Chapter 4: Double Rebirth (4)

Jiang Yun had gotten used to hearing this sort of talk lately. She replied impatiently, “Got it, Father. I’ll take responsibility for myself.”

Prime Minister Jiang still wanted to speak, but was tugged by Madam Jiang. “Jiang Jiang’s back.”

Only then did he stop.

Watching their daughter push the Ninth Prince into the room in his wheelchair, Madam Jiang felt a pang in her heart. But she still forced a smile and stepped forward, asking her daughter gently if she was adjusting well.

Prime Minister Jiang also glanced over at the two of them. Seeing the fox-fur cloak around his daughter’s shoulders and the healthier glow on her face since her marriage, he finally felt some relief.

His youngest daughter had been frail since birth. When she fell seriously ill at ten years old, he and his wife had prayed to every god they could, just to keep her alive and growing safely. It was true that they’d hoped to align with the future emperor, but more than that, they had wanted a good future for their daughter. He had worried the low-profile Ninth Prince wouldn’t treat her well.

But seeing Lu Zheng gently tuck her hand back into the fox-fur cloak, Prime Minister Jiang and Madam Jiang exchanged a look, their hearts filled with comfort.

Jiang Yun offered a reluctant greeting.

She felt an icy, piercing gaze sweep over her, sending chills through her body. But when she looked up, she saw nothing unusual.

Watching how attentive Lu Zheng was to her younger sister, Jiang Yun spaced out for a moment. She couldn’t even recall what had happened during the return visit in the previous life. Still, seeing him treat her sister with such care eased some of her guilt.

At the dining table, everyone had their own thoughts.

Perhaps only Jiang Jiang was genuinely enjoying herself. Lu Zheng kept watching her from the corner of his eye, noticing that she was eating more than she usually did in the prince’s manor. He made a mental note of it.

Prime Minister Jiang found an opportunity to speak with Lu Zheng alone.

Even though Lu Zheng was now his son-in-law, Prime Minister Jiang still unconsciously straightened his posture when facing him.

This conversation, however, was for the sake of his eldest daughter.

“Yun’er has been misled by Prince An. She refuses to marry anyone else,” the Prime Minister sighed. “I only have two daughters in this life. Since I’ve pledged my loyalty to Your Highness, I won’t serve anyone else. I only hope that when you ascend the throne in the future, you’ll show her mercy.”

The more Lu Zheng listened, the more his smile deepened.

He didn’t doubt the man’s loyalty.

But if Prime Minister Jiang knew what their fates had been in the previous life… would he still be able to say these words?

Show mercy?
Had anyone shown mercy to him in his last life?

The strong live, the weak fall. That’s just how it was.

Still, this was Jiang Jiang’s father.

Lu Zheng fiddled with the jade ring on his finger, thinking for a moment before replying, “If she can behave herself.”

Prime Minister Jiang let out a breath of relief. “Thank you, Your Highness. My daughter may be a bit spoiled and foolish from all the pampering, but she means no harm.”

Lu Zheng had no desire to keep talking about Jiang Yun. Raising his brows slightly, he asked, “Where did Father-in-law find your cook? I noticed Jiang Jiang enjoyed the food here—she ate more than she usually does at the manor.”

Ever since learning about Jiang Jiang’s weak health, Lu Zheng had been looking for ways to improve her appetite.

Prime Minister Jiang trembled. “What did you just say?”

Lu Zheng blinked. “…What? Why so dramatic? Did you kidnap that cook or something?”

Not understanding what the fuss was about, he tried to explain: “Father-in-law…”

Prime Minister Jiang immediately cut him off, beaming. “Ah! My dear son-in-law!”

“…”

The steward standing nearby had a constipated look on his face.

Prime Minister Jiang waved his hand excitedly. “No need to go looking anymore—just take the cook with you. I hired him specifically for Jiang Jiang. He specializes in medicinal cuisine—it’s good for her health.”

Originally, they had planned to send the cook with Jiang Jiang to the prince’s manor after the wedding. But they worried Lu Zheng would see it as excessive.

After all, this was a man who had personally broken his own legs for revenge, then endured ten years of poverty and obscurity.

That was the very trait that had made Prime Minister Jiang choose to place his bets on the Ninth Prince.

Still, with his own daughter now married, knowing she’d live a bit more comfortably eased his heart.

“Then I thank you, Father-in-law.”

Prime Minister Jiang gave a satisfied nod, a pleased smile blooming on his face.

---

Jiang Jiang had no idea what the men had discussed.

Madam Jiang, feeling emotional, took her daughter’s hands and began to cry. She had raised Jiang Jiang so naively, and only after the marriage did she realize her daughter hadn’t learned any of the necessary skills for navigating a noble household. She had been worried for days.

“In the royal family, there’s no such thing as not taking concubines,” Madam Jiang sighed. “Even if the Ninth Prince isn’t favored, he’s still a prince. His mother enjoyed the emperor’s favor for a time too. I can tell His Majesty still thinks fondly of her—otherwise why would he have granted him a princely title and estate as soon as he came of age?”

As she spoke, Madam Jiang pulled a list of names from her sleeve—each one belonging to a maid she had hand-picked.

“These girls are decent-looking, with quiet personalities. Take them back with you. If the Ninth Prince ever takes concubines in the future, wouldn’t it be better if they’re your people?”

“No need,” came Lu Zheng’s voice from nearby.

Apparently, he’d just finished talking and happened to overhear them. Madam Jiang glared at her husband—he couldn’t even stop him from walking in?

“Please rest assured, Mother-in-law,” Lu Zheng said, his gaze fixed on Jiang Jiang. “There will only ever be one woman in my life: Jiang Jiang. If I break that vow, may I die pierced by a thousand arrows and never reincarnate.”

Most would take that as a dramatic oath.

But Jiang Jiang knew the truth—he had died by a thousand arrows in his previous life and had been reborn.

He was serious.

Jiang Jiang patted his hand. “Don’t say things like that. Knock on wood.”

Lu Zheng’s expression was gentle, but his tone was obsessed. “There’s no need, Jiang Jiang. I know I’ll never break that vow. So no curse can touch me.”

Watching the couple walk away, their figures side by side—

Madam Jiang wiped her tears and murmured, “I hope he really means it… and doesn’t betray Jiang Jiang’s love.”

She was a mother—and a woman herself. Why would she want to shove women into her son-in-law’s bed? She was only afraid that he’d favor his concubines and neglect Jiang Jiang.

Prime Minister Jiang patted her back and comforted her. “Children have their own fates. Didn’t that old monk who treated Jiang Jiang say that if she could survive her tenth year, her life would be smooth and blessed after?”

Jiang Yun, overhearing this from her maid in her room, felt a little unsettled.

She had once thought just like her mother—that it was natural for men, especially royalty, to have multiple wives.

But if even Lu Zheng could remain loyal to one woman for a lifetime…
Then shouldn’t the Sixth Prince, who always claimed he only loved her, do the same?

---

Back at the manor, Lu Zheng insisted on taking Jiang Jiang for a walk in the garden to help digestion—he claimed the imperial physician recommended it.

Not wanting her to tire, he walked beside her, pushing her in a wheelchair.

Under the setting sun, their shadows stretched across the ground.

One tall, one short—an awkward-looking pair. And yet… they were dazzling.

Lu Zheng’s grip on the wheelchair handles tightened.

He didn’t want to keep pretending. He wanted to stand proudly at Jiang Jiang’s side.

Jiang Jiang’s body was fragile. After a few steps, she was already panting for breath.

She never liked physical activity to begin with. Now tired, she pouted like a spoiled child and refused to walk any further.

Lu Zheng was more than happy to coax her.

He had the kind of exquisite beauty carved from snow and jade—delicate brows, phoenix eyes brimming with affection, and a natural flush at the corners of his eyes.

With such a face, when he lowered his voice and called her “my dear”, it completely bewitched Jiang Jiang.

…Fine. She’d walk.
Right now.