According to blood relations, she was her own granddaughter, so there was no reason for her to side with the First Madam and exclude her. However, A-Jiang didn't know how the old lady viewed her.

During this period, she neither showed any intimacy nor deliberately distanced herself.

Currently, this seems to be the most suitable role to strive for; it's good to have a powerful backer.

The other one is Master Jiang's most favored concubine. She can be brought to the united front, but she won't be of much use, so she's only a backup option.

Having thought things through, and carrying the two bottles of pills that Deer Horn Workshop had given her, A-Jiang arrived at the old lady's Pine Crane Courtyard.

The old lady was sitting there having her maid massage her legs when A-Jiang greeted her and then sat down next to her.

He said mysteriously, "Grandmother, look what I brought you!"

The old lady raised her eyelids, saw the two pill bottles, and asked, "Third brother, what are these?"

Jiang adopted a little girl's manner and said coquettishly, "Grandmother, I haven't been able to show you any filial piety all these years. I recently obtained two bottles of pills, which people say are for strengthening the body. However, I'm young and don't understand these things. Could you please tell me if they have the effects they claim?"

The old woman curiously picked up the three pill bottles, and saw that they were labeled: Peiyuan Pill, Yangyuan Pill. Below that were two smaller characters: Medium Grade.

The old lady immediately exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually a mid-grade pill! Girl, you haven't been fooled, have you?"

A-Jiang said, "Grandmother, please quickly check if it's real. These are all things I wanted to keep for you. If I'm deceived, I'll be too heartbroken."

The old lady shakily opened the stopper of the elixir bottle, and a refreshing fragrance immediately filled the entire room. Just one whiff of it made one feel refreshed.

"It really is a mid-grade pill!" the old lady exclaimed in shock.

"That's great. Now I can rest assured that Jiang'er won't embarrass herself in front of her grandmother."

Ah Jiang made a gesture of relief.

The old lady looked closely at her granddaughter: This child was frail and sickly since childhood, and even as she grew up, she remained shy. She had thought the child was a blockhead, but now it seemed she had misjudged her.

"Third daughter, why don't you keep them for yourself? Your grandmother is getting old, it would be a waste for her to have these good pills."

Ah Jiang adjusted her mindset, thought about the actor's sense of conviction, and said in a caring tone:

"Grandmother is the pillar of our family. Only when Grandmother is well can our family be stable. And as my granddaughter grows up, she will naturally receive many good things in the future. This first gift should naturally be left to Grandmother."

His words were so sincere that even Ah Jiang himself believed them.

“Good child, your grandmother appreciates your filial piety. Here are a few boxes of newly made pastries for you to take home and eat.”

The old lady looked pleased; whether it was true or not, this performance was already quite good.

Jiang happily accepted the gift and said to the old lady with a smile, "Thank you for the gift, Grandmother. I won't disturb your rest any longer. Jiang'er will take her leave now."

The old lady observed her expression and said, "Well, go back and play."

Since this granddaughter has chosen to step forward, there will definitely be more to come. I'll just have to watch and see. If possible, I'll put her through some more tests and trials to see if she's truly a gem.

When she got back, Ah Jiang opened the snack box and ate some snacks. The breakfast was really bland, and she wasn't full. She ate while thinking about things.

"Zhaoxian Taoist Academy is just a place my mother arranged for me to grow up. If I want to cultivate immortality, I still have to go to a sect and become an apprentice."

"If the academy won't reopen for another four months, I might as well use this time to find a suitable sect."

Although A-Jiang had a plan in mind, she didn't know where to go or how to get there, so she could only stay at the Bai residence for the time being.

"I must not sit idly by and let them think they can easily manipulate me."

Bai Mansion.

Bai Chongjiang got up early to stretch his muscles and bones, and practiced a few cycles of cultivation, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

She arrived in the courtyard, and seeing the clear sky, she smiled, full of enthusiasm.

The sky is clear and the air is crisp; perfect for causing mischief!

Tao Hong then summoned Granny Yang.

After a few days apart, this plump woman in her fifties still maintained her usual air of importance, dressed impeccably from head to toe, so much so that ordinary people wouldn't even give her a second glance.

He didn't even bow to Bai Chongjiang, but instead put his hands in his pockets and asked, "What does Miss want with this old servant?"

Ajahn said sarcastically, "It's rare that you still know you're a servant. I'm going to tear down this wall and dig a pond. Go find someone to do it for me."

Granny Yang never expected that Bai Chongjiang had summoned her for this reason.

With the intention of refusing whenever possible, I said, "This yard is so small..."

“You also think this courtyard is too small, right? So I’m planning to demolish this east wing as well.”

Before Granny Yang could even finish her previous sentence, she heard this. Her mind was filled with questions: demolish the courtyard wall? Demolish the side rooms?

Disapproving, she said, "Why demolish such a nice courtyard? Demolition and reconstruction, plus the labor involved, Miss doesn't know the cost of firewood and rice, how much money will this cost? How can you just think of something like this!"

"You need money, right? Okay, I'll get it done."

Without waiting for Granny Yang's reaction, A-Jiang ran to the main courtyard to find the master and immediately demanded her dowry.

“Father, I need some money for my dowry that the family has prepared for me.”

Master Jiang was bewildered by her question. Just two days ago, she had asked him to prepare for his marriage, but he refused. Now, suddenly, she wanted a dowry.

Moreover, Zhang has been managing the things Bai left her all these years, and he has used some of them. Now he wants...