"Jin Youfang?!"
Yuan Bao'er's eyes were glistening with tears, "Jiaojiao, this is you..."
Jiang Jiaojiao smiled and said, "Don't you always say those children are pitiful? Since we have this opportunity, let's lend a hand. Consider it an act of kindness and good karma."
This idea came to me the day I converted the Jin residence into a school.
The Jin brothers were quick and efficient, and they built the Jin Youfang (Golden Children's Home) in just a few days, taking in many homeless beggar children.
"Waaaah, Jiaojiao, you're so sweet!"
Yuan Bao'er hugged Jiang Jiaojiao's arm, tears streaming down her face.
In her past life as a ghost, she would cry uncontrollably whenever she saw children who were ragged, starving, and dying.
Whenever that happened, Jiaojiao and Xiaoshier would stay with her, sighing that if they were still alive, they could buy fewer clothes and jewelry, and eat fewer meals of shark fin, sea cucumber, and abalone, and exchange them for coarse cloth and rice to feed those children.
Unexpectedly... they really came back.
To my surprise, Jiaojiao actually did it.
Yuan Bao'er cried like a steamed bun, leaving everyone else bewildered, since she hadn't shed a single tear even when the imperial edict abolished her status as the Crown Prince's consort.
Luo Shier was both amused and exasperated. "You're such a crybaby!"
“I also contributed to Jin Youfang’s efforts; I put all my personal savings into it.”
"If you want to help, you can send some clothes and food over."
Jiang Jiaojiao smiled meaningfully.
The name "Little Crybaby" was given to him by the ghost Xiao Shier. And indeed, he is a little crybaby. He cries when he sees something delicious but can't eat it, and he feels the pain of seeing a starving ghost and cries uncontrollably.
Upon hearing Luo Shier's words, the little crybaby immediately stopped crying, her eyes sparkling. "Yes, yes, yes! I can also do my part! Once I get my mother's dowry back, I'll send it all over!"
The moment these words were spoken, a hush fell over the room.
Jiang Jiaojiao and Luo Shier were startled by the little crybaby's decision. Baochai, Daiyu, and Baoyu were filled with disbelief. The young masters opposite were also stunned, especially Luo Shisan, whose eyes looked as if he were looking at a rare and beautiful jade.
Only Jin Yuwan's mother seemed lost in thought, her eyes filled with heartache.
Madam Yuan was once the legitimate daughter of a prominent family in Sichuan. When she got married, her wedding procession stretched for miles, making many people envious.
Who would have thought that she would suffer a difficult childbirth due to an injury and lose her life.
Leaving behind a frail infant, and burdened with a father and a stepmother who had usurped the family's position, the Empress Dowager was the only one who could raise him with all his might and bruises.
Even so, when Yuan Bao'er married the Fifth Prince, the Yuan family, believing that Yuan Bao'er was too weak to bear the dowry, only prepared a few meager dowries.
Later, it was only after the Empress Dowager personally sent dozens of dowry items that the dowry was not so meager and unsightly.
All the dowry that Madam Yuan brought back ended up in the Yuan family's pockets.
But according to custom, it should all be inherited by Yuan Bao'er, her biological daughter!
Jin's mother patted the little crybaby's hand tenderly, "That was rightfully yours."
"If you need manpower, just let me know."
Upon hearing this, the little crybaby, who had just stopped crying, couldn't help but let her tears flow again, her voice choked with sobs, "Aunt Jin, don't worry, I won't be polite."
He had just finished speaking.
At the courtyard gate, the old woman who had been sent to watch the play ran in, drenched in sweat, looking like she had just finished eating melon and was eager to share it with others, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Even Baochai, Daiyu, and Baoyu were filled with astonishment.
In this world, the fastest-spreading thing is definitely not advertising, but gossip.
Especially gossip about catching someone cheating or having a mistress.
The Red Mansion is now the place in the capital where news spreads the fastest. Even before Jiang Jiaojiao and her group were on their way, news of what happened at the Fifth Prince's residence had already reached them.
I heard that Yong'an Lane was packed with people watching the play.
"What a... truly spectacular show!"
The old woman gasped for breath, "Madam Yuan indeed found Lord Yuan at that house at the end of Yong'an Lane. Guess who that mistress is?"
"They would never guess even if they racked their brains."
Everyone in the room except Jiang Jiaojiao and the little crybaby already knew, and everyone else couldn't help but prick up their ears.
Hearing the old woman click her tongue twice more, she exclaimed, "That person... is actually Young Master Yuan's most beloved concubine, and those two concubines are actually the young master's illegitimate sons and daughters!"
"When the grandson was turned into a son, Madam Yuan was so angry that she ordered the concubine to be sold on the spot. Oh dear, you didn't see it, when the concubine was dragged out, she was completely naked, and that red mandarin duck bodice was still hanging on Lord Yuan's waist!"
"Young Master Yuan was so angry that he even wanted to sell off his two illegitimate children—no, his half-sisters-in-law!"
"When Lord Yuan tried to stop her, Madam Yuan scratched his face. The concubine kept crying out that the young master Yuan was infertile and Madam Yuan kept urging him to have children. She had no choice but to submit to her father-in-law. Anyway, both children are of the Yuan family bloodline. What does it matter whose child they are?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yuan fainted on the spot.
Young Master Yuan wanted to strangle the concubine, but Lord Yuan had her knocked unconscious, thus saving the mistress and her two children.
The old woman finished speaking in one breath, accepted the reward money, and left reluctantly.
Everyone was stunned. Even Jiang Jiaojiao and the little crybaby didn't expect it to be so exciting!
That concubine was quite formidable in her previous life. After Young Master Yuan died, she left with her two children, and within a hundred days, she re-entered the mansion as Young Master Yuan's mistress. Her two children hadn't even properly changed their way of speaking yet.
He called out to Madam Yuan's grandmother.
This angered Madam Yuan to death, and Lord Yuan, in a fit of desperation, elevated his concubine's daughter to the status of his wife. His illegitimate grandchildren were transformed into legitimate sons and daughters.
This is something I've never heard of or seen before.
Finally, even the Empress Dowager in the palace was alarmed.
The Empress Dowager had initially shown some favor to the Yuan family because of the death of the Fifth Prince's wife, Yuan Bao'er. However, she did not expect such a scandalous incident to occur. Instead, she issued an imperial edict exiling the entire Yuan family three thousand miles away.
Unexpectedly, he fell into the water.
The little crybaby wasn't locked in the Buddhist hall and starved to death; instead, he received an imperial decree to leave the prince's residence.
Lord Yuan's affair with that mistress was exposed prematurely.
I wonder how the Yuan family will handle this matter next?
Thinking of this, the audience couldn't wait to immediately build a ladder over the wall of the Yuan residence to find out how the play would unfold.
No one expected that the mastermind behind this whole thing was currently enjoying a hot pot meal in the Grand View Garden of the Red Mansion!
Yuan Bao'er ate to her heart's content and was very satisfied with the play she had directed.
Gossip is a great accompaniment to drinks; the more you eat, the more you enjoy it.
We were full and satisfied.
Yuan Bao'er stroked her round, bulging belly, tears of happiness streaming down her face.
Jiang Jiaojiao and Luo Shier drank a few more cups of wine because they were in a good mood.
Luo Shier grabbed Baoyu and shouted that he was taking his younger brother home, which frightened Luo Shisan so much that he told the old woman to carry the boy onto the carriage and take him away.
As for Jiang Jiaojiao... she picked up Li Yan and refused to let go no matter who tried to persuade her. Helpless, she had no choice but to put the two of them into the carriage and return to Muzihuang Street.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com