Lady Hou is reborn and, by pampering her illegitimate son, reclaims her life of wealth and privilege

Jiang Huaiyu held her son tightly in her arms, refusing to let go even slightly. "Tell your mother what that flag officer's name is."

Left with no other choice, Wei Fengyun had to tell the truth: "His name is Mai Yuxi."

"Mai Yuxi?"

Upon hearing this name, Jiang Huaiyu's eyes immediately lit up. "Is it Mai Yuxi, the once all-powerful heir of the Marquis of Changtai?"

Wei Fengyun looked blank and shook his head slightly. "I know nothing about his identity, and we've never crossed paths before."

A fierce glint flashed in Jiang Huaiyu's eyes. Recalling the significant losses suffered by the Changtai Marquis's estate a few days ago, his anger was even more difficult to quell.

At this moment, Wei Ruoyi and Cuiying also rushed to Jinghong Garden. Wei Ruoyi quickly stepped forward and gently took Jiang Huaiyu's arm, "Madam, let the young master clean himself up first."

Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly, took out a handkerchief to gently wipe away the tears on her face, and turned to Liusu, the head maid beside Wei Fengyun, and instructed, "Go and serve the young master his bath."

After saying that, she led Wei Ruoyi and the others away from Jinghong Garden and back to Moyou Hall.

Outside the Marquis's residence, a woman dressed in purple stood with her maid, Mengqin. Mengqin asked curiously, "Miss, was that person just now perhaps the young master of the Marquis's residence?"

The woman in purple nodded slightly. "Perhaps so, otherwise how could a simpleton from an ordinary family enter the Sword Subduing Division?"

Mengqin asked doubtfully, "Should we still meddle in other people's business?"

The woman in purple frowned slightly, her expression showing displeasure. "I've already said it before: do good deeds and accumulate virtue. If you continue to spout nonsense, be careful I'll let you taste the effects of itching powder."

Upon hearing this, Mengqin shrank back, knowing full well the power of itching powder, which could make people itch to the point of death. However, she felt that her mistress would not treat her like this, so she muttered, "He is the son of a marquis, how can he be pitied in the slightest? Even if he is stupid, he is still much better than an ordinary person."

The woman in purple recalled his tall, imposing figure and bronze skin when she first met him, so much like her father. However, what she couldn't forget most were his clear, doe-like eyes, so innocent and pure, unlike anything she had ever seen before.

A strong protective instinct surged within her, making her want to help him and cure his illness. However, she still didn't know who he was, or which young master from the Marquis's mansion he was.

In the bustling capital, the reputation of the Marquis of Jiaxing was as high as the midday sun, its fame resounding far and wide. Its eldest son, Wei Fenghui, had just won the top scholar title in this imperial examination, receiving the prestigious title of a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, his future seemingly limitless, and he was hailed as a pillar of the nation. Meanwhile, the third son was also highly favored by the eldest princess, serving as a fourth-rank Sima in her residence, commanding her elite guard.

However, the Marquis's heir remained relatively unknown, leading some to wonder if the person who had just been there was indeed the Marquis's heir. After all, there had never been a rumor that the Marquis's heir was a fool.

“Miss, let’s go. If the Divine Physician returns from the palace and can’t find you, I will be punished again.” Jingfan accompanied the Emperor in the palace during the day and returned to her residence outside the palace at night. This was a residence specially arranged for her by Emperor Erkang.

The woman in purple was none other than Jing Fan's prized student, the daughter of the King of Shu, Princess Xin Yi Fei Xue. Meng Qin, on the other hand, was a medicine person trained by Jing Fan from a young age. She was immune to all poisons, highly skilled in martial arts, and dedicated to protecting Xin Yi Fei Xue.

Whenever Princess Feixue made a mistake, Jingfan would punish Mengqin by making her suffer from the bites of poisonous insects. Thinking of the pain Mengqin was about to endure, Xinyi Feixue couldn't help but feel sorry for her and decided to treat Wei Fengyun first before taking Mengqin back to the mansion.

……

Inside Moyou Hall, Jiang Huaiyu summoned Steward Zheng.

“Mai Yufeng’s body is barely cold, and Mai Yuxi has arrived in quick succession. It seems that the influence of the Marquis of Changtai’s mansion in the Fujian Division is not to be underestimated. Their people are being sent here one after another like a revolving lantern.” Steward Zheng clasped his hands and said in a deep voice, “Madam, as far as I know, the brother of the Lady of Jing’an Marquis is a commander of the Fujian Division.”

Jiang Huaiyu raised an eyebrow slightly and asked in confusion, "Are you saying that Mai Yuxi was able to enter the Fujian Division and even directly obtain the position of captain because of the influence of that Commander Liu?"

Butler Zheng nodded, confirming her guess.

Jiang Huaiyu's doubts deepened: "But why would the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion help the Changtai Marquis's Mansion?"

"I suspect that Mai Yufeng did what he did before to help the second young master of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion take revenge," she said thoughtfully.

Indeed, the second young master of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion lost his leg because of Jiang Huaiyu, and Wei Fengyun was working in the Fujian Division. So he found Mai Yufeng through the Changtai Marquis's mansion, trying to frame Wei Fengyun, but he was exposed in the end, and Mai Yufeng was executed as a result.

In the powerful Changtai Marquis's mansion, anyone who crossed their bottom line would inevitably cause a huge uproar. Therefore, when the Jing'an Marquis's mansion caused the death of a junior officer's nephew from the Changtai Marquis's mansion over a trivial matter, they naturally wouldn't let it go easily. This position of captain was clearly a form of compensation that the Jing'an Marquis's mansion had to make.

Jiang Huaiyu gave a contemptuous sneer, her eyes revealing undisguised anger: "This person is truly shameless. One has a broken leg, and the other has lost his life, yet it's not enough to teach them a lesson or make them behave themselves. They actually dared to offend me and touch my child."

Although the punishment of cleaning the latrine for Wei Fengyun seemed minor, merely a slight harassment within his authority, even if Jiang Huaiyu was dissatisfied and wanted to settle scores or even take it to the Sword-Binding Division, he would find it difficult to gain the upper hand. Even if Yao Dingtian, the commander of the Sword-Binding Division, learned of this, his punishment of Mai Yuxi would not be too severe, at most a slight reprimand.

However, Jiang Huaiyu was notorious for his vindictive nature; his reputation for being mean and ruthless in his previous life was built up little by little.

"Is it reasonable for Mai Yuxi to be appointed as the captain as soon as he joined the Fujian Division?" the questioner asked.

Steward Zheng pondered for a moment and replied, "It's both reasonable and unreasonable. The Fujian Division has a special status and does indeed give preferential treatment to the sons of noble families; this is an unspoken rule. But even so, one must pass the Fujian Division's rigorous examinations, and usually starts as a captain. To be promoted, one must make outstanding military achievements or receive special favors from the emperor."

"The question is, what exactly are Mai Yuxi's achievements that allowed him to be promoted to the rank of Captain as soon as he entered the Fujian Division?"

Jiang Huaiyu's face turned ashen, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "Do you remember Commander Xie? He helped us clear the young master's name last time, and we haven't had a chance to thank him in person yet. It just so happens that Feng Hui's top scholar banquet is in a few days. Steward Zheng, you go and deliver an invitation to Commander Xie yourself."

After a brief pause, he summoned Granny Wu and said, "I remember there is a pair of exquisite glass jade cups in the private treasury. Have Steward Zheng take them and send them to Commander Xie."

"As ordered."

Inside the Jinghong Garden, Liusu was carefully undressing Wei Fengyun and bathing him. The warm water exuded a faint fragrance, making it feel like being in a fairyland.