Shen Weiwan was secretly shocked. The Seventh Prince was so well-informed! She was about to deny it, but Xiao Yu said first: "Don't worry, I'm not here to ruin your plan. I'm just reminding you that the Second Prince will also be attending the Queen Mother's birthday banquet."

Shen Weiwan's heart skipped a beat. In her previous life, Liu was so arrogant because she was clinging to the Second Prince.

"Your Highness means..."

"It's nothing interesting," Xiao Yu straightened up and resumed his cynical demeanor. "I just feel that some people are digging the foundation to find gold, while others are trying to undermine the foundation to find support. This capital city is becoming more and more interesting." After saying this, he jumped on his horse. "Remember to eat the peach blossom pastry while it's hot. It won't taste good if it's cold."

Looking at Xiao Yu's departing figure, Shen Weiwan seemed to be lost in thought. What exactly did he mean? Was he reminding her that the Second Prince would intervene, or...

"Miss," Chun Tao asked softly, "Is His Highness the Seventh Prince..."

"Don't guess blindly," Shen Weiwan shook her head, "Let's deal with the current matter first." She looked at the old housekeeper, "Have you checked the fur expenditure?"

"We've checked it out," the old housekeeper whispered. "Liu used the excuse of purchasing winter clothes for the family, but in fact, she made more than a dozen fox fur coats for herself and Shen Ruorou, spending three thousand taels of silver!"

"Three thousand taels?" Shen Weiwan sneered, "That's cruel! Get the evidence in order. On the birthday banquet, I'll make her cough up the money with interest!"

Back in her room, Shen Weiwan opened her food box and picked up a piece of peach blossom pastry. It melted in her mouth, sweet but not greasy, clearly a work of art from the imperial kitchen. She looked out the window. Why did the Seventh Prince help her? Was it just for fun?

"Miss," Chuntao came in with water, "Liu is smashing things in her yard and even beat up Lu'e."

"Go ahead," Chen Weiwan said calmly. "The louder the banging, the more guilty she seems." She picked up the pen and circled a few more times in the account book. "Go, distribute this month's wages according to the new rules. Cut the Liu family's share in half."

"Half?" Chuntao's eyes lit up. "Miss, you are amazing!"

Shen Weiwan smiled and said nothing. She knew that this was just the beginning. Liu was now like a mouse cornered in a corner. The more she struggled, the more likely she would reveal her flaws.

In the afternoon, Shen Weiwan was checking the accounts in the room when the old housekeeper hurried in with a serious expression: "Miss, Liu...Liu went to see Madam Taifu!"

"Mrs. Taifu?" Shen Weiwan put down her pen. "Why did she go to see Mrs. Taifu?"

"I'm afraid she's going to complain," the old housekeeper said worriedly. "The Grand Tutor's wife values ​​rules the most. If she listens to Liu's one-sided story..."

"Complain?" Shen Weiwan sneered, "It's just right, I should go 'visit' the Taifu's wife." She stood up and straightened her clothes, "Chun Tao, prepare the car, go to the Taifu Mansion!"

In the carriage, Chun Tao was a little nervous: "Miss, what if Liu talks nonsense in front of the Grand Tutor's wife?"

"What can she say?" Chen Weiwan picked up the mirror and adjusted the pearl flowers on her temples. "Say that I stopped her from digging the foundation? Or that I exposed her for stealing money from the mansion?" She put down the mirror, a cold light flashing in her eyes. "Mrs. Taifu is so shrewd, how could she listen to her one-sided story?"

Arriving at the Taifu Mansion, he saw Liu's carriage parked outside the door. Shen Weiwan raised the corner of her mouth and walked in.

In the living room, Liu was crying to Madam Taifu. When she saw Shen Weiwan come in, she immediately pointed at her and said, "Madam Taifu, look at her! It's her! She has no respect for her elders and spreads rumors in the mansion, saying that I... said that I secretly dug the foundation!"

The Taifu's wife was about fifty years old, wearing a dignified dark green dress. She frowned slightly when she heard this: "Weiwan, is this true?"

"Madam Taifu," Shen Weiwan bowed, a look of just the right amount of grievance on her face, "Auntie misunderstood. Last night, Auntie was digging in the west wing courtyard and was seen by the servants. The housekeeper was afraid of damaging the reputation of the mansion, so he reported it tactfully. Who knew that when Auntie heard it, it would be regarded as spreading rumors."

"You're talking nonsense!" Liu screamed, "It was you who framed me!"

"Aunt," Shen Weiwan sighed, "I know you miss your father so much that you believed the rumors and went digging. The housekeeper said it was because you missed your husband so much to save your face. But you didn't appreciate it and instead blamed me..."

This statement was watertight, confirming Liu's digging and portraying the old housekeeper's report as a defense of her. Madam Taifu was incredibly astute, having already seen through the clues. Seeing Liu's utterly embarrassed state, she understood.

"Liu," Madam Taifu said calmly, "Weiwan's father died young. As her aunt, you should have taken good care of her. How could you do such an unbecoming thing?"

Liu was speechless and her face turned red and white.

Seeing this, Shen Weiwan added at the right time: "Madam Taifu, my aunt was also confused for a moment. I hope you will be magnanimous and not blame me."

Madam Taifu looked at Shen Weiwan, then at Liu, and her impression of Shen Weiwan improved a bit. This child seemed weak, but every word she said made sense, much better than that shrew Liu.

"Alright," Madam Taifu waved her hand, "let's leave this matter at that. Liu, go back and reflect on your actions. Don't do such absurd things again. Weiwan, you should also be more tolerant."

"Yes, thank you, Madam Taifu." Shen Weiwan bowed and took her leave. When she passed by Liu, she deliberately whispered, "Aunt, next time you want to dig the ground, remember to ask the housekeeper first, so as not to dig up rotten eggs again."

Liu was so angry that she was shaking all over, but she didn't dare to lose her temper in front of Madam Taifu, so she could only watch Shen Weiwan leave.

After leaving the Taifu Mansion, Chuntao couldn't help laughing and said, "Miss, you are really amazing. You defeated Liu Shi in just a few words!"

Shen Weiwan smiled slightly and got into the carriage: "This is not enough. The Queen Mother's birthday banquet is the highlight." She looked at the street scene passing by outside the window, with a determined light in her eyes, "Liu, Shen Ruorou, I will get back everything you owe me, little by little!"

As the carriage slowly drove back to the General's Mansion, Shen Weiwan knew that the days ahead would only be more exciting. The Seventh Prince Xiao Yu's warning had also made her a bit more vigilant. It seemed the waters of the capital were even more treacherous than she had imagined. But it didn't matter. She had plenty of patience and means to play along.