Jiang Li was still deep in thought when Wangyou hurried over to deliver a message.
“Mistress, the guards sent word that they have made a discovery regarding the second young master of the Yin family.”
Jiang Li signaled for Wangyou to continue.
Wangyou found it hard to say, but still gritted her teeth and spoke: “After the second young master left the gambling den, he went to a restaurant. He… he is dallying with a man.”
As Wangyou spoke, her expression was very unnatural, and she could not help but feel her face flush with heat.
Jiang Li had almost forgotten this detail.
In her previous life, she had known that Yin Chengzhou liked men. Many years ago, he had a lover outside; they had known each other for a long time, and Yin Chengzhou’s feelings for this man were very deep. Although Yin Chengzhou had taken a wife, he had no real affection for Hu Huiniang; the couple only stayed together to continue the family line.
In her past life, when Jiang Li discovered the affair, she had tried everything to expose the man’s true colors. That man had not approached Yin Chengzhou out of true love, but because he coveted the Yin family’s assets. Even Yin Chengzhou’s gambling addiction had been encouraged by that man, who set traps to swindle him out of more wealth.
Even after Jiang Li made Yin Chengzhou see the man’s true nature and they cut ties, Yin Chengzhou still preferred men. However, under Jiang Li’s strict discipline and supervision, he did not dare to act out, and he spent every day and night studying for the imperial examinations.
It wasn’t until Yin Chengzhou became a Prime Minister that he showed no gratitude for her guidance, harboring only deep resentment instead. He did not feel that his rise to the position was thanks to Jiang Li; rather, he believed she had deliberately made his life difficult. He also believed that, given his own intelligence and talent, he could have risen to prominence much sooner if not for her.
Recalling these things, Jiang Li felt a faint, lingering pain in her heart. This time, she would not intervene; she would act as if she knew nothing. She wanted to see how, with his “intelligence and talent,” Yin Chengzhou would be swindled by his lover, and when exactly the Yin family’s coffers would be completely drained.
Jiang Li retracted her thoughts and commanded: “Ignore it and keep watching.”
Seeing her mistress’s indifferent reaction, Wangyou reflected silently, determined to become as composed as her mistress.
Jiang Li continued to head out to “look for academies,” while the chaos within the Yin family showed no sign of abating. Yin Chengzhou stole out to dally with his lover, Yin Ranshuang secretly met with Wei Zizhang, and Madam Fan’s headaches grew worse, leaving her delirious. Meanwhile, Yin Hongcai was suffering setbacks in his official career, being impeached for accepting bribes. In short, the Yin family was a mess, and with everyone too busy with their own troubles, no one cared what Jiang Li did.
Jiang Li was like a spectator, silently watching the Yin family fall into the abyss step by step. She wondered if, given their current predicament, Yin Hezhou from the south might return to the capital earlier than expected. If he did return, things would only get livelier.
Before Jiang Li received news of Yin Hezhou’s return, she learned that the Great General of the Northern Frontier was returning to the capital. At this news, Jiang Li froze in disbelief. In her previous life, she clearly remembered that the Great General did not return to the capital for another two years. Why had it happened two years early this time?
Jiang Li had Wangyou inquire, confirming that the Great General was indeed Pei Yan. Pei Yan’s military achievements in the North were the same as in her past life; only the timing had shifted.
Thinking of Pei Yan, Jiang Li curved her lips slightly. She had gained another ally.
……
At the same time, Pei Yan, who was galloping toward the capital, had been traveling for many days without rest. His subordinates, worried for his health, urged him to stop and recover, but were refused. The subordinates were curious about what could possibly make the General so desperate to return to the capital—to the point of risking his neck by splitting from the Northern Frontier Army to get there ahead of them.
Only Pei Yan knew the reason.
In his previous life, he had won countless battles at the border and did not return to the capital for two years. He knew she had married, and although he did not understand why she would marry a spirit tablet, he respected her decision and watched over her silently. He watched her manage the Yin household, guiding them back onto the right track until her body was worn to nothing.
When the Yin family said she had been sent to a manor to recover from illness, he had believed them. He hadn’t dared to disturb her, and at that time, he was occupied with his own affairs, suffering from secret sabotage. Who would have thought that a few months later, he would receive the news of her death from illness?
He investigated it himself and discovered that the Yin family had sent her—sick and suffering—to the manor, where they refused to let anyone treat her, leaving her to die in agony. The thought of that pain was something Pei Yan could not bear to dwell on.
Later, he avenged her, turning the Yin family upside down and making them suffer a hundredfold for what she had experienced, eventually causing the Yin family to disappear from the capital entirely. But she could never come back. Pei Yan’s old wounds flared up, and he soon followed her into death.
But never in his wildest dreams had he thought he would return fifteen years into the past. This time, he would achieve his merits early and return to the capital to warn her to be wary of the Yin family.
When his family fell on hard times during his youth and he was cast aside by his relatives, only the Jiang family had taken him in. Miss Jiang had never looked down on him; she had even stood in front of him to protect him. He had grown up with the young lady of the Jiang family, trained in martial arts with her, and had even thought of becoming her guard to repay her kindness.
He had gone to the battlefield to earn merit so that he could stand behind her. But back then, he hadn’t realized the Jiang family would be left with only her, or that she would choose to marry a spirit tablet. In his past life, he had respected her choices, wanting only to earn more merit to become her support upon his return. He had never expected the Yin family to be such a den of wolves—not only swallowing her inheritance but taking her life as well.
Therefore, this time, he would return early, no matter what. He would protect her life.
……
After hearing that Yin Hongcai had been suspended from office for investigation, Jiang Li went to a tea house to sit for a while. She could not drink to celebrate, so she would toast with tea instead.
In her past life, Yin Hongcai had no need to accept bribes. It wasn’t because he was above money, but because he could easily get more from Jiang Li, so he valued his reputation and did not take such risks. But now, the entire Yin family was in desperate need of money.
Madam Fan’s headaches were growing worse, and even if she couldn’t find the Divine Doctor Bai, purchasing medicine from other doctors in the capital cost a fortune. Yin Hezhou, hiding away in the south, had no income and had to support a concubine and children, requiring the Yin family to provide for them. Yin Chengzhou, with his gambling addiction, was a bottomless pit; without someone to straighten him out, he would only go further down that path. Yin Ranshuang wanted to marry into the Prince An’s mansion, thinking that if she had enough money and dressed richly, she would get her way—not realizing that Wei Zizhang was only born to a concubine and was not favored by his legal mother. If the Princess Consort truly had an interest in her, the Princess Consort would certainly agree, as the Princess Consort wanted nothing more than for her illegitimate son to marry a girl of low status.
Yin Hongcai, watching the Yin family’s savings being emptied bit by bit, was naturally anxious, which is why he took the risk.
Jiang Li’s thoughts were pulled back by a sudden gaze. She looked up, but saw that the tree outside the tea house was empty.
Could it be that she had seen wrong?