As soon as the little one came back, she climbed out of bed and searched for water.

Madam Chen and the two maids were busy checking the account books, so no one noticed Jiang Yuanxi for a while.

She crawled to the ground and dragged over a small stool.

Holding onto the fish tank, she pulled herself up.

Inside the fish tank, two small golden koi swam back and forth.

Despite the cold winter, Madam Chen had placed a brazier in the room.

Jiang Yuanxi reached out, realizing she was still a little short, so she tiptoed and leaned forward.

With a loud “plop,” she fell in.

Madam Chen, who was behind the screen, became alert.

【Mother, come save me! I’m drowning!】

【Ahhh, am I really going to die in a fish tank?】

She had escaped from a stray dog, only to fall into a fish tank.

Hearing the sound, Madam Chen rushed over.

【I can’t drink anymore, I really can’t! Waaa!】

Jiang Yuanxi had fallen headfirst into the tank.

“Yuanxi!” Madam Chen screamed, pulling her daughter out in panic.

Jiang Yuanxi had swallowed quite a bit of water.

As she was pulled out, she looked dazed.

Chunzhi fetched a towel, while Chun Tao brought a change of clothes.

Jiang Yuanxi hiccuped—then spat out a small golden fish.

Jiang Yuancheng walked in just in time to see this scene.

His eyes widened in shock.

“Mother, did you see that? Sister has the magical ability to spit out fish!”

Excitedly, he turned to Jiang Fengyuan, who had just entered. “Father! Sister spit out a fish!”

Jiang Yuanxi: ……

Her throat still felt uncomfortable.

She retched—and out came another fish.

Jiang Yuancheng pointed at her and said confidently, “See? Just like that!”

Madam Chen hurried to change Jiang Yuanxi’s clothes.

Jiang Fengyuan: ……

Was this foolish child really his?

Such embarrassment to the ancestors.

Madam Chen and Chunzhi gave Jiang Yuanxi a warm bath to drive away the chill.

After changing into clean clothes, they invited Doctor Sun to check on her. Only after ensuring she was fine did everyone feel relieved.

Having been soaked in water and frightened, Jiang Yuanxi soon fell asleep in Madam Chen’s comforting embrace.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuancheng picked up the little fish from the floor and stuffed it into his pocket.

Tomorrow, he would show it to everyone—his sister could really spit out fish!

This was proof.

That night, the whole family, except for Jiang Yuanxi, gathered in the study for a meeting.

Jiang Yuanwu took out a pink handkerchief from his sleeve.

Jiang Fengyuan’s mouth twitched in disdain.

A grown man using a pink handkerchief?

Was his son still thinking about that traitor?

Jiang Yuanwu unfolded the handkerchief, revealing a jade-green beaded bracelet inside.

“Father, Mother, this was given to Yuanxi by Liu Ruqing. I had someone examine it today—it contains poison.”

The poison would make the victim extremely dependent on the one who poisoned them.

Jiang Fengyuan slammed the table in fury, nearly knocking over the prayer beads.

“She dares to harm Yuanxi?! I’ll kill her!”

Jiang Yuanwu stopped him.

Jiang Fengyuan glared at his son.

“Are you still hung up on that traitor?” If so, he wouldn’t hesitate to deal with him himself.

Jiang Yuanwu shook his head frantically.

Liu Ruqing had touched him earlier today, and he had scrubbed his hands for half the day—he nearly rubbed off a layer of skin.

He might have liked her once, but she was now another man’s woman.

He had no interest in another man’s woman.

“Father, please spare me. Let’s stay calm. Yuanxi said there’s someone behind Liu Ruqing, and we shouldn’t alert them.”

Madam Chen agreed. “General, let’s sit down and discuss this.”

The family began analyzing the situation.

Liu Ruqing wanted to use Jiang Yuanxi to win the favor of their family’s main branch.

That way, she could pass along more intelligence.

But now, her plan was ruined.

“Father, Mother, what should we do next?” Jiang Yuanwu asked.

If Liu Ruqing was capable of poisoning people, who knew what else she was planning?

If she stayed in the manor, Jiang Yuanwu feared he wouldn’t even be able to leave his own home.

Madam Chen said, “Wait.”

Jiang Fengyuan added, “We’ll take her down once she exposes herself.”

If they reported this to the emperor now, the news might leak, and they would risk alarming the enemy.

He wanted to see who was behind this traitorous act.

Jiang Yuanwu hesitated. “Father, can we send her to an estate instead?”

Jiang Fengyuan gave him a strange look.

“What, are we in your way? Do you want to sneak off and rekindle old feelings? Maybe even commit treason while you’re at it?”

Jiang Yuanwu begged, “Father, am I that kind of person?”

Madam Chen and Jiang Fengyuan stared at him with looks of utter disdain.

“Fine, I was wrong.”

Who told him to be so foolish in his past life?

That night, under the cover of darkness, someone appeared outside Liu Ruqing’s door.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuanxi had a dream.

The next morning, she sat on her bed, reviewing her dream.

【I dreamed about eating a lot of fish last night.】

Hearing this, Madam Chen sighed softly.

Children forget things so easily.

How could she have already forgotten that she fell into the fish tank yesterday?

Jiang Yuanxi smacked her lips.

【Why does my mouth still taste fishy?】

Could it be that whatever she dreamed of eating would leave a taste in her mouth?

【Tonight, I’ll dream about a big, juicy pork leg!】

Since Jiang Yuanxi was allowed to eat meat, Madam Chen would mix minced meat into her meals.

She always saved the meat for last.

Then she would hold it in her mouth until there was no flavor left before swallowing.

That day, Jiang Yuancheng returned home looking dejected.

He took out the dried-up fish from his pocket and placed it in front of Jiang Yuanxi.

Softly, he said, “Dear sister, can you perform your fish-spitting trick again?”

Spit what?

Spit fish!

Jiang Yuanxi rolled her eyes at him and continued savoring the last bit of meat in her mouth.

This morning’s chicken was a bit dry—she couldn’t swallow it, but she also didn’t want to spit it out.

She’d suck on it a bit longer until all the flavor was gone.

Jiang Yuancheng glanced around.

When Madam Chen wasn’t looking, he threw a blanket over Jiang Yuanxi’s head.

Everything went dark.

A bad feeling rose in her heart.

Jiang Yuancheng grabbed his sister and dashed out of Yilan Courtyard.

He didn’t stop until he reached a restaurant.

Since Madam Chen had forbidden him from going to the military camp, he spent his days hanging out with his so-called friends.

The name “Useless Jiang Four” was about to make a comeback.

Jiang Yuanxi was dizzy from being shaken.

And the blanket wasn’t breathable.

【I’m dying—I can’t breathe!】

Hearing this, Jiang Yuancheng quickly pulled the blanket away.

Seeing his little sister’s flushed face and gasping breath, he felt a brief moment of guilt.

But soon, that guilt was replaced by excitement.

Jiang Yuanxi was anxious.

She wanted to go out and play—but not with this fool.

She still remembered the last time she was surrounded by stray dogs.

【Fourth Brother, you’re not taking me to meet your shady friends, are you?】

Jiang Yuancheng: What? Of course not!

He had always believed his friends treated him well.

But his sister’s next words shattered his years of pride.

【Your friends are working with the restaurant staff to scam you out of money, you idiot.】

Jiang Yuancheng’s steps faltered.

How… how could that be?

A one-silver tael drink was being sold to him for one hundred taels. Not to mention all the overpriced dishes…

【If you hurry back now, you might even catch them in the act.】