On the first day of May, the accounting office distributed monthly silver to each room as per the rules. The first and second rooms received 100 taels, and the third room received 80 taels. Ye Shi only received 50 taels, which made her both shocked and angry. She couldn't believe that Xiao Yunrou had blatantly withheld the money from the second room.

"Madam, the Crown Prince's wife said that in addition to the fixed amount given by the palace every quarter, if you want to buy jewelry and clothes, you have to pay for it yourself. The Crown Prince's wife thought that Madam, you have just returned to the capital and have been in charge for a long time, so she let me deduct it from your monthly salary. Oh, the Crown Prince's wife also said that if you make up the money, the monthly salary in the future will still be paid to you according to the rules."

Ye's face turned red. She wanted to scold the accountant, but she didn't know what to say. Didn't she know that she had to pay for the extra items from her own pocket? No, she knew that and put them together with Xiao Yunrou, thinking that if Xiao Yunrou wanted to save some face, she would just pay for her and leave a good reputation. She didn't expect that she would directly let the accountant deduct her monthly salary! They all lived in the same mansion, but Xiao Yunrou really didn't have any shame!

Ye was furious. Seeing the attitude of the accountant, she knew that Xiao Yunrou would never pay for her. She could only grit her teeth and took a few banknotes from the box of money in the bedroom and threw them to the accountant. The accountant counted the money in front of her and said with a smile:

"I am just following your instructions. Please forgive me, Madam."

When Ye saw the accountant's face, he thought of the several thousand taels of silver he had just given out. He felt so distressed that he waved his hand and told him to get out.

Xiao Yunrou held Pei Yuanjin in her arms and listened to the accountant's report. She just smiled and let him leave without much concern.

"Madam, you are doing this because you are causing trouble with the Second Madam. She..."

Qingci was a little worried. She had followed Xiao Yunrou out of the house that day. Although she was not used to Ye's behavior, it would not be good for them if things got really awkward.

"It's okay, I know my limits." Xiao Yunrou didn't care. She was right in the matter. She wanted to give it to Ye because it was her kindness, but she didn't want to satisfy Ye's little tricks. If it happened this time, there would be a next time. She didn't want to raise such a person who would only take advantage of others' kindness and then resent others' kindness.

Seeing this, Qingci said nothing more. Looking at Pei Yuanjin who was having fun in Xiao Yunrou's arms, she smiled and said, "The young master has become tougher. He has bitten a lot of things in the past few days."

"Isn't it? Our Jin'er is about to start teething." Xiao Yunrou looked at her son with a smile, her face filled with happiness.

"Madam, the second young master is here." The maid's voice came from outside the door, and Xiao Yunrou's face turned pale, "Let him in."

After Pei Yuanan came in, he saw Pei Yuanjin in Xiao Yunrou's arms. Xiao Yunrou's smile was as warm as the first sunshine, and he couldn't help feeling jealous.

"An'er pays respects to mother."

Pei Yuanan's childish voice rang in her ears, and Xiao Yunrou was in a trance as she looked at the little man who looked like he was performing a salute. She could no longer remember what this child looked like when he was a child, but she could only remember his sinister eyes when he grew up, and the look that was full of resentment towards her.

"Get up. You should be studying with your teacher now. Why are you here?"

Xiao Yunrou handed Pei Yuanjin to Qingci. As soon as Pei Yuanjin left his mother's sweet and soft arms, he immediately became unhappy. He waved his arms and cried for Xiao Yunrou to hold him. Xiao Yunrou took him back helplessly and gently wiped the saliva that Pei Yuanjin had just shed with a handkerchief.

"I'm on leave today. An'er thought I hadn't come to pay my respects to you in a few days, so I came here just now." Pei Yuanan spoke in a childish voice, and after thinking for a moment, he said:

"The teacher said that a son should be filial to his parents. An'er doesn't know what filial piety is, but greeting my mother is my duty as a son."

Xiao Yunrou was stunned, but when she saw the sincerity in Pei Yuanan's eyes she smiled sincerely.

"Reading makes you wise. If you want to learn well, you should first learn how to be a good person. You have learned very well."

Although Xiao Yunrou knew that the two lives were different, she always felt uncomfortable when she saw Pei Yuanan, so she told Aunt Liu not to come over to pay respects, and she only took Pei Yuanjin to Shen's house occasionally. She didn't expect that Pei Yuanan was much more sensible now, and she didn't know if he was like this when he was a child, but was influenced by Shen Tang later.

"Thank you for your compliment, mother." Pei Yuanan's face turned red and he looked at Xiao Yunrou with sparkling eyes.

Aunt Liu did a good job in bringing him up. Xiao Yunrou thought about it and the distance between her and Pei Yuanan dissipated a little, but she also became a little wary.

"I asked someone to make some red bean soup. Since you are here, have a bowl."

Xiao Yunrou gave an order, and a maid immediately went to the small kitchen to bring the sweet soup over. Pei Yuanan rarely ate these, and was enjoying them with great interest. Xiao Yunrou let Qingci hold Pei Yuanjin, and she fed him mouthful by mouthful.

After finishing the sugar water, Xiao Yunrou asked about Pei Yuanan's situation with Aunt Liu. Pei Yuanan was still young, and many things he said were confusing, but Xiao Yunrou still understood. It was not until almost noon that Xiao Yunrou asked someone to send Pei Yuanan back to Aunt Liu.

"This is the first time that the Crown Prince's wife has spoken to the Second Young Master for such a long time."

After Nanny Su carried Pei Yuanjin away, Nanny Xu spoke in a low voice. Xiao Yunrou lowered her eyes and played with the jade bracelet on her wrist, and said coldly: "Mammy heard it all."

"Madam Liu is of humble origin and has no biological son, so naturally she protects the Second Young Master very closely." Nanny Xu replaced the cup of hot tea for Xiao Yunrou and stood aside.

"She was born in a humble family and is used to forbearing. For so many years, she stayed in the backyard silently and was unwilling to go even when the prince wanted to let her leave the house and marry someone else." Xiao Yunrou raised her head, smiling.

"If she hadn't spoken up for me that day, I wouldn't have doubted her. Who would doubt that a woman who doesn't even dare to compete for favors could use others to frame the mistress and the legitimate son?"

"Dou acted as her pawn, but in the end she was able to stay out of the matter and not be contaminated at all. Her scheming should not be underestimated." Nanny Xu also felt quite moved. If she had not investigated for several months and verified it repeatedly, she would not have believed it.

"Look at what she has taught Pei Yuanan. In the long run, Pei Yuanan will resent Xuan'er and Jin'er, and will also be dissatisfied with the prince. Then, Pei Yuanan will do whatever she says?" Just like Shen Tang in his previous life.

Xiao Yunrou curled the corners of her mouth. This Aunt Liu was much more capable than those women.

"She has been in the mansion for many years. Even if she bribes people, she can't bribe many. Let's remove those nails. Third sister-in-law can't get into trouble again. Second sister-in-law and I are not on the same page. I don't want her to be instigated by Liu's people one day. I don't want my quiet life to be noisy and annoying."

Xiao Yunrou leaned on the couch, holding her chin with one hand, and said nonchalantly: "Doesn't she have some forces secretly colluding outside the mansion? Let Hongzhuang arrange people to report them to the government, and make sure that group of people are locked up in jail. Without claws and teeth, even a tiger can only lie down obediently."

This was to wipe out all of Madam Liu's hidden power in one fell swoop. Madam Xu's heart shuddered, and she responded and went down to make the arrangements.

"Liu, isn't it better to just be quiet? Why make things so hard on yourself..."

After Madam Xu left, Xiao Yunrou murmured in a low voice. She believed that at this time, Madam Liu had not yet betrayed the Marquis's Mansion, but was just involved with other forces. In her previous life, Madam Liu was also unloved and childless. She didn't know when Madam Liu started to collude with others. Maybe it was because of resentment or maybe it was for profit. In the end, she still colluded with outsiders. What a smart and patient person, what a pity...

Nanny Xu acted quickly. The people bribed by Concubine Liu did not hold important positions, so Nanny Xu used manpower to transfer them to the stables or the farm. As for Hongzhuang, she was arrested and thrown into jail by the Jingzhao Yin a few days later on the charge of being a bandit.

Aunt Liu, who was not well-informed in the Marquis' Mansion, did not know, but Pei Lingfeng knew what Xiao Yunrou was doing. One night, he asked curiously, "Who are those people? Are they worth your mobilizing so many troops to arrest and put in jail?"

Xiao Yunrou hesitated for a while, but still told him.

"I suspect that Madam Liu has some connection with the Duke of Yue's mansion, and that place is a connection point. Your current position cannot afford any mistakes. If Madam Liu really has a connection with an outsider... After all, the prince is the grandson of the Duke of Yue. If it happens in the future, I will always be worried."

Pei Lingfeng narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, and his gentleness turned cold. "But have you verified it?"

Xiao Yunrou shook her head and said worriedly, "No, it's just that the housekeeper of the Duke of Yue's Mansion has been there, so there must be something involved. I just don't know how much Madam Liu is involved."

Xiao Yunrou knew that it was impossible to disturb the court with her means. She was able to find out that Aunt Liu had evil intentions because she said a few words to excuse her when Tian Liaochen came over, which actually put her in a disadvantageous position. If she hadn't had some doubts, she wouldn't have found out these things. But there was nothing else she could do.

"Leave the rest to me. If it is really the Duke of Yue's Mansion, I will handle it. Don't investigate further. It will be too dangerous if someone finds out."

Pei Lingfeng did not doubt Xiao Yunrou's words, but because of his past life, he was more convinced of the truth of this matter. Xiao Yunrou also nodded in agreement. She was willing to believe Pei Lingfeng and everything between them.

Two days later, Xiao Yi got engaged, and Xiao Yunrou returned to the Xiao family as a witness. Xiao Yi was promised to Chen Shuen, a Jinshi this year, as his legal wife. Chen Shuen went to Beijing to take the imperial examination and became a retainer of Xiao Hongyu. Although Xiao Hongyu did not think much of him, he had some understanding of his character. After the results were announced, Xiao Hongyu intended to marry Xiao Yi to him. He also investigated the Chen family's scholarly family and found that the family tradition was good, which led to the engagement.

With Xiao Hongyu's help, Chen Shuen got a seventh-rank official position in the Dali Temple. Although the power was not great, being a Beijing official was better than being sent to a remote countryside.

Chen Shuen was also very grateful and brought her parents over to propose to Xiao Yi. The marriage was quickly settled after discussion between the two families.