Secret Scheming

"Bao'er, it's not that your mother doesn't want to help you." Madam Chen looked troubled. "Your father has already written back and talked to me about it..." She wanted her to listen to what her two sons and daughters-in-law had to say.

As an elder, she certainly can't be outwardly manipulated by the younger generation.

But deep down, she wanted to obey her husband.

Ge Bao'er was stunned for a moment, her face turning pale.

She had always known that her father disliked her, despising her for her terrible childhood experiences and deeming her unworthy to be his Di Daughter.

"Mother, if it's inconvenient for you, then just let it go."

Ge Bao'er stood up, forcing a bitter smile, and said, "I'm not doing this entirely for myself. You know the deep-seated hatred I have for that woman from the Lin Family. If she were truly the original Lin Yunwan and had become the Prince Huan Consort, she would never have let me go. My blood ties with the Duke Xingguo's Residence are unbreakable, and I'm afraid..."

That's not the point.

The Duke Xingguo's Residence's mansion has deep roots and cannot be shaken by a daughter without a title.

But Madam Chen wouldn't say something like that that would embarrass her daughter.

"Mother, please forgive your unfilial daughter for not being able to visit you anymore."

Ge Bao'er cried her heart out.

Upon hearing this, Madam Chen's heart ached. Grabbing her daughter's hand, she cried out in a mixture of anger and anxiety, "Bao'er, what are you saying! Even if the sky falls, you're still my daughter, and no one can stop you from coming!"

Ge Bao'er shook her head. "Mother, please don't make Father angry anymore because of me. From now on, I only ask one thing of you... If you... please take good care of Qing'er for me."

"He is my only child. He and you are my only connection in this life."

It was described as a separation of life and death.

Madam Chen only had one son and one daughter in her life, and her younger daughter was lost for so many years before being found. She could no longer bear the thought of her daughter abandoning her.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

She steeled her resolve and gritted her teeth, saying, "The Prince Huan's Residence... Although the Duke Xingguo can't do anything to the Prince, a fake Prince Huan Consort is nothing to worry about."

Ge Bao'er's sorrow turned to joy. "Mother, are you willing to help your daughter?"

Madam Chen sighed, "We're in this together, mother and daughter. If I don't help you, who will?"

"Mother..."

Ge Bao'er's eyes were filled with tears.

Madam Chen hugged her tightly, "You're not allowed to say such nonsense again! What nonsense about this life or the next? Now that I've found you, I'll protect you."

"Thank you, Mother."

"Silly girl, why are you thanking your mother? Tell me, how do you want me to help you?"

Ge Bao'er had become quite clever. She said, "Everyone has eyes. There's no need for complicated schemes. As long as everyone knows the truth and the crime of deceiving the emperor is established, even if the royal family wants to suppress this matter, public opinion will be overwhelming, and she will only have one way out: death."

Madam Chen frowned. "But this isn't easy to handle either."

Ge Bao'er laughed and said, "Mother, as long as someone isn't afraid to offend Prince Huan Consort and can still profit from the situation, this matter will be easy to handle."

"Afraid of Prince Huan Consort, there's still profit to be made? Who is?"

Madam Chen did not understand.

Ge Bao'er's eyes flickered. "I've heard that the Crown Prince and Prince Huan are at odds, and the Crown Prince Consort often has rumors of being pregnant, but it hasn't actually happened. Heir Apparent of Prince Huan is so favored by the Emperor, and he was made Heir Apparent at such a young age. How can the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort be happy about this?"

"They would rather see the Heir Apparent of Prince Huan's mother, whose birth was deemed improper, than their daughter."

Madam Chen nodded. "If the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort truly intend to do so, we can go along with it. We can seize someone's identity, deceive the Emperor, and taint the royal bloodline—the pretexts are readily available. We're not afraid the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort won't be tempted."

She was somewhat worried. "If we do this, I'm afraid... we'll offend Prince Huan."

Ge Bao'er sneered, "Mother, haven't you considered what if Prince Huan was also kept in the dark?"

"This..."

Madam Chen shook her head. "No. Prince Huan is not that kind of foolish person."

Having dealt with men herself, Ge Bao'er understands them all too well.

Lu Zhengliu was initially attracted to her appearance, but later he became attracted to her social status.

Her father looked down on her identity, and so did Qing'er.

She was very confident. "If the Prince knew that Lin Yunwan's identity was no longer flawless, would he still bother to protect her? Wouldn't he be worried about the Emperor's wrath? Wouldn't he be worried that the court officials would be disappointed in him? Wouldn't he be worried that his son would never be able to hold his head high for the rest of his life because of such a mother?"

No one understands this feeling better than her!

After thinking for a moment, Madam Chen said, "That makes sense."

As Ge Bao'er left, she seemed rather smug. "So what if she's Princess Consort? She's still being played like a puppet."

A strange smile played on her lips, "Because all men in the world are the same—equally snobbish and equally heartless."

"No exceptions."

Upon returning to the Wuding Marquis Residence, Ge Bao'er encountered Lu Zhengliu.

He stared at her for a long time, then said rather rudely, "You've been going out too often lately."

Ge Bao'er didn't mince words, stating frankly, "I went to see my mother, and I also met with Jiangqian Lin family."

Lu Zhengliu's expression changed. "What do you want to do?"

Ge Bao'er smiled. If she wanted to put on an act, her eyes and brows would still be as pure and gentle as when she was young.

"Sir, don't you want to see Prince Huan Consort... become the Eldest Young Madam of our Wuding Marquis Residence again?"

Lu Zhengliu sneered, "That's the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

He can distinguish between what he can and cannot do.

"No matter how much I want her back in my life, I won't kill her. She can never be a member of my Wuding Marquis Residence again."

"Ge Bao'er, I advise you to stop having any wicked thoughts!"

Lu Zhengliu warned her.

Ge Bao'er dug her nails into her palms, forcing herself to smile seductively at the person opposite her, "Sir, haven't you ever thought that, without deceiving the emperor, you could change her from the Prince Huan Consort into someone else—someone you could bring to your side?"

Lu Zhengliu was very puzzled.

Ge Bao'er pursed her lips and said, "If Prince Huan didn't know Lin Yunwan identity, would Prince Huan still want her after exposing her? If Prince Huan did know her true identity, would Prince Huan still dare to want her after exposing her?"

"If she can fake her death once, why can't she fake it twice?"

"Sir, if you want something, you should boldly fight for it. If you're always afraid of this and that, you'll never—"

Lu Zhengliu sneered, "Why are you helping me?"

Ge Bao'er gasped, forcing a smile, "I know you and Qing'er hate me. I don't want anything, I just want my Qing'er to have half of this Wuding Marquis Residence in the future."

"Since the old man dotes on Qing'er, I'll help him."

Lu Zhengliu.

Recalling the ecstatic joy he felt upon seeing her that day, he felt alive again, his heart pounding.

He couldn't help but smile.

Regardless, she is still alive, and he has raised their son Chang Gong well, who has now passed the Provincial Graduate.

"Good."

Lu Zhengliu squinted at Ge Bao'er: "You and I will privately confront Prince Huan about this. If you dare to spread it around openly, even if it means giving up the Duke Xingguo's Residence's business, I will throw you and Qing'er out."

"I know."

Ge Bao'er smiled, but as soon as Lu Zhengliu left, her face turned cold, as if she had become a different person.

"So she's already this important to you."

"Then they absolutely cannot be kept."

"The Wuding Marquis Residence belongs entirely to me Qing'er!"