The Duke of An had a stroke and couldn’t get up, and no one was happier than the Old Madam.

She had been terrified that her past poisoning attempt would be discovered and had spent days in constant fear.

Who would have thought that without her lifting a finger, the Duke of An would collapse on his own?

“Poison… poison… haha…” The Duke of An struggled to speak, his words slurred. “Venomous woman…”

His only response was another spoonful of bitter medicine.

After feeding him the medicine, the Old Madam held out two empty bowls, but no one stepped forward to take them.

“Take the bowls away,” she ordered.

Only then did the little maid behind her hesitantly step forward and accept the bowls.

The Old Madam glared at her in dissatisfaction.

Ever since Wang Momo had left, she felt that the people around her were serving her poorly, making everything inconvenient.

“Take good care of the Duke,” she commanded before shutting the door and leaving.

The room fell into silence.

Suddenly, a figure leaped down from the beams.

Seeing the man in black, the Duke of An’s eyes lit up as if he had seen a lifeline.

“It’s only been a few days, and the Duke of An has already fallen into such a miserable state. How pitiful.” The man in black spoke leisurely.

..

The top scholar rode through the city in a grand parade, and the scene was lively and festive.

Jiang Yuansheng wore a flowing white robe, with a white jade pendant hanging from his waist. Mounted on a white horse, his elegant and distinguished appearance captivated the hearts of many young women in Shengjing.

His striking features were so divine that he could easily be mistaken for an immortal from the heavens.

In the midst of the crowd, Jiang Yuanxi and Jiang Yuancheng waved flags and cheered for their elder brother.

[Ah, my brother is so handsome!] Jiang Yuanxi screamed internally.

“Brother! Handsome!” she shouted at the top of her lungs.

Jiang Yuancheng was even more dramatic—he had somehow gotten hold of a large gong and was beating it loudly.

Jiang Yuansheng immediately spotted his younger siblings in the crowd.

He guided his horse toward them.

“What is the top scholar trying to do?” A young woman on a high balcony looked down curiously.

“I heard that the top scholar is the legitimate grandson of the Duke of An’s household, but his entire family was cast out. Do you think he did something shameful, which led to their expulsion?” someone speculated.

Tao Menglan kept her gaze fixed on the young man below.

She parted her lips slightly and said, “Rumors aren’t always true.”

Besides, she clenched the handkerchief in her hands—she didn’t believe he would do something disgraceful.

Jiang Yuansheng’s white horse stopped before a small figure, and he reached out his hand.

“Yuanxi, come here.”

[Oh my god, the handsome guy is reaching out to me.]

“Brother, I can’t!” Jiang Yuanxi waved her hands in refusal.

[This is Brother’s moment in the spotlight; I shouldn’t steal it.]

Before she could fully process the situation, she suddenly felt her body lifted into the air. The next moment, she was sitting atop the horse.

[Ahhh! So high up!]

Terrified, Jiang Yuanxi clung tightly to her brother’s robes.

Jiang Yuansheng wrapped an arm protectively around her and whispered in her ear, “Don’t be afraid, Yuanxi. Brother will protect you.”

With that reassurance, she quickly adapted.

She finally understood what it felt like to be the center of attention.

Jiang Yuanxi held her head high, looking like a victorious little chick.

From time to time, she would even nod and respond to the people below.

“Oh, oh! You’re too kind, too kind.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Then, she reached into her pocket, pulled out some dried meat and sweets, and scattered them down into the crowd.

Jiang Yuansheng sighed with a helpless smile. He had expected his little sister to be overwhelmed and cry, but clearly, he had underestimated her.

“Who is the little girl in the top scholar’s arms?” the crowd murmured.

“Could she be his illegitimate daughter?”

Tao Menglan peeked out again and saw the delicate, porcelain-like girl in Jiang Yuansheng’s arms. Her lips, her eyes—she looked exactly like him.

She softly said, “I heard Jiang Yuansheng has a younger sister. It should be her.” After all, who would parade an illegitimate daughter through the streets?

The young women accompanying her eagerly nodded.

“Master Zongzhi is so talented and handsome. I wonder which lucky lady will marry such a young gentleman. But with his delicate looks, do you think he’s… well, you know…” They giggled, their conversation growing bolder.

The more Tao Menglan listened, the more her face flushed. Yet, she couldn’t help but perk up her ears, her blush deepening.

The parade passed by the Duke of An’s residence.

The entire household came out to watch, including the Old Madam.

Such an honorable occasion—who could this distinguished scholar be?

As the parade drew closer, she finally saw the young man on the white horse.

The Old Madam nearly lost her balance.

“Him?! How could it be him!”

Wu Cuirou’s face turned pale as she remembered the bet she had made.

“How did the parade end up at the Duke of An’s residence? I heard the top scholar was kicked out by the Duke.”

“They even erased his name from the family records!”

“The Duke of An abandoned a fortune! What a pity—he must be too ashamed to show his face now!”

Jiang Yuanxi turned her head and saw the people standing at the Duke’s gates.

[It’s time for Brother and Wu Cuirou’s bet to be settled.]

With that, the top scholar’s white horse stopped at the Duke of An’s gates, causing a stir among the onlookers.

“What’s he going to do?”

“Is he here to rub salt in the wound?”

Jiang Yuansheng did not dismount. Instead, he sat high on his horse and surveyed the members of the Duke’s household before locking eyes on Wu Cuirou.

Wu Cuirou felt her scalp tighten.

“I wonder if Madam Jiang still remembers our bet? With so many people here today, why don’t you fulfill your promise and let them bear witness?” Jiang Yuansheng’s voice was calm but carried weight.

Wu Cuirou’s eyes widened in horror.

If she said it out loud in front of so many people, the entire capital would know by tomorrow.

“What bet?” The Old Madam frowned in curiosity.

Wu Cuirou didn’t dare to answer.

Jiang Yuancheng squeezed through the crowd, pointing at Wu Cuirou. “She bet with my brother that if he became the top scholar, she would call my father and mother ‘ancestor’!”

The crowd roared with excitement.

The Duke of An’s household had mistreated the first branch, forcing them out under cruel circumstances. Everyone had long heard of these injustices.

Not only that, but after expelling them, the Duke had immediately gone to the palace to request titles for his second son.

Such favoritism was outrageous, and the people felt sympathy for the top scholar’s family.

Making the Duke’s household call them ‘ancestor’—they had been waiting for this moment!

“Quick, someone go fetch Master Jiang and Madam Jiang!”

Chen Shi was carried over in a sedan chair, confused.

“What’s going on?”

Jiang Fengyuan, who had been drilling soldiers at the camp, was also escorted over.

“Yuansheng, what is this?” he asked his son.

[Say it! Call them ancestor!] Jiang Yuanxi was practically bouncing with excitement.

Jiang Yuansheng hadn’t expected the crowd to be this supportive.

“Father, Mother, don’t worry,” he reassured them before turning to Wu Cuirou. “Now that everyone is here, when will Madam Jiang keep her word?”

The Old Madam, unable to bear the humiliation, retreated into the courtyard.

“Say it! Say it!” the crowd chanted.

Wu Cuirou ground her teeth in fury, but with so many eyes on her, there was no escape.

She wanted to slap herself.

Why had she run her mouth and made that stupid bet?

Shaking with anger, she stepped forward and forced the words out through clenched teeth.

“An… Ancestor.”

Jiang Yuancheng crossed his arms. “Louder! We can’t hear you!”

“Ancestor!” Wu Cuirou shouted, her face burning with humiliation.

As the crowd erupted in laughter, she swore—she would make them all pay.