After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Pei Qingqing gracefully extended her slender, green onion-like fingers, curving them slightly into the shape of a beautiful orchid, and gently grasped a piece of delicate pastry. She slowly placed the pastry in her mouth, taking a small bite with her perfectly white teeth. Then, she chewed it slowly, her movements gentle and delicate, as if savoring the most precious delicacy in the world. Slowly, she swallowed the pastry, her throat moving slightly, and her swallowing gesture was particularly charming.

Perhaps the pastry was a little dry, but Pei Qingqing felt thirsty. She reached out and removed the lid of the water bottle tied around her waist. Carefully tilting the bottle, she parted her lips and gently took a sip. Instantly, a few drops of water slid down the corners of her lips, as crystalline and translucent as dewdrops rolling on lotus leaves in the early morning. These tiny drops lingered at the corners of her rosy lips, gleaming brightly, and against her youthful, beautiful face, they made her look even more charming and alluring.

Chen Changxiao, standing nearby, was already engrossed in the feast, oblivious to the delicious food the maids offered him. In his eyes, Pei Qingqing was the ultimate delicacy he longed to savor. However, just as Chen Changxiao was absorbed in the feast, Pei Qingqing finished her pastry and returned to the carriage. As the curtains fell, completely obscuring her beautiful figure, Chen Changxiao finally snapped back to his senses. Reluctantly, he withdrew his gaze and refocused his attention on the sumptuous meal before him.

To mask his disappointment, Chen Changxiao readily accepted the food offered by the maid and devoured it. Though the food was a bit greasy, he paid it no mind, even kissing the maid on the cheek. The maid was flattered and overjoyed, feeling that her attentive service had successfully captured the attention and affection of the eldest son of the Marquisate—the future Crown Prince. Proudly, she cast a smug and provocative glance at the other maid next to her, as if to flaunt her victory.

"Qingqing, are you full?" Tang Wenshu lightly lifted the curtain and boarded his own beautifully decorated carriage.

"I'm on a diet. A small piece of pastry is all I need." Pei Qingqing smiled softly. She stroked her slightly rounded cheeks with her hand and said with a hint of distress, "Since following you, young lady, life has been so good. Look at me, I've gained a lot of weight without even realizing it. Since I'm going to Yangzhou this time, I have to seize this opportunity to lose some weight."

"Sister Qingqing, how can you be fat? In my opinion, you're plump, and you look so pretty!" Tang Wenshu approached Pei Qingqing with a friendly look on his face, took her arm and shook it. After a year of living together, Tang Wenshu already regarded Pei Qingqing as important as a family member.

There was another reason for this. Zeng Yuan and others who frequently visited Tang Wenshu's courtyard always treated Pei Qingqing with great courtesy and courtesy. This gave Pei Qingqing the illusion that she was still the pampered young lady, rather than the servant she had become.

At that moment, Chen Changxiao, standing not far from the carriage, heard a clear, sweet laugh, like a silver bell, emanating from within. His heartstrings seemed to be gently plucked by an invisible hand, and he could no longer suppress his inner urge. He quickly stepped forward, reached out and grabbed the maid beside him, and together they stepped into the carriage.

As soon as the two of them stepped into the carriage, the driver raised his whip, drew a beautiful arc in the air, and swung it down. With a crisp "crack", the horses kicked their hooves, pulling the carriage slowly forward.

As the wheels rolled on the ground, a creaking sound spread from near to far, gradually fading away at the end of the road. Only two shallow ruts remained, bearing witness to the beginning of this journey...

The carriage Chen Changxiao was riding in slowly pulled out of its original location, its hooves kicking up a light cloud of dust. Seeing this, Tang Zichan, who was savoring his delicious meal, hurriedly put down his food, swiftly jumped onto his horse, and whipped his whip vigorously, following closely behind the carriage that was gradually receding.

The guards in charge of guarding quickly left two people to clean up the leftovers from their meal and carefully cleaned the surrounding ground before they galloped to catch up with the main force.

Meanwhile, the carriage Tang Wenshu was riding in was being driven steadily by Ah Er, slowly moving forward. Suddenly, Tang Wenshu heard a faint, almost imperceptible sound of a woman sobbing. Suspicious, she turned to look at Pei Qingqing beside her and asked, "What's that sound? It sounds like someone is crying."

Pei Qingqing quickly comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, Miss Shushu. It's probably just some small animal noise in the mountains. You can rest for a while." Tang Wenshu felt a little relieved. Having just had a hearty meal, she gradually became tired, and soon she fell into a deep sleep in the swaying carriage.

However, Pei Qingqing, sitting nearby, didn't fall asleep like Tang Wenshu. She stared out the window at the receding scenery, her mind racing. Thinking of the man she'd be meeting on this trip—the eldest son of the Marquisate, a powerful figure who might one day inherit the title of Marquis of Dingyuan, or even become the new Marquis—her heart pounded.

If she could become his woman, and then use her own means and wisdom to climb up step by step, perhaps she would have a chance to redress her father's unjust death. However, as soon as this thought came to her mind, Pei Qingqing immediately shook her head, trying to drive it out of her mind.

She knew her father had been an honest, impartial official throughout his life, so how could he possibly want to see his daughter become another man's concubine? How could she face her incorruptible father after death? And what about her mother's vengeance? How could a weak woman like her avenge her? If she remained an ordinary maid, living in obscurity for the rest of her life, how could she ever be able to redress her father's injustice?

Throughout this boundless, seemingly endless journey, Pei Qingqing never stopped pondering those questions. Her mind was like a surging ocean, her thoughts churning endlessly. Every thought was like a raging wave crashing against the shore, assaulting the fragile and sensitive defenses deep within her heart.

The inner struggle and contradictions, like two ferocious beasts, engaged in a fierce battle within her heart. On one side, there was the unwavering adherence to morality and conscience, while on the other, there was the expansion of desire and ambition. This fierce battle caused her torment and unbearable pain.

However, as time went on, the delusion, so intense it threatened to burn, gradually took over. Like a raging fire, it devoured the last shred of rationality within Pei Qingqing. Finally, after countless struggles and hesitations, she made a decision—to use all means to capture Chen Changxiao.

From that moment on, Pei Qingqing began silently formulating detailed plans. She pondered them over and over, not missing a single detail. She meticulously analyzed every possible scenario and rehearsed them over and over again, striving to find the perfect, most likely successful plan. Only then could she achieve her long-cherished goal—to leverage Chen Changxiao's power and attain a higher, more respected status.