Chapter 8  

As soon as Jiang Peihuan returned to the courtyard, Yue Er hurried to greet her. However, before she could say anything, Peihuan rushed into the house, her face full of worry.

Yue Er and Cui Er exchanged glances, assuming it was due to the marriage swap and King Cheng’s proposal.

“Miss, we truly let off some steam today. I heard that when Prince Huainan left, he looked utterly defeated,” Yue Er said.

“Everyone in the mansion is talking about how King Cheng himself has come to propose to you in person. How could you possibly be interested in Prince Huainan?” Cui Er added.

“Isn’t that true? The second branch has spent so much effort, only to end up with something you don’t want,” Yue Er replied.

Yue Er and Cui Er chatted happily.

Despite their lively conversation, Jiang Peihuan sat down at her desk, picked up a pen, and began writing, her expression even more serious than before.

Today was the twelfth day of December, the day Zhao Fuqing came to request the bride exchange.

However, for Jiang Peihuan, what was truly important wasn’t the bride exchange request.

Three months ago, the Northern Region of Da Qi was in danger.

Emperor Qiyuan issued a decree, and her father Jiang Hong, mother Xue Yan, and brother Jiang Chengbai led the Flying Feather Army to the Northern Territory.

The war was extremely perilous, with cities falling one by one before the army arrived. The capital was even in danger of falling if Hangu Pass was breached.

Fortunately, with the help of her family and the Flying Feather Army, Da Qi quickly turned the tide in the north, reclaiming lost cities within three months.

About a month later, the family received good news that the three of them would return triumphantly.

Sadly, while the Jiang family eagerly awaited their return, they learned that their elder brother, Jiang Chengbai, had died in the Northern Territory.

As a soldier, he did not die on the battlefield but from an illness.

The news devastated Jiang Peihuan in her previous life.

When Jiang Hong and Xue Yan finally returned, they appeared to have aged 30 years overnight.

Jiang Chengbai was a young and talented man, well-known as the Jiang family’s successor, having followed their father to lead troops in war since he was young.

After Jiang Chengbai’s death, the Jiang family had no successor. Later, Jiang Peihuan, as a daughter, took on the responsibility of the entire Jiang family.

When her brother died, Jiang Peihuan was deeply saddened and thought it was just an accident. But now, she feared someone was behind it.

She wondered who in the far north would have wanted to harm her brother. Could it be…

Without time to explain the full story, she wrote four words on the letter: “Be careful of Meng Yi!”

Jiang Peihuan quickly sealed the letter in an envelope and handed it to Cui Er. She then wrote down a prescription.

When her brother died of illness, Jiang Peihuan had studied extensively about his condition. She discovered that it wasn’t an incurable disease, but rather a result of scarce medicine in the cold border region.

“Follow this prescription to obtain the medicine, pack it up, and have a trustworthy person send it to Father in the Northern Region. Remember to be quick!”

After sending the medicine and letter, Jiang Peihuan still couldn’t calm down.

Meng Yi was her father’s trusted aide, and her father had complete faith in him.

She hoped her message would reach her father and that he would take action to save her brother.

Soon, night fell.

Usually at this time, the entire Jiang family would gather in the main hall for dinner.

But because of the day’s events, the family sat around the table, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, old madam Jiang spoke up, “Ruyun, in a few days, you will be marrying into the Huainan family. As a married woman, you must always be mindful of your behavior.”

She continued, “In the past, you were just a girl with a fiery personality who spoke her mind, but once you are a married woman, you must behave with more decorum. Otherwise, people will laugh at the Jiang family.”

Jiang Ruyun was already feeling upset and Grandma Jiang’s words only made things worse. She knew her grandmother was chastising her for speaking out of turn in front of King Cheng earlier.

All of them were daughters of the Jiang family and legitimate children, so why did Grandma favor Jiang Peihuan more?

She gritted her teeth and forced out a response. “Yes, I understand.”

Jiang Peihuan remained silent throughout the conversation, not even looking at her sister.

The indifference only made Jiang Ruyun even angrier.

Today, Zhao Fuqing’s wedding should have made Jiang Peihuan the laughingstock of everyone. However, she appeared quite pleased with herself, all thanks to King Cheng!

Jiang Ruyun suddenly had a mischievous idea and smiled.

“Speaking of which, I have to admit, Eldest Sister is quite talented to have caught King Cheng’s eye. We sisters can only envy such a skill.”

Jiang Sijin, unaware of the hidden meaning, chimed in.

“King Cheng saved Eldest Sister when she fell into the water. He must have taken an interest in her then.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ruyun scoffed.

“Do you really think His Highness King Cheng would take an ordinary woman lightly?”

Xiao Nanye was famous for being picky when it came to women. There would be a long line of women wanting to marry into his estate.

At his age, he was still unmarried and had even rejected Emperor Qiyuan’s marriage proposal.

Jiang Ruyun didn’t believe that King Cheng fell in love with Jiang Peihuan just because he saved her from drowning.

No one in the entire kingdom of Da Qi would believe that either.

“I doubt that’s the only reason,” Jiang Ruyun muttered under her breath.

After Jiang Ruyun’s comment, Zhou Rongfang got fired up.

“Peihuan, your grandmother was right. We can’t say anything we shouldn’t, or people will laugh at us for not having manners.”

“But if you do something shameful and it gets out, your reputation will be ruined!”

Jiang Peihuan raised her head and found it amusing that the two were now rushing to lecture her.

“Second Aunt is right. If you do something shameful, your reputation will be ruined.”

“But if you do anything that goes against our principles and tarnishes our reputation…”

As Jiang Peihuan spoke, her gaze turned towards Jiang Ruyun.

“You will be drowned in a pig cage….”