“You unfilial son!”
Jiang Zhong roared, striding in from outside. ”
Who gave you permission to speak to your mother like that?”
“Since you love the Four Books and Five Classics and follow etiquette, don’t you understand the principle that a son shouldn’t speak ill of his father?”
“How your mother and I behave is none of your business!”
Jiang Zhong was clearly furious; his face was flushed red, and his eyes glared wide, looking like he wanted to devour someone.
Jiang Zhenzhou, who had followed him, shrank back, afraid that Jiang Zhong would vent his anger on him.
But Jiang Jibai remained standing ramrod straight.
“Father, I only hope that you and Mother won’t make the same mistake again. Don’t ruin the century-old foundation of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion because of this!
Eldest sister and Jiang Zhiyu’s identities should be restored as soon as possible! And we can’t let the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion act like this, otherwise—”
Before Jiang Jibai could finish speaking, Jiang Zhong, already furious, walked over and slapped him in the chest.
Jiang Zhong had been practicing martial arts since childhood, and while his skills weren’t extraordinary, they were certainly not bad.
Jiang Jibai, on the other hand, knew no martial arts at all; he was a completely weak scholar who couldn’t lift a finger.
With this slap, Jiang Jibai was sent flying backward.
Jiang Zhenzhou reacted quickly and reached out to catch him, preventing Jiang Jibai from crashing to the ground.
Even so, Jiang Jibai was still coughing up blood, and his body was too weak to stand.
Fan Suwan hadn’t expected Jiang Zhong to be so ruthless.
“My lord! Ji Bai is just like that; he didn’t mean to offend you. Please don’t take it to heart!”
Fan Suwan said, stepping in front of Jiang Ji Bai as if afraid Jiang Zhong would attack again.
Jiang Zhong glared angrily at Fan Suwan. “How dare you say that! It’s all because you spoil him so much that he’s like this today, showing no respect for his elders and daring to point fingers at his father. This time, he’ll learn a lesson so he knows what he should do and what he should say!”
Fan Suwan wanted to persuade him further, but seeing Jiang Zhong’s furious expression, she ultimately didn’t continue.
Further persuasion would only add fuel to the fire.
She’d wait until the lord’s anger subsided.
“Lock him back in his courtyard for a month. Don’t let him out without my permission,” Jiang Zhong ordered.
Although Fan Suwan felt sorry for him, she didn’t dare disobey Jiang Zhong at this moment.
But with Jiang Jibai so badly injured, she was truly at ease and personally led people to escort him back.
Jiang Zhong’s expression remained grim, but he didn’t stop them.
After Fan Suwan and the others left, Jiang Zhong finally looked at Jiang Zhiyu.
Looking at Jiang Zhiyu, Jiang Zhong’s expression became somewhat complicated.
Jiang Jingshu, on whom he had placed high hopes, had been publicly humiliated by Emperor Zhaoming, and whether she could even enter the palace during the selection process was still uncertain.
Jiang Zhiyu, whom he didn’t even consider, had somehow gotten lucky and had even gained the favor of the Empress Dowager, and was even able to speak with Prince Chen.
After a slight pause, Jiang Zhong spoke in a deep voice, “The Empress Dowager values you, but you must not take this for granted, understand?”
“Oh.”
Oh?
The anger that Jiang Zhong had just suppressed almost surged up again.
He had given her such a serious instruction, and she only said “oh”?
It was utterly disrespectful to her father!
“Uncle, if you have nothing else to say, I’ll head back now.”
Looking into Jiang Zhiyu’s clear, bright eyes, Jiang Zhong was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to continue his outburst.
“Go back!”
Jiang Zhong turned his head away, waving his hand dismissively.
Jiang Zhiyu, ignoring his displeasure, left with Wangyou and Rendong.
On the way back, Wangyou whispered, “Miss, the Marquis seems to have a bad temper! Miss, you should be more careful in the future!”
Her son, whom she had raised for over a decade, was now being beaten so severely.
This Marquis Zhongyong wasn’t a good person either!
Jiang Zhiyu chuckled lightly, “He has a bad temper, but I do? If a fight broke out, who would beat whom is still uncertain!”
She wasn’t some parasitic vine; anyone who thought she was some kind of freeloader from the Marquis Zhongyong’s household was making a grave mistake. Wangyou,
who had been worried, felt relieved after hearing Jiang Zhiyu’s words.
Yes!
Their young lady wasn’t someone to be trifled with!
The three quickly returned to the courtyard.
Exhausted from the day’s work, Jiang Zhiyu just wanted to take a bath and rest.
Knowing Jiang Zhiyu’s habits, Wangyou immediately had someone prepare water.
A quarter of an hour later,
steam rose from the tub, filling the room with a mist y haze.
Jiang Zhiyu had barely reached the door when she frowned.
Wangyou and Rendong were both puzzled. “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Jiang Zhiyu smiled silently, a slight smile playing on her lips. “Someone prepared a surprise for me in the water.”
Though her lips curved into a smile, her words were chilling.
Rendong instantly realized what had happened. “Miss, someone poisoned you?”
Wangyou’s expression was also serious. “To dare poison Miss, how wicked! It must be Jiang Jingshu!”
Jiang Zhiyu gently patted their shoulders and continued walking inside.
The room was filled with incense, and even flower petals were placed in the water.
Soaked in hot water, the fragrance of the petals became even stronger.
Under these two scents, others couldn’t smell anything at all.
But Jiang Zhiyu was different.
Her five senses were extraordinary, extremely sharp.
She could detect even the slightest differences.
While Wangyou and Rendong might only smell the incense and flower petals, Jiang Zhiyu could clearly smell another strong, exotic fragrance besides these two.
This was the scent of the Beauty’s Dimple.
The Beauty’s Dimple was a herb with extremely beautiful, peach-pink flowers shaped like a beautiful woman’s face, and its sap had a unique fragrance.
Although its name, appearance, and smell were beautiful, it was a truly poisonous plant.
If its sap came into contact with the skin, it would become sunken and rotten, like twisted, ugly dimples.
Jiang Jingshu had the juices from the Beauty’s Dimples poured into her bathwater, intending to disfigure her!
The idea was good.
Unfortunately, Jiang Jingshu knew nothing of her abilities.
Although not a doctor, her specialty was cultivating all sorts of plants.
Whether edible fruits and vegetables, medicinal herbs, or even poisonous plants and drugs, she grew them all!
And the effects were dozens, even hundreds of times better than what could be bought outside.
Otherwise, so many people wouldn’t have gone to Shennong Manor to buy them.
But Shennong Manor wasn’t accessible to just anyone.
Many who couldn’t enter Shennong Manor opted for the less desirable option: the Immortal’s Pavilion.
Unable to buy raw materials, they ate at the Immortal’s Pavilion. Some
even lived nearby, eating there three meals a day.
As a result, countless people recovered or were cured of poisoning.
Over the years, Jiang Zhiyu rarely saw patients.
To this day, the number of outsiders who knew she was the young lady of Shennong Manor could be counted on one hand.
Although Jiang Jingshu didn’t know her identity, the fact that she dared to poison her was commendable.
Jiang Jingshu was so diligent, she naturally deserved a reward.
“Wangyou, Rendong, dispose of this water. I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be right back.”
“Yes!”
Wangyou and Rendong agreed in unison, without asking a single question.
Jiang Zhiyu didn’t leave through the door, but went directly out the window.
Although the Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence had many guards and secret agents,
it was easy for Jiang Zhiyu to evade them.
It didn’t take long for Jiang Zhiyu to arrive at Yilan Courtyard.
Inside, Jiang Jingshu was also preparing to bathe.
Jiang Zhiyu took out a small porcelain bottle and poured the beauty essence inside into the bathtub.
Instantly, the room smelled even sweeter.
Jiang Jingshu was in a good mood and didn’t notice this.
With the help of her personal maids Liuli and Hupo, she undressed, stepped onto the bathtub, and entered.
Sitting in the warm water, Jiang Jingshu felt a slight stinging sensation.
This made her frown in displeasure. “The water’s a bit hot.”
Liuli and Amber were startled and quickly dipped their hands into the water to check the temperature so they could add cooler water.
As soon as they placed their hands in the water, they also felt a stinging pain.
Liuli was uncertain. “Miss, it doesn’t seem…it’s not because the water is hot!”
Amber had already withdrawn her hands.
With their hands exposed to the air, the pain didn’t disappear; in fact, it was even stronger than before.
Although Amber was also a maid, as Jiang Jingshu’s personal maid, she didn’t need to do any rough work, and her hands were very delicate and fair.
But even these delicate, fair hands, after being exposed to the air, developed countless tiny, visible dents.
These dents were twisted and ugly.
What was once a pair of pretty hands instantly became unsightly.
Liuli and Jiang Jingshu were both stunned.
Liuli quickly pulled her hand away and looked down at it, only to see that her hand had become exactly like Amber’s.
Jiang Jingshu, seeing this, instantly had a guess.
But she refused to believe it.
How could this be!
That beautiful woman was clearly poured into Jiang Zhiyu’s bathwater, how could she be here!
Just as Jiang Jingshu was in disbelief, she heard Liuli and Amber scream.
“Miss!”
“Miss, come out quickly!”
Jiang Jingshu immediately stood up and saw that her wet skin was covered in tiny pits.
“Ah!”
Jiang Jingshu screamed, her eyes rolling back as she was about to faint.
Amber and Liuli didn’t dare delay, ignoring the pain in their hands, and rushed forward, supporting Jiang Jingshu on either side.
Jiang Jingshu only had wounds on her body; thankfully, her face and neck weren’t wet yet.
If Jiang Jingshu had fainted in the water like this…
Amber and Liuli couldn’t even bear to think about that scene.
The two of them used all their strength to finally pull Jiang Jingshu out of the bathtub.
They didn’t dare dress her, but after drying her, they carried her to the bed.
Amber looked at Liuli, “You stay here and watch over her. I’ll go inform Madam!”