Chu Jinyao was wearing a purple slanting-collared top and a horse-faced skirt of the same color. There was auspicious cloud, sun and moon patterns embroidered with silver thread at the knees. She was leaning on the couch, flipping through the album nonchalantly.

After Old Madam Chu finished speaking, she had been secretly observing Chu Jinyao's expression. Although there was no clue on Chu Jinyao's face, fortunately a lot of information could be gathered from her surroundings.

Chu Jinyao was wearing casual clothes and did not change into the Crown Princess's dress. This was a good sign. Moreover, Chu Jinyao met with the Changxing Marquis' Mansion in a reception hall with a fairly homely layout. This at least showed that Chu Jinyao did not intend to make a big deal about this matter.

But Chu Jinyao also changed into purple clothes today. Purple has always been the color of the emperor since ancient times, and the sun and moon decorations are obviously not something that everyone can embroider.

When Old Madam Chu saw this, she had a rough idea in her mind. She said carefully: "Reporting to the Crown Princess, Chengye is confused and actually did such a ridiculous thing. Don't worry, Crown Princess, since I know about this matter, I will never sit idly by and will handle it properly."

Old Madam Chu's words concealed a lot of information, such as she and the Changxing Marquis Mansion behind her did not know about this matter. This was just the private behavior of the Second Young Master and the Zhao family, and had nothing to do with the Changxing Marquis Mansion. Second, Old Madam Chu indirectly expressed her position to Chu Jinyao, and there was no need for Chu Jinyao to take action. Old Madam Chu would handle Chu Jinmiao properly.

This is the attitude that a sensible old parent should have. However, Chu Jinyao felt that Old Madam Chu was clear-headed. But in the eyes of others, this was Old Madam Chu trying to please the Crown Princess without any hesitation and using her power to oppress others.

Chu Jinyao said, "Of course I trust grandma, but this matter is a little special. The fourth lady has stayed in the mansion longer than me. I'm afraid in the eyes of many people, I am the one who came later and took over. It certainly wouldn't take much effort for grandma to forcibly send her away, but this is only a temporary solution and not a permanent solution. As long as second brother is willing, the world is so big, there is no place where people can't hide."

"Crown Princess..." Old Madam Chu was shocked. She wanted to say something but was stopped by Chu Jinyao. "Grandma, there is no need to say it. I understand what you mean, but I feel uncomfortable if some things are not made clear. Second brother and father are here too, right? It's just right, I have something to ask second brother. Grandma, eldest sister is next door, you go to see Lu Ge'er and sister."

Old Madam Chu wanted to say something but stopped, but before she could organize her words, she was led away by the palace maid. Madam Chu had to swallow her reluctance. Chu Jinxian was teasing the child in the side hall. She saw Madam Chu and nodded gently: "Grandma, you are here."

There was not much surprise in Chu Jinxian's words. Madam Chu and other female relatives were driven out. They were in a state of anxiety. They could not calm down even standing in the side hall. How could they have the mind to tease the child? Madam Chu really loved Chu Jinxian. Madam Chu suppressed her emotions and teased Lu Ge'er for a while. In the end, she couldn't help it. She lowered her voice and asked: "Xian'er, what does the Crown Princess mean? How does she want to deal with Chu Jinmiao?" Madam Chu

suspected that Chu Jinyao still cared about what happened in the past. She hated Chu Jinmiao, so she was unwilling to let Chu Jinmiao have an easy life. Chu Jinxian saw what Old Lady Chu meant. She shook her head in disapproval and said, "Grandmother, you underestimate her. She knows what's going on. Let's just wait."

The Second Young Master also came to Changhe Garden with the other family members to "apologize" today, but he could not see the Crown Princess directly like the female family members. The Second Young Master was sitting in the outer hall. After a while, a eunuch came in and said in a shrill voice, "Second Young Master, I'm sorry for waiting. Please follow me. Marquis Changxing, please be patient. I am just taking you in for questioning."

The Second Young Master had expected this. He ignored Marquis Changxing's warning look and walked to the reception hall calmly, bowing to Chu Jinyao. He behaved properly and politely, without any negligence.

After the Zhao family members went back yesterday, Yan was afraid that the world would not be in chaos, so she immediately told the old lady Chu about Chu Jinmiao and the original words of the Crown Princess. After hearing this, the old lady Chu was naturally furious. Changxing Hou had always been respectful to Zhao, his legal wife, but when he heard about this, he was so angry that he shouted "stupid".

Zhao felt wronged and angry. After crying for half an hour, she hurriedly asked the second young master to visit Chu Jinmiao. Zhao was afraid that someone would embarrass her. However, Changxing Hou specially sent someone to watch the second young master, and Duan Yinghua also watched the second young master closely as if he was facing a powerful enemy. The second young master had no choice but to secretly send his servant to Chu Jinmiao to deliver a message. After a long time, Chu Jinmiao only asked the servant to bring back a note. The second young master read the words on the note and felt more and more sorry for this unfortunate sister.

On one side is the fourth sister who grew up with her and was homeless, and on the other side is the crown princess who is of noble status and can force Chu Jinmiao into a desperate situation with just one word. This contrast is really tragic. People are born weak, especially men. The second young master unconsciously favored Chu Jinmiao. Now standing in front of Chu Jinyao, who is as beautiful as gold and jade and takes countless tedious efforts just to meet her, the second young master's feelings are becoming more and more complicated.

The Second Young Master was very polite, but his attitude was clearly one of resistance. Chu Jinyao saw this, shook his head and smiled: "Second brother, are you trying to be angry with me?"

"You are the Crown Princess, how dare I?"

"If you really don't dare, you won't do such a thing."

The Second Young Master moved his lips, as if he wanted to refute something, but still said nothing. Chu Jinyao did not give the second young master a chance to remain silent, and said directly: "I think when you went out today, grandma and father had already told you, second brother, that when you come to me today, no matter what I say, you are not allowed to talk back. Second brother, maybe you were thinking that grandma, father and I are just colluding with each other to use power to oppress others. And Chu Jinmiao is innocent and pitiful, she is the real justice in the world."

The second young master was obviously surprised, Chu Jinyao Yao simply asked for him: "Now you want to ask how I know this?"

Chu Jinyao sighed and said: "You are two years older than me, and you are the eldest brother in the family. Now, your Qi-cultivation skills are not as good as my daughter who came back halfway. Second brother, do you really not realize what the problem is?"

The second young master seemed to be hit on the heart, his face turned pale, he couldn't help asking: "Crown Princess, what do you want to say?"

"The Changxing Marquisate is very popular in the capital now, and everyone has to give some respect to the Chu family members when they see them. You don't really think that this is our Chu family's own ability, do you?" Chu Jinyao didn't care about the embarrassment of the second young master, and almost coldly exposed the truth, "Unfortunately, it's not. All this is just because I am the Crown Princess. Others respect you and obey you because the Crown Prince is capable, not because of you."

Being accused of relying on nepotism in person, and the person who said this is your sister, anyone would feel embarrassed. If it were other brothers with serious male chauvinism, they would have been furious by now, but the second young master was gentle in nature. He lost in temper but also won in temper. Even in anger, he would not speak loudly to his pregnant sister. He controlled his temper and even thought in his heart that although Chu Jinyao's words were unpleasant, they were not wrong.

The performance of the Second Young Master made Chu Jinyao look up to him. Father Su was a coward who had no ability but always yelled at home. Chu Jinyao was yelled at a lot in her childhood, which led to Chu Jinyao's dislike for this kind of people the most. However, Chu Jinyao had never expected that the seemingly indecisive Second Young Master could face his shortcomings calmly. His opinion of him changed a little, and his next words were much softer: "Second brother, I speak frankly, but it is precisely because I treat you as my own people that I say this to you. I am the Crown Princess, and there is nothing wrong with the Marquis's Mansion borrowing my power, or the Crown Prince's power, but we can't always be like this. If the Changxing Marquis's Mansion is of no benefit to the Crown Prince, then why should he carry a burden for a long time? Second brother, put yourself in his shoes, don't you think this makes sense?" The

Second Young Master was confused, and he suddenly realized that the Crown Princess was very different from what he had imagined. He didn't know much about this sister, and she didn't have as deep a relationship with Chu Jinmiao. And because of Chu Jinmiao's slander during this period, the second young master had already defined Chu Jinyao as a woman with deep scheming and strong revenge. But now it seems that the second young master's idea is ridiculous. He not only humiliated Chu Jinyao, but also the prince.

How could the woman that the prince personally asked to marry be such a person?

The second young master felt ashamed of his behavior. He bowed deeply and said, "I am guilty of my misconduct and have misunderstood the Crown Princess. All you think about is the Changxing Marquis' Mansion, but I am so narrow-minded and speculate about you. I am really a frog in the well, pathetic and ridiculous. I thought you called me here today because of fourth sister's matter."

"She is just a small grain of sand. It's over and done with. If she hadn't deliberately run away, I wouldn't even bother to remember her. If she is on guard against me all day, worried that I would retaliate against her, then she is really thinking too much." Chu Jinyao changed to a comfortable sitting position. Since the second young master brought it up, Chu Jinyao simply asked directly, "How did you find Chu Jinmiao?"

This matter is not complicated. It is just the most common routine. Chu Jinmiao had a high opinion of herself and was used to spending lavishly. Soon after, the boxes she brought back to the Su family were snatched away by the Su family under various pretexts. Later, Chu Jinmiao's private house was emptied, and she refused to do farm work and still acted like a young lady. Soon, the Su family's parents' preference for boys over girls came back to haunt her. For the betrothal gift of 10 taels of silver, they promised Chu Jinmiao to a pot-bellied old man.

But how could Chu Jinmiao agree? She had lived a miserable life in the Marquis's mansion, and 10 taels of silver was just a meal for her. Moreover, Chu Jinyao married the prince, and Chu Jinxian's husband, Zhao's cousin, was also a handsome young man. The other sisters who Chu Jinmiao looked down on all married into the families of dukes and officials. With these people as a comparison, how could Chu Jinmiao be willing to marry an ugly and old man. The maid who followed Chu Jinmiao back to the countryside was also unwilling to be poor. Chu Jinmiao persuaded the maid, and the two escaped at night. Before leaving, Chu Jinmiao even set fire to the Su family.

It can only be said that they are worthy of being a family. Chu Jinmiao is as cold and selfish as her biological parents, and they don't care about other people's lives for their own sake. No one should look down on anyone. After Chu Jinmiao escaped with great effort, the first thing she did was to go to Taiyuan City to find Changxing Marquis Mansion. Chu Jinmiao had a good plan. Although the Chu family was not a big deal, they had a thirteen-year friendship. As long as she cried and begged, and let Zhao and Changxing Hou see how miserable her life was, they would always soften their hearts.

But when Chu Jinmiao stood in front of Changxing Hou's mansion, she only saw the red lantern hanging high in front of the plaque of the mansion, and the door that had been closed for a long time and even covered with dust.

The old servant guarding the gate told the two young women in front of them that the master's family had moved to the capital with the Crown Princess and would not come back. If there was something wrong, when they returned to their hometown to worship their ancestors, they might be lucky enough to meet the master of the master's family.

Chu Jinmiao was struck by lightning. Only then did she vaguely recall that when she was sent out, someone in her family did mention moving, but she was in trouble at that time, so how could she care about these things.

The Changxing Marquisate had moved away, and she gambled all her fortune to find her mother and second brother, but she couldn't even see them. The capital, where is that? The

Changxing Marquisate has left, and the Su family can't go back either. What should they do?

It can only be said that it was a coincidence. When Chu Jinmiao was at a loss, an old servant who stayed at the ancestral home to guard the door found her. This old servant used to work in the second young master's courtyard. When the marquisate moved, the old servant couldn't move, so he stayed in Taiyuan to guard the door. He recognized the fourth young lady and couldn't bear it, so he sent a letter to the second young master in the capital. The Second Young Master was shocked to learn about this. When he saw Chu Jinmiao's current state, he was even more shocked and hurt. After all, she was his sister who he had known for thirteen years. The Second Young Master couldn't bear to see Chu Jinmiao in such a state, so he bought a house for her in Taiyuan and left her a lot of money. But once Chu Jinmiao grabbed a life-saving straw, how could she let it go? She frequently came to the Second Young Master, and the Second Young Master always responded to her requests. After a few exchanges, Duan Yinghua discovered the clues.

Duan Yinghua saw the account and thought that the Second Young Master had a mistress outside, so she couldn't help but questioned a few questions. Of course, the Second Young Master refused to admit it, but he didn't say what he did with the money. This is more like a mistress. Duan Yinghua was shocked and suspicious. The second young master had no choice but to secretly tell Zhao about Chu Jinmiao and let Zhao deal with it.

Zhao's way of dealing with it was to bring Chu Jinmiao to the capital, spend a lot of money to buy a house in the capital, send all the silks, satins, servants and carriages to her, and double the compensation for this suffering daughter. But this sign was completely different in Duan Yinghua's eyes. Duan Yinghua couldn't bear it anymore and directly reported it to Chu Jinyao, asking the Crown Princess to come forward and crack down on her mother-in-law and husband who didn't know what was going on.

The second young master felt embarrassed when he said this. He didn't plan to take Chu Jinmiao over, but Zhao cried and made a fuss, and the second young master had no choice. The second young master could only convince himself in his heart that Zhao did this out of a loving mother's heart and wanted to compensate the fourth sister. Since the fourth sister returned to the Su family, she has indeed not lived a good life.

A loving mother's heart, Chu Jinyao found it ridiculous. They felt that Chu Jinmiao was pitiful, but that was Chu Jinyao's life. If it weren't for the Marquis of Changxing discovering that his daughters were swapped, Chu Jinyao would have lived like this

for the rest of her life. Chu Jinmiao won sympathy with tears, but Chu Jinyao was unwilling to use the same method to get back at her. She felt that this was despising herself. Since Chu Jinmiao said that she abused her power to oppress others, Chu Jinyao would show what it meant to abuse her power to oppress others.

"You all have sympathy in your hearts, which makes me look like a bad person who is persecuting her. But, second brother, tell me, Chu Jinmiao is living in your private residence now, under what status is she living there?"

The second young master frowned when he heard this: "Of course it's your sister."

"Sister? Since she is your sister, why didn't you dare tell your second sister-in-law, but instead let her misunderstand that you took a concubine outside and arranged a mistress." "

Crown Princess!" The second young master raised his voice in shame and interrupted Chu Jinyao's words, "Chu Jinmiao will always be my fourth sister. How can I use the love between men and women to taint the relationship between me and my fourth sister, and how can I use the words concubine and mistress to humiliate her."

"It's useless to tell me. If you tell this to other families in the capital, do you think they will believe it?" Chu Jinyao looked at the second young master's increasingly pale face and mercilessly pierced his lucky heart. But this is not the end. Chu Jinyao was not slow and released another killer move: "What's more, do Chu Jinmiao and the maid beside her really regard you as a brother? Second brother, how long do you want to deceive yourself? You think that concubines and concubines are humiliating her, but Chu Jinmiao is clearly aiming for this purpose." The

second young master's face suddenly lost all blood color, as if he had suffered a severe blow. The second young master wanted to refute the fourth sister who was pure and innocent in his heart, but for some reason, he couldn't speak. Is Miao'er really such a person? The Second Young Master thought of Chu Jinmiao's ambiguous actions during this period. Were these almost frivolous behaviors really because she was dependent on him as her brother?

The second young master didn't know, and he didn't want to know.

But Chu Jinyao refused to let him go easily. Chu Jinmiao relied on being pitiful to get everyone's sympathy, while Chu Jinyao seemed like a wicked person who had no tolerance for others. In fact, Chu Jinyao really didn't have that. If Chu Jinmiao pretended to be pitiful, then Chu Jinyao would make her even more pitiful.

Chu Jinyao pressed on, and continued, "Well, let's take a step back. You two are abiding by the etiquette and are really just siblings. But what will Second Sister-in-law think? Second Sister-in-law is in the Marquis' Mansion, taking care of the housework and serving the elders, while you are raising a sister like this outside. How do you expect Second Sister-in-law to cope with it? Even if Second Sister-in-law is a virtuous woman who trusts you completely, once this matter gets out, what will others say about our Changxing Marquis' Mansion? They will only... No one listened to your explanation that the prince of Marquis Changxing had adopted his former sister. You and Chu Jinmiao are indeed not related by blood, but you were raised as brother and sister. If this matter is used as a pretext, what difference will there be between you and incest between brother and sister? When that happens, what do you want Marquis Changxing to do, and what do you want me to do? "

The Second Young Master lowered his head and said nothing, but his fists kept shaking, and one could imagine how upset he was. Chu Jinyao stopped talking and let the Second Young Master figure out the rest. The only key to this matter was the Second Young Master. As long as he figured it out and stopped aiding and abetting, Zhao and Chu Jinmiao wouldn't even be able to find the person who passed the message, and the matter would be truly resolved. Moreover, to cut the weeds, you have to remove the roots. Chu Jinyao will never allow this to happen a second time. The best strategy is to attack the heart and remove the tenderness in the heart of the second young master. Chu Jinyao can certainly use her power to order him not to see Chu Jinmiao again, but this method is too stupid and it will ruin her reputation. Chu Jinyao will not do such a losing deal.

Chu Jinyao herself did not realize at this moment that when she did all this, her thinking was exactly the same as Qin Yi's usual method. Some people's existence is silent. Chu Jinyao has already had the shadow of Qin Yi in her without knowing it.

Chu Jinyao finally added: "Second brother, I have said everything, the rest is up to you. I will not ask how you deal with Chu Jinmiao in the future, but you must remember that you are father's only legitimate son, and you will take over the entire Changxing Marquis Mansion in the future. Think carefully about what you should do."

The second young master closed his eyes, and after a moment, he sighed with difficulty: "I'm wrong."

"I just felt sorry for her, but I didn't think about my identity and responsibilities, let alone the risks that would follow. I am your brother and should support you, but instead I implicated you."

Old Madam Chu was always secretly proud when she mentioned this matter. Chu Jinyao was very favored by the prince, and the prince loved the Changxing Marquis Mansion as well. But for the second young master, this is not something to be proud of. For example, this time, he was selfish and stupid, blinded by the friendship he once had, and did not consider the truth behind it. Not only did he not care about his sister's situation in the East Palace, but he even speculated about her with the most despicable intentions, which was simply unforgivable.

The second young master was very agitated and could hardly forgive himself. He said harshly: "I'm sorry for you."

He was too self-righteous, blindly immersed in his own world, unwilling to consider the intrigues of officialdom, and never thought about taking on the future of the family, but he claimed to be elegant and looked down on people in the world of fame and fortune. He should be a support for Chu Jinxian and Chu Jinyao, instead of taking advantage of his sister's glory, hiding in his own world, reciting poems and making arguments, and not caring about worldly affairs.

Chu Jinyao finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. It is a good thing that the second young master does not like disputes. A qualified relative should be like this, strict with himself, not greedy or snatching. But knowing in your heart but not arguing, and not understanding anything so going with the flow, these are two completely different things. Chu Jinyao hopes that the second young master will maintain the status quo, but he has to participate in politics in his heart, at least he should understand the pros and cons.

Chu Jinmiao is just a small matter. It is a pleasant surprise that he can wake up the second young master through this matter. In fact, Chu Jinyao's original intention was not as noble as the Second Young Master imagined, but the Second Young Master was willing to think in this direction, and Chu Jinyao was also happy to see it happen.

"Second brother, it's great that you understand. No matter what, we are in the same boat with the prince. Even if we can't help him, we can't hold him back. He doesn't care about his reputation, but we can't let it go. At least, the Changxing Marquis Mansion can't become a reason for others to attack him." The Second Young Master couldn't stay in the inner house for long. He had said what he needed to say. Chu Jinyao stood up and sent the Second Young Master out while giving instructions. She turned around the purple wood partition and was stunned when she saw the scene behind.

The maids standing outside all lowered their heads, not daring to utter a word. Chu Jinyao looked at the culprit who looked calm and became furious: "When did you come? How long have you been standing here listening?"