Jiang Yuanwu hurried inside and handed a slip of paper to Jiang Fengyuan.

With a serious expression, he said, “As expected, Father was right. Someone in Shengjing bribed those beggars—the rumors started from there.”

After reading the message, Jiang Fengyuan’s anger grew.

In the entire Shengjing, who else would target a child besides those people from the An Guogong Mansion?

“Father, let me send people to capture them!” Jiang Yuanwu said furiously.

“No!”

“You must not!”

Two voices rang out at the same time.

Jiang Yuansheng glanced at his father, and Jiang Fengyuan nodded.

Only then did Jiang Yuansheng speak, “The enemy is in the shadows while we are in the open. Their goal is simply to tarnish Fourth Brother’s reputation and affect Father’s career. We must not let them succeed.”

Jiang Fengyuan nodded in full agreement with his eldest son’s words.

“Since we’ve already torn off all pretenses with them, we can’t startle the enemy. I have already sent people to investigate your maternal grandfather’s matter. Nothing can go wrong.”

Caution was necessary.

“Then… what should we do?”

Would they really let Fourth Brother suffer these slanderous rumors for nothing?

He was only a ten-year-old child.

Jiang Yuansheng’s lips curled into a sly smile. He said slowly, “Of course, we must return the favor in kind.”

..

The Old Madam tightly gripped the edge of the table, while An Guogong, lying on the bed, looked equally displeased.

Nanny Wang carefully relayed the information she had gathered to them.

“Old Madam, Lord Guogong, I personally heard this in the streets today. The rumors have already spread throughout Shengjing.”

People were saying that An Guogong mistreated his eldest son while favoring his illegitimate son.

Even worse, that his illegitimate son didn’t respect the legitimate heir—going as far as stealing his cousin’s fiancée before the wedding.

The Old Madam’s face darkened. “Chen Shi explained everything so clearly before—how could such rumors still spread?”

Nanny Wang found it odd as well.

The rumors had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, yet overnight, they spread like wildfire across the city.

Li Zi, Nanny Wang’s daughter, chimed in hesitantly, “Not just that, Old Madam—there are also many rumors about you… things you wouldn’t want to hear.”

Li Zi had been transferred to serve the Old Madam after a previous incident.

Being young, she had an excellent memory and heard a lot while accompanying Nanny Wang today.

“Silence! This is not your place to speak!” Nanny Wang scolded sharply.

Though she was Li Zi’s mother and held the Old Madam’s trust, she knew better than to let her daughter speak out of turn.

Li Zi quickly lowered her head.

Seeing Nanny Wang’s reaction, the Old Madam became even more curious.

“What else? Speak.”

Li Zi hesitated, unsure if she should say it.

After a long pause, she finally said, “They… they said that the previous Old Madam’s passing had something to do with you.”

As soon as the words left her mouth—

Crash!

The teacups on the table were swept to the ground, shattering instantly.

Li Zi immediately realized she had spoken out of turn.

Nanny Wang’s pupils contracted.

She knew all too well how the previous Old First Madam had died.

And she also knew that the Old Madam before her hated when anyone brought up that matter.

She hurriedly knelt to plead, “Please, Old Madam, forgive me. I have failed to discipline my daughter properly.”

The Old Madam, realizing she had lost her composure, glanced at An Guogong.

Seeing that he remained silent, she finally said, “Stand up. This is not your fault.”

Then, she turned to the man lying on the bed.

“Old Master, if this continues, our family’s reputation will be ruined! Hui’er is at the age to take a wife—if this goes on, who will dare marry into our family?”

An Guogong finally opened his eyes.

A trace of clarity flickered in his murky gaze.

“Go. Have Sheng’er arrest every last one of them and hand them over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation!”

The Old Madam’s lips curled into a pleased smile.

As long as those people were captured, they would find out who was behind this.

She stepped outside and gazed in the direction of the main branch of the family.

A triumphant smile appeared on her face.

..

Jiang Yuanwu laughed so hard he nearly fell over.

His laughter echoed through the entire courtyard.

“Father, you should’ve seen it—Second Uncle’s face was practically dragging on the ground!”

Jiang Yuanwu had deliberately sent someone to gather information.

Jiang Qisheng had led people to hand those beggars over to the Ministry of Justice, but they didn’t get much out of them.

Instead, it was revealed that the Old Madam had orchestrated the plot to ruin Jiang Yuancheng’s reputation.

Jiang Qisheng had been so embarrassed he wished he could bury himself underground.

Jiang Yuanwu sighed in relief, “Good thing I listened to Big Brother and had our people disappear after spreading the message.”

On the bed, Jiang Yuanxi clapped enthusiastically.

[Big Brother is so smart!]

[This is what you call hoisting one’s own petard! Ahhh, but Brother has gone back to the academy… when will I get to go to school?]

Hearing this, Jiang Fengyuan felt pleased. It was good that his daughter wanted to study.

Then he heard—

[Going to school means I can nap in class, have handsome seniors bring me snacks, and get fed… life would be amazing.]

“…”

Jiang Fengyuan’s expression darkened.

Which brat dares to have designs on my daughter?!

Jiang Yuanwu was puzzled. Was the academy really that nice?

He hadn’t spent much time in school, but he had heard that Yufeng Academy had strict rules.

Why did it sound so different from his sister’s perspective?

At the doorway, Madam Chen appeared.

iang Yuanxi stretched out her arms.

“Mother, hug!”

Madam Chen’s eyes softened as she smiled and picked her up.

Jiang Yuanxi reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small black snake, tossing it onto the floor.

Her mother was afraid of snakes, so she couldn’t scare her.

The black snake shot Jiang Yuanxi an aggrieved look before slithering back to its nest.

Had the room not been so warm from the underground heating, the snake wouldn’t have been so easily woken up.

Madam Chen personally prepared a bowl of meat soup, and the father and sons enjoyed it immensely.

After eating, Jiang Fengyuan thought of his third son, who was away.

“If only Yuan’er were here,” Jiang Fengyuan said wistfully.

The New Year was a time for family reunions, but this year, Jiang Yuanran had not returned.

Madam Chen sighed as well.

Seeing his parents’ sorrow, Jiang Yuanxi felt sad too.

After the meal, she tugged on Jiang Fengyuan’s sleeve, begging him to take her to the study.

Jiang Fengyuan watched the little one busily running around and curiously asked,

“What are you doing, Yuanxi?”

Jiang Yuanxi spread a piece of paper on the desk.

“A letter. For Third Brother.”

Jiang Fengyuan was momentarily stunned.

“Yuanxi wants to write to Third Brother?”

She nodded. “Write to him, so he comes back.”

A warmth spread through Jiang Fengyuan’s heart, and his eyes reddened slightly.

His daughter was the most considerate.

Unlike those ungrateful sons who only made him worry.

“Father, why are you rubbing your eyes?” Jiang Yuanxi asked curiously.

Jiang Fengyuan turned away. “The wind… some dust got into my eyes. It’ll be fine soon.”

Wind?

Jiang Yuanxi looked up. The sky was clear, the sun shining brightly.

Where was the wind?

She prepared everything and picked up the brush—only to realize she didn’t recognize any characters.

[Ahhh, I forgot I’m still a child! I can’t read yet.]

Hearing her thoughts, Jiang Fengyuan said, “Tell me what to write, and I’ll do it for you.”

Jiang Yuanxi immediately handed him the brush.

After an entire morning, they finally finished the letter.

…

A young man in pale green robes opened the letter.

The handwriting and words were familiar, and his expression remained calm.

But when he reached the last two words, his pale face finally showed some emotion.

“Qingfeng, pack up. We’re going home.”