Yilan Courtyard

Jiang Fengyuan eagerly waited for his wife to return.

Since the Emperor had given him a beating, he hadn’t been called to court.

Jiang Fengyuan was quite content, though. No work to do, but still receiving his salary, and he could always see his wife and obedient daughter. What’s not to like?

Jiang Yuancheng came back and went straight to look for his sister, but when he couldn’t find her, he decided to wait with his father.

“I’m so mad!” Before seeing her, his voice could be heard.

The door opened, and Jiang Yuancheng cheerfully welcomed her.

“Quick, give me a hug, I’ve missed you so much after just one day.”

When Jiang Yuanxi saw Jiang Fengyuan, it seemed that Jiang Yuanxi’s emotions had found an outlet.

She angrily pushed away Chun Zhi’s hand and reached out for her father to hug her.

Jiang Yuancheng, feeling neglected: “My sister really doesn’t love me anymore.”

Jiang Fengyuan took her in his arms and smiled. “Daddy’s precious daughter, do you miss me?”

Jiang Yuanxi held onto his father’s fingers, her face serious.

[Dad, the old madam has her eyes on mom’s dowry. She even wants to use it to cover the losses of the second branch.]

“What!” Jiang Fengyuan was furious, standing up.

[What’s wrong with my dad?] Jiang Yuanxi looked at him with confusion.

Jiang Fengyuan realized he had lost his composure.

If his daughter knew they could hear her thoughts, she would stop thinking freely from now on.

Chen Shi glared at him reproachfully.

Jiang Fengyuan cleared his throat and softly said to Chen Shi, “What happened? Why did you come back so late?”

He took a sip of tea to calm his inner turmoil.

Chen Shi hesitated to speak.

Jiang Yuanxi, seeing that her father wasn’t upset, continued complaining.

[Also, Second Uncle, that flirt, has his eyes on mom.]

Jiang Yuancheng was shocked, his mouth wide open.

With a ‘crack,’ the teacup in Jiang Fengyuan’s hand shattered.

Tea dripped from his hand, splashing onto the ground.

Everyone in the room, including Jiang Yuanxi, stared at him.

Jiang Fengyuan calmly discarded the broken pieces. “This teacup is too poor quality, I’ll buy a better one later.”

He then picked up a cold cup of tea from the table and drank it in one gulp.

Chun Zhi felt sorry; this was a custom-made porcelain cup from a master, and it had just broken.

Jiang Yuanxi was stunned.

[My dad is amazing, he broke the cup with his bare hands, and even drank the tea so smoothly.]

“Pffft!” Tea splashed.

Jiang Fengyuan almost dropped the teapot.

The whole room turned their attention back to Jiang Fengyuan.

Jiang Fengyuan smiled, “Rinse my mouth, haha.”

Chen Shi covered her mouth, secretly laughing.

Jiang Yuancheng was conflicted about whether to tell his parents about what had happened.

Second Uncle actually had ideas about his mother? He’d make sure to beat Jiang Hui harder the next time he saw him.

If he couldn’t kill him, he’d make sure he regretted it.

That night, father and son dressed in their night clothes, each busy with their own matters.

The next morning, Chun Tao rushed in.

Chen Shi was changing Jiang Yuanxi’s diapers.

The child had grown, eating more and urinating frequently.

Even with several diapers prepared, it still wasn’t enough.

Chun Tao cheerfully said, “Madam, guess what I’ve found out?”

“Don’t tease, just say it.” Seeing her excited, Chun Zhi was curious as well.

Chun Tao replied, “Last night, Second Master and Young Master Hui went out and were beaten by someone who wrapped them in a sack.”

Chun Zhi laughed, “What else?”

Chun Tao leaned in close. “I heard Second Master got kicked in the… and now he can’t get out of bed for at least half a month.”

“Plus, someone gave them a laxative, and now the second house is filled with stench, but they still haven’t figured out who did it.”

The maids all covered their mouths, laughing.

Even Chen Shi couldn’t help but slightly smile.

[Well done, if it were me, I’d have just crippled them.] Jiang Yuanxi, in her swaddling clothes, kicked her legs happily.

Thinking of her father and Fourth Brother’s sneaky eyes from last night, Jiang Yuanxi had a suspicion.

[Could it be that dad and Fourth Brother did it?]

Chen Shi froze for a moment when she heard this.

No wonder father and son had been acting so sneaky last night, afraid someone might find out.

After breakfast, the family set off to visit the old madam.

The old madam was lying languidly on the soft couch, clearly still shaken from yesterday.

“This is the lotus soup I had specially made. It’s very nourishing. Mother, try some.”

Chen Shi had learned from sources that the old madam ate lotus soup every day at the temple until she became sick of it.

So she had asked for the exact recipe from the temple.

It was guaranteed to be the real thing, not a single detail changed.

Looking at the bowl of clear soup, Jiang Yuanxi made a face of distaste.

[It’s pure vegan, there’s no meat in it at all.]

The old madam frowned, trying to hold back her nausea.

She even wondered if Chen Shi was doing this on purpose.

But when she saw Chen Shi’s concerned eyes, she doubted herself.

“Put it down. I’m not hungry right now.”

The lotus soup, steaming, was set aside.

Chen Shi felt a bit disappointed.

But seeing the old madam’s constipated expression, she felt years of resentment dissolve and felt pleased in her heart.

Her money wasn’t easy to get, and this was just the beginning.

During the old madam’s recovery, Chen Shi visited daily, bringing soup and taking care of her.

The maids in the house spread the word, and the noble ladies of the capital all took Chen Shi as a model.

But only the old madam knew what kind of life she was enduring.

Under Chen Shi’s “care,” the old madam’s illness, which should have healed in four to five days, was dragged on for half a month.

This made the old madam feel sick to her stomach whenever she saw Chen Shi.

Because whatever dish Chen Shi brought, it always tasted the same—like lotus soup.

God knows how she managed that.

As the year-end approached, the house began to decorate.

Chen Shi was busy making clothes for her daughter.

Chun Zhi hurried in.

“Madam, Second Young Master is coming back.”

Jiang Yuanxi, still half asleep, barely registered this.

When Chen Shi turned her head, she saw her little one asleep with her mouth open.

Chun Zhi smiled. “The young lady played around in the backyard for so long today, touching everything she saw. She must be tired.”

Chen Shi put down her work and brought a blanket to cover her daughter.

“When is the Third Young Master coming back?”

Chun Zhi shook her head. “Third Young Master wrote to say he won’t be coming back this year.”

Chen Shi sighed.

The second and third brothers had never gotten along, even though they were identical twins.

Every time they met, it was as if they were bitter enemies from past lives.

When the second one came back, the third one didn’t, and vice versa.

As a mother, no matter what she said, it made no difference.

At least her daughter was worry-free, so soft and sweet, the most adorable.

On a winter day, Chen Shi kept the room warm for her daughter, with the stove burning hot.

When you entered, you could feel the warmth.

Chen Shi had someone bring red paper to begin cutting paper decorations.

Before long, Jiang Yuanxi woke up.

Jiang Fengyuan came in just at that moment.

Chen Shi picked up her daughter. “Has the General still not gone to court?”

Jiang Fengyuan casually replied, “The Emperor hasn’t summoned me yet.”

Chen Shi felt a little worried.

Her hand slipped while cutting the paper, making a mistake.

Jiang Yuanxi, now awake, began thinking.

“Red paper, what a good thing!”

She crawled over and grabbed a piece of red paper with her little hand.

Then she waved it at her father.

Her adorable little daughter was calling. Jiang Fengyuan hurried over and scooped her up.

Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes glinted. “Perfect timing.”

She moistened the red paper with saliva and stuck it on her father’s mouth.

Jiang Fengyuan didn’t understand what she was doing and let her play around.

[So cute! My dad is really handsome, like a flower girl.]

[A flower girl with a beard.]

Chen Shi looked up and couldn’t help but laugh.

The maids in the room all secretly covered their mouths.

Jiang Fengyuan was puzzled. “What’s so funny, Xinniang?”

Chen Shi quickly waved her hand, covering her stomach with the other.

It was the first time Jiang Fengyuan saw her like this. Though she looked pretty when she smiled, something felt off.

He looked down and saw his daughter holding the red paper, her hands covered in red.

A bad feeling arose in him.

[Ha ha, red-faced judge.]

Jiang Fengyuan immediately set his daughter down and rushed to the mirror.

All his decades of dignity were shattered in an instant.