Prefect Song: "Also, Yu Hong said that you left the house the day Liu Xiawei found the key."

Li Jiaojiao was about to speak.

The Duchess of Pingguo spoke up: "No! Jiaojiao has never left!"

Regardless, she was determined to protect her, believing that Jiaojiao would give her a reasonable explanation afterward. This was a testament to her trust in her.

Li Jiaojiao was stunned; she hadn't expected the Duchess of Pingguo to still be helping her...

She clutched her sleeve tightly, feeling guilty and afraid, but mostly moved.

With red-rimmed eyes, she looked at the Duchess of Pingguo and said, "Yes... I never left."

The Duchess of Pingguo met her gaze, wanting to smile and comfort her, but for some reason, she couldn't manage a smile. A deep sorrow welled up within her.

No, it wasn't Jiaojiao who did it.

She was right to help Jiaojiao.

She believed in Jiaojiao, and she believed in herself.

Heaven and time will give her the right answer.

The Duke of Pingguo and his entourage were so angry they almost jumped up and down.

Prefect Song rubbed his eyes: "When the fire started, why did you send Xiao Lü back to the courtyard to guard it? Did you know that Liu Xiawei set the fire and were afraid he would steal it, so you sent Xiao Lü back?"

Li Jiaojiao shook her head: "No... I thought there weren't many people in my yard, and I was afraid some foolish servants would try to steal my things, so I sent Xiao Lü back to guard the gate. What's wrong with that?"

Prefect Song nodded.

After asking a few more questions, it was finally determined that the Pingguo Announcement was unfounded, and that the family property and assets, once sold, would belong to the money shop.

The Duke of Pingguo's mansion was to move out in five days.

After Prefect Song left, Duke Pingguo and Liu Shangwei angrily rushed over to beat Li Jiaojiao: "You ungrateful wretch! You jinx, I'm going to kill you."

Li Jiaojiao's expression changed, and she turned around and hurriedly left under the protection of the Gu family's servants.

"Jiao..." The Duchess of Pingguo wanted to talk to her and ask Li Jiaojiao to explain.

Li Jiaojiao didn't even glance at her twice before turning around and leaving.

Lady Pingguo's heart sank as if something had shattered.

No, that's not how it works.

These people are now threatening to kill Jiaojiao, and the situation is chaotic, so Jiaojiao wants to avoid them for now. She will definitely find time to explain things to them.

Lady Pingguo dragged her feet and walked out of the yamen in a daze, the cries behind her gradually fading away.

She dragged her feet, wandering aimlessly down the street.

Granny Yu and Little Green followed behind her blankly.

She doesn't know how she got home.

As soon as she entered the house, the Duke of Pingguo threw a letter of divorce in front of her: "Wan Shu! It's all your fault! You brought a wolf into the house! From now on, you are no longer my wife, Liu Jiasheng's wife! You are no longer the wife of the Duke of Pingguo!"

Lady Pingguo took the letter of divorce, stunned, a wave of desolation and bitterness washing over her: "Fine, divorce me then. I'll take you for granted."

When Prefect Song pronounced his verdict, she knew she would definitely be divorced.

But she still has Jiaojiao!

Duke Pingguo: "Then why don't you get out of here!"

The Duchess sneered, "Get out? What right do you have to tell me to get out? Is this house yours?"

"You, you, you... Humph!" With that, the Duke of Pingguo walked out: "Come, come, pack up everything in the house, sell everything that can be sold!"

He wants to sell his personal belongings.

Although the house and shops were all sold, such a large mansion, with all kinds of furniture, screens, rare ornaments, clothing and jewelry, was all worth money.

When the Duchess returned to her room, the Duke of Pingguo even sent servants to sell her things.

Lady Pingguo refused to allow the sale, but the Duke of Pingguo ignored her and ordered his men to go in and loot all her belongings.

The Duke of Pingguo was selling his wares with great enthusiasm, but the Duchess remained motionless, still reclining on her chaise longue, just as she always had.

Three days later, the Duke of Pingguo sold two-thirds of his household items. Because he sold them in a hurry, and they were all second-hand, he made a total of more than 30,000 taels of silver.

In addition, most of the household servants were also sold.

Little Green was also sold.

Just as Duke Pingguo was realizing he had quite a lot of money, a group of merchants came to his door demanding payment.

This is all extravagant spending on New Year's banquets, entertaining famous actors and actresses, visiting brothels, and indulging in various abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and other delicacies, totaling 15,000 taels.

Duke Pingguo had no choice but to grit his teeth and pay the bill.

Thinking that no one in his family was an official in the capital, and that buying property and incurring high expenses in the capital would be very costly, he decided to take the 20,000 taels of silver and his family back to his hometown to live a simpler life.

At this moment, the Duchess of Pingguo, dressed in plain clothes, leaned back on the chaise lounge, watching the outside gradually become quiet.

Liu Shangwei, accompanied by his wife Qiao, a son, and two daughters, came to bid farewell to the Duchess of Pingguo.

"Mother, we're going back now."

After saying this, they kowtowed three times and then turned and left.

The Duchess of Pingguo sat there blankly, not turning around to look at them even once.

At this moment, Granny Yu came over with a bundle on her back and knelt in front of her: "Madam, this old servant has also gone."

Lady Pingguo was taken aback: "You are my personal attendant."

Granny Yu said, "Madam, you may have forgotten, but my indenture was kept with those other contracts. When the Second Master sold the property, he sold all of us, including me and several of your maids. From then on, I became a member of Deli Money Shop."

Lady Pingguo was stunned: "No, Granny Yu, you are my personal maid. You are my attendant, we grew up together, we are like sisters..."

“Madam, none of that matters anymore. Now, you have Li Jiaojiao.”

Lady Pingguo's mind went blank for a moment, and she stared at her in a daze.

Granny Yu kowtowed three times to her, then stood up and said, "This old servant is off."

After saying that, he shouldered his bundle, turned around, and left without looking back.

Lady Pingguo stared blankly as she walked away, finally disappearing through the doorway.

Subsequently, several of her personal servants came to say goodbye.

In less than half a day, all the servants in her courtyard had left.

The entire Duke Pingguo's mansion was instantly empty and desolate.

Just like her heart.

She walked out of the courtyard gate in a daze, looking at the messy house caused by moving things:

"Why did it turn out like this? Why?"

Just a few days ago, their family was a prominent Duke's mansion.

Even if the family isn't the most prosperous, at least it's decorated with flowers.

Even though her husband was unambitious and her son was irresponsible, things were still lively and harmonious under her management.

Why did she lose everything in an instant?

She wanted to cry out loud, but not a single tear came out.

"Oh dear, there's still someone here?" At this moment, two burly men walked over. "Oh, it's the Duchess. We're from Deli Money Shop. We thought you had already left, so we came to lock the door."

When the Duchess of Pingguo saw them, her face tensed up.

The burly man said, "Madam, you'd better hurry up and leave. We're taking possession of the house tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Lady Pingguo gritted her teeth; now she had no choice but to go to Jiaojiao and seek her help.