Concubine Hua was furious.

“My daughter made the money, and she came up with the idea! Why should she let someone else take all the credit?” Concubine Hua paced back and forth in the room.

Jiang Ruowei’s expression was cold.

After so many years, this was the first time someone dared to steal what was rightfully hers.

Concubine Hua was intimidated by the sharp aura radiating from her daughter.

“Ruowei, are you alright?” Aunt Hua asked worriedly.

“We should go find your grandfather and have him uphold justice for us.”

Jiang Ruowei looked up.

“Mother, it’s useless. Have you still not seen them for what they truly are?”

These were the same people who let the wealthy first household slip away and even plotted to kill their own son.

How could they possibly be good people?

“Then what should we do now?”

“We endure!” Jiang Ruowei gritted her teeth and forced out the words.

She gazed out the window.

If her predictions were correct, the Yelang people would soon arrive in Shengjing.

The day she turned the tables was near.

..

A man dressed in black arrived once more.

“Our people went over, but that kid Li Ping has already been taken away.”

Duke An turned his back. “Li Ping must not live!”

He had thought Li Ping was already dead.

Who could have imagined that he had faked his death and escaped?

The black-clad man hesitated for a moment. “His Highness has ordered you to eliminate Li Ping. Also, your eldest son has been overreaching lately. His Highness has sent multiple assassins, yet none have succeeded.”

“Furthermore, we lost track of the Chen family three days ago.”

Duke An’s expression darkened. “The Chen family cannot be allowed to live. They must not return to the capital!”

If the Chen family returned, it would mean the downfall of Duke An’s household.

“Rest assured, His Highness has already made arrangements. But on your end, you must not disappoint him.”

Duke An understood exactly what that meant.

..

“Madam, Master, Duke An is here.”

Jiang Yuanchen paused.

“What did you say?!”

Chun Zhi repeated, “Young Master, it’s Duke An.”

[Why is Duke An here? Could he be trying to convince my father to return home?] Jiang Yuanxi quickly dismissed the idea.

[A man who values his pride above all else wouldn’t do that.]

[Then he must have found out that we’re investigating the Chen family. He’s come to issue a warning. That must be it.]

Jiang Fengyuan remained unfazed. “Let him wait until I finish my breakfast.”

Half an hour later, Jiang Fengyuan carried Jiang Yuanxi into the main hall.

Three empty tea cups sat on the table, and Duke An was pacing impatiently.

[Oh my, the black aura around the old man’s head has thickened again. He must have killed a lot of people recently.]

Thinking about the recent assassination attempts on Yuanwu, Jiang Fengyuan’s expression grew even colder.

“What brings Duke An here today?” Jiang Fengyuan asked indifferently.

Duke An?

He wasn’t even calling him “father” anymore.

“Now that you’re favored by the Emperor, do you look down on the Duke An household?” Duke An sneered.

“Not at all,” Jiang Fengyuan sat down. “Compared to you, I’m still far behind. After all, it was you who taught me the meaning of ‘righteously sacrificing one’s kin.'”

“So it really is you investigating the Chen family?”

“Yes.” Jiang Fengyuan admitted without hesitation.

Duke An flicked his sleeve. “This matter involves many parties. Stay out of it. If anything happens, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

[A blatant warning—he’s afraid my father will uncover the truth and ruin his official career.]

Jiang Fengyuan understood all too well.

“Rest assured, Duke An. As a government official, I know my duty well.” He looked at Duke An seriously. “Eradicating traitors and restoring justice—isn’t that what we should do?”

“Duke An, don’t you agree?” His gaze was piercingly cold.

Nanny Wang, the Old Madam’s trusted servant, had told him that Duke An had silently condoned the Old Madam poisoning his mother.

Even if the Old Madam hadn’t done it, Duke An would have found another way to get rid of her.

From that moment on, in Jiang Fengyuan’s eyes, Duke An was nothing but his mother’s murderer.

Duke An clenched his teacup tightly.

For a brief moment, he saw the intent to kill in his son’s eyes.

Jiang Fengyuan no longer bothered with pretense.

He stepped forward, bowed slightly, and asked, “When the Old Madam poisoned my mother, you were there, weren’t you?”

Duke An remained still, but half of his body went numb.

How did he know?

He forced himself to remain composed. “What happened back then was my failure to discipline her properly. But Qi Sheng is still your younger brother. Are you really going to have the censors arrest your own sibling? Do you have no brotherly love?”

[The old man is infuriating. His son did wrong, yet he blames my father instead? Without my father, the entire Duke An household would have been executed long ago! Ridiculous! I should let Hei Zi bite him later.]

Jiang Fengyuan inwardly gave his daughter a thumbs-up.

Well said. She truly was his daughter.

A tiger’s daughter would not be weak.

“Duke An exaggerates. In our Jiang family records, there is no ‘Jiang Qisheng.’ How could I have a brother?”

“Fine, fine, fine,” Duke An’s face turned red with anger. “Jiang Fengyuan, don’t regret this! When Duke An’s household rises to power, even if you kneel before me, I won’t help you!”

Jiang Yuanxi couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

[Pfft, you’ll be rotting in prison by then. Some people really lack self-awareness.]

She pointed at Duke An and said to Jiang Fengyuan, “Get rid of him, old man! He stinks!”

Jiang Fengyuan chuckled and ruffled his daughter’s hair. “Alright, get rid of him.”

Duke An stormed out.

Jiang Yuanxi immediately ran to a corner and pulled a black snake off her wrist.

The snake had been sleeping soundly but was suddenly yanked by the tail and thrown to the ground.

“Hei Zi, go bite him. But don’t kill him—just make sure he suffers a little.”

Hei Zi slithered around Jiang Yuanxi, as if expressing its discontent.

Then it quickly disappeared.

On his way out, Duke An was still fuming.

Jiang Fengyuan had completely disregarded him.

Worse still, he had seen the killing intent in his son’s eyes.

A son daring to attack his father—Duke An would never let that happen. If necessary, he would eliminate him first.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot up his ankle.

He grimaced but forced himself to keep walking.

He couldn’t remove his shoes and socks here. Losing face at Jiang Manor was not an option.

Jiang Yuanxi hid behind a tree and tapped Hei Zi’s little head.

“See? Stubborn people always suffer more.”

If he checked his foot now, he might still have a chance.

But once he returned to Duke An’s residence, it would be too late.

“Hei Zi, are you sure he won’t find out?”

Hei Zi nodded vigorously.

He would die—or rather, be paralyzed—very naturally.

And even the imperial doctors wouldn’t find the cause.

Jiang Yuanxi smugly walked back with her hands in her pockets.

Chun Zhi was puzzled. “Miss, why are you so happy?”

Madam Chen, understanding her daughter’s nature, smiled softly. “She must have gone somewhere to sneak a snack.”

Jiang Yuanxi quickly shook her head.

[I was really well-behaved! I just poisoned Duke An—nothing else!]

Madam Chen: … Poisoned who?!