The next day, after breakfast, Jiang Nian and Jiang Sui were preparing to go to the back mountain to dig for wild vegetables with bamboo baskets in hand. As soon as they opened the door, they saw an ornate carriage parked at the entrance.
Two maids stepped down from the carriage and turned to assist Madam Qi and the Eldest Daughter-in-Law of the Qi Family as they alighted.
Jiang Nian felt a knot in her heart. What terrible luck to run into these two first thing in the morning.
Madam Qi stood proudly before the carriage, her eyes sweeping over the small farmhouse with disdain.
Jiang Sui asked warily, "Who are you looking for?"
Liu Shi, the Eldest Daughter-in-Law of the Qi Family, covered her face with a handkerchief and asked, "Where is Jiang Nian? Tell her to come out and see us."
Jiang Nian stepped forward, swinging her bamboo basket. Madam Qi and Liu Shi recoiled two steps in disgust.
"What are you doing? Country folk are indeed crude and ill-mannered," Liu Shi said, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt and mockery.
Jiang Nian smiled. "Noble ladies, if you find our humble home so distasteful, please leave. There's dog excrement on the ground—we wouldn't want to dirty your esteemed feet."
"Ah!" Madam Qi and Liu Shi looked down in disgust, noticing a pile of dog excrement right by their feet.
"How revolting!" Madam Qi retreated to the carriage, covering her face with her handkerchief, while Liu Shi waved hers disdainfully as she stepped aside.
"Who is Jiang Nian? Bring her out to see me," Madam Qi commanded, her face still hidden.
"Who are you? What do you want with Nian Nian?" Jiang Sui asked irritably.
Madam Qi was furious. "I want to see what kind of immortal she is, daring to play hard to get with my son."
"Don't slander our Nian Nian. She's nothing like what you say," Jiang Sui retorted, lifting her chin. "Who is your son, anyway?"
"Qi Heng," Madam Qi declared haughtily. "The son of Prefect Qi."
"So it's him," Jiang Sui said, placing her hands on her hips. "Tell your son to stop bothering our Nian Nian. If her reputation is ruined, how will she ever marry?"
"Marry?" Madam Qi and Liu Shi were thunderstruck, their faces pale with shock as they shrieked in unison.
"She cannot marry!"
If she married, what would become of Qi Heng? What would become of the Qi Manor? Madam Qi tried to push her way inside, but Jiang Nian and Jiang Sui blocked her path.
"This is private property. If you don't leave, we'll report you to the authorities," Jiang Sui scolded.
"Where is Jiang Nian? Bring her out to see me," Madam Qi shouted toward the house several times, not only summoning the Jiang family members inside but also attracting many neighbors.
"Who are you?" Grandpa Jiang stood guard at the door.
"I am the wife of Prefect Qi," Madam Qi said, displeased by the crowd staring at her. She adjusted the hairpin in her hair. "I demand to see Jiang Nian."
Grandpa Jiang glanced at Jiang Nian, who shook her head slightly. He then said, "She's not home. We have farm work to do, so please leave."
"I'm not leaving!" Madam Qi craned her neck to peer inside. "Bring Jiang Nian to me."
In a tree near the Jiang family's entrance, two guards in black observed the situation. Seeing this, they hurried back to report to their master.
As soon as Qi Heng heard that his mother had gone to find Jiang Nian, he rode straight to Yong’an Village. Qi Mo and Qi Xun, eager to meet their future sister-in-law, followed on horseback.
The three of them arrived at the Jiang family's doorstep just in time to hear Madam Qi's arrogant declaration.
"Although I have no regard for a farmer's daughter, I am willing to make a small compromise. Once she enters our household, I will personally instruct her, teaching her…"
"Mother, what are you doing?" Qi Heng grabbed her arm. "Stop talking, now!"
"Mother." Qi Mo and Qi Xun bowed to Madam Qi. Except for Qi Heng, the other three brothers were all born from different concubines.
Madam Qi's eyes reddened with grievance when her son scolded her. "Son, I've already chosen to compromise and allowed that peasant girl to enter our family, yet the Jiang Family won't even let me through their door."
Jiang Nian felt utterly speechless. Madam Qi always managed to be both exasperating and infuriating. In her previous life, Madam Qi had found fault with her everywhere, imposing numerous strict rules upon her. Every time they met, she would subject her to sarcastic remarks and cold mockery. For Qi Heng's sake, Jiang Nian had endured it all, suffering countless grievances.
Seeing Madam Qi, Jiang Nian instantly became clear-headed. She decided not to marry after all—not even in a fake marriage. If war broke out, she would take her family to find a safe cave in advance, stockpile enough food, and avoid the risks.
Qi Heng bowed to Grandpa Jiang with guilt. "Grandpa, I'm sorry. I didn't know my mother would come here and cause you trouble. I'll take her away immediately."
"This old man doesn't deserve such courtesy from you, young master." Grandpa Jiang sidestepped to avoid his bow. "Your Qi Family members should stop coming to our home. Our humble cottage cannot entertain noble guests."
"Grandpa, I…"
"Second son, close the door and see our guests out."
Just as Qi Heng was about to speak, Grandpa Jiang instructed his second son to shut the door. Madam Qi grew anxious, pointing her finger and exclaiming.
"How rude he is, daring to reject us!"
"Jiang Nian!" Qi Heng took a large stride forward, reaching out to block the door. "Have you thought it over?"
"I won't marry. I'm not worthy of such an honor." Jiang Nian didn't even turn her head.
Upon hearing this, Madam Qi, Liu Shi, and the Qi brothers hurried forward, craning their necks to look.
"Which one is Jiang Nian?" Madam Qi asked curiously, peering inside.
"Second sister-in-law, if you marry into our Qi Manor, you'll never have to worry about food or drink. Why won't you marry?" Qi Xun anxiously shouted through the door.
"If you marry my second brother, I'll treat you like an ancestor and serve you, alright?"
Qi Heng blocked the door with his hand, preventing it from closing, his dark eyes fixed on Jiang Nian's slender back.
"Jiang Nian, let's talk again."
Jiang Nian ignored him and went straight back into the house. The Jiang Family forcibly closed the door, and the neighbors dispersed.
Outside the door, the Qi Family members were restless with anxiety. Liu Shi muttered to herself, "What about next month's wedding? The Crown Prince is supposed to attend."
"We don't necessarily need her!" Madam Qi suggested. "Let my niece from my maiden family take her place. We'll just say she's the Jiang Family's daughter."
"Father won't agree," Qi Mo sighed.
Qi Heng stood at the door for a long time before turning to his mother. "Why did you come here?"
"I…" Madam Qi glanced guiltily at her son. "I just wanted to see which peasant girl had the nerve to reject my son."
Hearing this, Qi Heng's face turned as dark as coal. Qi Xun whispered, "Mother's plan backfired. After seeing a mother-in-law like you, how could Second Sister-in-law still be willing to marry?"
"Qi Xun!" Madam Qi glared at him, gritting her teeth.
"All of you, go back!" Qi Heng spoke in a detached tone.
"Second Brother, aren't you coming back?" Qi Mo asked.
"Fool!" Qi Xun slapped him. "Second Brother obviously needs to stay and coax Second Sister-in-law."
"Son." Madam Qi, afraid of being scolded by Prefect Qi when she returned, nervously twisted the handkerchief in her hands. "Please explain to your future wife for me. I promise I won't make things difficult for her in the future. What happened today was my impulsiveness—I was only thinking of our Qi Manor."
"You should go back first!" Qi Heng sighed. Forget explaining—he didn't even know if he could see Jiang Nian again.
After the Qi family had departed, Qi Heng remained alone at the entrance, his thoughts in disarray. If she truly refused to marry, and the Crown Prince was determined to make things difficult for Qi Manor, perhaps rebellion was the only way.
The moment this thought surfaced, he forcibly suppressed it. Such a treasonous act would never gain his father's approval.