The flood disaster had kept everyone in the capital exhausted and busy, with spring rain pattering endlessly. However, in recent days, the Eighth Prince and the second young master of the Prime Minister’s residence had been working continuously on flood control and had achieved preliminary results. Combined with more and more people joining the porridge distribution efforts, the situation had stabilized considerably. The capital was gradually returning to its former order.

For instance, this afternoon, the Guan Family Army returning in triumph from the frontier had arrived in the capital early. The orderly and disciplined army nearly filled the entire street. The leader was spirited and robust – it was Guan Lianghan. Riding alongside him was a handsome young man who, though a military man, didn’t appear crude but rather possessed the elegance of noble sons in the capital. That young man was completely unfamiliar, and there was also a carriage following behind the formation, though no one knew who sat inside.

Zhao Yuanfeng, his nephew, and Xiao Shao had already departed. Following Jiang Ruan’s suggestion, Jiang Xinzhi rode through the capital’s streets in parade. He didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just Jiang Ruan’s girlish nature wanting to show off. Jiang Ruan sat in the carriage while Lian Qiao secretly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to peek outside, exclaiming: “The eldest young master looks so imposing! All the common people are watching.”

Bai Zhi also smiled: “Now that the eldest young master has returned, Miss will have good days ahead.”

Lian Qiao rolled her eyes, a gleam of cunning flashing through them: “Now that person in Yanhua Courtyard will be furious.”

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. When Xia Yan saw Jiang Xinzhi return safe and sound, she wouldn’t merely be angry. This matter wouldn’t end so simply. Those who wanted to plot against Jiang Xinzhi shouldn’t expect to escape unscathed from this situation. Xuan Li, Li An – she still had a great gift that hadn’t been delivered to those two.

Jiang Xinzhi was now young and accomplished. Looking at his bearing alongside Guan Lianghan, people could easily guess he was the deputy general who had achieved military merit, though they hadn’t expected him to be so young. Many young ladies and young wives watching from the roadside blushed and threw silk flowers at the mounted figure. Jiang Xinzhi smiled slightly. After so many years of training, he had learned to control his emotions well. At first glance, he appeared as dashing as a scholarly general.

Among the crowd were also wives and young ladies from official families who began inquiring about this deputy general’s identity. Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted loudly: “Isn’t this the eldest young master from Minister Jiang’s residence? I heard he joined the army five years ago. Who would have thought he’d achieve military merit and return to the capital!”

This single stone stirred up a thousand waves. As soon as these words were spoken, everyone began discussing.

“I wondered why he looked so familiar! So it’s the Jiang Family’s eldest son. After so many years without any news, he’s finally able to hold his head high.”

“So the Jiang Family had an eldest son. I’ve never heard anyone from the Jiang Manor mention him.”

“Eh? What’s unclear about this? The Jiang Family is now ruled by a stepmother. After all, he’s not her biological child. Didn’t that Jiang Family eldest daughter also disappear without news for over five years? I imagine when the eldest young master left home initially, it probably wasn’t voluntary either.”

“In any case, things are good now. The eldest young master achieved military merit, and that eldest daughter is also a jade-like person. In comparison, the eldest young master is much more accomplished than the second young master. I wonder what Minister Jiang was thinking – not treasuring such an excellent eldest son but favoring that second son instead.”

“You don’t understand this. Men, you know – that whole business of favoring concubines over wives, what’s there to say? When the original lady of the house was still alive, the current Madam Jiang was just a concubine.”

The crowd buzzed with various discussions, most praising the Jiang siblings while disparaging Xia Yan’s family. Jiang Ruan leaned against the carriage and smiled faintly. Stepping on some to elevate others had always been human nature’s tendency. Now that Jiang Xinzhi was young and accomplished with great prospects in his official career, naturally there were countless voices of praise. The more excellent he was, the more incompetent Jiang Chao appeared.

In Yanhua Courtyard, Xia Yan was leaning against a soft couch slowly drinking tea. Today everything had been arranged properly, with the Xia and Li families providing full support. She didn’t believe Jiang Xinzhi could escape this calamity. She sipped her tea. This way, with Jiang Xinzhi dead, Jiang Ruan would be nothing to fear, and there would be plenty of time to deal with her properly. But somehow, since early this morning, she had felt an uneasy feeling in her heart, and her expression unconsciously revealed a trace of anxiety.

Seeing this, Fei Cui comforted her: “Madam need not worry. This matter is foolproof. Just wait for good news.”

Xia Yan said nothing, then saw the room’s curtain being lifted as Lin Lang hurried in, her expression somewhat panicked as she said: “This is bad, Madam! The eldest young master has returned!”

“What did you say?” Xia Yan immediately stood up, her beautiful face full of ferocity as she grabbed Lin Lang’s shoulder: “Jiang Xinzhi has returned? How is that possible? Did you see wrong?”

“Madam, this is absolutely true,” Lin Lang said. “General Guan and the eldest young master led their army in parade through the capital streets. Everyone saw it, and the people are talking about it everywhere. It’s definitely the eldest young master.”

Xia Yan’s body swayed as she collapsed into the soft couch, murmuring: “How is this possible? Does Jiang Xinzhi have divine protection? This simply cannot be!”

Just then, another servant hurried in from outside, immediately saying: “Madam, the eldest young master has arrived at the manor gates! The army and General Guan are there too. Madam should quickly go to greet him, lest people gossip.”

“I should greet him?” Xia Yan couldn’t control her shrill cry. Heaven knows, right now she wanted nothing more than to bite Jiang Xinzhi to death, yet she had to put on a smiling face and play the loving mother to welcome him! If she didn’t greet him, given that she was already in a precarious position, if it fell into the people’s eyes, who knew what stories about vicious stepmothers they would concoct!

“Fine, I’ll greet him!” Xia Yan said through gritted teeth. “I’ll go welcome my dear son!”

Lin Lang and Fei Cui stood to the side, neither daring to breathe heavily.

Xia Yan had just reached the gates with her maids and servants when she heard Guan Lianghan’s hearty laughter: “Xinzhi, since you’re returning to your manor, I won’t stay long and will take my leave. When I’m before His Majesty later, this general will certainly put in many good words for you and have His Majesty grant you a high position. I’m off!”

Xia Yan walked to the gates as Guan Lianghan was already mounting his horse. He only looked coldly at Xia Yan once, and that stare made her shiver involuntarily. Before she could speak, Guan Lianghan cracked his whip with a “hyah!” and led the departure, with the army behind him hurrying to follow.

The Jiang Manor gates were surrounded by people watching the excitement. Xia Yan quickly walked to Jiang Xinzhi. The youth who had once been frail and shorter than her had now grown tall and martial, and when he looked at her, the bloodthirsty light in his eyes was chilling. Xia Yan forcibly suppressed the unease in her heart, looked Jiang Xinzhi over, and smiled gently: “Xinzhi, we’ve been waiting for you to return! All these years, why wouldn’t you even send a letter home? Your father misses you terribly. What disagreement between father and son couldn’t be resolved? Why did you have to leave home, and for five whole years at that? He’s your father!”

Her words were gentle and affectionate, her gaze loving, yet every sentence accused Jiang Xinzhi of being unfilial, suggesting he had left home in a fit of pique against his father, showing a cold and heartless nature. In the Great Jin Dynasty, filial piety was paramount – no matter how serious the matter, one couldn’t commit unfilial acts.

However, Jiang Xinzhi didn’t even properly look at Xia Yan. He walked directly to the carriage parked nearby, gently lifted the curtain, and smiled: “Ah Ruan.”

Only when the person in the carriage was helped down did everyone see clearly that it was Jiang Ruan.

Xia Yan was stunned and smiled: “Ruan’er, how are you here? Didn’t you go choose jewelry with Miss Wen?”

Jiang Ruan smiled apologetically: “It should have been so, but halfway I encountered elder brother leading troops. In my excitement, I came back with elder brother.” She walked to Xia Yan and smiled: “Mother asked the same question I already asked elder brother. Father has always known that elder brother wasn’t suited for writing essays, so he carefully taught second brother instead. Everyone in the Jiang Manor knows that when mother was still alive, father taught second brother reading and writing from childhood. Elder brother couldn’t succeed in literature but didn’t want to fail in martial arts either. When mother passed away, his thoughts were rash, and he figured he might as well go out and seek his fortune. Who would have thought he’d return as a deputy general? Mother shouldn’t blame him. It’s a blessing in disguise. Besides, the frontier is harsh and bitter. Elder brother didn’t want the family to worry, so he refused to write letters. Didn’t father think the same way? That’s why he never wrote to inquire about elder brother’s situation either – this was to temper elder brother’s character!”

Xia Yan’s words had been malicious in their implications, but Jiang Ruan’s response was equally apt. Look – when the original wife was still alive, Jiang Quan had carefully taught Jiang Chao while neglecting his legitimate eldest son. No matter how incompetent a manor’s legitimate eldest son might be, he would inherit the family business. What would make a legitimate eldest son willing to join the army to seek his fortune? The implications in Jiang Ruan’s words were truly thought-provoking. It seemed Jiang Quan didn’t truly miss his legitimate eldest son either – otherwise, in five long years, he could have found out Jiang Xinzhi’s whereabouts and why he hadn’t sent even one family letter. People looked at Jiang Xinzhi and began discussing again. What good had receiving Jiang Quan’s careful teaching done? In the end, he had still failed the examinations, unlike this eldest young master who relied entirely on his own efforts and now had genuine military achievements.

Xia Yan naturally noticed the change in people’s gazes and was nearly livid with rage. Just then, she heard a low, familiar voice: “Xinzhi.”

Jiang Ruan looked up to see it was Jiang Quan, followed by Jiang Chao and his siblings, Jiang Li, Jiang Dan, and several concubines. Except for the unwell Old Madam Jiang, the entire Jiang Family had assembled.

Jiang Xinzhi faced Jiang Quan and only nodded with extreme politeness and formality: “Father.”

Seeing this, Jiang Quan felt a surge of frustration. This son had now become so excellent yet was even more impossible to control. He looked at Jiang Ruan standing beside Jiang Xinzhi. Both children were exceptionally handsome and graceful, but they had crawled out of Zhao Mei’s belly!

Jiang Susu’s expression was unreadable, but Jiang Chao had his face tightly tensed, staring deadly at Jiang Xinzhi with eyes like a venomous snake. Jiang Ruan noticed his gaze and looked directly back at him, giving Jiang Chao a slight smile.

This smile appeared to Jiang Chao as naked provocation. He slowly clenched his fists, his severed little finger curling up, feeling as if everyone around was looking at him like a joke.

Jiang Ruan’s smile remained unchanged. After all, when two people of the same status appeared in one manor, what people most loved to do was compare. In her previous life, people had compared her with Jiang Susu. The more excellent Jiang Susu was, the more inadequate she appeared. Such comparisons could completely destroy a person. Now with the target changed to Jiang Chao, who had always been treasured by Jiang Quan, proud and arrogant Jiang Chao – letting him taste this feeling of being compared and found inferior, would he impulsively do something?

He was safely locked in his room where she couldn’t act, but what if he took the initiative?

Jiang Li and the second concubine glared hatefully at Jiang Xinzhi, their hearts filled with jealousy and resentment. With Jiang Xinzhi back, at least no one would dare openly bully Jiang Ruan for now. How was Jiang Ruan so fortunate? Even at this point, she still had such an accomplished brother to rely on.

Hong Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief, grateful she hadn’t made an enemy of Jiang Ruan. With Jiang Xinzhi’s return bearing the title of deputy general, at least Xia Yan’s days in the manor wouldn’t be so comfortable. Would Jiang Ruan honor her promise and truly make her the lady of the house? Hong Ying’s heart secretly grew excited.

After exchanging a few polite words with this large Jiang Family gathering at the manor gates, Jiang Xinzhi showed signs of fatigue: “I’m very tired and want to speak privately with Ah Ruan first. Whatever needs discussing can wait until evening.”

These siblings had just reunited and surely had much to say, so the others couldn’t object. Just as Jiang Xinzhi was about to enter, Xia Yan finally couldn’t resist asking: “Xinzhi, on your way back… did you encounter anything?”

“What does mother think I should have encountered?” Jiang Xinzhi asked in return. His tone was as gentle as always, yet carried a hint of killing intent. Xia Yan’s body stiffened as she smiled: “I was just asking casually.”

Jiang Ruan smiled: “Mother really guessed correctly – elder brother did encounter a group of rebels on his way back.”

“Rebels?” Xia Yan cried out: “How could they be rebels?” Those people were merely meant to ambush Jiang Xinzhi – how did they become rebels? The crime of rebellion was no small matter – one wrong step could mean the execution of nine generations.

Jiang Ruan said softly: “Indeed, they had quite a few archers lying in ambush. But fortunately General Guan and Prince Xiao arrived and captured them all. They’ll probably be interrogated thoroughly, and I imagine they can root out the people behind this.” She smiled slightly at the unsettled Xia Yan: “When those behind this are caught, His Majesty will certainly have them torn apart by five horses.” With that, she paid Xia Yan no more attention and walked toward the manor entrance with Jiang Xinzhi.

Jiang Xinzhi had returned hastily, so no courtyard had been prepared yet. He would stay in Jiang Ruan’s courtyard for now. Lu Zhu and Nanny Zhou had been waiting anxiously, and seeing everyone return safely, they were overjoyed and hurried to prepare tea.

Jiang Xinzhi sat with Jiang Ruan by the window. Looking at Jiang Ruan, he said: “Ah Ruan, do you suspect Xia Yan did this?” He wasn’t a naive thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy anymore. Jiang Ruan’s attitude toward Xia Yan just now was thought-provoking, but how did Jiang Ruan know about these things? And moreover… “Xia Yan couldn’t possibly mobilize so many archers. Those people were clearly well-trained soldiers.”

“If Xia Yan can’t do it, that doesn’t mean the Jiang Family can’t, and there’s also the Li Family, perhaps even the Eighth Prince involved.” Jiang Ruan looked at him: “Elder brother, you’re someone who kills enemies on the battlefield. Leave these calculating schemes of inner courtyard women to me to handle.”

“You’re handling these things at such a young age?” Jiang Xinzhi frowned at her, his heart both aching and angry: “Ah Ruan, I don’t want you involved in these matters. Leave them to me. If you don’t like the Jiang Manor, we can move out.”

“You’re a son of the Jiang Manor – what would people think if you moved out? There are so many censors in the capital. Once you give them something to criticize, they’ll impeach you without hesitation. What about your future official career?” Jiang Ruan said: “I won’t move out of the Jiang Manor.”

“I don’t care about being an official,” Jiang Xinzhi said. “Ah Ruan, as long as you’re safe and happy, elder brother will be content.”

Safe and happy? These were just four words, but how many could truly achieve them? She lived this lifetime for revenge – safety and happiness were already an unattainable mirage.

“You must be an official, elder brother,” Jiang Ruan said. “Only this way can you trample them all underfoot, make them respect and fear you, not dare to bully you, and thus not bully me either. Elder brother, don’t worry about me. I’ve survived all these years. I can protect myself, and I can protect you too.”

Jiang Xinzhi looked at her: “Ah Ruan, are you hiding something from me? Why must you stay in the Jiang Manor?” Why had his sister’s temperament changed so drastically, and why was she involved with court matters? Having just returned to the capital, Jiang Xinzhi’s mind was in chaos, only knowing that something must have happened.

Jiang Ruan said coolly: “It’s nothing.” She couldn’t tell Jiang Xinzhi about Zhao Mei being murdered yet. If Jiang Xinzhi acted impulsively, it might ruin something. Besides, one person with a rotten heart was enough for this lifetime. Jiang Xinzhi should live cleanly – these dirty dealings and conspiracies needn’t corrupt his heart.

“I won’t force you,” Jiang Xinzhi said. Even if Jiang Ruan wouldn’t tell him, he could investigate on his own. He patted Jiang Ruan’s head: “But since you refuse to move out of the Jiang Manor, I won’t move out either. Staying in the manor, no one will dare bully you.”

Jiang Ruan nodded slightly.

Seeing the warm scene of the siblings’ reunion, Bai Zhi, Lian Qiao, and Lu Zhu couldn’t help but shed tears. After all these years, Jiang Ruan had finally made it through.

While this side was filled with joy, somewhere else was in complete chaos.

“What did you say? Jiang Xinzhi returned to the manor?” Xia Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, looking incredulously at the messenger: “Nonsense! Even with nine lives he couldn’t escape! This matter was foolproof – unless ghosts and gods helped him!”

“Not only that,” the messenger said carefully, “all the people sent were captured and are being interrogated in prison.”

“Weren’t they death warriors? How are they all still alive? But,” Xia Cheng snorted disdainfully, “those death warriors were all trained – they would never talk no matter what. Find out where they’re being held. Tonight you take some people to deal with them – I don’t need to spell out what to do.”

“But… the one conducting the interrogation is Prince Xiao.”