Wu Shi retorted, “What’s the matter?”
“You’re crowding me,” Jiang Zhaoyue said.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s my fault, it’s my fault.” Wu Shi quickly took Jiang Zhaoyue’s hand, apologizing to her while turning to Pei Jingzhou and saying, “Jingzhou, don’t mind her. Zhaoyue is just a bit temperamental.”
“Yes, yes, Jingzhou, please be understanding,” Jiang Shihong chimed in.
Hah.
The original host was selfish, greedy, foolish, and malicious, but she wasn’t born that way.
Her mother died during childbirth, and her grandparents, pitying her, took her in and raised her themselves, teaching her to read, write, and learn proper etiquette.
She grew up exceptionally well—sensible, obedient, and capable of reciting volumes of poetry and literature.
Unfortunately, just after she turned six, her grandparents passed away one after the other.
Naturally, she came under the care of her stepmother, Wu Shi.
Wu Shi took her everywhere to social events, putting on the act of loving her more than her own mother.
After earning a reputation as a “good mistress” and a “good stepmother,” Wu Shi began to spoil her rotten.
If she didn’t want to study, she didn’t have to.
If she didn’t want to get out of bed, she didn’t have to.
If she hit or scolded the servants, it was always the servants’ fault.
If she took a liking to something belonging to someone else, it became hers.
If she disliked someone, she would openly insult noble ladies.
…
Her still-forming sense of morality and self-control gradually became distorted.
She grew selfish, greedy, foolish, and malicious.
Wu Shi would occasionally provoke her with subtle remarks, and she would immediately throw a tantrum without a second thought, slowly tarnishing her own reputation.
Wu Shi wanted to take advantage of this to ruin her marriage and replace her with her own biological daughter.
But over the years, the only useful weapon she had learned was—selfishness.
When it came to her marriage, she refused to back down.
Coincidentally, Pei Maokun insisted on her marrying Pei Jingzhou, and she was fortunate enough to escape Wu Shi’s grasp and enter the Zhenguo Duke Mansion.
She smoothly went through the wedding ceremony with Pei Jingzhou… and it was on their wedding night that Jiang Zhaoyue crossed over into this world.
She remembered the book describing how, after the original host married into the Zhenguo Duke Mansion, Wu Shi and her daughter were fuming with jealousy. The next chapter or two detailed how the original host gradually brought about her own downfall.
She hadn’t finished reading the entire book before crossing over.
She didn’t know what would happen next, nor did she care. She was the protagonist of her own world, determined to eat well, drink well, and stay in good spirits every day.
She just hadn’t expected Wu Shi and the others to still be unwilling to give up, still trying to ruin her marriage and replace her with her legitimate younger sister.
And that scummy, foolish man Jiang Shihong actually had the nerve to side with them.
She decided not to hold back any longer and said directly, “Mother, Father, Second Master is not an outsider. Why must you be so hypocritical?”
Wu Shi was taken aback.
Jiang Shihong asked in confusion, “Zhaoyue, what do you mean by that?”
“Mother crowded me, and I merely pointed it out. Did I do something wrong?” Jiang Zhaoyue looked at Jiang Shihong and asked.
“No,” Jiang Shihong replied bluntly.
“Mother could have just casually apologized, and that would have been the end of it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Mother apologize again and tell Second Master that I’m temperamental?”
“Well…”
“Is this matter worth Mother going to such lengths to maintain her image as a good stepmother while reinforcing the idea that I’m selfish, greedy, foolish, malicious, and unruly?”
“What are you talking about?” Jiang Shihong didn’t understand at first.
After Jiang Zhaoyue turned six, she never received a proper education. Her mind was a mess—she couldn’t even grasp subtle hints, let alone play mind games.
Why are you speaking so logically and substantively today?
Wu Shi was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly reacted, smiling as she said, “Yes, Mother was wrong, but I didn’t mean it that way, you—”
“I know Mother also has my best interests at heart.” If she let Wu Shi continue to make excuses, Jiang Zhaoyue, as a stepdaughter with a past record, would inevitably be at a disadvantage.
So she continued with the straightforward style from earlier, laying everything bare to prevent Wu Shi from playing her schemes: “It’s just that I am married now and represent the dignity of Zhenguo Duke Mansion. Please don’t go around speaking ill of me as you used to.”
Wu Shi said, “I—”
“The world is inherently imperfect, and so are people. I ask that Mother treat me with more tolerance in the future.”
“I—”
“Does Mother not wish to treat me with tolerance?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Mother truly cares for me.” Jiang Zhaoyue directly linked arms with Wu Shi and walked toward the hall.
Jiang Shihong didn’t know what had happened, but seeing the mother and daughter so close again, he was very pleased. Turning to Pei Jingzhou, he said, “Marriage truly changes a person. She’s become much more sensible and closer to her mother.”
“Was Zhaoyue not close with her mother-in-law before?” Pei Jingzhou asked.
Jiang Shihong was merely speaking polite words off the cuff.
After entrusting all household matters to Wu Shi, he never inquired further and had no idea about the true relationship between Wu Shi and Jiang Zhaoyue.
Caught off guard by Pei Jingzhou’s question, he stammered for a moment before saying, “Close, close, even closer now.”
Pei Jingzhou saw through Jiang Shihong’s unease and suddenly recalled some of the things Jiang Zhaoyue had said during their argument earlier that day.
“Jingzhou,” Jiang Shihong called out.
Pei Jingzhou snapped back to attention.
“Let’s go inside and sit.”
Seeing that Jiang Zhaoyue and Wu Shi had already reached the entrance of the hall, Pei Jingzhou said, “Father-in-law, please go ahead.”
The two walked forward together.
Jiang Shihong felt somewhat uneasy about not understanding his eldest daughter well, so he took the initiative to share what he knew about Jiang Zhaoyue with Pei Jingzhou: “Zhaoyue was very adorable as a child.”
“How so?” Pei Jingzhou asked.
“When she was born, her birth mother passed away. Her grandfather and grandmother, out of pity for her, took her in and raised her. They brought her up to be clever, lively, and utterly charming.”
“Oh?” Pei Jingzhou asked in surprise, “She was raised by her grandparents the whole time?”
“Until she was six, when her grandfather and grandmother passed away one after the other. But she was so adorable and lovable that her grandparents couldn’t bear to part with her. On their deathbeds, they left her a great deal of gold, silver, and jewels to ensure her security, fearing that Chengnin Marquis Mansion might not treat her well.”
“And after that?”
“After that, without her grandparents to guide her, the child somehow became more and more willful, more and more…” Jiang Shihong also disliked his eldest daughter and was about to complain when he noticed Pei Jingzhou frowning. He quickly changed his tone: “Now that she’s married, she’s grown up. That’s wonderful.”
Without her grandparents to guide her… more and more willful, more and more…
Pei Jingzhou looked up at Jiang Zhaoyue.
Jiang Zhaoyue immediately turned her face away.
Pei Jingzhou seemed to hear her angry “hmph” and inexplicably felt a pang of guilt. He reached up and touched the tip of his nose, then followed Jiang Shihong and the others into the hall, presenting the gift list to Jiang Shihong.
According to etiquette, Jiang Shihong could only open the gift list after Pei Jingzhou and Jiang Zhaoyue had left, so he merely accepted it happily and said, “Jingzhou is very thoughtful.”
“It is only right to show filial respect to my father-in-law.”
Who was Pei Jingzhou?
The second son of Zhenguo Duke Mansion!
A scholar capable of topping the imperial examinations, a warrior fit for the battlefield!
At such a young age, he was already the second-in-command at the Ministry of Personnel!
Now that he had become the son-in-law of Chengnin Marquis Mansion and spoke of “showing filial respect to my father-in-law,” Jiang Shihong felt particularly honored, standing taller and beaming with pride. He personally introduced the young masters and ladies of the mansion to Pei Jingzhou.
“This is my son, Jiang Junyi.” Jiang Shihong turned and said, “Junyi, come quickly and greet your brother-in-law.”
“Brother-in-law! I hope for your guidance in the future!” Jiang Junyi immediately bowed.
Pei Jingzhou returned the gesture in silence.
“This is Junyi’s twin sister, Jiang Wanxue.” Jiang Shihong called out, “Wanxue.”
Jiang Shihong had a dignified appearance, while Wu Shi was delicate and elegant. Their son, Jiang Junyi, was rather ordinary-looking, but Jiang Wanxue was quite beautiful.
Though she could not compare to Jiang Zhaoyue’s unparalleled radiance and brilliance, she combined the best features of Jiang Shihong and Wu Shi. Her skin was snow-white, her beauty delicate and enchanting, with an innate softness that easily evoked a desire to protect her.
She slowly walked up to Pei Jingzhou, her cheeks slightly flushed as she gazed at him. With a graceful and elegant posture, she bowed gently, her voice soft and delicate. “Greetings, brother-in-law.”
“No need for formalities.” Pei Jingzhou’s expression remained calm as water.
“Yes, brother-in-law.” Jiang Wanxue slowly raised her eyes, her gaze lingering on Pei Jingzhou with a tender, affectionate look, inwardly marveling at his celestial beauty.
It should have been her marrying him, yet Jiang Zhaoyue had taken the advantage. Resentful and unwilling, as she slowly rose, she deliberately swayed and leaned toward Pei Jingzhou.