methodical manner and cares about everyone around her.

Such a person is hard to dislike.

The one who was wrong was Kang Lin; he betrayed his wife and deceived Wang Manzhu.

However, Qin Su wouldn't give up on her goal no matter what. On the fifth day, she invited Wang Manzhu to a banquet. Wang Manzhu initially refused, but then thought that she could take her son out for a walk, so she agreed.

That evening, Wang Manzhu met her husband, whom she hadn't seen for a long time. She told him about what had happened in the past few days, but Kang Lin disagreed.

"Qin Su is the daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyi, and she usually lives a very comfortable life. Why would she come to the south of the city?" Kang Lin became suspicious.

Wang Manzhu was gentle by nature but very kind to her friends. When Kang Lin said that, she immediately became unhappy. "What do you mean? Are you saying she schemed against me?"

“It’s not impossible.” Kang Lin held his lover’s hand, his eyes deep and terrifying in the candlelight. “Qin Su is, after all, a woman who was jilted at the altar. You shouldn’t get too close to her.”

Wang Manzhu immediately pushed Kang Lin away, "What do you mean she was jilted? It's obvious that the man was having an affair with other women. I think Su Su deserved to break off the engagement! A man like that shouldn't be loved by anyone."

Kang Lin seemed to have been hit where it hurt, and a fire ignited in his heart.

"We haven't seen each other for so long, why would you hurt me for the sake of a stranger?"

Wang Manzhu sneered, "You know we haven't seen each other for a long time? Do normal couples act like this? Do you know what that woman said about me that day? What she said about Xiao Heng?"

"She called me a mistress! A slut who seduces men! She even called Xiao Heng a little slut! And you? Where are you? Su Su helped me back then, and now you're doubting her like this?"

"I won't allow you to talk about my friend like that."

Kang Lin stared at her for a long time, but Wang Manzhu did not give an inch.

She may be weak, but she is still reasonable.

"Zhuzhu, you've changed. You never used to talk to me like this." There seemed to be disappointment in his eyes, but more than that, there was a deep sadness.

Thinking of Princess Cheng'an, who had been clinging to him these past few days, Kang Lin suddenly felt he didn't want to stay here any longer.

"Fine, since you don't want me to come see you, just calm down for the next few days and don't go to the banquet. It's not a good place for you."

After saying this, he strode away, instructing his guards not to allow Wang Manzhu to leave the next day.

Wang Manzhu stared at the empty doorway, feeling for the first time how unfamiliar Kang Lin was.

Although it was only a few days, Qin Su and Wang Manzhu developed a very close relationship, so close that Wang Manzhu considered Qin Su an indispensable best friend. Was it wrong for her not to want her best friend to be humiliated by her husband?!

She admitted that her outburst was due to pent-up resentment, and Qin Su's actions were only a small part of the reason.

As a lover, she really wanted her husband to spend more time with her. Even if he said he didn't care, how could he not care in his heart?

The next day, Wang Manzhu dressed neatly and took her son out, but she was stopped by the guards before she even stepped out of the courtyard gate.

"Madam, the master said that you should stay here for a few days to calm down and not attend any banquets."

Wang Manzhu's face turned cold. "Get out of the way!"

She was determined to fight Kang Lin to the end and would never compromise.

"Please don't put me in a difficult position, Madam."

Wang Manzhu's chest heaved with anger. She grabbed a broom and yelled at the guard, "I told you to get out of the way!"

The guards remained unmoved and did not believe that Wang Manzhu would harm them.

Wang Manzhu was indeed unable to; she did not know martial arts and was physically weak.

She didn't manage to hit anyone, but she was exhausted and panting heavily.

Finally, she found a pair of scissors, held them to her neck, and threatened, "If you don't move aside, I'll do it."

The guard was startled and quickly said, "Madam, please don't do this. Look at the young master, you'll frighten him."

When Wang Manzhu went to see the child, Xiao Heng's eyes were indeed filled with tears. He grabbed her hand and pleaded, "Mother, don't do this. Mother, don't hurt yourself."

“We won’t go to the banquet; Xiao Heng just wants to stay with his mother.”

Wang Manzhu ultimately couldn't bring herself to do it; she couldn't bear to leave her child.

At that moment, she suddenly felt like a caged bird kept by Kang Lin, unable to fly out of the exquisite cage without his permission.

She might break her promise.

"Xiao Heng, let's go back." She wiped away her tears and sat down in the chair, almost in despair.

Time passed second by second, and her handkerchiefs became soaked one after another as she couldn't hold back her tears.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Su's loud and enthusiastic voice came from outside, "Manzhu! I've come to pick you up."

Hope instantly ignited in Wang Manzhu's eyes, and she picked up Xiao Heng and ran to the door.

The guards were still blocking her way. Her eyes were filled with resentment as she angrily said, "Susu, they won't let me out. There are guards at the door."

"Who dares to be so audacious? Get out of my way."

Wang Manzhu obediently took a few steps back.

Immediately afterwards, she saw the guard, whom she considered unshakeable, fly out along with the door.