"It turns out that my sister was prepared all along. My maternal grandfather is so good to my sister. He gave her this secret medicine like a candy without hesitation."

Jiang Xue smiled enviously.

I was so jealous I was going crazy.

Jiang Jiaojiao, however, looked smug. "My maternal grandparents' secret medicine is for saving lives. These are just digestive pills that I made myself. My sister is well-versed in medical principles, so she can definitely make them better than me."

The words "well-versed in medical principles" felt like a slap in Jiang Xue's face. Her expression froze, and she dug her fingernails into her palms until they turned purple. "Aaaaah! You bitch!"

Jiang Jiaojiao, that bitch, must have done it on purpose.

Despite being well-versed in medical principles, she always loses to Jiang Jiaojiao. If Jiang Jiaojiao doesn't use the Jin family's secret medicine, but rather her own concoction, wouldn't that be a slap in the face for her?

Jiang Xue's face turned pale and then flushed.

Jiang Jiaojiao continued to rub salt in the wound, "The Fifth Prince and the Princess Consort are truly blessed. In the future, if they have a headache, fever, or loss of appetite, they won't need a doctor."

"That's right!"

Jiang Jiaojiao deliberately lowered her voice, as if she couldn't speak to outsiders, and said, "There are many people and eyes in the Prince's residence. I heard that there are dozens of cooks alone, and no less than a hundred people serving in the courtyard. Food and clothing are the easiest things to be used for, such as sleeping pills and poison powder. With your sister here, Your Highness and the Princess Consort can rest assured."

"elder sister--"

Jiang Xue stood up in fright, her eyes instantly reddening. "My sister only knows a little bit of basic pharmacology, how could she know anything like that?"

Jiang Jiaojiao wasn't praising her at all.

It's clearly a trap set for her, implying that if His Highness and the Crown Princess are ill, it's because she wasn't attentive enough.

Not to mention drugs and poisons.

If someone appears at the prince's residence, it must be related to me.

"Huh..."

Jiang Jiaojiao looked puzzled. "My sister's medical skills are superb. I'm not exaggerating. Everyone here knows that my sister is a kind-hearted doctor who is also charitable."

"Even though he was in the family temple, he was able to save the princess with his medical skills."

"If you only have a rudimentary understanding of medicine, how did you manage to save the eldest princess? I heard that the eldest princess was bitten by a poisonous snake, and if she hadn't received timely treatment, she would have already lost her life."

Jiang Xue's face gradually turned pale.

Just as she was about to defend herself, the Fifth Prince stopped her, smiling and saying, "Xue'er's medical skills are indeed excellent, and Miss Jiang's digestive pills are also quite effective. Although they cannot compare to the Jin family's life-saving secret medicine, they are still rare."

"Now that we are a family, the Jin family can be considered my maternal grandparents. I will definitely speak well of the Jin family in front of my father. If they can be granted the title of Imperial Merchant, it will be of great benefit to the Jin family."

The Fifth Prince smiled gently.

This is the empty promise he made to the Jin family.

Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this. "Really? That's great!"

"My sister is truly remarkable. She's only just entered the Prince's residence, and her maternal family has already received such a grand betrothal gift! When does Your Highness plan to request permission from His Majesty?"

Once the cake is in her mouth, it's hers. Since the Fifth Prince is so eager for it, why wouldn't she be happy to oblige? "I'll go back and tell my maternal grandfather right away that this is a double celebration!"

The Fifth Prince was taken aback. "Double happiness?"

"yes!"

Jiang Jiaojiao smiled, her eyes crinkling. "It's a joy that Elder Li accepted my second brother as his last disciple, and His Highness has also promised to make him the head of the Imperial Merchants. Isn't that a double blessing?"

The Fifth Prince's smile froze slightly. She was quite adept at taking advantage of the situation; he was just dangling a carrot in front of her, but she was determined to take it.

hehe.

The Fifth Prince had no intention of responding to Jiang Jiaojiao's words and instead asked about Old Master Li's acceptance of disciples. "I haven't heard Old Master Li mention it."

"The old master said that although my second brother was not very talented, he was diligent and eager to learn, and he was obedient. He barely met the master's standards for taking on a disciple. The master was also getting old, so he wanted to take on an obedient disciple to enjoy his old age."

Jiang Jiaojiao smiled brightly.

That's right, she did it on purpose. In his previous life, Old Master Li was coerced by Jiang Xue into taking the Fifth Prince as his last disciple, which led to his tragic end.

In this lifetime, don't even think about it!

While serving food to the little crybaby, Jiang Jiaojiao boasted, "My second brother is the most respectful to his teachers and will certainly not let down Mr. Li's teachings."

The Fifth Prince's Consort ate without looking up, her eyes sparkling.

She didn't care about Mr. Li. The Fifth Prince told her to please Jiang Jiaojiao and eat all the food that Jiaojiao put on her plate. Wasn't that a way to please her?

It's obvious that Jiaojiao treats herself the best at this table.

"hehe……"

The Fifth Prince glanced at his wife with disdain, suppressing the resentment in his eyes, and offered a fake congratulation, "Then congratulations to the Second Young Master. I didn't expect the Second Young Master to have this connection with Old Master Li."

"I was also planning to introduce the Second Young Master to the headmaster of Bailu Mountain Academy, but I'm a step too late."

He originally intended to use the imperial merchant as bait, then offer a spot at Bailushan Academy, and ask to become Master Li's disciple. In this way, he could not only repay Jiang Jiaojiao and the Jin family for their favor, but also establish a close relationship with the Jin family.

The seventh son died young.

As long as he appeals to their emotions and reasons with them, the Jin family will naturally know who to choose.

The Jin family's wealth will undoubtedly be a great asset in his rise to power.

In addition, there's the reputation of Mr. Li's closed-door disciple.

Why worry about not succeeding in great things?

However, to everyone's surprise... Old Master Li actually accepted Young Master Jiang as his last disciple.

No wonder he refused all the promises and gifts he received, both openly and secretly. Was he determined not to get involved in the struggle for the princes' positions? Or had he found a better option?

Second brother? Or... eighth brother?

Or perhaps that sickly one?

The Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow, his gaze towards Jiang Jiaojiao deep and unfathomable.

If it weren't Jiang Xue who entered my mansion, but Jiang Jiaojiao, the Jin family, and Old Master Li, wouldn't they be mine?

Jiang Xue noticed the Fifth Prince's gaze and eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. Her face paled. Could it be that the Fifth Prince was still alive and had the intention of recruiting Jiang Jiaojiao into his household?

besides--

Why would Mr. Li accept her bookish second brother as his last disciple?

impossible!

Although she didn't know how Jiang Jiaojiao knew Mr. Li or how she was so lucky to invite him to teach at the Jin family mansion, she did have something to say about Mr. Li.

No rush!

As long as we find that person.

Mr. Li will naturally be used by her, just like in the stories. She can accept or replace his closed-door disciples. Jiang Jiaojiao won't always be so lucky.

Jiang Xue's calculating gaze fell upon the princess consort, who was engrossed in eating.

As long as she can control Mr. Li and make him work for the Fifth Prince, the positions of concubine and princess consort will both be hers.

"Miss, Miss—"

Suddenly, A-Yuan ran in from outside the courtyard, covered in sweat, shouting, "They're fighting! They're fighting!"

"Miss Twelfth is fighting with someone!"