An Shi also felt wronged, holding her son as she cried. "Since I married into your Jiang Family, I've served my in-laws above and my husband below. Now I even have to care for this little one! No one helps me—I'm exhausted!"
Xu Shi stood to the side, nervously twisting her fingers, uncertain whether to intervene or not.
Jiang Nian said, "You know how tiring it is to care for a child, so why dump it all on Second Sister-in-law? Isn't she tired? The child isn't even hers."
An Shi glared at her with reddened eyes. Jiang Nian continued:
"Normally, the whole family helps with childcare. But now we're busy in the fields—no one is idle. Everyone goes to work at dawn. The aunts handle cooking and laundry. Jiang Sui and I water the plants and feed the chickens daily. What have you been doing while dumping your child on Second Sister-in-law?"
"I…" An Shi was speechless, both angry and humiliated. "I gave the Jiang Family a healthy son!"
Jiang Nian sneered, "Your son with Jiang Yu—we really don't care."
"You may not care, but Grandpa and Grandma do!" An Shi raised her eyebrows defiantly.
"Then go find them to watch your child." Jiang Nian took Xu Shi's hand and headed inside. "Second Sister-in-law, you've worked hard lately. Go rest in your room."
Xu Shi burst into tears and hugged her sister-in-law tightly. "Nian Nian, thank you."
"What's going on? Why are you three arguing?" The five daughters-in-law of the Jiang Family had just returned from washing clothes by the river and rushed over upon hearing the commotion in the backyard. Grandpa Jiang and Jiang Nǎinai also approached upon noticing the disturbance.
Jiang Er Niang saw her newlywed daughter-in-law clinging to Jiang Nian in tears and hurried over. "What happened? Why are you crying? Who upset you?"
Xu Shi embraced her mother-in-law. "Mother, I'm fine. I just miss home."
Not wanting to cause trouble, Xu Shi suppressed the matter. But An Shi, holding her son, wailed loudly. "The Jiang Family is bullying me! I'm taking my son back to my parents' house!"
"Back to your parents?" Jiang Da Niang panicked and rushed to take her grandson. "What happened? Who bullied you?"
Jiang Nǎinai also stepped forward to console her. "Don't be upset—you'll risk losing your milk supply. What will the child eat then?"
An Shi cried even harder, pointing at Jiang Nian. "She bullied me! I just asked Second Sister-in-law to help with the child, and she called me lazy and forbade her from helping!"
Everyone looked at Jiang Nian disapprovingly. Jiang Nian laughed in frustration.
"Helping? You dumped your child on Second Sister-in-law and made her wash the diapers too, while you did nothing!"
Jiang San Niang pulled her daughter aside and whispered, "What are you doing? As a sister-in-law, don't meddle in their affairs."
Jiang Nian retorted indignantly, "I can't stand seeing Eldest Sister-in-law bully others!"
"Explain yourself! When did I ever bully her?" An Shi pointed at Jiang Nian accusingly.
"Ordering her around like a servant—isn't that bullying?" Jiang Nian shot back.
"We're family! What's wrong with helping each other?" An Shi argued stubbornly.
"Helping each other?" Jiang Nian questioned coldly. "Tell me, Eldest Sister-in-law, what have you done for Second Sister-in-law?"
"I…" An Shi was speechless. The Jiang family members remained silent—everyone knew the truth, but as long as their own interests weren't harmed, no one had exposed it. Now, Jiang Nian had laid it bare.
Xu Shi spoke timidly, "Nian Nian argued with our sister-in-law because of me. Ever since I married into the Jiang Family, I've been helping our sister-in-law look after the children and wash diapers every day. My back aches so much I can barely straighten it, and I only get a moment's rest at night. I'm exhausted—these aren't even my children."
"Sister-in-law!" Xu Shi glared at her with red-rimmed eyes. "We both married into the Jiang Family, with equal status. How can you shamelessly order me around like a servant?"
"Honey." Jiang Mi from the second branch returned from the fields and, seeing his wife being bullied, rushed over to protect her. Xu Shi threw herself into his arms, feeling wronged.
"Husband."
"Sister-in-law!" Jiang Mi looked at her. "I respect my elder brother, so I call you sister-in-law. But if you dare bully my wife again, I won't let it slide."
An Shi's face flushed red then pale with shame, unable to lift her head under the criticism. Jiang Yu walked over to her with a cold expression.
"An Shi, apologize to our sister-in-law!"
Humiliated beyond words, An Shi quickly muttered, "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry."
The women of the Jiang Family took turns scolding An Shi.
"An Shi, you've gone too far."
"You can't take advantage of her youth to bully her."
"An Shi." Grandpa Jiang spoke gravely. "From now on, look after your own children. If you can't manage, let your mother-in-law handle it. You won't need to care for the children anymore!"
"No!" An Shi clutched her son tightly. "No one is taking my son away from me."
An Shi glared venomously at Jiang Nian, blaming her entirely. If she hadn't helped Xu Shi, none of this would have happened.
"Jiang Nian, what have I ever done to you to make you dislike me so much?"
Jiang Nian: "You haven't done anything to me. I just don't like you bullying Second Sister-in-law."
It reminded her of how the sisters-in-law at Qi Manor had bullied her.
The gathering ended unhappily. During dinner that evening, An Shi stayed in her room without coming out. Jiang Yu brought a meal to her room.
After dinner, Jiang Nian and Jiang Sui were washing dishes in the kitchen when Xu Shi came over to help.
"Nian Nian, thank you."
"I can't always help you." Jiang Nian washed chopsticks as she spoke. "You need to stand up for yourself and stop obeying her every command."
"Okay." Xu Shi smiled faintly, pressing her lips together. Today had been her most relaxed day yet.
Qi Manor.
As soon as Qi Heng returned to the manor, Qi Mo and Qi Xun ran over to question him.
"Second Brother, did Second Sister-in-law agree to marry you?"
Qi Heng shook his head. "No."
"Why wouldn't she agree?" Qi Xun said. "After marrying into our family, she'd never have to work in the fields again or worry about making a living. What is she hesitating about?"
Qi Mo didn't understand women's thoughts either.
"She must be playing hard to get." Madam Qi approached, supported by her eldest daughter-in-law, Liu Shi.
Liu Shi looked worried. "If that peasant girl refuses to marry, what will happen to next month's wedding? Will the Crown Prince accuse us of deceiving the emperor?"
The more Liu Shi thought about it, the more frightened she became. Madam Qi scolded, "Don't talk nonsense. Would the Crown Prince really exterminate our entire family over such an absurd matter?"
Qi Mo said quietly, "Last month, the Crown Prince executed an entire family. I heard it was because they had a son who disguised himself as a woman and deceived the Crown Prince's affections. In his fury, the Crown Prince had the whole family beheaded."
Madam Qi trembled with fear, and Liu Shi also shook, unable to speak.
On the way back, Madam Qi said to Liu Shi, "Tomorrow, accompany me to Yong’an Village. I want to meet that peasant girl myself."
"Alright." Liu Shi obediently agreed.
Madam Qi felt deeply aggrieved. "My son is so outstanding, yet she still doesn't fancy him? What, does she want to marry an immortal?"
Liu Shi asked, "Mother-in-law, what if that peasant girl refuses to marry?"
Madam Qi glared at her angrily. "How do you know she would refuse? Perhaps she's just playing hard to get!"