When Jiang Yunniang arrived at the garden, Lu Jianfeng and Song Wenling had already been pulled apart.
Lu Jianye struck his younger brother with a punch in front of everyone. “Get back to your courtyard!”
Lu Jianfeng spat at Song Wenling before turning away. His clothes were only a little dirty, but Song Wenling’s face was bruised and swollen.
At a glance, Jiang Yunniang knew Lu Jianfeng had done it deliberately—aiming straight for Song Wenling’s face.
Lu Jianye quickly ordered servants to carry Song Wenling inside, asked Madam Zhao to entertain the other guests, and went with Jiang Yunniang to check on Song Wenling.
When the physician arrived, he said the injuries were only superficial, but it would take a month or two for them to fade completely.
“My apologies. Jianfeng is a soldier, unable to hide his feelings. Today’s incident—I offer my brother‑in‑law an apology. All medicines and tonics for his recovery will be provided by our Lu family. As for Jianfeng, once we return to Mobei, I will punish him by sending him to the harshest frontier as a common soldier.” Lu Jianye himself thought Song Wenling deserved a beating, but his brother had been too impulsive—at the very least, he should not have struck him inside their own residence.
Still, his words carried a tone of protecting his brother. Since he promised punishment, the Song family was expected to let the matter rest. Pursuing it further would be unwelcome.
Song Wenling’s mouth hurt even to move. He had barely entered the garden when Lu Jianfeng suddenly appeared and punched him squarely in the face.
Now Song Wenling was seething with rage. He could not stay and ordered his servant to prepare to leave.
Seeing Song Wenling so angry, Lu Jianye, as host, could only promise to visit later to apologize.
With things as they were, Jiang Yunniang had no choice but to accompany Song Wenling back. They had come in one carriage, but returned with two—one carrying gifts for Jiang Yunniang from the Lu family, the other with compensation for Song Wenling.
Back at the Song residence, Song Wenling was carried into Zhuyan Study. Soon after, Madam Zhang and Jiang Bairou arrived.
Jiang Bairou waited at the door until Madam Zhang entered, then followed. Seeing Song Wenling’s face swollen like a pig’s head, tears immediately fell. She rushed to him. “Second Master… what happened to you? Who struck you?”
Song Wenling’s mouth tasted of blood, his scalp tingling with pain. A servant recounted the incident.
Jiang Yunniang, hearing the servant tell it plainly without embellishment, stayed silent. But Madam Zhang, upon hearing it, raised her hand to strike Jiang Yunniang. Luckily, Jiang Yunniang dodged in time.
“Jiang Yunniang, you arranged this, didn’t you?” Madam Zhang’s heart ached—her son’s face was swollen, and he kept crying out in pain. Since his birth, he had never suffered such humiliation.
“Mother, mind your words. What do you mean I arranged it?” Jiang Yunniang’s face hardened. “When Second Young Master was struck, I wasn’t even in the garden. Didn’t Qingmo just say it was Lu Jianfeng who suddenly appeared?”
“Wasn’t that because you instigated it?” Madam Zhang had lost all reason. “You resent Wenling for taking a concubine, and knowing we cannot touch the Lu family, you had Jianfeng do it. Don’t think I can’t guess your schemes—they’re written all over your face. Do you take us for fools?”
Jiang Yunniang laughed coldly. “I’ll say it again—this had nothing to do with me. But if you insist it was my doing, then so what? What can you do to me? What *will* you do to me?”
Everyone present was from the eldest branch. She had already torn off all pretense with them. So what if she was arrogant? They wouldn’t dare act against her.
Seeing Madam Zhang’s veins bulge with fury, Jiang Yunniang sneered. “Mother, have you forgotten? Before Second Young Master took Bairou, Grandmother wanted her to marry Lu Jianfeng. If you insist I instigated it, fine—but after managing the household for so many years, surely you should have some sense?”
She sat down calmly. Madam Zhang realized too late that she had acted rashly.
Humiliated by Jiang Yunniang’s sharp words, Madam Zhang’s face darkened. Looking at Jiang Bairou, her expression grew even worse.
Jiang Bairou immediately knelt. “Madam, I am innocent with Lu Jianfeng. Grandmother only asked us to meet once, nothing more.” Crawling closer to Jiang Yunniang, she sobbed. “Sister, if you want to scold or strike, direct it at me. Lu Jianfeng is hot‑tempered and easily provoked. We don’t know if you said anything to him. But even if you dislike me, I still regard you as my elder sister. I beg you—please don’t treat Second Young Master this way.”
Her tears fell one after another. Jiang Yunniang had implied it was her fault, but Jiang Bairou did not defend herself—she spoke only for Song Wenling.
As expected, Song Wenling ignored his pain and pulled Jiang Bairou close. “You’re pregnant—don’t mind her.”
“Yes, Concubine Jiang is with child,” Jiang Yunniang said coolly. “But how far along? When will she give birth? And when she does, must I help cover it up?”
Pregnant before marriage—such a scandal. If outsiders learned, they would understand why the Jiang family had expelled Jiang Bairou. And the shame would fall even harder on the Song family’s eldest branch—especially Song Wenling. Next spring, he was to sit for the palace examination, the test that would determine his entire future.
When Madam Zhao advised Jiang Yunniang to plan another path for herself, Jiang Yunniang thought of her marriage to Song Wenling. In truth, Madam Zhang and Song Wenling wanted it ended even more quickly—after all, she had caught them in so many misdeeds that Madam Zhang could no longer play the role of dignified mother‑in‑law.
Watching Jiang Bairou weeping in Song Wenling’s arms, Jiang Yunniang rose and said, “Today’s matter—handle it with the Lu family however you wish. If you have the backbone to sever ties with them, I’ll even praise you.” She was hungry; she might have enjoyed the Lu family’s banquet, but thanks to Song Wenling, she hadn’t even had lunch.
Before leaving, Jiang Yunniang deliberately looked at Jiang Bairou. “One more thing—Concubine Jiang, you are not my younger sister. You are now Second Young Master’s concubine. From now on, when you speak to me, you must address me properly. Our Song household values rules above all. If you don’t understand rank and respect, watch your skin.”
No matter how ugly the others’ expressions grew, Jiang Yunniang took Qiuyue and returned to Chunxi Courtyard.
Qiuyue was delighted. Closing the door, she laughed. “I think Second Young Master Lu struck well. It’s only a pity for you, mistress—such fine years, yet you must struggle in this mire with them.”
She sighed deeply. The Old Madam pressed her mistress with the weight of filial duty—truly unreasonable.
“Don’t sigh. Look at me—I still eat and drink well, while they suffer every day.” Jiang Yunniang saw the maid bring in food, touched her stomach, and said, “I must eat quickly. There’s still a play to perform later.”
She then told Qiuyue to fetch some coptis root. “Have Nanny Sun add it to the medicine.”
Qiuyue laughed and agreed, taking the herb to Nanny Sun.
While Jiang Yunniang feasted, the Old Master and members of the other two branches, hearing Song Wenling had been beaten, all went to Zhuyan Study to see him.
Seeing Song Wenling’s battered face, even Madam Xu’s heart skipped—she dared not look long.
Madam Meng asked Qingmo, “Where is your SecondYoung Madam?”
Only then did everyone realize Jiang Yunniang was absent. The Old Master grew more displeased and barked, “Her husband is injured like this, and she isn’t at his bedside. Where has she gone? Bring her here at once!”
Madam Zhang herself could not scold or strike Jiang Yunniang, but seeing the Old Master enraged, she eagerly hoped he would punish her. She quickly sent Nanny Wang to summon Jiang Yunniang, then sighed to the Old Master. “Father, don’t be angry. Yunniang was poorly taught from childhood. It’s normal she neglects some duties.”
“What normal? Even in ordinary families, if a husband is beaten, the wife should attend to him!” The Old Master was truly furious. His grandson’s face was swollen like a pig’s head—if it scarred, how could he shine in the palace exam?
Madam Zhang nodded repeatedly. “Father is right.”
Madam Xu chimed in. “I once praised elder sister‑in‑law for her fortune, having such a beautiful daughter‑in‑law. It seems I was shallow. One must look at substance. If you ask me, Bairou is more devoted than Yunniang. Elder sister‑in‑law, don’t you agree?”
Speaking of Jiang Bairou, Madam Zhang no longer liked her either. Only Jiang Bairou’s pregnancy gave her hope for a grandson. Otherwise, with all the trouble Jiang Bairou had caused, Madam Zhang would have sent her away long ago.
Just as Madam Zhang nodded in agreement, the curtain was suddenly drawn. She saw Jiang Yunniang enter, her eyes red, carrying a food box. As soon as she stepped across the threshold, she choked out, “Second Young Master.”
Madam Zhang felt a sudden dread. That wretched girl—what act was she putting on now?