The Crown Princess calculated with her fingers and the prince was terrified.

But when she lifted the carriage curtain, her face was deathly pale. She staggered a couple of steps and fell to the ground.

Then came a deafening scream.

"Dead...dead man!"

Jiang Ruyan never expected that the corpses lying haphazardly inside the carriage would appear so brazenly in front of her, which terrified her.

Could it be that Jiang Xianyue was played to death?

Inside the luxurious carriage, Jiang Xianyue observed everything.

She turned around and met Shen Shijing's scrutinizing gaze. Jiang Xianyue had already changed into dry clothes, which, though simple, were no longer dirty.

"This Vice Minister's residence is really lively!"

Indeed, Jiang Ruyan did the same thing in her previous life. She subdued several old women, but they coexisted peacefully with Jiang Ruyan and she was too lazy to cause trouble.

This life is different.

The truckload of corpses was a warning to Jiang Ruyan. In her past life, she had never taken Jiang Ruyan seriously, which led to Jiang Ruyan seducing Shen Qinglan and then helping Shen Qinglan plot against her. Jiang Xianyue helped Shen Qinglan seize everything, thinking she had achieved her goal, but she never expected that the person she trusted would stab her in the back.

In her past life, she wasn't exactly in love, but she never understood until her death, vowing that if she had the chance, she would make those who betrayed her die a violent death.

It wasn't until Shen Shijing died in front of him that the feeling of heart-wrenching pain came too late.

"Shen Shijing, don't worry, you will definitely win this time!"

She was lost in thought, muttering to herself, before lifting the carriage curtain and heading towards the Vice Minister's residence.

"Your Highness, I will see you at the palace banquet in three days!"

Watching Jiang Xianyue's retreating figure, Shen Shijing was filled with thoughts. Could it be that she had returned as well? Otherwise, how could she be different from her previous life?

Thinking of this, Shen Shijing smiled self-deprecatingly.

In her past life, Jiang Xianyue brought death upon herself. He warned her many times, but she still insisted on going her own way. She was capable and intelligent. If she were to return, she would surely help Shen Qinglan in advance.

How come he's already decided to stop interfering in Jiang Xianyue's affairs, yet he's still thinking about her decision?

This time, it was just a favor I was doing.

……

As the carriage drove away, Jiang Xianyue walked into the group of people.

The Jiang family members were already terrified and at a loss because of the truckload of corpses.

Jiang Xianyue asked Shen Shijing to do this, under the guise of saving him, so that he would capture all the old women and men, kill them all, and give the Jiang family a big gift.

Jiang Xian Yue is back. She will not let any of the scheming from her past life go unpunished. Because Jiang Ru Yan killed her, she will not continue to punish her lightly. She will make the Jiang family pay the price for this pampered girl's death.

Aside from her indulgence towards Shen Shijing, Jiang Xianyue harbors absolutely no feelings in this life. Perhaps in her past life, she wasn't ruthless because of familial affection; she's no longer capable of serving him.

At this moment, the Jiang family guessed that something must have happened to the person who went to pick up Jiang Xianyue, and that Jiang Xianyue and the old women had all died and were sent back like this.

Jiang Yu slapped his thigh: "It's over, it's all over, His Majesty still wants to see Jiang Xianyue."

Qin Yu's icy gaze fell on Jiang Ruyan's face, and he whispered, "Didn't I tell you to punish them a little as a warning? You killed them all, how will your father explain himself?"

The commotion was so great that it attracted a crowd, and the matter quickly spread outside.

It wasn't until the coroner arrived and moved the body aside that Jiang Xian Yue was found; there were two women and three men.

The coroner loudly reported: "Your Excellency, there were three men and two women in this carriage. One man had a neck wound, and the other four died from a sharp blade, all fatally with a single, clean stab... They have been dead for over a day."

Chaos reigned outside the Jiang residence, but Jiang Xian Yue, who arrived later, overheard everything and felt secretly pleased with herself. "Dead for a day"—that was yesterday, when Shen Shi Jing had already taken action, yet insisted on acting indifferent.

How come Jiang Xian Yue hadn't noticed before that this person was actually so arrogant?

"this!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu's expression changed drastically.

When the eldest daughter returned, a murder occurred in the mansion. The maid sent to handle the matter was dead, and Jiang Xianyue's fate was unknown. It should be noted that the emperor had invited Jiang Xianyue to the palace banquet. If Jiang Xianyue did not show up, the Jiang family's wealth and glory would be ruined.

Jiang Yu turned around and slapped Qin Yu across the face.

"These are the people you sent to pick up Xian Yue. How could this happen? Are you trying to kill us?!"

Qin Yu felt wronged, but she endured it all for her daughter's sake.

In her past life, on the day she returned, Jiang Ruyan was still mocking and saying all sorts of bad things to her, making her the target of others' criticism. Even though Jiang Xianyue immediately taught her a lesson, it was nothing like this life, where Jiang Ruyan was trembling with fear even before she appeared.

Having watched the excitement to her heart's content, Jiang Xianyue walked over and patted Jiang Ruyan on the shoulder.

"Father, your daughter is back! What's all this commotion!"

Although Jiang Xianyue was dressed in light white clothes and looked very elegant, she did not look tired or weary at all. Compared to her previous life when she was rushing around, she was much more refreshed.

"You are... Xuan Yue?"

Everyone assumed that Jiang Xianyue, having been sent to the mountains and raised in such a place, would be an uncultured country girl. However, Jiang Xianyue had been a prince's consort in her previous life, so her demeanor was naturally extraordinary.

Moreover, she came down the mountain specifically to face a love tribulation.

She had no interest in the mundane things of the capital.

In her past life, everyone thought Jiang Xian Yue grew up in poverty and had never seen anything good. In fact, on Wanggu Mountain, the old man was in seclusion and never went out. She loved money and fun, and often helped people solve their problems.

Selling talismans, consulting feng shui, and helping to catch ghosts—she's a dignified little fairy from Wanggu Mountain, so naturally she's amassed quite a fortune. She even subsidized a lot of the money her scumbag husband Shen Qinglan needed to rise to power in his previous life.

In short, she was neither poor nor unsophisticated, but Qin Yu and Jiang Ruyan were so angry they couldn't express their feelings.

"I am Jiang Xianyue!"

Jiang Xianyue spoke calmly.

"Didn't your mother send someone to pick you up? Why did you come back by yourself?"

Jiang Xianyue glanced at Qin Yu.

"Mother?"

"So Father was referring to Consort Qin? I thought the dead had come back to life?"

Qin Yu hesitated, his face grim.

“Father, speaking of which, the old woman sent by Aunt Qin is quite strange. She was mingling with three servants at night, and the scene was so lewd that I felt disgusted, so I hired a carriage to come back myself.”

I wonder why my father called me back?

"Is it because you've had a change of heart and want me to take back my mother's dowry?"

Jiang Xianyue spoke, and even Jiang Yu's expression turned ugly.

Jiang Yu: "All these years have passed, that money has long been..."

"Father has forgotten that I live on Wanggu Mountain and rely on the Taoist temple there for support. I have no money to spend. Could it be that the money you gave me has been embezzled?"

Jiang Yu was at a loss for words, unsure whether to give it or not.

"Sister, you really are a product of your upbringing in the mountains. You've been so rude. Now that you're in the capital, you'd better learn proper manners. The most important thing for us women is to obey our fathers at home and our husbands after marriage."

My sister only talks about money; she has absolutely no gratitude.

Jiang Xianyue raised her hand and slapped Jiang Ruyan across the face.

Jiang Xianyue continued to be arrogant and treat everyone equally in Chuangfei.

"Where did this wretch come from, daring to interrupt when I'm talking to my father?"

Jiang Ruyan, it's been over ten years since I last saw you, and you've grown even more graceful and beautiful. It seems that Father has treated you well while I was away.

It's good to have a father's love, but if your fatherly love came from my mother's dowry, I would skin you alive and sell you to get back the money my mother left behind.

I didn't know your skinny, frail body seemed worthless.

"Jiang Xianyue, how dare you! You ill-mannered girl, how can you speak to your younger sister like that!"

Jiang Yu looked at everyone and couldn't help but reprimand them.

“A concubine’s daughter is born out of wedlock and is no different from a maid. Now that I, the young lady, have returned, what can I do if I want to sell her off?”

If Father doesn't approve, I'll go back to Wanggushan.

I'm just worried that my father won't be able to explain himself to the Emperor at the palace banquet. After all, my mother's reputation is far more valuable than my father's position as a high-ranking official!

Jiang Yu, you, you, you can't even utter a single word of refutation.

If things had been the same in his previous life, Jiang Yu would have made his move long ago. Although he wouldn't gain any advantage, he wouldn't let Jiang Xuan Yue have an easy time either.

In this life, when Jiang Xian Yue brought up the palace banquet, Jiang Yu actually backed down.

"If Father doesn't want to discipline me, I'll go inside and rest."

Jiang Xianyue lifted her skirt and walked inside. She was still injured and needed to rest.

Just as Jiang Xianyue was about to return, another carriage arrived.

The luxurious decorations prove that the carriage owner is no ordinary person.

She had ridden in this carriage countless times before; it belonged to the current Second Prince, Shen Qinglan…

In their past life, they clearly met for the first time at a palace banquet, so why did Shen Qinglan arrive at this time?