The beloved is reborn as a substitute, and the tyrant begs for forgiveness every night.

"Snapped!"

Xu Leyao rushed forward and slapped her hard across the face.

Jiang Xiuxiu was spoiled and had never been hit before. Caught off guard, she fell to the ground.

Xu Leyao rubbed her slightly red and swollen hands, and gave a cold snort:

"How dare some bastard from who-knows-where yell at the young lady of the Marquis's mansion?"

Jiang Xiuxiu glared at Xu Leyao with tears in her eyes, her eyes filled with resentment.

"You're the bastard! I was living a perfectly good life in the Marquis's mansion, it was you who stole everything from me!"

Xu Leyao laughed in anger, looking mockingly at the beautiful woman who was standing dumbfounded at the door.

"You're right. After all, my father didn't love me and my mother didn't care for me. I fend for myself in the countryside for thirteen years. When I came to this cannibalistic capital, I was forced to the point where I couldn't survive."

So, it turns out I'm the bastard child all along.

She looked dazed, her eyes filled with sorrow, gazing regretfully into the distance.

Jiang's mother felt a sharp pang in her heart.

"How could that be, Weiwei? How could you think that? You are still your mother's own flesh and blood, it's just that Xiuxiu..."

Xu Leyao coldly interrupted her:

"You know you're my mother, right? So besides giving birth to me, what else have you done for me? Did you accompany me shopping for clothes, or did you help me with my studies and embroidery?"

Or perhaps she would do what any ordinary mother would do: protect her child when she is wronged?

Jiang's mother was deathly pale, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

Xu Leyao glanced at the swaying Jiang's mother and pointed to the small mountain of rocks.

"But you're completely open with this imposter. Do you know why your own child was abandoned thousands of miles away back then, while this bastard from who-knows-where was raised by you?"

Li Shushu, you're so stupid you don't even realize it!

Jiang's mother could no longer bear it, pressed her chest, and collapsed to the ground.

Just then, Zhu'er brought over some fire, and Xu Leyao grabbed Jiang Xiuxiu, threw her aside, and then tossed the fire towards the pile of things.

Soon flames soared into the sky. Jiang Xiuxiu tried to rush over to help, but was held down firmly by a strong maid.

She cried until her voice was hoarse, and Xu Leyao, annoyed, picked up a piece of cloth and stuffed it into her mouth.

Little girl, all of these belong to you, and now your sister is burning them all for you.

Did you receive it?

Suddenly, a leaf floated up from the sky, passed in front of Xu Leyao, spun around several times, and then slowly drifted away into the distance.

Xu Leyao seemed to hear the girl's bright voice:

"Thank you for the birthday gift, sister!"

I'm leaving now. Sister, I hope you'll be happy too!

Xu Leyao waved her hand in the air.

As if sensing something, Jiang's mother, who was lying limp in the servant's arms, raised her head and looked up at the empty sky.

——

"Waaah, just let Xiuxiu die. Anyway, Xiuxiu is an unwanted bastard, what's the point of her living in this world?"

Jiang Xiuxiu, wearing only a thin undergarment, lay on the bed, tears streaming down her face.

Jiang Dalang paced anxiously in front of the bed.

"Xiuxiu, what nonsense are you talking about! How could no one want you!"

If it weren't for that little bitch Jiang Yuwei using some despicable tricks, why would Father be angry with you? You stay here and recover for the next few days, and whatever you do, don't show your face in front of Father!

Don't worry, your brother will definitely help you persuade Father to change his mind!

After saying that, Jiang Dalang hurriedly left, as if some raging flood or ferocious beast was chasing him.

Jiang Xiuxiu stared intently at his departing figure, angrily grabbing the blanket.

What a waste!

Normally, the younger sister is called "long" and the younger sister is called "short".

When it really comes down to it, they're completely unreliable!

At this moment, her personal maid, Hongxing, brought in a bowl of medicine. Just as she was about to persuade Jiang Xiuxiu, she saw Jiang Xiuxiu raise her beautiful eyes and stare intently at her.

"Have you delivered all the letters I asked you to this morning?"

Hongxing nodded.

Jiang Xiuxiu's heart sank completely.

In the past, if she had a headache or fever, she would send a message to the Third Prince, and there would be news before noon.

He either came to visit in person or sent someone to deliver tonics.

But now it's already dark, and there's still no sign of the Third Prince.

Men really are unreliable!

Especially men who crave power!

No, she couldn't sit still and wait for death.

If she were sent to the estate, without a prominent background, she would probably never be able to turn her life around.

She grabbed Hongxing's sleeve:

"I don't want to drink this damn medicine!"

If you fall into a swamp, what difference does it make whether you die sooner or later!

"Please grind the ink for me; I need to write a letter to my aunt."

Didn't Jiang Yuwei get involved with the emperor?

She probably doesn't realize that this will actually hasten her death!

"Weiwei, this is a brocade dress that your mother specially asked someone to make for you. Come and try it on."

Jiang's mother excitedly led a group of people, carrying several sets of clothes, into Xu Leyao's courtyard.

Xu Leyao lay on the chaise lounge, glanced at her sideways, and then closed her eyes again, pretending to be asleep.

Seeing that the girl who used to dote on her now always treated her with indifference, Jiang's mother felt so distressed that she could hardly breathe.

It's okay, she reassured herself.

Vivi is a good child.

A mother and daughter are of one heart; given time, Weiwei will surely forgive her previous disrespect.

Xu Leyao silently rolled her eyes in her mind.

Haha, the baby died and you're here to nurse him!

What a disgusting family!

She noticed it with just a glance; Jiang's mother had tried to fob her off with three ordinary-looking dresses.

Unlike Jiang Xiuxiu, even if she's an imposter, there were quite a few good things in the pile she burned a few days ago.

It has everything from gold and silver jewelry to silk and Shu brocade.

Even though she was suspected of being favored by the emperor, she only received these few trinkets after three days.

In Jiang's mother's mind, it was clear which was more important.

But Jiang's mother wouldn't let her go. She sat by her bedside, held her hand, and chatted on and on for a long time before leaving.

After Jiang's mother left, Zhu'er looked at Xu Leyao, who had no expression, with some worry:

"Young Miss, what should we do with these clothes?"

"What else can we do? We'll just have to keep it."

Jiang Yunxue is now a Noble Consort, but she is penniless and doesn't want to be denied entry to the palace because of her inappropriate attire.

Unexpectedly, on the day of entering the palace, Xu Leyao followed her mother and was about to climb into the carriage when she heard a sound behind her that was neither too loud nor too soft, but was still quite pitiful.

"Mother, can Xiuxiu come along? Aunt has always been very kind to Xiuxiu since she was little. Xiuxiu hasn't seen her for a long time and misses her terribly."

Jiang's mother praised her for her filial piety and was about to pull her into the carriage when she saw Xu Leyao blocking the way like a door god.

Jiang's mother's heart pounded, and she called out to her shyly:

"Weiwei, don't misunderstand..."

Xu Leyao smiled as she looked at Jiang Xiuxiu, who was dressed in her finest attire.

In just a few days, Jiang Xiuxiu had already donned the Shu brocade ruqun, a garment reserved for nobles, and adorned her head with a ruby ​​double butterfly and flower hairpin.

She was only wearing a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was adorned with a simple gold hairpin.

She raised her head and looked coldly at Jiang Xiuxiu:

"Are you going to visit the Imperial Concubine? I bet you're going to seduce the Emperor!"