In her past life, it wasn’t only Jiang Lingwan who was deceived by Jiang Lingyuan—her mother, Mei Xueniang, was also misled.
In this life, upon awakening, Jiang Lingwan discovered she had been reborn just a few hours before her mother’s death. She immediately dismissed everyone and instructed her trusted maid, Zhuzhi, to relay a message to her mother, asking her to avoid others and quietly come to Diejinlou.
Jiang Lingwan told her mother that this time, her mother’s wrongful accusation was a scheme orchestrated by Jiang Lingyuan.
But her mother didn’t believe it, thinking someone was trying to sow discord between them.
Indeed, when her mother married into the family, Jiang Lingyuan was only two years old. Her mother had devoted herself wholeheartedly to Jiang Lingyuan, and Jiang Lingyuan, in turn, regarded her mother as her own, showing deep dependence, respect, and affection.
As for her younger sister, Jiang Lingyuan had always been exceptionally caring, protecting and looking after her at every turn. If not for her rebirth, she would never have believed that her gentle and dignified second elder sister harbored such malicious intentions.
As for Concubine Qiao, in the six years since she entered the household, she had always been dutiful, honest, and compliant. Toward her mother, the head of the household, she remained reverent and never dared to overstep her bounds.
That year, when her mother fell seriously ill, Concubine Qiao tended to her day and night without rest, even catching the illness herself and developing a chronic condition that required continuous medication over the years.
Who could have believed that the usually low-key, rule-abiding, and honest Concubine Qiao would harbor such sinister intentions?
To make her mother see Jiang Lingyuan’s true nature, she had her mother hide behind a screen to witness Jiang Lingyuan’s provocation and hear her slander with her own ears.
With the evidence laid bare before her, her mother had no choice but to believe.
“All these years, I’ve been raising a wolf in sheep’s clothing!”
Her mother had recovered from her initial shock. With a cold snort, her eyes and brows were filled with icy disdain. “I pitied her for losing her mother at a young age and treated her as my own. Whatever you had, she would have too; even things you didn’t have, she would receive. Though I was only her stepmother, what I did for her was no different from what a birth mother would do.”
“Who would have thought? Just because Concubine Qiao is her birth mother’s cousin, her aunt, she would harm me like this!”
“What aunt!” Jiang Lingwan whispered, “Concubine Qiao is Jiang Lingyuan’s birth mother. She harmed you to make her own mother the rightful wife.”
Her mother was startled, her usually calm face filled with astonishment. “What did you say?”
“I said Concubine Qiao isn’t Qiao Yingrou at all—she is Father’s first wife, Qiao Yingrong. Fourteen years ago, for unknown reasons, she left the Jiang Family and was gone for seven years. Then, six years ago, she returned, using the identity of Qiao Yingrou to seduce Father and enter the household. She and Jiang Lingyuan will conspire to kill you, coveting your position and assets. Together, they will drive me out of the Jiang Family and force me to live on a farm estate.”
“This is why Jiang Lingyuan and Concubine Qiao collude and work together—because they are birth mother and daughter.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows, grasped her hand, and said solemnly, “Wan Jie’er, tell me everything else you know.”
Her mother’s icy hands trembled slightly, but her voice remained calm, and her expression was as composed as ever, as if even a cataclysm wouldn’t shake her.
Suddenly, Jiang Lingwan felt a surge of confidence.
In her past life, despite her tragic circumstances and fighting alone, she had managed a desperate counterattack. In this life, with foresight and her mother’s help, what were Jiang Lingyuan and Concubine Qiao to her?
Jiang Lingwan allowed her mother to hold her hand, taking a seat on the small stool beside her, and recounted the experiences from her previous life before marriage.
Her mother listened with great attentiveness. By the time she finished speaking, the chill in her mother’s hands had completely faded, replaced by their usual warmth.
“Wan Jie’er,” her mother said, her gaze fixed on her face, as if afraid to miss even the slightest change in her expression. “Who told you these things?”
Jiang Lingwan was taken aback. She had expected her mother to first devise a plan to deal with Jiang Lingyuan and her mother, but instead, her mother was more concerned about her, worried that someone with ulterior motives might be manipulating or harming her. Thus, she wanted to identify that person first, ensuring her safety before proceeding with any further plans.
Her mother’s constant worry and prioritization of her well-being explained why Jiang Lingyuan had targeted her—because Jiang Lingyuan knew she was her mother’s greatest vulnerability.
For this very reason, Jiang Lingwan decided not to hide her ability to foresee parts of the future in front of her mother, lest her mother’s concern lead to rash decisions and repeat the misfortunes of her previous life.
“No one told me,” Jiang Lingwan said, slightly furrowing her brow as if deep in thought, carefully recalling the dream. “I dreamed it. If I remember correctly, according to the dream, Grandfather will suddenly fall seriously ill and lose consciousness three days from now.”
“And,” Jiang Lingwan added, “Jiang Lingyuan incited me to go and cause trouble with you. Since it didn’t work this time, she will surely try again tomorrow. Do you think I should take the initiative to go to her?”
Her mother’s elegant eyes lifted, revealing unconcealed surprise. In moments, this surprise transformed into a relieved smile, spilling from the depths of her eyes. “My Wan Jie’er has grown up.”
Jiang Lingwan gazed at her mother’s face, illuminated by the smile, and was too stunned to speak.
Her mother should live, and live well.
She wrapped her arms around her mother’s arm. “Mother, you won’t be harmed like in the dream, right?”
“Don’t worry,” her mother said, her tone filled with disdain. “What is Madam Qiao? She’s nothing but a concubine, an unworthy thing.”
Jiang Lingwan couldn’t help but laugh.
Because in her previous life, she had once said to Jiang Lingyuan, “What does it matter if you were once a Huangzifei or a Houfuren? Now, you’re nothing but an unworthy concubine!”
…
The next day, Jiang Lingwan rose early. Tao Ye, as usual, brought water to help her wash her face and comb her hair.
Jiang Lingwan said to her, “Tao Ye, send someone to inform Second Sister that I’ll join her for breakfast later.”
Tao Ye’s hands paused briefly before she hurriedly replied, “I’ll go myself. The young maids might not convey the message clearly.”
Tao Ye handed the towel to Zhuzhi and stepped out the door.
Zhuzhi clutched the towel, frowning. “Miss, Tao Ye is indeed suspicious. She must be rushing to report to Second Miss. Should we stop her or follow her?”
Jiang Lingwan narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of mockery in her gaze. “No need.”
She wanted Tao Ye to inform Jiang Lingyuan that she hadn’t gone to cause trouble with her mother and that Jiang Lingyuan’s instigation had failed.
After dressing and grooming herself, Jiang Lingwan waited a little longer before leisurely making her way to Jiao Garden, where Jiang Lingyuan resided.
On the way, she encountered Tao Ye returning, and the three of them soon arrived at the entrance of Jiao Garden.
Jiang Lingyuan was already waiting for her at the door. “Third Sister.”
She smiled before speaking, exuding the demeanor of an elder sister. “Come, let’s go inside and talk.”
Jiang Lingwan could tell at a glance that Jiang Lingyuan was anxious. Though she remained as gentle as ever, her early wait at the door and the way she pulled her hand past the dining hall straight into the inner chamber clearly showed she was eager to speak with her—or rather, eager to stir up trouble.
With the fish about to bite, Jiang Lingwan was in no hurry. She intended to keep her on the hook.
“I’m hungry,” Jiang Lingwan stopped in her tracks. “Second Sister, I’m hungry.”
“We’ll eat right away,” Jiang Lingyuan replied, suppressing her impatience as she ordered the meal to be served.
Jiang Lingwan ate unhurriedly, glancing at Jiang Lingyuan’s feigned composure and secretly curling her lip in disdain.
Finally, after breakfast, the two sisters entered the inner chamber and sat as usual by the half-moon table of huanghuali wood near the window.
On a June morning, the sunlight was dazzlingly bright. The banana tree outside the window stood silent, casting a cool, green shade.
Jiang Lingwan widened her eyes, staring intently at Jiang Lingyuan for a long moment before saying, “Second Sister, why do you look so haggard? Your eyes are as dark as a black hen’s. Did you go thieving last night?”
“It’s all because of Mother!” Jiang Lingyuan said with deep concern. “I didn’t sleep a wink last night, Third Sister…”
“Are you going to try to persuade me again? Mother is my mother, and she should stay with the Jiang Family.” Jiang Lingwan’s brows furrowed sharply, her voice rising. “I don’t believe Mother would abandon me. Second Sister, you’ve always been on my side. How can you oppose me in this matter? Are you still my good sister?”
Jiang Lingyuan lowered her eyelids, biting her lip, and after a long pause, she spoke with difficulty, “Why would I try to persuade you? Don’t I want Mother to stay with the Jiang Family too? It’s just that…”
She abruptly stopped, pressing her lips together.
Jiang Lingwan immediately pressed on relentlessly, “Just what? Tell me!”
Meanwhile, in Jinghaoyuan, a voice demanded, “Have you made up your mind yet? Mei Xueniang, I’m giving you one more chance. Don’t disappoint me!”
The speaker was a middle-aged man with fair skin, an upright posture, and a handsome, scholarly face now contorted with anger, giving him a somewhat ferocious appearance.
Indeed, any man would struggle to remain calm upon learning that his wife had spent a night alone with an unknown man while out offering incense and was now carrying an unclear child.
Jiang Bochen knew his wife had been abducted and had not willingly engaged in an affair. He couldn’t bring himself to poison her. Moreover, he still loved her deeply. As long as she was willing to abort the bastard child in her womb, he would let bygones be bygones, pretend nothing had happened, and live harmoniously with her as before.
Unexpectedly, his wife refused. For the sake of the child in her womb, she had voluntarily requested to leave the household. She would rather be divorced and leave the Jiang Family than have an abortion.
Furious, Jiang Bochen eventually calmed down after being persuaded by Concubine Qiao. His wife, Mei Xueniang, also said she needed a day to think it over.
Now, the day had finally passed, and he hoped his wife would give him a satisfactory answer.
Mei Xueniang looked up, meeting his gaze. “Bochen, you know I was wronged. The child I carry is yours. If not for your forceful demands, I would never consider aborting him.”
Hearing the hint of concession in his wife’s words, Jiang Bochen immediately responded, “If you abort him, this matter will be put to rest. We can have more children in the future.”
“No more.” A trace of sorrow flickered across Mei Xueniang’s pure, magnolia-like face. “I lost two pregnancies in a row before, which damaged my health. I went through immense hardship to conceive this child. If I abort this one, I will never be able to conceive again, and we will never have a legitimate heir.”
Jiang Bochen grew restless and impatient, his tone hardening once more. “Then this bastard child cannot be kept either. What, are you unwilling to abort?”
“Given the circumstances, I have no choice but to be willing.” Mei Xueniang lowered her head, troubled. “But Yuan Jie’er and Wan Jie’er already know about this. How will they see me? Even if I lose the child, will they still respect and love me as they did before?”
“Of course they will.” Jiang Bochen’s anxious heart settled, and his tone lightened as he gently reassured his wife. “Don’t worry. Yuan Jie’er is gentle and sensible; she regards you as her own mother and has always respected and loved you. Although Wan Jie’er is willful and spoiled, not as obedient and well-behaved as Yuan Jie’er, she is still your own flesh and blood. Blood runs thicker than water—how could she blame you?”
“Don’t overthink it. I’ll have Concubine Qiao make the arrangements right away. Once the child in your belly is gone, everything else will fall into place.”
Mei Xueniang stubbornly shook her head. “I need to hear it from Yuan Jie’er and Wan Jie’er myself before I can rest easy.”
Jiang Bochen was about to persuade her further when Mei Xueniang added, “I’ve already sent Mama Du to fetch Wan Jie’er. No matter how urgent this is, it can wait a little longer.”
Jiang Bochen frowned. If it were Yuan Jie’er, he wouldn’t be worried. But Wan Jie’er was immature—what if she made a scene? Could it complicate matters and change Mei Xueniang’s decision?
Before he could voice his objection, Mama Du returned. “Madam, Third Miss is not at Diejinlou. She woke up and went straight to Second Miss’s place, saying she wanted to have a meal with her and discuss something important.”
Hearing this, Jiang Bochen’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, “In that case, let’s go to Jiao Garden. We can hear what the two sisters are discussing and put your mind at ease.”
Yuan Jie’er was sensible and understood the bigger picture. After the incident, she had taken the initiative to find him, saying that as the eldest daughter and elder sister, she would persuade Mei Xueniang to abort the child and stay with the Jiang Family. She also promised to explain things properly to Wan Jie’er and ensure she didn’t cause trouble.
Jiang Bochen had full confidence in Yuan Jie’er.
Mei Xueniang lowered her eyelids and let out a long sigh, as if in resignation or perhaps relief.
“Let’s go,” she said quietly.