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

Recalling the past, Jian Yue seemed to have returned to that time.

The wolf's gratitude, Hua Xiangrong's entanglement, and Xiao Cui's protection—everything seems to be right before my eyes, but now, everything has changed.

A faint sense of loss rose in her heart. Bai Jianan stepped forward and said gently, "Don't think too much. It's not good for your health to think about unhappy things right now."

Shangguan Hanque immediately asked anxiously, "What's wrong with Yueyue?"

Bai Jianan immediately said, "It's nothing, it's just that I'm pregnant... ouch!"

After stomping on her foot hard, Jian Yue smiled and looked at Shangguan Hanque, saying, "It's nothing, cousin. I just caught a cold while I was out on business. I'll be fine in a few days."

Shangguan Hanque frowned and looked at Bai Jianan. Bai Jianan could only nod and say, despite the pain in his feet, "Yes, I caught a cold. I'll be fine in a few days. Let's hurry up and leave! It's too cold here, and there are still two patients."

Shangguan Hanque then said with relief, "In that case, go back to your own homes! Yueyue will come over for dinner later. You've been away for quite a while now, haven't you? Your grandfather must miss you very much."

Jian Yue nodded: "I will, cousin, I'll be going now."

Jian Yue lifted her leg, but Hua Xiangrong said, "Wait."

Jian Yue looked at her and said, "I'll go with you."

Shangguan Hanque immediately retorted, "Rong'er, you're not feeling well and you don't like strangers, so why don't you come with me!"

Hua Xiangrong insisted: "No, she is not a stranger."

One sentence filled Jian Yue with emotion; she and Hua Xiangrong were indeed not strangers, but family.

Smiling, Jian Yue took Hua Xiangrong's hand and said, "Okay, then Sister Hua will come with me. Cousin, don't worry, we'll be there in a bit."

Shangguan Hanque still hesitated, but seeing the unwavering look in Hua Xiangrong's eyes, he could only say, "Then I'll go with you!"

He was still worried about Hua Xiangrong leaving with Jian Yue alone; it wouldn't be good if she hurt Jian Yue.

Jian Yue smiled and said, "Brother, don't you believe me? You should believe Sister Hua too. Besides, you still need to explain to Grandpa and Uncle. Otherwise, it won't be good if something goes wrong later."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Hanque nodded after a long pause, but still asked Hua Xiangrong, "Are you sure you really want to go with Yueyue? Is there no problem?"

Hua Xiangrong nodded firmly: "I feel she is familiar, that's good, I will protect her."

Jian Yue immediately rested her head on Hua Xiangrong's shoulder and said with relief, "Sister still hasn't forgotten me. I knew it. Cousin, you go ahead, we'll be there in a bit."

Helpless, Shangguan Hanque had no choice but to leave. Jian Yue tried to leave by pulling Hua Xiangrong's hand, but Hua Xiangrong stopped her. She stared at the direction of the village entrance, raised her hand, and suddenly dozens of poisonous snakes appeared on the ground, heading towards the village entrance, saying, "Come out, or I'll bite you to death."

Jian Yue was taken aback, and then saw a figure staggering into the village entrance, chased by a swarm of snakes, looking disheveled. After looking closely, Jian Yue asked in surprise, "Why are you following me?"

Zhang Chaoyue remained silent, head bowed. Jian Yue looked at Bai Jianan, who said helplessly, "Kumu Zhang has been kind to us, so I can't just not let him come along! That's why I can only pretend I don't know. You can't think about those upsetting things right now, so I didn't tell you."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue frowned for a moment, then said absentmindedly, "Am I really that bad at being alert?"

Bai Jianan laughed and said, "It's alright if you almost did. With me protecting you, what's there to be afraid of?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Xiangrong looked Bai Jianan up and down and then at Jian Yue's belly, asking, "Is the baby in your belly his?"

puff!

Jian Yue felt that Hua Xiangrong had once again humiliated her. She could only wink at Hua Xiangrong and say, "Sister, let's not make this public. Let's talk about it in our room."

Hua Xiangrong frowned, seemingly unaware of what a boudoir was. Jian Yue had no choice but to continue, "A room, let's talk about this in the room first. Can you send these snakes back to the mountains? The people in this village are ordinary people; they'll be scared."

Hua Xiangrong nodded, her lips parted slightly, and she said something. Then the group disappeared without a trace. Zhang Chaoyue breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the snake was gone. He stepped forward and walked to Jian Yue's side, saying, "I want to follow you."

Jian Yue laughed and said, "On what grounds? On what grounds are you the son of Ku Mu Zhang?"

"No, Father said you are an extraordinary woman he has ever met. Although you are as ordinary as Sha Shuo, you live a strong and indomitable life. Such a spirit is precious. He hopes that I can live as well as you."

Jian Yue spread her hands and said, "But what does this have to do with me? Is this why you want to follow me? Or do you think his death was because of me? And you want me to compensate you?"

Besides, I'm just an ordinary person now, living a normal life. What would I need you for?

With skills like yours, you could easily join the army, at least rise to the rank of centurion, and perhaps even become a general. But here, you'd likely be a servant, a henchman, for life, never able to rise again. That's not what Zhang the Drywood Man desires.”

Zhang Chaoyue lowered his head, and Jian Yue turned to leave, but he suddenly looked up and said, "A scholar will die for one who understands him. I understand this principle. His death was not because of you, but because of General Black Wind. He told me about his relationship with General Black Wind, and I understand what he was thinking."

When he left me, I knew I would never see him again. But I don't resent him. I don't want you to compensate me. You're right, I can still become a general without you, but I don't want that.

The military camp was once my dream, but after experiencing all this, I realized that it was not what I wanted at all. Yu Fangzhou is my best friend. He said that from the moment he met you, he always hoped to stay by your side and protect you, because you are the most beautiful and strongest person he has ever met.

I don't know what he was thinking when he said those words. Maybe it was infatuation, maybe it was something else, but I saw my own heart reflected in his words. I stood there, not because I liked the place so much, nor because I wanted to make a name for myself, but because I am Zhang Kumu's son, and I hope that Shi Hehe can see him. To me, he is my lifeline in times of hardship, and even if I am punished by him every day, I am willing to endure it.

"Miss Shangguan, my father wants me to follow you. He says that if I follow you, I will never go astray. I ask for nothing else, I only ask that you let me follow you."

Jian Yue smiled slightly and asked, "Are you treating me as your future lifeline? But the way you are, it's no different from living for a dead tree. What's the point of that? Do you want to live for someone else your whole life like this?"

"No, I live for myself. What I want is for my father to always smile and say to me, 'Kid, you're not bad. You've inherited your father's talents.' So, I will do everything in my power to protect the people he wants to protect."

Jian Yue paused for a moment, and Bai Jianan stepped forward, patted Zhang Chaoyue on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "He is a man of iron will, but it is a pity that he is too young and too stubborn. If that is the case, you can follow him if you want. Anyway, she really does have such a loyal bodyguard by her side."

However, the secret guards hide in the shadows, unlike your past as a beggar. Can you bear the loneliness of that darkness?

A light suddenly appeared in Zhang Chaoyue's eyes as he looked at Jian Yue. Jian Yue shook her head helplessly and said, "If you can stand it, then you can stay. But if you can't, just tell me, and I won't try to stop you."

Zhang Chaoyue's face immediately lit up with joy, and she said confidently, "Absolutely not."

Bai Jianan nodded, quite satisfied, and said, "In that case, go to the Qilin Pavilion for special training. Being a secret guard is not easy; it all depends on your own abilities."

As he spoke, Bai Jianan handed him a token. Zhang Chaoyue looked at it, nodded, and then gave Jian Yue a deep look before turning and leaving.

Jian Yue looked at Bai Jianan and said, "You always make decisions for me. What if I disagree?"

Bai Jianan smiled and said, "You won't disagree. After all, training a child might be the best way for you to repay Kumu Zhang."

Jian Yue glared at him, then pulled Hua Xiangrong and turned to leave, scoffing, "As if you know me so well."

Bai Jianan immediately followed with a grin, shamelessly saying, "Of course I understand. Who told me to be your husband? My wife, I've already made all the preparations. When I meet my grandfather later, I'll propose to him directly, okay? I've even chosen the date—the sixteenth of next month, a very auspicious day."

Cheng Guyuan was about to follow when Bai Haitang grabbed her and said, "Why are you going to join in the fun? Go back and tidy yourself up. Look at the state you've made of these past few days!"

Cheng Guyuan blinked and said, "I went to deliver things to them. I bought a lot of things, but they're all in the car."

Bai Haitang said speechlessly, "Aren't there servants who will deliver it? You never know how to enjoy life. If you marry me, won't you become a haggard housewife? If that's the case, how can I love you for the rest of my life?"

Cheng Guyuan blushed instantly and slapped him, saying, "Who asked you to like me forever? You shameless bastard! If you don't like me, you can just ignore me! Why did you make me come here with you?"

As she spoke, Cheng Guyuan was about to leave when Bai Haitang smiled and grabbed her, saying, "But what can I do if I just like you? Do you think I have some kind of aftereffect from being beaten by you? I feel uncomfortable if I don't get a beating from you for a day."

"Yuanyuan, look, everyone else has successfully conceived. When are we going to have a wedding banquet and a ceremony? I've been waiting for so long, I'm practically bursting with impatience!"

Cheng Guyuan was immediately shocked and slapped him again, angrily saying, "Shameless, shameless! Who, who wants to marry you?"

With that, she turned and ran. Even from a great distance, you could still see her covering her face with her hands. Bai Haitang sighed, "Women, they're always saying one thing and meaning another. Oh well, keep trying, and you'll never be defeated."