Chen Xinwan sighed, “Father, Mother, Sister-in-laws, can you all hear it too?”

The Chen family members all nodded.

Qiu Shi’s two sons raised their hands one after the other, “Aunt, we can hear too.”

Chen Xinwan and Jiang Fengyuan exchanged a glance.

A suspicion immediately formed in their hearts.

“As long as someone is blood-related to Yuanxi, they can hear her thoughts.”

Qiu Shi asked, “Then what about us?”

She and her siblings-in-law were not of the Chen bloodline—why could they hear?

Jiang Yuansheng replied, “Because you and your grandparents are recorded on the same genealogy.”

Ever since Duke of Han had recorded his sister into the family tree, they too can hear her thoughts, Jiang Yuansheng speculated in his heart.

As long as there is a strong blood relationship, or if Yuanxi appears on a family genealogy, one can hear her inner voice.

Everyone understood.

Jiang Yuansheng, curious, asked, “Grandfather, why did Duke An and Yan Song frame the Chen family back then?”

He recalled that in the past, Duke An and Yan Song greatly admired scholars, and they held the Chen family in high regard.

Old Master Chen had pulled his son-in-law and his two grandsons into his study and closed the door.

“I accidentally overheard back then—Duke An called a young man ‘Master’…”

Back then, he had accidentally passed by Duke An’s study and overheard him addressing a young man as “Master.”

Not only that, but they were even plotting rebellion.

When they were discovered upon leaving, he fled, but that only brought about a death sentence.

Duke An continuously targeted him, which eventually led to the downfall of the Chen family.

On the way, he encountered numerous assassination attempts; if it weren’t for his son-in-law and grandsons, the Chen family would have been exterminated long ago.

Jiang Fengyuan said in a serious tone, “The conspirators behind them are plotting rebellion. This is no small matter. Father, did you see who the conspirators were?”

Old Master Chen shook his head.

He had only heard voices, and given the passage of time, it was likely he couldn’t clearly recall the voices of the other party.

“Then should we report it to the Emperor?” Jiang Yuanyuan asked.

Old Master Chen immediately retorted, “Not a chance—do you think the Emperor will believe us?”

He had just returned from exile; how could the Emperor possibly believe his words?

The Jiang family members looked at each other.

They believed the Emperor would indeed believe.

Old Master Chen analyzed further, “The most important thing now is to capture Yan Song. With Duke An and Yan Song in hand, we should be able to figure out who’s behind it.”

Jiang Yuansheng said, “Don’t worry, Grandfather. Yan Song has already been captured.”

However, his situation was somewhat complicated and would require the Emperor’s approval before any action could be taken.

…

Jiang Yuanwu hadn’t seen his sister for many days and missed her terribly.

As soon as he got off duty, he couldn’t wait to take his sister out to play.

“Whatever Yuanxi wants to eat, your big brother will buy it for you,” Jiang Yuanwu said indulgently.

Jiang Yuanxi pointed at a nearby meat shop and declared in a cute voice, “Pork knuckle!”

Jiang Yuanwu immediately picked out the biggest braised pork knuckle he could find and bought it.

Wrapped in oiled paper, it was warm and fragrant.

Jiang Yuanxi took it, kissed her second older brother on the cheek.

“Second brother, you’re the best.”

With that, she opened the oiled paper, parted her little lips, and took a bite.

The little one ate until his mouth was greasy; passersby, tempted by the sight, also spent money to buy one.

The household of Duke An had been confiscated and exiled, and many citizens had come to the city gate to join the commotion.

“Bah!” Duke An spat a glob of old phlegm onto his face.

“I told you that Minister Chen was too upright to be corrupt—turns out you treacherous scum set him up!”

They pelted him with handfuls of vegetable leaves. Duke An’s face turned as pale as paper.

In his lifetime, he had never felt so dejected.

Countless vegetable leaves and rotten eggs were hurled at him.

An old madam nearby reeked of stink emanating from her hair.

Jiang Yuanxi’s sharp eyes immediately spotted them.

“You old scoundrel!” she shouted.

At a time like this, how could she not be there?

Jiang Yuanxi said to Jiang Yuanwu, “Go.”

Jiang Yuanwu worried that the crowd might jostle his little sister, but unable to withstand her insistence, he had to carry her over.

Seeing the two, Duke An seemed to see a beacon of hope.

“Yuanxi, Yuanwu,” he waved, “hurry and find His Majesty to save your grandfather!”

The old madam sneered coldly behind her.

What a shameless old rogue—he must be dreaming.

Jiang Yuanwu pushed through the crowd, bringing his sister to Duke An.

“You,” Jiang Yuanxi pointed at Duke An, “will not have a good end.”

She used the gentlest of words to utter the cruellest truth in the world.

Duke An still refused to give up, “Yuanxi, I am your grandfather! I’ve heard that His Majesty adores you—please save your grandfather!”

Jiang Yuanxi shook her head, “If one does not do good deeds, one’s life will be cursed to wander the eighteen layers of hell.”

Then she turned to the old madam, “You, aiding the wicked and harming both others and yourself—go with him.”

As for the rest of the Chen family, having neither contributed nor committed any crimes, as long as they live the latter half of their lives righteously, they will surely live in peace.

At the very end, Jiang Ruowei suddenly raised her head.

“It’s you, isn’t it, Jiang Yuanxi!” she acted crazed.

Over the past few days, she had been thinking and realized that the eldest branch had not adopted her, that in the capital they had set up shops, that the Duke An household had collapsed—throughout it all, Jiang Yuanxi’s presence was evident.

“In my previous life, it wasn’t like this at all—it had to be you!”

She acted like a mad dog, snapping wildly.

Jiang Yuanxi widened her eyes, “Sister, what are you saying? I can’t understand a word you’re saying!”

[Rebirth: for someone who does not do good deeds to end up like this—it’s well deserved.]

The guards behind Jiang Yuanxi subdued the rampaging Jiang Ruowei.

Jiang Yuanxi thought for a moment and then approached her.

“Yuanxi!” Jiang Yuanwu said with concern; earlier, Jiang Ruowei had acted like a madwoman—what if she hurt our sister?

“Big brother, it’s fine. She can’t hurt me.”

Jiang Yuanwu loosened his grip on his sister’s clothing and stayed close to her every step.

If Jiang Ruowei dared to lay a hand on his sister, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.

Jiang Yuanxi slowly moved closer to Jiang Ruowei.

In a soft, haunting tone, she said, “Since you haven’t hurt any innocents, I’ll give you one more piece of information.”

She leaned close to Jiang Ruowei’s ear and whispered, “In your previous life, it was the Emperor who killed you.”

Jiang Ruowei’s pupils dilated in shock.

Impossible.

Lord Yelang had always been so good to her—how could it be him? It had to be that lowly Jiang Yan.

“Not only that, even your child was killed by the Emperor.”

“You’re lying! You must be lying to me!”

Jiang Yuanwu quickly pulled his sister behind him.

“Yuanxi, be careful—don’t let that madwoman hurt you.”

“Ruowei!” Concubine Hua clutched her daughter with worry.

Jiang Ruowei sank into memories of her previous life.

Lord Yelang would sneak out of the palace at midnight to buy her food, and present her with treasures from around the world.

After she became pregnant, he would attend to her medicines without fail every day.

Since when had everything changed?

Yes, it was when Jiang Yan arrived—she lost her child.

And also, when she handed over the world’s top commercial enterprise to him.

Everything changed.

Jiang Ruowei burst into tears.

“You—you have hurt me deeply!”

[The male lead only wished to use your hand to obtain the world’s number one business, and then ascend to the throne. Poor, pitiful fool—you. Since you harbor murderous intent but have yet to act upon it, I’ll spare you this time.]

If you make another mistake, Jiang Yuanxi vowed she would not spare you.

A chill ran down Jiang Yuanwu’s spine as he sensed a hint of murderous intent in his sister’s eyes.

But when he looked again, it was gone.

“Big brother, I want that!” Jiang Yuanxi pointed at a nearby roast chicken stall.

No, where did the huge pork knuckle go!

After the two left, a pitch-black carriage appeared at the end of the street.