The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

Upon returning to the princess's residence, Zang Feng went straight to Bai Jianan's study. At that moment, only Bai Jianan was in the study, leaning back in his armchair with a furrowed brow, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing this, Zang Feng chuckled and teased, "What? The old general doesn't think much of you?"

Bai Jianan rolled his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling, and said, "When fellow disciples meet, are you going to see them off for ten miles if they don't come?"

Zang Feng paused, then smiled helplessly and said, "It's good enough if we don't fight each other from ten miles away, let alone see you off? You're overthinking it."

Bai Jianan glanced at Zang Feng and asked, "It seems you didn't get anything out of him, otherwise he wouldn't be in such a dead state."

Zang Feng raised an eyebrow: "Even looking like this, I'm still much better off than you are now, right? What's wrong? Can't find a wife?"

Bai Jianan, his sore spot hit, slumped into his chair with a look of utter despair and sighed, "No, it's just that my look angered the old man. I guess my grand plan to get a wife is going to be a struggle."

Thinking back to when Shangguan Ting passed by the mansion, he wasn't even allowed to see the person before being taken directly to the princess's mother's place. When they left, they didn't even allow him to exchange glances, as if being chased by a ghost, urging Jian Yue to get into the carriage and being pulled straight to the general's mansion. His heart was in turmoil. He felt that if he didn't do something to please this maternal grandfather, he would never be able to marry his own wife.

Thinking it over, he suddenly stood up: "No, I have to go and investigate."

Zang Feng was taken aback, then saw Bai Jianan somersault over the table and dash out of the study, looking as if he were about to start a fight. Zang Feng shook his head and sighed, "Do heroes and cowards all become idiots when they encounter love?"

"Grandfather, are you really not going to see Mother?"

At the General's Mansion, Jian Yue followed Shangguan Ting to his residence, feeling very puzzled. Bai Jianan had used the excuse of the Princess's invitation to send Shangguan Ting to the Princess's residence. Afterwards, the Princess told Shangguan Ting what she knew.

Jian Yue listened from the side, her eyes filled with surprise. She never expected that Shangguan Linglong had actually been on good terms with the princess back then, and had even placed some clues on the princess's side.

The eldest princess handed Shangguan Ting the things that Shangguan Linglong had entrusted to her years ago, and sighed, "She instructed me to give this robe to you back then, without saying anything, only that it was a surprise for you."

She disappeared suddenly after giving this to me, and I wanted to give this robe to you, but I didn't expect that you would be so busy looking for Linglong, and I was delayed because Nan'er didn't stay in the capital for long.

Then, I wanted to give this to you to find out her whereabouts, but I never imagined that I hadn't been to the capital for over a decade, which had delayed me until now.

Shangguan Ting took the robe, his eyes glistening with tears. He bowed to the princess and said, "This old minister thanks the princess for preserving it for so many years. As long as the princess keeps this, she will not have wronged this old minister, nor will she have wronged Linglong."

He solemnly placed the robe in Jian Yue's hands, thanked Murong Yan, and then took his leave without saying a word. Once they arrived at the General's Mansion, he directly pulled Jian Yue back to his room.

Jian Yue didn't understand what was wrong with Shangguan Ting. It wasn't until she arrived at Shangguan Ting's room that she understood why Shangguan Linglong had left that robe with the Princess.

Shangguan Ting shook his head and said, "Let's not see her for now. If we do, she won't be able to handle it."

Shangguan Ting sighed as he spoke, his eyes fixed on the robe he had already torn apart, his hand gently resting on it with deep longing.

Jian Yue glanced at Shangguan Ting, then at the jade seal, about the size of a fingernail, that Shangguan Ting had shoved into her hand, and continued, "She once advised me to give up my hatred and live a good life with the young master."

Shangguan Ting nodded: "That's just her style. She always thinks of others' well-being and takes all the blame upon herself. Sometimes I think to myself, if she were a man, my Shangguan family wouldn't be in this state today."

Yueyue, you're just like your mother, always bearing everything on your own. So, your maternal grandfather won't say much, but I just want to tell you that your maternal grandfather is old and can't keep up with everything anymore. Your uncle and cousin are both reckless and brainless, but even so, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, and the Shangguan family will still be your strong support.

"I know, Grandfather, don't worry."

Jian Yue nodded and reached out to hug the frail old man.

In fact, Shangguan Ting is not old, only just over fifty. However, after experiencing the death of his family members and the mysterious disappearance of his daughter, he is now riddled with wounds, physically and mentally exhausted, and can no longer hold the gun in his hand.

Ke Jianyue understood that as long as she said a word, the Shangguan family would come out in full force, even if it was like throwing an egg against a rock, they would use their unique methods to fight for her.

Wasn't this how it was in my past life?

Jian Yue smiled, the tears in her eyes gradually drying and turning into a warm current that gathered into the vast ocean within her body.

In this lifetime, she will never go back to her old ways. The Shangguan family will definitely be alright.

"Alright, I'm fine. You should go and get some rest too. I've already had someone clean up your mother's old room. Everything in it is exactly what she liked, nothing has changed. You must be tired after a long day, go and rest!"

Jian Yue nodded and was about to leave when Shangguan Ting called her back, saying, "By the way, Yueyue, what exactly do you think of that young master?"

Jian Yue was taken aback and turned to look at Shangguan Ting with a puzzled look in her eyes. Shangguan Ting sighed and said, "Back then, your mother and that illegitimate son of the Qiu family were in love, and I supported them. Unfortunately, she was still harmed because she misjudged people. So, I thought that if you really like him, you might as well observe him for a while longer. It's better than ending up like your mother."

He was scared, truly scared. In his old age, he had finally gotten his lost daughter back and had a granddaughter. He really didn't want to experience the catastrophe of sixteen years ago again.

Jian Yue smiled and said, "Grandpa, I am not Niang Qing, and Bai Jianan is not Qiu Zhennan, so I will be fine. You will see me get married, see me have children, and be surrounded by your children and grandchildren."

"That's good, that's good."

Shangguan Ting nodded and waved his hand. Jian Yue then turned and left. After walking out of the room, she tightly clenched the seal in her palm, took a deep breath, and then followed the guards waiting at the door to Shangguan Linglong's room.

The guard led Jian Yue to Shangguan Linglong's room and said, "Miss, this is your room. For the past sixteen years, the master has ordered people to come and clean it every day. The furnishings inside have not changed at all; they are all the ones you used before. If there is anything missing, please just let me know. I am nearby. Just call out to me, and I will hear you."

Jian Yue nodded, then asked, "Thank you for your trouble. But aren't there any maids in this mansion?"

Upon hearing this, the guard chuckled and scratched his head, saying, "There used to be maids, but ever since Miss disappeared and her personal maid was found dead in a muddy pond outside the city, there have been no maids in this mansion. They are all guards who know martial arts, directly transferred from the young master's command."

Jian Yue understood and nodded, saying, "Thank you. I'll call you if anything comes up."

The guard nodded, and Jian Yue opened the door and went in. Looking at the furnishings inside, Jian Yue felt that her heart had finally found its home.

This was where her mother used to live. The furnishings inside were old, but they still had a familiar feel to them. She walked to the dressing table, picked up the camphor wood comb, and tears welled up in her eyes.

In her past life, after learning that her mother had left the Qiu family and returned to the Shangguan family, she never thought of seeing her mother again. In fact, she avoided her mother as much as possible because of the hurt her mother had caused her in the past.

How heartbroken her mother must have been to send her a comb that was broken in two. Isn't that broken comb the one right in front of us?

Presumably, her mother had already sensed that something was wrong with Murong Chuan, which is why she used this broken comb to warn her. However, she simply threw the comb away without even glancing at it a second time.

The Shangguan family was only treated kindly by Murong Chuan because of his constant attention to her, and she even drove the Shangguan family onto Murong Chuan's ship. In the end, the person in charge ran away, and the ship capsized.

She suddenly grabbed the comb, and Jian Yue's gaze sharpened abruptly. Her eyes were deep and unfathomable as she stared ahead, a hint of blood red tinged within them. A faint smile played on her lips, yet she was as alluring as a man-eating flower.

"Murong Chuan, you owe me what you owe me, it's time to pay me back!"

It is said that Bai Jianan sneaked into the general's mansion, wanting to find Jian Yue to confide his longing. However, he had previously disguised himself as a playboy and only associated with other playboys in the capital. The only places he had been to were the homes of those playboys. This was his first time visiting the Shangguan mansion, and he had to sneak in secretly.

The Shangguan residence was heavily guarded, unlike the homes of other playboys. Especially since he had never been there before, wave after wave of guards passed by him. Bai Jianan pondered Jian Yue's exact location and, observing the direction the guards were moving, soon figured out where Jian Yue lived.

However, the closer they got to Jian Yue's residence, the more guards they encountered. Although Bai Jianan was highly skilled in martial arts, he was not so easily fooled. He frowned and fidgeted in the tree for a while. When they reached a place without trees, he could only hide on the roof and wait for this wave of guards to pass.

"Miss, dinner is ready."

Upon hearing the voice, Bai Jianan looked in that direction and saw a guard holding a tray, waiting at the door of a room. After he finished speaking, there was a sound from inside the door, and then the door opened, and Jian Yue appeared before him, smiling as she said to the guard, "Thank you for your trouble."

The guard smiled shyly and said, "It's my pleasure, Miss."

Jian Yue returned to her room and closed the door. The guards then retreated to the side, but remained stationed at a distance from the door, as strictly as sentries in the army.

Bai Jianan frowned, glanced at the demotion, turned around, flew onto the roof, lifted the tiles off Jian Yue's roof, and sneaked inside.