Because of what happened yesterday, Jiang Yuanxi’s only portion of minced meat was deducted.

The little one was upset for a long time.

She grabbed the black snake’s tail and stirred it in her hands.

Taking advantage of Madam Chen’s inattention, she sneaked out of Yilan Courtyard.

Liu Ruqing was now the concubine of the second household. With Jiang Qisheng’s favor, she had been glowing with confidence in recent days.

The young maid beside her spoke flatteringly as they walked.

“Madam, don’t worry. As long as you hold onto the master, you can have whatever you want.”

Liu Ruqing lowered her head and smiled faintly.

The second household was incompetent, and the master had many concubines in the backyard.

No matter how well he treated her, it wouldn’t change much.

Without the main household, she wouldn’t have access to Jiang Yuanwu’s intelligence.

What she needed to consider now was how to obtain more information about the Imperial Army.

As she turned a corner, she saw a small child squatting with her bottom up, fiddling with something.

Among the children in the Jiang family, only the eldest household had one of this age.

Realizing something, Liu Ruqing said to the maid behind her, “It’s a bit chilly today. Go back and fetch me a cloak.”

The maid left.

Liu Ruqing quietly approached Jiang Yuanxi.

“Yuanxi, what are you doing here?” she crouched down and asked with a smile.

Jiang Yuanxi turned her head.

Pointing at Liu Ruqing, she declared, “Bad!”

Then she reached out and pushed Liu Ruqing over.

Impossible!

The string of beads she wore had a mesmerizing effect.

Anyone who saw her while she wore them would obey her commands.

But now, Jiang Yuanxi was avoiding her like the plague.

There was only one possibility—she wasn’t wearing them.

Liu Ruqing’s eyes darkened with coldness.

Last time, because of Jiang Yuanxi’s words, Brother Yuanwu no longer held any affection for her.

A thought took root in her mind.

As long as Jiang Yuanxi died, Brother Yuanwu would surely feel sympathy for her.

Thinking of this, she reached out her hand, slowly moving toward Jiang Yuanxi, who was squatting by the riverbank.

Jiang Yuanxi was busy digging in the sand when she suddenly sensed the murderous intent behind her.

She turned around and saw Liu Ruqing’s twisted expression.

“Help!” she screamed.

[So scary!] Closing her eyes, she instinctively struck out.

With a slap, she sent Liu Ruqing’s face sideways.

Then, she kicked the ugly thing in front of her far away.

After hitting and kicking, she realized she might have been too forceful.

[What do I do? What do I do? Will she capture me and make me her monster husband?]

Hearing approaching footsteps, Jiang Yuanxi had a flash of inspiration.

She closed her eyes and flopped onto the ground.

Jiang Yan was passing by when she heard a child’s cry for help and hurried over.

As soon as she arrived, she saw her younger sister unconscious on the ground.

Jiang Yan quickly picked her up and checked her over.

Thankfully, she still had a heartbeat.

Then she looked at Liu Ruqing, whose eyes were filled with fear.

Jiang Yan instantly understood.

She spoke coldly, “Aunt, Yuanxi is still a child, yet you would harm her? I will definitely report this to my aunt.”

Liu Ruqing seemed terrified, mumbling two words repeatedly.

The maid returned with the cloak, only to find Liu Ruqing collapsed on the ground.

“Miss, what happened?”

Liu Ruqing stared blankly in the direction where Jiang Yuanxi had left.

“Monster… monster!”

Unfortunately, the maid had no idea what she was talking about.

Jiang Yan carried Jiang Yuanxi all the way to the main household.

When Chun Zhi saw the unconscious young miss, she gasped in shock.

“Miss, what happened? Someone, go call the doctor!”

Madam Chen’s heart nearly stopped when she saw Jiang Yuanxi unconscious.

She stumbled forward and held her daughter tightly in her arms.

Doctor Sun examined her carefully and found nothing serious.

“Madam, the young miss was just frightened. There’s no real problem.” He even suspected that she might be faking unconsciousness.

[Oh no, I overdid it. Mother is really scared now.] Feeling her mother’s trembling arms, Jiang Yuanxi felt guilty.

Madam Chen lowered her head, looking at her child in disbelief.

After a long sigh, she said, “You may leave.”

The doctor quietly exited.

Jiang Yan stood in the room, worried about her sister’s safety but also afraid of being disliked by her aunt.

Madam Chen didn’t forget that there was another person in the room.

She signaled Chun Zhi with her eyes.

Chun Zhi took out a banknote worth two hundred taels and said, “Miss Yan, thank you for your help. This is a small token of gratitude from Madam.”

Jiang Yan hurriedly waved her hands, flustered. “Aunt has helped me before, and Yuanxi is my sister. There’s no need for this.”

“Take it,” Madam Chen said.

“A woman can only have confidence when she has money in her hands.”

Jiang Yan was stunned.

She and her mother struggled under Wu Cuirou’s oppression, living a frugal life.

Her clothes had been washed so many times that they had lost their original color.

Two hundred taels was an astronomical sum for her.

It was incredibly important.

Jiang Yan bowed deeply. “Thank you for your guidance, Aunt.”

Madam Chen whispered something to the maid beside her.

Chun Zhi quickly chased after Jiang Yan.

“Miss Yan.”

Jiang Yan turned back.

Chun Zhi smiled. “Miss, living in the second household is difficult, but you must be careful of those around you. For example, Jiang Ruowei—last time, she lured you into danger and got you bitten by a snake.”

Chun Zhi smiled and left, leaving Jiang Yan standing there in a daze.

“Did you tell her?” Madam Chen asked.

Chun Zhi replied, “Yes. Judging by her reaction, she was likely tricked last time.”

Madam Chen nodded. If Jiang Yan was smart, she would understand what to do next.

Jiang Yuanxi struggled internally.

[Should I open my eyes?]

[But if I do, will I scare Mother, just like Liu Ruqing scared me?]

Madam Chen froze.

Liu Ruqing?

Just then, Chun Zhi spoke up. “Madam, Miss Yan mentioned that when she arrived, only Liu Ruqing and the unconscious young miss were there.”

“But it looked like Liu Ruqing had been beaten up.”

Chun Zhi analyzed, “So she must have tried to harm the young miss.”

Chun Zhi fumed, “She dared to attack a baby? Shameless!” They had been careless, letting the young miss slip out unnoticed.

The young miss was Madam’s lifeline. If anything had happened to her, Chun Zhi couldn’t imagine how Madam would survive.

“But I heard Liu Ruqing was beaten up pretty badly. I wonder who was kind enough to do it?” Chun Zhi murmured.

Thinking of what Yuanxi had just said, Madam Chen suddenly understood.

It must have been that Liu Ruqing tried to harm Yuanxi and was then stopped by someone.

But who could have saved her?

After a moment of internal debate, Jiang Yuanxi slowly opened her eyes.

“Mother.”

Her soft, sweet voice instantly melted Madam Chen’s worries.

She tapped her daughter’s little nose and playfully scolded, “From now on, don’t make Mother worry.”

Jiang Yuanxi nodded repeatedly.

[I only pretended to faint so Sister Yan wouldn’t see me beating someone up.]

Beating someone up?

So, Liu Ruqing was beaten by her?!

Madam Chen’s heart skipped a beat.

Seeing her daughter’s slightly red hands, she was sure.

Seeing her mother looking at her, Jiang Yuanxi grinned, revealing what she thought was her best smile.