Jiang Ruowei, wearing a veiled hat, stepped into a restaurant.

“Are you sure it’s here?” she asked, frowning slightly as she listened to the noisy laughter and singing inside.

Er Ya nodded. “Miss, I’m sure. This is the place.”

Jiang Ruowei paused before raising her hand to lightly knock on the door.

Soon, the door opened.

A strong scent of alcohol and powdery perfume filled the room.

Suppressing her discomfort, Jiang Ruowei stepped inside.

When she saw the scantily clad dancing girls in the room, she couldn’t help but feel a deeper sense of disdain toward the Third Prince.

“Minister’s daughter Jiang Ruowei greets His Highness the Third Prince.”

The Third Prince waved his hand, dismissing the dancers.

The eunuch beside him, Fuzi, asked, “What business does the young lady have with His Highness?”

Jiang Ruowei remained indifferent.

If this had been in her past life, at this age, she might have been nervous in front of a prince. But now, she only felt pity for the man before her.

The Third Prince had become crippled for life in order to save the Fourth Prince.

Yet he was the only one who survived the brutal struggle for the throne.

Among all the royal brothers, only he remained.

This was precisely why Jiang Ruowei took the risk of coming here.

In her previous life, she had never met him, but she still wanted to give it a try.

“Your Highness, I have come today to propose a collaboration with you.”

“Oh?” Behind the gauzy curtain, a shadowy figure moved.

The man sat up, holding a wine jug in his hand.

His voice was lazy. “A mere concubine-born daughter—what could you possibly have that would interest me?”

Jiang Ruowei pressed her lips together.

A useless prince, yet he dared to act arrogant in front of her.

But now was not the time to clash with him.

“I know what will happen in the future. Whether Your Highness believes me or not, at this very moment, your beloved concubine is secretly fooling around with your steward. You might want to go back and see for yourself.”

Behind the curtain, Jun Mocheng’s brows furrowed tightly, and a cold aura emanated from him.

He said indifferently, “Do you realize I have a hundred ways to make you disappear without a trace?”

“If Your Highness does not believe me, you are welcome to investigate. I have other matters to attend to and will not disturb Your Highness’s enjoyment.”

Outside the door, Jiang Ruowei took a deep breath.

Her back was already covered in cold sweat.

She had overestimated her influence—none of these princes were easy to deal with.

But she was confident that the Third Prince would seek her out again.

Just now, she seemed to have seen another figure behind the gauzy curtain.

Inside the room, Jun Mocheng stepped out barefoot from behind the curtain.

His dark hair clung to the back of his neck, and his features were strikingly beautiful.

His deep eyes resembled a black spring, but they carried a hint of roguishness.

He gazed toward the door with an eerie intensity.

Softly, he asked, “Was it her?”

A voice responded from behind the curtain. “Brother, it wasn’t her.”

Jun Mocheng raised an eyebrow and shook the wine jug in his hand.

“Well, this just got interesting…”

..

Upon hearing that they would be staying at the temple for a few days, Jiang Yuanxi hurriedly packed all her treasures.

She stuffed them into a bag, carrying it on her back.

When Madam Chen entered and saw this, she laughed so hard she could barely stand up straight.

The bundle on Jiang Yuanxi’s back was nearly half her height.

To anyone who didn’t know better, it would seem like they were fleeing a famine.

Chun Tao crouched down, smiling. “Miss, this is too much. It’s too heavy—you can’t carry it all by yourself.”

Jiang Yuanxi glanced at the mountain of luggage behind her.

She said in a soft, determined voice, “Taotao, I can do it by myself.”

Then, she effortlessly lifted the enormous bundle with one hand.

Chun Tao swallowed hard, staring in shock.

Chun Zhi was equally stunned.

So many things—even she might not be able to carry them.

And yet, their young miss was just a…

One-year-old baby!

This was beyond belief!

No one else could know about their miss’s special strength.

Madam Chen remained calm. “Yuanxi, what did you pack?”

Jiang Yuanxi dropped the bundle on the ground, sending up a cloud of dust.

Then, she untied it and began pulling things out one by one.

“A table, a stool… bowls, a pot, and, um…”

[There are still so many snacks! I can’t take them out, or Mother will confiscate them!]

Jiang Yuanxi put her small hands behind her back. “That’s all!”

Seeing the still-bulging bundle and her daughter’s guilty expression, Madam Chen pretended not to notice.

“The temple already has tables and stools. You don’t need to bring so much. How about letting Chunzhi help you take some things out?”

Jiang Yuanxi rolled her eyes and agreed.

Not long after, Chun Zhi came to report to Madam Chen.

“Madam, the young miss had the kitchen prepare dried meat, flatbread, pickled vegetables, and lots of pastries. Everything is packed in the bundle,” Chunzhi said with a laugh.

Altogether, it was enough for an ordinary person to survive outside for five days.

Madam Chen couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Are tomorrow’s preparations complete?”

Chun Zhi nodded. “Everything is ready. Chun Tao is doing the final checks.”

Madam Chen seemed to recall something. “Tell the household staff to stay alert these days and report any news immediately.”

“Understood.”

..

The next day, a carriage slowly left the Grand Duke’s mansion.

A servant inside the residence glanced at it before hurriedly walking in the opposite direction.

For Jiang Yuanxi, this was the first time traveling such a long distance by carriage.

She held her milk bottle, staring out the window.

As the carriage passed through the city gates, the real danger began.

Jiang Yuancheng and Jiang Yuanran remained alert, watching the surroundings.

They had brought guards and made full preparations. If the enemy dared to strike, they had to be ready to ensure they never returned.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

The dry leaves in the surrounding forest rustled.

Jiang Yuanxi paused in her drinking.

[They’re coming.]

Inside the carriage, the three brothers gripped their weapons tightly.

Madam Chen held her daughter close, her palms sweating.

Sensing her mother’s fear, Jiang Yuanxi threw down her milk bottle.

“Protect… Mother,” she patted Madam Chen’s hand. “Don’t be afraid.”

As long as she was here, no demons or monsters could harm her mother.

Soon, the sound of clashing blades rang outside.

Jiang Yuancheng and Jiang Yuanran leapt out of the carriage, and Jiang Yuanchen drew his sword to stand guard in front of Madam Chen.

Jiang Yuanxi was anxious to help, but Madam Chen held her tightly.

Outside, swords clashed in a deadly dance.

Chun Zhi and Chun Tao were specially trained guards assigned to protect Madam Chen, and their martial skills were exceptional.

They guarded the carriage, fending off approaching assassins.

The family had brought twenty elite guards.

Yet Jiang Yuanran had still underestimated the enemy’s numbers.

Jiang Yuanran and Jiang Yuancheng stood back to back.

“Big Brother, there are forty of them. That old hag really wants us dead,” Jiang Yuanran said grimly.

Jiang Yuancheng, exhausted, tightened his grip on his sword. Though he knew martial arts, he was ultimately a scholar, and his stamina was lacking.

“Hold on a little longer. Father will arrive soon.”

They exchanged a brief glance before rejoining the battle.

Through the gap in the curtain, Jiang Yuanxi saw her eldest and third brothers already injured.

Inside the carriage, she was growing frantic.

“Mother, help!”

Madam Chen held her tightly. “Yuanxi, be good. You can’t go out.”

Even if she died today, she had to protect her daughter.

Seeing her third brother wounded, Jiang Yuanchen immediately charged out.

“Yuanchen!” Madam Chen cried in alarm.

“Third Brother, I’m here to help you!” he shouted, cutting down an assassin.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Yuanxi dug through her bundle.

She finally pulled out a black object.

“This will do.”

Madam Chen stared in disbelief.

Was that…

A frying pan?