Consider yourself lucky today.

She had thought that being reborn into this life would allow her to change everything, but now it seemed she was entirely powerless.

Her tears fell faster and harder.

Looking at Jiang Shuwan worrying over her, Liu Su felt a warmth blooming in her chest. Even amidst the bone-chilling pain, she felt it was all worth it.

She comforted her mistress, "My—my lady, this servant is not in pain. Please, stop crying."

Seeing that she was in such a state and yet still trying to comfort her, Jiang Shuwan felt as though her heart was being gripped and squeezed in agony.

No matter what, she had to save Liu Su.

Lifting her tear-stained face, Jiang Shuwan shouted at Jiang Xunnian, "Didn't you want me to apologize to Madam Li? I will apologize! Just let Liu Su go!"

Only then did Jiang Xunnian stop. He smoothed his robes and sneered, "If you'd agreed from the start, it would have been over. You've just wasted my energy."

Still unsatisfied, Jiang Xunnian delivered another vicious kick to Liu Su, causing the maid to instantly lose consciousness.

With ice in her tear-filled eyes, Jiang Shuwan yelled at him, "You said you'd spare her! Why?"

Watching Liu Su collapse unconscious—unsure whether she was dead or alive—she felt a freezing chill engulf her entire body.

Her gaze locked onto Jiang Xunnian with murderous intent.

"She is just a lowly maid. I beat her whenever I please. Since when is there a need for so many whys?"

Unable to bear it any longer, Jiang Shuwan lowered her head and bit down hard on the hand of the manservant holding her. Wincing in pain, the servant released her.

Jiang Shuwan lunged straight at Jiang Xunnian. Caught off guard, he was knocked tumbling to the ground.

"Ouch, it hurts like hell! You unfilial wretch!" Convinced his backside had been broken by the collision, Jiang Xunnian cursed at Jiang Shuwan.

"Lord Earl!" Madam Li had not expected Jiang Shuwan to pull such a stunt. She froze for several seconds before snapping back to reality.

She roared at the manservant who stood there dumbfounded, "What are you waiting for? Grab her! Are you all dead?"

Regaining their wits, the servants scrambled forward and pinned Jiang Shuwan down just as she reached Liu Su's side.

"Jiang Shuwan, how dare you assault your own father! I'll beat you to death!"

Pulled up by Madam Li, Jiang Xunnian went berserk, raining kicks down upon Jiang Shuwan's body.

Jiang Shuwan felt pain shooting through her entire body. Her breathing grew increasingly labored, and her eyelids felt heavier by the second.

Before long, she lapsed into unconsciousness.

"Lord Earl, she seems to have passed out. Stop hitting her."

Madam Li stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Xunnian's arm, though she exerted no real strength to hold him back.

"Passing out is what she deserves." Refusing to let up, Jiang Xunnian delivered one final kick.

Looking at Jiang Shuwan, who lay crumpled to the side like a dead fish, Madam Li felt a great deal of her pent-up malice dissipate.

Beneath the gathering dark clouds, Madam Li feigned concern and asked, "It looks like it's going to rain. Should we have Wan'er carried back to her courtyard and summon the estate physician?"

Thinking of what Jiang Shuwan had just done to him, Jiang Xunnian snarled without a second thought, "No. Let her fend for herself right here."

With that, he strode away.

Madam Li sneered down at Jiang Shuwan and commanded the servants, "You heard him. Fall back."

"Yes, Madam."

With Madam Li's orders given, the servants dared not linger.

In no time at all, everyone had departed, leaving only Madam Li behind.

Looking down at Jiang Shuwan from her lofty height and seeing the deathly paleness of the girl's face, a triumphant smile curved Madam Li's lips. She raised her foot and pressed it onto Jiang Shuwan's chest.

"Jiang Shuwan, let's see how arrogant you can be now. You are right beneath my feet."

Thinking of all the grievances she had suffered, Madam Li pressed down harder and harder.

Even in her faint, Jiang Shuwan felt the crushing pain in her chest. She merely furrowed her brows slightly, remaining deeply unconscious.

Seeing her treated like a corpse to be trampled at will, Madam Li would have loved nothing more than to finish her off right then and there had she not still needed the girl alive.

Having vented her malice, she turned and walked away.

Jiang Shuwan had no idea how long she slept. When a throbbing ache finally awakened her whole body, she slowly pried her eyes open.

The glaring sunlight made it impossible to keep them wide open. After blinking a few times, her vision cleared just enough to reveal a crowd of people standing before her.

Seeing Lin Rou—who ought to have been at the Gu residence—standing right here, she asked in confusion, "Why are you here?"

Seeing that she still had the nerve to ask, Lin Rou dropped all pretense. She raised her foot, stamped viciously onto Jiang Shuwan's chest, and snarled with a twisted expression, "You still have the face to ask! If it weren't for you, I would be Brother Xin's woman by now!"

So she had been driven out and sent back.

A mocking sneer touched the corners of Jiang Shuwan's lips. "I never expected this. Heavens truly have eyes."

"What did you say? I'll kill you!" Blinded by rage, Lin Rou applied more and more force with her foot.

Overwhelmed by pain, Jiang Shuwan broke out in a cold sweat. Her complexion turned deathly pale, and her breathing grew fainter by the moment.

Just as she felt the breath leaving her lungs entirely, Old Madame Jiang said calmly, "Enough, Rou'er."

Hearing the old madame speak, Lin Rou reined in her temper and pulled her foot back.

"Consider yourself lucky today."

"Enough. Business comes first. Tell Shuwan what needs to be said," Old Madame Jiang commanded coldly.

Jiang Xunnian looked toward Madam Li. "Liniang, you tell her."

Madam Li stepped forward, walked up to Jiang Shuwan, and curved her lips into a cold smile. "Eldest Miss, given that your mind is now unhinged and you are prone to harming others at any moment, we have decided—for your own good and the peace of the Marquis's estate—to send you off to the country manor to recuperate."

Struggling slightly to push herself up, Jiang Shuwan panted as she stared at them. "W-What? I am not ill! You are openly and shamelessly turning right into wrong in broad daylight!"

Those words seemed to exhaust the last dregs of her strength, causing her to collapse back onto the ground.

Jiang Xunnian looked at her as if she were a piece of trash.

"I say you are ill, and ill you are. Enough of your nonsense." Raising his voice, he ordered the servants, "Someone come here and drag her up."

Two servants grabbed Jiang Shuwan by the arms and yanked her forcefully to her feet.

Jiang Shuwan felt as though her legs had been filled with lead; they were so heavy she could not even stand steadily, let alone struggle. She could only let them hoist her up by brute force.

Powerless and breathless, she wheezed, "You are going too far! I am the Marquis of Pingning's betrothed. When the Gu family comes asking for people, how will you ever explain this?"

Lin Rou laughed as if she had just heard a hilarious joke. "Why would the Marquis of Pingning ever marry an unhinged madwoman? As for the marriage alliance between the Jiang and Gu families..."

Lin Rou cast a meaningful glance toward Jiang Xunnian.

Jiang Xunnian straightened his back, strode proudly over to Lin Rou, and said in a gentle tone, "I have already decided to take Rou'er as my adoptive daughter. From this day forth, her surname will be Jiang, and her name shall be entered into the ancestral genealogy as a true daughter of our Jiang clan. Afterward, she will be raised to the status of a co-wife to the Marquis, which still fulfills the marriage alliance between our two families. As for you, focus on recovering your health. Your mother's dowry will be handed over to your second mother."

Watching their shameless audacity, Jiang Shuwan spat out bitterly, "You are all utterly deranged! To go this far just for my mother's dowry—this is a crime against the imperial will!"

Old Madame Jiang's expression shifted drastically. She pointed a trembling finger at her and snapped, "Cease this nonsense! Someone quickly gag her mouth!"

The servants hurried forward, grabbed a rolled-up piece of white cloth, and shoved it straight into Jiang Shuwan's mouth.