The rain was getting heavier and heavier.

The common people living near the hillsides suffered disasters as large amounts of mud came pouring down. Bochang Reservoir was the capital’s largest reservoir—all agricultural irrigation in the capital relied on water drawn from here. But the rain’s momentum was fierce, and the reservoir water was rising. The reservoir itself was at risk of collapse. Xuan Li led his subordinates in flood control, temporarily suppressing the rising water.

In the Zhuangyuan residence, the young Zhuangyuan stood by the window, frowning as he watched the rain.

Madam Liu carried in brown sugar ginger soup, set the bowl on the table, and seeing Liu Min like this, sighed: “What sin have we committed to bring such suffering to so many families?” They were originally from humble origins and felt deeply for the people’s hardships. If Liu Min hadn’t already entered court as an official, they probably would have been displaced and suffering like these common people.

Liu Min patted Madam Liu’s shoulder consolingly: “Mother, don’t worry. Everything will pass.”

“If not for General Zhao distributing grain for disaster relief, who knows how many people would have starved to death,” Madam Liu said with feeling. “General Zhao is a good official. In court, you should get closer to him.”

Liu Min nodded. But if the rain continued endlessly, eventually even Zhao Guang’s wealth would be exhausted. This matter could only provide immediate relief—it wasn’t a long-term solution. He recalled how the Eighth Prince had enthusiastically asked his views on the flood disaster a few days ago. The Eighth Prince seemed determined to contribute to controlling the disaster. But someone who truly cared for the world—how could he consider things as comprehensively as Liu Min did?

Liu Min sighed almost imperceptibly. The court’s waters ran deep—only when you were in the midst of it did you know how difficult every step could be.

For more than ten consecutive days, the porridge distribution never stopped, and the capital gradually calmed down. If there was any fresh news, it was that the city garrison had caught a group of bandits disguised as refugees at Chongxin Village east of the city. That day, the garrison was short-handed, so the commander borrowed men from the Capital Magistrate. When they reached Chongxin Village, there was a fierce battle. They managed to subdue the bandits and throw them in prison, but overnight, all the bandits committed suicide in their cells from guilt.

While the capital’s citizens applauded, they also worried—with such unrest in the city, life would be even harder in the future. The capital’s garrison gained some prestige from this incident.

In Ruan Residence, Jiang Ruan was leaning on the couch embroidering. In the past at the estate, due to pressure from Nanny Zhang’s family, she had embroidered day and night, developing calluses on her hands. Living again, she hated how her previous life had ended with a mutilated body covered in scars, so in this life she was unwilling to leave any scars on her body. After returning to the Jiang residence, she had cast aside all embroidery work. These past days, all the calluses on her hands had fallen away and become white and tender again, looking like a young lady’s hands, so she picked up these tasks again.

Lu Zhu walked in from outside. After checking that no one was around, she approached Jiang Ruan quietly: “Miss, people from the General’s residence have come. They want to meet the porridge distributors.”

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Are they really from the General’s residence?”

“They have official seals—they don’t look fake,” Lu Zhu said. “Miss, how should we respond?”

Jiang Ruan set down her embroidery, picked up the azure porcelain teacup beside her, gently stroking the cup’s rim: “Tell them I’ll visit personally tomorrow morning.”

“Miss?” Lu Zhu was startled.

Jiang Ruan said: “Go ahead.”

The Zhao family—since they made such a request, they were determined to meet. Good. With the day of Jiang Xinzhi’s return drawing closer, relying on her strength alone was too difficult. She would lay her cards on the table and see if the Zhao family was willing to grant this favor.

When the Zhao family in the capital received this news, Zhao Guang’s expression was grave. A few days ago, Zhao Yi had captured a group of refugees at Chongxin Village. According to Zhao Yi, those people were all guards with martial arts skills—definitely not ordinary refugees. And for them all to commit suicide overnight in the heavenly prison was clearly no simple matter. Zhao Guang could guess who was behind it. He’d heard that the Eighth Prince’s residence had been tightly closed recently, with reports of large numbers of guards being executed.

The young lady Zhao Yi mentioned encountering—Zhao Guang and his sons all believed the person behind this and the porridge distributor were the same. Given Xuan Li’s methods, that person should be opposing Xuan Li, which had helped the Zhao family several times. But now nothing could be said with certainty. The other party’s identity was undetermined—what if it was Xuan Li’s scheme? They had sent people to the porridge distribution site requesting to meet the person behind it as a test, but the other party said they would visit personally tomorrow. Such behavior was truly incomprehensible.

Zhao Yuanjia said: “Father, since that person dares to visit personally, they must be well-prepared. Should we also make arrangements?”

“No need,” Zhao Yuanping’s shrewd eyes flashed with thought: “I think the other party is doing this to show they have no ill intent—at least they won’t conflict with us at the General’s residence.”

“Whether there’s conflict or not,” Zhao Yuanfeng said carelessly, “our General’s residence has plenty of people. What’s there to fear? Whether it’s a god or ghost, just give them a good beating first—won’t they behave then?”

“Shut up,” Zhao Guang was so angry at Zhao Yuanfeng’s words that his beard bristled: “Can’t you use your brain? Second son is right. But to prevent that person from playing tricks, first settle your mother, the madam, and Yulong and the others.”

“Second brother,” Zhao Yuanfeng pushed the cleverest Zhao Yuanping: “What kind of person do you think they are?”

“I don’t know.” Zhao Yuanping shook his head: “We’ve considered all of father’s colleagues—it can’t be any of them. Anyway, we’ll know who it is tomorrow.”

That night, the Zhao family didn’t sleep well. Early the next morning, Jiang Ruan left in a carriage. Lin Zixiang regularly sent her invitations, and Xia Yan had to maintain her image as a gentle, caring stepmother, so she had no reason to stop her. Moreover, these past days she’d been busy with Jiang Susu’s affairs. Jiang Quan’s attitude had softened somewhat—Jiang Susu might not have to go to the family temple. But Jiang Susu had been unable to sleep well for more than half a month, constantly claiming ghosts knocked on her door at midnight. Several doctors had been consulted to no avail, leaving Xia Yan extremely worried.

Since the porridge distribution incident brought imperial praise, some colleagues in officialdom had followed the wind, making the residence busy with visitors. Today they had specifically declined all invitations, waiting exclusively for that one person.

A gray-blue carriage rumbled up and stopped before the General’s residence gates.

A tall young maid jumped out and spoke a few words to the gatekeeper, who hurried away. Moments later, Zhao Yi strode out from within, followed by several robust guards. Seeing the maid, he was slightly startled, then stared quite seriously at the carriage stopped at the gate.

The maid walked to the carriage, stood on tiptoe to speak inside, and the carriage curtain was lifted. Another maid-dressed person jumped out.

Zhao Yi frowned. Why did this person travel with two maids, like a woman?

Next, the tall maid helped someone from inside the carriage—a hunched old woman with her eyes covered by black cloth. She appeared blind and was supported by the tall maid to one side.

Zhao Yi’s eyes widened in undisguised shock. Could it really be this blind old woman? This was truly too surprising. He scrutinized the old woman carefully but found nothing special, becoming even more puzzled.

“Young Master?” A gentle voice came from ahead. Only then did Zhao Yi notice that while he’d been watching the blind old woman, another person had descended from the carriage wearing a bamboo hat that concealed their face. The voice was unmistakably female and somewhat familiar.

Not expecting the visitor to the General’s residence to be a woman, Zhao Yi was stunned: “Miss, please follow me.”

The four followed Zhao Yi into the residence. Zhao Yi was naturally surprised—if it was a woman, the two maids were understandable, but why bring a blind old woman? What was the purpose?

Just as he was thinking this, that person suddenly reached up to remove the bamboo hat, revealing a familiar face.

Zhao Yi was speechless: “It’s you!”

“It’s me.” Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Commander Zhao, I trust you’ve been well.”

Zhao Yi blushed again momentarily, looking at the bright face of the young lady opposite and stuttering somewhat, feeling ashamed inwardly. She was, after all, only a girl of about ten, while he was nearly twenty—how could he still blush looking at a little girl? He suddenly thought of something and said in surprise: “You’re the one distributing porridge?”

“Not me,” Jiang Ruan said. Seeing Zhao Yi’s relieved expression, she added: “I hired them.”

“You, you, you, you, you…” Zhao Yi stammered: “Who exactly are you?”

“Commander Zhao, after all, I did save your life,” Jiang Ruan smiled: “I won’t harm you.”

Zhao Yi said nothing. With the capital’s current chaotic situation, there were plenty of people eyeing the Zhao family covetously. Who knew if this might be another trap? However, Zhao Yi had inherited his father Zhao Yuanjia’s gentle, honest nature and understood the principle of repaying kindness. He bowed: “Miss’s life-saving grace will be repaid abundantly someday.” Strangely, he felt a particular closeness to Jiang Ruan, instinctively feeling this little girl wouldn’t harm the Zhao family. He had many questions, but seeing Jiang Ruan’s smiling profile, he swallowed them back. Those questions—once they reached the hall, Zhao Guang and his uncles would naturally ask.

Zhao Yi led the four toward the General’s residence main hall. Compared to the Jiang residence’s refinement, the General’s residence appeared more magnificent and imposing. The guards in the residence also looked very formidable, unable to help stealing glances as Jiang Ruan’s group passed.

Both Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi were somewhat nervous, while Nanny Zhou trembled slightly the whole way. Jiang Ruan inwardly smiled—Zhao Guang had indeed taken great care for her arrival. The guards here treated her as a formidable enemy, so they must have some ability.

Reaching the hall entrance, Zhao Yi entered first. Zhao Guang sat in the main seat, naturally emanating the aura of a great general—the blood-tinged oppression that came from countless battlefield baptisms, causing inexplicable fear. Zhao Yuanjia, Zhao Yuanping, and Zhao Yuanfeng sat on either side—Zhao Yuanjia proper and steady, Zhao Yuanping shrewd and intelligent, Zhao Yuanfeng dashing and unrestrained. The three Zhao sons were clearly all extraordinary men at a glance.

Zhao Yi strode in, subtly gesturing to the others in the hall—their secret signal meaning no danger.

Zhao Yi called outside: “Miss, please come in.”

Jiang Ruan stepped inside.

All four Zhao men frowned toward the hall entrance, seeing a red-dressed young lady slowly approaching from outside. She wore a date-red brocade robe with four-happiness auspicious patterns, a trailing pale red gold-threaded Korean silk embroidered skirt, draped in a colorful embroidered four-happiness auspicious cicada-wing gauze brocade cape. Her long hair was styled in a fashionable, elegant falling chignon, with an amber and lapis lazuli bracelet on her wrist. A soft silk palace sash was tied at her waist, from which hung an auspicious pile-embroidered sachet, and she wore scattered butterfly embroidered shoes. This young lady appeared no more than eleven or twelve years old but was stunningly beautiful, with extremely bright features that weren’t frivolous but rather possessed a stable, magnificent beauty.

However, what was most surprising wasn’t this.

She walked in step by step with a smile.

Zhao Guang looked at her in shock, and his three sons also suddenly sat up straight, staring at her intently.

Step by step, she drew closer. Zhao Guang suddenly stood up, eyes wide, lips trembling constantly, calling out softly: “Mei’er.”

The three Zhao Yuanjia were already dumbstruck.

Similar, too similar. A face too much like Zhao Mei’s.

Even though Jiang Ruan only inherited six or seven parts of Zhao Mei’s features, in the male-dominated General’s residence, Jiang Ruan looked too much like Zhao Mei. The three Zhao Yuanjia hadn’t seen Zhao Mei for many years, but the Zhao Mei in their memories was exactly this age, loving to wear red clothes, passionate as fire, smiling, running, pestering her brothers to go horseback riding together.

That person was gone, her face forever sealed in memory. Seeing Jiang Ruan now suddenly gave them the feeling of reuniting with an old friend.

The one most shocked was Zhao Guang.

He moved his lips but couldn’t say a word.

Jiang Ruan’s gaze swept briefly, taking in everyone’s expressions completely. Regarding the Zhao family, actually in both past and present lives, she had never truly interacted with them. However, when she was small, Zhao Mei often told her about the General’s residence—about her stubborn, rough grandfather, several uncles with different personalities, the happy times Zhao Mei had lived with these brothers and parents. Even through description, Jiang Ruan could imagine what a beautiful picture that was.

At that time, Jiang Ruan always asked Zhao Mei: “Why don’t grandfather and the others come see us?”

Zhao Mei’s brow would cloud with melancholy: “It’s mother’s fault. Mother made mistakes and doesn’t deserve their forgiveness.”

She hadn’t understood what Zhao Mei meant then. Now thinking back, it was just the most sorrowful bitterness in a woman’s heart. What in the world was more tragic than abandoning family, only to discover your beloved was a wolf?

Born into a civil official’s family, accustomed to scheming life, she longed for the straightforward military household Zhao Mei described, where dissatisfactions were settled with sparring. Unfortunately, until the end of her previous life, she never had the chance to see the General’s residence with her own eyes, only receiving news of their complete family execution.

Now in this life, she stood on the very real ground of the General’s residence.

She smiled softly: “General Zhao.”

The words “General Zhao” pulled Zhao Guang’s thoughts back. The young lady before him indeed looked too much like Zhao Mei, but looking carefully, it wasn’t entirely so. Zhao Mei appeared passionate as fire on the surface but actually had a gentle, soft nature with an innocent naivety about the world. This young lady, though also in red clothes the color of fire, wore them with a cold feeling. Her eyes revealed depths and vicissitudes incompatible with her age. Though her smile was gentle, her nature was too cold, too cold.

She wasn’t Zhao Mei.

“Who are you?” The most impetuous Zhao Yuanfeng stood up: “Why do you look so much like my sister!”

Among the Zhao sons, Zhao Yuanfeng and Zhao Mei had the closest relationship. Zhao Yuanjia was more than ten years older than Zhao Mei and was always a caring elder brother. Zhao Yuanping was shrewd and intelligent, and though he doted on Zhao Mei, he didn’t know how to make her happy. Only Zhao Yuanfeng—both siblings had passionate, unrestrained natures, were close in age, and climbed trees and rode horses together. With such a good relationship with Zhao Mei, seeing Jiang Ruan now naturally excited him tremendously.

Jiang Ruan smiled at him: “Little uncle?”

Zhao Yuanfeng was thunderstruck, stepping back two paces and pointing at Jiang Ruan: “You called me uncle?”

Both Zhao Yuanjia and Zhao Yuanping’s expressions changed, looking at Jiang Ruan incredulously. Zhao Guang also shuddered violently.

Jiang Ruan ignored everyone’s shocked gazes: “I am the one who distributed porridge under the Zhao family name, and I am the current legitimate eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Ruan.”

She smiled: “According to family relationships, I should bow to you.” She performed a light bow: “Ruan pays respects to grandfather, eldest uncle, second uncle, and youngest uncle.”

Zhao Yi, who had been observing from the sidelines, finally called out: “You’re aunt’s daughter?”

He had always known his father had a sister, that he had an aunt, but this aunt was a taboo topic never mentioned in the Zhao family. When he was born, aunt was no longer in the residence, so he had never seen this aunt. He only knew bits and pieces from wet nurses and nannies. Now this little girl who had saved him once was actually aunt’s daughter?

Jiang Ruan looked at him: “Thank you for your trouble, eldest cousin.”

The Zhao family father and sons all looked at her in shocked silence.

Lian Qiao gently pressed Nanny Zhou’s hand. Nanny Zhou understood and rushed forward, kneeling and crying: “Master, master, do you still remember this servant? You and madam originally told this old servant to follow young miss to the Jiang family!”

“Nanny Zhou?” Zhao Guang was stunned. When Zhao Mei had insisted on marrying into the Jiang family, even willing to sever ties with the Zhao family, on the day she packed and left the residence, he and his wife had called Zhou Ying from the residence to stay by Zhao Mei’s side.

More than ten years had passed in a flash.

“How did you become like this?” Zhao Guang frowned. When Nanny Zhou left, she was a complete person, but now she appeared to be blind, and her body didn’t look well either, seeming to have just recovered from serious illness.

“It was the cruel-hearted Jiang family who harmed me,” Nanny Zhou said. “The Jiang family harmed young miss, and it was little miss who saved this old servant’s life. The Jiang family not only harmed little miss but also wanted to harm little miss’s children. Master, save little miss!” After speaking, she desperately kowtowed to Zhao Guang regardless of everything, looking heartbreakingly pitiful.

Jiang Ruan had Bai Zhi help up Nanny Zhou and looked at Zhao Guang. Zhao Guang’s expression was shocked, his face instantly turning iron-blue as he gritted his teeth: “Jiang Quan!”

“Exactly my birth father,” Jiang Ruan said indifferently: “General, please help Ruan.”