Chapter 416: Chapter 412: Blood Splattering From the Nose_1
 

At a glance, Chen Tiantian was taken aback by Yingbao. But she quickly recognized who the young girl in front of her was.

Her countenance changed several times as she forced a smile, “Yingbao, you’ve also come to Beijing.”

Yingbao glanced at her and gave a small nod, lifting her skirt to cross the threshold.

Seeing Yingbao walking away without looking back, Chen Tiantian subconsciously followed a few steps, “Yingbao, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

Yingbao climbed onto the horse carriage and looked down at her, “If you have something to say, say it here.”

Chen Tiantian looked around and pleaded, “Can we find a quieter place?”

Yingbao gave a faint smile, “It seems quite quiet here, just speak.”

She was curious about what Chen Tiantian wanted to say.

Seeing Yingbao’s nonchalant demeanor made Chen Tiantian angry, but she had no choice but to swallow her pride, “Yingbao, actually, you and I are maternal cousins. My mother is your biological aunt. You and Chen Zhao and Chen Wan are blood sisters.”

“Where did you get that information?” Yingbao looked at her indifferently as her heart remained calm.

“I…” Chen Tiantian hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth, “I was told by a… wise person.”

The voice in her head, in fact, hasn’t spoken to her in a long time. Ever since the time when she suddenly spat out blood and fainted, that voice hadn’t given her any advice.

On the contrary, Chen Tiantian had been feeling increasingly weak lately, her complexion getting progressively paler. Even her skin had darkened considerably. If not for the thick layer of makeup on her face, she wouldn’t dare to show herself in public.

She had a hunch that it was all because of something Yingbao had done.

But she had no idea what exactly that thing was.

Today, she could meet Yingbao in Beijing, Chen Tiantian was shocked and overjoyed, instinctively wanting to seize this opportunity to find out the truth.

She really didn’t want to die. She wanted to live a long, long life, to outlive Yingbao, that petty wench.

“Oh?” Yingbao asked with a look of indifference. “What do you want to achieve by telling me all this now?”

Chen Tiantian wiped her eyes with her sleeve, grief-stricken, “Your parents are both gone, and now you and I are the closest relatives. Yingbao, as long as we, as sisters, unite and work together, our lives will get better and better.”

Yingbao chuckled, “Even without you, I’m doing quite well.”

Then her face hardened, “And moreover, my parents are doing just fine. So please take your fake face elsewhere, don’t disgust me.”

“You…” Chen Tiantian was so angry she pointed at Yingbao, “You don’t even recognize your ancestors anymore? Chen Yingbao, you’re a Chen, not a Jiang! People like you who regard invader as the father will be thrown into the frying pan after death…ah…”

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Tiantian was fiercely whipped on the head twice. One of the blows grazed her cheek, leaving a red mark that quickly started to swell.

“Jiang Yingbao! How dare you commit violence on the street!” Xiao Chengjun was outraged and rushed over to attack Yingbao.

Yingbao squinted her eyes, dropped the whip in her hand, quickly jumped off the horse carriage and delivered a punch straight at Xiao Chengjun’s face.

The punch carried a wind, hitting Xiao Chengjun hard in the face. Blood splattered from his nose as he was thrown several feet away, landing on his back and stirring up a cloud of dust.

“Ah… Murder!” Chen Tiantian ran quickly to Han Yueniang, screaming in fear with trembling hands and feet.

Yingbao slowly walked over, giving her a cold look, “Chen Tiantian, who gave you the courage to provoke me time and again?”

If it wasn’t broad daylight, and she wasn’t worried about affecting her brother’s career, she would have ended these two on the spot.

Han Family stood in front of her daughter, looking terrified at the beautiful young girl standing before them, stammering, “You…how dare you hurt Xiao Chengjun?”

Yingbao scoffed, “He’s just a defeated soldier. What does it matter if he gets hurt? Besides, he started it.”

Old master Wu told her before, the emperor was keeping the Xiao brothers just because the Xiao family had deep roots and couldn’t be moved temporarily.

Once the time was right, or if the Xiao brothers made a big mistake, they would be dealt with all together.

Han Yueniang stopped talking immediately upon hearing this.

Despite being titled Marquis Changshou, the Xiao family was suffering every day. The family’s steward and servants were all assigned by the officials. If the Xiao family wanted to have some tonic or make new clothes, they needed the permission of the family steward.

The thought of her own daughter following Xiao Chengjun made her feel hopeless.

If it were not for the birthmark on her daughter’s face, she would even consider allowing her daughter to become a concubine of a high-ranking officer, which would be preferable to suffering aimlessly alongside Xiao Chengjun.

After scrutinizing the mother and daughter, Yingbao sneered and climbed into the carriage, signaling the coachman to drive off.

The crowd of onlookers grew, but no one dared to intervene. Everyone was stunned by the unfolding scene.

Shockingly, a teenage girl knocked a young man unconscious with a single punch! An event like this was unheard of, even in the past, and will likely never happen again.

A fierce woman like this had better be avoided.

When Yingbao returned home, she saw Xinghua gazing at her with wide eyes, seemingly on the verge of saying something.

“What’s wrong?” Yingbao asked.

Xinghua scratched her head, lowered her voice and said, “Mistress, could you, could you extend your hand for me to see? I want to see if it’s swollen.”

Yingbao laughed and stretched her hand out for Xinghua to look at, turning it this way and that. “See clearly, it’s not swollen.”

Xinghua couldn’t believe it. She held her mistress’s hand and took a closer look – indeed, it wasn’t swollen, but a little red on the surface.

The gentleman’s skin must have been extremely thick. Her young lady’s hand didn’t swell despite the man’s nosebleed from the punch.

The next day, the elderly Madame Luo came to the Jiang household with her son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Mr. Wu and his wife, along with their son, also came.

Everyone was astounded by the potted plants that filled the courtyard.

“It’s incredible that peonies are blooming in this weather,” Luo said, pinching the petals of a peony flower to confirm it was real.

Wu Jiang laughed and said, “Mother, you don’t know this, but Yingbao’s original home also had a lot of flowers and fruit trees. My father said that it was a paradise on earth.”

This piece of information struck Madame Luo with further awe. Together with everyone, they examined every flowering plant before settling indoors.

Chunniang and her daughter entertained the guests, while Mr. Wu led his son, Jiang Jie, and Li Xu to see the unfinished pavilion and promenade.

He stroked his beard and said to his son, “We should buy a residence nearby as well. Far from the trouble, it will be more comfortable.”

Wu Shi nodded, “I will look for an agent to ask around for suitable houses for sale nearby.”

The closer to the Imperial City, the denser the population. Residences are generally small, except for some noble families that have larger courtyards.

Furthermore, the Emperor already has several consorts, two of whom are pregnant. If they give birth to princes, new palaces will be prepared, and again, the residences of lower-ranking officials and common people will need to be relocated.

Wu Shi didn’t want his painstakingly arranged house to be demolished again, so he decided to play it safe and move to a quieter area.

Although it would be less convenient to commute, they had a carriage at home, and the journey would not take too much time.

Mr. Wu stroked his beard and said, “Eldest son, you’re not young anymore. Once the house is built, you should quickly get married. Look at those your age, even their children are getting married.”

Wu Shi remained silent, which was as good as consent.

Seeing his son did not object this time, Mr. Wu could not help but feel relieved, finding his son more agreeable.

After chatting with Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Luo for a while, Yingbao excused herself to prepare the banquet.

She placed the fruit juices and fruit wines on the table, washed and cut some fruits, and arranged them on a large plate.

Upon arriving in the kitchen, she saw that some of the dishes had been prepared and were being kept warm in the steamer by the cook, who would then prepare the next one.

Yingbao was bothered by the sight of the cook and the coachman, one tending to the fire while the other stir frying the dishes. They were terribly busy.

The household was severely understaffed, which became evident whenever they had guests.

Thankfully, the crowd was manageable for the time being.

However, if more guests were to arrive one day, they would certainly be insufficiently equipped.