Are these people from the Jiang family?
"Take these people back first," Jiang Hua said to Jiang Xingzhou, who arrived late.
Upon exiting the dungeon, they found the outside world in complete disarray, littered with the corpses of bandits. The soldiers had also captured a group of surrendered bandits.
Upon exiting the mountain stronghold, Zhou Yingxuan saw the person Bai Heng was supporting, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes, followed by an unconcealable killing intent.
"Does the Crown Prince know him?" Jiang Hua asked with great interest, observing Zhou Yingxuan's ever-changing expression.
Zhou Yingxuan didn't answer, but instead looked away at Jiang Xingzhou: "Can you have your men release me now?"
At Jiang Xingzhou's signal, the soldiers who were watching Zhou Yingxuan immediately withdrew.
Zhou Yingxuan snorted coldly and strode away...
Inside Jiangnan City, at Chu Jingchi's residence, Qingling and Linfeng were busy as spinning tops, and it wasn't until after noon that they finished dealing with the people brought back from the dungeon.
"Huahua, your uncle is awake. He says he wants to see you." Bai Heng came out of the house.
Bai Heng had already told him the man's identity.
Jiang Xun, the original owner's uncle, has always led the Jiang family's secret guard battalion.
The people imprisoned in the dungeon were members of the Jiang family's secret guard battalion.
Jiang Hua pushed open the door and entered. Jiang Xun, who was originally lying on the bed, immediately sat up upon hearing the noise and leaned back against the bed.
"You look just like her."
Jiang Hua had just sat down on a stool by his bedside when she heard Jiang Xun's words.
"How did my uncle end up in a bandit's den?" Jiang Hua handed him the freshly brewed medicine and asked casually.
"After the Jiang family members died, your mother secretly entrusted the Dark Guard Battalion to me so that it wouldn't fall into the hands of the Duke of Anguo's mansion and the other major families and be divided up." Jiang Xun took the medicine, drank it all in one gulp, looked at Jiang Hua, and recounted the events of that year in detail.
"The reason your mother entrusted the Dark Guard Camp to me was that she hoped that one day it could return to your hands."
"Right after your mother died, I led the Dark Guard to escort you and Granny Jiang away. On the way, we were besieged by the Su and An families. So, we had to sacrifice ourselves to hold them off so that Granny Jiang could take you away."
"Am I really the Duke of Anguo's biological son?"
"Don't mention that heartless man. That man deceived your mother with sweet words and even drugged her, which led to your pregnancy. For your sake, your mother had no choice but to marry him."
“From the very beginning, their target was the entire Jiang family. Those other powerful families were all up to no good and were wary of the Emperor’s favor towards the Jiang family.”
"Then, Uncle, you?" Jiang Hua roughly sorted out what Jiang Xun said, and it was almost the same as what Madam Bai had said before, which was Jiang Xun's identity.
“You can call me Uncle, after all, that’s what your mother said when she was pregnant with you.”
Jiang Hua noticed a tenderness in Jiang Xun's eyes when he mentioned the original owner's mother. Could it be that he had feelings for the original owner's mother?
"What are your plans for the An family, the Su family, and the Lin family?" Jiang Xun suppressed the tenderness in his eyes and looked at her with a cold expression.
"I want to avenge your mother and the entire Jiang family."
"Of course. Uncle and the Dark Guards will stay here to recover first. We'll discuss things again once they've healed. I will make them pay back every single penny they owe the Jiang family."
She used the original body, so she shouldn't just benefit from it; it's only right that she avenges her.
"Once we return to the capital, I will hand over the Dark Guard Battalion to you. It will be at your disposal," Jiang Xun said, nodding.
“Okay, Uncle.” Jiang Hua agreed.
It was a month later that the guards recovered from their injuries, as the damage caused by the plague had gradually healed.
Two days after the siege of the mountain bandits, Zhou Yingxuan also hurriedly left Jiangnan City.
...
The news of the young prince Jiang Jingyi's return spread throughout the capital. He also appeared in Jiangnan City, leading the people of Jiangnan City through the plague.
On this day, the city gates were already crowded with people, all eager to catch a glimpse of the young prince's true face. The emperor also waited at the palace gates.
Are you scared?
Inside the carriage, Jiang Hua lowered the curtain and turned to look at Jiang Jingyi opposite her.
"I'm not afraid."
Jiang Jingyi shook his head, his gaze gradually hardening, his hands clenching into fists under his sleeves.
He eventually returned to this place, openly and honestly, to avenge his mother and stepmother's family.
The carriage arrived at the palace gate before Jiang Hua and her entourage disembarked. After everyone had seen Jiang Jingyi, some sharp-eyed people spotted Jiang Hua and Jiang Xun standing beside the Regent.
Seeing that Jiang Hua and Jiang Xun did not kneel down to pay their respects, someone in the crowd shouted, "They're from the Jiang family!"
"Is this the eldest daughter of the Jiang family?"
After someone said that, the discussion never stopped.
When the Duke of Anguo, who was standing behind the Emperor, saw Jiang Hua's appearance, the smile on his face vanished abruptly.
But her expression gradually softened when she heard the Emperor praising Jiang Hua.
Although this suddenly appearing daughter looked so much like her, she originally harbored murderous intent towards her, but the emperor's favor towards her was a great honor for the Duke of Anguo.
If she is sensible, then he will be merciful and let her return to the Duke of Anguo's mansion, change her surname to An, and let her benefit from the Duke of Anguo's prestige. However, once she returns, she can only be a concubine's daughter. He will find her a husband after some time.
"Duke Anguo!"
Just as Duke Anguo was pondering this in his heart, he heard the Emperor call on him.
“I remember that Doctor Jiang is the eldest daughter of your Duke Anguo’s family.” Zhou Ye looked at Duke Anguo meaningfully.
Upon meeting the Emperor's gaze, Duke Anguo quickly lowered his head. Just as he was about to say something, Jiang Hua spoke up.
"Your Majesty, before my mother passed away, she had already taken me away from the Duke of Anguo's mansion, and the Duke of Anguo also divorced my mother on that day."
"Therefore, I have no relation to the Duke of Anguo, and even less relation to the Duke of Anguo's mansion."
Jiang Hua's words completely disrupted what Duke Anguo was thinking.
“In that case, that’s perfect. I’ll have the Jiang residence renovated, and you can move back in then.” Zhou Ye understood and didn’t force her.
"However, during the period of renovation at the Jiang residence, you will stay here temporarily..."
An Guogong was about to offer Jiang Hua a temporary stay at the Duke's mansion, but Jiang Xingzhou beat him to it.
"Your Majesty, Huahua is currently residing in the Regent's Palace."
"Since the Regent has spoken, it's decided then."
After exchanging a few pleasantries at the palace gate, they entered a palace together and were led into a side hall by a eunuch.
Not long after they sat down in the side hall, a palace maid came in.
"Which one of you is Miss Jiang?" A palace maid walked in, looked around the hall, and looked at Jiang Hua with an arrogant tone.
Jiang Hua picked up the tea that the eunuch had just served her from the table, took a sip, and slowly looked at the palace maid in front of her.
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