Ancestral hall.

"Miss, I heard that the old lady was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager today. I suppose it's because of you. Otherwise, Steward Lin wouldn't have come to ask you to leave earlier." Lu Bai handed a cup of tea to Song Zhiyu and chattered on and on.

The finest Longjing tea steams gently in the teacup, releasing a delicate fragrance that instantly refreshes the mind and body.

Several plates of delicate pastries were also placed on the table. The rich fragrance of osmanthus and tea blended together, creating a unique flavor.

Song Zhiyu sipped tea and ate pastries, occasionally flipping through the book in her hands. She looked quite happy, not at all like she was suffering.

Shen Feng was so angry when he saw this scene as soon as he stepped through the gate that his nose almost twisted.

"Miss, the Marquis has arrived." Lu Bai was the first to notice Shen Feng's presence and reminded him in a low voice.

Shen Feng was blunt: "If you've made enough of a scene, then get back to Songxi Courtyard."

He was afraid that if he looked at Song Zhiyu a few more times, he would be tempted to strangle her.

He was ridiculed by Pei Qingyan and pointed at by officials outside, while she remained carefree.

“I suddenly think the scenery here is quite nice, and I’m planning to stay here for a while. Lu Bai, go back to the courtyard later and bring me a few more clothes.” Song Zhiyu ignored Shen Feng’s resentful glare, and continued to flip through the book in her hands, not forgetting to give him a few gentle instructions.

Lu Bai was also quick-witted. Seeing that Shen Feng's face was already as black as the bottom of a pot, she rolled her bright eyes, smiled mischievously, and added fuel to the fire without any hesitation. "Yes, this servant will go back now."

After saying that, she took off running, giving Shen Feng no chance to react, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The butler, Lin, standing to the side, twitched his lips, admiring Song Zhiyu's ability to lie through his teeth.

With its dark walls, collapsed beams, and bare yard, he couldn't see anything beautiful about it.

"It's an honor for you that I've come to personally escort you out. You should know when to stop." Shen Feng stared down at Song Zhiyu with a stern face, his words full of threat.

Song Zhiyu chuckled. If she remembered correctly, it should have been Shen Feng who asked her to leave.

But judging from his arrogant demeanor, he doesn't seem like someone who's come to ask for a favor.

"Your Excellency should give this honor to someone else. I'm quite happy here. I can chat with the Shen family's patriarch from time to time and talk about Your Excellency's great achievements. It's much more interesting than my Songxi Courtyard." Song Zhiyu smiled, completely unaware of how shocking and infuriating her words were.

Shen Feng was so angry he jumped up and down, "What exactly do you want?"

He felt dizzy when he thought of the burned memorial tablets.

Song Zhiyu turned another page of her book, her posture relaxed. When she was silent, she had the elegant air of a well-bred lady, but once she opened her mouth, she could infuriate anyone.

"I don't want anything, I'm just happy here and don't plan to leave. Besides, when the Marquis locked me in the ancestral hall that day, he said he would let me go back when I had thought things through. How could the Marquis have forgotten what he said in just two days?"

Shen Feng choked, never expecting that his words would become a tool for Song Zhiyu to deal with him. His face turned pale and then red, a truly spectacular sight.

"If you agree to return to Songxi Courtyard, those shops in the east of the city will be yours." Shen Feng suppressed his displeasure and offered his bargaining chip, speaking in a condescending tone as if she had gained a great advantage.

Song Zhiyu scoffed inwardly. Trying to trap her? Did they really think she didn't know anything about the Marquis's mansion?

Those shops in the east of the city have been losing a lot of money lately and can't be sold; they're a real hot potato.

On the one hand, Shen Feng wanted her to leave the ancestral hall to quell the rumors in the capital. On the other hand, he also wanted to take the opportunity to pass these hot potatoes to her and transfer the debts owed by the shop to her. He really played a good game.

"Those shops are making good profits, so you got a good deal." Shen Feng said this with an air of seriousness. If Song Zhiyu hadn't known the truth, she might have really been fooled by him.

Song Zhiyu's face was full of sarcasm as she bluntly exposed Shen Feng's lie, "The Marquis is really generous. I wonder if the holes in the accounts of those shops have been covered?"

"How did you know..." Shen Feng shut his mouth in time, but the shock on his face still revealed a hint of something.

Song Zhiyu smiled without saying a word, carefully flipping through the book in her hands. Her demeanor was elegant and composed, and she was not affected by the others at all, as if she regarded Shen Feng as air.

Seeing that Song Zhiyu remained unmoved, with a faint mocking smile on her lips, Shen Feng knew that she had seen through his little scheme.

He gritted his teeth and said with a pained expression, "Plus the two shops in the north of the city."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

Those shops in the north of the city are arguably the most profitable shops in the Marquis's mansion right now, and Shen Feng is actually willing to give them to her.

Song Zhiyu remained silent, her calm face revealing neither joy nor anger, but Shen Feng could no longer contain himself. "This is all I can offer. You'd better not push your luck."

"I want the estate in Lishan and its land deeds." Song Zhiyu looked up and met Shen Feng's reddened eyes, stating her conditions directly.

Although Mount Li was remote, it was of great use to her.

Zhuangzi was just a gimmick; what she really wanted was the land deed for the back of Mount Li.

In her past life, she accidentally discovered the existence of the Lishan Hot Spring, and the hot spring water happened to have the effect of treating sores and wounds.

Thus, she conceived the idea of ​​channeling the hot springs to build a hot spring resort.

Once completed, the hot spring resort attracted a host of aristocratic families.

In just a few months, the hot spring resort became a new favorite among the sons of prominent families in Beijing, and its business flourished day by day, making it no exaggeration to say that it was making a fortune every day.

Shen Feng initially disagreed with her idea, but after seeing the success of the hot spring resort, he took all the credit for himself and prevented Song Zhiyu from interfering in the affairs of the hot spring resort.

The Chengen Marquis's mansion made a fortune from the hot spring resort, and used that money to buy countless jewels, jewelry, and silks as dowry for Shen Jinshu.

On the day Shen Jinshu got married, countless treasures accompanied her into the Prince Li's mansion, making it a very grand occasion.

She gave everything, only to end up benefiting someone else.

“Okay.” Shen Feng had no idea what Song Zhiyu was thinking, so he readily agreed, afraid that she might change her mind.

If Song Zhiyu hadn't suddenly mentioned it, he wouldn't even remember having this thing in his hand.

However, only someone as short-sighted as Song Zhiyu would be interested in a worthless estate and land deed.

Shen Feng ordered Steward Lin to fetch the land deed and personally handed it to Song Zhiyu, his face showing a warning, "I've given you the deed, you should go back to Songxi Courtyard now, don't cause any more trouble."

“What are you worried about, Lord Marquis? I will naturally keep my word.” Song Zhiyu accepted the land deeds for Mount Li and several shops, stood up decisively, and turned to leave the ancestral hall.

The carefree demeanor of Song Zhiyu left Butler Lin stunned, and he even began to suspect that Song Zhiyu had come for Lishan.