Madam Mu looked at Jiang Yunxi with displeasure. “It was just a misunderstanding. Once it’s cleared up, everything should be fine. Why insist on twenty lashes? Do you have to be so cruel?”
“She was the one who misspoke. I didn’t wrong her,” Jiang Yunxi said righteously. On her very first day back, this mistress and her servant had tried to intimidate her. She wouldn’t let it slide just to maintain a good image.
This was her home.
She had to make them understand who the true eldest young lady of Yingguo Gongfu was!
“Mother, Sister Yunxi is right. It was my fault for not managing my servant properly. I deserve the punishment,” Jiang Chenyu said, putting on an apologetic expression.
Seeing her like this, Madam Mu felt heartbroken, thinking Jiang Yunxi was too unreasonable.
“Grandmother, Madam, it was this servant who acted on her own. It has nothing to do with Third Young Lady. I am willing to take the twenty lashes. Please don’t blame Third Young Lady,” Qingzhi said tearfully.
Her young lady had always treated her extremely well.
How could she let her take the punishment for her?
“From today onward, I am the Third Young Lady of Yingguo Gongfu. Servants shall address her as Miss Chenyu from now on,” Jiang Yunxi declared directly.
“Chenyu grew up in Yingguo Gongfu. Everyone outside knows her as the Third Young Lady. For you to do this as soon as you return is too much!” Madam Mu frowned deeply.
Was this really the daughter she gave birth to?
So unreasonable.
“Yingguo Gongfu raised her in luxury for twenty-two years. It never mistreated her or owed her anything. I, on the other hand, suffered hardships while drifting outside since childhood. On my first day back, you, as my mother, didn’t even offer a single word of concern. Isn’t that even more excessive?” Jiang Yunxi publicly rebuked her.
“I…” Madam Mu was left speechless.
Jiang Yunxi turned her gaze to Jiang Chenyu and said with a faint, mocking smile, “You knew perfectly well that I was returning to the manor today. Everyone else came, but you didn’t. Don’t tell me you were too unwell to come—you managed to make it to the ancestral hall now, didn’t you?”
“Sister Yunxi, it’s not like that… cough, cough…” Jiang Chenyu began coughing violently, then suddenly went limp and collapsed to the ground.
“Chenyu!” Madam Mu cried out in alarm, rushing to support her.
“Third Young Lady…” Qingzhi shouted worriedly.
“It’s Miss Chenyu!” Jiang Yunxi corrected her.
Everyone: “…”
For a moment, the crowd looked at Jiang Yunxi with a mix of emotions—surprise, shock, admiration, curiosity, reverence, disdain, contempt, and intrigue…
Suddenly, a young man in blue robes strode up to Jiang Yunxi.
Jiang Yunxi’s gaze was as cold as ice as she spoke each word with force: “Think carefully before you speak. I, Jiang Yunxi, am your blood sister. You may treat her well, but you must also respect me.”
Jiang Jingyan was choked into coughing several times, his momentum instantly deflated. “I… I just thought that since you’ve just returned, there’s no need to be so particular. I didn’t mean anything else. I won’t favor her over you.”
He hurriedly clarified his stance.
Why did he feel she was a bit like their grandfather—intimidating?
“If she respects me, why would I be particular?” Jiang Yunxi said calmly. If Jiang Chenyu didn’t stir up trouble and had good intentions, she would be more than happy for her to stay in Yingguo Gongfu.
Jiang Jingyan: “…”
“Grandmother, we’ve had a tiring journey today and would like to rest early,” Jiang Yunxi said, turning to the Grandmother. She couldn’t be bothered to deal with Jiang Chenyu’s feigned faint.
She had made her stance clear. If Jiang Chenyu continued to stir up trouble, she would deal with her accordingly.
“I’ll take you to rest. You’ll stay in the courtyard next to mine,” Grandmother said with a beaming smile, her eyes filled with admiration. She had thought Jiang Yunxi would be timid and submissive in this unfamiliar place, but instead, she was so commanding.
Today’s display truly embodied the authority of the legitimate daughter of Yingguo Gongfu, directly commanding the scene.
“Mother…” Madam Mu looked stunned. Was she just going to abandon Chenyu like this? After all these years, it was Chenyu who had been dutifully by her side.
Grandmother’s face tightened. “Take her back and have the physician examine her thoroughly.”
Jiang Yunxi turned her gaze to the steward and said with authority, “Don’t forget her twenty lashes.”
With that, she left with Momo and Mianmian.
…
In the room.
Jiang Yunxi waited until the two little ones were asleep before returning to her own room. From her bundle, she took out a brocade pouch—given to her by her master when she left Qingxu Temple, with instructions to open it only after she had reunited with Yingguo Gongfu.
She unfolded the paper inside.
“Find the Ziwei Star. It may help extend your lifespan.”
After reading it, Jiang Yunxi felt no ripple of emotion. She had lived not just one lifetime but several, each ending before she turned twenty-two. Yet, each time, she had accepted death calmly, for she was alone and unattached.
This time was different. She had a pair of adorable, thoughtful children and family members who loved her, making her yearn to live a little longer.
In every lifetime, her soul and spirit were incomplete. Even now, having returned to this body, her Three Hun and Seven Po remained fragmented.
Unless her soul and spirit were made whole.
Otherwise, even if she found the Ziwei Star, she would still die young. But if she could extend her life by a few months, it would still be a gain.
Then, starting tomorrow, she would begin her search!
Thinking of Zhan Beiyuan’s Bloodlight Disaster, Jiang Yunxi changed her clothes and slipped out of Yingguo Gongfu unnoticed.
The streets were empty, appearing desolate and cold.
But she could see what others could not—ghosts.
Suddenly, her ears twitched, and in the next moment, she dashed out like a phantom. After running two streets, she stopped by a pond, where a girl of about fifteen lay struggling in pain beneath a locust tree.
“Wretched creature, release her!” Jiang Yunxi shouted sternly, sending a Fu flying from her hand.
A flash of light.
A female ghost in red appeared.
The struggling girl fainted.
“Little girl, don’t meddle in others’ affairs. Oh? Your soul and spirit are incomplete—taking over your body would be even better. How wonderful!” The red-clad ghost shifted from anger to delight. The Yin Energy emanating from the other was strong, making her particularly suitable.
Jiang Yunxi smiled brightly. “That depends on whether you have the ability.”
Knowing she was no ordinary person, the red-clad ghost sneered. A sudden, chilling wind swirled around her, her waist-length hair flying wildly. Her face gradually twisted into a grotesque and ferocious expression, revealing sharp, pale teeth.
She was determined to claim this body!
The thought of being able to live like a normal person again filled her with excitement, and she laughed maniacally.
“From today onward, I will live for you,” the red-clad ghost declared before lunging toward Jiang Yunxi.
Jiang Yunxi took a brush from her sleeve and swiftly drew with fluid, sweeping strokes.
“Ah… Aah! What have you done? Release me!” The red-clad ghost, halfway through her charge, found herself trapped, as if bound by something. She couldn’t move or use her powers.
With a flick of her brush, Jiang Yunxi sent the red-clad ghost crashing to the ground.
“You should have reincarnated long ago. Lingering in the mortal realm is one thing, but harming the innocent is your fault.” Jiang Yunxi approached her with a paintbrush in hand, murderous intent radiating from her entire being. She never interfered with ghosts who lingered in the mortal world.
Unless they harmed others—then she would naturally send them away.
The red-clad female ghost suddenly burst into laughter, a sound filled with sorrow and despair. “Harming the innocent? I was once innocent too. I was murdered and couldn’t reincarnate. Who ever stood up for me? Who ever cared about me? Was I not innocent?”
“That is no excuse for harming others. Vengeance has its rightful target, and debts have their rightful owners,” Jiang Yunxi said coldly.
“So you want to scatter my soul to the winds?” The red-clad female ghost smiled as she looked at her.