“Sister, sister.”
Jiang He was dressed in a light brown straight-collar robe, his countenance gentle and refined, with traces of handsome elegance between his brows.
He walked step by step toward Shen Shi. Jiang Wanyi pressed her lips together and reached out to grasp Jiang Chaohua’s arm.
Jiang Wanyi seemed to harbor strong aversion toward Jiang He. Previously, no one knew why, simply attributing it to his impaired mind and unpredictable temperament. Only now did Jiang Chaohua understand—even in his mentally diminished state, her second brother could discern genuine kindness from feigned affection.
Otherwise, with Second Brother possessing the intellect of a five-year-old child, how could he exhibit such rejection toward his own father?
“Second Brother, Father has come to uphold justice for us. Those who harmed you will surely meet a wretched end.”
Jiang Chaohua slightly pursed her crimson lips, her calm words deliberately left unlowered.
Jiang He half-embraced Shen Shi, whose eyes were slightly reddened, then turned his head with a faint frown. Quickly, he reassumed a doting expression:
“Chaochao, have you caused trouble again?”
“Mother, Father is wronging me too.”
Jiang Chaohua hung her head, offering no self-defense, only speaking in a muffled voice.
Shen Shi stiffened momentarily, her eyes swiftly filling with displeasure as she chided gently:
“Husband, how can you accuse our daughter of mischief the moment you arrive, without even asking a few questions?”
Shen Shi, tender and affectionate, had never raised her voice at Jiang He in over twenty years of marriage, nor had she ever furrowed her brows at him even once.
Toward Jiang He, Shen Shi could be said to have reached the point of absolute compliance, let alone suspecting him of duplicity.
“Father biased! Biased!”
Seeing Jiang Chaohua’s eyes grow even redder, Jiang Wanyi grew increasingly agitated. He raised his hands and began shouting hysterically.
Not only was he mentally impaired, but his emotions were also highly unstable.
“Wanyi, what’s wrong with you?”
Jiang Wanyi rarely made such loud commotions—more often, he would simply stare blankly into space.
Shen Shi hurried to soothe him, but Jiang Wanyi only shouted louder:
“Father! Biased! Biased! Blame! Blame sister!”
Jiang Wanyi’s slurred protests deepened Shen Shi’s existing discomfort. The louder he yelled, the more uneasy she felt.
Chaochao was her daughter, cherished since childhood. Jiang He had always doted excessively on Chaochao as well.
So why was he blaming Chaochao the moment they met?
“Second Brother, don’t shout anymore. Father loves us most—how could he be biased? Right, Father?”
A flicker of irony passed through Jiang Chaohua’s eyes as she lifted her head to gaze steadily at Jiang He.
Jiang He felt unsettled under her stare but had no choice but to maintain his facade:
“Chaochao is right. Whatever you wish to do, your father would never blame you. However, even if Fei Yun is merely a servant, you shouldn’t have recklessly injured him.”
Jiang He sighed deeply. To outsiders, his earnest efforts to guide Jiang Chaohua appeared truly well-intentioned.
Jiang Chaohua sneered inwardly. Well-intentioned indeed—well-intentioned in making her commit evil deeds, well-intentioned in ensuring everyone knew how malicious she was.
Before recognizing Jiang He’s true nature, she couldn’t detect the implications in his words. Now, they filled her with utter revulsion.
Even when matters had escalated to this point, he still sought to pin the vicious reputation of assaulting a servant upon her head.
“Father, ever since Cousin came to the manor, you no longer dote on me as before. I know I can’t compare to Cousin in anything. You prefer a daughter like her, don’t you? Otherwise, why would you defend that servant boy? He clearly tried to kill Second Brother! When you arrived, you didn’t even ask what happened to Second Brother. Do you know, Father, Second Brother nearly lost his life!”
Jiang Chaohua stiffened her neck, her temper flaring as her expression grew as unreasonable as ever.
With a sudden sweep of her hand, her wide sleeve brushed past Jiang He’s face, darkening his brow.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wanxin panicked intensely upon hearing the words “a daughter like her.”
Could Jiang Chaohua have discovered something? Discovered that she too was Father’s daughter.
But why? Why, when they were both daughters of the Jiang family, could she only watch as Jiang Chaohua threw herself into Jiang He’s embrace to enjoy paternal love? Why was Jiang Chaohua’s status so noble while she remained a shameful illegitimate child!
Jiang Wanxin clenched her fists, infinite hatred surging in her heart.
Jiang Chaohua caught this flash of hatred and coldly scoffed, her voice growing even stiffer:
“Father, why aren’t you speaking? Do you indeed prefer a daughter like Cousin? Does Father also think Chaochao is vicious? But you always said you loved Chaochao’s manner most. Why won’t you admit it now?”
Jiang Chaohua’s words seemed light, but they carried substantial implications.
The crowd stared at Jiang He, their eyes filled with doubt.
Indeed, Lord Jiang had arrived, yet he showed no concern for his own son, who had nearly died moments ago.
Moreover, it seemed Lord Jiang intentionally prevented the guards from taking the servant to the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office. Did he not want to uncover who tried to harm his son?
As skeptical glances continued to drift over, Jiang He couldn’t possibly remain unaware.
He narrowed his eyes, studying Jiang Chaohua’s face, trying to discern whether her words were deliberate or unintentional.
But Jiang Chaohua’s expression was full of resentment and willfulness, reassuring Jiang He.
“Biased… Father… biased,” Jiang Wanyi muttered, hiding behind Shen Shi, his eyes darting nervously, avoiding Jiang He’s gaze.
His panicked expression made Jiang Chaohua’s heart sink.
If Jiang He had instructed Jiang Wanxin to try killing her second brother, and now Second Brother showed such fear, perhaps he had witnessed something that made Jiang He want to silence him.
Deep in thought, Jiang Chaohua stared at Jiang He, then suddenly became agitated. Raising her sword, she charged toward Fei Yun again:
“Treacherous servant daring to harm your master! Even if Father stops me today, I will eliminate this scourge for Second Brother!”
In a flash, Jiang Chaohua moved with incredible speed.
Jiang He’s expression darkened as he immediately ordered someone to restrain her. This action only deepened Shen Shi’s suspicions and confused the onlookers further.
And this was precisely the effect Jiang Chaohua wanted!
“Does Second Miss Jiang take this Commander for a fool?”
A pair of icy hands gripped Jiang Chaohua’s wrist.
They were as cold as if dipped in a thousand-year frozen pond.
Jiang Chaohua felt as if that chilling aura would devour her.
Yan Jing’s voice was full of amusement, his narrow eyes holding murderous intent, curiosity, and a trace of mockery.
This Jiang family’s wicked woman is truly something else. She deliberately intended to send that servant boy to the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office while luring Jiang He out.
Yet what’s even more intriguing is Jiang He, who actually wanted to protect the servant boy who intended to harm his own son. Isn’t that fascinating?
Yan Jing curled his lips into a smile, while Jiang Chaohua felt like she couldn’t breathe.
She lifted her head and fell into Yan Jing’s gaze.
Seeing the murderous intent in his eyes, Jiang Chaohua felt a sharp pain in her chest that made it difficult to breathe.
“Hiss!”
Her expression drastically changed as Jiang Chaohua trembled like a leaf, her pupils dilating endlessly as if she had received an overwhelming shock.
“Ah Jing, let Chaochao go! You’re frightening her!”
Yan Jing’s gaze was intensely aggressive, resembling the look he usually gave when interrogating prisoners.
Shen Puyu was also quite surprised by how terrified Jiang Chaohua was of Yan Jing – this wasn’t just fear, but sheer terror.
Did she know that her falling into the lake was caused by Yan Jing and him?
“Jiang Chaohua was shot dead by the new emperor with an arrow!”
This thunderous statement echoed in her mind, and Jiang Chaohua almost couldn’t hold back a scream.
Suddenly, a pair of warm hands embraced Jiang Chaohua’s shoulders, gently pulling her into an embrace.
A pleasant sandalwood fragrance wafted over as Jiang Chaohua lifted her reddened eyes to look at the youth who was as gentle as jade.
The youth had pearly white teeth and dark eyebrows, resembling pine trees in the wind and the moon reflected in water. His features were exceptionally handsome, and his entire demeanor was imposing.
Seeing who it was, Jiang Chaohua’s fingers slightly curled as all strength seemed to drain from her body. Her voice hoarse, she said:
“Third cousin.”
The Zhongyi Marquis Estate consisted entirely of military officers. The old marquis had one son and one daughter – the daughter was Shen Shi, and the son was the current marquis Shen Bingzheng, who was Jiang Chaohua’s uncle.
Shen Bingzheng had three sons. Shen Congwen ranked third and, despite his youth, had already been appointed as a general, enjoying boundless glory and a promising future.
Though the Zhongyi Marquis Estate and Shen Shi had no contact with each other, Shen Congwen frequently visited the Jiang family and treated Jiang Chaohua extremely well.
Yet in her previous life, Jiang Chaohua had turned a blind eye to Shen Congwen’s kindness. Even on the day when the entire Zhongyi Marquis Estate was raided, Jiang Chaohua hadn’t gone to see them.
Jiang Chaohua felt utterly exhausted. Having just fallen into water, she couldn’t hold on any longer. Her eyes closed as she sank into darkness.
“Chaochao!”
Seeing Jiang Chaohua faint, Shen Shi could bear it no longer. Her watery, gentle eyes fixed on Jiang He, filled with blame and resentment.
After twenty years of marriage, this was the first time Shen Shi had doubted Jiang He, creating the first rift between them.