Qiao Yujing, though not favored in the Bo residence, seemed like a transparent presence.

But in reality, his influence within the household was not small at all. The reason was simple: he paid well for tasks. With a hefty sum thrown in, there were always those willing to help him out in the various courtyards.

The reason he had so much silver was not because of favoritism from his mother, but because he earned it himself.

Qiao Yujing had been clever since childhood. Once he realized that his parents and grandmother didn’t like him, he began to plan for himself at a young age.

No matter how one looked at it, the Yongchang Bo residence was a prestigious noble family. To avoid being mocked by outsiders, they would never take their children’s education lightly.

Even if the Zou family despised him, they couldn’t possibly forbid him from attending classes with the tutors.

So, in order to live better, Qiao Yujing took his studies seriously, and he indeed had the talent of a top student. Not only did he excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but he also managed household affairs well, and even mastered the Four Books and Five Classics.

Since ancient times, teachers have always favored outstanding students.

Thus, knowing that Qiao Yujing was having a hard time in the residence, these tutors secretly helped him out by selling his calligraphy, paintings, embroidery, and study notes for silver.

Over time, as his abilities improved, the value of his items increased.

After saving up a considerable amount of capital, Qiao Yujing began to quietly buy farmland and shops, letting his loyal wet nurse’s family help manage his businesses outside.

Therefore, it was quite simple for him to use his wealth to bribe the servants in other courtyards to do his bidding.

After all, birds die for food, and people die for wealth, right?

…

Sure enough, when the Fang concubine and her daughter learned that Qiao Yujing was climbing the ranks with the Chu heir, they were absolutely thrilled.

The housekeeper of the county princess was strict, and regarding the Chu heir’s troubles, only a few of the ladies in the inner courtyard knew. These women kept their mouths shut to avoid offending the county princess’s residence.

Thus, the Fang concubine could flaunt her power in the Bo residence, as a concubine naturally wouldn’t be able to uncover such secrets.

In the eyes of the mother and daughter, this marriage was simply too good to be true.

“The Chu heir is exceptionally handsome and well-read. Although he doesn’t have an official title, that’s due to his royal lineage. He is highly praised at various poetry gatherings and literary events, making him an excellent match.”

“The county princess’s residence shares the same bloodline as His Majesty and is deeply favored by him. With three generations of unbroken nobility, whoever marries into it will not only enjoy wealth and honor but also won’t have to worry about their descendants’ futures.”

“Third Young Master really has good taste and plans! But now it’s all falling into my son’s lap…”

The Fang concubine analyzed, her heart blooming with joy. This was truly a good son-in-law.

Qiao Yulan was also quite satisfied, but then she frowned and said, “But Mother, even if I snatch the Chu heir away, Third Brother has such an outstanding appearance; he definitely won’t marry poorly.”

“If I lose the Chu heir, who knows, there might be a Wang heir, a Li heir… or even a more distinguished gentleman who takes a liking to him! Our relationship is so bad; if he steps on my head, I’ll be utterly humiliated!”

“Mother, you have to think of a way for me. He absolutely must not marry better than me; it would be best to ruin his handsome face!”

Her tone was filled with jealousy and malice.

She and Qiao Yujing didn’t have any deep-seated hatred, but who told Qiao Yujing to be so favored despite being a legitimate child and so outstanding?

Even her only advantage, her looks, couldn’t compare to his anymore.

She didn’t dare provoke her father’s favored second brother, so she could only vent all her frustrations on her third brother.

This was a classic case of bullying the weak and fearing the strong, picking on the soft ones.

“Let me think of a way for this…”

The Fang concubine agreed with her daughter. Since they had become enemies, they had to suppress him thoroughly; otherwise, if he turned the tables, they would suffer.

On the other side, Qiao Yuling received the news and had the same thoughts.

He knew about his half-brother’s background, so he had always pretended to be kind and magnanimous while secretly comparing and suppressing him.

To be honest, the reason Qiao Yujing and the Zou family had such a poor mother-son relationship was partly due to Zou’s own actions, and he had stirred the pot quite a bit!

He also wouldn’t allow Qiao Yujing to live better than himself.

“The royal family of the county princess, he really has good taste. This is a sure-win marriage… But historically, beautiful men often have short lives. How can my good brother enjoy such a good life? Keep an eye on the Fang concubine and her daughter; let me know if they make any moves, and help them out.”

Qiao Yuling instructed with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

What does it matter if he’s a legitimate son? What does it matter if he’s handsome?

Even if he’s a hidden illegitimate child, he will eventually stand above everyone.

—

With the help of the most favored Qiao Yuling in the Bo residence, the Fang concubine and her daughter found their scheming much easier. They wanted to snatch the marriage and ruin Qiao Yujing’s face.

Unfortunately, Qiao Yujing was on guard, and the plan to disfigure him was simply not feasible.

The mother and daughter could only regretfully give up and decide to snatch the marriage first.

Due to the urgency of the situation, they didn’t have the luxury of time to plan slowly, so they could only resort to the simplest and most brutal method.

That was to stage a rescue from drowning, just like in the last life!

The method was a bit cliché, but in this era that valued reputation and purity, it was indeed very effective.

So, with the joint efforts of the Fang concubine and her daughter, along with Qiao Yuling, and the cooperation of Qiao Yujing and Xie Wenyuan, a drowning incident occurred in front of the capital’s public.

The third young master of the Bo residence, the fourth young lady, along with the passing Chu heir and Xie Wenyuan all fell into the water.

In the end, it concluded with the Chu heir saving the fourth young lady and Xie Wenyuan saving the third young master.

Now, the four of them successfully made it to the trending list in the capital.

If it didn’t end in marriage, it would be impossible to stop people from gossiping!

---

In the Yongchang Bo residence.

“Bang—”

Yongchang Bo, furious, smashed the teacup in his hand.

The Fang concubine and her daughter, kneeling on the ground, trembled, their faces filled with guilt and fear.

The other concubines and the illegitimate daughters and sons shrank their necks and fell silent.

Zou and Qiao Yuling watched the show from the side.

Qiao Yujing, on the other hand, was suppressing his anger, pretending to glare at the Fang concubine and her daughter with hatred.

The reason was simple: although this drowning incident was also part of his scheme, he couldn’t appear too calm; otherwise, wouldn’t that raise suspicion?

Moreover, he couldn’t hide the tricks played by the Fang concubine and her daughter; otherwise, how could he take this opportunity to cleanly sever ties with the Bo residence?

That’s right.

Qiao Yujing not only wanted to leave the Bo residence but also wanted to cut off all ties with it.

He and his biological father wanted to take revenge on the Bo residence. If he didn’t sever ties, in the future, when the Bo residence faced misfortune, Zou and her husband would definitely use their parental status to pressure him and cling to him.

Such hidden dangers had to be resolved.

Qiao Yujing pretended to be angry and looked at Yongchang Bo, saying, “Father! I’ve said it before, don’t involve me in the Bo residence’s disputes. Fang concubine and Fourth Sister actually plotted against me like this; what do you have to say?”

He put on a show as if he wouldn’t let it go without a satisfactory explanation, making Yongchang Bo’s face darken.

Although his youngest son had suffered a loss this time, he was still his father. His son questioning him like this was too disrespectful.

The Fang concubine knew that her mother and daughter had made a mistake that couldn’t be washed away, so she could only play the victim and persuade him.

“Master, it’s all my fault. You can punish me however you want, but Lan’er is innocent. She knows nothing. It’s because I, as a concubine, couldn’t bear to let her suffer that I plotted this.”

“Now that rumors are spreading outside, Lan’er marrying into the county princess’s residence is a done deal. Even if you were to kill us, with Third Young Master’s current reputation, he probably won’t be able to marry into a noble family again.”

“Since it has come to this, why not just continue to go along with it? It’s better than the marriage falling through.”

“Lan’er is also a young lady of the Bo residence; marrying into the county princess’s residence is the same. Master, think about whether what I said makes sense…”

Yongchang Bo was also a man who valued profit. Although he was very angry, he had to admit that the Fang concubine was right.

Now that things were like this, punishing them would be of no use.

After all, both were his children; whoever married the Chu heir wouldn’t affect the benefits the Bo residence would gain.

Qiao Yuling also spoke up to persuade him.

“Father, what the Fang concubine said makes sense. For the future of the Bo residence, we can only do this.”

“Third Brother’s reputation is damaged. Even if the Chu heir likes him, he can’t become the heir’s wife anymore. It’s better to just go along with it and marry that Xie gentleman.”

“Didn’t Father say that Xie gentleman has a bright future? Third Brother marrying him isn’t bad; at most, we’ll give a little more in dowry, and Third Brother won’t suffer too much.”

The other concubines and illegitimate daughters and sons nodded in agreement, wanting to promote this matter!

To avoid the situation where Qiao Yujing wouldn’t marry, and the marriage would fall back on them.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Yujing naturally resisted vehemently, his eyes turning red with anger.

“I won’t marry! You all speak so easily. If Xie gentleman is so good, why does Fourth Sister want to snatch my Chu heir? Father, why are you so biased? I’ve suffered this much, and you still want me to swallow my anger?”

Yongchang Bo felt guilty when questioned. He knew that he and his wife were very biased.

But nothing is perfect; someone always has to be wronged, right? Moreover, now that things had come to this.

Yongchang Bo could only earnestly advise, “Third Brother, this isn’t about me being biased. I know that the Fang concubine has wronged you, but things are like this now. We can’t let the Bo residence continue to suffer losses.”

“You were raised as a precious child of the Bo residence; you should consider the future of the Bo residence. If the Bo residence does well, as a young master of the Bo residence, you can also do better, right?”

“Don’t worry; I know you’ve been wronged. I’ll make sure to add thirty percent to your dowry, and I won’t let you suffer with that Xie gentleman…”

Zou also impatiently nodded, saying, “Enough, Third Brother. With your status, having such a marriage is already quite good.”

She felt that her youngest son wasn’t even a bloodline of the Bo residence, so having this treatment was already quite acceptable!

If it weren’t for the other party’s good looks, she would have married him off to Jiangnan to avoid exposing her disgraceful deeds in the capital, which would make her husband hate her even more.

Everyone looked at Zou’s words with mixed feelings.

It was normal for them to target the Third Brother, but as his biological mother, how could she say such cold-blooded words? The lady was truly heartless.

Qiao Yujing shot a cold glance at Zou, ignoring her, and directly looked at Yongchang Bo, saying, “I’ve said it before; my marriage is not for you to decide. My reputation is damaged now, and I can’t become the legitimate wife of a noble family, but I can still continue to cling to a powerful family.”

“If you force me like this, are you not afraid that I’ll directly enter the palace to become a concubine?”

“After all, His Majesty is in good health and seems to have no problem living for another ten or twenty years. To make the Bo residence suffer, even though His Majesty is a bit older, I can still accept it.”

Everyone’s expressions changed slightly.

With the Third Young Master’s true looks, if he wanted to seduce someone, he could just take a stroll down the street; there was no need for any complicated plans. Stirring up trouble would be too easy.

Yongchang Bo slammed the table in anger, “You dare!”

“Why wouldn’t I dare? After all, you all don’t want me to have a good life; what do I have to lose?”

Qiao Yujing said with hatred.

Everyone was momentarily speechless; this was truly a case of someone with nothing to lose not fearing anything.

Yongchang Bo had no choice but to angrily ask, “Then what do you want?”

“If you want me to keep the peace and go along with it, you can adopt me out. I don’t want to be your son anymore.”

Qiao Yujing closed his eyes, looking disheartened.