Outside the gates of the Jiangzhou Prefectural Government, a row of white sails fluttered. A woman dressed in a light blue robe stood gracefully, her face mostly obscured by a veil, yet her delicate features could still be discerned from her eyes and brows.

A light drizzle lingered, leaving damp patches on the woman's hair. He simply stood there, perfectly blending into his surroundings, serene and lonely. Aloof and independent, unlike any ordinary person.

Holding an oil-paper umbrella in his hand and carrying a small bundle on his shoulder, he gazed calmly at the gate of the government office, waiting silently.

“Young lady, the master is simply too busy to come. The madam has just had an accident, and the master is still grieving. The young lady's emotions are still unstable and she may not be able to accept this. Please be patient and wait until the master has time to come see you. Grandpa said he will definitely give you an explanation.” A middle-aged man in butler's attire walked out the door, leading Wuyou to a corner, and spoke in a low voice. His eyes were filled with sympathy, and his tone was gentle but firm.

To put it bluntly, Jiang Jing was unwilling to acknowledge Jiang Wuyou as his daughter. His daughter was the noble and renowned Jiang Changle, while Jiang Wuyou was nothing more than the daughter of a courtesan.

Jiang Jing wasn't one to push things to the extreme. He gave Wuyou hope, using that as an excuse to keep him hanging. A wise person would never make definitive statements, because in this world, anything can turn around.

Wuyou wasn't surprised by this outcome. He knew Jiang Jing's smooth and worldly nature; he always presented a kind and amiable facade, but it was all a facade. Wuyou hadn't given him any of the respect due to the second young lady of the Jiang family; instead, he had made him suffer greatly.

It was Jiang Jing's actions that gradually chilled Jiang Wuyou's heart, hardening it and causing him to slowly gravitate towards his father, becoming no different from Jiang Jing.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and Wuyou closed her eyelids, her lowered brows filled with melancholy. When she raised her eyes again, tears welled up in her eyelashes, giving her a pitiful and endearing appearance.

"Butler Jiang, I'm not here to ask for anything. I just hope to see my father and let my mother have her wish fulfilled. Even if my father doesn't acknowledge me, I'm still willing."

Being nameless and without status has always been Chunyan's obsession. She longs to be loved by the man she loves, and she longs for a legitimate status to give her daughter a proper birth so that she can find a good family in the future.

Unfortunately, Chunyan was never able to enter the Jiang family ancestral tomb and obtain the status she had longed for until the very end. By then, the Jiang family had already been destroyed by Jiang Wuyou and vanished into nothingness.

The steward was furious. He knew his master's temperament well; no matter the purpose, he would never allow a courtesan to be buried in the Jiang family's ancestral tomb. Although Wuyou wore a veil, her beautiful face could still be vaguely seen. She could marry into a good family and bring help to the Jiang family in the future. But what use was a courtesan?

Jiang Jing would never agree to this without a benefit to himself.

“Young lady, your master has had a hard time these past years. Your wife is of noble birth and has a proud nature; she will never tolerate you. Your master is only doing this for your own good. Once things have calmed down, your master will definitely bring you into the manor to make up for all the suffering you have endured over the years.”

The butler's words were very eloquent and could easily soothe the wounded girl's heart, but Wuyou was not an innocent girl.

"So, our existence has caused trouble for Father?" Wuyou asked, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief and carefully observing the butler's expression.

"It's not quite like that, but it does put Grandpa in a difficult position. So, Miss, please wait patiently for a while." The butler nodded. Wuyou's innocent and naive appearance made it seem like he could keep her quiet for a while and wait for Grandpa's decision.

"Since he's a burden to me, I don't want to cause him any more trouble. This is my way of showing filial piety as a daughter. I won't bother you anymore." With that, Wuyou turned and left without looking back.

"..." Wuyou's series of bizarre actions left the butler dumbfounded. He stared blankly as Wuyou's figure disappeared quickly, and Lele was speechless.

Why can't this little girl understand human language? She's already put it so clearly. Shouldn't the other party be crying and expressing understanding, obediently staying outside and waiting for their arrangements?

Why are you acting like you're not going to cause us any trouble and are just about to leave? Little girl, why aren't you following the script?

By the time the butler realized what was happening, Wuyou had already vanished without a trace. To avoid attracting attention, he had deliberately led Wuyou to the corner of the back door, a secluded spot where no one would see him. However, precisely because of this, once Wuyou had run far away, he couldn't find him at all.

Although he was confused, the butler still truthfully recounted the whole story to Jiang Jing, leaving him completely stunned.

"Master, should we send someone to bring him back?" The butler lowered his head, cautiously observing Jiang Jing's expression, and spoke after a moment's hesitation.

Sitting upright in his study, leaning back in his armchair, Jiang Jing lowered his eyes in deep thought. His slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest, each tap striking the butler's heart, sending a shiver through him.

"No need." After a moment's thought, Jiang Jing shook his head. She was just an illegitimate daughter, not even a mistress. He was in his prime and wanted children; he could have more in the future. He didn't need to care about a little girl.

The Prince of Nan'an's mansion valued him highly, but now that his wife had just died, his illegitimate daughter had appeared, inevitably causing some unease and suspicion towards him as a son-in-law.

Chang Le has been spoiled since childhood and probably won't be able to accept a younger sister who is two years younger than her. In that case, there will definitely be a lot of trouble, damaging the father-daughter relationship. Chang Le will be able to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection in three more years. She is his most powerful pawn. He can't make a mistake and ruin everything he has for an illegitimate daughter.

It's better that the other party left on their own, saving him the trouble of finding a way to settle them down or even getting rid of them.

In her past life, Jiang Wuyou was obedient and showed great affection for Jiang Jing after meeting him. She also possessed a beautiful face that rivaled Jiang Changle's, which is why Jiang Jing was tempted to use her and kept her until the end. Otherwise, it's uncertain whether she would have survived to the end.

"Master, Miss Chang Le is not feeling well and would like you to come and see her." A maid's clear voice came from outside the door. Upon hearing this, Jiang Jing immediately stood up, displaying the image of a loving father.

After leaving the government office, Wuyou boarded a carriage, where someone was already waiting. It was Sha Songyun, dressed in white with a baby face and a beaming smile.

"Wuyou, you're finally back! Why were you gone for so long? I was about to go down and look for you if you hadn't come back soon."

At the invitation of the Song family mother and son, and for business reasons, Sha Songyun decided to open Huichuntang in the capital, expanding its operations throughout the city. Wuyou, as the chief physician at Huichuntang, would certainly accompany them to the capital. This trip to the Jiang family was merely a preemptive measure.

Gazing at the drizzling rain outside the curtain, the carriage moved slowly, and Wuyou's carefree expression faded. The next meeting wouldn't be so simple.