“The Court of Justice?!”
The scarred thug’s face turned pale.
His companions behind him also panicked, stepping back.
“A misunderstanding! All a misunderstanding!” he hurriedly forced a smile. “I didn’t know this was Junior Qinghe Official Jiang’s relative… we’ll leave immediately! Right away!”
“Leave?” Jiang Jingchen sneered. “Threatening people and attempting to forcibly take a woman in broad daylight, and you think a simple ‘misunderstanding’ lets you walk? Ah Yu!”
“Yes, sir!” The black-clad youth sprang forward like lightning, quickly pinning the scarred man and his men to the ground.
“Bind them and send them to the Shuntian Prefecture,” Jiang Jingchen ordered, then turned to the collapsed Shopkeeper Wang.
“Take him too. Falsifying accounts and conspiring with outsiders to embezzle the family’s wealth—he’ll have a few years in prison for this.”
“Got it!” Xie Yu efficiently tied them up and even gagged them to prevent shouting.
With the situation handled, Jiang Jingchen finally turned back to Su Yaoyao.
Seven or eight years had passed, and the timid little cousin he remembered had grown into a poised and graceful young lady. Yet the resilience and calm in her expression were completely different from her childhood.
His Adam’s apple moved, and his voice was slightly hoarse. “Yaoyao… you’ve suffered.”
Su Yaoyao felt a lump in her throat.
It wasn’t a question or a rebuke—just a simple acknowledgment: you’ve suffered.
All the grievances the original girl endured over the years seemed gently revealed in that moment.
“Cousin…” her voice trembled.
Jiang Jingchen stepped closer, wanting to pat her shoulder, but hesitated for etiquette, stopping his hand mid-air. Finally, he softly said:
“It’s over. With your cousin here, no one will dare harm you.”
Hearing this, Su Yaoyao fought back tears.
Jiang Jingchen sighed. “Why didn’t you inform the family about auditing the shops? If Granny Lin hadn’t sent a message, we wouldn’t have known you came alone.”
Lowering her head, Su Yaoyao said, “I… I didn’t want to trouble Grandfather or Uncle.”
“Don’t say such foolish things,” Jiang Jingchen’s tone softened. “You’re Jiang family too—you’ll never be a burden.”
Su Yaoyao met his sincere gaze.
“Alright,” she nodded lightly.
Jiang Jingchen smiled, warm as spring. He stepped aside and introduced the youth behind him:
“This is the young general from the North-Guard Marquisate, Xie Yu. He happened to be on a day off and came with me.”
Xie Yu grinned, showing his white teeth. “Miss Su! I’ve heard of you from Brother Chen. Seeing you today… indeed—”
Jiang Jingchen kicked him lightly. “What ‘Miss Su’? Call her Miss Su properly.”
“Oh! Yes!” Xie Yu jumped back, smiling, and cupped his hands. “Miss Su, forgive my quick tongue.”
Su Yaoyao inclined her head politely. “Young General Xie.”
“Don’t be so formal. Just call me Ah Yu.” He appraised her openly. “Today, Miss Su, you’ve really impressed us—auditing accounts, confronting them, facing danger, and never losing composure. Much stronger than those delicate noble girls.”
Jiang Jingchen glanced at him. “Why so talkative today? My own cousin, you praise her?”
Turning back to Su Yaoyao, his tone softened. “Yaoyao, these past years… it’s my fault. Grandfather and Father have always been concerned, but you avoided them…”
“My fault,” Su Yaoyao murmured, lowering her lashes. “I was childish, listened to slander, and distanced myself from my maternal family.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Jiang Jingchen’s voice was even gentler. “You were young and motherless… it was the Jiang family that failed to protect you.”
He paused, then took something from his robe and handed it to her.
A mutton-fat jade pendant, intricately carved with ginger flowers.
“My grandmother asked me to give this to you,” Jiang Jingchen said. “She regretted not being able to place it on you when you came of age and has thought of you ever since.”
Su Yaoyao felt the pendant’s warmth under her fingers.
“How is Grandmother?” she asked.
“She’s well, but always thinking of you,” Jiang Jingchen said with a faint smile. “Last time, she heard you were wronged at a palace banquet and wanted to personally bring the matter to the Marquisate—Father stopped her.”
Tears pricked Su Yaoyao’s eyes again.
“Yaoyao,” Jiang Jingchen finally lifted a hand and gently patted her shoulder.
“Come stay at the Grand Tutor’s mansion for a few days. Grandmother misses you, and so do Father and Mother.”
He added, “Your aunt’s garden has always been kept. Every year, the magnolia in front of the window blooms.”
Su Yaoyao clutched the jade pendant, nodding firmly. “Alright.”
Xie Yu looked on, interjecting cheerfully, “How wonderful! Miss Su, the old plum in the Jiang residence’s back garden will bloom soon—you’ll be just in time!”
Jiang Jingchen shot him a glance. “Why are you more enthusiastic than me?”
“I’m happy for Grandmother!” Xie Yu grinned, but his eyes inevitably lingered on the Buddhist beads on Su Yaoyao’s wrist.
“Miss Su, those beads… they look familiar.”
Su Yaoyao instinctively pulled her wrist back.
Jiang Jingchen noticed too, frowning slightly. “These are…?”
“Given by the Crown Prince,” Su Yaoyao said calmly.
Both Jiang Jingchen and Xie Yu froze.
Xie Yu reacted first, eyes wide. “The Crown Prince’s beads?! The purple sandalwood ones he never parts with?”
Su Yaoyao nodded.
Xie Yu gasped and glanced at Jiang Jingchen.
Jiang Jingchen remained silent a moment, then said slowly, “Yaoyao, the Crown Prince…”
“Cousin.” Su Yaoyao interrupted, eyes clear and resolute. “I know what I’m doing.”
Jiang Jingchen stared at her for a long while, finally sighing.
“Fine,” he rubbed his brow. “Go back to the mansion and prepare. I’ll fetch you tomorrow.”
He added: “As for Lady Liu… give me the ledgers. I’ll investigate.”
Su Yaoyao felt her heart warm. “Thank you, Cousin.”
Jiang Jingchen shook his head, full of concern: “Silly girl, no need to thank Cousin.”
Su Yaoyao’s heart swelled.
Having family to rely on… feels like this.
She closed her eyes, lips curving slightly.
This life… she was no longer alone.
Not far away, in a teahouse upstairs room, Xiao Chenyuan watched everything—the teasing between Xie Yu and her, Jiang Jingchen protecting Su Yaoyao, and her calling him… Cousin.
The words from that day echoed in his ears:
“Cousin… they didn’t give me the small clothes…”
The teacup in his hand had gone cold.
Ling Feng cautiously asked from behind, “Your Highness, should we go over?”
Xiao Chenyuan paused, then turned: “Return to the palace.”
His voice was calm, yet Ling Feng noticed—his fingers twitched faster than usual.