My family is full of villains.
The Golden Mansion of Qiguo's Richest Man.
East wing of Buquan Courtyard.
The room was covered with floor heating, and valuable silver frost charcoal burned all around.
A rosy-cheeked little girl leaned against the bed, playing with a gilded kitten in her hand.
"Is Xiaoxiao completely better now?"
Jin Xiaoxiao turned her head to look and saw that the newcomer had a red teardrop flower decoration on his forehead, which was very bright and beautiful.
Jin Xiaoxiao stared at her blankly.
Jin Yuanyuan touched her forehead with the back of her hand to make sure her little niece was healthy before sitting down on the embroidered stool.
A beautiful woman sat by the bed, and Jin Yuanyuan greeted her familiarly, "Second Sister-in-law."
The second wife's gaze was gentle. "Thank you for your concern, little sister. Xiaoxiao is much better now."
Jin Yuanyuan smiled and said, "Once you get through this, everything will go smoothly for Xiaoxiao from now on."
The second wife was in a good mood and chatted with her casually. "My aunt has changed her name. Outsiders might think you and Xiaoxiao are of the same generation."
Jin Yuanyuan pinched her handkerchief to half-cover her face, "It's because some people say the name 'Jin Yuanbao' is too vulgar."
The second wife asked in surprise, "Someone? Who is it?"
Jin Xiaoxiao suddenly frowned and murmured, "Jin Yuanbao, what a familiar name..."
Jin Yuanyuan frowned. "Xiaoxiao, don't you recognize your aunt?"
The second wife's face turned pale. "Xiaoxiao, don't scare your mother."
Jin Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes, clenching her teeth tightly. Jin Yuanbao, Jin Yuanyuan, the Jin family, Qiguo—these keywords, strung together, sounded damnably familiar! She had transmigrated into a book!
Two weeks ago, the original owner of this body died from a high fever, and she transmigrated into it. Upon inheriting the original owner's memories and learning that the original owner's family was wealthy, Jin Xiaoxiao decided to live a carefree life.
However, before she transmigrated into the book, she had been reading a male-oriented fantasy novel. The female protagonist was named Jin Yuanyuan, whose real name was Jin Yuanbao!
The female protagonist's family members are all villains in the book; apart from the female protagonist, not a single member of the entire clan is alive!
"Xiaoxiao, tell Mother where it hurts?"
The second wife hugged Jin Xiaoxiao, gently stroking her back with her palm.
Jin Xiaoxiao nestled in the Second Madam's arms, taking several deep breaths to calm herself down. She looked up and smiled mischievously, "Mother, I fooled you."
The second wife pinched her ear, "You silly child, don't scare your mother anymore, understand?"
"knew!"
Jin Yuanyuan's head maid, Chuanbei, came over carrying a small box. "Miss, this is lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake that you asked the kitchen to make."
Jin Yuanyuan took the box and opened it, and a rich fragrance wafted out. The pastries were specially cut into thumb-sized pieces, just enough for a child to eat in one bite.
"Xiaoxiao, your aunt remembers that you love lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake the most. Try it while it's hot."
The second wife's smile widened, "It's kind of you to think of her."
Jin Xiaoxiao picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, her eyes glancing at the fritillaria cirrhosa.
Seeing this, Jin Yuanyuan smiled and said, "Xiaoxiao, this is your aunt's capable helper. Your aunt is reluctant to give her up to you."
The catalyst for the Jin family's downfall was the romance between the male and female protagonists. Jin Xiaoxiao wanted to recruit Chuanbei as her informant in order to control the protagonists' movements.
"Auntie, I just think this lady looks kind."
Jin Yuanyuan raised her eyebrows. "Xiaoxiao knows how to judge people. Chuanbei has been with me since she was little, and she's the most considerate."
Jin Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, "Does Auntie usually take Sister Chuanbei with her when she goes out?"
Seeing that Jin Yuanyuan smiled without saying anything, Chuanbei took the initiative to reply, "Miss usually brings her servant with her."
Jin Xiaoxiao nodded seriously, "I understand."
Jin Xiaoxiao's serious expression was so cute it made one's heart flutter.
The atmosphere was harmonious, and Madam Jin continued the conversation that had just begun, "Little sister, do you have someone you like? Who is he?"
Jin Xiaoxiao interrupted abruptly, asking, "Am I going to have an uncle?"
When Jin Yuanyuan met her little niece's inquisitive gaze, she suddenly blushed and said, "He, he is very good."
Jin Xiaoxiao's heart skipped a beat. The male and female leads had already hooked up. Wasn't the destruction of the Jin family imminent?
Jin Yuanyuan sat for a while longer before taking Chuanbei back to her courtyard.
Half an hour later, someone stuffed a bulging little purse into Chuanbei's hand. The gold seeds inside were enough to pay her five years' wages. Chuanbei was tempted.
That evening, Grandma Jin called Jin Yuanyuan to the main courtyard.
Just as Jin Yuanyuan was about to sit down, she suddenly heard her mother command, "Kneel down!"
Jin Yuanyuan straightened up, turned to the side and saw her mother with a sullen face, silently kneeling down.
"It's my fault for giving you too much power, which has made you unruly. From today onwards, you are not allowed to go anywhere. Stay in your own courtyard and reflect on your actions."
Jin Yuanyuan looked up and confronted Old Madam Jin. "Mother, you convicted me the moment I arrived. I don't accept it. Even prisoners have the opportunity to argue. It's unreasonable that I don't have the opportunity to defend myself."
Grandma Jin sighed, "Yuanbao, don't you know that scions of noble families won't marry women born into merchant families?"
Jin Yuanyuan slowly lowered her head, her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves.
Seeing her like this, Old Mrs. Jin was also very distressed, but for Jin Yuanyuan's sake, she had to give up the idea of Jin Yuanyuan marrying into a noble family.
"The higher the social standing of a family, the more they value matching social status in marriage. Our Jin family may be considered imperial merchants, but we are still seen as lowly merchants in the eyes of the world. As a member of the Jin family, you want to marry into a high-ranking family. Have you thought about how the world will judge you?"
Tears welled in Jin Yuanyuan's eyes as she stubbornly declared, "I don't care!"
Old Madam Jin slowly approached her, her words piercing Jin Yuanyuan's heart like a sharp knife: "You don't care? If you were confined to a corner for your entire life, with only one or two servants by your side, no one to laugh and confide in, waiting for your master to come like a pet every day, would you still not care?"
It's common sense that wealthy and powerful families would never allow their women to show their faces in public. The light in Jin Yuanyuan's eyes dimmed.
Madam Jin helped her up and said earnestly, "Yuanbao, you can't adapt to the life of a wealthy family where you can't have your freedom. Listen to your mother and break up with that man."
Jin Yuanyuan didn't argue anymore. Old Madam Jin patted her hand, signaling the maid to take her back.
After watching Jin Yuanyuan leave, Old Madam Jin calmly instructed, "Keep a close eye on the girl. No one is allowed to see her without my permission."
Jin Xiaoxiao received the good news that Jin Yuanyuan had been placed under house arrest, and she slept soundly with a smile on her face.
Jin Xiaoxiao spent two leisurely days, but on the third day, Chuanbei delivered bad news to her: her aunt was going to meet the male lead in secret.
Is it because the male and female leads are the official couple that they can't be separated?
Jin Xiaoxiao shook her head. To save the lives of her entire clan, she was determined to break them up.
Jin Xiaoxiao stepped out of Buquan Courtyard and headed towards Jin Yuanyuan's courtyard.
A golden figure stood outside Jin Yuanyuan's courtyard gate.
He waved his hand impatiently, "Get out of my way. I'm not an outsider. Why can't I come to see my sister?"
From inside the tightly closed courtyard gate came the troubled voice of the old woman, "Third Master, it's not that I don't want you to come in, it's just that the Old Madam has said that no one can enter without her permission. Please, please don't make things difficult for me."
"Hmph, fine, I won't go in then." Jin Yuantang turned around as if he was very angry, but Jin Xiaoxiao saw the smug smile on his lips.
In a flash, Jin Xiaoxiao concluded that they had used a feint, and her aunt had probably run away.
Jin Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes, ran over and hugged Jin Yuantang's leg, looking up at him with wide eyes: "Uncle, will you take me out to play?"
Jin Yuantang raised an eyebrow, then picked up Jin Xiaoxiao and said, "Oh, it's been a while. You're not afraid of me anymore."
Jin Xiaoxiao sat on his arm and shook his shoulder, "Uncle, please!"
His sweet and soft-spoken niece was being affectionate with him, and Jin Yuantang almost gave in to her advances.
However, he glanced at Jin Yuanyuan's yard, put Jin Xiaoxiao down with some regret, and pulled out a glittering gold purse from his waist to give it to her. "Xiaoxiao, be good. Uncle has something to do today, but I'll definitely take you out to play tomorrow. Here, this is Uncle's apology."
Jin Xiaoxiao tucked her purse into her pocket, leaned close to Jin Yuantang, and whispered in his ear, "Uncle, I know you're going to see Auntie, and I want to go too."
Jin Yuantang was startled upon hearing this. He gripped Jin Xiaoxiao's shoulders and asked, "No, how did you know I was going to see your aunt?"
Jin Xiaoxiao tilted her chin up, threatening him, "I know. If you don't take me, I'll tell Grandma, um..."
Jin Yuantang covered Jin Xiaoxiao's mouth, looked around nervously, his expression changing repeatedly, and finally relented, "I'll take you, just don't tell Grandmother."
Jin Yuantang grabbed Jin Xiaoxiao and said, "Let's make this clear first. You have to listen to me. You're not allowed to cry or make a scene, or I'll have someone send you back."
Jin Xiaoxiao raised her hand and promised, "I will definitely listen to Uncle."
Jin Yuantang carried him out of the Jin family gate and they arrived at a restaurant.
The waiter saw him and immediately ran over to greet him, "Third Master, you've arrived."
Jin Yuantang stepped into the restaurant and nodded towards the upstairs area. "Bring some food and pastries suitable for children to eat, and take them to the private room upstairs."
"Alright, Third Master, watch your step."
Upon entering the private room, Jin Yuantang placed Jin Xiaoxiao in a chair and said with disdain, "You're so skinny, you don't even weigh as much as the cat at home. Eat more when the food is served."
Jin Xiaoxiao swung her legs and obediently replied, "Okay, I'll eat more."
Jin Yuantang fiddled with the wall for a few moments, and suddenly two more voices came from inside the private room.
"Yuanyuan, is the jade pendant not to your liking? Tell me what style you like, and I'll make you a new one."
"I'm sorry, the jade pendant has been returned to its rightful owner. We need not see each other again."
“Yuanyuan, I can see that you also have feelings for me. You must have your reasons for saying this. Meeting you is already a great blessing from God. I was greedy and shouldn’t have asked for too much.”
Jin Xiaoxiao's expression was strange. Surely a male lead in a wish-fulfillment novel wouldn't be this sleazy? Could it be that the person her aunt was meeting wasn't the male lead?
"I will never meet a woman as good as you again; it is my bad luck. Keep this jade pendant. Yuanyuan, I hope you will meet a good man."
Hearing the door open next door, Jin Yuantang walked to the door and quietly opened it a crack. Jin Xiaoxiao also came over, and the two of them looked out in unison.
Standing at the door of the next private room was a handsome, tall man with slightly furrowed brows, gazing affectionately into the room.
He turned away in disappointment when his beloved did not change her mind.
As he turned away, the sorrow and vulnerability in his eyes vanished without a trace, replaced by a layer of icy coldness that exuded an oppressive aura.
After witnessing his amazing ability to change his expression, Jin Xiaoxiao confirmed that he was the male lead, and a scheming man at that.
He suddenly glared at the door of their private room.
Jin Yuantang quickly moved Jin Xiaoxiao away with his eyes and hands.
After a moment, Jin Yuanyuan pushed open the door and entered. Seeing the two people sitting on the ground, one big and one small, she scolded softly, "A-Tang, why did you bring Xiaoxiao here?"
Jin Yuantang handed Jin Xiaoxiao to his sister, crossed his arms, and said, "This little thing threatened me, saying she would go to the old lady to complain if I didn't bring her. How could I not bring her?"
Jin Yuanyuan had experienced Jin Xiaoxiao's quirky and mischievous nature firsthand, and felt helpless yet doting on her... "Naughty."
Jin Yuantang sat down next to Jin Yuanyuan and said, "Sister, I always felt that he was not the kind of person who would give up easily."
Jin Yuanyuan remained silent, and the atmosphere became heavy.
Jin Xiaoxiao agreed with Jin Yuantang's idea. She absolutely did not believe that the male lead would give up such a lucrative opportunity as the Jin family, since his ambition required a huge amount of money to support it.
Jin Xiaoxiao brightened the mood, "Auntie, don't be sad, I'll definitely find you someone who's better looking and has a sweeter tongue than him."
Jin Yuantang slapped his thigh, "That's right! Xiaoxiao is right! Sister, there are plenty of men with two legs, I'll definitely find you a better one."
Jin Yuanyuan's gloom was mostly dispelled by these two lively characters, and she shook her head and chuckled.
Jin Xiaoxiao caught a glimpse of Jin Yuantang pouring tea and unexpectedly recalled the male protagonist's tea-related remarks.
A thought suddenly struck her, and she looked up at Jin Yuanyuan, "My aunt is more beautiful than the most beautiful flower in my flowerpot. I can't bear to let my aunt get married."
Jin Yuanyuan seemed to be deep in thought. Normally, when two people who love each other are about to separate, the other party will ask for the reason and try to keep them together. But Yue Xiao gave up so decisively. Does he really care about her?
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