“Chaochao, don’t scare your mother like this.”
As Jiang Chaohua fell unconscious, Shen Shi’s eyes immediately reddened.
With her three sons already having suffered so many hardships, if her only daughter were to meet with misfortune as well, how could she possibly go on living?
“Father, biased, biased, so biased! Aah, Father harmed, harmed little sister, harmed little sister!!”
As if the situation weren’t chaotic enough, Jiang Wanyi screamed even louder, nearly hysterical in his outburst.
While shouting, he clutched his head as if deeply traumatized.
Jiang He whipped his head around, shooting a warning glare at Jiang Wanyi.
But Jiang Wanyi was already emotionally shattered and showed no fear of Jiang He.
“Father harmed, harmed little sister, harmed little sister!”
Jiang Wanyi’s hoarse cries made Shen Congwen frown. Seeing Shen Shi distraught and overwhelmed, he raised his hand and delivered a swift chop to the back of Jiang Wanyi’s neck, knocking him unconscious.
“Servants! Escort my cousin to rest. Additionally, post guards around the courtyard—no one is permitted to approach him!”
Though Shen Congwen had arrived late, he sensed something amiss. His cold, piercing gaze fixed on Fei Yun, his imposing presence rivaling even Yan Jing’s.
“Master, you’ve deeply disappointed me.”
With one child driven mad and the other unconscious, Shen Shi suddenly felt a surge of resentment toward Jiang He.
Over the years, Jiang He had always shown her utmost care and indulgence toward Jiang Chaohua. Yet since the misfortunes that befell their three sons, Shen Shi couldn’t shake the feeling that Jiang He no longer cared for the children as he once did.
Though Jiang Wanyi and Jiang Chaohua had spoken under extreme distress, upon reflection, Shen Shi realized that ever since Jiang Wanxin entered the household, Jiang He had indeed shown her special attention—attention that seemed anything but ordinary.
Shen Shi’s gaze shifted intermittently between Jiang He and Jiang Wanxin. Suddenly struck by a realization, she clutched her chest sharply.
“Qin’er, you…”
Her direct stare made Jiang He’s heart sink. He moved to embrace her, but she evaded his touch.
“Congwen, first take your cousin to Xi Shi Courtyard to rest and summon a physician to examine her.”
Shen Shi turned away, dabbing her tears with a handkerchief.
Xi Shi Courtyard was Jiang Chaohua’s residence. Merely hearing its name revealed just how deeply doted upon Jiang Chaohua was.
“Aunt, rest assured. I will take good care of my cousin.”
Shen Congwen nodded, comforting Shen Shi as he lifted Jiang Chaohua into his arms. Turning to Yan Jing, he said:
“Ah Jing, since you’re here, this simplifies matters. This treacherous servant dared to harm his masters. I must trouble you to have your men take him to the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office. My aunt is the sole daughter of Zhongyi Marquis Estate, and Wanyi is also a member of our household. Anyone who harms them is effectively assaulting imperial relatives!”
Shen Congwen’s words grew increasingly severe, jolting everyone back to reality.
Indeed—Zhongyi Marquis Estate was the Empress Dowager’s maternal family. The Empress Dowager was Shen Shi’s aunt, making Jiang Wanyi and Jiang Chaohua imperial relatives!
Harming imperial relatives warranted far more than mere detention at the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office—this servant was getting off lightly.
“Very well.”
A faint smile curled Yan Jing’s lips as he glanced at Jiang Chaohua, pale and unconscious in Shen Congwen’s arms, complex emotions swirling in his eyes.
“Guards, take this servant to the Admiral’s Office.”
Yan Jing’s demeanor remained characteristically nonchalant, his words breezy and detached.
Yet everyone knew just how ruthless and formidable his methods were. Even the Emperor, out of respect for the Grand Empress Dowager, deliberately shielded Yan Jing.
“No, I’ve been wronged, Master, please save me.”
Fei Yun panicked and hurriedly turned to Jiang He for help.
Shen Congwen gave Jiang He a meaningful look, then strode off towards Xi Shi Courtyard.
There was something very strange about the relationship between this servant and Jiang He. Why would he seek help from Jiang He instead of Shen Shi?
Once the seed of doubt was planted in their hearts, everything they saw felt unsettling—this was true for Shen Shi, and for Shen Congwen as well.
“Silence! How dare you harm Wanyi! Don’t think the Superintendent’s office will go easy on you—even if you fell into my hands, I’d make sure you suffer!”
Jiang He coldly flicked his sleeve. Fei Yun suddenly stopped struggling, his face ashen.
“Heh.”
Yan Jing chuckled softly, as if he had seen through something:
“Magistrate Jiang, rest assured. This Superintendent will interrogate this servant thoroughly. Within an hour, I’ll give the Jiang family and the Empress Dowager a full account!”
These lightly spoken words made Jiang He clench his hand inside his sleeve.
“In that case, thank you, Young Marquis Yan.”
Jiang He forced a strained smile, his sidelong glance falling on Jiang Wanxin.
That glance carried both disappointment and dissatisfaction. Jiang Wanxin looked utterly distraught, wandering dazedly as she followed the crowd outside.
Despite this incident, the birthday banquet had to continue—after all, the senior matrons presiding over it had been specially sent by the Empress Dowager from the palace.
Having grown up beside the Empress Dowager since childhood, Shen Shi remained deeply favored by her even after conflicts arose with her family. For Jiang Chaohua’s birthday today, the Empress Dowager had granted the Jiang family considerable face.
Xi Shi Courtyard.
Jiang Chaohua was drenched in sweat, restless even in her unconscious state.
Images flashed through her mind—scenes of Zhongyi Marquis Estate being raided, followed by Shen Shi pointing at her, demanding why she had caused Jiang Wanyi’s death.
She shook her head violently, hands clenched tight, tears streaming continuously from the corners of her eyes.
“No!”
With a sudden cry, Jiang Chaohua bolted upright in bed.
Her hand pressed tightly against her chest, the piercing pain from when she was shot seemingly still present.
“Young Miss, you’re finally awake!”
Hearing the noise, Feicui hurried in.
She drew back the layered bed curtains, hanging them on either side of the bed, her young face bright with relief as she reached out to support Jiang Chaohua.
Startled, Jiang Chaohua instinctively shrank away.
“Young Miss?”
Feicui looked puzzled.
What was wrong with her young mistress? Ever since falling into the water, she had seemed different.
“Feicui, where’s Mother? Where is she?”
Rubbing her throbbing temples, Jiang Chaohua’s clear gaze swept around the bedchamber.
It remained exactly as she remembered from her previous life, utterly unlike the destitution that came later.
She recalled how in her past life, everyone scorned and struck her, forcing her to hide in her room like a sewer rat.
Now, seeing such opulence before her again, she could only feel how much had changed—how time had altered everything.
“The Madam, she…”
Feicui stammered, biting her lip, clearly troubled.
Jiang Chaohua threw off the covers and strode toward the door:
“Mother has gone to Songhe Courtyard, hasn’t she?”
Songhe Courtyard was the Old Madam’s residence. The Old Madam was determined to make Jiang Wanxin Shen Shi’s adopted daughter—even after this incident, she would never let the matter drop.
Now Jiang Chaohua could only pray that Shen Shi wouldn’t agree. Otherwise, all her efforts would come to nothing.
“Miss, Madam is not in Songhe Courtyard but in the Ancestral Hall. Old Madam wants Madam to adopt the cousin as her foster daughter. Madam refused and offended Old Madam, so Old Madam ordered her to reflect in the Ancestral Hall!”
Watching Jiang Chaohua rush out the door, Feicui’s voice choked with tears as she hurriedly explained.
Old Madam was too unreasonable. For Jiang Wanxin’s sake, she actually punished Madam by making her kneel in the Ancestral Hall.
During the Prosperous Tang Dynasty, filial piety was highly valued. Old Madam, wielding her authority as mother-in-law, forced Madam to comply, leaving her no choice but to submit.
“Mother has been punished to kneel in the Ancestral Hall? How dare she, how dare she!”
Jiang Chaohua halted her steps, feeling a wave of relief in her heart. She narrowed her eyes slightly, glanced at the sky outside, and let out a cold laugh:
“Feicui, help me get ready. I’m going to the palace immediately!”
Has Old Madam forgotten her status after being an official’s relative for a few years? What kind of person is she to think she can control Mother!
She would go to the palace right now and beg the Empress Dowager to intervene!
Shen Shi had developed estrangement with the Shen family and felt guilty toward the Empress Dowager. Over the years, she had gradually distanced herself from the Empress Dowager. But Jiang Chaohua knew that in the Empress Dowager’s heart, she genuinely cared for Shen Shi, which was why she had been secretly helping her all these years.
Now all it needed was someone to take the initiative to resolve the estrangement between the Empress Dowager and Shen Shi – and she would be that person!