That person told them that this Madam Lei was a fake, not the old aunt from the Liu family at all.

However, halfway through their journey, they heard news of Madam Lei’s death. Subsequently, they received another order, instructing them to pose as her maternal relatives and accuse the Lei family of forcing Madam Lei to her death.

Originally, they hadn’t thought much about it—after all, they were simply taking money to do a job. Whether Madam Lei was real or fake had nothing to do with them.

But today, as they were rushing toward Yunyang City, their mother couldn’t hold on any longer, and they had to rest midway once again.

It was during that time that they overheard people outside discussing matters concerning the Lei family.

It turned out that many people knew about Madam Lei’s suspicious death, all saying she had been forced to death by Elder Master Lei and Second Master Lei.

But as the conversation continued, they heard the people outside discussing the Lei family’s assets.

Before coming here, they had naturally inquired about what kind of family the Lei family was. Although the current Lei family couldn’t compare to what it was decades ago, because the current head of the family, Lei Ting, had some capability, he had also earned quite a bit of wealth for the Lei family.

But listening to the people outside itemizing the Lei family’s properties one by one, they still couldn’t help feeling envious, jealous, and resentful.

At that moment, someone sighed and said that if both Lei brothers were imprisoned for the crime of forcing Madam Lei to death, who would inherit all these Lei family properties?

After all, besides the two Lei Ting and Lei Zhen brothers, the Lei family only had Lei Ting’s daughter.

Then someone else jokingly said, “Didn’t they say Madam Lei’s maternal relatives have arrived? Since the Lei family has no one left, even if Madam Lei’s maternal family can’t get all the wealth, they should at least be able to get some benefits, right?”

Just this one sentence had the couple thinking about it the entire way.

So now, when someone said Madam Lei was a fake, the first to object wasn’t the Lei family members, but this couple from the Liu family.

Whether they could obtain the Lei family’s assets was still hard to say, but money and wealth always moved people’s hearts, even if it was just a possibility.

But if Madam Lei wasn’t from the Liu family at all, then even if they succeeded in getting the Lei brothers thrown in prison, the Lei family’s assets would have nothing to do with them.

Moreover, that person’s second order was only to have them accuse the Lei brothers, with no mention of Madam Lei’s identity. Otherwise, if Madam Lei was fake, in what capacity could they accuse anyone?

So the middle-aged woman loudly said: “Who’s there spouting nonsense! How is Madam Lei not from our Liu family? My mother and I were blood sisters!”

The middle-aged man also said, “Even if our Liu family isn’t what it used to be, it’s not something anyone can step on at will! Madam Lei sent us a letter not long ago, asking us to come visit her. When we received news of her death, we were already on the road.”

At this point, everyone remembered again. Madam Lei had only died three days ago, and the Liu family people hadn’t set out from Jiangnan only after hearing news of her death.

No one noticed that Lei Ting, the Lei family head who had been silently watching the farce with cold eyes, now showed a mocking smile on his face.

At this moment, he also thought of the letter he had received earlier, where that mysterious person told him that the only thing that could shake the Lei family’s foundation was Madam Lei’s identity, and that as long as this problem could be resolved, the Lei family could rest easy from now on.

As for the leverage others thought they held, those were just deliberate weaknesses they had shown.

What they needed, from beginning to end, was for the Liu family to acknowledge Madam Lei’s identity.

That goal had now been achieved.

At this moment, there was another commotion outside the Lei mansion, and everyone looked to see a team of constables walking in.

Only then did everyone understand that when the Liu family said they would report to the authorities, they weren’t just talking.

But when Lei Ting saw the constables, his face remained completely calm.

No one noticed that in the southwestern corner, a young man dressed as a servant slightly curved his lips upon seeing this, then turned and walked outside, as if he had no interest in what would happen next.

However, after taking just a few steps and leaving the crowd, he paused in confusion. Because he caught a glimpse of a familiar tall figure that flashed by.

The young man only paused briefly before continuing to walk outside. He naturally guessed whose orders that person was following to come gather information, but obviously, what was happening here seemed to please their masters.

Meanwhile, Ren Yaoqi’s afternoon wasn’t very peaceful either.

She and Rong Shi waited for a long time, but Li Qian and Li Tianyou didn’t return for lunch. The people Rong Shi sent out also brought back no news.

Finally, when Rong Shi decided not to wait any longer, Yihong came in to report that the two had returned.

The deposed Prince Li Qian still looked exactly as Ren Yaoqi remembered him.

This lord wore a jade-colored robe embroidered with cranes, auspicious grass, five bats, and auspicious cloud patterns, tied with a five-colored silk cord, and on his feet were sea-wave patterned four-seam dry yellow boots. Despite being past his fiftieth year, his face remained fair with few wrinkles. He possessed an innate, elegant, and leisurely demeanor that even typical aristocratic gentlemen lacked. Standing next to his son Li Tianyou, who wore a dark-colored robe, they didn’t look like father and son, but rather like brothers.

Li Qian was quite startled when he saw Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi rose and stepped forward to pay her respects, calling him “Grandfather.”

Li Qian dryly said, “Ah,” blinked his eyes, and seeing Rong Shi looking at him, showed a gentle smile on his face: “This is, Yaoqi has come?”

Ren Yaoqi breathed a sigh of relief—at least he didn’t confuse her with her sister.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Seeing that this granddaughter seemed quite well-behaved today, Li Qian looked at her a few more times, then said: “Mm, reward her! Rong Shi, give her that pair of jade Buddha beads with amber spacer beads.”

Rong Shi felt somewhat helpless and was about to speak when Li Tianyou, while accepting tea from Yihong, said puzzledly: “Father, didn’t you trade those beads for a pair of red-spotted robins long ago?” He had been present at the time.

Li Qian also remembered, then pointed at Ren Yaoqi: “Then give her that Hetian jade lingzhi flower and leaf pendant.”

Rong Shi didn’t respond, and Li Tianyou was about to interject again when Ren Yaoqi quickly said: “Thank you for the reward, Grandfather.”

Li Qian nodded with great satisfaction, and Li Tianyou was pulled away by Yihong to wash his hands.

Rong Shi sighed. After the father and son had washed their hands, she ordered the meal to be served.

Since they were all close family, Rong Shi didn’t arrange separate seating, but had Ren Yaoqi join Li Qian and his son at the same table.

“Have the kitchen add braised fish maw, five-colored stir-fried camel hump, and fresh mushrooms with vegetables. I remember Xiang’er loved these when she was young,” Li Qian said to Rong Shi after glancing at the dishes on the table.

Ren Yaoqi’s mother’s given name was Li Yuanxiang, and Xiang’er was her childhood nickname.

Ren Yaoqi quickly smiled and said: “Grandfather, today’s dishes are all ones your granddaughter likes. Don’t you like them?”

Li Qian looked again seriously: “Hmm, glutinous rice stuffed duck, premium tofu, three-treasure meatballs, golden mushrooms with picked vegetables—these few are acceptable. Since you like them, we won’t change them. Your mother didn’t come back today either, so next time, then.”

Thus, without any further incidents, the meal was completed peacefully.

After the meal, Ren Yaoqi sat beside Rong Shi, drinking tea together with Li Qian and Li Tianyou in the main hall.

Li Qian said, “Rong Shi, remember to give Qiusheng three thousand taels in bank notes later.”

Rong Shi’s hand paused while holding her teacup, then she calmly and gently asked: “Does Master need to purchase something?”

Upon hearing this, Li Tianyou’s eyebrows danced with excitement as he began explaining: “Mother, Father and I have set our eyes on a fighting cock. That rooster is magnificent—they say it has never been defeated and has been crowned the Ever-Victorious General. We finally managed to negotiate the price down to three thousand taels, and we agreed to go buy it this afternoon.”

Rong Shi smiled: “Oh, so you want to eat chicken. I’ll have the kitchen prepare it tonight—crispy chicken or stewed in a pot?”

Li Tianyou was stunned, then said: “Mother, it’s not a chicken for eating, it’s for—”

Rong Shi placed her teacup on the kang table with a light but clear sound that made Li Tianyou instinctively stop mid-sentence.

“Oh? Not for eating? Then what is it for?” Rong Shi’s voice remained gentle, even carrying a tone of patient guidance.

Li Tianyou swallowed hard, unable to speak, only daring to secretly signal Li Qian with his eyes.

Rong Shi also followed Li Tianyou’s gaze toward Li Qian.

“Master, if the chicken isn’t for eating, what else could it be for? Please explain to this concubine,” Rong Shi said with a gentle smile.

Li Qian glanced at his son, lowered his head to sip his tea, then said: “Rong Shi—”

“Mm?”

“For eating. Stew it, and don’t forget to add some sea cucumber,” Li Qian calmly continued.

Li Tianyou was dumbfounded, his eyes nearly cramping from squinting, but his father seemed not to see him, only drinking his tea with his head lowered.

Rong Shi smiled and said warmly, “Yes, Master. This concubine understands.”

Li Tianyou looked at his father, then at his mother, and finally covered his face with a tragic expression.

Ren Yaoqi wanted to laugh, but felt it wasn’t quite appropriate, so she could only lower her head.

When leaving Rong Shi’s quarters, Ren Yaoqi happened to encounter Li Qian and Li Tianyou having a conversation while hiding in a corner, using the excuse of relieving themselves.

“Father, you already promised Master Wen that we’d buy that rooster. What do we do now? If we’re late, someone else will buy it,” Li Tianyou said anxiously.

Li Qian’s voice remained calm, with an innate elegance emanating from his very bones: “You’re too attached, Yu’er.”

“What?”

“It’s just a chicken—the difference between stewing and braising. If someone else buys it, so be it. Why be so obsessed?”

Li Tianyou paused for a moment, then finally exploded, pointing at Li Qian indignantly: “Father! You’ve never believed in Buddha in your entire life—who are you pretending to? At least I have a nun as a mistress, so I’m closer to Buddha than you! Admit it—you’re just afraid Mother will make you kneel on an abacus in the middle of the night!”

“Outrageous!” Li Qian raised his eyebrows, glancing sideways at Li Tianyou. “How dare Rong Shi! I’ll divorce her!”

Li Tianyou’s response was to roll his eyes and walk away.