He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Beidi, a certain post station.

"Bang!"

A rough porcelain bowl was smashed hard on the ground and shattered into several pieces.

"This is outrageous!"

Jiang Luwei stood up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot.

He pointed to the few dark, hard objects on the table, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.

"Do they treat us like pigs and dogs?!"

Ever since they were "escorted" on their journey by those Northern Di soldiers, the dignity of the Great Zhou delegation has been trampled into the mud.

First came the harsh interrogation, and then although they said they were being released, it was no different from being escorted away.

At each post station, both men and women were forced into a large communal sleeping area.

Jiang Yuerong had never suffered such humiliation before. She cried and made a scene several times, but all she got in return was the soldiers' impatient scolding.

"Stop crying! If you cry again, I'll gag you!"

Jiang Siyuan was older and thought that spending money would avert disaster.

He secretly found an opportunity to slip a small bag of silver to the leading soldier.

The soldier took the money, but did absolutely nothing about it.

When it was mealtime, what was delivered was still a few pieces of bran that could break your teeth, without even a sip of hot water.

This is not hospitality; it's humiliation!

"Luwei! Sit down!"

Jiang Chengxuan let out a low shout, his face turning ashen.

He was certainly angry, but decades of experience in officialdom had given him a broader perspective than his sons.

This is a show of force.

It was something the Northern Di people deliberately did for them.

It is precisely in times like these that we must be patient.

"Dad! We can't take this anymore!" Jiang Luwei's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "If we keep putting up with it, they'll start shitting on our heads!"

"shut up!"

Just as Jiang Chengxuan was about to lash out, Jiang Luwei's roar had already alerted the guards outside the door.

The door was kicked open roughly with a loud bang.

A burly Northern Barbarian captain walked in, his face radiating menacing aura.

He glanced at the broken porcelain shards on the ground, then looked at Jiang Luwei, whose eyes were wide with anger, and a cruel smile crept onto his lips.

"What, is it that the Zhou envoy is not used to our Northern Di food?"

Jiang Luwei was young and impetuous, and he couldn't stand such provocation.

"you……"

He had only uttered two words.

The captain's face instantly darkened.

Without saying a word, he punched Jiang Luwei hard in the face.

"Bang!"

Jiang Luwei groaned, and blood immediately seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Luwei!"

"Second Brother!"

Jiang Yuerong and Jiang Siyuan exclaimed in surprise.

Jiang Chengxuan suddenly stood up, his eyes blazing with anger.

"You dare!"

"What wouldn't I dare to do?"

With a clang, the captain drew his curved sword from his waist, the tip pointing directly at Jiang Chengxuan's throat.

"Old man, don't push your luck."

"To let you live and give you food is already an immense favor from His Highness the King of Yue."

"If you dare to make any more noise..."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice considerably.

"I guarantee you won't make it to the capital."

"I will feed your corpses, piece by piece, to the wolves beyond Yan Hui Pass."

After saying that, he sheathed his scimitar, but his gaze fell on Jiang Yuerong, who was huddled in the corner.

He chuckled and then actually touched Jiang Yuerong's smooth face.

"ah--!"

Jiang Yuerong let out a terrified scream.

The captain, however, seemed to have tasted something delicious, and a lewd smile appeared on his face.

"Little beauty, you're certainly making quite a racket now."

"Don't let me down then!"

He laughed wildly and strode away, leaving the room in a deathly silence and humiliation.

-----------------

Meanwhile, on the official road leading to the capital, a large carriage was traveling smoothly.

Jiang Bingning lifted a corner of the car curtain and looked out the window.

In the distance, the majestic outline of the capital city was already in sight.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and shops lined both sides of the road. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, children playing, and horses neighing filled the air.

She sighed once again.

In her previous life, she was awestruck by the city's vitality when she first set foot in it.

The people here don't live as leisurely and elegantly as the citizens of the Great Zhou capital, but their brows radiate an almost fanatical confidence and a heartfelt love for the country.

It's a pride that's ingrained in our very bones.

Even later, when she took advantage of the internal strife in the Northern Di and led a large army to capture Shangjing, the resistance she encountered far exceeded her expectations.

It was a city where everyone was a soldier.

"What are you thinking about?"

The Dowager Empress's gentle voice sounded beside her, interrupting her thoughts.

"Your Highness, I was thinking that the Northern Barbarians seem quite prosperous."

Upon hearing this, the Dowager Empress's eyes revealed a complex expression.

She sighed softly.

"Yes, it's bustling. I haven't been back for many years."

Her voice carried a hint of melancholy and a touch of trepidation at the prospect of returning home.

The carriage passed through the bustling streets and finally stopped in front of a magnificent mansion.

A vermilion gate with bronze rings and animal heads.

Xinwangfu.

"Go and knock on the door," the Dowager Empress instructed Zhang, the old nanny beside her.

"We did not inform the household beforehand about our return this time, in order to avoid causing unnecessary commotion."

Granny Zhang responded, stepped forward, pulled the brass ring on the door, and gently knocked three times.

After a short while, the side door creaked open a crack.

A sleepy-eyed servant boy poked his head out, his face full of impatience.

"Who is it! Trying to call back a soul so early in the morning?"

He looked Zhang Mama, dressed as a maid, up and down, speaking in a flippant tone.

"Do you know where this is? The Prince Xin's Mansion! Is this a place where someone like you can act so presumptuously?"

Granny Zhang was stunned on the spot.

She had served the Dowager Empress for decades and had never been treated with such neglect.

I never imagined that after being away from the capital for several years, the servants in my household would have become so arrogant and unruly!

Her face instantly darkened.

"presumptuous!"

"Our master has returned! How dare you not open the main gate to greet him!"

The servant listened as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Hahaha! Master?"

"Where did you come from, you old swindler? Our prince is far away at the border; who do you think you are, master?"

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Get out of here! Don't get in my way!"

"Otherwise, if the authorities are alerted, you'll be in big trouble!"

"you!"

Granny Zhang was so angry that she trembled all over.

She could no longer restrain herself, raised her hand and slapped the servant hard across the face.

"That scoundrel who bullies others by relying on his master's power!"

The servant was so badly hit that he staggered, and half of his face immediately swelled up and turned bright red.

He covered his face in surprise, then a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

"You dare hit me?!"

He suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs towards the door.

"Help! There are thieves causing trouble at the gate of the Prince's mansion!"

"Brothers, grab your weapons!"

Granny Zhang watched coldly.

Having served the Empress Dowager since childhood, her martial arts skills were no joke; she wanted to see what kind of trouble these servants were up to.

A moment later, the side door opened wide.

Suddenly, seven or eight servants dressed as household guards rushed out from inside.

Upon closer inspection, Zhang Mama's anger intensified.

These people were all carrying weapons; some were carrying short knives, and others were holding long spears.

The lead servant covered his face and pointed at Granny Zhang.

"That's the old hag! Beat her! If she dies, it's on me!"

Without asking any questions, the servants actually brandished their weapons and lunged fiercely at Granny Zhang!

Although Granny Zhang was skilled in martial arts, she was quite old, and she was caught off guard and forced to retreat repeatedly.

Inside the car, Jiang Bingning's eyes had already turned cold.

She pushed open the car door and gracefully stepped out.

"stop!"

The servants paused, turned around, and saw that it was a delicate young girl. Their faces then showed disdainful smiles.

"Where did this little girl come from, daring to meddle in our grandfathers' business?"

"Get out of here!"

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Bingning's figure moved like a ghost.

Several muffled thuds were heard, followed by a few screams.

In the blink of an eye, the once arrogant servants were lying sprawled on the ground, clutching their wrists and ankles and groaning in pain.

Jiang Bingning stood between them, dressed in plain white clothes, spotless.

The lead servant lay on the ground, still cursing filth.

"You...you guys, don't you dare leave!"

"I've already sent someone to report to the city garrison!"

"You dare to make a move in front of Prince Xin's mansion? You're all dead!"

Just then.

"Squeak—"

The gates of Prince Xin's mansion were slowly pushed open from the inside.

An elderly woman, dressed smartly and appearing to be around fifty years old, emerged, surrounded by a group of maids and servants.

She had slanted eyebrows and thin lips, and looked like a mean person.

She first glanced at the servant lying on the ground groaning, her brows furrowing tightly.

"Who is it!"

Her voice was shrill.

"How dare they cause trouble at the Prince Xin's residence!"