Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

Chu's mother suddenly gripped her hand tightly, with a force that was somewhat frightening.

Those cloudy eyes held an almost obsessive plea.

"mother?"

Jiang Yining felt uneasy under her gaze.

"Ningning, as you know, our Chu family... has no one left."

Chu's mother's voice choked with emotion.

"Several children died on the battlefield, leaving no descendants."

"Now, the once vast Chu family is reduced to just Sikong, the sole heir."

Jiang Yining nodded.

This is indeed a tragedy for the Chu family.

The entire family was loyal and righteous, yet in the end, they met a tragic end with no descendants.

"Sikong was a child with a hard life. He was born weak and later went blind."

Chu's mother wiped away her tears.

"Originally, I was thinking of finding him a marriage partner in two years, so that the Chu family could at least have an heir."

"But now that this has happened, our Chu family has just been exonerated, and with all these rumors circulating outside, what decent family's daughter would be willing to marry into our family?"

Jiang Yining felt a vague unease.

Something about this sounds off.

"What does Mother mean?"

Chu's mother took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"Ningning, your mother wants you to... remarry."

Jiang Yining was taken aback.

Remarry?

Is the old lady trying to kick her out?

That makes sense, after all, his reputation is ruined, and staying at home would be a disaster.

"Mother, I understand." Jiang Yining nodded.

"No, you misunderstood. What Mother meant was..."

Chu's mother said in a slightly weak voice, "I'm not asking you to marry an outsider, I'm asking you to marry Sikong."

Jiang Yining stared wide-eyed at the old lady in disbelief.

"Mother... what did you say?"

I said I'd let you marry Sikong.

Now that Chu's mother had made her point clear, she no longer tried to hide anything.

There's an old custom called "Jiantiao".

"That means one move can do the work of two."

"Sikong is Jinglan's younger brother."

"As long as it is publicly stated, Sikong is a descendant of both the eldest and second sons."

"Nominally, you are still Lan'er's wife, the matriarch of the eldest branch of the family."

"But in reality... you are also Sikong's wife."

"That way, you won't have to leave the Chu family."

"If Ji Lingxiao dares to cause any more trouble, that would be tantamount to forcibly taking someone else's wife, stealing his brother's bride!"

"As the Prime Minister of the country, he values ​​his reputation above all else and would never dare to defy the world!"

Jiang Yining was stunned: "If this gets out, wouldn't it be..."

To dispel the rumors about her and the prime minister, they need to get her involved with her uncle...

She simply couldn't believe that such words would come from her mother-in-law, who was usually the most strict about rules.

This seemingly frail old woman harbored such a shocking and unconventional scheme in her heart.

As if bewitched, Chu's mother grabbed her hand tightly and wouldn't let go.

"If you remain a widow, all that filth will keep being poured on you!"

"But... Sikong..."

Jiang Yining still couldn't accept it for a while.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Jiang Yining suddenly stood up, took a few steps back, and distanced herself from the bed.

"Sikong is still young, and he will marry and have children in the future. How can he face others after you make him marry his own sister-in-law?"

"Besides, I only have sibling-like feelings for Sikong, and absolutely no romantic feelings whatsoever!"

Seeing that she refused so decisively, Chu's mother burst into tears again.

"Sibling relationship?"

"Ningning, can't you really tell?"

"That boy, Sikong... his heart has long been filled with you."

Jiang Yining froze.

The scene by the bathtub last night suddenly came to mind.

That jealous question, "What did that tyrant do to you?"

And there's that unfinished line, "If it weren't for my elder brother."

It turns out even my mother-in-law knew.

"He...he's just confused!"

Jiang Yining gritted her teeth and said.

"Mother, since you know this, you should discipline him instead of indulging such absurd ideas!"

Chu's mother shook her head, crying.

"How can I manage? I only have these two sons, and the eldest is already gone."

"The second son is frail and blind; this is his fate."

"If he can marry you, it will be his good fortune."

"Ningning, I beg you."

As Chu's mother spoke, she actually struggled to climb off the bed and kneel down before Jiang Yining.

"Mother! What are you doing!"

Jiang Yining was startled and rushed over to support her.

"Are you trying to embarrass me?"

Chu's mother gripped her arm tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

"Ningning, just take pity on your mother, take pity on Sikong."

"Mother, please don't get agitated. This is a huge matter. Let me think about it some more."

Jiang Yining dodged and pushed open the door, then strode out.

"Sister-in-law."

A cool, clear voice suddenly came from around the corner.

Jiang Yining was startled and turned her head sharply.

Chu Sikong was standing there quietly.

He was dressed in a moon-white long robe, his figure was thin, and his eyes were covered with white silk.

He was leaning on that familiar bamboo cane.

He stood there quietly, as if he had been standing there for a very long time.

Jiang Yining's heart sank.

The soundproofing here is not good.

How much of the argument that just happened inside did he hear?

Or rather...

Was all of this tacitly approved by him, or even instigated by him?

"Second brother."

Jiang Yining looked at him warily.

What are you doing here?

Chu Sikong's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle and harmless smile.

He lifted his foot and slowly walked towards Jiang Yining.

The bamboo cane tapped on the bluestone slab, making a thumping sound.

Each strike felt like a blow to Jiang Yining's heart.

"I'm waiting for my sister-in-law."

He stopped three steps away from Jiang Yining.

Although he couldn't see, he aimed precisely at Jiang Yining's face.

"I heard everything Mother said."

Jiang Yining tensed up: "Since you heard it, you should go and persuade your mother."

"If this absurd idea were to get out, the Chu family would be humiliated."

Chu Sikong tilted his head slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

After a moment, he said softly.

"But sister-in-law..."

"I think Mother is right."

"My sister-in-law sacrificed her reputation for the sake of the Chu family."

Chu Sikong walked up to Jiang Yining and accurately grabbed her wrist.

His cool fingertips gently caressed her wrist bones, carrying an indescribable possessiveness.

The wind suddenly stopped.

The leaves of the old locust tree in the yard no longer rustle.

Jiang Yining looked at the handsome young man in front of her.

Chu Sikong remained as docile as ever, his voice as soft as a whisper in a lover's ear.

"The Chu family should be the ones to provide compensation."

He took a step forward, getting closer to Jiang Yining.

"Didn't my sister-in-law want to save the Chu family?"

"This is the best way, and... the only way."