Madam Chen cursed the second branch in her heart.

Those wretched troublemakers—why should her Yuanxi be the one to fix their mess?

Meanwhile—

Jiang Yuanxi got up.

Under Madam Chen’s worried and shocked gaze, she used all her strength to stand in front of the black snake.

With her hands on her hips, she declared, “Re-lease, or—fight!”

She couldn’t say many words yet, so she had to force them out one by one.

Madam Chen seemed to see a moment of dullness flash across the black snake’s face.

Yuanxi was actually trying to reason with a beast.

The black snake soon raised half of its body, flicking its tongue—seemingly preparing for battle.

Jiang Yuanxi sighed.

She didn’t want to fight—it was exhausting.

“Fight, then,” she muttered.

What kind of duel even had a countdown?

Jiang Yuanxi was already at her limit, her legs trembling like leaves in the wind.

The black snake seized the moment and lunged at her—

Only to be caught right at its weak spot, seven inches from its head.

The snake immediately sensed danger.

In the next moment, Jiang Yuanxi grabbed its tail and began swinging it around.

After a few good swings, she slammed it onto the ground, dragging it across the floor, and even tied it into a beautiful bow.

[I can’t kill it—I still need it to cure Jiang Yan’s poison.]

Jiang Yuanxi untied the bow and gave the snake two resounding slaps across the face.

“Wake up—cure!”

With that, she plopped onto the ground in exhaustion.

[As expected, I’m still too small. I can’t even stand properly.]

The dazed black snake came to its senses—only to see Jiang Yuanxi’s terrifying face looming over it.

It hurriedly slithered over to Jiang Yan, biting its own tail to make a small wound.

A single drop of blood dripped onto Jiang Yan’s injury.

Madam Chen watched the scene in shock, unable to say a word.

Just then, Chun Zhi rushed in with Doctor Sun.

“Madam! Are you alright? Where’s the young lady?”

Only then did Madam Chen snap out of it and quickly pick up Jiang Yuanxi from the ground.

She glanced at Jiang Yan—but the snake that was beside her earlier had disappeared.

Seeing that both were safe, Chun Zhi sighed in relief.

Doctor Sun put down his medicine box, panting heavily.

A human life was at stake—he didn’t care about his own exhaustion and immediately examined Jiang Yan.

Feeling her pulse, he frowned.

Aside from being a little weak, she was perfectly fine.

The poor old doctor had been dragged all the way here—his arms still ached.

“Madam, she just fainted. She’ll wake up soon.”

Just fainted?

“That’s impossible!” Chun Zhi pointed at Jiang Yan. “Just now, she—she—”

Madam Chen also looked over.

The girl who had been pale as a sheet moments ago now had a healthy flush to her face.

She didn’t look poisoned at all.

Chun Zhi murmured in confusion, “Did I imagine it?”

[Of course not—the black snake cured her.]

But Jiang Yuanxi would never say that out loud.

Madam Chen ordered people to take Jiang Yan away and instructed them not to spread the news.

Chun Zhi looked around. “Madam, where did the snake go?”

Madam Chen shook her head.

She had been too frightened to notice.

“Maybe it ran away.”

She picked up Jiang Yuanxi, intending to head to the front hall.

[Hehe, Mother doesn’t know—the little snake is hiding in my sleeve.]

[From now on, it’s my pet.]

Madam Chen’s hands trembled at the thought of a black snake in her arms, making her scalp tingle.

As they returned to the front hall, they noticed that Jiang Ruowei was missing from her seat.

Chun Tao searched around and finally received word from a servant.

“Madam, someone said Miss Liu just entered the study in the back courtyard.”

Madam Chen frowned slightly.

Liu Ruqing lived in the front courtyard. Today was the Old Madam’s birthday banquet—guests were naturally allowed to attend.

But why was she in the back courtyard?

The back courtyard?

Suddenly, a plot point from the book surfaced in Jiang Yuanxi’s mind.

In the original story, Liu Ruqing also coveted the Chen family’s wealth.

But at that time, Madam Chen favored Jiang Ruowei of the second branch.

So, Liu Ruqing had no choice but to take a risk—she drugged Jiang Yuanwu.

Her plan succeeded, and she became his wife, eventually taking over the household.

But later, she was still taken down by the novel’s heroine, Jiang Ruowei.

However, in the original story, Liu Ruqing’s scheme didn’t happen during the Old Madam’s birthday banquet.

[Could my presence have changed everything?]

[Mother, hurry—go find Second Brother!]

Madam Chen suddenly felt uneasy.

The back courtyard was empty.

If something happened there, who would know?

Realizing something, she hurriedly took Jiang Yuanxi to Jiang Yuanwu’s courtyard.

At that moment, Jiang Yuanwu had just finished getting ready and was about to leave.

“Mother? Why are you here?”

[Just in time! Judging by Brother’s appearance, he was about to step out.]

Jiang Yuanwu: How did my little sister know that?

Madam Chen quickly asked, “Where are you going?”

Jiang Yuanwu was confused by her urgency but answered truthfully.

“A little servant came just now and said Father wanted to test my calligraphy in the back courtyard.”

He was puzzled—on such an important day, why would his father suddenly test him?

[As expected!]

Madam Chen immediately understood and sighed in relief—she had arrived just in time.

[That little white lotus is waiting to trap Brother!]

[Jiang Ruowei dares to scheme against Second Brother? Hmph! From today on, we’re sworn enemies!]

Jiang Yuanwu’s eyes widened in shock as he met Madam Chen’s gaze.

Madam Chen spoke solemnly, “Your father is still in the front courtyard. How could he suddenly appear in the back? There’s something fishy going on.”

“Mother, why don’t you come with me?” Jiang Yuanwu suggested.

Mother and son exchanged a look—they decided to play along.

[Good, good! With Mother there, Brother won’t lose his virtue.]

Jiang Yuanwu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

His sister’s choice of words was getting stranger.

In the back courtyard—

Liu Ruqing, dressed in light blue, stood outside the study, waiting.

Jiang Ruowei’s servant had already sent word.

By her calculations, it should be any moment now.

Thinking about what was about to happen, Liu Ruqing’s face flushed red.

She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.

…

At the Old Madam’s banquet, apart from family and relatives, there were also a few court officials and generals who had served the late emperor, including Duke Li.

Unfortunately, Duke Li was a notorious drunk who couldn’t handle alcohol.

As expected, after only a few drinks, he passed out.

Duke An ordered his servants to take him to rest.

Duke Li, stumbling along, ended up in the back courtyard’s study.

“Aaaah!”

A sharp scream pierced through the National Duke’s residence.

Everyone in the front courtyard turned their heads in curiosity.

At that moment, a little maid rushed in and fell to her knees.

The Old Madam’s eyelids twitched.

Nanny Wang scolded, “It’s a joyous day—why are you panicking?”

The maid trembled in fear.

“B-bad news!”

Wu Cuirou frowned. “Speak clearly.”

She had planned everything perfectly—what could go wrong?

The maid stammered, “In the back courtyard—something happened to the Second Master!”

“What?!” The Old Madam shot up.

Wu Cuirou rushed to the back courtyard with her people.

The Old Madam followed closely behind.

At the study, the doors were wide open, and an old drunkard stood at the entrance.

Everyone hurried over—only to see two people inside, hastily getting dressed.

“Jiang Qisheng!” Wu Cuirou roared.

Zhao Mama held her steady.

The Old Madam finally caught up and, upon seeing the scene, fainted on the spot.