Jiang Zhixia felt it was a bit surreal.

This world probably doesn't have this rock and roll hand gesture, right?!

Moreover, the texture of this photo looks exactly like the photo booth pictures that were popular in the 2000s!

Was the eldest brother's biological mother also a time traveler from the modern era?

And he was wearing this photo with him on his clothes?

Jiang Lin gently stroked the photo with her fingertips, looking at her friend's smile in the photo, her tone wistful.

"When Mingyue gave birth to your eldest brother, she couldn't hold on for more than three months... After that, I adopted her child and raised him as my own son."

Jiang Zhixia snapped out of her daze, somewhat confused: "Mother, isn't this female very powerful? How come she's already so early...?"

If such a powerful female truly exists in the empire, shouldn't she be protected in every way?

How could he have passed away when his older brother was still too young to remember anything?

Jiang Lin lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.

"It was because her mental strength was too strong that she made a mistake on the battlefield."

"Her mental power went out of control—as a result, the mental power of a large number of elite soldiers was damaged, and she herself suffered a mental breakdown, her body became weaker and weaker, and she was placed under the watch of the imperial high command at the time."

Jiang Zhixia opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.

It seems that my fellow villager is not doing too well.

As Jiang Lin stroked the photo, memories from many years ago surfaced before her eyes.

Mingyue, such a timid female, was sent to the battlefield. Even when she was protected, she would still confide in her in fear. After that mistake, the imperial high command suspected and blamed her, and imprisoned and interrogated her. If it weren't for her insistence on protecting Mingyue, she might not have been able to give birth to her child.

She sighed and put the photo back in the box.

"Your mother called you here today so that you can give these belongings to her."

"Ever since he found out he wasn't of royal blood, he's always considered himself an outsider. I've kept all the relevant information sealed away for a long time, intending to tell him only when he truly integrates into this family, but now you..."

She paused, her expression somewhat complicated.

"Now that you have entered into a contract, it's time for him to know these things."

From another perspective, the eldest son is now indeed a legitimate member of the royal family.

Jiang Lin frowned with a strange expression.

Actually, this is fine too.

The eldest son has an abnormal mental state, and only his daughter can comfort him.

Her daughter has poor judgment, but with her eldest son, whom she's watched grow up, keeping an eye on her, she feels at ease.

Although the two most worrying problems were solved at once... why does it still feel so awkward?

Even after weathering many storms, the female queen still couldn't face the fact that "her daughter had harmed her son."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhixia nodded solemnly, took the box, and hugged it to her chest.

Just as I was about to stand up and leave, my shoulder was pressed down.

"Don't rush off yet."

She turned her head and saw her mother raise her eyebrows slightly, looking at her with a probing gaze.

"There's one more thing you need to explain to me honestly—was it your idea to have Lu Jue publicly apply for a retrial of the Lu family?"

Jiang Zhixia: "..."

……

Inside the royal treatment room.

"Is Jiang Xue really going to assassinate the princess?"

Lu Jue lay on his side on the bed, turned his head and asked, "What happened back then?"

Around the bed, several robotic arms were cutting open his chest, reaching into the silver wires, preparing to extract the chip.

A gash was slashed open in the boy's chest, yet no pain was visible on his face.

Jiang Ting stood to the side with his arms crossed.

He watched the robotic arm operate and said indifferently, "Go ask it yourself."

He didn't even have time to ask about it, so how could he tell this wolf cub?

Lu Jue glared at him reproachfully: "Where were you then? Why weren't you there to protect her?"

Jiang Ting's face darkened. "Who was behind her assassination attempt?"

He hasn't even settled this score yet, and this kid still has the nerve to criticize him?

Lu Jue gritted his teeth silently and shut his mouth in resentment.

Jiang Xue could only have acted against the princess because of her own actions, and he had no way to refute that.

He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest and let out a muffled groan.

The chip was removed, the bed frame automatically lifted, and the treatment chamber quickly docked and began operation.

He continued to provoke the pretentious man outside, even through the transparent bulkhead.

"Don't the Empress Dowager and His Majesty know what you're thinking? You wouldn't be so reluctant to give up your princely status and plan to continue this ambiguous relationship with the princess, would you?"

Jiang Ting's eyes twitched slightly as he glanced at him indifferently.

The moment their eyes met, sparks flew and lightning flashed.

The door was pushed open at that moment.

Su Chen strode in and immediately saw the two males facing off in silence.

He frowned slightly, disregarding everything else, and asked the question first.

"The princess was assassinated? How is she?"

He had come out of the research lab after being summoned by the Crown Prince. Upon hearing that the princess had been murdered, he broke out in a cold sweat and rushed over.

"She's fine," Jiang Ting said, turning his gaze away and sitting down at the testing table beside him. "How's the research progressing?"

"I have a conclusion. I'll report back to you in a bit. I'm going to find the princess now."

Su Chen was worried about the princess and turned to leave anxiously.

"No rush."

Jiang Ting called out to him, raising her hand as she unbuttoned her shirt, saying, "She'll be here in a bit; she'll give me a test first."

Su Chen paused, frowning as he looked at him.

Is something wrong? Why are you doing a test in the middle of the night?

Lu Jue also looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at a lunatic.

Then their gazes froze.

The male on the testing platform unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his chest, in a casual posture.

But a clear line on his chest pierced their eyes.

The entire treatment room fell silent instantly.

After a long while, Lu Jue slammed his head against the cabin wall and stared at the mark.

That's...that's the mark of a contract?!

"Bang!"

He punched the treatment pod so hard it nearly fell apart, and roared through the pod wall in a deep, furious voice, "What did you do to the princess?!"

Jiang Ting doesn't even have a formal title; his current status is still that of the princess's brother. How could the princess possibly form a contract with him?

It must be that old man who seduced the princess!

Su Chen clenched his fists, stared at the brand, and took a few deep breaths.

"You haven't even revealed your true identity, how can you be with the princess..."

That shameless male!

Two pairs of eyes pierced me like knives.

Jiang Ting sat on the testing table, calmly meeting their gazes, and chuckled.

Mind your own business.

One of them occupied the position of the primary husband, while the other was constantly on the mind of the female.

He was going to make those two taste the jealousy he had felt before.

Lu Jue was trembling with anger, wishing he could climb out of the treatment pod right now and fight this old man.

Su Chen's expression was also very unpleasant; he pursed his lips and remained silent.

……

Holding the box, Jiang Zhixia headed to the treatment room with mixed feelings.

My mother truly lives up to her title as Queen; she's incredibly perceptive.

I almost gave myself away just now, letting my mother realize that she was trying to frame Jiang Xue by hurting me.

Fortunately, her mother only thought that she was eager to exonerate the Lu family and said a few words to her, without thinking in that direction.

Night deepened, and the moonlight slowly shone down.

Jiang Zhixia was preoccupied with Lu Jue removing the chip, and hurried through the corridor.

As soon as she turned the corner, her eyes lit up.

The silver-haired boy had just come out of the treatment room, his head down, seemingly lost in thought. Hearing the sound, he looked up.

"Lu Jue!"

She had barely uttered a sound when the figure rushed over and pulled her into his arms.

"Princess……"

The boy's voice was deep and muffled, carrying an indescribable emotion.

Jiang Zhixia was taken aback when he hugged her tightly.

The news of the Lu family's retrial has spread today, and Jiang Xue has also been detained. Why does he sound unhappy?

"What's wrong with you?"

Lu Jue took a deep breath of the aroma, suppressing the burning jealousy in his heart.

He saw Jiang Ting's contract mark and was driven almost insanely by jealousy.

But he can't be too greedy. The princess helped him overturn the Lu family's case, and his enemies were also imprisoned. He can't let jealousy and rivalry with other males make the princess dislike him.

He lowered his head and hummed in the princess's neck, "I'm fine, I'm just too happy today..."

Jiang Zhixia clearly sensed something was wrong with him. Realizing something, she tensed up, "Did they not remove the chip?"

Lu Jue quickly looked up and said hurriedly, "No, no, it's out!"

He took the princess's hand, placed it on his chest, and looked at the female before him with reverence.

"Princess, thank you."

Jiang Zhixia breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to touch the tattoo on his face.

The slave's chip and tattoo are linked; once the chip is removed, the tattoo representing the slave's identity will soon disappear.

Her big wolfhound was finally truly exonerated.

Lu Jue's eyes swelled with intense emotions as he grabbed her hand.

The touch of his palm was delicate and soft. He turned his head and reverently kissed the princess's fingertips.

"Princess."

The boy's voice was a little hoarse, and his gray-blue eyes were filled with gratitude and longing that almost overflowed.

"I will always be loyal to the princess."

Jiang Ting signed the contract before me. If he wants to compete for the position of the main husband, I have nothing now and I may not be able to win.

It doesn't matter, any identity is fine, as long as I can stay by the princess's side.

Jiang Zhixia was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and said, "What? You're my beastly husband, not my subordinate."

The word "loyalty" doesn't quite fit here.

Lu Jue rubbed his face against the princess's palm, his eyes filled with trepidation.

Just as he was about to say something, the door behind him was pushed open.

Jiang Ting walked out of the treatment room, his buttons neatly fastened to his collar.

His cold face was expressionless, but there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes.

Su Chen followed behind him, holding a test report in his hand, his eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought.

As soon as the two stepped out, they smelled that familiar fragrance in the corridor.

They both turned to look at the same time.

Sure enough, not far away, the female was being half-embraced and half-held in the arms of the wolf cub.

Jiang Ting stopped and looked over with a calm expression.

Su Chen also stopped.

Their gazes fell simultaneously on Jiang Zhixia's hand as she stroked the wolf boy's hand.

Jiang Zhixia: "..."

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