Zheng Guang stormed next door and kicked open the door.

He wanted to see who had the audacity.

As the door flew open, the officials inside saw him and immediately collapsed to their knees in terror.

Some even had an unknown yellow liquid spreading beneath them.

They were doomed.

Everyone in the imperial court knew of “Zheng the Spitter.”

Zheng Guang was a staunch royalist.

If anyone spoke ill of the emperor, it was as if they had desecrated his ancestors’ graves.

Cursing someone’s ancestors to their face—wasn’t that just asking for death?

“Who are you?! Why did you all go silent?!”

Jiang Qisheng continued his reckless ranting.

“Just saying a few bad words about the emperor, and you all cower like dogs? I, on the other hand, am not afraid!”

“When I become the heir, you all will be rewarded, and Chen Xinwan will be mine too!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he was sent flying like a broken kite, slamming into the wall of the private room.

The others trembled in fear.

“Lord Zheng, Lord Jiang, have mercy!”

The officials who had been basking in arrogance moments ago were now shaking like leaves.

Pain jolted through his body as Jiang Qisheng regained his senses, recalling what he had just said.

Seeing Zheng Guang before him, his knees buckled.

His drunken eyes were now filled with terror.

Zheng Guang flicked his sleeve and roared, “Every word you just said, I will report to His Majesty tomorrow, without missing a single syllable! Let the emperor decide your fate!”

As he reached the door, he turned to Jiang Fengyuan.

Pointing at the people inside, he sneered, “So this is why you invited me to dinner.”

Jiang Fengyuan: “I just found out too.” Of course, that was a lie.

“Hmph.” Zheng Guang snorted coldly. “Servants! Pack me another meal just like the one next door!”

He pointed at Jiang Fengyuan. “He’s paying!”

Damn old fox!

Eating for free and still wanting to take more!

They say beggars can’t be choosers, but this one sure was.

The next day, during the morning court session, Zheng Guang mercilessly tore into Duke An.

Accusing him of being incompetent, corrupt, and disrespecting the emperor.

The emperor was furious and ordered Jiang Qisheng’s arrest, stripping him of his right to inherit the title of Duke An.

Duke An was so enraged he coughed up blood and had to be carried home by his guards.

At that time, Jiang Yuanxi insisted on visiting Duke An’s residence.

Madam Chen specifically sent Jiang Yuancheng with him—two children couldn’t stir up too much trouble, after all.

Jiang Yuancheng knocked loudly on the gate.

Jiang Yuanxi, with little effort, punched a hole through the entrance of Duke An’s residence.

“How dare you! This is Duke An’s estate! You—” The gatekeeper paused. “Fourth Young Master! Young Miss!”

Since they were family, the gatekeeper couldn’t scold them.

Jiang Yuancheng and Jiang Yuanxi strutted inside.

The moment they entered, they began critiquing the estate.

“Ugh, Sister, the decor here is terrible!”

Jiang Yuanxi nodded.

[What a shabby place. Compared to our Jiang estate, this is pathetic.] She looked utterly disgusted.

And Duke An still had the audacity to act arrogant in front of them?

Halfway inside, they ran into Jiang Hui.

“You dare come back?!” Jiang Hui was furious.

His mother had spent a fortune to get him out of prison.

But now his father was imprisoned, his grandfather had coughed up blood, and it was all because of those in the first branch of the family!

To him, they were to blame.

Jiang Yuancheng and Jiang Yuanxi exchanged glances.

“We came to visit Grandfather,” Jiang Yuancheng said, trying to sound sorrowful.

Jiang Yuanxi chimed in, “Yeah, yeah, that’s right!”

Jiang Hui’s eyes burned with hatred.

He gritted his teeth. “Grandfather doesn’t need you!”

If it weren’t for them leading Zheng Guang to the Jinhua Pavilion, how would his father have been discovered by the emperor?

His mother was nearly cast aside, his father was arrested, and now his grandparents were sick and too poor to afford good medicine.

“We brought medicine,” Jiang Yuancheng patted the bundle on his back.

Jiang Yuanxi added, “Yeah, yeah, really good medicine.”

The Chen family was wealthy, so their medicine was top-tier.

No matter how much Jiang Hui resented them, he couldn’t refuse.

And so, the two of them arrived at the familiar Cangwu Courtyard.

“Grandfather!”

Before they even entered, their voices rang out.

Inside, Wu Cuirou and the old madam sat up in alarm.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, Second Aunt, we came to see you!” Jiang Yuancheng ran in with a bright smile, Jiang Yuanxi following closely.

“Why are you back?!” Wu Cuirou screeched.

Did that mean the rest of the first branch had returned too?

Her husband wasn’t here—was the first branch trying to seize control of the household?

Thinking of this, Wu Cuirou’s eyes turned wary.

Duke An lay weakly on the bed, while the old madam helped him sit up.

“Where is your father?” Duke An asked.

The old madam’s gaze turned sharp.

Her son was in trouble, yet her husband still thought about that woman’s child?

Jiang Yuancheng said, “Father is busy with court affairs, so he sent Yuanxi and me to visit.”

Actually, what their father had really said was: If he’s alive, come back and tell me. If he’s dead, then don’t bother.

Jiang Yuanxi climbed onto the table, grabbed a pastry, and took a bite.

“Bleh! Tastes awful.”

Duke An’s face darkened. “Where are your manners? Is this how your father raised you?”

Jiang Yuanxi pointed at the pastries.

“They’re poisoned. They stink!”

Ignoring everyone’s stunned expressions, she walked over to Duke An.

“Hehehe, you’ve been poisoned. That’s hilarious!”

The old madam’s eyelid twitched wildly.

How did she know?!

“Dear, it must be the servants. I’ll have someone investigate immediately,” she said anxiously.

Duke An waved his hand. “Wanzeng, check personally! And call a physician!”

“Yes, my lord.”

The old madam’s hands trembled inside her sleeves.

This must not be discovered.

She exchanged a glance with Wu Cuirou.

“I’ll go check as well,” Wu Cuirou said, slowly retreating.

Duke An forced a smile. “Yuanxi, did your father say when he’ll return?”

Jiang Yuanxi shook her head.

“Father said if you die, then he’ll be informed.”

Jiang Yuancheng’s eyes widened.

He knew his sister couldn’t keep secrets!

Duke An coughed violently, nearly hacking up his lungs.

“Get out!” he roared, pointing at the door.

Jiang Yuanxi blinked. “I have a secret to tell you.”

“Out!” Duke An wanted them as far away as possible.

“You really don’t want to hear it?” she teased.

It’s a huge scandal! You’ll regret not knowing!

Duke An: “Tell your father he’ll never step foot in this estate again!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuancheng frowned.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, not to be rude, but your front gate collapses at a knock, your estate lacks any proper decor—Duke An’s residence is so pitiful that even stray dogs wouldn’t bother marking it.”

Where did they get the confidence to think his parents wanted to return?

Duke An turned pale, clutching his chest and gasping for air.

The old madam screeched, “Get out! You are not welcome here!”

Jiang Yuancheng snorted.

He didn’t want to stay anyway.

At the doorway, Jiang Yuanxi peeked back.

“Grandfather, are you sure? It’s a really juicy secret!”

Duke An glared at her furiously.

[Fine, don’t listen. He’d regret it later!]