Half a month later, the good news reached the capital.

The plague in Liangzhou was resolved thanks to the efforts of Song Zhiyu and a group of doctors, and they will soon return to the capital.

Emperor Yun was overjoyed and praised Song Zhiyu highly. He wished he could immediately arrange a marriage between her and Zhou Xingzhi and settle the matter as soon as possible so that she wouldn't become someone else's daughter-in-law.

Some were happy while others were sad. Compared to Emperor Yun's joy, the Prince Li's residence and the Marquis Cheng'en's residence were filled with gloom.

Shen Jinshu's face was so pale that even her makeup couldn't hide it. Looking at her exquisitely made-up and gorgeously styled reflection in the bronze mirror, she suddenly spoke, "Tell me, why is Song Zhiyu always so lucky?"

Xiuyue's hand trembled, and she quickly concealed the fear in her eyes. She said cautiously, "Miss is even luckier than her. She will soon be married into the Li Prince's Mansion. In the future, the Second Miss will also have to pay her respects when she sees you."

Xiuyue gently placed the dazzling gemstone headdress on Shen Jinshu's head, glancing at Shen Jinshu out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that Shen Jinshu's expression had softened slightly, she felt a great weight lifted from her heart and continued:

"After your marriage to His Highness Prince Li, you will be a daughter-in-law listed in the royal genealogy, with a noble status, which is worlds apart from that of the Second Miss. Why should you compare yourself to someone whose status and position are inferior to yours?"

These flattering words struck a chord with Shen Jinshu, and her unpleasant expression softened slightly.

"You're right. Soon, I'll get what I want." Shen Jinshu curled her red lips, lowered her eyes to examine the exquisite jewelry on the table, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in her narrow phoenix eyes.

*

Songxiyuan.

"Miss, you're finally back!" Lu Bai rushed towards Song Zhiyu, her cute and delicate face filled with joy. Her bright eyes stared at Song Zhiyu, her watery eyes seeming to hold a thousand words.

Song Zhiyu smiled and ruffled her graying hair, casually asking, "During my absence, did anything happen in the courtyard?"

"No, I've been watching over everything for you." Lu Bai scratched her head, her smile a little silly.

Apart from the day she went to find Nurse Chen, she had never left the courtyard, so naturally no one could lay a hand on Songxi Courtyard.

"How's the matter with Nurse Chen going? Is she still unwilling to speak?" Song Zhiyu pushed open the door, casually placed the medicine box on the table, and asked as she took out medicine.

Lu Bai shook her head, somewhat helplessly, "She's very stubborn."

"I need to see her later..."

Halfway through her sentence, Song Zhiyu suddenly stopped in her tracks, her hand holding the medicine froze, and her tone turned cold: "Someone has been in this room."

Upon hearing this, Lu Bai was greatly surprised. Suddenly, Shen Jinshu's face flashed through her mind, and she blurted out, "Could it be the young lady?"

She couldn't think of anyone else but Shen Jinshu.

"Go to the storeroom." With that, Song Zhiyu turned and left the room.

Looking at the empty warehouse and the hay in the boxes, Song Zhiyu couldn't help but laugh out loud, finally understanding their scheme.

They forced her to go to Liangzhou, partly hoping she would die there, and partly to obtain the treasures she possessed.

Either outcome, if successful, would be entirely beneficial to them.

Shen Feng never expected that he would be outmaneuvered by himself.

If it weren't for Prince Li's intercession, Shen Feng would have simply been given thirty lashes and stripped of his title.

"Miss, they've gone too far!" Lu Bai was panting with anger. She had been keeping a close eye on Songxi Courtyard the whole time, but they still managed to find a loophole.

Lu Bai grew angrier the more she thought about it, her legs itching to move. "Miss, let's go find them and settle the score right now."

"Wait a minute." Song Zhiyu raised her hand and pressed down on Lu Bai's shoulder, her expression thoughtful.

"It would be too easy on them to settle accounts with them now. Take out that gift list and sort it out properly."

Song Zhiyu immediately realized where all her precious jewelry and land deeds for fertile fields and shops had gone.

To make a good impression and to ensure his beloved daughter had a place in the Prince's mansion, Shen Feng went to great lengths.

She didn't care how much Shen Feng cared for Shen Jinshu, but he shouldn't have set his sights on her.

If you dare to steal her things, you'd better be able to swallow them whole.

"Yes." Lu Bai instantly understood Song Zhiyu's meaning, and a big smile bloomed on her face.

Seeing the young lady's expression, she knew that someone was about to suffer again.

*

Songlanyuan.

"Grandma, this jewelry looks really good on you. Miss is so thoughtful." The maid held up the hairpin and compared it to Shen Ru's head, saying one flattering thing after another, which made Shen Ru smile and her mood improved a lot.

Shen Ru nodded in agreement, her satisfaction with Shen Jinshu evident. "She's really good. It's not like I spoiled her for nothing. She knows to remember her aunt. Unlike the other one, who's like an enemy to me and not likable at all."

The maid smiled, knowing who Shen Ru was referring to as her nemesis, and couldn't help but chime in, "That's right. I heard that the Second Miss made a great contribution this time, but the Emperor didn't reward her at all. Maybe he knows that she is of bad character and doesn't want to promote her."

These words struck a chord with Shen Ru, and her complexion visibly improved as she fondled the jade hairpin.

“When Shu’er marries into the Prince Li’s mansion, I, as her aunt, will have face. No, I have to buy a few more clothes; I can’t let people look down on me.”

Without hesitation, Shen Ru happily took the silver that Shen Jinshu had just "given" to her and couldn't wait to leave.

Unexpectedly, she bumped into Shen Feng, who was coming straight at her, as soon as she reached the gate.

"Ugh, who the hell dared to bump into me!" Shen Ru rubbed her shoulder, her sharp and piercing voice making Shen Feng even more irritated.

"Shut up!" A weak, dismissive rebuke interrupted Shen Ru's angry outburst.

Shen Ru exclaimed in shock, staring at Shen Feng, who was covered in blood, almost unable to recognize him. "Big brother, what happened to you?"

"You are the dignified Marquis of Chengen, who would dare to lay a hand on you?" Shen Ru stepped forward, her expression furious.

It's one thing to be beaten, but to be beaten so badly that you need a servant to help you back, with not a single inch of your body unscathed, how much hatred must you provoke?

Upon hearing this, Shen Feng's gaze darkened, and he endured the excruciating pain as he said, "I am no longer the Marquis of Cheng'en."

He never imagined that His Majesty would be so ruthless, disregarding the merits of the Chengen Marquis's ancestors, directly stripping him of his title and ordering him to be beaten thirty times at the palace gate as a warning to others.

This was only because the King pleaded for him; otherwise, he probably wouldn't be back today.

Thinking of this, Shen Feng hated Song Zhiyu to the core and blamed all the mistakes on her.