"So what Aunt Liu said is all true?"

"What if it's true? What if it's false? If it's true, will Father punish me again for your concubine? If it's false, will Father listen to my explanation and stand up for me?" Jiang Wei asked, staring at Jiang Zaishui.

"I only took over the management of the household with my father's consent. I'm also doing this for his own good. Now that my mother is gone, it's my duty as the legitimate daughter to raise my half-sister. I can't let the concubine corrupt her."

A few days ago, my half-sister saw that the clothes my maternal grandfather gave me were beautiful and insisted that I give them to her. I dote on her, so I gave them to her and told her to wear them in the mansion. The clothes are very elegant and even a princess would wear them. How dare she, a mere concubine's daughter, wear them out and flaunt them? Will Father also blame me for this?

Aunt Liu is just a concubine, yet she acts like a lady every day. Although Father's official rank is not high, we are still from a respectable family. How will outsiders view us if we act like this? I urge Father to make Aunt Liu his official wife, so that it will be more legitimate.

If things remain as they are now, after I marry into the Marquis's household, I won't have to worry about my family, and I won't be disgraced along with them."

Jiang Wei made up her mind that her father would not make Concubine Liu his official wife. He was still thinking about finding a wife who could help him, even if she was a second wife. He was a man who had passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty. How could he let Concubine Liu take the place of his official wife? He was not even forty yet.

When Lian Sang stormed in, Jiang Zai Shui was already standing quietly beside Jiang Wei.

Jiang Zai Shui would have been furious if Jiang Wei had talked back to her like that in the past. If it weren't for her in-laws' influence, and the fact that the young master would soon have a chance to become the commander of the Imperial Guards, helping him out would have been a simple matter of a few words.

Looking at the maidservant beside Jiang Wei, she realized that she must be the maidservant Aunt Liu and the others had mentioned who knew martial arts.

She stood respectfully behind his daughter, a whip hanging from her waist, suggesting that the prince cared deeply for his daughter.

He suppressed his anger and said, "The rules of the manor should be straightened out. What do you mean by promoting someone to the position of principal wife? Besides your mother, who else can be my principal wife?"

Jiang Zai Shui glanced at the loquat tree, then looked at Jiang Wei.

It was as if Jiang Wei saw Chen Xue Ning. When they first met, Chen Xue Ning was about the same age, with her hair styled in a fairy bun, wearing a pink dress, standing there with bright eyes and a smile on her lips, gazing at the lotus flowers in the pond.

It made people yearn for her and want to get closer. At that time, no one would have thought that she was just a merchant's daughter.

Jiang Wei's eyes are especially like her mother's. The difference is that Chen Xuening's eyes are full of smiles and she looks at him with deep affection, while Jiang Wei, his daughter, has a calm look in her eyes as if she has never had any emotions.

He doesn't understand.

Jiang Wei ignored his gaze and didn't ask any questions. This was the first time her father had looked at her like this since she could remember.

Jiang Zai Shui waited a long time for his daughter to ask a question, then looked at the loquat tree again.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke with feigned deep emotion.

"Seeing this loquat tree always reminds me of the line, 'There is a loquat tree in the courtyard, now it stands tall and spreading like a canopy.'" Jiang said with sadness and nostalgia, "It's very fitting."

It's better if we don't mention her mother.

Jiang Wei was instantly furious. She turned around and left angrily, saying, "It's lunchtime. Father has to go back to have lunch with Aunt Liu. I won't keep you any longer." Her tone chilled the winter air.

Jiang Zai Shui shivered involuntarily.

Jiang Wei entered the house, and the door slammed shut behind her.

This rebellious daughter dares to give him the cold shoulder now. He'll get his comeuppance sooner or later. With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed out.

Jiang Wei sat at the table and calmed herself down for a while. Although she was no longer angry, sadness welled up inside her, and tears streamed down her face.

Why did her mother die right after childbirth? Wasn't it because he favored his concubine over his wife and indulged Aunt Liu, who secretly murdered her?

When she was still that innocent little girl from her past life, knowing nothing and easily fooled?

It's impossible now; you all have to pay back what you owe.

When his mother was pregnant and suffering, even vomiting bitter water, he never went to see her, saying that most pregnant women are like this, and what could he do if he went? He wasn't a doctor.

Now he's pretending to be so affectionate with her, only because he thinks she can be of help to him in the future.

She even dared to bring up her mother.

He doesn't deserve it!

He's not qualified!

Even after being reborn, he will never see his mother again.

Jiang Wei couldn't stop her tears from flowing.

When she was little, she loved loquats. Her mother said, "Plant one in our yard for our little girl. When the loquats ripen, she can pick some whenever she wants, and then she'll have an endless supply."

The mother, filled with loving anticipation, pulled her into her arms.

Not long after, her mother told her to take a nap in her yard until she returned to her own yard.

A loquat tree appeared in the courtyard, and she happily circled it a few times, shouting, "There are loquats to eat! There are loquats to eat!"

But before she could even eat the loquats, her mother passed away.

"Miss, have your meal. You had a spicy hot pot yesterday, so today you'll have something light to soothe your stomach." Dewdrop placed the food on the table. "There's stir-fried shredded vegetables, chicken and millet porridge, and a dish of fresh mushroom and lean pork buns. Please try them."

Dewdrop placed the bowl and chopsticks in front of Jiang Wei and looked up at her.

Jiang Wei's eyes were red, and her face was covered in tears.

Her tears welled up like a spring; she hadn't suffered any defeats today, so why was the girl crying?

"Did the master bully you? How can he be such a father? He's always been biased towards you since you were little, and he's even scolding you now that you're about to get married," Dewdrop said indignantly.

Jiang Wei: "..." This girl's tears come so easily.

"I was just looking at the loquat tree and it made me miss my mother a little." Jiang Wei wiped away her tears and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

"Miss." Yu Zhu lifted the curtain and walked in from outside, but stepped aside when she saw Jiang Wei eating.

"Go ahead." After saying that, Jiang Wei took a sip of chicken porridge, her movements graceful and unhurried.

"Yes, this servant followed Miss's instructions and waited in the carriage in the alley next door. When I saw the Second Miss return to the manor, I followed the carriage that brought her back. That carriage went to the Marquis of Chang'an's manor..."

Jiang Wei noticed Yu Zhu hesitated, then asked, "Did you see who came down from up there?"

"This servant saw clearly, it is..." Yuzhu didn't know how to say it. That was her young lady's fiancé, but he was involved with the second young lady of the manor, which made her young lady very sad.

"Please feel free to speak."

“Yes…” Yuzhu steeled her heart, “It was the young master who brought the second young lady back.”

"How dare she? When she tried to steal this marriage, the old lady of the Marquis of Chang'an specifically requested a daughter. How could she still go and try to take advantage of her?" Dewdrop said angrily.

“Your daughter isn’t angry, so why are you getting so worked up? Alright, sweetie, don’t be angry. You two go eat first, and come find me later. I have something I need you to do,” Jiang Wei comforted her.

After finishing her meal, Jiang Wei went to her desk and began to write.

After finishing writing, she picked up the letter, blew on it to dry it, sealed it, and put it away. Then, Dewdrop and the others came over after finishing their meal in the side room.

“Raindrop, send this letter out. The address is on it. Waterdrop, go and guard the door.”