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

The remains of the Marquis of Jiaxing were buried atop the picturesque Camel Peak in the northern suburbs of the capital.

The mountains here are towering, surrounded by clear waters, and the scenery is so beautiful that it is like a fairyland on earth.

The presiding officer solemnly announced, "The ceremony is complete."

The burial ceremony for the Marquis of Jiaxing has finally come to a successful conclusion.

Jiang Huaiyu needed to hurry back to the Marquis's residence to prepare for the endless stream of dignitaries from the capital who came to offer their condolences.

The marquis's burial ceremony was complicated and lengthy, but given the unbearable heat, it was decided to bury his body ahead of schedule.

Wei Dinglian's body only returned to the capital from afar yesterday, and today is the official day of his funeral. The mourning hall in the Marquis's residence will remain open for seven days and seven nights before it can be removed.

In his previous life, Wei Fengyun openly brought a woman from a brothel to the funeral, causing Jiang Huaiyu to lose face in front of many nobles in the capital and tarnishing the reputation of the Marquis of Jiaxing.

At the funeral, the ladies from the noble families who had a long-standing feud with the Marquis of Jiaxing's family all spoke coldly and sarcasticly to Jiang Huaiyu.

Originally, the Jiaxing Marquis's mansion only had the Jiaxing Marquis as its sole pillar, and none of the other sons were able to hold important positions.

Now that the Marquis of Jiaxing has passed away, his heir is an incompetent fool.

Rumors were circulating throughout the capital that the Jiaxing Marquis's mansion was on the verge of decline.

Just as the rumors said, not long after, the once illustrious Jiaxing Marquis's Mansion fell into a deep abyss of decline.

Neither in the imperial court nor within the family, there were no longer any clansmen holding official positions. As for the family fortune, it had been squandered by Wei Fengyun, leaving the family in a state of financial ruin, to the point that the Jiaxing Marquis's mansion was nothing more than an empty shell.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Huaiyu's gaze fell solemnly on the taciturn Wei Fengyun.

The death of the Marquis of Jiaxing was a heavy blow to her, but the son born to his concubine whom he had raised for fourteen years on the frontier was an even heavier blow to her.

In my past life, it was because I was too fond of him and too indulgent that the Marquis's mansion declined.

In this life, Jiang Huaiyu was determined to help Wei Fengyun grow up strong and shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the Marquis's mansion.

"Feng Yun".

Jiang Huaiyu's voice suddenly trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. Wei Fengyun turned his head, looked at the sorrowful Jiang Huaiyu, and felt a slight stirring in his heart.

Jiang Huaiyu knew that Wei Fengyun was essentially a kind-hearted, filial, and sensible child, but he had gone astray due to a lack of proper guidance.

"Mother, please don't cry."

Wei Fengyun awkwardly tried to comfort Jiang Huaiyu, but didn't know what to do.

Jiang Huaiyu gently wiped away her tears. She understood that the key to her son's growth was to make him feel needed, thereby inspiring his sense of responsibility.

In his past life, it was because she was too domineering that Wei Fengyun had to rely on her for everything.

“Your father has passed away, and I have lost my support. As a frail woman, it is unimaginable how difficult it is to shoulder such a large mansion on my own.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Fengyun felt an immediate surge of protectiveness.

“Mother, I have grown into a strong and upright man, and I am capable of protecting you. From now on, I will be your solid support.”

Jiang Huaiyu choked up.

"When your father was alive, he was the mighty General Who Pacifies the South, commanding 300,000 troops. No one dared to defer to the Marquis of Jiaxing. However, since your father's passing, we have lost our military power. Although we still hold the title of Marquis, it is merely a name without substance. Those who once fawned over us are now probably mocking us and spreading rumors about us behind our backs."

Seeing Jiang Huaiyu's worried expression, Wei Fengyun vowed firmly, "Mother, rest assured, although Father has passed away, my family is still a prominent Marquis's mansion. Once I inherit the title of Marquis, anyone who dares to look down on us will be beaten to a pulp."

"Feng Yun, you have killed someone. Doesn't the Dali Temple bring you to justice? What will you do if you encounter an opponent you cannot defeat?"

Wei Fengyun scratched the back of his head, speechless.

Jiang Huaiyu sighed and slowly said, "Look at the Lady of Jing'an Marquis. As the wife of a marquis, she holds a noble position, but at the Apricot Blossom Banquet held by the Empress, she was extremely humble and spoke gently to the Lady of Changning Earl. The reason for this is that the Marquis of Jing'an is incompetent, holds no official position, and has no authority whatsoever."

In contrast, the Earl of Changning, as the Minister of War, a second-rank official, wielded immense power and was naturally respected by all; everyone who met him had to show him deference. Now, with your father passing away, our Jiaxing Marquis's mansion will likely follow in the footsteps of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion.”

After saying that, she sobbed again, and tears silently slid down her cheeks.

The wheels rolled slowly and solemnly, and soon they arrived at the Jiaxing Marquis's residence.

Inside the mansion, Jiang Huaiyu, along with her sons Wei Fengyun, Wei Fenghui, and Wei Fengyao, dressed in mourning clothes and with sorrowful expressions, welcomed a steady stream of guests who came to pay their respects in the solemnly decorated mourning hall.

After paying their respects, the guests moved to the tea and snack area, where they sat or stood and chatted amongst themselves.

At this moment, an elderly woman, dressed in gorgeous clothes and exuding a noble air, holding a dragon-headed cane and carefully supported by two maids, slowly entered everyone's sight.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Huaiyu hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully bowed, saying, "Greetings, Madam."

This old woman was none other than the mother of the powerful Duke of Jin, Lady Chao.

Grandma Chao gently patted Jiang Huaiyu's hand, her eyes filled with genuine sorrow, and said regretfully, "It is truly heartbreaking that Western Wei has lost an outstanding general who was both wise and brave, and who protected the country."

Old Lady Chao's husband, the previous Duke of Jin, was a founding hero who accompanied the current emperor in expanding the territory and making outstanding military achievements. The current Duke of Jin is now the prime minister, a first-rank official, and the Duke of Jin's family is at the pinnacle of power.

The matriarch of the Chao family was also a legend. In her youth, she fought alongside her husband on the battlefield. In her old age, when faced with unworthy descendants, she once brandished a knife and was about to kill her rebellious son, which caused a sensation in the capital and made the nobles even more respectful of her.

Hearing Old Madam Chao praise her husband so highly, Jiang Huaiyu felt a surge of warmth in her heart and hurriedly guided her, "Old Madam, please rest here."

Before he finished speaking, two more elegant and graceful middle-aged women arrived together. They were Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Changtai, and Lady Pei, the wife of the Marquis of Jing'an.

Among the nobles and officials in the capital, the highest rank has always been one duke, three marquises, and five earls.

The three marquisates of Changtai, Jing'an, and Jiaxing each had their own unique status and prestige.

In the past, Wei Dinglian dominated a region, commanding 100,000 soldiers. His power was so great that the other two major families could not even dream of matching him, and they were always at a disadvantage.

However, with Wei Dinglian's passing, those two families finally broke free from their dependence on him and no longer needed to defer to the Jiaxing Marquis's household. They couldn't wait to come and bully him to vent their hatred.

Originally, the wives of Marquis Changtai and Marquis Jing'an planned to make sarcastic remarks about Jiang Huaiyu at the funeral. However, when they saw Jiang Huaiyu talking calmly with Old Madam Chao, as if he didn't even notice their presence, they were surprised.