Bang!

The whip hit her head so hard that Mrs. Jiang quickly raised her arms to cover her head.

The whip hit her forearm, and she screamed in pain as her skin was torn.

Jiuyang held the whip in his hand and said expressionlessly, "Why should I beg for mercy from you?"

"When you beat me and I cried for mercy, did you ever feel sorry for me?"

"Now, you are in trouble and I have to beg for mercy."

"Am I stupid?"

Old Mrs. Jiang held her head and stared in amazement at the little girl standing in front of her. At this moment, she felt as if she had never known her before.

When did that dull and inflexible little girl who didn't even know how to please become so strong... Old Mrs. Jiang couldn't think of any other word. She learned the word "strong" from operas. It was just like when she was facing an official. She didn't even dare to raise her head.

"It's all your fault!" She couldn't help but yell at Cao, "I told you a long time ago, don't hit her, don't hit her! You insisted on hitting her, you bastard, our family is doomed to fail for eight generations because of you." She cursed a few times, and then said to Jiaoyang Tao, "...Aya! Aya! Grandmother scolded her for you." She looked flattering.

"No need." Jiaoyang shook his head.

Mrs. Jiang thought she had softened her heart and wanted to say a few more soft words, but she smiled faintly and said, "I can do it myself!"

She swung the whip in her hand again.

Sheng Xiyan herself was still a half-baked person, and she only taught her once, but Jiuyang was able to do it even more smoothly than Sheng Xiyan.

The black whip shadow was wielded like an arm, and it lashed towards Cao.

Cao was caught completely unprepared and tried to escape out of fear, but her speed was no match for the whip. With a sharp sound of breaking through the air, the whip fell from her forehead, scratched half of her cheek, and left a deep red whip mark on her well-maintained face like that of a young woman.

"ah!"

Cao screamed and covered her face, howling in fear.

"Face, my face!"

Jiuyang held the horsewhip in his hand and turned to look at Sheng Xiyan. Seeing her smiling tenderly at him, Jiuyang felt more at ease.

She is not a good child who repays evil with kindness.

When she was being beaten by them, Jiaoyang made up her mind that one day, she would fight back.

Right now!

Jiuyang raised his whip and lashed them several times in a row, making them roll on the ground and cry for mercy.

Each of them hit three times, no more, no less, and then Jiuyang stopped.

A smile appeared on Jiaoyang's face. The fear in her eyes had completely disappeared, replaced by a hint of joy, releasing the depression in her heart.

Jiaoyang doesn't care what others think of her, or whether they think she is a bad kid who hits people. As long as her sister likes her and her sister says she has done nothing wrong, that's enough.

She returned to Sheng Xiyan with the whip in her hand, raised her head and smiled at her obediently, like a cute little kitten turning over its snow-white belly waiting to be stroked.

Sheng Xiyan touched her soft hair, and Jiaoyang smiled even more shyly.

When Jiuyang swung the whip for the first time, Jingle was surprised, but now, she smiled, a happy smile from the bottom of her heart, with tears in her eyelashes.

"Well done!" Jingle's beautiful peach blossom eyes were full of admiration, and she praised without disguising, "You are worthy of being a child of our Chu family."

This child has suffered for so many years, but he has not lost the blood in his bones.

Don't shrink back because of fear, but defeat fear in your own way!

Is a good boy.

Chu Yuanchen smiled and said, "Mom, I told you, it's a little wolf cub, very ferocious."

Jiuyang was watching Jingle quietly, and seeing that Jingle was not angry at all and was praising her, her smile became even more shy.

Seeing that his daughter had finished beating him, Jingle ordered, "Drag her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane."

Several old women came up and dragged everyone away, including Chu Yuanyi.

Hearing that he would be beaten with the cane twenty times, Chu Yuanyi was so frightened that he cried out, "Mother! Mother, I will be obedient in the future. Please don't abandon me!"

Cao tried to seduce Jiang Yuanyi, but he ruthlessly pushed her away.

Cao's heart was almost broken.

In the past, due to Jiang Ting's warning, she didn't dare to acknowledge her son and could only suppress her emotions. But now, the truth has been revealed, but her son is unwilling to pay attention to her. Is there anything that could make her more distressed than this?

Jingle watched them tearing each other apart with cold eyes, without any emotion.

From the moment Jiang Yuanyi deceived her, the twelve years of mother-son relationship were wiped out.

The old woman skillfully stuffed their mouths with handkerchiefs, dragged them out, and executed them outside Zhenghui Hall.

The blows used in the Zhenbei Palace were not ordinary boards, but sticks similar to those in the army. If Jingle had not specifically instructed not to hurt anyone, they would have been half dead after these twenty blows. Even so, these twenty blows were definitely not light. After the beating, they no longer had the strength to even cry out.

Old Mrs. Jiang, Mrs. Cao and Mrs. Wen were all beaten with the stick twenty times.

Jiang Yuanyi was forced to watch the entire process, and then he was carried in with his limp hands and feet and thrown to the ground.

Jingle glanced at Chu Yuanchen in confusion; Jiang Yuanyi was not omitted from her order.

"Jiang Yuanyi."

Chu Yuanchen looked straight at him, and this condescending look made Jiang Yuanyi dare not look back.

He wanted to beg for mercy, but he was so scared that he couldn't utter a word. He was afraid that if he upset Chu Yuanchen, he would end up being treated the same way as his grandmother and the others.

Finally, Chu Yuanchen retracted his gaze, sneered, and said, "Come here, send Jiang Yuanyi to Jingzhao Prefecture, and say that Jiang Yuanyi murdered Jiang Ya, and let Jingzhao Yin sentence him to death."

Jiang Yuanyi's eyes gradually widened and he turned pale with shock.

Sheng Xiyan thought about it carefully, understood, and couldn't help but chuckle.

She realized that Chu Yuanchen was paving the way for Jiaoyang's return.

Jiuyang was a daughter of heaven and a noble lady of the royal palace. She should be the most noble girl in the capital. Naturally, she could not have a shameful past that would be a topic of conversation for some gossipers.

The capital is not small, but not too big either. Rumors are the most hurtful. Jiaoyang is only twelve years old. Even if she is strong-willed, Chu Yuanchen doesn't want her to become a topic of gossip for no reason. There is no need. She finally returned home, and she should be happy and worry-free in the future.

However, Jiang Yuanyi didn't understand. He waved his hands in panic and said, "...I didn't kill him. I didn't kill him."

Murder requires death!

Isn’t Jiang Ya here... He turned his head to look at Jiaoyang who was standing next to Sheng Xiyan.

He had never met Jiang Ya, he only knew that she was his mother's biological daughter, and he was afraid to see her.

Chu Yuanchen said calmly, "I heard that Jiang Ya of the Jiang family died. When you returned to the Jiang family, Jiang Ya was gone. If it wasn't you who killed her, who else could it be? For your sake, your grandmother had to destroy the body and lied that she died of illness. Is that right?"

"No. No." Jiang Yuanyi waved his hands desperately.

He didn't kill anyone.

He didn't care about anything else at the moment and just kept saying that he didn't kill anyone.

"Whether it is or not is not up to you to say." Chu Yuanchen's body leaned forward slightly, and the intimidation in his eyes made Jiang Yuanyi dare not look up.

Yes. Big Brother is so scary.

In the Golden Palace, even the emperor was afraid of him.

Big brother and mother both dislike him so much now. If big brother insists on framing him for killing Jiang Ya, then, then what should he do...

Murder requires death!

Chu Yuanchen looked at him coldly, and his fierce gaze made Jiang Yuanyi feel that he would be torn to pieces alive by him.

He thought of the three people outside who were beaten to a bloody pulp and unable to move, and his face was filled with panic.

Sheng Xiyan cooperated with him tacitly, and said in unison: "Achen, I heard that the coffin carried out by the Jiang family was empty."

"Yes! Yes!" Jiang Yuanyi said hurriedly, "It's empty, an empty coffin."

Chu Yuanchen looked as if he was ignoring the question: "That is because after he killed Jiang Ya, he didn't even dare to leave the body behind in order to destroy the evidence."

Jiang Yuanyi: "...No..."

Under Chu Yuanchen's gaze, he couldn't utter a single word.

Sheng Xiyan then said: "Or is it that Jiang Ya is actually you?"

Sheng Xiyan smiled gently and generously, with a hint of temptation in her voice: "You were born in the Jiang family, your real name is Jiang Ya, and the Jiang family has always kept your household registration. Later, the Jiang family thought that you would definitely get the title of King of Zhenbei, and they didn't want to leave any handle, so they cancelled this household registration. Is that right?"

Jiang Yuanyi blinked blankly, he understood.

Jiang Yuanyi was not stupid. After he understood, he became even more panicked.

He had two choices: one was to admit that Jiang Ya's household registration was his own and that he was called Jiang Ya. The other was to admit that he had killed Jiang Ya and destroyed the body.

Even if there was no evidence, Jiang Yuanyi believed that as long as Chu Yuanchen said he killed him, no matter how he defended himself it would be useless.

Just like in the throne room.

My eldest brother said that my father had forged a memorial, and that’s why he was locked up. When Jiang Yuanyi thought of this, he felt a chill in his heart.

Chu Yuanchen smiled nonchalantly and said, "Murder is a capital crime. You will be dragged to the market and have your neck chopped off by an executioner.

"No, it's not..." Jiang Yuanyi almost jumped up in shock, "Jiang Ya's household registration is mine... mine. The Jiang family has kept it for me. I am Jiang Ya, I am Jiang Ya."

"Oh?" Chu Yuanchen tilted his head and smiled maliciously, "Are you sure?"

"It's mine, for sure." Jiang Yuanchen was almost scared to tears, "Because, because I'm going to inherit the title, my grandmother and the others will cancel my household registration and tell the outside world that Jiang Ya is dead..."

very good.

Chu Yuanchen was satisfied.

This is the capital city. The Jiang family has just moved here for over a month, so the neighbors are not familiar with them.

Chu Yuanchen wanted to treat Jiang Ya as an empty household, which was left by the Jiang family for Jiang Yuanyi.

There has never been such a person as Jiang Ya in this world.

Chu Yuanchen said meaningfully: "When you arrive at Jingzhao Prefecture, remember to explain things clearly to Jingzhao Yin. If you don't explain things clearly..."

Jiang Yuanyi hunched his shoulders and shook his head desperately.

He doesn't dare!

He knew very well that if he dared to speak nonsense, his elder brother would never let him go...

Chu Yuanchen waved his hand, and the guards came in and took him away.

He will be sent to Jingzhao Prefecture together with the three people outside.

Chu Yuanchen winked at Ji Mingyang, and Ji Mingyang followed him over.

Chu Yuanchen didn't need to specially arrange any crime for the Jiang family. Jiang Ting forged a memorial, and this crime would at least implicate the whole family. Whether it was beheading or exile, or something else, for Chu Yuanchen, it all depended on which of Jingle and Jiaoyang felt was more satisfying, and he would arrange it himself.

Anyway, the Jiang family must stay together forever.

The most important thing is to be proud and masculine.

The lives of all the Jiang family members combined are not as valuable as her little finger.

He wanted her to appear in front of everyone in all her glory!

Jingle believed her son and did not ask any more questions. She just stared at Jiuyang with red eyes and said with a smile, "Are you hungry?"

Jiaoyang nodded slightly.

Jingle laughed even more happily: "What do you want to eat? Mom will ask someone to cook it for you." She tried to please him cautiously.

Jiuyang's eyes lit up and he said, "Wonton!"

Jingle smiled and said quickly, "Okay, okay, I'll have someone prepare it."

The maid happily accepted the order and trotted to the kitchen to give instructions.

Jingle approached her cautiously, asking her what color she liked, what taste she liked, and what she liked to do in her daily life.

Her eyes were fixed on her.

Jingle still remembers the chaos when she gave birth to her child. Who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye, the child would have grown up so much, and she had no chance to witness the child's growth.

While her daughter was suffering, she was raising other people's children.

Jingle subconsciously reached out his hand again to touch her, but when he looked up, he was met with a slightly defensive gaze.

Jingle felt a little sad inside, but she didn't show any of it even though she was smiling.

She can't be impatient.

She still has a long time, so take your time.

"Jiaoyang." Jingle said to her softly, "Your last name is Chu. All boys and girls in our Chu family are named after the same character. You and your brother are both from the Yuan generation. You..."

Jingle wanted to ask her if she wanted to change her name.

However, before she could finish her words, Jiao Niang shook her head and refused: "No. I am the sun."

"Okay, we won't change it." Jingle agreed with her and said, "How about just calling him Chu Jiaoyang?"

Jingle wanted to decide on a name as soon as possible so that she could put it in the family tree and let Jiaoyang recognize her ancestry.

She wanted everyone to know that there was a girl in their Zhenbei Palace.

Jiaoyang thought about it again and again, and under Jingle's expectant gaze, she agreed: "Okay!"

Just don't change her name!

The joy on Jingle's face spread from the corners of her mouth to her eyebrows.

She is a very opinionated person, but when facing Jiaoyang, she becomes anxious and worried.

Jingle thought about it again and again, and finally mustered up the courage to say, "Jiaoyang, when mother was pregnant with you..."

Jingle slowly told Jiuyang everything that happened that year.

Jingle wanted her to know that she was also born with everyone's expectations.

Jingle couldn't help but recall the past, tearing open the healing wound.

At that time, Jiang Ting said that Achen was seriously injured in the northern border and was afraid that his life was in danger, so he persuaded her to go and see him for the last time.

She missed her son so much that she didn't care about anything else and left Beijing in a hurry.

Everything was fine at first on the road. Although she was eight months pregnant, the good doctor in the mansion would come to check her pulse from time to time. Her pregnancy was always stable and her pulse was also healthy.

Unexpectedly, halfway through the journey, I suddenly had abdominal pain and premature labor.

At that time, she just thought it was because she was too worried about Achen. Now thinking about it, maybe she was given something to induce labor.

When you are out there, you shouldn't be too particular about your food, drink and expenses. If you are willing, there are plenty of opportunities.

At that time, she was about to give birth, and she was nowhere to be found, so she had no choice but to seek shelter in that temple.

Everything happened naturally.

And she was just the victim of their careful calculation.

She told Jiuyang everything.

This was the first time Jiaoyang heard of these things.

It turns out that it wasn't that my mother didn't like her or didn't want her, it was those bad guys who deliberately stole her away from my mother. It turns out that this is the case...

Why are they so bad?

They stole her away and didn't treat her well. They also always said she was ugly, stupid and a bad kid.

If only she could grow up with her mother by her side.

Jiuyang stared at Jingle in a daze, and saw that she was crying again. Jiuyang knew that she was also very sad. It was not that she didn't want him, but she was also deceived by those bad people.

She, like herself, has been waiting for twelve years.

After saying everything, Jingle said expectantly: "Jiaoyang...can you call me mother?"

Jingle was afraid that she would scare her, so she quickly said, "It's okay if you don't scream. It's okay."

Her flustered look made Jiaoyang feel a little complicated. Was she afraid that he would get angry or unhappy? Did she care about him so much?

Is this my mother? Unlike that woman, she only cares about herself.

Am I that good?

Jiuyang thought so and asked the same question.

Jingle nodded quickly: "My Jiaoyang is the best child."

A light flashed in Jiaoyang's eyes.

Sheng Xiyan added, "Better than her brother."

"Right, right!" Jingle glanced at Chu Yuanchen who was laughing and agreed, "Better than your brother!"

Jiuyang covered her mouth and smiled. She raised her chin slightly and looked at Chu Yuanchen proudly. That little expression seemed to say: Sister said I am better than you!

Chu Yuanchen: “…”

With this interruption, the atmosphere became cheerful and Jiaoyang felt less strange. She mustered up her courage in her heart and called out softly, "Mom..."

The sound was so soft that it was almost inaudible, but to Jingle's ears, it was more beautiful than the sound of nature.

"Jiaoyang. Jiaoyang!"

Jingle hugged her again, and this time, Jiuyang did not hide away.

So warm.

Jiuyang said softly in his heart: Is this mother? So this is what it feels like to be held by mother.

Jingle hugged her tightly, this was her lost treasure.

Sheng Xiyan winked at Chu Yuanchen, and the two of them walked out quietly.

It was November, the wind was cold and the first snow was floating in the sky. Chu Yuanchen asked someone to bring an umbrella and held it for her personally.

Sheng Xiyan smiled sweetly at her, the pear-shaped wrinkles on her cheeks were faintly visible, as if a feather was touching Chu Yuanchen's heart.

A few snowflakes fell in her hair. He raised his hand and gently brushed them away for her. The touch of his fingertips was slightly cold, which made him a little regretful that he didn't ask someone to light a hand warmer for her.

"Achen."

Sheng Xiyan's voice interrupted his wandering thoughts: "Was the banditry that day an accident?"

Jiang Ting probably doesn't have the means to control the bandits.

Chu Yuanchen nodded and said, "It was an accident. Regardless of whether there were bandits or not, the temple was the only place that could accommodate them. The bandits only made the situation more tense. It can only be said that it was intentional."

You can defend yourself temporarily, but you can't defend yourself against constant calculations.

"So, I'm really lucky!" Sheng Xi's dimples deepened, and her eyes were filled with joy and a little pride. "I brought Jiaoyang back to you, are you happy?"

Chu Yuanchen smiled and said, "I'm happy."

Sheng Xiyan smiled even more happily.

"Don't move." He said softly, "There's snow on your face."

Sheng Xiyan stood still obediently, looking up at him, with only his reflection in her dark almond eyes.

His rough fingertips gently brushed the vortex on her cheek. Chu Yuanchen moved his lips slightly and said in an almost inaudible voice, "The lucky person is me..."

ah?

Sheng Xiyan didn't hear clearly, and moved closer, her breath as sweet as honey.

Chu Yuanchen greedily wanted to feel more.

Sheng Xiyan felt a little uncomfortable being stared at. She looked around and suddenly her eyes lit up: "The wontons are ready! Let's go eat wontons." She saw a maid carrying a food box into Zhenghui Hall.

Chu Yuanchen: “…”

And the next moment, Sheng Xiyan grabbed his hand.

Chu Yuanchen never went against his good luck. He happily followed her steps and went over with her.

In Zhenghui Hall, the food boxes were already laid out. Jingle smiled and said, "I was just about to ask someone to call you..."

Her eyes fell on their joined hands and she smiled with delight.

Sheng Xiyan took a moment to react. Oh no! She had gotten used to being so concerned about Jiaoyang these days and had forgotten about it!

Sheng Xiyan let go of his hand, pretended to be nonchalant and walked over, tilted her head, smiled and called him, "Achen."

Chu Yuanchen was looking at his empty palms. Hearing this, he gently clenched them, walked to her side and sat down with her.

After the wontons were finished, Ji Mingyang came back.

He reported, "My Lord, the man has been handed over to Jingzhao Prefecture."

Ji Mingyang also specifically instructed the Jingzhao Yin to beat him three times a day, but to be careful not to beat him to a disability.

He added: "The three judges of Jiang Ting will make a decision in five days."

Chu Yuanchen nodded slightly and asked, "Mom, do you want them to die, or be exiled, or be sent to Yizhou?"

Death is too easy! Jingle was unwilling. Her daughter had suffered for twelve years, how could their death offset it?

After all, death is nothing more than a pain. Her daughter has suffered for twelve years, so at least she should let them pay for these twelve years before she dies!

"The coal kiln in Yizhou?" Jingle asked.

Chu Yuanchen nodded with a smile.

"Then we should go to Yizhou!" Jingle decided, "Send Jiang Ting and the Jiang family there together."

Chu Yuanchen understood Jingle's meaning and said, "Mom, don't worry, I will take care of it."

There were several official coal kilns in Yizhou, and the imperial court would send some death row prisoners or exiles there from time to time.

Twelve years of hard labor in a coal kiln would definitely not cause them to die a day earlier.

Jiuyang sat obediently beside Sheng Xiyan, feeling so happy that it seemed as if a little bird was chirping in her heart. She didn't know where the coal kiln was, she only knew that her mother was making the decision for her.

Jingle said again: "Jiaoyang's matter..."

Chu Yuanchen smiled slightly and ordered, "Call the chief secretary."

After Chu Yuanchen knew about Jiuyang's existence, he thought about everything. When the chief secretary arrived, he immediately gave orders one by one in an orderly manner.

The news that Chu Yuanyi was sent to Jingzhao Prefecture by the Zhenbei Palace caused an uproar in the capital. Although Chu Yuanyi's performance in the court that day disappointed many people, no matter how you think about it, the Zhenbei Palace would not send him to jail, right?

Someone went to Jingzhao Prefecture to inquire about it, and then they were even more confused. What did it mean that Chu Yuanyi's surname was not Chu, but Jiang Mingya?! And he was not Princess Jingle's biological son?

Everyone couldn't help but turn their eyes to the Zhenbei Palace. Before they could figure out what was going on, on November 20th, the vermilion main gate of the Zhenbei Palace opened wide.

A group of guards wearing soft armor and with long swords at their waists stood in front of the mansion.

All the guards were retired soldiers from the battlefield in the Northern Frontier. They had a somewhat iron-blooded aura about them, and just standing there was enough to intimidate people.

They knelt on one knee, clasped their fists in unison and said, "Welcome back, young lady!"