The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

Xia Mianwan said angrily to the Marquis's wife with a pale face: "Is this the rule of your Marquis's Mansion? You come here with a mouth without any evidence to slander my Pei family? First, you said you had an affair with my second daughter, slandered my second daughter, slandered my Pei family, and now you slander me again? The Marquis's wife is really good at teaching her son. Our Pei family can't afford to invite such a noble family like you. Please invite me. I will tell my husband about what happened today. The Marquis indulges the women in other people's houses and acts wildly. I think he is bullying others by taking advantage of his power."

Xia Mianwan was very eloquent. If Shen Yicheng's people had not actually seen Pei Yanqi being locked up in Qiufeng Courtyard yesterday, Shen Yicheng would have really been fooled.

"Mrs. Pei, there's no need to be so excited. This is the capital after all. It's hard to justify someone being gone for no reason. Isn't Ah Qi in Qiufeng Courtyard?"

Xia Mianwan sneered and said, "How do you, a prince of a marquis' mansion, know what courtyards there are in my mansion?"

Shen Yicheng could not care less. If he delayed, something might happen. He glanced at Madam Hou and signaled her to speak. Madam Hou hurriedly said, "Madam Pei, please don't be angry. My son is too worried about the second young lady. Whether it is true or not... can't you just take us to Qiufeng Courtyard to have a look?"

Xia Mianwan said calmly, "How can you just look at my Pei family's yard whenever you want?"

The more Xia Mianwan tried to stop him, the more Shen Yicheng was convinced that Xia Mianwan was lying. The Marquis's wife said, "Madam Pei, since my son is determined to see it, I will sacrifice my dignity and beg you once. If the person is really not here, our Marquis's mansion will definitely come to apologize."

Xia Mianwan remained silent. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Forget it. If Aqi is not here, I hope the Marquis' Mansion will keep its promise."

Madam Hou and Shen Yicheng were delighted and were about to follow Xia Mianwan to Qiufeng Courtyard.

"Wait a minute, the prince is a foreigner after all, it is not legal for him to enter the inner courtyard of Pei Mansion, so just wait in the front hall." Xia Mianwan said lightly.

The Marquis's wife nodded at Shen Yicheng and followed Xia Mianwan to the inner courtyard.

The Marquis' wife was afraid that she would not be able to see what was happening ahead while sitting in the sedan chair, so she deliberately went to Qiufeng Courtyard with Xia Mianwan. There were indeed a few maids standing at the gate of Qiufeng Courtyard, and there were also a few maids and maids at the door of the room.

The Marquis's wife felt relieved when she saw this, and a maid touched her hand, proving that the person was still inside.

"Open the door." Xia Mianwan said.

"Yes!" The old woman guarding the door bent down and opened it.

Xia Mianwan brought the marquis's wife into the room, and there was indeed a girl lying on the bed with her back to her side.

Seeing Xia Mianwan's solemn expression, Lady Jinyang felt relieved. She said with pity, "Aqi, you have suffered."

But the girl didn't turn around. Xia Mianwan sighed and said, "Turn around."

The girl on the bed then turned around, got off the bed and knelt in front of Xia Mianwan, "Young Madam."

Xia Mianwan turned her head and looked at the wife of Marquis Jinyang calmly, "You see, this is our Pei Mansion's maid, not the second young lady."

The wife of the Marquis of Jinyang looked at the maid in front of her in shock. She was stunned for a moment and murmured, "How could this happen? How could this happen?"

Xia Mianwan asked the men to go back and lie down, then took the Marquis’ wife out of Qiufeng Courtyard, “You saw it, there is no Second Young Lady. I’m afraid the Crown Prince has been set up by someone… That girl pretended to be my Second Young Lady and was with the Crown Prince…”

Xia Mianwan didn’t say the rest. Some things are better left alone.

After Xia Mianwan and the wife of Marquis Jinyang returned to the front hall, Shen Yicheng was already impatient and asked hurriedly when he saw someone from the Marquis's residence coming out, "Mother, is Aqi here?"

The wife of Marquis Jinyang shook her head with a pale face, "That is indeed not the second young lady...it is the maid of the Pei family..."

Shen Yicheng was shocked. This was impossible. His informants had not sent any other news. "Mother, could it be that you didn't recognize me?"

The wife of Marquis Jinyang still shook her head, "It is definitely not the second young lady."

Shen Yicheng saw that the wife of Marquis Jinyang was pale, and that Xia Mianwan was calm and composed, so he knew that Xia Mianwan must have tricked him. He wanted to get angry, but Xia Mianwan spoke first, "Shen Shizi, our Pei family is not a family that can't be seen on the stage. If you continue to make trouble, Lord Shen might have a quarrel with my husband in the court tomorrow."

Shen Yicheng had no choice but to bow and leave Pei Mansion with the wife of Marquis Jinyang.

Xia Mianwan sighed and sat down on the chair somewhat tiredly. This family was not easy to fool and the spies had to be caught as soon as possible. Fortunately, he was alert, otherwise, if the person was found by the Jinyang Marquis' Mansion today, he would have to admit it even if he didn't want to.

"Young Madam, I have found out that there are several people with questionable backgrounds who were not on duty that day." Ruzhu took the indentures of these people and presented them to Xia Mianwan.

Xia Mianwan took the indenture, thought for a moment and said, "Think of a way to test them. Remember to find Qingshuang, she is very good at martial arts."

"Yes!"

Pei Yanqi's matter must be resolved as soon as possible, otherwise there will be more trouble. Today, the Marquis' Mansion is not in the right, and they dare not force it. If they are willing to risk it, Xia Mianwan will not be so easy to deal with today.

Xia Mianwan rested for a while and then took Qinghe to the yard where Pei Yanqi was imprisoned.

Pei Yanqi had stopped making a fuss at this time. Her hands were tied behind her back and a piece of cloth was stuffed in her mouth.

After Xia Mianwan found a chair and sat down, she asked someone to take the thing that was stuffed in Pei Yanqi's mouth away.

Pei Yanqi already knew that Shen Yicheng had come to Pei Mansion today. She didn't expect that the Marquis's wife and Shen Yicheng came in person to ask for her, but failed to take her away.

Pei Yanqi stared at Xia Mianwan coldly, "Why does sister-in-law want to hinder my future time and time again?"

Seeing that Pei Yanqi still couldn't figure it out, Xia Mianwan lost her patience and said, "What future do you have? The Marquis' Mansion wants the second daughter of the Pei family, not you, Pei Yanqi... Do you understand?"

Pei Yanqi was not convinced. "Even if that's the case, I have earned my future myself. I am the second daughter of the Pei Mansion. Why do you want to block my future?"

Xia Mianwan was too lazy to waste any more time talking to Pei Yanqi. There was no point in wasting time on someone who couldn't figure things out.

Xia Mianwan asked directly without even raising her eyelids: "You can't give birth to the child, and you can't go to the Marquis' Mansion. What are your plans for the future? I will only give you one chance, so think carefully."

"I want to see my elder brother and mother!" Pei Yanqi said.

"Your eldest brother will come in the evening. As for mother...you won't be able to see her. Mother became ill because of you, and she is recovering now." Xia Mianwan said.

Pei Yanqi couldn't believe it. "How dare you stop me from seeing my mother? How dare you put my mother under house arrest? Are you crazy?"

Xia Mianwan lazily looked at Pei Yanqi and sneered, "You and I... who is crazy, have you ever thought about it? If I were you, I wouldn't have some unacceptable delusions. Now start to think carefully about where to go in the future."