Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was Jiang Yuanxi’s one-month-old celebration.

The Jiang family’s main house began to get busy early in the morning.

Jiang Yuanxi, still half-asleep, was picked up, dressed in festive clothes, and had red embroidered baby shoes with tiger heads put on her feet.

Around her neck, a golden pendant was hung, giving her a royal and luxurious look.

Jiang Yuanxi held the golden pendant and drooled over it.

Jiang Fengyuan had taken leave the day before and was helping his wife, Chen Shi, with the preparations.

In the one month since her birth, Jiang Yuanxi had grown increasingly fair and soft, her little face so tender it seemed like it could be pinched to release water. She was simply adorable.

“Yuanxi, do you like the courtyard that your father set up?”

Jiang Yuanxi was lifted high, looking around, like an inspector on a tour.

【Hmm, it really is nice.】

Hearing his daughter’s approval, Jiang Fengyuan smiled happily and kissed her on the cheek.

【Ah, haha, my father needs to shave.】

Jiang Fengyuan froze for a moment, noticing that red marks had appeared on his daughter’s smooth little face.

Just as he was about to feel guilty, guests began to arrive in pairs.

Reluctantly, Jiang Fengyuan placed his daughter back in the cradle and hurried out to greet them.

The guests were mostly officials close to Jiang Fengyuan, some of whom had sent their wives on their behalf.

Chen Shi(Madam Chen) had also invited many people, but only a few had arrived.

Chun Zhi came in and whispered, “Madam, the Jiang and Qian families sent gifts, but…”

“What did they say?” Chen Shi asked, looking toward the door.

Chun Zhi lowered her head, “They said they won’t be coming.”

Chen Shi was stunned for a moment.

The wives of the Jiang and Qian families were among her few close friends.

After the Chen family was exiled, these two women had disappeared from her life.

【Don’t be sad, Mother. Yuanxi is here with you.】

Jiang Yuanxi reached out her little hand and grabbed Chen Shi’s finger.

【These fence-sitters, now you see their true colors. You should be happy.】

Chen Shi’s heart softened, and she gently kissed her daughter’s forehead.

Her daughter always knew how to comfort her, unlike those nasty boys.

Of course, Chen Shi knew that the Jiang and Qian families had been interested in the Chen family’s power.

Now that the Chen family had fallen, with the general’s position reduced to the fifth rank and the title of Duke of An essentially meaningless, these friends of hers, with their high aspirations, would no longer care about such a position.

Suddenly, she looked up, “Chun Zhi, why isn’t Yuancheng here today?”

Chun Zhi shook her head, “Fourth young master hasn’t come to Yilan Courtyard today.”

There were so many guests today that there was no time to pay attention to her son.

Chen Shi had no choice but to give up, hoping that today, Jiang Yuancheng would behave and not cause any trouble.

At that moment, Jiang Yuancheng, who had been sought by Chen Shi, was hiding in a secluded forest, waiting for the right moment.

In the back courtyard, Jiang Yuanxi was surrounded by a group of ladies.

They pinched her cheeks and kissed her, loving her to no end.

Surrounded by so many beauties, Jiang Yuanxi felt delighted.

Not only that, she was receiving gifts.

【Haha, gold! Come on, aunties, hang it around my neck!】

【From now on, you’ll all be Yuanxi’s godmothers.】

【Mother, hold more banquets for me in the future, so I can receive gifts until my hands get sore.】

Chen Shi smiled and shook her head, not realizing that her daughter was such a little money lover.

“Wanwan.” A bright, clear voice called out.

Chen Shi looked toward the door happily, but when she saw the person, she teased, “Rogue, after waiting so long, you’ve finally come.”

Lu Tinghong, a third-rank female general, and Chen Xinwan’s best friend.

Today, she wore a red waist-tight dress, her hair lifted high by a crown, with a more heroic and elegant air.

“I just came from the military camp, come, let me see our little Yuanxi.” Her eyes were bright, sparkling with energy, almost as if they were speaking.

Lu Tinghong felt envious.

She had three sons but could never have a daughter. Now, seeing this delicate little girl, it was hard not to love her, and a thought suddenly grew in her mind.

Lu Tinghong hung a gold lock, about the size of her palm, around Jiang Yuanxi’s neck.

“Yuanxi, do you like what your auntie gave you?”

【Wow, wow, wow!】 Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes sparkled.

Solid gold! Such a large gold piece, when would she ever finish spending it?

【I love it so much!】 Jiang Yuanxi held onto the gold lock tightly, drooling all over.

【Auntie, do you need a daughter? How about me?】

Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes shone brightly.

Chen Shi flicked her daughter’s little nose, “Such a greedy little thing.”

Lu Tinghong continued to coax the baby, “Yuanxi, how about I become your godmother?”

Jiang Yuanxi clapped her hands happily, feeling an unspoken connection with her godmother, as if they were in perfect sync.

Lu Tinghong was amazed, “Wanwan, look, Yuanxi agrees!”

Chen Shi laughed softly.

At that moment, Chun Tao approached Chen Shi and whispered a few words in her ear.

Chen Shi’s expression changed.

It seemed something serious had happened.

Lu Tinghong held Jiang Yuanxi in her arms, “Wanwan, you go ahead, I’ll take care of the child.”

Chen Shi was grateful.

After Chen Shi left, Jiang Yuanxi stared eagerly at the door.

【Where did Mother go? Why didn’t she take me?】

Lu Tinghong, seeing the little one’s distracted expression, also became curious about what Wanwan was doing, leaving so urgently.

“Shall we go and take a look?”

【Godmother, you’re my true godmother.】

Chun Zhi quickly helped Chen Shi put on her cloak, and they hurried to the front courtyard.

The front courtyard was where the men ate, but today, Chen Shi couldn’t care about those formalities.

Before coming here, Chen Shi had already learned the situation from Springzhi.

Jiang Yuancheng had ambushed Jiang Hui on the road and beat him up.

But when they arrived at the front courtyard, she realized that the Duke of An wanted to publicly punish Jiang Yuancheng.

As the saying goes, “family matters should not be aired in public.”

Now, the Duke of An, in order to please the second wife, was disregarding the face of the first wife.

Seeing Chen Shi arrive, Jiang Yuancheng’s suppressed grievances finally burst out.

“Mother.” He fought back tears, unable to hold them in any longer.

Jiang Fengyuan knelt on the side, his face dark.

When the Duke of An saw Chen Shi, his brows furrowed.

“What are you doing here?”

Chen Shi took Jiang Yuancheng into her arms, “Father, the child was just having a small quarrel. It’s nothing, you don’t need to trouble yourself. Besides, there are so many people here today, there’s no need to ruin everyone’s mood.”

The Duke of An snorted coldly, pointing at the kneeling Jiang Yuancheng, “A child this young, so unruly, he should be punished in front of everyone to teach him a lesson.”

On the side, Jiang Hui raised his neck, looking at Jiang Yuancheng with an eyebrow raised, as if saying, “Look, grandfather is on our side.”

The guests were all waiting to see the drama unfold.

Thirty lashes—most adults couldn’t bear that, let alone a nine-year-old child.

The Duke of An was really ruthless.

Seeing the pained expressions of his parents, Jiang Yuancheng couldn’t hold back any longer.

He explained everything that had happened, how Jiang Hui had committed such a serious mistake but had not been punished, yet when Jiang Yuancheng simply beat him out of anger, the Duke of An wanted to punish him.

Was that fair?

“You…” The Duke of An was furious, “How dare you question me, your grandfather!”

Jiang Fengyuan, who had been silent for a long time, stood up, clenching his fists, and coldly stared at his father.

“What if I want to seek justice for Yuanxi?”

Since his father had no shame, why should he care?

Today, he would let all of Shengjing see how the Duke of An slandered his legitimate son.

Jiang Qisheng secretly rejoiced. Let them make a scene! If it gets big, his father would completely give up on the first branch.

At that point, the entire Duke of An’s mansion would belong to them.

Seeing the furious expression on the first branch’s face, the Duke of An realized he had gone too far.

But he couldn’t back down now, not in front of all these people. How dare the first branch embarrass him in front of everyone?

“Unfilial son! You…”

Just then, the door opened, and a report came in.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived!”

A group of guards entered, followed by a bright yellow figure, with another young man dressed in yellow behind him.

The ministers were all stunned.

Could it be that the Duke of An was about to receive favor from the Emperor again?

Otherwise, why would the Emperor personally visit?

The Emperor had just come out of a minister’s house and, seeing the festive decorations at the Jiang family’s house, inquired about it.

Upon learning it was for a child’s one-month celebration, he decided to make a brief visit for a drink.

With the Emperor and the Crown Prince’s arrival, the Duke of An was both surprised and delighted.

He had once accompanied the late emperor in battle, earning his title as Duke of An.

But ever since the new emperor took the throne, they had been suppressing old officials, and the Duke of An’s family had been deteriorating.

If the Emperor saw his second son Qisheng, how could the Duke of An’s family not have a future?

“Your servant and wife greet His Majesty and the Crown Prince.”

The Emperor waved his hand, “No need for such formalities, I’m just passing through for a drink. You all carry on as you were.”

The ministers understood—this was just a chance encounter.

At this point, Lu Tinghong, holding Jiang Yuanxi, rushed to the scene and hid behind a pillar.

No wonder Wanwan had left so urgently.

Lu Tinghong whispered, “Yuanxi, let’s go to the back courtyard and wait.”

Jiang Yuanxi immediately noticed Jiang Yuancheng and Jiang Hui still kneeling on the ground.

She looked at her parents’ faces and, being as smart as she was, quickly understood what had just happened.

It seemed that the Emperor and the Crown Prince had arrived just in time.

If she left now, the Duke of An would surely punish Jiang Yuancheng privately.

Her parents would have to swallow their anger in such a public situation.

So, she decided to make a scene.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuanxi cleared her throat.

“Waaah!”

The baby’s cry suddenly rang out.

Lu Tinghong knew they couldn’t hide anymore, so she brought Jiang Yuanxi out.