Fortunately, Jiang Shuwan didn't hold it against her, otherwise, given Jiang Shuwan's current status in the family, she could do whatever she wanted to them.

"mother!"

How could you say that about your daughter!

When Pei Shushu heard her mother say that, the little girl pouted unhappily, with jam still stuck to the corner of her mouth.

“I know I wasn’t respectful enough to my sister-in-law back then, and I admit my mistake. But I think that when it comes to marriage, marrying up isn’t necessarily a good thing. Look at how my wife treats my sister-in-law, and what about Sister Pei Jing? Our Marquis’s Mansion is powerful, but Sister Pei Jing still suffers at the Duke of Liu’s Mansion, being completely humiliated by that concubine of the Duke…”

"Shut up! How dare you gossip about your older sister?"

The fourth wife was so angry she wanted to hit her again. She had already spoken with Jiang Shuwan, hoping to find a better family for her daughter, but her daughter had a different idea.

Pei Shushu wasn't afraid at all. While dodging, she said, "That's right. Look at Pei Jing, she seems glamorous on the surface, but who knows how much she's crying behind the scenes. Before, Pei Jing even came back to ask Madam to stand up for her. Madam went to the Duke's mansion twice, but nothing changed. Pei Jing is so pitiful..."

"You brat, I've really spoiled you!"

The fourth wife was surprised by her lack of manners and slapped her twice before smiling apologetically at Jiang Shuwan.

Jiang Shuwan smiled as well; she knew about the Liu family's affairs as well.

Pei Jing has always been arrogant. In her previous life, when she and her aunt visited the Marquis's residence, Pei Jing never gave them a friendly look.

Lady Bo hated her to the core. After Pei Jinggao married into the Liu State Duke's Mansion, Lady Bo couldn't do anything about her, so she tried every means to find out about the Duke's Mansion.

Especially the young master of the Liu family, the husband of Pei Jing, has a concubine of high status by his side. Whenever she hears that Pei Jing has been humiliated by that concubine, the aunt is so happy that she eats an extra bowl of rice.

It was because of these messages from Madam Bo that she learned that Pei Jing had not obtained the power to manage the household even after five years of marriage to the Duke's mansion.

She became a housekeeper within six months.

No wonder Pei Jing disliked her.

Inside the house, the fourth wife was still chasing and beating Pei Shushu.

“Pei Jing is Pei Jing, you are you, and she is she. Don’t take her problems out on yourself. What woman doesn’t want to marry up? People strive for better things, just as water flows downhill.”

"Marriage is a woman's second chance at life!"

"Get your head straight!"

"Hmph! Then you can marry him, I don't want to!"

Pei Shushu didn't admit her mistake. The little girl didn't go out much and didn't have many social circles. The only people who were close to her were Jiang Shuwan and Pei Jing.

Needless to say, ever since Jiang Shuwan married into the Marquis's mansion, Wen Shi has been targeting her at every turn.

Pei Jing would often come back crying. Madam Wen went to the Duke's mansion twice to try to get revenge for her daughter, but not only did she return empty-handed, she was also ridiculed for being born into a royal merchant family, and there was nothing she could do.

Looking at all this, how could she not be afraid of marrying into a wealthy family?

"What! I'm going to marry him?! What are you saying? You deserve a beating..."

"Aunt, let's talk this out, please talk it out, don't hit the child..."

Seeing that the fourth wife was serious, Jiang Shuwan gave Qingxing a wink, and Qingxing quickly pulled Pei Shushu out.

"Your Highness's wife, listen to what she's saying! It's infuriating!"

"I really find this strange. She just saw her sister Pei Jing being mistreated, so why does she think marrying up is a bad thing?"

"What an idiot! If I marry someone of high status, I'll suffer; if I marry someone of lower status, I'll be treated like a precious jewel?"

"They think too kindly of people!"

The fourth wife's chest heaved with anger, and Jiang Shuwan smiled and patted her back to calm her down.

"Kids are always a bit naive."

"Sigh, if only she were half as sensible as you."

Hearing the fourth wife sigh, Jiang Shuwan smiled again, "Aunt, there's no need to worry. If you ask me, life is something you make. As long as you have the ability, no matter how you marry, your life won't be bad."

The fourth wife agreed with this statement, saying that Jiang Shuwan's current good life was something she had earned herself.

Grabbing Jiang Shuwan's hand, the fourth wife pleaded sincerely, "Young Master's wife, please teach her more. Besides you, there's really no one else willing to help our fourth family."

"Don't worry, aunt."

Jiang Shuwan patted the fourth wife's hand, and from then on, Pei Shushu no longer had the leisure to jump around and play.

Besides helping her father distribute porridge at the porridge stall outside the city during the day, she also had to learn household management from Jiang Shuwan at night. Although the young girl still kept saying that it was better to marry down, she had become much more shrewd.

In particular, Jiang Shuwan took her to Donglai Street, which was under renovation and was crowded with people, mostly men. Besides the shopkeepers and waiters, there were also some wealthy businessmen who were all very polite to Jiang Shuwan.

Pei Shushu's horizons have truly broadened.

"Sister-in-law of the Crown Prince, they are so kind to you."

“My mother used to always tell me to stay home. She said that women are different from men. If they show their faces in public and are looked down upon by those people, their reputation will be ruined.”

"But I feel like you're different. There are so many men on Donglai Street, yet not one of them has ever looked down on you. And another thing, I really didn't expect your business to be so successful. Look at this huge piece of glazed tile, used to decorate the exterior wall. Even the royal family isn't this extravagant!"

Pei Shushu stared at the large glass window frame, unable to come back to her senses for a long time. Their Marquis's Mansion was one of the eight most powerful and wealthy families in the world, and its wealth was second to none, but even their family was not this extravagant.

"And the old lady and the lady of the house, neither of them said anything to you."

"That's really strange. All the rules I've ever learned are that women should obey the three obediences and four virtues, and that showing one's face in public is absolutely forbidden. How come the rules are different for you..."

Because when it comes to personal gain, rules are utter nonsense!

Jiang Shuwan didn't say this aloud; Pei Shushu had to subtly influence her through this.

"We've seen enough, let's head back."

After inviting Pei Shushu back to the mansion, Jiang Shuwan then asked the newly appointed head housekeeper, Granny Song, to come and explain the household management to Pei Shushu.

She leaned casually against the chaise lounge, listening to Granny Song teach her how to manage the household while offering a few pointers.

Life went on leisurely like this. Song Mama's voice was neither too loud nor too soft. No matter how naive Pei Shushu asked, Song Mama calmly taught her.

On a sweltering summer day, Jiang Shuwan was almost asleep when she was startled awake by a sudden sound coming from outside the door.

She rubbed her eyes and looked outside.

"What's wrong?"

"Miss, your great-aunt is back again."

"It's fine if she comes back. She hasn't been coming back often lately."

“This time is different. This time, Grandma came back crying!”

Jiang Shuwan immediately perked up.

Pei Jing was a proud person, and she was most afraid of others seeing her in a disheveled state. When she was humiliated at the Duke of Liu's mansion, she would endure it until she returned to Wen's room before crying. Why was she crying as soon as she entered the door?