Jiang Huaizhi made no attempt to conceal the hatred in his eyes; he hated the city lord and his wife, and he also hated Jiang Huaisong.

They showered all their favoritism and affection on Jiang Huaisong, and even though he committed a heinous crime, it did not shake his position in their hearts.

Therefore, Jiang Huaizhi devised a method that would take the longest time but would be the most damaging to them, to punish them.

First, Jiang Huaisong had to pay the price, destined to never have a son of his own. The way to allow a woman to gain a foothold in the city lord's mansion was to give her an heir.

Therefore, in Jiang Huaizhi's eyes, it doesn't matter who Jiang Huaisong's wife is. No matter who sits in that position, she will eventually become his pawn and a tool for him to take revenge on the Jiang family.

In her previous life, she was Gu Jiangli herself; this time, she is Sun Chan.

He wove a net in the city lord's mansion, with everyone standing in their designated positions and moving forward according to his plan.

After years of forbearance and meticulous planning, all for the sake of achieving a result that would cause everyone pain.

Gu Jiangli held her breath, countless images flashing through her mind.

Whether in her past life or this one, Jiang Huaizhi has always been plotting revenge behind her back.

"Jiang Li, don't look at me like that..." The hatred in his eyes dissipated, leaving only longing.

Gu Jiangli was so engrossed in thought that she had completely forgotten what her expression was like.

After getting to know Jiang Huaizhi, she felt no resentment towards him, but rather a deep sense of pity.

I pity him, and I also pity my own pathetic past life.

If it weren't for him, my past self might never have thought of such a daring plan, and would not have ended up being stabbed to death.

But she could also fully understand Jiang Huaizhi's willingness to go to any lengths for revenge.

His jealousy and hatred, after years of accumulation, would eventually drive him mad.

Gu Jiangli relaxed her furrowed brows and withdrew her pity, speaking calmly, "Huaizhi, I understand. I understand everything you painstakingly planned."

"Jiang Li, don't be afraid of me. No matter what I do, I won't hurt you, I won't hurt our child. I will protect you, really, cough cough cough..."

Perhaps due to excessive emotion, he coughed rapidly.

Gu Jiangli had never seen Jiang Huaizhi like this before.

He gripped her arm tightly with one hand, his eyes slightly reddened, whether from coughing or some other emotion, and every word he uttered trembled almost as if he were a drowning man grasping at the last piece of driftwood that could save his life.

He told himself not to be afraid of him, but actually he was more worried about distancing himself from him.

Gu Jiangli's worst skill is dealing with vulnerable tears.

If someone's eyes well up with tears in front of her, her heart will soften a little.

She gently patted Jiang Huaizhi's back, trying to help him catch his breath, and her tone softened.

"I know you won't hurt me."

Jiang Huaizhi visibly breathed a sigh of relief, slowly recovering from his coughing fit: "That's good, Jiang Li. I know you love me, I know you won't leave me, and you won't hinder my plans, right?"

Seeing his humble, pleading, and vulnerable appearance, Gu Jiangli's heart softened.

What's wrong with Jiang Huai wanting to take revenge on them?

Weren't his family the first to plant the seeds of hatred in his heart?

He has endured illness for so many years, persevering for so long, just to make those who showed favoritism pay the price they deserve for their bias.

It's just that the methods were a bit more complicated and the approaches a bit more radical; it's not some heinous crime...

A handsome but sickly man, his eyes red and filled with tears, gazed at her longingly, hoping she would understand him, forgive him, and cherish him. Gu Jiangli convinced herself of this.

"I...won't stop you."

Jiang Huaizhi laughed, then coughed lightly twice.

"Don't interfere with the child in Wang Er's wife's belly, I'll take care of it."

Gu Jiangli suddenly looked troubled again: "But your plan is too late. Wang Er will take the silver notes and soon buy abortifacients. His wife's child cannot be saved."

“It can be saved.” Jiang Huaizhi said firmly. “You gave him a hundred taels to induce an abortion, and I will send someone to give him more silver notes to ensure the pregnancy is saved. He knows what to choose.”

"So after I left Wang Er's house, you already started having people do this?"

"Okay, Jiang Li, you don't need to go to the appointment in seven days. I will make up for the one hundred taels you lost. Just pretend you don't know anything about it and focus on your pregnancy, okay?"

Jiang Huaizhi's plan was meticulous; he probably had Wang Er accept the new plan before she even got home.

The plan that succeeded in the previous life will likely succeed this time as well.

Anything he decides to do will be completed according to his plan; nothing will escape his control.

"I see."

“I don’t know why you don’t want that child to come into the world. If you don’t want to say, I won’t ask any further.”

It would have been a good thing if that child hadn't been born, but his birth seemed to be an inevitability that couldn't be changed.

Gu Jiangli still felt lingering fear when she thought about the child.

"Huaizhi, what if that child brings disaster to many people after it is born?"

"Who are you referring to, 'many people'? Does it include the city lord and his wife?"

Gu Jiangli couldn't explain it; she suddenly found the question utterly childish and ridiculous.

Jiang Huai couldn't be happier that this child was a menace, and that he would cause chaos in the city lord's mansion.

If that child really is a demon, then it will just be what Jiang Huai wanted.

"It's nothing, I was just saying it offhand, don't take it to heart."

Jiang Huaizhi revealed a faint smile.

He was relieved that Gu Jiangli did not show any sign of disgust towards him.

"Jiang Li, no matter what the City Lord's Mansion becomes in the future, I will always protect you. So I want you to stay by my side at all times so that I can feel at ease, okay?"

"I am your wife, where can I go if I leave you?"

Jiang Huaizhi pulled her into his arms, greedily savoring the warmth of her body.

"Jiang Li, it's so good to have you here. You don't know how many times I hesitated about whether to tell you everything I've done, whether to let you know about my despicable behavior in private. I was so afraid that if you knew the real me, you would feel like you loved the wrong person."

"No, it won't happen," Gu Jiangli comforted softly. "You are Jiang Huaizhi, that's enough."

Jiang Huaizhi nodded frantically in the crook of her neck.

"Go to sleep, it's too late." It was getting late; normally, they would have been fast asleep long ago.

"Okay, rest now, Jiang Li. I'll arrange for you to meet someone tomorrow."

Who is it?

"You'll find out tomorrow. I promised you I wouldn't keep any secrets from you, so I'll tell you everything."

"Okay, go to sleep."

The next day.

News came from Sun Chan's side that she was pregnant.

As expected, Jiang Huaizhi brought her a woman.