That evening, Madam Chen had someone prepare roasted meat especially.

The servants skewered the meat on bamboo sticks, sprinkled it with pepper salt, and soon, the aroma filled the courtyard.

Jiang Yuanxi was holding her milk bottle, but as soon as she smelled the meat, she tossed the bottle far away.

“What’s wrong?” Madam Chen came over after finishing her work.

Chun Zhi looked distressed. “Madam, the young lady refuses to drink milk. She’s thrown the bottle four or five times.”

After Jiang Yuanxi’s one-month celebration, Madam Chen had replaced the wet nurse with a bottle.

Many children in noble families grew up recognizing their wet nurses but not their biological mothers.

In wealthy households, such precautions were necessary.

At this moment, Jiang Fengyuan walked over and picked up Jiang Yuanxi.

“Yuanxi, tell Daddy, why don’t you want to drink milk?”

Under everyone’s gaze, Jiang Yuanxi pointed at the distant grill.

Pouting her little lips, she said, “Meat, meat.”

No one expected that her first spoken word would be “meat.”

Jiang Yuancheng ran over excitedly. “Sister can talk now! Sister, I’m your fourth brother.”

“Dumb dumb.”

Jiang Yuanwu leaned in. “Sister, call me second brother. Say ‘second brother’!”

“Fool, fool.”

Jiang Yuanwu was completely rejected.

“Hahahaha!” Jiang Fengyuan laughed heartily.

After seeing two brothers getting teased, Jiang Yuansheng came over with a skewer of meat.

He waved the skewer in front of his sister and said, “Yuanxi, call me ‘big brother’.”

Jiang Yuansheng was already handsome, and now, holding her favorite meat skewer, Jiang Yuanxi didn’t know where to look.

“Handsome, meat, brother.”

She said three words in a row, making Jiang Yuanwu and Jiang Yuancheng jealous.

“Big brother, you cheated!” Jiang Yuancheng complained.

Clearly, their sister was only paying attention to the meat in his hands.

Jiang Yuansheng smirked. “Well, what can I say? I just have more brains than you two.”

Jiang Yuanwu: “…”

Jiang Yuancheng: “Big brother, you’ve changed.”

Was this still the same composed and gentlemanly big brother?

“Get lost, all of you!” Jiang Fengyuan shooed his sons away.

He was the one holding his daughter, yet these boys kept coming over and stealing her affection.

Jiang Fengyuan grinned like a fool.

He coaxed her gently. “Yuanxi, say ‘Daddy’.”

“Daddy, food.”

“Yes! Daddy’s precious baby!”

Hearing her soft and sweet voice, Jiang Fengyuan’s own voice softened with joy.

Madam Chen covered her mouth, her eyes curved with a smile.

The whole family was immersed in warmth and happiness.

…

That night, Jiang Fengyuan held onto Madam Chen’s sleeve, not letting her leave.

“Xin Niang,” he rarely acted spoiled, “how much longer do I have to wait before I can return to our room?”

If their sons had been there, they would have screamed: “What in the world?!”

Their father was actually being so affectionate?

Madam Chen blushed slightly, glaring at him. “What are you saying?”

Jiang Fengyuan clung to her shoulder like glue.

“Xin Niang, have pity on your husband.”

When Madam Chen gave birth to Jiang Yuanxi, her body was injured. Out of concern for her health, Jiang Fengyuan had waited all this time.

Even when taking care of her, he had been sleeping on a soft couch outside.

Chun Zhi and Chun Tao covered their mouths, giggling.

They were already used to this.

Madam Chen blushed and whispered, “What are you doing? There are still people around.”

Jiang Fengyuan shamelessly replied, “Who? I don’t see anyone.”

Chun Zhi and Chun Tao immediately turned away.

Jiang Fengyuan chuckled. “See? No one here.”

Jiang Yuanxi, witnessing her father like this for the first time, was utterly fascinated.

[Me, me, me! I’m still here!] Jiang Yuanxi raised her hand.

[Did my dad forget about me? Kids have thoughts too! Why am I being ignored?!]

Both Jiang Fengyuan and Madam Chen froze.

Oh no, they forgot about the little one on the bed.

[Oh wow, Mom’s face is so red!]

Hearing that, Madam Chen instantly pushed Jiang Fengyuan away.

Jiang Fengyuan coughed and quickly sat up.

[Daddy’s beard is so rough. Didn’t it poke Mommy when he kissed her?] Jiang Yuanxi wondered.

Madam Chen felt her face burning.

Fortunately, Chun Zhi was quick-witted—this wasn’t their first time dealing with this situation.

“Madam, the eldest young master is leaving for the academy tomorrow. Why don’t we have him look after the young lady tonight?”

On the bed, Jiang Yuanxi reached out to Spring Branch.

[Quick, take me away! I won’t disturb my parents’ lovey-dovey time. I’m not a third wheel.]

As the door closed, Jiang Yuanxi giggled in Spring Branch’s arms.

[I am the most understanding daughter in the world! You won’t find another like me, even with a lantern!]

[Handsome brother, Yuanxi is here!]

To give her parents some private time, Jiang Yuanxi voluntarily spent the night rotating between Jiang Yuanwu’s, Jiang Yuansheng’s, and Jiang Yuancheng’s rooms.

Finally, Madam Chen started missing her daughter and kicked Jiang Fengyuan out of the bedroom.

..

On the third day after the New Year, Jiang Yuanwu was walking in the Guogong Manor’s garden, holding Jiang Yuanxi.

Liu Ruqing seized the opportunity and ran into him.

Fortunately, Jiang Yuanwu practiced martial arts, so he dodged quickly.

[Why are people still using the ‘accidental fall into arms’ trick these days?] Jiang Yuanxi thought.

Liu Ruqing looked up with reddened eyes. “Brother Yuanwu.”

Jiang Yuanwu’s heart tightened.

Once, he had loved this woman deeply. But after learning the truth, all that love had turned into hatred.

“Get up.”

Liu Ruqing tried to grab his arm for support, but he didn’t extend a hand to help her.

She had to get up on her own.

Gazing at him with teary eyes, she asked, “Brother Yuanwu, have you forgotten Qingqing?”

Otherwise, why had so many days passed without him seeing her?

She had even bribed a servant to get this chance to meet him.

Jiang Yuanwu discreetly moved his arm away from her touch.

Internally, he screamed: [I feel dirty! I feel dirty!]

He couldn’t wait to go back and burn the clothes she had touched.

But for now, he needed to stay calm. Everything depended on the emperor’s judgment.

“Qingqing, I have my difficulties. But don’t worry, as long as you remain faithful, I will persuade my parents.” He spoke with determination.

Liu Ruqing felt smug—Jiang Yuanwu still couldn’t escape her grasp.

Her teary eyes shone with hope. “Brother Yuanwu, I will wait for you.”

After their emotional exchange, her gaze finally fell on Jiang Yuanxi.

Jiang Yuanxi panicked. [Don’t look at me! Don’t look at me!]

Liu Ruqing pulled out a green bracelet.

“This is my gift for the little sister. It’s not expensive, but it’s from my heart.”

She reached out to put it on Jiang Yuanxi’s wrist.

[No! No!] Jiang Yuanxi dodged.

[Second Brother, help me! This woman is bad! The bracelet has a hallucinogenic drug!]

Jiang Yuanwu’s expression darkened.

How dare she try to harm his sister in front of him?

Liu Ruqing still tried to slip the bracelet onto Jiang Yuanxi’s wrist.

Jiang Yuanxi yanked her hand away and spat out each word: “Go. Away. Bad.”

[There are always schemers trying to hurt me!]

Liu Ruqing’s eyes filled with tears.

“Brother Yuanwu, does your sister not like me?” She looked pitiful.

Jiang Yuanxi clenched her tiny teeth.

[Such a fake white lotus!]

Jiang Yuanwu was about to explode with anger when Jiang Yuanxi tugged his hand.

[Brother, don’t rush. The people behind her are powerful. Let’s catch the bigger fish.]

Jiang Yuanwu calmed down.

He forced himself to take Liu Ruqing’s hand and said, “Qingqing, my sister is too young to understand. I apologize on her behalf.”

Liu Ruqing’s expression softened.

She knew it—he still cared.

After enduring the nauseating conversation, Jiang Yuanwu rushed back, handed Jiang Yuanxi to Madam Chen, and scrubbed his hands furiously.