Zhan Beihang pushed the bowl back across the table.
"Enough, I'll split my bowl with you." Nanjiao shot a contemptuous glare at Zhan Beihang, picked up the spoon from the side, and divided half of her noodles into a separate bowl for him.
Zhan Beihang raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by the woman's actions.
After he ate the noodles, his eyes lit up slightly—the noodles she cooked tasted better than the ones from the manor's kitchen.
"Mother, the breakfast you made is so delicious." Bao'er finished drinking the noodle soup with a look of utter satisfaction. From the time she was little until now, she had never eaten anything so good.
Those stinky old men were all kitchen disasters.
In their words: as long as it doesn't kill you, it's fine.
"I'll make it for you and Youyou every day from now on." Looking at the two children, Nanjiao felt an inexplicable sense of fulfillment; previously, she had never cared much for human toddlers.
She used to find young children terribly troublesome.
Yet she felt no aversion toward Bao'er and Youyou whatsoever—she simply and inexplicably adored them.
"Only make it for me and my big brother, you can't make it for anyone else, okay?" Toward the end of her sentence, Bao'er deliberately glanced sideways at Zhan Beihang, her little gaze carrying a hint of provocation.
Zhan Beihang's face darkened. How could she hold a grudge even more than he did?
"Do you believe that this Prince can have you sent right back to the General's Estate this very instant?" He deliberately tried to frighten her.
"Threatening and intimidating a little child—is that all the breadth of mind a prince like you possesses?" Bao'er lifted her exquisitely carved, porcelain-like little face and retorted without showing the slightest weakness.
Her tone was dripping with disdain.
She wasn't afraid of him at all.
Anyway, he hated her anyway, so there was no need for her to put on an obedient act in front of him.
Zhan Beihang was left speechless. Once it registered, a wave of annoyance washed over him. Why was he bickering with a little brat? It was completely beneath his dignity.
Chapter 40: That Scoundrel Jiang Nanjiao
As breakfast was coming to an end, Nanjiao spoke up.
"Later, I'm taking Bao'er to the General's Estate."
"To settle yesterday's accounts?" Zhan Beihang asked.
"Mhm."
"This Prince is going as well. They hurt Youyou." Dark, icy killing intent flashed in Zhan Beihang's obsidian eyes. He was fiercely protective of his own.
Though he still didn't know how Youyou had come to be, a drop-blood test confirmed they truly shared blood ties.
Naturally, he would protect the boy.
"As his father, you certainly should go." Nanjiao didn't refuse his company; having his status along would only make things easier to handle.
At that moment, Moli walked up to the doorway. "Your Highness, the Eldest Young Master of the General's Estate has arrived, saying he wishes to see the Princess."
"Let him in," Zhan Beihang commanded.
Jiang Huai coming to the manor at the crack of dawn must mean he had something important to discuss.
A short while later, Jiang Huai walked in wearing a smoky-cyan robe.
"Greetings, Prince Jin, Princess Jin."
"Eldest Brother, what are all these formalities? Why have you come so early in the morning?" Nanjiao stood up and walked toward him, a soft, graceful smile gracing her pretty face.
Jiang Huai succinctly recounted what had happened the previous night.
Nanjiao's expression instantly turned icy. She let out a cold laugh. "She deliberately said those things right in front of you all to sow discord in your minds."
"Mother had Jiang Ye and Jiang Yus investigate. Bao'er's identity probably won't be able to be kept under wraps much longer." Jiang Huai looked somewhat worried; another storm was bound to be stirred up when that happened.
"Eldest Brother, don't worry. His name is Youyou, and he is Prince Jin's illegitimate son. He and I are cut from the same cloth—there's no need to fear Bao'er's identity coming to light," Nanjiao said with a beaming smile.
Zhan Beihang's face darkened: "..."
Look at this woman's smug expression.
When she did the blood test yesterday, was she secretly praying in her heart that Youyou was his son?
That way, she wouldn't have to feel any guilt in front of him.
Jiang Huai looked as though he had been struck by lightning, utterly bewildered.
An illegitimate son...
How could a Prince Jin who always kept himself so pure and unblemished suddenly pop up with a son?
Still, Nanjiao was right.
She had an illegitimate daughter.
He had an illegitimate son.
The two of them were even. Even if word got out, neither side could be blamed as the wrongdoing party.
"Prince Jin, since that is the case, my younger sister cannot be considered at fault. This subject hopes you will not make things difficult for her in the future." An elegant, faint smile rested on Jiang Huai's refined and handsome face.
Zhan Beihang let out a cold, expressionless snort. "Given her usual conduct, are you certain it isn't her making things difficult for this Prince?"
Jiang Huai: "..."
That was genuinely hard for him to dispute.
After all, even after regaining her wits, this girl's actions remained utterly audacious.
"Third Brother..."
Suddenly, Zhan Chuyue's gentle voice rang out in the courtyard. Early that morning, she had gone to the Eastern Palace to see her eldest brother, and he had told her all about Youyou.
He had specifically asked her to come and check on the results of the blood test.
She had been utterly stunned!
How could her third brother possibly have an illegitimate son?
As soon as Zhan Chuyue stepped inside, she caught sight of the orchid-like and jade-tall Jiang Huai. Taking in the man's handsome and refined features, she quickly pulled back her gaze and looked toward the masked little boy sitting by the table.
Was he Youyou?
"Why have you come?" Zhan Beihang asked.
"Eldest Brother sent me. He wanted to know if Youyou is really your son," Zhan Chuyue said straight to the point, though she secretly hoped he was.
After hearing her eldest brother recount the whole series of events that morning, her entire mind had been a blank.
Well, now?
Both of them had children, which actually felt quite fair.
"Youyou is your third brother's son," Nanjiao answered for him, her mood exceptionally bright.
Zhan Chuyue: "..."
She walked over to Youyou, wanting to take his hand.
Youyou reflexively pulled away.
He still wasn't accustomed to strangers getting close.
"Don't be afraid, I am your aunt, your father's younger sister." Zhan Chuyue looked at him with a gentle, friendly smile. She could sense his guardedness, as well as the chill radiating from him.
He had the exact same temperament as her third brother—icy cold.
Youyou stared at Zhan Chuyue. The chill in his eyes lessened slightly, but he still couldn't bring himself to grow close to her.
"Seventh Princess, he cannot speak, and he doesn't like strangers getting close. Give him a little time, and he will let you near him," Nanjiao said.
Zhan Chuyue furrowed her brows deeply, her delicate face etched with heartache.
What on earth had this child been through?
...
The General's Estate.
"Does it hurt?" Old Madame looked at the swelling on Jiang Zhiyan's face, her heart aching terribly. Hadn't that girl Nanjiao gone a bit too far with her blows?
"Grandmother, it doesn't hurt anymore, please don't worry," Jiang Zhiyan replied with a gentle smile.
"How can I not worry? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let you go fetch Bao'er; then none of these misunderstandings between you two would have happened," Old Madame said, blaming herself.
Jiang Zhiyan grasped her hand. "Grandmother, as long as it's a misunderstanding, it can always be cleared up. I just hope Fifth Younger Sister is willing to listen to my explanation. What I fear most is..."
"Why would you bother explaining anything to a person like that?" Zhan Qingheng walked in with an air of aristocratic majesty, holding a jar of ointment in his hand.
Surprise and joyful anticipation flickered across Jiang Zhiyan's face.
"This old woman pays her respects to Prince Rui." Old Madame quickly stood up to greet him.
Zhan Qingheng reached out to support her. "No need for formalities. This Prince came to check on Zhiyan."
"Prince Rui is truly thoughtful," Old Madame said, her face beaming with smiles. It seemed he genuinely cared for the girl Zhiyan in his heart.
Zhan Qingheng walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. Looking at Jiang Zhiyan's still red and swollen face, his brows darkened, and his aversion toward Nanjiao deepened even further.
"This is something I found from the Imperial Palace's medicine repository. Chief Physician Gu says it's the finest ointment for reducing swelling." He handed the porcelain jar to her.
"Thank you, Prince Rui." A look of bashful modesty appeared on Jiang Zhiyan's face.
"Once your injuries heal, this Prince will seek justice for you." A sharp, ruthless glint flashed through the depths of Zhan Qingheng's eyes as he seized the opportunity to suppress Zhan Beihang.
After all, it was his princess consort who had raised a hand against someone, and she had even beaten her own biological elder sister.
"There's no need to wait until her injuries heal. Today will do just fine," Nanjiao's arrogant and aloof voice rang out from the doorway.
Zhan Qingheng turned to look.
Nanjiao and Zhan Beihang were walking in the front.
Behind them were Zhan Chuyue and Jiang Huai, both holding children of roughly the same age by the hand—the very two from the room yesterday.
He sneered inwardly.
They actually had the nerve to show up here.
"Prince Jin, Nanjiao, why have you come?" Old Madame walked toward Nanjiao, sensing from their formation that they weren't here just to visit Zhiyan.
She had heard all about yesterday's entire ordeal.
It was hard to say who was right and who was wrong.
"Grandmother, didn't Prince Rui say he wanted to seek justice for Fourth Sister? Everyone from yesterday is present today, so let's properly settle this justice," Nanjiao said with an ambiguous smile.
Old Madame: "..."
It seemed today was destined to be another turbulent day.
Nanjiao glanced at the people present and added, "Oh, and Fourth Sister's maid, Bansha, is missing from the count."
Just then, an enraged, scolding voice drifted from the courtyard.
"That scoundrel Jiang Nanjiao! She must have sent people to beat Bansha nearly to death! Zhiyan, don't be upset, Mother will get justice for you!"
Lady Mu rushed in as she spoke.
The moment she entered the room, she halted in her tracks, not expecting so many people to be inside.
Upon seeing Nanjiao, the fury in the depths of her eyes burned fiercely, but out of deference to Prince Rui and Prince Jin being present, she had no choice but to suppress her blazing anger.
"Mother, one must speak based on evidence. I didn't arrange for anyone to beat Bansha." A layer of freezing frost coated Nanjiao's face, accompanied by an inner surge of mockery.
Sooner or later, she would make Lady Mu regret it—regret her blatant favoritism.
Chapter 41: This Prince Had Her Beaten
"If it wasn't you, then who else could it have been? You must have been harboring a grudge, snuck into the General's Estate last night, and beaten Bansha! You are truly vicious! If she hadn't been discovered in time, she'd be dead!"
Lady Mu wore a ferocious expression, glaring at Nanjiao as if looking at her mortal enemy, her entire body radiating monstrous fury.
Today, she was going to expose the girl's wicked deeds!
At that moment, Jiang Ye and Jiang Yu also walked in.
"Yesterday, Eldest Brother said we should give you a chance. Thinking that you are a sister sharing our blood, I decided to trust you one more time. I never expected you to commit evil again."
Jiang Ye laughed self-deprecatingly, deep irony resting on his enchanting face. He had just gone to look at Bansha—she had been beaten so terribly she was unrecognizable, her face swollen to the point where she could scarcely be identified.
"Jiang Nanjiao, you are truly wicked—"
"Shut your mouth! This has nothing to do with her. This Prince had her beaten." Zhan Beihang stepped forward, his tall, straight physique radiating a bloodthirsty, murderous aura akin to a fiend from the netherworld.
Lady Mu: "..."
Jiang Ye: "..."
Jiang Yus: "Pr-Prince Jin, there's no need for you to take the blame for her! She hasn't done fewer of these unconscionable acts in the past; it was definitely her!"
He refused to believe that Zhan Beihang would pull strings behind the scenes to do something like that.
Zhan Beihang's gaze was cold, devoid of a single trace of warmth, his brow and eyes carrying an air of supreme arrogance. "Given this Prince's style of conduct, do you think this Prince would ever take the blame for someone else?"
"This..." Jiang Yus choked. That indeed did not sound like something Zhan Beihang would do. Moreover, the man had always loved upholding justice and had detested Jiang Nanjiao in the past.
There was truly no way he would take the fall for her.
A faint smile graced Nanjiao's pretty, exquisitely beautiful face. "Third Brother, if you really wanted to give me a chance, you wouldn't have said those things just now. You would have come and asked me for the truth first."
"I..." Jiang Ye clenched his hands into tight fists, his expression somewhat unnatural, filled with internal vexation.
Had he been too impulsive just now?
It was probably because of all the wicked things she used to do.
That made him subconsciously assume it was her doing.
"Were you about to say I'm vicious? But this time, I really didn't do it." Nanjiao looked at Jiang Yus with a pure smile.
Jiang Yus's face turned pale, a look of helplessness washing over him.
Nanjiao walked up to Lady Mu and said coldly, with an overwhelming aura, "You jumped to conclusions and wronged me without figuring out the facts, calling me vicious. Is that how you act as a mother?"
Lady Mu was so startled by the aura radiating from her that she involuntarily took a step back, feeling a vague prick of guilt, though she quickly suppressed it.
"You've committed so many evil deeds in the past, how could anyone not suspect you? As long as you hadn't done those things before, I wouldn't have suspected it was you!"
By the end of her sentence, she had regained her footing, wearing a righteous and defiant expression.
"Let me solemnly tell you now: I will no longer commit evil as I did in the past. Next time, don't go wronging people without getting the facts straight—it just makes you look brainless," Nanjiao said without the slightest bit of politeness.
"You—" Lady Mu glared furiously, her eyes wide.
She actually had the audacity to call her brainless!
Was a useless good-for-nothing like her even worthy?
Old Madame looked at the two women standing at daggers drawn and let out a heavy internal sigh. The relationship between this mother and daughter was bound to grow even worse now.
"Third Imperial Brother, why did you arrange for people to beat Zhiyan's maid? This Prince stated he would investigate this matter thoroughly and hold whoever is responsible accountable," Zhan Qingheng said coldly.
"She dared to violently attack a young child within the confines of my manor. Can this Prince not discipline her?" Zhan Beihang raised an eyebrow, proud and haughty, his sharply defined, handsome face radiating a peerless, overarching dominance.
"Zhiyan went to fetch the little girl named Bao'er, but before her maid Bansha could even get close, the little boy injured her with poisonous powder, and afterward they used poisonous powder to injure Zhiyan as well.
During the struggle, Bansha struck the little boy out of a desire to protect her mistress. In this Prince's view, she got what she deserved."
Zhan Qingheng spoke in a slow, unhurried, yet crystal-clear tone.
"My Prince Jin's Manor—is it a place where she can just waltz in and take people away as she pleases? Does she take this Prince for a dead man? Did she bother giving advance notice? Whose dog gave her the guts!"
Zhan Beihang's handsome face turned gloomy, an invisible, terrifying pressure emanating from him that made people's hearts tremble.
Hearing the words "dog guts," Nanjiao almost couldn't refrain from applauding. She hadn't expected him to be quite so manly!
"Prince Jin, no, it wasn't like that, I—" Crystal-clear water mist welled up in Jiang Zhiyan's eyes as she put on a look of hesitation, words suspended on her lips.
"Zhiyan, I am here, don't be afraid. Tell us directly whatever needs to be said, and this Prince will uphold justice for you." Zhan Qingheng reached out and gently patted her shoulder.
Jiang Zhiyan glanced at Nanjiao, then at Bao'er, before finally pulling back her gaze and shaking her head.
Seeing her exercising so much restraint, Lady Mu walked up to Zhan Beihang and said in a flat tone, "Prince Jin, it was all because of this unfilial daughter Nanjiao that Zhiyan tried to take Bao'er away without greeting you first."
"Oh?" Zhan Beihang raised an eyebrow.
"Bao'er is an illegitimate daughter Nanjiao gave birth to before she returned to the General's Estate. The General's Estate was previously unaware of this matter, and this wife simply didn't want you to be kept in the dark any longer." Lady Mu wore the expression of someone performing a righteous sacrifice of a family member.
Nanjiao: "..."
Tsk, tsk.
They investigated it all out in the span of a single night?
"How did you find out?" Zhan Beihang's voice turned icy.
"Although this wife has no evidence, she wouldn't insist on bringing a sickly child into the General's Estate for no reason and protect her so fiercely. Whether it's true or not can be determined through a drop-blood relationship test."
Lady Mu steeled her heart and spoke. The ignorant are not condemned; she believed Prince Jin wouldn't vent his anger onto the General's Estate.
"There's no need to test it, Bao'er is my daughter." Nanjiao generously admitted it. Since it couldn't be kept hidden anyway, she might as well confess to save them from making a fuss out of it.
Anyway, since Zhan Beihang had an illegitimate son, an illegitimate daughter was no longer enough to threaten her life and safety.
Old Madame: "..."
Jiang Huai: "..."
Jiang Ye: "..."
Jiang Yus: "..."
Jiang Zhiyan sneered inwardly. She actually admitted to it just like that—let's see how she explains this to Prince Jin, not to mention Emperor Jingming and the Emperor Emeritus in the palace.
Giving birth out of wedlock and then marrying a prince of noble status was a crime punishable by death!
She almost seemed to see the scene of Nanjiao's blood splashing across the execution grounds.
Thinking of that scenario, her heart surged with intense excitement.
"Jiang Nanjiao, you have some nerve! Giving birth out of wedlock and still daring to marry into Prince Jin's Manor—this is the capital crime of deceiving the sovereign!" Zhan Qingheng raged, his face turning ashen.
He looked over at Zhan Beihang. The man's expression was icy, devoid of a single expression; he looked thoroughly enraged.
He never expected there would be such a joke to watch!
This trip to the General's Estate today was well worth it!
Nanjiao looked at him as though he were an idiot and gave a contemptuous snort. "I lost my memories of the past sixteen years. Heaven knows if I ever gave birth to a child before."
"Before the wedding, the palace matrons check the cinnabar mark. How did you manage to fool them?" Zhan Qingheng asked after recalling a certain detail.
"Someone intentionally gave me a fake cinnabar mark." Nanjiao wore an innocent expression.
Zhan Qingheng let out a disdainful sneer. "Do you think this Prince would believe such ghost stories?"
"Does it matter whether you believe it or not? She isn't your princess consort, and this Prince knew long ago that she had an illegitimate daughter." Zhan Beihang's gaze was as deep and fathomless as the sea.
Everyone: "..."
He actually knew all along!
"Prince Jin, y-you knew all along? Why didn't you punish her?" Lady Mu looked utterly bewildered. Weren't the words she had just spoken completely in vain, then?
Zhan Beihang glanced at Nanjiao and said dismissively, "Because this Prince has an illegitimate son."
Silence—
The room plunged into a dead, absolute hush.
Chapter 42: That Jerk Is Quite Manly Today
"Third Imperial Brother, what kind of joke are you playing? How could you possibly have an illegitimate son?" Zhan Qingheng narrowed his eyes slightly. He had originally intended to use Nanjiao's illegitimate daughter to turn Zhan Beihang into a laughingstock.
And yet, the man popped out with an illegitimate son of his own!
Now the two of them were evenly matched—what was left to mock?
"Whether I have an illegitimate son or not is none of your concern. I will explain this matter to Imperial Father and Imperial Grandfather myself." A faint chill lingered in Zhan Beihang's brow and eyes.
He had originally intended to keep Youyou's identity under wraps temporarily.
Now it seemed concealment was no longer an option.
Zhan Qingheng: "..."
Dammit!
He had wanted to use this incident to suppress him and mock him over Nanjiao having an illegitimate daughter, but it had turned into a massive plot twist where he hadn't gained the upper hand at all.
Zhan Beihang said coldly, "The Fourth Miss's maid beat my son. Leaving her with half her life is an act of mercy on my part. Now that the matter has been clarified, the Fourth Miss must bear the responsibility that is rightfully hers."
Rage surged in Zhan Qingheng's heart. "Zhiyan wanted to take Bao'er away without consulting you because she feared you would vent your anger on the Jiang family; she shouldn't be blamed entirely."
"What does her caring about the Jiang family have to do with me? Prince Jin's Manor is not a place where she can act as she pleases. She must pay compensation and apologize to the two children."
Zhan Beihang's forceful tone allowed for no room for negotiation, his peerless, sky-commanding dominance entirely innate.
"Prince Rui, you stated personally yesterday that you would investigate thoroughly and that whoever was responsible wouldn't shirk the blame. Are you planning on reneging on your word now?" Nanjiao asked unceremoniously.
Zhan Qingheng's handsome face tightened, his icy gaze locked onto Nanjiao.
This damned good-for-nothing!
She used to chase eagerly after him, yet now she stood on Zhan Beihang's side and opposed him!
"Prince Rui, I will bear the responsibility that is mine. Even if given another chance, I would still protect the General's Estate," Jiang Zhiyan said, a weak smile on her face.
"Zhiyan." Lady Mu wept tears of emotion.
In her view, Zhiyan hadn't done anything wrong at all; she had simply wanted to protect the Jiang family.
As for this unfilial daughter—did she even care about the Jiang family in her heart?
Sneaking Bao'er into the General's Estate so stealthily... Fortunately, Prince Jin had an illegitimate son, so the two of them canceled each other out; otherwise, it surely would have dragged the General's Estate into disaster.
And now she still wanted to make Zhiyan take responsibility!
What kind of monstrosity had she given birth to? Truly rotten luck.
Jiang Zhiyan shot her a soothing look. She got out of bed, her bare feet touching the floor as she walked toward Bao'er and Youyou. With red-rimmed eyes, she said, "Yesterday was my fault. I shouldn't have acted that way. I'm sorry."
Bao'er cast a cold glance at her, turned her face away, and ignored her.
Beneath his mask, Youyou's face was utterly cool, his eyes icy and sharp.
Jiang Zhiyan bit her red lower lip, her body swaying as she collapsed toward the ground.