In the Jiang family, Jiang Chuan's two concubines were pregnant. When the due date came, one gave birth to a boy and the other gave birth to a girl.

The wife of Duke Jiang was overjoyed. She rewarded her two concubines generously and also gave Qin Lianyue a valuable piece of jewelry.

When the two children were one month old, she took them to her room.

A few months later, Qin Lianyue also became pregnant.

Lady Jiang Guogong called Jiang Chuan and asked him to adopt the son and daughter to his eldest brother.

Jiang Chuan understood his mother's intention when he heard it. She wanted to pass the position to his eldest brother, and then to his "son". Disappointment and disappointment were written all over his face, and he did not agree immediately.

When she went back to the house and told Qin Lianyue about it, she immediately became anxious and stopped pretending to be weak during pregnancy. "They..." She looked at Jiang Chuan hatefully, "I told you a long time ago, but you didn't believe me. Do you understand now? Mother and sister-in-law have already made up their minds. The title of Duke is for your brother! They are afraid that he will have no successor, so they asked you to give birth to a son for your brother! This is really disgusting!"

Jiang Chuan was silent and depressed.

Pregnancy makes one easily excited. Now Qin Lianyue was crying and laughing at the same time. "I am so stupid... Jiang Chuan, do you know what I gave up in order to marry you..."

She shook her head helplessly and smiled bitterly: The first thing the new emperor did when he ascended the throne was to confer the title of Duke of Ping on his cousin. Wen Yu is now the Duke's wife! If she hadn't regretted it, she would have had a devoted and handsome husband, and would have become the Duke's wife! But now...

The pain in her stomach made her unable to lie down on the bed.

Although Jiang Chuan didn't understand what she said, he was really depressed. Although he had no ambitions and liked to have fun, who doesn't want to have a reputation?

He had a good relationship with his eldest brother. Although he didn't expect him to have sex, he had thought: If one day he couldn't bear it anymore and passed away, he would be the only legitimate son in the family. He would definitely take the throne.

But I never expected that my mother would have such a plan... Why?

I am her biological child. She is good to my elder brother and she is also good to me!

Qin Lianyue put away her sadness and replaced it with sarcasm: "The bastards have suddenly become the legitimate eldest sons! Then what's the baby in my belly? Jiang Chuan, tell me what this is?" She screamed and slapped her belly.

Jiang Chuan was frightened and quickly pulled her, "What are you doing?"

"Are you worthy of me?!" Qin Lianyue's nose and tears flowed: "I ran thousands of miles to marry you, but got nothing. What did you say at the beginning?!"

Jiang Chuan, who was also a man of honor, retorted: "What did I say at the beginning?"

Qin Lianyue choked. They had heard about this matter privately and he really didn't say anything.

"Then are you worthy of yourself? Aren't you my biological son? That bastard is also your son. My mother did this just to bypass you and me and give the title to your sister-in-law! Don't you understand?"

"What should we do now?" Jiang Chuan was so annoyed by Qin Lianyue's yelling that it gave him a headache.

"Go tell mother that we don't agree! I'm still pregnant, and they are so reckless. Jiang Chuan, if anything happens to the baby in my belly, I will never forgive you!"

Next, he told everything again from the beginning.

Jiang Chuan was tortured by Qin Lianyue and had no choice but to go back to look for his mother. Before he entered the house, he heard laughter from inside and went in to take a look.

The mother and the older brother, whose face was pale, were sitting there. The older sister-in-law stood beside the older brother, her face full of smiles. The two children were playing around in front of them.

Seeing him come in, Young Master Jiang glanced at his mother and wife and said, "Mother, take them downstairs to play! I have something to say to my second brother."

Mrs. Jiang glanced at her two sons, then went out with her daughter-in-law and two children.

"Second brother."

"Brother..." Jiang Chuan said sullenly.

Young Master Jiang smiled and said, "What mother told you was actually my idea. Don't blame mother!"

"Brother!" He said this right away, which made Jiang Chuan feel a little embarrassed.

Young Master Jiang said with a serious expression: "The title of the Dukedom is not only an honor, but also a responsibility and inheritance. My elder brother is not in good health. At the beginning, my father and mother also thought about passing the burden to you. My elder brother has reminded you many times, but did you listen?"

Jiang Chuan didn't like to hear this and frowned.

"In these years, besides playing ball and having fun, and spending money, have you done anything that is beneficial to the family? This time, the court is changing, and many families are unlucky and sinking. But some families have stood up! Even Jin Zi has been linked to the merit of following the dragon. But what about you? Have you figured out this matter from beginning to end? I'm afraid you still don't know that your eldest brother has already found a job?"

“Brother…”

"Since you like to play, your parents and I can't control you, so just have fun and don't have to do both. When you come back from studying at the Qin family, you want to marry Qin. Mother asked about it carefully and told you at that time that she was not suitable to be the mistress of a family and not suitable to be your wife. But did you listen? After entering the house, mother observed for a long time. Qin's talents are not low, but she has small thoughts but no great wisdom. She does not have the courage to cultivate the head of the Jiang family. If you, a pair of illegitimate children, make a living under her, they may be raised astray or die young. What's the point of giving birth to them?"

Jiang Chuan lowered his head, he actually agreed with this.

"Second brother, choose the days you like and live happily. You can't want this and that! As your elder brother, I won't complain if I didn't teach you well. But you also need to understand yourself."

Jiang Chuan couldn't find any reason to refute what his elder brother said, so he agreed sullenly and went out.

"Cousin. How did the talk go?"

Young Master Jiang turned around and looked at his wife who had sneaked in, and said with a smile, "Second brother is sensible."

"...You have suffered a lot from my body over the years." Young Master Jiang sighed.

"Look at what you said! I don't know how happy I am to marry you and accompany my aunt! Besides, if you were in good health, you would look down on me!"

"Nonsense!"

"I'm not saying that! Maybe you will marry someone like Lady Wen, the wife of the Duke of Ping, who is both beautiful and capable!"

The couple laughed.

…

The sun was shining brightly, and the Empress Dowager, who did not look old at all, took a walk in the garden and went back to the house to drink tea. She heard that Wen Yu was pregnant. She sighed: "The child of these two will be very beautiful! Give birth to a girl, so that we can prepare for our husband."

The maid laughed: "That's what the Queen said!"

The Empress Dowager smiled, but her childhood self appeared in her mind…the girl who always sat in the corner, mediocre and fat, and stuttered until her face turned red every time she spoke.

Her mother was born in an ordinary family, but she was good-looking. She married her father because she was taller than him. She was afraid of being looked down upon by others, and she loved to be competitive. She tried her best to be better than her sisters-in-law. She did everything well until she was born...

She looks like her brother. I heard that she looks like her great-grandmother who has passed away.

If my great-grandmother were alive, this look would have been a benefit to me, but she is no longer alive.

As a result, being fat, short, having a big round face and ordinary eyes and eyebrows became the main points of ridicule by my aunts, uncles and cousins.

In fact, she later realized that although she was not as pretty as her cousins, she was definitely not ugly.

They did this just to hurt their mother.

But it works!

I still dream about my mother's annoyed and hateful tone: "Eat, eat, eat, all you do is eat! Look how fat you are, you don't even have a waist!"

"Stand up straight! Are you a tortoise?"

"Look at your horrible hand at drawing talismans! Not only are you ugly, but you're also so stupid! What can I say about you?"

After that, she didn’t know where a nanny came from, she was cruel and vicious. During that period… Every day when she went to bed, she would look at the red marks on her thighs.

I was always hungry, and gradually became inferior and timid. I stuttered when I spoke, and always found a corner to stay by myself.

But this didn't work! On that day, she was going to the palace. God knows how many clothes and pairs of shoes she had prepared the day before. But when she got there, her cousin was praised by others, and her mother looked at her with disdain...

At that time, she really didn't want to live anymore! She hid by the pond and cried silently.

Then, she heard a gentle voice: "Where did you come from, little girl? Why are you dropping golden beans here alone?"

I will never forget that day and that person. He stood there quietly, smiling at me.

Although his face was sallow and his body was weak, his elegant demeanor could not be concealed at all.

He came over and sat next to her, "What's wrong? Do you want to talk to your big brother?"

For no reason, she trusted him, sobbed, and told him all her painful experiences.

Then, she knew that even family members have different levels of affinity. Just do what you are willing and able to do, and then let everything take its course.

The thing you should cherish most in this world is yourself!

She also understood that the so-called beauty: thin or plump, varies in different periods. But it basically revolves around the current situation. Although people live in the world and cannot completely stay out of it, being healthy and happy is the most important thing.

She even agreed with her older brother's opinion that she had a decent appearance, clear eyes, straight teeth, and was a very well-behaved little girl.

"You don't know how much I envy you!" The older brother looked at her round little face, her red cheeks...

From that moment on, she let herself go. No one cherishes me, so I have to be good to myself.

Even later, when she was sent to the palace by her family and married to the emperor who was much older than her and was suspicious and cruel, she was able to find joy in suffering.

He could unscrupulously bully the Crown Princess who was not worthy of being his "big brother"... and promote Prince An according to her family's wishes, but at the critical moment, he helped the Crown Prince without hesitation.

Now, although she had no children, she was in a good mood and lived a luxurious life, all because of His Highness who changed her life that day by the pond.

"Grand Empress Dowager, the Queen has come with the little prince!" the palace maid reported.

"My lover is here? Take off my earrings quickly, or that little bastard will tear my ears again, that brat..."