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

Amidst the ongoing argument, Shangguan Ting finally spoke up: "What are you afraid of? We'll meet force with force and water with water. I, Shangguan Ting, don't even consider those ungrateful and petty villains from the Qilin Pavilion. If we really make a move, you just need to protect those old, weak, women, and children to the secluded place in the mountains. My Shangguan family's personal guards will protect them to the end."

Upon hearing this, Jiuwan, the second-in-command of the mountain, said, "General, what are you saying? Are we the kind of people who are afraid of death? We are just like the old general, worried about the old, weak, women and children. Master Rong has treated us well. Now that Master Rong is not here, we must protect this safe haven that Master Rong has established for us. How can we just abandon it? Our argument is just to find a foolproof plan. The Qilin Pavilion already knows about the mountain's natural barrier. Their people are more powerful than ours. We must find another way to prevent them from causing trouble on the mountain again."

The other woman also stood up at this moment. She was slender and had a fair complexion. She said to Shangguan Ting, "Second Master is right. When Master Rong left, he entrusted the important matters in the mountains to the old general. This shows that he trusted the old general. How could we doubt that the old general would desert his post? Old general, if there is anything, please just say the word. Even if we are weak in martial arts, we will definitely do our best to protect our home."

Jiuwan immediately nodded and said, "Xiaowan is right, but please give your orders, General, to defend Riliang Mountain to the death."

"The sun hasn't even suffered any harm yet, so why are you all scrambling to be heroes? Are you tired of life on the sunlit mountain every day?"

Shangguan Tian immediately stood up and exclaimed in delight, "Yueyue!"

Everyone turned around, especially Bai Xiaowan. When she saw Jian Yue, her eyes lit up and she rushed over in an instant: "Yueyue, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

Jian Yue said, "Sister Xiao Wan is getting prettier and prettier, but why is her taste in clothes still so bad?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiaowan immediately became angry and said, "You come back and start teasing me. I'll beat you up."

Jian Yue said, "No, I can't beat you, sister. On this mountain, besides Master Rong, who else can compare to Sister Xiao Wan's heroic spirit?"

Jiuwan laughed and said, "Little Wang is right. On this mountain, apart from the Great King, there really is no one more ferocious than Xiaowan."

Xiaowan said disdainfully, "Why don't you just say I'm tough? This roundabout way of doing things isn't what you're doing."

Jian Yue shook her head and chuckled, then walked up to Shangguan Ting and bowed, saying, "Grandpa, you've worked hard."

Shangguan Ting said, "It's not hard work, it's you who's worked hard. There's chaos outside, and you've lost a lot of weight."

Jian Yue said, "You must have lost some weight these past two days because you were rushing on the road and sleeping in the open. It's alright, you'll regain it in a few days."

Xiao Wan said, "That's right, with my skills, I can make up for all of Xiao Wang's loss."

Jian Yue said helplessly, "Since Sister Hua isn't here, can't you all use a different form of address?"

The terms "Great King" and "Little King" were simply unacceptable to Jian Yue. Heaven knows why Hua Xiangrong used those two titles back then.

Aren't Master Rong and Miss Yue doing quite well together?

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiaowan smiled slyly and said, "How can that be? The King has already said that when you are not on the mountain, we call you Master Rong. When you come back, we call you King and Little King to distinguish you. If Master Rong is not here, but you are, then we should call you Little King directly. After all, you are not on the mountain for many years, and the children on the mountain do not know who you are. We must be high-profile to keep your status at the top."

Jian Yue was speechless. She didn't want to look at Bai Xiaowan again, but when she turned around to talk to Shangguan Ting, she saw her grandfather's mocking expression.

Jian Yue immediately rubbed her forehead, and Shangguan Ting said with a smile, "Alright, let's get down to business. Yue Yue, have you seen that Bai family brat since you came back this time?"

Jian Yue paused, then said, "I already know part of what happened between me and Qilin Pavilion and Riliang Mountain. Now that Riliang Mountain and Qilin Pavilion have broken up, it's natural that I've broken up with him too."

Shangguan Ting was stunned, unable to believe it was true. After all, he knew how much his granddaughter liked this man. But looking at Jian Yue, he couldn't see any other clues. He could only ask, "What exactly happened?"

Jian Yue said, "It's nothing. We're not on the same page. Besides, he's no longer the person I like. Now he has his own wife and his own goals to strive for. As for us, now that we've taken our revenge, we'll just stay here and live a good life on Riliang Mountain. We have nothing to do with him anymore."

Jian Yue spoke calmly, and Shangguan Ting said, "If you are sad, then cry."

Jian Yue smiled: "I'm not sad. The sadness disappeared the moment I chased down the Hongmeng Bridge. But there's something I need to tell you, so please don't be sad."

Shangguan Ting looked up and saw Jian Yue say, "My mother is gone."

Shangguan Ting paused, standing still. Jian Yue looked at him worriedly, not daring to continue speaking. Everyone around stopped in their tracks. Jian Yue quietly gestured to the crowd, and the others stepped back. Only then did Jian Yue walk to Shangguan Ting's side and slowly recount the events that had happened recently.

He then said, "When Mother passed away, she was smiling. I suppose she felt finally free, which is why she did that. Grandpa, you should be happy."

Shangguan Ting sighed and said, "Yes, I should be happy. She has suffered for so many years and is finally free now. It's all a debt! You know, this is what the armored soldiers are like. My ancestors never mentioned them."

Jian Yue said, "My mother gave me the seal that belonged to my maternal grandmother. I think the one that Murong Yan gave me back then wasn't the one that belonged to my maternal grandmother. We still don't know what role Murong Yan played, but I believe that everything will come to light soon."

Grandpa, don't worry. Since she's the one who took my cousin away, he'll definitely be alright. She's not a heartless person; I believe her.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ting nodded and asked, "What about Ke Rong?"

Jian Yue shook her head: "I don't know. Qilin Pavilion will definitely search for her, and we will also send people out to search. I believe there will be news eventually. I believe in Sister Hua's abilities; she will definitely be alright."

"I hope so!"

After they finished speaking, the grandfather and granddaughter had a meal that wasn't quite a family reunion. Later, Shangguan Hongwei returned after inspecting the mountain and met his niece for the first time.

After the two chatted for a while, Shangguan Hongwei, a tough and resolute man, burst into tears.

Jian Yue did not stop him from crying. After a long while, Shangguan Hongwei withdrew his tears and said, "Your mother has always been gentle and kind since she was a child. She was never arrogant or domineering and was kind to the servants. Yet she was imprisoned for more than ten years and even had Gu worms implanted in her body, making her unable to control herself. It is simply an injustice of heaven."

Jian Yue said, "Uncle, there's no need to be sad. I believe Mother is happy now, and we should continue on. Even if we can't change anything, we should still do something for Mother's sacrifice."

Shangguan Hongwei nodded: "You're right. Jianyue, just do what you're supposed to do. Your uncle and grandfather will fully cooperate with you. As for Hanque, he has his own fate. If he is really going to be hurt by the children of the Shangguan family, then it's fate. Who told me that I didn't protect my own sister back then, causing my family to be displaced?"

Jian Yue said, "Why should Uncle blame himself? What happened back then was a scheme by those villains and had nothing to do with Uncle. Now that she has appeared, although I don't know what she wants to do, if she really hurts Cousin, I will definitely not sit idly by. In any case, our positions are diametrically opposed, so I don't care if the curtain is raised now."

Shangguan Hongwei didn't say much before saying he had to leave. Shangguan Ting said, "Hongwei has always blamed himself. From beginning to end, he has taken your mother's problems upon himself. Yueyue, your uncle is right. It is indeed the Shangguan family that has wronged you and your mother. So, if in the end she really uses Han Que to threaten you, then you should abandon Han Que!"

Jian Yue frowned, about to retort, when she saw Shangguan Ting stand up, wave at her, and turn to leave.

Looking at Shangguan Ting's suddenly aged back, Jian Yue felt a pang of pity. Jia Banwen, who had been disguised as Xiao Cui, had now returned to his original appearance and walked over in his old clothes. He said, "The old general is a sensible person. He must know what he should and shouldn't do. He has left you a way out."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue scoffed, "But these escape routes are not what I've been thinking about, and he has no idea what I'm planning to do."

Jia Banwen raised an eyebrow: "So what are you going to do? Go find them directly?"

Jian Yue smiled and said, "I'm not going. I'll just wait here."

Jia Banwen said, "Waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump?"

Jian Yue said, "Of course, what he wants to do cannot be accomplished without me. Now that the arrow is on the bowstring, he will definitely come. Why should I go looking for him and give him that confidence?"

Jia Banwen burst into laughter and gave her a thumbs up: "As expected, women are just as capable as men. I feel my confidence has increased even more."

"Oh? What was the score before?"

"Only one-tenth."

Jian Yue scoffed: "You dare to urge me on with such a small amount? You've got some nerve."

Jia Banwen said helplessly, "This is just my nature. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will do whatever it takes to fight for it. So-called destiny is just someone drawing a circle for you, and you dare not take that step."

And I was the one who dared to take that step; otherwise, how could I have survived until now? I'd probably be buried with the earth long ago.

Jian Yue listened without commenting, only saying, "Actually, there's really no need for this. You and your sister have lived for so long, even if you die now, it would be a good deal. There's no need to take such a risk with me."

Jia Banwen chuckled and shook his head, saying, "You don't understand. Xingke lives to avenge his clan members, while I live to find the secret that determined our fate. Only by finding it can I give Xingke an answer."

Jian Yue asked, "Just because of this answer? Don't you think it's not worth it?"

“How could it not be worth it? I think it is very worth it. Xingke is my life. I will give her everything she wants.”

Jian Yue shook her head: "It's a pity you can't give her a complete family. You hid from her for more than 20 years so that she could live, and now you've disappeared. It's inevitable that she will be sad and heartbroken."