When Liu Fangniang saw that Zhou Yongli did not bring any jewelry with him, she knew that something bad was going to happen. What did Song Xia say?

"Yonglang, what did Madam say to you? Why do you look so pale?"

"Isn't it all because you're always so jealous and nitpicky, even complaining about the jewelry your wife buys? Haven't you bought enough before? You're just a concubine, what right do you have to question your wife?"

Liu Fangniang's eyes instantly filled with tears; she never expected Zhou Yongli's return to elicit this reaction.

Seeing her surprised and sad, Zhou Yongli was also annoyed, but this time he also deeply felt that Liu Fangniang was wrong. If Fangniang hadn't complained as soon as he came back, why would he have impulsively run to Ruyi Courtyard?

What should he do if Song Xia goes back to the Prince Cheng's residence and says something?

Seeing that Zhou Yongli didn't comfort her immediately, Liu Fangniang really panicked.

"I am foolish and dull. No matter what I have done wrong, please do not be angry with me, lest you harm your health because of me. It is not worth it."

"Sigh!" Zhou Yongli sighed heavily and shook his head again.

Liu Fangniang leaned against him and said, "Yonglang, I will no longer concern myself with Madam's affairs."

"You shouldn't have interfered in the first place. The lady is the principal wife, and she's also a county princess personally appointed by His Majesty. How many sets of jewelry she buys is none of your business."

Being emphasized like this repeatedly, Liu Fangniang felt twisted in her heart. She was just from a good family background, so why should she be able to suppress her?

"Besides, the reason Madam bought so much this time is all because of you."

Liu Fangniang said aggrievedly, "What does this have to do with me?"

"Because you bought too much and too ostentatiously before, even the wife of the Imperial Censor asked me, 'If you hadn't bought more, wouldn't my reputation for favoring my concubine over my wife be confirmed? If His Majesty questions you then, would you still have a chance to survive?'"

"Why would the Censor's wife ask such questions?" In the end, Liu Fangniang still didn't believe it, thinking that Song Xia was making things up and deliberately trying to disgust her.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yongli didn't think so. The more Liu Fangniang asked, the more he felt that Liu Fangniang's knowledge was somewhat limited and not as comprehensive as Song Xia's.

"If you don't do it, why will others ask? From now on, you are not allowed to interfere in Madam's affairs. Madam has her reasons for doing what she does. You just need to take care of your Qinya Pavilion."

No matter how unwilling Liu Fangniang was, she could only reluctantly agree. Why had she been favored for so many years? It was because she always went along with Yonglang and spoke according to his wishes.

Song Xia was proud of her status and never wanted to bow down to Yong Lang, which was why Yong Lang preferred to come to her Qinyaxuan. She could never let Yong Lang think that she was disobedient.

"Also, those pieces of jewelry you bought before were too expensive, so don't wear them out anymore."

Liu Fangniang felt another lump in her throat as she listened, but there was something even more choking her.

"You should pack up those jewelry pieces and have the accountant put them into the public funds. That way, no one will have any reason to accuse me of favoring my concubine over my wife."

"To be given to the public treasury?" Liu Fangniang's voice became shrill, as if she couldn't believe it. "Yonglang, those were all promises you made to me!"

Zhou Yongli looked both embarrassed and somewhat impatient: "There will be more in the future, so let's not give anyone any leverage over us for now."

"Did Madam also say this?"

“Is there anything wrong with that? If it’s put into the public coffers, it can be given out as a wedding gift when other families get married. People will know that it wasn’t purchased by you, a concubine, and that will clear your name.”

That made sense, but Liu Fangniang wouldn't listen. Those were all carefully selected by her! And each set was worth a fortune! She was supposed to donate them all to the public treasury?

Liu Fangniang's expression was contorted. She wanted to cry and make a scene, but seeing Zhou Yongli's face, she knew that doing so would only annoy him, so she decided to go along with him for now.

She took a deep breath and tried to comfort herself, saying that Yonglang was right and that these things would come again in the future.

In the future, the entire Zhou family will belong to her son, so what does it matter if she has to give up these things for now?

Liu Fangniang kept brainwashing herself, and in the end, in order to show Zhou Yongli her determination, she even took out all the expensive items, keeping only a few simple ones for herself.

Sure enough, seeing her decisiveness, Zhou Yongli nodded in satisfaction, his expression softening: "Even if you dress simply, I will still like you. My feelings for you are not based on those jewelry pieces. I will make it up to you when the opportunity arises."

Liu Fangniang said softly, "Yonglang, I know everything. You are doing this for my own good, as well as for Shuge'er and Yingjie'er."

"That's exactly right. When you become the top scholar in the imperial examination, you might even be able to wear the robes of a noblewoman. What precious jewelry wouldn't you be able to wear then?"

Liu Fangniang was indeed delighted to hear this. If she could become a Lady of the Imperial Decree, what would that mean? It would mean that Song Xia was no longer around, or that she had been promoted to the rank of Lady of the Imperial Decree. She understood what Yonglang meant!

Song Xia, what use is your current prestige? Once Zhou Yuqing is gone, what's the point of you living?

Since there was no commotion at Qin Yaxuan's place, Song Xia knew that Zhou Yongli had once again managed to appease Liu Fangniang. She smiled sarcastically, guessing that the two of them were probably just hoping that her Yu Ge'er wouldn't live much longer, because only in this way could they comfort themselves.

Tsk, what wishful thinking! Do you really think history can repeat itself?

With her around, Yuqing will surely live to be a hundred years old.

Three days after the porridge distribution, Song Xia filled several large carriages with his belongings and prepared to return to the Prince's Mansion. At first, Old Madam Liu was able to sit still, but later she could no longer sit still.

How could the valuable items in the Zhou family's storeroom be given away to outsiders so easily? Even she wouldn't be willing to give them to the Liu family!

"What's all this stuff? Let me see the ledgers."

The accountant looked at Song Xia but didn't move, though he seemed a little embarrassed.

“I took all of it to show my respect to my father. Now that Yuqing and I are going back to live here, it wouldn’t be right for us to leave without taking anything.”

Old Madam Liu said with heartache, "There's no need to take so much."

Song Xia smiled and said, "When did the Prince's Mansion ever bring less to the Zhou Mansion? Mother, when you and Aunt Liu took money from the Liu family, your daughter-in-law didn't say anything. When the Liu family came to our Zhou family, we didn't see them bringing anything."

Madam Liu was so angry at her words that she almost fell over. Was she implying that her Liu family always came to freeload? That was her maternal family!

Then he said sarcastically, "Can the Liu family compare to the wealth and power of the Prince's Mansion?"

"That's precisely why a daughter-in-law must not be impolite, and I've already discussed these things with my husband."

Did his son agree? The Prince's mansion isn't short of money, why is he being so generous?

The Prince's Mansion always brings a lot of gifts to the Zhou family when they come, but they are mostly delivered to Song Xia and Zhou Yuqing's courtyards. What does it have to do with them? Why bother returning so many gifts?

However, no matter how unwilling Madam Liu was, there was nothing she could do. After all, she wasn't in charge of the household, and she couldn't take away Song Xia's management rights. So she could only watch with a heavy heart as the servants loaded those things onto the carriage.