Mrs. Dong coldly watched Dong Poming before her, then she laughed. This laugh, however, made Dong Poming feel a bit flustered and increasingly uneasy.

"People from our Dong Family all have the same nature. Doing shameless things, yet pretending as if nothing happened. Such thick-skinned behavior is not something just anyone can manage, only people from our Dong Mansion can do it. Nowadays, I admire no one but the people from our Dong Mansion." As Mrs. Dong spoke, she fixed her gaze on Dong Poming, watching her face turn ugly, her laughter grew louder.

After a long while, Dong Poming finally found her voice, "Aunt, I know you are upset, but you can’t speak like this about our Dong Family. Although the Second Prince has fallen from grace now, who knows if there might be a day of resurgence? It can’t be judged at the moment. Even a carp may leap over the dragon gate. Right now, Aunt seems to be doing better than us being in the Marquis Mansion. But what happened to make Aunt speak so about our family?"

Dong Poming’s eyes were full of grievance, looking helplessly at Mrs. Dong. But Mrs. Dong, seeing her normally proud niece now showing submission, felt a chill. This niece, whose chin was always held high, did not agree to enter the Marquis Mansion as a concubine back then, but now she bows her head. How could it not shock Mrs. Dong? Yet, along with shock, came fear.

"Do you know what I encountered on my way back?" Mrs. Dong slowly spoke, her eyes catching the fleeting disorder on Dong Poming’s face as she continued, "Someone tried to assassinate me. When I think about it, it’s laughable. I am someone discarded by the Marquis Mansion, someone my mother doesn’t want. Who would want to assassinate me? I’m truly curious. You are smart; tell me what this is about? I can’t figure it out no matter how much I think."

Dong Poming was at a loss for words, "Aunt, are you saying you encountered an assassin? How’s that possible? Could it be someone from the East Mansion did it? She wanted to monopolize the Marquis, so she did such a thing? Aunt must have heard that her biological father is Prince Shou; for the sake of his reputation, he wouldn’t allow his daughter to share a husband with other women. Aunt should definitely discuss this with the Marquis; you mustn’t be injured."

Mrs. Dong seemed to have anticipated this reaction. She merely sneered without answering. Seeing that her aunt said nothing more, Dong Poming was momentarily at a loss for words, let out a couple of dry laughs. "I just came to see you; now that there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first."

Mrs. Dong did not ask her to stay; instead, a maid came in and directly sent her away. Mrs. Dong looked at the arranged items before her, raised her hand, and instructed the young maid in the room, "Take these things away."

These things were useless to her now as she couldn’t even leave the courtyard.

The young maid was carrying the items out when Gu Yifeng stopped her. Li Si walked forward from behind, "Take these things to the front courtyard."

The young maid didn’t dare to ask more and walked off with the items. Gu Yifeng frowned, "Did you really hear correctly?"

Li Si nodded seriously, "The Hidden Guard has confirmed it."

Gu Yifeng nodded, looked toward the main courtyard, and then turned and left.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of Woodland Pavilion, Lin Youning watched the servants turning over each item sent from the Dong Mansion. Finally, from beneath a box of pearls, they pulled out a yellow robe. The servants were shocked, dropped what they held in panic.

The box was full of pearls; without careful search, no one would have seen the yellow robe hidden underneath. Lin Youning stepped forward, saw the robe, and her expression tightened, "Li Si, quickly burn this thing."

Li Si hesitated not, took the item directly to the small kitchen. Gu Yifeng had just entered when Lin Youning approached him quickly, "We found it."

She then whispered something in Gu Yifeng’s ear. Upon hearing it, his face turned unusually serious, and he strode toward the small kitchen.

Lin Youning instructed the servants in the courtyard, "Today, you saw nothing, understand?"

The servants hurriedly agreed, wary of offending. Though they hadn’t seen it themselves, they knew it was a Dragon Robe. Finding such an object in the estate could cost everyone’s heads, and no one was foolish; they all preferred to live.

Knowing they weren’t lying, Lin Youning allowed Hailan to support her to the small kitchen. The yellow robe was already reduced to ashes in the stove; Li Si kept adding wood to ease the worry.

Lin Youning sighed in relief, "I never expected the Second Prince to resort to this tactic."

"When cornered, even a dog will leap over a wall, let alone the Second Prince who is now at a dead end," Gu Yifeng sneered, "To use this ploy against the Marquis Mansion, but his plan was flawed."

Lin Youning sneaked a glance at her elder brother, knowing he wouldn’t just say something so simply, he must have plans to retaliate. But as to what action, she could not guess.

Gu Yifeng did not elaborate. However, the next day Lin Youning heard the news that the Second Prince Mansion had been searched, and a Dragon Robe was discovered, a crime of treasonous proportion, spreading through the Capital. Upon hearing, Lin Youning immediately knew it must have been orchestrated by her elder brother; otherwise, how could the Second Prince have sent gifts to Marquis Mansion yesterday, and today his residence is searched?

"It’s said the Second Prince is placed under house arrest, no one from his mansion can exit, outside guarded by the Imperial Army," Shanmoi exclaimed, visibly pleased.

Lin Youning nodded, "With matters arising at the Second Prince’s, the Dong Mansion and Zhou Mansion, being relatives, will surely seek help. Manage the estate well, don’t let any faults occur."

"Rest assured, Miss, this servant is watching over the front courtyard; nothing will go wrong." Shanmoi replied, visibly proud.

"You’ve managed the front courtyard well these days," Lin Youning jestingly praised her, "Indeed, after marriage, one becomes more stable."

Shanmoi blushed, "Miss already knows I’ve always been this way."

"Yes, yes. Now married, still shy like this," Lin Youning caressed her belly, laughing without stopping, then saw Zhao Wu burst in urgently, "Miss, Sister Ling is missing."

Upon hearing this, Lin Youning was startled, hurriedly standing, Hailan and Shanmoi rushed to support her, yet Lin Youning was too anxious to care, "Sister Ling gone? How could she disappear? What happened?"

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New book by Baba: "Rebirth of a Fallen Rural Bride": Li Xiuying marries Zhang Jianping, but Zhang Jianping only has eyes for Li Meiling.

After marriage, her husband maintains correspondence with her sister, Li Xiuying, heartbroken, elopes with someone else, being the one wronged, fate treats her harshly.

Upon rebirth, Li Xiuying finally realizes, it wasn’t her who was in the wrong.

So she stops running away.