Jiang Yunxu exposed the child’s small arm and pointed at the filth on the ground. “This is the only bloodline left in this world by my elder sister, yet in Yi’an Bo Fu, he is trampled upon like this…”
She wept uncontrollably, her tears three parts feigned and seven parts genuine fury, wishing she could burn this entire place to the ground.
Chu Xuanzhi frowned slightly.
“Xuan Wang, there must be some misunderstanding in this matter,” Yian Bo said awkwardly, beads of sweat as large as beans rolling down his forehead. He turned his head and glared fiercely at the Lady of Yian Bo.
The Lady of Yian Bo was also feeling aggrieved at the moment, having been inexplicably beaten.
“Ninth Imperial Uncle, don’t listen to her nonsense. Jiang Yunxu is a madwoman, not quite right in the head, causing trouble here with violence. How could the Lady of Bo possibly mistreat her own grandson? It must be a misunderstanding.”
Chu Youqi immediately judged Jiang Yunxu to be at fault without a second thought.
“Has San Wangye’s brain been addled by a serious illness? Are you blind and deaf, unable to see what’s right in front of you?”
Jiang Yunxu couldn’t hold back her anger. This despicable man might as well have died from poisoning.
“Jiang Yunxu!” Chu Youqi’s fists clenched with a creaking sound. Unfazed, Jiang Yunxu lifted her head and said, “If it comes to it, we can take this matter before the emperor. There’s no need to speak against your conscience just to curry favor with Yi’an Bo Fu.”
“You!” Chu Youqi was nearly driven mad with rage. This woman dared to say anything. Suddenly, he sensed a gaze fixed upon him. Looking up, he met Chu Xuanzhi’s eyes and immediately panicked. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, I didn’t mean it that way. She’s talking nonsense.”
Chu Xuanzhi merely glanced at him indifferently before quickly shifting his gaze to Yian Bo. “Your residence is quite busy today. I shall return another day to admire the peony painting.”
With that, he raised his slender fingers, signaling Yin Feng to push him away.
Seeing him about to leave, Jiang Yunxu’s heart nearly leapt into her throat, inwardly cursing this man for going back on his word.
Suddenly, the wheelchair stopped. Chu Xuanzhi untied a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Yin Feng. “A gift for the child.”
Everyone was stunned.
They watched as Yin Feng handed the jade pendant to Jiang Yunxu before departing.
Though he hadn’t directly taken Jiang Yunxu’s side, this gesture implicitly informed everyone that this child was under his protection.
Those left behind exchanged bewildered glances.
At Jiang Yunxu’s signal, Hong Qiao released the broadsword and turned to help her slowly stand up. The little bundle in her arms trembled with fear. Jiang Yunxu’s face was ashen as she declared, “I want an answer within an hour!”
With that, she turned and roared at the steward, “Lead the way and prepare hot water and clean clothes!”
The terrified steward scurried ahead to clear the path.
The tiny bundle clung to her neck, unwilling to let go, occasionally nuzzling against her chest. Jiang Yunxu personally gave him a warm bath. The two-year-old child, still underdeveloped, was covered in bruises.
Biting back tears, she carefully applied ointment and dressed him in clean, though ill-fitting, clothes. Hong Qiao brought over a bowl of milk tea and handed it to her.
The little bundle gulped down the entire bowl, his bright, watery eyes fixed on her. Suddenly, he grinned.
That smile completely melted her heart.
“What’s your name?”
The little bundle shook his head, mumbling “Auntie” with unclear speech. Jiang Yunxu patted his head. “From now on, you’ll stay with me.”
An hour later, Jiang Yunxu was led by the steward to the main hall. Inside, Concubine Lian knelt on the floor, soaked through and trembling, along with the troublemakers from earlier.
Only the legitimate young son of the Lady of Yian Bo was absent.
At the head of the hall sat Chu Youqi, his face dark as if someone owed him money. Only Yian Bo stepped forward with a gentle expression: “Third Princess Consort, please calm your anger. This matter is indeed the fault of Yi’an Bo Fu. I can assure you that such a thing will never happen again.”
“Assure me?” Jiang Yunxu raised an eyebrow and sneered. “With what assurance?”
“This…” Yian Bo hesitated, then countered: “According to Third Princess Consort, what must be done to appease your anger? Tuan Ge’er is a child of the Bo Fu and certainly cannot be taken away by you. If you are concerned about the child, the Bo Fu will send him to you without hesitation.”
The Bo Fu was unwilling to let the child go; if word got out, they would become a laughingstock.
“Since the Bo Lord is so sincere, I am not an unreasonable person either.” Jiang Yunxu, holding the child in her arms, found it somewhat inconvenient, so she simply found a seat and sat down, her gaze lingering on the kneeling figures on the floor. “To calm my anger is simple: hand all these people over to me.”
“You’re dreaming!” the Lady of Yian Bo erupted in anger.
Those kneeling on the floor were all masters of the household, her grandchildren. How could they be handed over?
Jiang Yunxu sneered, raising three fingers. “First, hand Tuan Ge’er over to me and force Concubine Lian to drink Juezitang. Second, hand these people over to me for punishment. Third…”
Her tone was leisurely, and she deliberately paused without speaking.
Yian Bo patiently asked, “What is the third condition?”
Just then, a servant rushed in from outside, looking frantic. “It’s terrible, Master, Madam! The young master suddenly started foaming at the mouth and has unbearable stomach pain. Even the physician couldn’t diagnose the illness.”
Upon hearing that her youngest son was ill, the Lady of Yian Bo immediately turned to leave.
Jiang Yunxu, however, showed no urgency. She leisurely began sipping tea, one sip after another, appearing utterly carefree.
“It was you who schemed behind the scenes!” Chu Youqi spoke up.
Jiang Yunxu didn’t even spare him a proper glance, continuing to drink her tea. After a while, the Lady of Yian Bo returned, weeping.
“What is the third condition Third Princess Consort mentioned earlier?” Yian Bo sensed something amiss; this hideously ugly Third Princess Consort was no pushover.
Jiang Yunxu smiled coldly. “I want your son’s life to accompany my sister in death!”
“What did you say?” The Lady of Yian Bo lunged forward like a madwoman but was restrained by Hong Qiao.
“There are still half an hour left. Madam, consider carefully.” Jiang Yunxu, unhurried, drank another cup of tea. Seeing the other party on the verge of exploding with rage, she felt immensely pleased and grinned. “The tea at Bo Fu is truly excellent.”
The Lady of Yian Bo trembled with anger but could do nothing against her. Helpless, she had no choice but to compromise. “You can take that little bastard in your arms. I agree.”
“Little bastard?” Jiang Yunxu slammed the teacup heavily onto the floor with a loud crash, her aura erupting.
The Lady of Yian Bo had no choice but to correct herself. “Tuan Ge’er, you may take him.”
“And Concubine Lian?”
Concubine Lian, whose name was called, turned pale with fear. Before she could speak, she became the sacrifice. The Lady of Yian Bo agreed without hesitation and ordered someone to prepare the Juezitang.
Perhaps out of concern for her youngest son’s life, the bowl of Juezitang was prepared exceptionally quickly and was forced down Concubine Lian’s throat in front of everyone.
No one dared to intervene.
Lady of Yian Bo personally wrote the pledge, pressed her fingerprint, and publicly promised to give up Tuan Ge’er, vowing that he would never be recognized as part of the family in this lifetime.
Jiang Yunxu stood up with a long stride, took the pledge, and after confirming it was correct, sneered at Lady of Yian Bo: “Saving your son is simple. Force him to drink three bowls of horse urine, and the poison will naturally be neutralized.”
“You’re toying with me!” Lady of Yian Bo gritted her teeth in anger.
Jiang Yunxu snorted coldly: “Horse urine is a good remedy, especially for curing your son’s foul mouth!”
After saying this, she swaggered away with Tuan Ge’er in her arms.
Before she could board the carriage, one of her arms was roughly grabbed. Without looking, she knew who it was. Chu Youqi angrily asked, “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve just caused for the Wangfu?”
After leaving Yi’an Bo Fu, Jiang Yunxu was still in a daze. She was indeed furious, her anger clouding her judgment.
After calming down, her palms and back were drenched in cold sweat.
“If Your Highness had supported me earlier, this matter wouldn’t have escalated to this point. I’ve already shown Yi’an Bo Fu enough face!”
Despite his anger, Chu Youqi was puzzled by how drastically a person could change, especially today. With just two maids, she dared to barge into the Bo Fu and force them to compromise.
He couldn’t help but admire her courage.
Damn it, this wretch—he should despise her, so why would he admire her?
“Do you know who Lady of Yian Bo is?”
Who is she?
She’s just the cousin of Lady Liu, the wife of the Zaixiangfu.
Just then, the sound of hoofbeats approached. A guard stopped beside Jiang Yunxu and said, “Third Princess Consort, Her Majesty the Empress urgently summons you!”
The Empress?
Jiang Yunxu’s eyelids twitched. She had no impression of the Empress at all. Why would she summon her?
Chu Youqi immediately said, “This prince will accompany you into the palace.”
“Apologies, San Wangye. Her Majesty the Empress only summoned Third Princess Consort alone,” the guard replied.
Jiang Yunxu had no choice but to hand the child in her arms to Hong Qiao: “Take him back to the Wangfu. Make sure to wait for my return.”
“Rest assured, mistress. This servant will definitely watch over the young master.”
Before leaving, she still felt uneasy and turned back to Chu Youqi, saying, “The child is innocent. If you dare lay a hand on him, I won’t let you off even as a ghost!”
Chu Youqi retorted irritably, “This prince is not so depraved as to harm a child.”