Xie Wenyun was in a great mood as he returned to the village with the silver he had tricked from the fortune teller.

When his family saw him coming back with a roll of rice paper, they naturally didn’t suspect the note he had left about going to the city. They only sighed about the lack of silver at home and wondered what to do about his tuition fees for next year.

His cousin from another world was even more imaginative, secretly vowing to get better soon; otherwise, the Xie family would be dragged down by the injuries of him and the original father. After all, having a scholar cousin was important in a society with such rigid class distinctions, especially when one of them could become an official.

The rest of the Xie family was also feeling gloomy.

Seeing this, Xie Wenyun didn’t say any comforting words like “It’s okay” or anything. What he wanted was for his family to feel guilty for delaying him, so they wouldn’t just share good news without mentioning the bad. Only in this way could his cousin from another world truly appreciate his sacrifices and willingly help him in the future.

And right now, the effect was great.

After reviewing everything he had done recently and confirming that there were no issues, he felt relieved.

As for the Liu family in the neighboring village?

Since Tongshu Village and Liu Family Village were not far apart and had just had a conflict, they were paying close attention to each other.

The next day, news came that the Liu family had been attacked by a pack of wolves at night, and the entire family had been bitten to death.

The Xie family was filled with sighs.

Although the two families had enmity, they were just ordinary folks. Hearing that someone had died still made them feel a mix of emotions—both sorrow and fear.

The wolf pack was right behind the mountain; if they could attack the Liu family, they could certainly attack other villagers as well.

So, rather than reveling in the misfortune of others, the villagers were more focused on how to prevent the wolves from coming down the mountain.

Xie Wenyun heard the news and expressed his sorrow along with everyone else.

“Ah, my aunt’s family really has had some bad luck…”

As for tears? Sorry, he was just too happy to shed even crocodile tears.

…

Xie Wenyun’s first battle after his rebirth was a perfect victory.

And over at the Yongchang Duke’s residence, things were quite different for Qiao Yujing, who was also a reborn person but had it much tougher.

It wasn’t that he was too foolish or that he hadn’t made anything of himself after being reborn; in fact, Qiao Yujing was quite smart. After all, his talent had earned him much praise in the capital, and it wasn’t just empty flattery.

However, as a young man about to get married, he was naturally constrained by his environment.

Take something as simple as going out, for example. Xie Wenyun, as a man, could go anywhere he pleased without a care. But for Qiao Yujing, going out meant sneaking around and disguising himself!

This time, he was delayed because he fell into a trap, and when he returned home, he was late as expected. His sneaky outing was discovered.

He had just gotten home and hadn’t even changed his clothes when the lady of the house caught him in the act.

“Unfilial son, why are you dressed like this and going out alone? I’ve raised you well, and this is how you tarnish the Duke’s reputation?”

“Don’t you know your second brother is about to marry the Crown Prince? You dare to go out and engage in private dealings? How could I have given birth to such a disgrace!”

The lady of the house saw her son return in a disheveled state and, without asking any questions, concluded that he had done something shameful. She angrily scolded him, her tone dripping with disdain.

Although Qiao Yujing was her biological son, she had never acknowledged him in her heart.

Because he wasn’t the child she had with her beloved, but rather a product of her impulsive betrayal, and a failed one at that!

Her husband didn’t like this son, making her betrayal seem like a joke.

She couldn’t blame the man she loved, nor could she admit her own failure, so all her resentment was directed at Qiao Yujing, the son no one cared about.

Each accusation felt like a sharp sword piercing his heart.

No matter how good his mindset was or how optimistic his personality, it was hard not to feel extremely hurt.

“Enough, high and mighty lady of the house! If you truly don’t want me as your son, then just kick me out of the Duke’s residence! I am your biological son, and you keep saying I’m shameless and doing shameful things. Do you think you’re bringing glory to yourself?”

“I’m tired of staying in this house. What’s wrong with going out for some fresh air? Your second brother runs around all day, engaging in private dealings with the Crown Prince, and that’s a source of pride for the family. But if I go out for a stroll, I’m just seducing wild men and bringing shame to the Duke’s residence?”

“I know you all care about your second brother and don’t like me, but there’s no need to torment me like this!”

In the past, Qiao Yujing had always remained silent and endured the scolding, treating it like the wind blowing past his ears.

After all, making a fuss wouldn’t help; he was just a weak little brother, and no matter how he resisted, he was still a fish on the chopping board.

But now it was different.

He was about to reunite with his biological father and leave this ghostly Yongchang Duke’s residence. He didn’t have to put up with it anymore!

“You unfilial son, you dare to talk back…”

The lady of the house didn’t expect her usually timid son to dare to retort, and she was both incredulous and furious.

“I’m just speaking the truth. Since you think I can’t compare to your second brother and that I’m just useless mud, then don’t come to see me. Think of a way to get rid of me sooner.”

“If you don’t like me but keep bringing me up, you’re just asking for trouble! No wonder Father doesn’t like you…”

Qiao Yujing let loose, hitting all the sore spots of the lady of the house.

Who told this crazy woman to scold him every day since he was little? In his past life, she even helped his rival’s child deceive his biological father!

Since she didn’t treat him as her own son, then he wouldn’t need her as a mother anymore.

“You, you…”

The lady of the house, who was used to being domineering and bullying others, had never experienced someone talking back to her. She was instantly furious, her face turning red with rage.

She completely ignored that since their meeting, her son hadn’t called her “mother” even once.

“Can’t take it anymore? I remember clearly how you scolded me from childhood to now. Every single day, it was like facing a storm of blades…”

“Yongchang Duke’s lady, if you don’t want your beloved second brother’s marriage to be a problem, then stop coming to trouble me. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered!”

Qiao Yujing said coldly before turning to leave.

As long as he reunited with his father, the Duke’s residence would no longer control his life, and he wouldn’t have to swallow his anger anymore.

Behind him, the lady of the house fainted from anger.

—

Back in the courtyard.

Qiao Yujing removed the makeup he had been wearing.

His features were still the same, but his originally delicate appearance suddenly became strikingly beautiful. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had a face that could topple kingdoms.

When he had called for help on the mountain, he hadn’t lied to Xie Wenyun; he really was very good-looking.

It was just that due to the indifference of the Duke’s residence, his mother’s disdain, his second brother’s targeting, and his elder brother’s favoritism, he had learned to hide his outstanding looks from a young age, fearing that they would lead him into trouble.

The maidservants, Zhiqin and Zhishu, who had served Qiao Yujing since childhood, were worried.

“Master, when we left just now, the lady fainted. Will there be rumors that you’re unfilial?”

“What if the lady gets so angry that she casually marries you off? The master and lady already don’t like you, and the old lady doesn’t manage things. If the lady just marries you off randomly, what will we do…”

Don’t think the lady wouldn’t do such a thing.

Their master had just sneaked out, and the lady didn’t even ask before concluding that he was doing something shameful, without considering how it would tarnish his reputation.

This was no mother; she was worse than a stepmother!

Zhiqin and Zhishu were loyal servants who had been with Qiao Yujing since he was little.

Even though their master wasn’t favored, they never thought of leaving. In his past life, they had even accompanied him to the family temple to suffer hardships.

Qiao Yujing didn’t mind explaining a few things to them and comforted them.

“It’s fine, you don’t need to worry. Everyone can see how I’ve been treated in the Duke’s residence since I was little. Everyone knows that the third son of the Yongchang Duke’s residence looks good on the surface but is actually a little pitiful. Who would believe such ridiculous rumors that I could make my mother faint from anger?”

“Besides, right now is a crucial time for my second brother’s marriage to the Crown Prince. As long as the Duke’s residence doesn’t want the marriage to be a problem, they will keep any bad news tightly under wraps…”

After all, if anything really got out, the Duke’s residence wouldn’t escape blame either, and he wouldn’t care.

He had his trump card and wasn’t afraid of being married off poorly.

But Zhiqin and Zhishu didn’t know these inner details and were still a bit worried.

However, they were more resentful towards the Duke’s residence!

Their master had a good personality, was stunningly beautiful, and was exceptionally talented.

He was so much better than the two-faced second son, so why didn’t the master and lady like him?

Clearly, he was the legitimate son, yet his life was worse than that of a concubine’s child.

If it weren’t for their master’s hard work, earning praise for his talent, the Duke’s residence wouldn’t even have the facade of being fair and just to avoid the bad reputation of favoritism.

You should know that before their master gained fame, their courtyard had always been the one with the worst reputation.

Their master’s life of luxury had only started in recent years.

Zhiqin and Zhishu sighed…

Suddenly, while helping Qiao Yujing change clothes, Zhishu exclaimed, “Master, where’s your jade pendant? That’s your personal item, engraved with your name! If someone finds it and makes a fuss, it’ll be terrible!”

Zhishu was very anxious. If a personal item of a young master fell into the hands of someone with ill intentions, it could ruin his reputation.

Their master was already not favored by the master and lady, and if he lost his reputation, he would really struggle to find a good marriage.

Zhiqin was also worried, “Master, think about when you lost the jade pendant. We need to go back and find it; it can’t fall into the hands of a stranger.”

Qiao Yujing, who had voluntarily given his item to a stranger: …feeling guilty.

But he had no regrets.

If he hadn’t agreed to Xie Wenyun’s conditions back then, he would have just been waiting to die in the trap on the mountain.

However, thinking about that man who had bullied him to tears with just a few words, Qiao Yujing felt both angry and embarrassed. He had never seen such a despicable man who would even bully a young master.

Truly terrible.

And yet, he still owed that person a life-saving favor, and his personal item was in their hands, leaving him unable to vent his frustrations.

“The jade pendant isn’t lost; I just threw it away after it broke outside. Let’s not talk about that. Have you contacted the people I asked you to reach out to?”

Qiao Yujing changed the subject ambiguously.

Zhishu immediately replied, “Master, don’t worry! We’ve taken care of what you instructed! The owner of Yipinxiang Restaurant replied that their boss agreed to meet tomorrow.”

“Really? That’s great.”

Qiao Yujing was delighted to hear this.

The owner behind Yipinxiang Restaurant was his biological father, who worked as a eunuch in the palace.

As long as he reunited with his father, their tragic lives would change!