After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Returning by the same route, after many stumbles and falls, the two finally made it back just as dawn was breaking.

Jiang Xiaoqi changed out of her dirty clothes, quickly treated her abrasions, and re-tied her hair.

Wenbin also rinsed himself off with well water and changed into dry clothes. He carefully hid the bundle he had brought with him under the bed.

"Young Master, how about I ask for leave for you today? You haven't slept all night and you still have bruises from the fall. How are you going to get through the day's classes?"

"No need. If we ask for leave today, Lord Jiang and Madam Jiang will definitely send someone to inquire. Let's not treat others like fools. Wealth should not be flaunted. Wenbin, you should also keep a low profile. When we return to Changshou Village, we will hand over the things to Steward Wen to handle."

After tying her hair up, Jiang Xiaoqi tugged at her sleeves to try and hide her abrasions. She glanced at the sky; she would be going to the clan school in half an hour, and there was no time for a short rest.

"Go get me two pieces of pastry to tide me over. After I leave, find something to eat yourself. You don't need to go to the canteen to get me lunch. Go catch up on your sleep. There's no need for you to stay up with me."

Jiang Xiaoqi explained as he tidied up the book basket.

Wenbin was taken aback when he heard this. He handed Jiang Xiaoqi some pastries and warm water, watched her finish eating, and then served her half a glass of water before seeing her out.

When Jiang Xiaoqi arrived at the clan school, he found that the teacher had not yet arrived, and the other classmates were whispering among themselves.

"Have you heard? Thieves broke into the Jiang residence yesterday!" Yun Muze whispered mysteriously.

"What? Did you lose something?"

"How would I know..."

Jiang Xiaoqi was startled, but she didn't show it on her face. She asked casually, "How did we end up attracting thieves?"

Someone replied, "I heard it's because the Jiang family recently acquired a batch of precious medicinal herbs, and the thieves are probably after those!"

"What? Did the thief succeed?" Jiang Xiaoqi asked, feigning surprise.

"No, not at all." The man shook his head. "It's said they ransacked the Jiang family's treasury, but they didn't take any gold or silver jewelry, though all sorts of health-preserving pills were gone! Isn't that strange?"

"Yes, it's supposed to be risky to get medicinal herbs, but the decades-old ginseng in the warehouse hasn't been touched at all. Are those health-preserving pills more precious than the ginseng?"

Yun's father was a county constable, so he was well-informed. Yun Muze and Lin Xiao also knew that Lin's father had stayed out all night to help catch the thieves.

"Who knows? But I heard that the thief doesn't seem to be an ordinary petty thief, but rather someone from the martial arts world."

Jiang Xiaoqi's heart tightened. Could it be for the beauty-enhancing pill? Feigning innocence, she said, "A martial arts expert? That's incredibly audacious, daring to steal from a high-ranking official's home. They're courting death!"

"Who says otherwise? But there's still no news. I'm afraid they haven't caught that little thief yet."

"Muze, what did your father say? Did he catch the person?"

"Ahem, my father wasn't home when I left. How would I know? I'll ask him when I get back from school. What's the rush?"

"Stop talking! The Master is here!" someone quick-witted shouted, and everyone immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

When Master Yan entered the classroom, everyone had already returned to their seats and were sitting upright, seriously grinding ink and turning the pages of their books.

Master Yan glanced at everyone, his gaze settling on Jiang Xiaoqi.

Master Yan coughed lightly, "Mingfei, you are still young. Don't overwork yourself every day when you go back. Haste makes waste. You should take care of your health first so that you can have a good future."

Jiang Xiaoqi hadn't expected the teacher to be so observant. Her dark circles betrayed that she hadn't slept all night, so she hurriedly got up and agreed.

Meanwhile, things had returned to calm at the main courtyard of the Jiang family. Madam Jiang rubbed her temples and said to her husband, "Master, do you think this might be someone from over there?"

"It's hard to say. The palace is full of intrigue and unpredictability. It's hard to say who it could be. Given the Liu family's current power, even the Empress herself wouldn't be without her own thoughts."

"Master means...it's possible?" Madam Jiang stopped speaking, not daring to continue. Walls have ears, and who could guarantee that no one else in the Jiang household was listening?

"With Consort Liu pregnant, there are now many people in and out of the palace keeping an eye on the Liu family. The Liu family is too powerful to be open about, but we in-laws are very active. Well, let's be more careful in the future."

"We absolutely mustn't involve Mingfei and her son. At worst, we can just suspend the beauty pill business until things calm down in the palace." Jiang Changqing didn't want to lose sight of the bigger picture for a small gain; Mingfei's future was more important than any material possessions.

"Yes, we'll do as you say, sir. We'll make plans for the beauty pills once things calm down in the palace. Mingfei is still young and really shouldn't get involved in these complicated matters."

Although the Liu family had secured their connections in the capital through the Beauty Pill, Liu Yuhuan understood the principle of a woman following her husband after marriage.

Having been Madame Chiang Kai-shek for over twenty years, she felt a stronger sense of belonging to the Chiang family than to the Liu family, where she had only been for a little over a decade. Besides, her son and grandson were also there.

At this point, she would naturally be clear-headed and wouldn't blindly lead the entire Jiang family forward just because her family said a few words.

"Mingfei's house has already been settled, right? I reckon that kid will bring up moving soon. Give him a proper explanation before he leaves, but you don't need to be too explicit."

"If there's anything lacking in the new house, have the servants help procure it, and the money will come from that 15,000 taels," Jiang Changqing instructed.

"I know, sir. Granny Liu will personally oversee the matter, and there won't be any mistakes. It's just that we're family. We can't get involved in the house, and Mingfei is just a child, so he won't attract any attention."

"Sigh, we've dragged Mingfei down with us. We should have paid for the house, but that would have attracted their attention instead, which would have been a loss."

"I'll trouble Mingfei for now to guard our escape route for the Liu and Jiang families. I hope we'll never have to use him in this lifetime," Jiang Changqing sighed.

“Master, the court is still relatively stable now. Is it really necessary to make such a plan? My cousin dug the secret passage during the transition between the old and new dynasties, when the court was in its most chaotic period.”

"Madam, although His Majesty the Emperor is in his prime, His Highness the Crown Prince is growing older every year. In four or five years, he will come of age and participate in court affairs. The Empress's maternal family, the Jiang family, has been fighting with the Liu family for decades..."

Jiang Changqing frowned. Only by being prepared for danger in times of peace can one achieve longevity, and the Liu family has always done a good job in this regard.

"Understood, sir. You're right. We should keep a low profile. After all, it's still uncertain whether Consort Liu's baby is a boy or a girl. If it's a princess, we can live peacefully for a few more years. But if it's a prince, we'll have to be even more vigilant in dealing with the future."

Although Liu Yuhuan lived a secluded life, her birth in the Liu family meant she was destined to be no ignorant woman. The heads of the Liu family throughout the generations had always placed great importance on the upbringing of their children.

Regardless of whether they were born of legitimate or illegitimate children, they were all raised equally in terms of knowledge and experience, which made the children of the Liu family extremely sought after in the ancient marriage market.

“I hadn’t thought that much before, but now that the children in the family are quite ambitious, our Jiang family might be able to rise in the future, not to mention…”

"What?" Liu Yuhuan pressed.

"Besides, being young has its advantages," Jiang Changqing said meaningfully.

Liu Yuhuan didn't know if her master was referring to Mingfei or someone else. Being young has its advantages.

Yes, when the children are grown up, but the father is still young and vigorous, how can he not have suspicions?

Compared to the eldest son who could seize power at any time, I feel more at ease with my younger son.