Madam Zhang was stunned for a long while after hearing Jiang Bairou’s words. She led the girl into a side room and demanded an oath: “If you speak a single false word, may you spend the rest of your life as a slave, never to be reborn!”
“I swear, if I am not pregnant, may I die without peace, my body torn apart!” Jiang Bairou raised her hand solemnly.
Jiang Bairou was still an unmarried maiden. Neither the Jiang family nor Madam Zhang could summon a physician openly. If Madam Zhang did, it would prove the child was tied to the Song family, and once spread, the First Branch’s reputation would be ruined.
At present, the Song family had not yet divided its estates; the patriarch and matriarch were still alive. The current matriarch was a second wife, while Song Qingbai was born of the first. He shared no mother with his younger siblings. The patriarch and matriarch were deeply affectionate, and with the Second Branch producing the eldest grandson, Song Wenyi, who had risen swiftly in rank, the First Branch’s position in the household grew increasingly awkward.
Yet Song Wenyi had a flaw. His mother had consumed too many tonics before conceiving, leaving him weak in vitality. Though married for over three years, none of his wives or concubines had conceived.
The patriarch valued Song Wenyi’s talent but worried about heirs. The Third Branch had only two legitimate daughters. Thus, the only legitimate grandsons were Song Wenling and Song Wenyi.
Before Song Wenling’s marriage, the patriarch had reminded Madam Zhang that Jiang Yunniang seemed healthy and fertile, urging her to bear many children for the Song line.
If Jiang Bairou truly carried a child, then the First Branch might produce the long‑awaited great‑grandson.
Madam Zhang had forbidden Jiang Yunniang from bearing children because the heir’s legitimacy was crucial. But Jiang Bairou’s child would be a concubine’s son—enough to win the patriarch’s favor without threatening Song Wenling’s future marriage prospects. Her heart wavered.
Madam Zhang’s eyes shifted, and when she looked back at Jiang Bairou, her gaze softened. “Does Wenling know of your pregnancy?”
“Not yet.” Jiang Bairou stroked her still‑flat belly. “Madam Song, Wenling and I truly love each other. I am willing to give up everything for him.”
Faced with the prospect of being sent to the harsh northern frontier to wed a barbaric soldier, Jiang Bairou would rather become Song Wenling’s concubine. Her words revealed her stance, and she hoped Madam Zhang would help her. As long as she remained, she believed Song Wenling’s love would one day raise her to wife.
“I understand. Go back for now. I must think carefully about how to handle this.” Madam Zhang sent her away, then went to find her husband.
Seeing him storming from his room, Madam Zhang knew he was furious. She dared not defend their son; silently following, she planned to discuss Jiang Bairou later.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yunniang had removed her heavy hairpins and sat on her couch, reviewing her dowry list.
To show respect for Madam Zhang, she had sent the storeroom keys to her even before marriage. Normally, a mother‑in‑law would not covet her daughter‑in‑law’s dowry, and after accepting the keys, would later return them.
But in her past life, Madam Zhang had never returned them.
Her mother had lovingly prepared a dowry of ten miles’ worth of red bridal chests. Likely, Madam Zhang had swallowed it all.
As Jiang Yunniang calculated her dowry’s worth, Qiuyue frowned beside her, sighing repeatedly.
“Speak plainly. There are no outsiders here.” Jiang Yunniang set down the list and rubbed her eyes.
“Second Young Madam, after today’s uproar, how will you live with Second Young Master?” Qiuyue worried deeply. She had not originally served in Jiang Yunniang’s quarters, but Jiang Yunniang had taken her in after seeing her bullied. Grateful, Qiuyue wished her mistress peace and happiness in her marriage.
“If we cannot live well, then we won’t live together at all.” Jiang Yunniang replied calmly. “I once thought Second Young Master married me out of affection. But you heard him—he said I’m just a rustic peasant woman. He never liked me.”
“Then why marry you?” Qiuyue asked, baffled.
“Because I have a powerful uncle.” Jiang Yunniang rose and walked to her bed. “The Second Branch has Song Wenyi, already rising in rank. The First Branch, not born of the current matriarch, must rely on Song Wenling. With my uncle’s support, Song Wenling’s career after the palace exam would be secure.”
Seeing Qiuyue still troubled, Jiang Yunniang clasped her hand. “Good Qiuyue, don’t fret for me. Since they don’t value me, I won’t cling to them. We’ll do our best, and if it fails, I won’t fear the Songs cheating me—I hold their weakness.”
She had taken Jiang Bairou’s bellyband as evidence, proof against denial.
Madam Zhang and her husband pinned all hopes on Song Wenling’s success. With Jiang Yunniang holding his scandal, they would have to smile at her, never daring to break openly.
Qiuyue sighed. “But if you divorce, you’ll be a second‑married woman.”
Though remarriage was common in Great Ye, it was never as honorable as a first marriage.
“Don’t worry. We’ve had a long day. Rest now—tomorrow will bring more troubles.” Jiang Yunniang yawned, weary. She slept soundly. To live again was already a blessing.
But before dawn, Song Wenling’s noisy voice disturbed her.
Jiang Yunniang rubbed her eyes as Nanny Sun entered. “Second Young Master asks you to rise and pay respects.”
“Isn’t it still dark?” Jiang Yunniang refused to get up.
“Second Young Master says it is Song family custom.” Nanny Sun, a trusted servant of Madam Lu, had been sent to steady Jiang Yunniang’s household. “Qiuyue is outside holding him off. Will you rise?”
“No.” JiangYunniang lay back down. “There’s still an hour until dawn. The Song family customs are nonsense. Tell him if he cannot wait, he can go himself.”
Nanny Sun knew of last night’s scandal. Thinking of the son‑in‑law with the younger daughter, she found it absurd. She quietly left to deliver Jiang Yunniang’s words.
“What did she say?” Song Wenling’s voice rose in disbelief. “I came myself, and she dares to keep sleeping?”
If not for his father’s orders, he would never have come. He had drunkenly taken advantage of Jiang Bairou—how was that her fault? Yet Jiang Yunniang, jealous and cruel, insisted on tormenting her!
Nanny Sun stood firm at the door. “Second Young Madam was hurt last night. She cannot rise yet. Please wait, Second Young Master. I will keep the time.”
She was an old hand in the household. Song Wenling’s early visit was clearly arranged by his parents to humiliate Jiang Yunniang. But seeing him now, she felt only scorn.
Song Wenling’s veins bulged with fury. He stormed off—only to return moments later, seething, and sat on a rosewood chair, glaring at Jiang Yunniang’s door with clenched teeth.