In the afternoon, the spring sun shone brightly.
Several carriages of the Jiang residence, under the silent "escort" of the Princess Royal's guards, rumbled toward the Minister's mansion located in the eastern part of the city.
Jiang Shian and his son Jiang Heng sat in the same carriage. Inside, the silence was so heavy it was almost suffocating.
"Father." Jiang Heng could not suppress the fury burning in his chest. "Why did you agree to let the Princess Royal force those two slave girls into our household? In the future, both you and I will need to attend court sessions. With Xin'er alone in the inner residence, wouldn't she be at their mercy, kneaded and shaped as they please?"
Jiang Shian had been resting with his eyes closed, but upon hearing this, he furrowed his brows.
He had always valued his eldest son, believing him to be quick-witted and calculating, much like himself.
But everything that had happened at the Princess Royal's residence today—and even these very words just now—carried a distasteful air of shortsightedness and foolishness.
He slowly opened his eyes, casting a heavy, somber gaze at Jiang Heng. Before he could speak, Jiang Heng had already instinctively lowered his gaze.
"Your son knows his mistake," he said in a low voice.
"What is the mistake?" Jiang Shian's tone was flat, yet it carried an invisible pressure.
Jiang Heng's jaw tightened. After a long moment, he spoke reluctantly: "I should not have spoken recklessly about the Princess Royal. As a man, I also should not be overly consumed by trivial household matters, wasting my energy."
These were all lessons Jiang Shian had taught him in the past. But at the thought of Jiang Wanxin's pale face as she fainted in his arms, his heart ached, and he could not help adding:
"But Father! That Yun Zhao is nothing but a venomous snake! The way she humiliated Xin'er today…"
"These are all trivial details." Jiang Shian shot him a cold glance. "Heng'er, remember this. When a man of ambition acts, he must decide without hesitation. Once you strike, you must uproot the weeds completely, leaving no trouble behind."
Jiang Heng was startled, then a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes as he urged eagerly: "Father, then your son will immediately…"
"Too late." Jiang Shian cut him off. "Just now, before a hall full of guests, I personally acknowledged her return to the clan. If anything were to happen to her, what would those nobles and dignitaries think? What would the three princes think? Do you still want to preserve our official reputation?"
Jiang Heng felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. "Father is right. But what about that jade pendant…"
Jiang Shian's eyes were deep and unfathomable: "The value of that jade pendant lies in the fact that it was bestowed by the Grand Empress Dowager back then. Now that Xin'er, under the guidance of your Aunt Mei, has gained the favor of the Eastern Palace and the Empress Dowager, that pendant… let it remain with Zhao for now!"
Jiang Heng lowered his head slightly, his gaze flickering. Jiang Shian did not know this, but he was well aware that His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to care greatly about that jade pendant on Yun Zhao… Perhaps it was because another jade pendant was on Prince Qin.
Jiang Shian's tone softened slightly, carrying a hint of earnest advice: "I know you care about Xin'er. But you are both grown now. There are many things that you, as her elder brother, should not overstep your bounds to handle."
He was subtly warning Jiang Heng to maintain distance from Jiang Wanxin.
Jiang Heng understood, but he did not quite agree: "Father worries too much. Though I have known since childhood that Xin'er is the daughter of your late friend, we grew up together, and our bond is extraordinary. I have always cherished and protected her as my own sister."
A vein on Jiang Shian's temple twitched slightly, and a deep taboo flickered in the depths of his eyes!
"In any case… strictly observe propriety, and do not make any missteps." His voice was low, each word carefully weighed. "Before the beginning of next month, be cautious in all matters."
Upon hearing the latter half, a flash of light gleamed in Jiang Heng's eyes: "Yes, your son understands!"
The next month's beginning would mark the Buddha's Birthday at Biyun Temple. As long as Wanxin could secure the fortune of the first incense offering and receive Master Wenkong's fate reading, her engagement to the Crown Prince would be set in stone!
In another carriage, Jiang Wanxin and Yun Zhao sat at opposite ends, a silent standoff spreading through the compartment.
Yun Zhao's fingertips hooked the silk tassel of the jade pendant, idly toying with it in her palm.
Since boarding the carriage, Jiang Wanxin's gaze had been as if drawn by an invisible thread, fixed firmly on that jade pendant.
"Elder Sister, this jade pendant of yours… why does it seem to carry a trace of blood-red?"
"This pendant was originally pure and clean." Yun Zhao lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Wanxin's gaze, which could not hide its envy and longing.
"But a few days ago, I happened to have a dream. In the dream, many people came to snatch it away. Fortunately, an old immortal guided me, saying that if I did not wish for this jade to fall into other hands, I needed to form a Blood Covenant with it, making it undergo Master Recognition."
She deliberately drew out the words "Blood Covenant" slowly and gently, watching as the greed in Jiang Wanxin's eyes suddenly froze, shifting into a trace of incredulous suspicion, before unhurriedly adding:
"Now it has already recognized me as its master. No matter how others scheme and strain, it will all be in vain."
A stiff smile flickered across Jiang Wanxin's face. She quickly covered the corner of her mouth with an embroidered handkerchief and forced a laugh:
"Elder Sister truly knows how to jest. Even if this item was bestowed by the Grand Empress Dowager, in the end it is merely a piece of jade. There is no such thing as Master Recognition."
Whenever it concerned anything from the Su family, Jiang Wanxin wanted it.
That set of coral head ornaments famous throughout the capital—she could never find it no matter how she searched, so fine, let it be! After all, in the eyes of outsiders, the coral earrings she wore today did come from the Su family. But only today did she learn that before Yun Zhao had been abandoned back then, the Su family had actually placed such a precious jade pendant on her person!
Her gaze shifted, and suddenly she put on a concerned expression: "Speaking of which, if the family that took in Elder Sister is still around, why not inform Father? Our Jiang family will surely bring them to the capital in grand style!"
Yun Zhao lifted her eyelids and stared straight at her: "No need. They are all dead."
Jiang Wanxin's breath caught, and a flash of panic abruptly flickered through her eyes.
She recalled how Jiang Heng, upon returning from Qingzhou that day, had stroked the top of her head and soothed her in a gentle voice: "Wanxin, don't be afraid. From now on… no one will ever make you start from nightmares in the middle of the night again."
Yun Zhao gazed at her subtle changes in expression and continued: "Little Sister, don't you want to know how they died?"
Jiang Wanxin's lashes trembled violently, and she instinctively avoided her gaze.
"They were murdered." Yun Zhao spoke each word slowly and deliberately, uttering chilling words.
"My little junior sister had just turned five. Her small body was split in two by a single blade. She did not die immediately, but kept crying out, 'Senior Sister, Nanniu hurts so much.'"
Jiang Wanxin's face turned deathly pale, and she forced out a stiff smile: "E-Elder Sister, don't frighten me. Such nonsense—how can you speak recklessly…"
"Why should Little Sister be alarmed?" A cold, mocking smile curled at the corner of Yun Zhao's lips. "As the saying goes, 'Do no guilty deed, and you need not fear ghosts knocking at your door.'"
Just at that moment, the carriage gave a violent jolt, then suddenly came to a halt!
Jiang Wanxin's face drained of color, and she let out a piercing scream of fright!
Not far away, Jiang Heng heard the sound and pounded on the carriage door with loud bangs: "Open the door! Yun Zhao! Have you been bullying Wanxin again?"
Yun Zhao rose and walked quickly toward the carriage door.
Standing outside, Jiang Heng assumed the one rushing out would be the wronged Jiang Wanxin, and with all his strength, he raised his hand to brace the carriage.
Yun Zhao flung open the carriage door and caught sight of Jiang Heng's handsome face flushed red as he braced himself to help her down. Without the slightest hesitation, she planted her foot squarely onto his taut back!
"Ah—!"
A frail scholar like him—how could he possibly withstand such treatment? He dropped to his knees on the spot, crying out in agony!
Yun Zhao unhurriedly stepped down from his back, landing steadily on the ground. "Many thanks, brother."
Jiang Heng felt a searing, dull pain across his back. He didn't need to look to know that this barbaric woman had left it bruised and purple.
He was burning with humiliation and fury, but he couldn't spare the energy to argue with Yun Zhao—his entire heart was fixed on Jiang Wanxin, who was still in the carriage.
"Xin'er!" he called out urgently.
Jiang Wanxin extended her hand, lightly resting it on the arm he promptly offered, and descended from the carriage with graceful, delicate steps. Her voice carried a hint of timidity: "Brother…"
"She didn't do anything to you, did she?" Jiang Heng asked anxiously, scanning her from head to toe.
Jiang Wanxin shook her head, her gaze darting timidly toward Yun Zhao—the very picture of someone who had been bullied but dared not speak of it.
Meanwhile, Yun Zhao's attention was drawn to a small yellow dog whimpering pitifully in the coachman's arms.
Noticing Yun Zhao's gaze, the coachman quickly forced a smile. "This filthy beast—I wouldn't want to offend your noble eyes. I'll dispose of it right away…"
But Yun Zhao simply reached out her hand. "Give it to me."
She gently stroked the little yellow dog's back, a cold laugh forming in her heart: In this world, even a dog has more conscience than people!
She would rather save one more dog than spare another glance at that pair of siblings behind her!
Seeing her ignore him, Jiang Heng's fury burned even hotter. He demanded harshly, "What exactly did you do to Xin'er?!"
Yun Zhao paid him no heed.
The young woman's back was ramrod straight, her steps steady and unhurried, as she walked directly toward the gates of the Minister's Residence—the very symbol of the Jiang family's power.
What was she going to do?
She was going to personally shatter Jiang Wanxin's dream of becoming the Eastern Palace's consort. She was going to bring Jiang Shian and Jiang Heng—this pair of hypocritical father and son—to utter ruin!
She would make the entire Jiang family kneel before her in regret! Make them confess every single sin they had committed!
The more they cherished something, the more she would snatch it away!
The more they valued something, the more she would smash it to pieces before their very eyes, one piece at a time!
What had happened today at the Princess Royal's residence was only the beginning!