The Marquis of Changchun nearly had his nose knocked crooked with anger, his eyes shooting fire as he glared at Luo Sheng.

This yellow-haired girl truly feared nothing more than the world remaining peaceful!

“Miss Luo, don’t speak such reckless nonsense.”

Luo Sheng blinked. “Lord Marquis, don’t randomly pin labels on people. How am I speaking reckless nonsense? The situation is obviously suspicious—are people not allowed to discuss it? Lord Marquis, don’t bully me for having read few books. I remember there’s a saying: ‘Preventing the people from speaking is more dangerous than damming a river. When a river is dammed and bursts, many will be harmed—the people are the same. Therefore, those who manage rivers open channels to guide the flow; those who manage people allow them to speak freely.’ Even kings don’t block the mouths of common people—yet the Lord Marquis won’t allow me to speak?”

The corner of the Marquis of Changchun’s mouth twitched. He very much wanted to curse.

Having read few books and yet so eloquent? He really wanted to seal this yellow-haired girl’s mouth!

“Miss Luo jests. How would this Marquis not let you speak? But this doesn’t mean one can speculate wildly without evidence. Don’t you agree, Miss Luo?” No matter how annoyed the Marquis of Changchun felt inside, given Luo Sheng’s status he could only speak politely. Catching sight of the enthusiastic crowd from the corner of his eye made him even more irritated.

How had Grand Commander Luo managed to turn things around!

If Grand Commander Luo fell this time, he’d be the first to make this girl pay.

Looking at the Marquis of Changchun whose face had darkened with rage, Luo Sheng said with a smile: “The Lord Marquis and I think differently. I believe that if one acts righteously and stands upright, one needn’t fear others’ speculation. Previously when people spread rumors that I coveted Prince Kaiyang’s beauty, did I try to stop them?”

The Marquis of Changchun’s expression contorted.

This yellow-haired girl’s face was too thick!

The surrounding crowd collectively rolled their eyes.

Of course she wouldn’t stop them—Miss Luo was clearly taking advantage!

Luo Sheng had a sudden realization: “The neighbors can all discuss it, yet the Lord Marquis specifically forbids me from speaking. Could it be that the Lord Marquis has grievances against the Grand Commander’s Estate?”

The Marquis of Changchun nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

After Grand Commander Luo’s release from prison, the Grand Commander’s Estate was precisely in its moment of flourishing glory—he couldn’t afford to offend this person.

The Marquis of Changchun secretly drew a breath to steady his emotions and forced a smile: “Miss Luo misunderstands. How could this Marquis have grievances against the Grand Commander’s Estate? Miss Luo may speculate as she pleases, but this Marquis truly knew nothing, and my wife would never do such a thing.”

“Has the Lord Marquis asked the Marquis’s wife?”

The Marquis of Changchun naturally wouldn’t fall into this trap.

If he said he’d asked, that would prove he knew about the servants pursuing the silver before coming out, which would mean either he or Madam Yang definitely knew about it.

The Marquis of Changchun could only say: “This Marquis trusts my wife.”

Luo Sheng chuckled. “The Lord Marquis certainly trusts the Marquis’s wife, but what if the Marquis’s wife betrays the Lord Marquis’s trust?”

“There’s absolutely no such possibility!” The Marquis of Changchun spoke decisively, though inwardly he was furious.

The steward taken away by the officials was precisely someone Madam Yang relied upon—this matter was undoubtedly arranged by Madam Yang.

But he could only grit his teeth and deny it, otherwise the Marquis Estate would face even greater trouble.

Luo Sheng curved her lips in a light smile: “The Lord Marquis and the Marquis’s wife truly share deep marital affection.”

Elder Sister must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to marry such a man.

“Fine then. If the Lord Marquis is happy believing it, then believe it. Anyway, anyone with eyes can guess what really happened. I just think it’s abnormal for a stepmother to so readily produce five thousand taels in silver—it only makes sense if she harbored thoughts of snatching it back.” Luo Sheng acted as though she’d lost interest and turned to leave.

The Marquis of Changchun stared at her departing figure, his lips trembling for quite some time.

Had this yellow-haired girl jumped out just to deliberately upset him?

The Marquis of Changchun strode into the Marquis Estate, heading straight for Madam Yang’s quarters.

“Everyone out!” As soon as he entered the room, the Marquis of Changchun gave the order.

The servants attending inside silently withdrew.

Madam Yang greeted the cold-aura-wrapped Marquis of Changchun: “Lord Marquis—”

The Marquis of Changchun suddenly gripped Madam Yang’s wrist and demanded harshly: “Foolish woman! Must you ruin the Marquis Estate before you’re satisfied?”

Madam Yang’s whole body trembled, feeling deeply wronged: “Lord Marquis, how can you say such things to me—”

“Don’t waste words! I’m asking you—was sending people to recover the silver your idea?” The Marquis of Changchun impatiently interrupted Madam Yang.

Madam Yang’s face stiffened as she stared blankly at the Marquis of Changchun.

The Marquis of Changchun gritted his teeth: “I only want to hear the truth. Don’t treat me like a fool to be deceived!”

Madam Yang swallowed back the denial that had reached her lips.

She understood this man too well.

When he spoke like this, he’d already made up his mind—denying would only make him angrier.

Madam Yang immediately softened: “Cousin, I was also thinking of our Marquis Estate. That was five thousand taels in silver—without that money, the Marquis Estate would have difficulty even celebrating New Year—”

The Marquis of Changchun slapped her across the face.

“Long-haired, short-sighted wench! With your scheming, not only did we lose ten thousand taels in silver, but the Changchun Marquis Estate has become a laughingstock right before New Year!”

Although that yellow-haired girl was detestable, she’d said one thing correctly—with so many spectators watching, they couldn’t all possibly believe that he and his wife knew nothing.

Especially Madam Yang—damage to her reputation was certain.

The Marquis of Changchun looked at Madam Yang with disgust: “How did you conceive of such a notion?”

Madam Yang covered her face, choking out an explanation: “Cousin, I truly felt heartache over that silver.”

“So you ordered people to rob them?” The Marquis of Changchun’s tone grew colder.

How had he never discovered this side of Madam Yang?

Toward those thugs, had Madam Yang also harbored thoughts of silencing them permanently?

The Marquis of Changchun naturally wished he could tear those thugs to pieces, but for the cousin he’d always thought of as gentle and virtuous to do such things—it was hard to accept.

The Marquis of Changchun looked at Madam Yang with eyes like ice: “You’d better behave yourself.”

Seeing the Marquis of Changchun about to leave, Madam Yang hurriedly grabbed his sleeve: “Cousin, listen to me—”

The Marquis of Changchun pushed her away, saying coldly: “I’m not truly a fool!”

Watching the Marquis of Changchun stride away, Madam Yang collapsed into a chair, completely unable to accept this reversal.

The matter of the Marquis Estate’s servants pursuing the silver had become known to everyone—from now on, when she socialized with wives of other estates, wouldn’t she have to endure many strange looks?

And the Lord Marquis—trying to coax him back to goodwill would probably require tremendous effort…

Madam Yang’s heart was bitter. The satisfaction she’d felt from Xu Xi being expelled from the family had long since vanished into thin air.

Xu Xi’s situation at this moment was even worse.

Having watched that spectacle that he’d found so satisfying, as the crowd dispersed, the young man had walked only a short distance before being blocked by several people.

Seeing they were from Qianjin Pavilion, Xu Xi was on guard: “What do you want?”

The leader smiled: “We heard that Young Master Xu has severed relations with the Marquis Estate. We were afraid we wouldn’t be able to find you in the future, so we hurried over.”

Looking at the people surrounding him, Xu Xi retreated a step, searching for a chance to escape.

The leader’s face darkened: “Surely Young Master Xu hasn’t forgotten he still owes our gambling house eight hundred taels in silver?”

Another man laughed sinisterly: “Eight hundred taels certainly can’t compare to the five thousand taels Young Master Xu owes his gambling friends, but for our gambling house it’s still quite a sum. Young Master Xu wouldn’t truly have forgotten, would he?”

Those who had earlier watched the spectacle at the Changchun Marquis Estate’s gates and happened to walk in the same direction as Xu Xi suddenly stopped in their tracks.

There was actually a sequel!