As a bastard who didn’t even know who his father was, Chen Tianhao entirely deserved to be targeted.
In their previous life, after this ungrateful wretch learned of his true parentage from Chen Huaiyuan, he showed no gratitude whatsoever.
Instead, he pinned all his hatred on Jiang Baozhen.
He had long known Lin Yingxue’s true identity but deliberately kept it a secret.
Once he found out, he tortured Lin Yingxue even more ruthlessly, using it as a way to take revenge on Jiang Baozhen.
Jiang Baozhen had already figured out how to exact her revenge on this bastard.
Study?
Take the imperial exams?
Dream on!
In this life, Chen Tianhao wouldn’t even set foot in a school, let alone become some glorious Advanced Scholar.
She would also “wholeheartedly” arrange a “good match” for him.
Chen Tianhao had always resented her for ruining his “good marriage,” hadn’t he?
In this life, she would grant his wish!
She already had the perfect candidate in mind: Chen Tianhao’s confidante, Jin Meilian.
In their previous life, ever since Chen Tianhao entered the private school, scandalous affairs had blossomed around him like weeds.
Peasant girls and daughters of town squires alike were left thoroughly smitten and dizzy with infatuation.
Yet among this myriad of flowers, the most special one was Jin Meilian, who was a full six years older than him.
Jin Meilian was originally a maid in a wealthy family in the Capital.
Later, her masters gifted her to a somewhat powerful old eunuch in the palace.
In name, she was his goddaughter, but in reality, she was his “wife” in a eunuch-maid partnership.
When the new dynasty was established, the Palace Attendants of the old regime scattered.
Jin Meilian followed the old eunuch, concealing their identities, and hid in Jiangya Village.
Somehow, Chen Tianhao managed to hook up with this Jin Meilian.
In their previous life, Jiang Baozhen had assumed Jin Meilian was the one doing the seducing.
Now, seeing things clearly, it was obvious that Chen Tianhao coveted the gold and silver treasures the old eunuch likely possessed, and had actively thrown himself at Jin Meilian.
The shameless bastard later even made a huge fuss about marrying Jin Meilian as his lawful wife, forcing Lin Yingxue to be a concubine and nearly driving her mad.
Jiang Baozhen had fought this marriage to the bitter end, storming into Jin Meilian’s home and giving her a severe beating.
From that day on, Chen Tianhao harbored a toxic hatred for her.
“Look at how much of a failure you are in this life, so blind you couldn’t even tell I wasn’t your biological son.
Since you aren’t my real mother, why should I show you any respect?
You never even stopped to think—how could a vulgar peasant woman like you give birth to such an outstanding son like me?
“It wasn’t enough for you to tear my father and mother apart; you had to separate Meilian and me too.
You’re so vicious you couldn’t even tolerate a weak woman.
It’s your fault she died at the hands of the old eunuch.
“And you think you can ride my coattails?
Even the heavens couldn’t stand the sight of what you owe my mother and me, which is why you fell severely ill, saving me the trouble of doing it myself.”
Recalling Chen Tianhao’s venomous words from their previous life still sent a chill through Jiang Baozhen’s heart and left her cold all over.
Since that was the case, in this life, she would make sure this bastard and his beloved Jin Meilian were permanently locked together in Jiangya Village.
By her calculations, Jin Meilian should be arriving in Jiangya Village right about now.
As Jiang Baozhen delivered that slap, Chen Huaiyuan’s heart genuinely ached for his son.
He immediately darkened his face and raised his voice to scold, “What kind of crazy fit are you throwing now?
What kind of mother acts like this?”
Lin Yingxue lifted her eyelids, sweeping a cold glance over Chen Huaiyuan.
The fresh, bloody scratch marks on his face from earlier in the day hadn’t faded yet.
With streaks of red and purple, paired with his shocked and angry expression, he looked even more ridiculous than the beaten Chen Tianhao.
Lin Yingxue sneered inwardly.
Considering the deep-seated blood feud from their previous life, the fact that Jiang Baozhen hadn’t just grabbed a knife and hacked this father-son duo to pieces meant she was already showing extreme restraint.
Hearing Chen Huaiyuan’s words, Jiang Baozhen immediately raised her hand again.
Chen Huaiyuan shuddered all over in fright, instinctively throwing his arms up to protect his head.
Whatever domineering aura he had just mustered vanished without a trace.
“You useless piece of trash, you dare yell at me?” Jiang Baozhen scoffed, her eyes full of disdain.
“Since he calls me Mother, I will beat him if I want to, and I will scold him if I want to.
Is it your place to meddle?”
This was barely the beginning.
For years, this father and son had lived high on the hog, taking advantage of the whole family to live comfortably.
From now on, those cushy days were over.
“Mother isn’t wrong.” Lin Yingxue, who had been sitting quietly to the side, eating her steamed egg custard bite by bite, suddenly spoke up.
Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear, falling distinctly into the ears of everyone in the room.
“Everyone saw it clearly just now.
Tianhao was disrespectful to Mother first, which is why she disciplined him.
If you ask me, it’s Father’s everyday indulgence that has raised Tianhao to be so unruly.
The whole family eats the same food; why is he the only one who picks and chooses?
Father, you’ve read many books and understand more reasoning than the rest of us.
When you have time in the future, you should discipline Tianhao more.
Don’t just let him bark orders at Mother all day long.
Mother owes him nothing.”
Having made up her mind to form an alliance with Jiang Baozhen, Lin Yingxue naturally had to take the initiative to speak up for her.
Thus, she confronted Chen Huaiyuan without hesitation.
Jiang Baozhen snapped her head around to look at Lin Yingxue, her eyes suddenly turning red.
This time, it wasn’t out of anger, but genuine emotion.
At the end of the day, her biological daughter was the most caring, knowing how to protect her.
Chen Huaiyuan stared at Lin Yingxue, his gaze wavering with doubt and alarm.
When did this little brat become so sharp-tongued?
Was her previously timid and cowardly demeanor all an act?
The more he looked at her, the more he felt that Lin Yingxue was just as detestable as Jiang Baozhen.
“Yingxue makes perfect sense!” Jiang Baozhen suppressed the surge of emotion in her heart and pointed right at Chen Huaiyuan’s nose.
“Tianhao was spoiled rotten by you, Chen Ergou.
At your age, you can’t even manage your own son.
What proper business can anyone expect you to handle?
“Since you father and son are so capable, if you have the guts, don’t just act tough at home.
Go over to the eldest brother’s family and get my land back.”
Cornered by the sharp-tongued Lin Yingxue on one side and the fierce, formidable Jiang Baozhen on the other, Chen Huaiyuan was struck dumb.
His face flushed bright red, unable to squeeze out a single word.
Feeling her anger subside a little, Jiang Baozhen sat down decisively next to Lin Yingxue, her back completely straight.
Since the whole family was gathered for dinner, it was time to establish some new rules.
“Since everyone is here, I have a few words to say.” She cleared her throat and swept her gaze over everyone at the dinner table.
Seeing her imposing manner, the various sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren were so frightened that they immediately put down their chopsticks and lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Jiang Baozhen was exceedingly satisfied with this reaction.
She then took Lin Yingxue’s hand and announced loudly, “In the years since Yingxue came to our home, she has been more filial to me than a biological daughter.
I’m laying down the law today: from now on, I will treat Yingxue as my very own daughter.
She is a proper daughter of the Chen Family.”
The table erupted into an uproar at her words.
Everyone turned to stare at Lin Yingxue in unison, their eyes filled with utter bewilderment.
What kind of spell had Lin Yingxue cast to win the notoriously fierce Jiang Baozhen over so completely in just half a day?
To jump from a dependent child bride to the youngest daughter of the Chen Family—that was a monumental leap in status.