Jiang Ping’an, accompanied by his two personal attendants, headed straight for the Wangfu’s stables. Under the watchful eyes of nearly half the household staff, he ordered the carriage to be hitched and prepared to return directly to General Jiang Manor.
Jiang Ping’an was usually guarded by the Wangfei as preciously as her own eyeballs. This time, when he wanted to leave the Wangfu, the servants dared not stop him and could only rush to report to the Wangfei.
When the servant came to report, Jiang Wanwen was still sitting in her previous spot, expressionless. Anyone could tell she was angry.
Upon hearing the report brought in by Ruhua, Jiang Wanwen immediately stood up. “This child, I only scolded him a few words, and now he’s running off in a huff.”
After speaking, Jiang Wanwen sat back down with a sulky expression. “If he wants to leave, let him go.”
Even Ruhua beside her could detect the petulance in the Wangfei’s tone.
As a servant who often provided her mistress with an excuse to save face, Ruhua understood the Wangfei’s thoughts perfectly. “The young master is still young. Please don’t quarrel with him, Wangfei.”
While speaking, Ruhua observed the Wangfei’s expression. Seeing her features relax slightly, Ruhua pressed on: “I wonder if the young master will cry when he returns to the General’s Manor and sees how desolate it has become.”
Jiang Wanwen had only been pretending to be angry. Seeing Ruhua had set the stage perfectly, she immediately switched to a concerned expression. “Then let’s hurry! We mustn’t let An’er cry his eyes out.”
Before leaving, Jiang Wanwen handed her jade pendant to Ruhua, who immediately understood and hung it at her waist. “This servant will ride with the coachman.”
Both Ruhua and Ruyue were actually not young anymore—thirty-two years old—and had been part of the original host’s dowry. The original host had mentioned arranging marriages for them, but having been little beggars rescued by the original host’s mother, they had suffered enough hardship in life. They avoided marriage like the plague and remained unmarried by the original host’s side. Thus, they knew many of the original host’s secrets.
To be precise, they knew almost everything except about the spatial ability.
So Jiang Wanwen set out ostentatiously with Ruhua and guards, chasing after Jiang Ping’an.
By the time Jiang Wanwen caught up with Jiang Ping’an, they had already reached General Jiang Manor.
Jiang Ping’an had been waiting at the second gate for Jiang Wanwen. When she saw him, she went forward, took his small hand, and headed toward the Ancestral Hall of the General’s Manor.
“Since we’re back, let’s visit them. They must be missing us.”
Jiang Ping’an nodded his little head in agreement with his aunt’s words and happily held her hand as they walked toward the Ancestral Hall.
Watching the Wangfei and young master like this, Ruhua suddenly understood. ‘So the young master was homesick!’
Old Zheng nearby opened the Ancestral Hall door, and Jiang Wanwen led Jiang Ping’an inside by the hand.
Following the procedures from memory, Jiang Wanwen knelt with Jiang Ping’an to kowtow before the memorial tablets above, then inserted the incense.
Only after standing up did Jiang Wanwen examine the memorial tablets, her eyes involuntarily reddening at the sight of the names inscribed thereon.
Jiang Ping’an tugged at his aunt’s hand. “Aunt, don’t be sad! Grandmother said if we miss them too much, they won’t be able to leave. Both Grandmother and Mother said it’s very dark down below. We should let them go!”
“We’re both adults now, capable of taking care of ourselves. In the future, An’er will also look after his aunt.”
Though Jiang Ping’an spoke words meant to comfort his aunt, his eyes were also rimmed red.
Jiang Wanwen gave Jiang Ping’an’s hand a gentle squeeze. In that moment, she resolved to fully become the original host—to live well and protect those who had cared for the original host.
After all, these extra years of life were a bonus. Being able to do something meaningful made her feel this journey wasn’t in vain.
“Aunt isn’t sad. It’s just that the ancestral hall hasn’t been dusted for so long,” Jiang Ping’an declared, convinced he was now a man capable of tending to adults’ emotions. He immediately pattered to the doorway and asked Grandpa Zheng to fetch some water so he and his aunt could personally wipe away the dust in the ancestral hall.
Jiang Wanwen turned to watch the child—who was now chatting with Uncle Zheng at the entrance—before looking back at the memorial tablets above. With each tablet she saw, memories of those people’s voices and faces flashed through her mind.
Silently, Jiang Wanwen made a promise in her heart: “Rest assured, I will protect him as he grows up—ensuring he lives a peaceful life, just as his name implies. Perhaps you’ve already met the real Jiang Wanwen by now! You may depart in peace. In a few days, we too will leave Shengyang.”
Afterwards, Jiang Wanwen and Jiang Ping’an wiped all the memorial tablets clean. Then Jiang Wanwen left Jiang Ping’an alone in the hall for a while.
She herself headed to the general’s mansion treasury, storing all the valuable items in her spatial inventory.
After collecting so many possessions, Jiang Wanwen felt none of the mental exhaustion or headaches described in other novels. She didn’t care to investigate why.
Without a trace of nostalgia, she turned and went back toward the ancestral hall.
Outside the ancestral hall, Jiang Wanwen spotted Zhong Yuancheng waiting there. This person was her trump card for escaping.
He was the leader of her Shadow Guards. As for where these Shadow Guards came from—they were naturally prepared for the original host by her father, numbering about two hundred people.
Over the years, the original host had secretly supported these men using her dowry, never even telling her husband, Prince Pingwu.
The original host had planned to give these men to Jiang Ping’an when he grew up, hoping they would protect her nephew—a devoted aunt’s heartfelt intention.
Zhong Yuancheng was the one commanding these men. Officially, he was also the original host’s adopted son, just twenty years old this year.
The original host and Prince Pingwu had two adopted sons in total. One was this Zhong Yuancheng, arranged for the original host by her father.
The other was named Ding Anlin, who had always served by Prince Pingwu’s heir apparent’s side and was fiercely loyal to Fu Xuanrui.
Seeing Jiang Wanwen approach, Zhong Yuancheng immediately stepped forward to bow. “Your son pays respects to Foster Mother.Jiang Wanwen stepped forward to gesture a virtual support. “Cheng’er, no need for formalities. I have tasks for you to handle!”
Noting the late hour and urgent timing, Jiang Wanwen directly stated her purpose for summoning him.
“Foster Mother, please give your orders!” Zhong Yuancheng rubbed his hands eagerly, itching to get busy immediately. He felt he’d nearly grown idle to the point of sickness these past few years.
“Select twenty men from our group to form a merchant convoy carrying goods like grain. In five days, wait at my Suiyuan estate outside the city. I’ll bring people to join the convoy then. We’ll travel to Chengshui County in Yongning. My father acquired ten thousand mu of fertile land for me there before his passing, and Magistrate Ding there is one of our own.”
These twenty individuals must not only be skilled, but also utterly loyal.
The remaining people will set off for Chengshui County tomorrow, traveling separately and gathering there. Those with families may bring them along and proceed at a leisurely pace.
Those unwilling to go may be released, but ensure no one with ulterior motives learns the purpose of this journey. Arrange it as you see fit!”
Jiang Wanwen could only think of this much for now. Had she not known that Zhong Yuancheng in the book remained steadfastly loyal to the original host, she wouldn’t have come to him.
As for those in Pingwu Wangfu, there were too many spies, and Jiang Wanwen had no intention of using them. In the book, the original host succeeded in fleeing to the Yongning fiefdom precisely by relying on her own people.