With her head lowered, Chen Ruowei finally raised her gaze and looked at the Chen family pitifully.

She was the same age as Jiang Yuancheng, already somewhat attractive.

If she grew up, she would certainly be extraordinary.

Jiang Yuanxi suddenly recalled how the book had described her.

“With a glance, she sheds brilliance, a long whistle with a breath like orchids.”

Jiang Yuanxi felt envious. Although Jiang Qisheng wasn’t particularly sharp, his taste in beauty was definitely spot on.

His wife, his concubines, every room was more beautiful than the last.

Plus, Jiang Qisheng wasn’t bad-looking himself, so none of his children were ugly.

As for her, although Chen Shi was the most beautiful woman, her father’s looks were hard to describe.

If she took after him, wouldn’t she have trouble getting married in the future?

Jiang Yuanxi was troubled by this thought.

Madam Hua had reminded her daughter that as long as they latched onto Chen Shi, the Chen family’s wealth would be theirs.

So, she gritted her teeth and went for it.

“Then, then please, Madam, help protect Ruowei. If you agree, from now on, my life will belong to the First Madam.”

She knelt heavily and bowed.

Chen Shi furrowed her brows, a hint of reluctance in her heart.

Wu Cui Rou had taken charge, and the first thing to handle was Jiang Qisheng’s many disordered concubines.

She heard some had no children and had already been sold off by her.

Madam Hua’s request was understandable.

Her grudge with the second house had nothing to do with these illegitimate children.

Plus, Madam Hua’s child seemed very well-behaved. If she could save her from a crisis, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

[What is my mother thinking? Could it be she really wants to take the female lead as her goddaughter?]

Jiang Yuanxi was fearful.

Chen Shi suddenly looked down at the daughter in her arms.

Could there be something wrong with this Chen Ruowei?

[The female lead, Jiang Ruowei, is someone who has been reborn, oh my mother.]

Reborn?

Reborn!

Chen Shi’s mind went blank.

The story from the picture book had become real.

Jiang Yuanxi continued speaking.

[When my mother lost me, her health deteriorated.]

[At that time, Madam Hua brought her daughter, Chen Ruowei, to her. Seeing Chen Ruowei, my mother thought of me and decided to adopt Jiang Ruowei as her goddaughter.]

When Jiang Yuanxi spoke of this part, she was filled with anger.

She snorted.

[After my mother passed away, she took all of my mother’s inheritance.]

[When my brothers were in trouble, Chen Ruowei didn’t contribute a single cent. She even secretly had my brothers killed, and in the end, their fates were tragic.]

At first, Chen Shi had a bit of sympathy for Jiang Ruowei.

But now, after hearing her daughter’s words and looking at Jiang Ruowei, she felt nothing but disdain.

Plus, the way Jiang Ruowei looked at her felt strange, as if there was some hidden scheme.

“Madam Hua, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help you, but my health is uncertain, and I simply don’t have the strength to do so.”

Jiang Ruowei’s eyes changed slightly as she knelt.

In her past life, it hadn’t been like this.

In her previous life, when the concubine begged for her, the very next day, she was recorded under the first madame’s name.

But now, Chen Shi was refusing the concubine.

She fixed her gaze on the child in Chen Shi’s arms.

Could it be because of her?

After all, in her previous life, Jiang Yuanxi had passed away soon after birth, but now she was alive and well.

Realizing the female lead’s gaze on her, Jiang Yuanxi panicked.

This person wouldn’t be setting her sights on her, would she?

But she was still a baby!

Noticing the change in their expressions, Chen Shi’s heart grew cold.

If it weren’t for Yuanxi’s reminder, she would have repeated the same mistake today.

This mother and daughter duo had hidden schemes in their eyes, they were certainly not good people.

From now on, anyone from the second house, no matter who it was, should stay far away.

Thinking of this, Chen Shi whispered a few instructions to Chun Zhi.

After Jiang Ruowei returned, she locked herself in the courtyard.

Since waking up a few days ago, she had realized she had been reborn at the age of nine.

In her past life, she had married into the royal family with a fortune of millions, marrying the now-exiled Tenth Prince.

She had ascended to the position of Empress, working diligently.

Who would have thought that her half-sister Jiang Yan had seduced the Emperor, causing her to meet a tragic end?

Thinking of the unborn child, Jiang Ruowei’s heart ached.

It was all Jiang Yan’s fault for causing her to lose the only child she had with the Emperor.

Thinking of Jiang Yan, Chen Ruowei was filled with hatred.

Fortunately, fate hadn’t been too harsh on her. With this second chance at life, she would seize it.

On the other hand, Chen Shi was listening to her daughter’s gossip about the female lead.

Chen Shi was surprised there were really such foolish women in the world.

Jiang Ruowei had married into the royal family with her dowry.

She never realized she was just a pawn in the royal family’s game.

What shocked her more was that the Emperor had a secret son!

Did the Emperor know about this?

In the palace, the Emperor, reviewing documents, suddenly sneezed.

Concubine Cao rushed over concerned: “Your Majesty, you’ve caught a cold, let me call for the Imperial Physician.”

The Emperor waved his hand.

Lately, he had felt uneasy, thinking about what that girl had said.

He wondered how the situation was with the Crown Prince now.

The hall doors were pushed open, and a little eunuch hurried in.

“Your Majesty, this is a secret letter from Jiangnan.”

The Emperor hurriedly opened it. After reading, his expression turned serious.

The girl had indeed guessed right.

Jiangnan had suffered a three-month drought, but now heavy rains had flooded many villages.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince had hurriedly built several dams, preventing a worse disaster.

They also captured a corrupt county magistrate.

In the morning court, because of the water disaster in Jiangnan, the Emperor was furious.

The officials below all hunched their necks, too afraid to speak.

The famous critic, Zheng Guang, kept his head down.

Only Jiang Fengyuan stood tall.

The Jiangnan disaster, his daughter had been right about it.

His daughter was truly remarkable.

The Emperor, upset and looking for someone to vent his anger on, saw Jiang Fengyuan’s chin raised proudly.

The Emperor felt uncomfortable.

Here he was, concerned about national affairs, about the common people.

Why was Jiang Fengyuan standing there so arrogantly?

Showing off that he had an exceptionally capable daughter?

The Emperor’s anger was evident, and Jiang Fengyuan was soon given thirty strikes with the imperial guards carrying him back home.

Fortunately, the Emperor still had some consideration for the general and didn’t let the guards strike too hard.

Even so, the wounds on his backside would take some time to heal.

When Chen Shi saw Jiang Fengyuan being carried back, she cried in pain.

It was always endearing when a beauty shed tears.

Jiang Fengyuan wanted to comfort her, but as soon as he moved, the pain in his backside made him break into cold sweat.

He didn’t know what had gotten into the Emperor to strike him out of the blue.

It made his wife worry.

After the eldest son of the main house was punished, the father was also struck by the Emperor.

The second house was delighted and couldn’t sleep.

Favor from the Emperor came fast and went fast. The second house hoped the first house would fall out of favor.

That night, the light in the Duke’s study remained on all night.

The next day, Chen Shi personally went to the kitchen and made some pork rib soup.

She personally brought it over and fed it to Jiang Fengyuan.

Jiang Yuanxi watched happily.

“General, do you still want to eat?” Chen Shi gently wiped his mouth.

“No, my dear. You’ve worked hard these past days,” Jiang Fengyuan said, his heart full of pain.

“From now on, let the maids handle these things,” he added.

Jiang Fengyuan held Chen Shi’s hand and didn’t want to let go.

[Wow, Mom and Dad are so loving.]

Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes widened.

[Quick, kiss!]

Jiang Fengyuan’s face changed slightly, and Chen Shi immediately withdrew her hand, her face turning red.

How did this little one know everything?

Seeing this, Chun Zhi took Jiang Yuanxi out of the room.

[What is Chun Zhi doing? I want to hear, I want to see, don’t take me away!]

Unfortunately, Chun Zhi couldn’t hear Jiang Yuanxi’s words.

When the door closed, Chen Shi finally let out a sigh of relief.

Chen Shi smiled. “You little troublemaker.”

The couple finally spoke their heart-to-heart.

Chen Shi told Jiang Fengyuan everything she had heard from their daughter.

Jiang Fengyuan was so angry his beard trembled.

“A family of heartless creatures!”

Jiang Fengyuan paused, then took Chen Shi’s hand.

He sincerely said, “Dear, in the Chen family, you can do whatever you want, don’t worry about me.”

He was busy with matters in court and wasn’t good at dealing with the inner household, but he supported whatever his wife decided to do.

Chen Shi, touched, finally said what was on her mind.

She wasn’t sure and asked, “General, would you be willing to leave the Jiang family?”

“My dear!”

Just as Chen Shi thought Jiang Fengyuan would refuse, he suddenly pulled her into an embrace.

“My dear, you’ve suffered all these years.”

“I’ll pack our bags, and we’ll leave, far away from here.”

Jiang Fengyuan forgot about the injury on his body.

He moved suddenly, and the pain made him break into cold sweat.