She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Jiang Ruining wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek almost pressed against his chest, wrapping the cotton gauze around him again and again, and said in a low voice, "I'm saving money! I heard there are a few江湖人 (jianghu people) in the city who specialize in stealing things for others, and several government departments have joined forces to arrest them but still haven't been able to catch them."

"I'll go find those gangsters later and make them hide in the house of those bastards from the patrol battalion who came to cause trouble. Then, in the middle of the night, I'll report them to the authorities and have them search their house. Let them experience what it's like to have their home searched while they're awake!"

"Strip them naked, hang them at the execution ground, and make them lose face in front of the whole city! These arrogant and uncivilized bastards should be exiled to Lingnan to reclaim wasteland!"

Xiao Che tilted his head, looking at her with the eyes of someone staring at a dazed person: "Is this considered revenge?"

To retaliate against an evil opponent.

They must make the other party suffer a fate worse than death, watching their family members suffer because of them!

Jiang Ruining gently poked his face with her finger, wiping away the "What kind of idiot are you?" look on his face: "I originally thought of scaring their family members in the middle of the night, but their family members didn't do anything wrong, and it seems a bit immoral to retaliate and scare them."

Morality?

Is it something good?

Xiao Che smiled.

He doesn't seem to have it!

Suddenly, he turned his head, opened his mouth, and bit her finger hard.

Soft.

Despite being so thin, her fingers were as soft as her face!

"Ah!" Jiang Ruining cried out in pain, tears welling in her eyes. "It hurts! Let go, it's going to bite off!"

Is this madman born in the Year of the Dog?

He bit her again!

"You mocked me with your emojis first! I won't do it again, please be magnanimous and don't hold it against a weak and helpless woman like me! Please~"

Xiao Che leaned to one side, his expression relaxed, as if he were teasing some tiny animal.

Jiang Ruining was annoyed.

You can't pull it by force.

If it weren't for the fact that only one of my fingers was bitten and I couldn't twist it at all, I would have definitely shown him what it means to have your throat poked!

Just as yellow waste was popping into her head, and she was seriously considering whether or not to kowtow to the evil god.

Jin Yu rushed in, exclaiming, "Miss! Your cousin has come to see you! Please come out quickly!"

For the first time, Jiang Ruining felt that the harsh Mrs. Jiang was a savior!

"Shut up! Chu Jin is shrewd. Once she realizes I'm not in the room, she'll definitely suspect that wicked maidservant by her side is trying to ruin my reputation and will do everything she can to make a big scene!"

"I've never left the courtyard. Those bastards from the patrol battalion hiding in some corner, or the servants bribed by those bastards, will soon guess that I have a secret room here!"

Xiao Che frowned.

half an hour.

She still let go.

He scoffed.

"It's your good fortune that I'm willing to laugh at you!"

Jiang Ruining grabbed his clothes and wiped her fingers: "Keep this good fortune for yourself!"

Done.

Run for your life!

Xiao Che glanced down at his clothes, his eyes twitching slightly.

You little coward, how dare you look down on him!

great!

We just left the secret room.

Then, Chu Jin's shadow was reflected on the carved door shrouded in mist and rain.

"Did the imperial physician come to examine you today?"

The wet nurse replied, "I've already sent someone to fetch him, but the physician hasn't arrived yet. The eldest young lady still has a fever and has been sweating all night. She's being bathed right now, so the process will be a bit slow. Please, young lady, sit in the hall for a moment."

Chu Jin's voice carried a hint of worry: "I just came to see my cousin and told her not to rush and to take her time."

With that, he turned and left through the side room.

When Jiang Ruining read the novel, he envied the heroine's smooth and pampered life after coming to the Jiang family. He also admired her wisdom and skill. He couldn't bring himself to dislike her. If he could change Madam Jiang's mindless favoritism, he might as well be friends with her and get along amicably.

After quickly drying herself off and changing her clothes, she left the room.

Seeing her come out, Chu Jin stood up to greet her: "Cousin, your fever hasn't gone down yet, why did you come out?"

Jiang Ruining glanced around.

It's good that Chunxi's annoying maid wasn't with us!

There are many more things on the table.

Most of them are tonics, such as ginseng, bird's nest, and donkey-hide gelatin.

Some more snacks.

He smiled, without any sharpness or aloofness, as if meeting an old friend: "I'm a little tired of lying down, so I came out for a walk and some fresh air."

Chu Jingxu helped her sit down: "Are you feeling better?"

Jiang Ruining nodded: "It should be fully healed by tomorrow."

The servants brought tea and honey water.

Chu Jin took a small sip, put it down, and pointed to the things, saying, "These were prepared by my aunt for my cousin. She originally wanted to come and keep my cousin company in person, but she caught a cold this morning and couldn't come."

Jiang Ruining's face showed no particular expression; she simply nodded calmly, "Please take good care of my mother."

Chu Jin observed her subtly.

He looks unwell and his breathing is a bit unsteady; he is indeed still ill.

But his eyes were calm, his demeanor composed, and his gaze sharp, a stark contrast to his former self.

"My cousin has never spoken so much about her feelings before, and my aunt has focused so much on me that she didn't know you had so many grievances bottled up inside. She feels very guilty."

Jiang Ruining enjoyed the honey tea, the sweet taste soothing her bland mouth. She said nonchalantly, "She won't blame herself, and you don't need to lie for her to comfort me."

Whether it was a genuine cold, a lack of understanding of how to face her poor daughter whom she had neglected for so many years, or a feeling of embarrassment and anger stemming from yesterday's confrontation that made her lose face, only Madam Jiang herself knew the truth.

However, this matter needs to be done gradually; it cannot be rushed.

Only her calm and indifferent demeanor could make Madam Jiang, whose relationship with Madam Jiang had already developed cracks, anxious and pay attention to her!

Chu Jin: "My cousin has really changed a lot, and she rarely wears such simple clothes anymore."

Jiang Ruining understood; this was a test.

Her sudden change was so drastic that it's normal for such a smart female lead to have doubts.

But she didn't just change her shell; she changed her core. Even if Chu Jin was incredibly clever, she couldn't have imagined it!

Therefore, she wasn't worried at all about being discovered.

"You are suited to elegant colors. Madam forbids me from wearing the same clothes as you, because I'm afraid I'll steal your thunder. She also manages my monthly allowance very strictly, so I can't afford to buy a ready-made one. I have to rely on my father and brother to send me the fabric."

"But all those fabrics were intercepted by Madam and given to you. All I could get were colors like deep purple, deep blue, and rose red. The one I'm wearing was made three years ago when Father came back to report on his duties."

"Only when Father and Brother are here can I be the master of this house and choose what I like without being falsely accused of deliberately dressing old-fashioned and gaudy, and of disgracing her and the Jiang family."

Chu Jin's expression shifted, as if she had recalled many details she had previously overlooked: "I'm sorry..."

Jiang Ruining smiled gently and kindly: "You don't need to apologize to me. I was just answering your question, not criticizing or complaining about you."

"When I couldn't figure it out, I did hate you. I clearly have a mother, but because of your slaps, I live like an orphan. But once I figured it out, I understood that it was Madam who insisted on favoring me, and it wasn't your fault."

"I've caused you a lot of trouble over the years, and I'm the one who has wronged you the most."

Chu Jin was surprised by her frankness and self-reflection.

There was no doubt in his eyes, but he maintained a wait-and-see attitude.

"Cousin, please don't say that. I also bear some responsibility."