"I'm so angry—"

"We're all born of the same father, why should they believe that ungrateful wretch instead of you!"

Watch as Jiang Jiaojiao skillfully adds sesame oil to the ancestors' food.

Jin wiped away her tears with heartache, "Jiaojiao—you can leave it there, Mother will take care of it, be careful not to burn your hands."

"It's alright, my ancestors have always been good to me."

Jiang Jiaojiao smiled and said, "I'm the kind of person who always repays kindness, and I will never go back on my word."

As he spoke, he placed the pear blossoms he had taken on the offering table.

Jin was startled. She looked around to make sure no one was there, then continued to wipe away her tears. Look—she's made Jiao Jiao so angry. When did the Jiang family's ancestor ever treat Jiao Jiao well?

He was locked up and forced to kneel every few days.

Jiang Jiaojiao picked up the pastries from the offering table. "Mother, these are glutinous rice cakes that I asked A Yuan to buy from Yupinfang. They're so sticky and soft. And this braised pork hock, I had someone change it every day to the freshest and hottest ones. Have a taste."

A bite of glutinous rice cake in my left hand.

A bite of braised pork hock in my right hand.

Jin's eyes narrowed as she ate; it was truly delicious!

Her daughter, Jiaojiao, really knows how to eat!

Tsk tsk tsk... Her daughter Jiaojiao is truly the smartest and most filial daughter in the world.

Kim's anger vanished amidst the loving motherly glow and the delicious food.

After a satisfying meal, I took a stroll to digest.

And I don't have to worry about the household affairs, how comfortable!

only……

Before nightfall.

Butler Su came running up, sweating profusely, a fawning smile on his face, and said, "Madam—Miss—the Marquis requests your presence."

This Steward Su is an old steward of the Marquis's mansion, and he has always looked down on Jin Shi. It is truly surprising that he would show such a face today.

Before Kim could even ask a question.

Butler Su then continued with a beaming smile, "Miss, the Seventh Prince has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiaojiao paused, thinking to herself: Isn't he still sick?

How did we end up here all of a sudden?

Could it be that they heard I was punished and came here specifically to support me?

Thinking of this, Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up, saying angrily, "They lock us up and release us just like that, what kind of people do they take us for?"

The old steward's heart tightened at the thought of the two rows of iron guards standing in the front yard, and he quickly reassured him, "The Marquis said that past matters will not be pursued..."

"Let bygones be bygones?"

Jiang Jiaojiao sneered, "He won't pursue it, but I will!"

"They imprisoned my mother and me here without even asking what happened, and they won't clear our names. I will never step out of this room again!"

"Young Miss... Madam..."

The old housekeeper glanced at Jiang Jiaojiao, then at Jin Shi, and seeing that neither of them intended to pay him any attention, he had no choice but to slink away.

"Jiaojiao—"

Jin grabbed Jiaojiao nervously, "Won't His Highness be angry if we don't go?"

"Well……"

"Probably not?"

Surely they wouldn't be that petty?

Seeing her daughter's guilty look, Jin felt even more guilty. Oh no, her handsome son-in-law was going to get angry!

forecourt.

The Seventh Prince, Li Yan, sat in the main seat. Despite his frail health, Jiang Qingyun felt an inexplicable pressure emanating from him, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

Dao Qing and Dao Hong stood guard on either side, one holding a sword and the other carrying a knife.

Two rows of cold, sharp-looking iron guards stood behind him.

The old butler entered, bowing slightly.

Lord Jiang hurriedly asked, "Has the person arrived?"

The old butler wiped his sweat. "Miss... Madam doesn't want to come out."

"What?!"

Lord Jiang's back was covered in cold sweat. "Why aren't they coming out?"

"The young lady said that if her innocence is not cleared, she will not come out."

"Innocence? She—"

Lord Jiang instinctively scolded him, but upon meeting the Seventh Prince's deep gaze, he immediately shrank back and awkwardly smiled, "My daughter... my daughter is willful, please forgive her, Your Highness."

"It's all my fault for not disciplining them properly..."

Outside the door—

Jiang Xue came out wiping away her tears. "Father, it's all my fault. I failed to protect my sister."

Her voice was choked with emotion, which made people feel sorry for her.

"Your Highness... please don't blame my sister. Although she admires the Second Prince, she is, after all, Your Highness's betrothed and would never do anything like having a secret rendezvous with him."

Jiang Xue's words seemed to be defending Jiang Jiaojiao, but in reality, they were implying that Jiang Jiaojiao had an unusual relationship with the Second Prince.

The seventh prince remained silent.

However, Dao Qing and Dao Hong were furious, especially Dao Hong, "Your Highness—she's gone too far..."

"Cough cough..."

Li Yan glanced at her indifferently.

Dao Hong immediately stopped talking, her buttocks throbbing with pain.

Seeing that the Seventh Prince was not angry, Jiang Xue said softly, "Your Highness, I am willing to persuade my sister to come out and see you."

"oh?"

Li Yan looked at Jiang Xue, her pale lips twitching slightly, "Cough cough... Go."

Jiang Xue quickly replied, "Yes."

"Your Highness, rest assured, my daughter is the most considerate of you, and she will surely be able to persuade that rebellious son to come see you."

Lord Jiang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Yan stood up unsteadily. "Then let's go take a look together."

Dao Hong and Dao Qing quickly followed.

Two rows of guards followed.

Lord Jiang was sweating profusely. He had met the princes before, and they were all dignified, refined, and proud, but none of them were as unpredictable as the Seventh Prince today.

Jiang Liu rushed over after receiving the news.

Before he could even get close, he was stopped by Tie Wei Hengdao, who nearly killed him on the spot.

Lord Jiang turned pale with fright.

Fortunately, the guards only stopped Jiang Liu from getting closer and did not do anything else. Jiang Lingtian, who had rushed over after hearing the news, stood gloomily to the side, and the guards acted as if they hadn't seen him.

Lord Jiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He really had no idea what the Seventh Prince was trying to do with all this commotion today…

Before he even reached the entrance of the Buddhist hall, Lord Jiang bumped into Shu'er, Jiang Xue's personal maid.

Shu'er was so frightened by the sudden appearance of the Seventh Prince and his entourage that she fell to the ground. The chilling aura emanating from the guards, in particular, made her tremble.

"Your...Your Highness..." Shu'er called out in a trembling voice.

Upon seeing this, Lord Jiang became suspicious and quickly asked, "Why aren't you serving the Second Miss?"

Upon hearing Lord Jiang's question, Shu'er was first taken aback, then, as if grasping at a lifeline, she began to kowtow to the Seventh Prince, crying as she did so, "Please, Your Highness, hurry and save my young lady! She's about to be beaten to death by the eldest young lady!"

"What? You unfilial son!"

Upon hearing this, Lord Jiang exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly ran towards the small Buddhist hall!