... in the Capital City.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The cold came earlier.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Madam Meng had put on her full makeup early in the morning.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She was a First-rank Imperially-Conferred Lady.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her ceremonial robe wasrge and thick.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The golden jewelry on her hat was piled high, heavy enough to make her neck problems worse than others''.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Looking at his well-dressed mother, Meng Qingshe was startled.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Mother, are you going to the pce for an audience with the Emperor? His Majesty hasn''t been seeing peopletely, I haven''t seen him in a long time. I hear he''s only meeting with all sorts of strange and mystical people."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Madam Meng tossed back the pearl curtain on her hat.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"What audience? All that kneeling and bowing is exhausting. I''m going to avenge my daughter-inw and granddaughter-inw."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
My old man is still suffering in the frontier, braving the northwest wind so you can all live good lives, fighting life and death battles, baybat, bloody knife fights.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How can we let our family be bullied by some nobody female mystic?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What Liu family adopted daughter? The Liu family is nothing, they have to kowtow before me.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What princess''s good friend? Princesses have to be polite when they see me.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
I don''t care if you''re some immortal or goddess.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
You dare speak ill of me?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
Anyway, my reputation in the capital is already bad. This olddy hasn''t made a move in many years, those people may have forgotten why my reputation is bad. Is it because my temper is too good?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Early in the morning, the First-rank Imperially-Conferred Lady set out grandly in her carriage, leading a troop of people escorting a huge object covered in red cloth, heading majestically towards the residence of the Liu family''s divine woman.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The people of the capital love a spectacle.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The shocking news that the divine woman said the Meng family would end without heirs had already spread everywhere.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Some people with too much time on their hands and nothing better to do delighted in hearing such bad news about the nobility.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In truth, they had no grudge or enmity, and weren''t even clear on what the Meng family had done for the country and people.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They just blindly followed what others said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How many good people could there be among the powerful and wealthy?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
No heirs?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
That must mean they''ve done too many evil deeds.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Heavy with murderous energy, they deserve it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He must be a bad person, otherwise how could he have no heirs?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Then they started talking about the divine woman''s feats again.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The divine woman looked at a man and said there was an official aura above his head, crimson in color. Sure enough, not long after, that man was promoted, even jumping up two ranks.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There were also cases of her seeing women''s marriage fortunes and such.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
All extremely urate.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The divine woman certainly wouldn''t lie.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When people saw Old Madam Meng wearing her official robes and sending a cart of gifts, reportedly to see the divine woman, they wondered if she was offering heavy tribute to ask for her fate to be changed?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It can''t be changed, didn''t the divine woman say their murderous energy was too heavy?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
People followed along to watch the excitement.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A grand procession.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
At a residence on the west side of the city.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The exterior was unremarkable.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But the interior was very luxurious.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With pavilions, towers and halls.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Land in the capital was extremely valuable.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But this residence Chu Xi had acquired for her, though not in the best eastern part of the city, was impable in every other way.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The east was for nobility, the west for the wealthy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Since arriving in the capital, Jiang Wan''s life had be spectacr.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She took to it like a fish to water.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As if all her previous suffering had been preparation for this moment of blossoming.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on any man, it will exercise his mind with suffering, subject his sinews and bones to hard work, expose his body to hunger, put him to poverty, ce obstacles in the paths of his deeds, so as to stimte his mind, harden his nature, and improve his ability."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This saying resonated deeply with Jiang Wan.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had lived it step by step.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The days and nights of despair, confusion and fear she once experienced in Ming County were exchanged for her brilliant sess in the capital.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even the matter with Young Master Liu was easily resolved.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Except that Young Master Liu was still infatuated with her, privately insisting he would marry no one else, the Liu parents very shamefacedly adopted her as their daughter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Open and proper, with full dignity.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As expected, Chu Xi was still attracted to her, though he tried hard to restrain himself and never said it out loud. But the conditions in this residence kept improving, the gifts she received kept increasing, even more attentive than she had seen in her dreams.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Everything was developing well.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
And ording to what Princess He''an revealed, her father the Emperor also wanted to meet her, and would likely summon her for an audience. She should prepare herself to respond well.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
These past few days she hadn''t attended any banquets, quietly waiting at home.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had resumed her daily routine of copying Buddhist sutras, reading books, burning incense, and ying the zither.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With her grandmother by her side, well cared for, she had also recovered a lot.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Having abandoned her grandmother once, then twice, Jiang Wan would never do such a thing again.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Because she discovered that having an elder by her side made everyone praise her for being filial, giving her a natural advantage.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If she were truly alone, it wouldn''t look right.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Sometimes bad things aren''t necessarily bad.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was just that with wintering, grandmother''s chest pains red up daily. When in pain, her temper worsened, erupting every day, which was quite vexing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan got some expensive pain-relieving powder for grandmother to inhale.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Grandmother had been quieter these past two days.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Otherwise she would curse Jiang Changtian non-stop, sometimes cursing her eldest son too, and cursing the fickle Wu. If not for her, how could her oldest son have be a monk? How could Rong''er have drowned? How could that bitch Wu still have the face to live, she should die.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As for the daughter Wu took away, Old Lady Jiang never mentioned her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was said she had changed her name to Han Shu, and Heir Apparent Han doted on this daughter his concubine brought excessively, treating her like a true princess.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He had taken her to wander the imperial pce since she was small.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had even ridden on the back of the head eunuch who served the Emperor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mischievous and causing trouble without restraint, the current Emperor must be going senile, he didn''t favor his real princesses much, but not only doted on Heir Apparent Han, he was also extremely fond of this daughter who suddenly appeared, reportedly Han Shu had even climbed onto the dragon throne and tugged the Emperor''s beard.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4
This was all witnessed by court officials.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Lady Jiang cursed Wu, but was very clear-headed, never once mentioning bringing Shu''er back.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Today was bitterly cold.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan paid her respects to grandmother and lit some pain-relieving powder for her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Grandmother, it''s cold and you''re coughing again. I got some good pears yesterday, I''ll stew them myself for you to eat, it can help stop the cough."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Lady Jiang closed her eyes and nodded slightly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Lady Jiang had an extremely strong desire for control all her life. She never imagined Wan''er would abandon her and run away. She said there was an ident or something, but Wan''er had been clever since childhood, if she didn''t want to, how could such an ident happen?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Lady Jiang still felt estranged in her heart, but at this point, as an old woman with no new support, she could only pretend to be muddled.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The finest snow pears, veryrge. Delicate white fingers holding a small silver spoon to scoop out the pear cores, removing them and adding in fritiry bulbs and rock sugar, to be stewed as a cough remedy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She was actually making it specially for Cousin Chu Xi.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was said that Chu Xi was mischievous as a child, and was once punished to kneel by his stepmother. In the cold of winter, he caught a chill and developed a chronic condition, so he was prone to coughing when the weather turned cold in winter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In her dreams, she had searched everywhere for prescriptions to stop Chu Xi''s cough, finally discovering that stewed pears worked best. It wasn''t that the medicinal effect was strongest, but that cousin was willing to eat this - he was reluctant to take medicine, probably having some aversion to it deep down.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In any case, this was how Jiang Wan was - when she wanted to be good to someone, she would take care of them meticulously in every way.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It wasn''t without reason that she was able to be Empress in her past life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This time, although things had deviated a bit at the start, everything was back on track now, even better than before.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As she finished preparing the third pear, a servant came to report.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Madam Meng, the First-rank Imperially-Conferred Lady, hade to deliver gifts.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan unhurriedly prepared the fourth pear. In her past life, although she was also a nobledy, she was inferior to others in every way in the capital. Everyone there was a nobledy, all with better family backgrounds than hers.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had to be cautious, afraid of making any misstep.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This time, everyone was cautious around her, afraid of saying the wrong thing in front of her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan spoke of the Meng family with righteous confidence, because that was how things should have ended up.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When she was imprisoned and tortured at the Jiang residence, she had told them everything, but in the end Jiang Changtian still wanted to kill her. Even though she had already seen Chu Xi, with hope right before her eyes, he still wouldn''t let her go.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Unexpectedly, even Heaven helped her in the end.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There was actually an earthquake.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even more miraculously, the earthquake happened right in front of her, but didn''t harm her in the slightest.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
From that moment on, Jiang Wan felt that she was someone protected by Heaven.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She would set things right and be the ultimate winner.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As for Jiang Changtian saying he had given her a secret drug from Shangqiu Convent, it was indeed a thorn in Jiang Wan''s heart, because she found that she was indeed much more beautiful now than at this time in her previous life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Everyone who saw her was amazed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But as long as she could enter the imperial pce and be the final victor, the imperial family also had some secret medicines.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Wasn''t that why Zi Lu rebelled, to get secret medicine to cure his son?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In this life, his son hadn''t even died yet, but he himself was dead.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A youth who couldn''t speak wouldn''t cause any big waves, so it didn''t matter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As for Old Madam Meng, Jiang Wan felt some disgust towards her. In her previous life, when discussing marriage, she was technically the unmarried granddaughter-inw. Later, after Meng Shaoxia died in battle and she became the crown prince''s concubine, Old Madam Meng actually pped her in front of everyone when she went out to attend an event.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This also made her the subject of mockery for a long time.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In this life, she would have her revenge.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After slowly carving all six pears, she instructed the servants to steam them before changing her clothes to greet the guests.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After all, she was a First-rank Imperially-Conferred Lady, and she had to show some respect.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As for saying unpleasant things, they shouldn''t me her. After all, fate was predetermined.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When Jiang Wan finished dressing up and went out to greet the guests, the entrance was already crowded withmoners watching the spectacle.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"The goddess''s memorial tablet is so grand!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Even a First-rank Imperially-Conferred Lady has to wait this long."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"That tall cart of gifts covered with red cloth, what could it be? Could it be coral? I heard coral is more expensive than gold. Being so tall, it must be worth a fortune."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Those rich people just earn their money through sinful means."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"It might be a jade tree. My second aunt''s cousin works as a servant in a prince''s household and said she''s seen one. A tree made of jade, with leaves so green they look real, fruits made of gemstones, and a trunk of gold... tsk tsk."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
The cold wind blew, but it couldn''t dampen the enthusiasm of the onlookers.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The First-rank Imperially-Conferred Lady, Old Madam Meng, sat in her carriage at the entrance, allowing others to point andment, her dark old face showing no concern.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This only served to highlight the goddess''s high status.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Themoners chatted excitedly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Even a First-rank Imperially-Conferred Lady has to wait obediently."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Finally, as all eyes were fixed and the spectators'' noses began to run from the cold wind, the door opened.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The crowd saw the legendary goddess.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Wow!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Ah!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Exmations rang out as everyone felt the wait was worth it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The goddess was indeed divine, exuding an otherworldly aura even from afar. She was breathtakingly beautiful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It wasn''t an ordinary kind of beauty, but something indescribable and mystical. Everyone''s gaze was irresistibly drawn to her, as if she were the only person in sight.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan politely greeted Old Madam Meng.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
However, Old Madam Meng didn''t get out of her carriage. She simply said, "I heard you said my Meng family would have no descendants. I think you''re young and spoke carelessly to attract attention, without thinking it through. Now that I''m here in person, are you willing to take back your words and exin properly? I''ve prepared a generous gift for you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan smiled, "I''m sorry, Old Madam Meng, but fate cannot be changed. One can ept fate, but not alter it. It''s better to do more good deeds and umte virtues."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The crowdughed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This goddess telling the olddy to do more good deeds and umte virtues implied that she had done many unscrupulous things in the past.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Madam Meng wasn''t angered. She said, "If that''s the case, then I''ll take my leave. However, since the gift has been brought here, there''s no reason to take it back. You can predict marriage fortunes for youngdies and future prospects for young men, but you shouldn''t joke recklessly about the fate of the nation. My Meng family has guarded the borders for generations. If we were to have no descendants, there''s only one possibility – dying in battle for the country. If all the men in my Meng family were to die, would you all still have the chance to stand here?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Madam Meng''s carriage turned and left.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her words shocked the crowd, leaving their faces pale and ufortable.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan also felt a bit embarrassed. This old woman had blown things out of proportion. She had spoken about the Meng family, but the olddy had elevated her family to such heights, seemingly unafraid of a great fall.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The soldiers bringing the gift lifted the red cloth and removed the lid.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The curious crowd craned their necks to look, only to smell an unbearably foul odor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This tall,rge barrel was actually filled with nightsoil.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4
The soldiers forcefully tipped the barrel over in front of Jiang Wan. She dodged quickly, but her shoes were still sttered with yellowish-brown stains.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The man-high barrel of nightsoil spilled more than half its contents into the courtyard, flooding the path and covering the flowers and grass.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The soldiers then tookrgedles and evenly spread the remaining contents on the main gate.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Madam Meng had said it was to ward off bad luck, fighting poison with poison. If someone couldn''t speak kind words, they could only be smeared with excrement.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As the carriage rolled away, the fully made-up Old Madam Meng sat with a straight back, moving forward without hesitation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0