Previously, whether Yanyu’s marriage was swapped or not, the matter had not really implicated the Shao family.
For years, the Shao family had been careful not to cause trouble before the Emperor, nor to appear overly protective of the Duke Zhen’s household. They feared the Emperor might suspect them of trying to seize the Duke’s influence and property.
Thus, even when their niece was openly bullied, the Shao family dared not speak out.
As Shao Junliang and Shao Junshou had said, Yanyu bore the surname Wen, while they were Shao. Since her paternal relatives had not stepped forward, how could the Shao family intervene?
But when their own Madam was beaten, that was another matter entirely!
When Yanyu heard from her maids what had happened, she hurriedly threw on a robe and rushed over. By the time she arrived, Madam Jiang’s maid Xiaocui was applying medicine to her mistress’s injuries.
Yanyu was shocked to see how badly Madam Jiang had been hurt. She quickly took the medicine bottle from Xiaocui and applied it herself: “Aunt, how did you get hurt so badly?”
Madam Jiang did not care much about the pain. Her eyes flashed with a fierce light: “Let that mother and daughter wait—I’ll see if there is still any law left in this world.”
Yanyu had always been close to her third aunt. When she first came to the Shao household, Madam Jiang had already been married three or four years without conceiving. She cherished Yanyu as her own daughter.
Curiously, after Yanyu arrived, good fortune seemed to follow. Shao Hong passed the imperial examinations, and soon after, Madam Jiang conceived, eventually bearing two children in three years.
Thus, Madam Jiang regarded Yanyu as a lucky star, and the Shao family’s third branch loved her dearly. Her elder aunts were older, but Madam Jiang was young and especially affectionate toward Yanyu.
This time, Madam Jiang had not needed to accompany them to the capital—such a long and dangerous journey was hardly suitable for a woman. But she could not bear to leave the girl she had raised, and insisted on coming with Shao Hong.
Yanyu’s hands were delicate, and she had often studied medicine with the Shao sisters. When she applied the ointment to Madam Jiang, her touch was light and soothing, almost painless.
After applying the medicine, Madam Jiang used a warm cloth to wipe Yanyu’s hands: “Remember, you are a young lady of noble birth. You mustn’t always do the work of servants. If you grow used to hardship, you’ll only invite endless hardship.”
The younger girls of the Shao family were all expected to study poetry and literature, learn medicine, and practice needlework.
Madam Jiang was shrewd and capable—not the gentle, virtuous type, but skilled in managing the household and dealing with people. Over the years, she had taught Yanyu everything she knew.
Were it not for the treacherous waters of the capital, Madam Jiang might have truly dared to use herself as bait, employing a bitter-meat strategy to strike back.
As she was instructing Yanyu, the door opened and Shao Hong entered with his two nephews.
Yanyu quickly rose and bowed: “Third Uncle, Eldest Cousin, Third Cousin.”
Shao Junliang and Shao Junshou returned the greeting, then hurriedly withdrew.
Shao Hong nodded: “Yan’er, go back to your room and rest. I have matters to discuss with your aunt.”
Yanyu glanced at Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang nodded: “Yan’er, go take your medicine.”
Once Yanyu left, Shao Junliang and Shao Junshou came back in.
Seeing their aunt’s injuries, the brothers were both distressed and ashamed, their anger boiling over: “Outrageous! Truly outrageous!”
Madam Jiang lifted her eyes: “You two little rascals, why are you standing here? Hurry and write letters!”
The next morning, after the court session—
Minister of Rites Wei Hao returned home with a face ashen and defeated.
Madam Liu, his wife, was displeased: “Why aren’t you at the Ministry? What are you doing home?”
Wei Hao raised his hand to point at her, but after a long moment, he was speechless.
Since the death of Madam Liu’s father, the Liu family had gradually lost influence in court.
Meanwhile, the Marquis Anqing’s household in Ling City had never lacked representation in government. Shao Hong’s wife, Madam Jiang, was the younger sister of the Commander of the Northwest.
For Madam Liu and Wei Ruxuan to slap Madam Jiang seven or eight times in public—such a thing, even a princess consort would not dare!
Worse still, they had spoken outrageously, declaring that “the Duke Zhen’s daughter is a sickly girl doomed to die young.”
That morning, when the censors presented their accusations, the military officials of the court were so enraged they nearly flayed Minister Wei Hao alive.
Emperor Jianxing immediately ordered Wei Hao to divorce his wife and stripped the insolent woman of her noble title.
Wei Hao, however, could not forget the support his late father-in-law had once given him. He voluntarily resigned from the cabinet, was demoted to Vice Minister of Rites, and thus preserved Madam Liu’s life.
“Do you even know who you struck yesterday?”
Madam Liu frowned: “What? Did someone complain to you? Or do you actually know that wretched woman?”
The Vice Minister’s lips trembled, unable to speak for a long while.
Madam Liu scrutinized him: “Don’t tell me you really know her? That woman dressed in gaudy red and green—I’ve never seen a respectable lady wear such bright colors! You and she—”
“She is the third daughter-in-law of the Marquis Anqing, and the younger sister of Jiang Bao, Commander of the Northwest!”
Madam Liu was stunned, calculating the woman’s status. Her face suddenly turned pale: “She lodged a complaint with the Emperor? Will this affect our daughter’s marriage?”
The Vice Minister gave a bitter laugh. At such a time, she was still thinking about her daughter’s marriage. If she truly cared about her daughter’s marriage, she would not have made such a disgraceful scene.
Madam Liu clutched at his sleeve: “Are you refusing to plead for our daughter?”
He shook her off: “Wait for the imperial decree.”
Within half an hour, the decree arrived. Madam Liu was stripped of her noble title, and Wei Ruxuan lost her position as principal consort. She was instead appointed as a secondary consort to the Fifth Prince.
Madam Liu collapsed to the ground, unable to believe what had happened.
Wei Ruxuan reluctantly accepted the decree. She had never imagined that the woman she had dismissed as a provincial nobody would have such powerful connections. Though she had lost the title of principal consort, marrying the Fifth Prince—even as a secondary consort—was still acceptable.
This wretched Emperor was clearly a fool, meddling in women’s quarrels instead of governing the realm. But it didn’t matter. Such a foolish ruler would not last. Sooner or later, the Fifth Prince would ascend the throne. When that day came, she, with her heroine’s destiny and aura, would still become Empress.
Marrying the Fifth Prince as a secondary consort was far better than marrying Prince Qin, that madman, and living as a widow in all but name.
Wei Ruxuan quickly tried to comfort Madam Liu: “It’s fine, Mother. As long as I marry the Fifth Prince, it will be enough. One day, I’ll make sure we both rise again!”