Chapter 826 She would only take risks if the benefits were great enough.
Gu Qianning couldn't help but roll her eyes at her: "It's only Chen Shi (7-9 AM), people who get up late are still sleeping at this time, how can it be late?"
Pei Yingzhu wasn't angry; she remained gentle and composed. "I was just worried that paying respects to the Empress Dowager too late wouldn't be sincere enough. The earlier we go, the more it shows our filial piety as juniors, isn't it?"
Gu Qianning said irritably, "Fine, you're the only one with filial piety. Everyone else is. Go back and pack your things, we'll be leaving soon."
Pei Yingzhu smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll wait for you at the second gate, sister."
Gu Qianning waved her hand impatiently, and after she left, she said to Shen Wantang, "She rushed into the palace in such a hurry. Was she going for the Empress Dowager? She was clearly going for the Crown Prince! What good can come of getting close to the Crown Prince? I'm afraid she'll die too soon, that's why I don't want her to enter the palace!"
Shen Wantang dismissed the maids, pulled Gu Qianning to a secluded place, and told Gu Qianning everything that Gu Qianhan had told her yesterday.
Gu Qianning was stunned after hearing this: "Huh? Is that so? Pei Yingzhu deliberately approached the Crown Prince in order to... kill him and steal the credit? So that she could get a princess title and a fiefdom?"
"Yes, she even took the military tally to your second brother to negotiate terms. She might... want your eldest brother to be her son-in-law."
Gu Qianning was both amused and annoyed: "How could she even think of that? My eldest brother would never be her husband! Besides, even though my sister-in-law's family has fallen on hard times, given my brother's personality, it's impossible for him to divorce her at a time like this. Otherwise, wouldn't he be condemned to death by the world?"
"I underestimated her. I didn't expect her to be so ambitious. Just having the title of a prince's daughter is not enough for her. She wants to be a princess herself and have her own fiefdom!"
Shen Wantang gently shook her head: "Big brother certainly won't divorce Meng Yunlan at this critical juncture, but I guess he might not need to take the initiative to divorce her. Pei Yingzhu has no shortage of scheming, skill, strength, and manpower. She probably has plenty of ways to separate them."
Gu Qianning was taken aback. After a while, she lowered her voice and said, "A-Tang, do you know that there has always been a rumor in Hengzhou?"
"What rumor?"
"It was my uncle's late wife, who was probably killed by Pei Yingzhu's mother."
"What?!"
"There have been rumors circulating that Pei Yingzhu's mother murdered the Princess Consort in order to rise in rank. The Princess Consort was originally a good person, but she died suddenly from an illness. Many people say that Pei Yingzhu's mother is exceptionally ruthless. Do you think Pei Yingzhu might follow in her mother's footsteps?"
Now it was Shen Wantang's turn to be stunned.
This mother and daughter are quite unexpected, and Pei Yingzhu has a meticulous mind that is hard for ordinary people to fathom.
She appears harmless, yet she insists on killing the emperor and the crown prince. Such a crazy, dangerous, and rebellious act would be avoided by others, but she seems to have no psychological burden whatsoever, clearly indicating that she is someone who does not play by the rules.
Therefore, it's not impossible for her to kill Meng Yunlan.
Gu Qianning suddenly thought of a possibility. She hugged herself and shivered: "Oh dear, I haven't been very polite to her these past two days. She must not like me either. Could she have killed me too?"
Shen Wantang looked at her helplessly: "What are you thinking? How dare she touch you? Besides, you don't have any deep-seated hatred for her. If she would kill someone over the smallest friction, how many people would she have to kill?"
"She's a smart woman; she wouldn't easily harbor murderous intent, as that would only create endless trouble for herself."
"I think she's someone who prioritizes her own interests. She'll only take risks when the potential benefits are great enough. She definitely won't do things where the benefits are too small and the risks are too high."
Gu Qianning nodded: "That makes sense, then I'm relieved."
As she spoke, she touched the small purse she wore close to her body, a calm smile appearing on her face: "Hmph, even if she has bad intentions towards me, I'm not afraid. I carry the poison you gave me with me! Now, let me go and meet her again, and bring her into the palace! I want to see how she will get close to the Emperor and the Crown Prince."
"Okay, go ahead, but your safety is the most important thing. Don't act impulsively and don't lose sight of the bigger picture."
"Don't worry, I definitely won't pull out a knife this time!"
After Gu Qianning finished speaking, she walked away with her head held high.
Shen Wantang sighed softly and returned to her courtyard with her maid.
As soon as you returned, Granny Yan greeted you, saying, "Young Madam, the young mistress of the Marquis of Zhongjing's mansion has sent you an invitation, inviting you to their residence for tea and flower viewing in three days!"
The usually stern Granny Yan had a slight smile on her face at this moment, because this was the first time Shen Wantang had been invited by other ladies in the capital since she married into the Duke's mansion. Although the Zhongjing Earl's mansion was not as prestigious as the Duke's mansion, it was not inferior either. This was enough to prove that Shen Wantang had entered the circle of noble ladies in the capital through her own abilities.
A few days ago, before the Meng family's troubles, Meng Yunlan had openly and subtly mocked Shen Wantang, saying that because of her lowly background, no one wanted to associate with her, and no one would send her an invitation to any banquet. Meanwhile, Meng Yunlan received so many invitations that she didn't even know which one to choose.
Now, the tables have turned. The Meng family has fallen, and no one will send Meng Yunlan an invitation anymore. On the other hand, people have already started sending invitations to Shen Wantang to show their goodwill.
Granny Yan was quite pleased, but Shen Wantang herself remained calm: "Alright, keep the invitation for now. If nothing comes up in three days, go and visit the Marquis of Zhongjing's residence."
"Today, let's go out for a stroll first, see how business is at Jinxiu Pavilion, and then go to Zuixianlou to see if the chefs' culinary skills have improved."
"Dujuan, send someone to deliver a message to lawyer Fang Xuning, asking him to come to Zuixianlou to see me. I need to check on how well he's recruited his team of lawyers."
Dujuan responded and went out to find someone to deliver the message.
Shen Wantang went into the house, took off the expensive hairpin given to her by Madam Gu, and put back on the lighter and more understated gold hairpin she used to wear.
After Dujuan returned, she took Dujuan and Qinxin out.
The streets were as bustling as ever. Shen Wantang was in a good mood because she realized that if she didn't manage her household affairs, she could have more time for herself to do what she wanted.
Going out for a stroll and managing your own business is much more enjoyable than staying at home dealing with endless little things.
Moreover, not long after she came out, she heard people talking about the Duke's Mansion and the Meng family.
"Oh dear, the Meng family is completely finished this time! Meng Deguang used to be a favorite of the emperor. As an imperial censor, which civil or military official didn't fear him? What a pity."
"What's there to regret? He deserved it! There's not a single good person in the Meng family. If it weren't for his influence with the Emperor, would the Meng family be so prosperous? Would their eldest daughter have been able to marry the eldest son of the Duke's family?"
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