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

Jiang Ruining nodded perfunctorily and pressed him down to sit: "Yes, yes, yes! You're made of steel, you're not afraid of pain! So, Your Highness, would you like some breakfast to temper your body and make it even harder than iron?"

Xiao Che frowned, expressing his displeasure at the lipstick she used to coax the child.

But I was definitely hungry.

What do you think?

The wet nurse turned pale with fright.

This man is a living Yama who can wipe out a family and clan at the slightest provocation. This girl is too bold. How dare she speak to him like that!

"girl……"

Seeing the terrified and shocked look in the wet nurse's eyes, Jiang Ruining gave her a reassuring smile.

Since he personally agreed to let the matter of administering muscle relaxant powder go, there's no longer any enmity between them!

Although his attitude was still terrible, as long as she didn't offend him again, and considering that she had taken care of him, he shouldn't take her life over a few words between "friends"... right?

"Go prepare the meal! Tell them I didn't have an appetite earlier, but now I want to eat."

The wet nurse hesitated for a moment, but still went.

A bowl of millet porridge, a few side dishes, and several crumbly pastries.

It was a very light meal.

Xiao Che didn't mind at all. After slowly finishing his meal, he asked Jiang Ruining for a chess set and played with himself for a while to aid digestion. Then he turned around and went to lie down on the bed.

Jiang Ruining was dumbfounded.

He slept in the bed, but where did she sleep?

"Your Highness, it would be safer to return to the secret chamber."

Xiao Che lay there as if it were his own business, not smelling the odor of the patient's profuse sweat, but rather a very faint natural floral fragrance: "Is that a place where someone of my status should stay?"

Jiang Ruining: "..." Someone of my status should be forced to sleep on a soft couch, feeling humiliated? Those in power really can't bear to suffer even the slightest hardship!

Ha ha!

all day.

can not go out.

The thought of having to share a room with a fierce and difficult person every day makes me feel not only miserable but also unlucky!

Fortunately, she still had a fever and was too weak. She leaned against the armrest of the small table and fell asleep after only a few sighs.

……

The sunlight was beautiful.

The light shone through the thin curtains and into the room, dazzlingly bright.

Madam Jiang leaned against the chaise longue, her beautiful brows furrowed with weariness: "How is she?"

Granny Song didn't mention Chu Jin because she noticed that whenever the cousin was involved, the madam couldn't calmly bring up the eldest daughter: "She still has a fever. The doctor said that if it weren't for the eldest daughter's good health, she might have shortened her lifespan after last night's commotion."

"Madam, if I may presume to speak, the eldest daughter is still a child, and you are being too harsh on her."

Madam Jiang clenched her sleeves: "Jin'er is the same age as her, and Jin'er is so composed and sensible, how come she can't be like that!"

Granny Song said, "You personally taught the younger sister, but the eldest sister didn't. She's only seven years old, and you've already neglected her. Before that, the eldest sister was such a bright and clever child!"

"She learns everything quickly. She could compose poems at the age of six. When she encountered poverty, she would save her monthly allowance to help others. Yunmi was the one she rescued from the whip of the circus troupe leader."

"Have you forgotten how many people envied you for having such a wonderful daughter?"

Madam Jiang's eyes trembled.

It seems that many long-forgotten memories have been gently dusted off and are gradually returning to her memory. Some are blurry, but their existence cannot be denied.

"Do you also think I'm wrong?"

Granny Song gently shook her head, her tone full of tender understanding: "Miss Jin is your blood relative. She has lost her parents, but you love her, give her enough security, and raise her to be healthy and beautiful. You have done nothing wrong. Everyone in the capital praises you."

"The only shortcoming is that we shouldn't have overlooked the eldest daughter."

"That's the retribution she deserved! And it's my retribution too!" Madam Jiang became agitated, her eyes red-rimmed. "If I hadn't been selfish, everything in the Jiang family would have belonged to my sister and Jin'er. I took my sister's place, and she took everything from Jin'er."

When her family arranged a marriage, her older sister and the gentle and refined Jiang Heng took a liking to each other and decided that she should marry the burly and strong general Chu Zhao.

She refused, went on a hunger strike, and demanded a marriage exchange.

Her older sister loved her and agreed to the arranged marriage.

She married Jiang Heng as she had wished.

On their wedding day, the moment she lifted the veil, she saw Jiang Heng's surprise and disappointment. But the wedding ceremony had already taken place, and they had entered the bridal chamber. The matter was settled. For the sake of her reputation and that of both families, Jiang Heng accepted the marriage without saying a harsh word.

He treated her with utmost care and consideration after their marriage.

She found happiness.

To avoid suspicion, Chu Zhao took her sister to the border.

In her occasional letters, her sister always said that she was doing very well, and that Chu Zhao listened to her in everything and never let her suffer any grievances.

Ten years have passed since we last met.

When the next news came, it was that the border city had fallen, Chu Zhao had died in battle, and the enemy army had massacred the Chu family. Only Chu Jin escaped because he had gone to offer incense with the lady of another family.

in case……

If she hadn't selfishly remarried back then, she would have been the one to die, while her sister and Jin'er would be enjoying peace and wealth in the capital!

Madam Jiang covered her face, her shoulders trembling, tears streaming through her fingers: "It was me! I killed my sister!"

Over the years, Granny Song had witnessed her suffering clearly and felt sorry for her. She wiped away her tears and said, "From your sister's letter, it's clear that Lord Chu is a very good man. If you marry him and give birth to Ningning, you and your daughter will live a good life."

"If Ningning were an orphan today, would your sister love her as much as you loved your cousin?"

Madam Jiang replied without hesitation, "Yes! Of course! My sister is always kind and forgiving!"

"Then tell me, what kind of suffering should Ningning endure?" asked Granny Song.

The sound was like a dull knife, grinding against Madam Jiang's heart.

"She received neither the love and care of her birth mother, nor the gentle treatment of your sister as you hypothetically described. She had nothing, and her fate was more tragic and lonely than that of someone who was originally born into the Chu family, as you described."

"But that little child, she did nothing wrong, knew nothing, at such an innocent and naive age, was inexplicably disliked, blamed, and relentlessly burdened with suffering by her own mother. How could she not hate? How could she not be sad?"

He sighed deeply.

"Your suffering is understood by your servants, but Ningning's suffering is deliberately ignored by you. Who will listen to her? Madam, your compensation should not be based on Ningning's pain."

"What you should do is put yourself in your sister's shoes and give both children the same love as she did! Madam, give Ningning some attention and don't make her struggle with suffering that doesn't belong to her."

"She really is going to die!"

Madam Jiang clutched her chest, which felt like it was about to burst, and lay on the couch, her shoulders trembling. It was unclear how much she had heard.

Seeing her in such pain, Granny Song couldn't bear it and didn't say anything more.

He simply glanced in the direction of Chaohua Residence and let out a soft sigh.

Poor thing!

……

Jiang Ruining slept soundly for a long time, and when she woke up it was already dark.

Although I still feel a bit weak, my body has cooled down and my fever has subsided!

I ate two big bowls of rice for dinner.

After eating and drinking my fill, I felt much better and less tired.

Happy!

Xiao Che was used to seeing the concubines and noble ladies eating slowly and saying they were full after only a few bites. When he saw her eating heartily with a satisfied look on her face, he stopped eating.

What woman wouldn't act pretentious in front of other men?

What does she mean?

Didn't you treat him like a man?

Or is she only willing to act in front of Shao Yunting?

In her eyes, how could he, the dignified regent, be inferior to a mere duke?

Snapped!

He slammed the chopsticks he was holding onto the table.