Old Madame hesitated, “This… I’m afraid it’s not appropriate. After all, she did give birth to a son for our Cheng family. If we really drive her out, wouldn’t you be labeled as jealous and malicious?”
“Then let Sister-in-law stop supporting her natal family. We’ve already shown them more than enough kindness, but they don’t know their place and keep dragging down the Marquis’s household.”
Sister-in-law was Old Madame Cheng’s niece. Her entire family constantly flaunted the Marquis’s name, borrowing money and influence.
In her past life, there was even a distant relative surnamed Zhao who loved to gossip about Hai Yunshu, spreading rumors and stirring up trouble with phrases like “one woman serving two husbands” and “a widow still dreaming of riding a bridal sedan,” nearly drowning her in a sea of scorn.
“Yunshu, they are still relatives after all. If this gets out, how will your sister-in-law face others?”
“Mother-in-law refuses this and won’t agree to that. It doesn’t seem like you’re here to ask for a favor, but rather to dismiss a beggar.”
Seeing Hai Yunshu about to leave, the Old Madame had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree, “Fine, fine, I’ll have Yuqiu take care of it tomorrow. Will that do?”
In the end, she didn’t dare touch her son’s beloved. The Old Madame sacrificed the pawn to save the king—just a few impoverished relatives from declining families. With the Marquis’s household struggling to protect itself, offending them would have to do.
As for Bai Shishi, she might escape today, but not forever. Hai Yunshu could settle accounts with her slowly.
Night fell, and the moonlight grew thicker.
The palace banquet, with its ceremonial cannons and intricate rituals, lasted late into the night.
Empress Dowager Kang, unable to handle the wine, left the feast early.
She indeed possessed a cunning beauty, with ambition and calculation written all over her face.
In her youth, she entered the palace alone, decades younger than the late emperor, yet climbed from a lowly palace maid to the position of Noble Consort through sheer skill.
Because of her beauty, she was deeply favored by the late emperor during his lifetime, reigning supreme in the harem.
Now that her son had ascended the throne and held great power, she felt even less restrained.
It was said that she frequently summoned the Prince Regent to the palace at night to discuss state affairs, though no one knew what urgent matters required overnight deliberations.
After a few cups of plum wine, Hai Yunshu felt dizzy. Just then, an oblivious palace maid knocked over a wine cup, staining her clothes.
Before she could react, the young maid quickly knelt and pleaded, “Please forgive me, Marchioness. There are spare clothes in the side hall. This servant will take you to change immediately.”
Disrespect in front of the palace was a grave offense. Without thinking too much, Hai Yunshu followed her.
Unexpectedly, before they had gone far, the young maid began to suffer from a stomachache.
“Madam, I’m in great discomfort. The side hall isn’t far—it’s right there. Please go ahead on your own for now.”
With that, she simply pointed in a direction and ran off.
Helpless, Hai Yunshu followed her directions and arrived at a palace outside the third gate. Pushing the door open, she found it empty. Eerie silk drapes covered the beams and pillars, and the air was as cold as an ice cellar.
Walking into the inner hall, she saw two silhouettes intertwined behind a Suzhou embroidery screen.
A woman’s voice cooed, “What, are you angry that I summoned her to the palace?”
“I’ve told you, don’t provoke her.”
Her delicate hand rested on his shoulder as she said softly, “You dared to go to the Marquis’s household to see her. If I didn’t take action, it wouldn’t show your place in my heart.”
“You know I hate it most when people scheme against me.”
Her slender fingers traced his jawline, exuding endless charm. “I just want to scheme against you. What of it?”
He grabbed her wrist, and she took the opportunity to lean into his embrace, like a triumphant little wildcat, smiling seductively.
“Must you always push me away like this?”
He remained silent.
“What good is a widow to you?”
“Aren’t you one too?”
She wasn’t offended. “So you’re saying I’m good as well?”
How did she stumble upon such a scene?
Hai Yunshu cursed her luck and tiptoed away, only to accidentally knock over a flowerpot beside her feet.
The sudden noise drew the attention of the two behind the screen.
Jiang Chengjing frowned.
Kang Ling, however, looked rather pleased, watching the scene unfold as if enjoying a show.
Hai Yunshu had no time to worry. She turned and fled.
Under the dim moonlight, the winding palace corridors seemed endless. Panicked and disoriented, she felt as though someone was following her, yet each time she glanced back, there was nothing.
Suddenly, a cold glint flashed.
Jiang Chengjing emerged from the shadows, a long sword in hand, startling her.
“Why run?”
The blade pressed against her throat, but Hai Yunshu forced herself to stay calm. “Who said I was running? The moonlight is hazy—I came out to enjoy the view.”
Jiang Chengjing knew she had seen everything. Seeing her stubbornness, he asked bluntly, “Was it a good show?”
She faltered. “It… it was alright…”
Unexpectedly, he grabbed her by the neck and shoved her into the palace behind them. “Hai Yunshu, you’ve grown bold.”
“Cough… cough…” She struggled to breathe under his grip.
“Where is Cheng Zifeng?” he suddenly asked.
“I don’t know.”
He tightened his grip. “You don’t know?”
Still playing games with him?
They had studied in the same private school as children. Whether she wrote with her right hand or left, he recognized her handwriting. Did she really think he wouldn’t see through her clumsy attempt at an anonymous letter?
As a military advisor, Cheng Zifeng had misjudged the situation, leading to the annihilation of eighty thousand Great Wei soldiers.
To save his own skin, he had surrendered to the enemy. If Jiang Chengjing hadn’t sent spies to verify this, the entire Great Wei would have believed the Marquis of Dongchang had died for his country.
Utterly despicable.
But one thing puzzled him.
As the wife of Marquis Cheng, what did Hai Yunshu gain by exposing this?
What was she scheming, going to such lengths to stage this act?
“Jiang Chengjing, if you have the guts, just do it.”
Now holding immense power, he could kill or spare as he pleased.
But Hai Yunshu understood—with his skills, taking her life would be effortless. The fact that he hadn’t slit her throat meant he wasn’t planning to silence her.
He had always despised being threatened. “Let me make this clear—I don’t kill women. If I start killing, it’ll begin with the Cheng family—Cheng Dalang, Sanlang, Silang… Oh, and your newborn son is named Cheng Cong, isn’t he?”
“Jiang Chengjing!”
Cong’er was her weakness. She would never allow anyone to harm him, not even the slightest.
“Still playing tough?”
He was forcing her to yield.
“If you hate me, come at me. Bullying the weak—what kind of hero is that?”
He sneered contemptuously. “I’ve always been a villain, never aspired to be a hero. Unlike your Hai family, who does foolish things yet still craves reputation.”
Seeing him unmoved, Hai Yunshu retorted angrily, “Jiang Chengjing, what right do you have to criticize my family? Your father accepted a hundred thousand strings of cash to break off the engagement—why don’t you mention that?
“When Jiang Dalang fell into the water, why didn’t you save him?
“Your cousin, the Empress Dowager, deliberately summoned me to the palace, meticulously arranging this whole scene for me to witness—why don’t you talk about that?
“You don’t dare—you don’t dare give up your power. Jiang Chengjing, when it comes to forsaking loyalty for gain, I’m no match for you!”
In her eyes, he was someone who would sell out everything for power.
Jiang Chengjing must have been furious, throwing her roughly onto the bed and pinning her arms down.
“Let me go!”
He pressed down on her. “Go on, weren’t you so eloquent just now?”
Trapped firmly under him, Hai Yunshu had no way to resist.