Jiang Zhixiu rose to his feet, straightened his sleeves, and let the authority of a third-rank official radiate from him. Looking down imperiously, he declared: “Whether you agree or not makes no difference. This is the Jiang family’s matter—it is not for you to refuse. I will marry Meiying!”
He Fangting replied evenly, “The laws of Great Zhao make no provision for marrying a brother’s widow. If you draft a marriage contract, I will immediately accuse you of discarding your wife to remarry.”
“You dare?!” Jiang Zhixiu glared at her.
He Fangting’s expression was disdainful. “You may try.”
Jiang Zhixiu pressed, “Are you not afraid of the Emperor’s wrath?”
He knew well how much she wished to avoid the Emperor’s notice.
But He Fangting met his predatory gaze with a smile. “It is you who should be afraid.”
Though seated, she seemed to tower above him. This was the look Jiang Zhixiu hated most in her—like she meant to trample him, and everyone else, beneath her feet. He wanted to hurl more harsh words, but thought it beneath his dignity. With quick strides, he left.
Once again, their talk had collapsed.
He Fangting remained seated, lowering her eyes in thought. She had once wondered how Jiang Zhixiu, a court official, dared to set a precedent of marrying a brother’s widow. Now she understood.
He must have thought things through and decided to draw a line between them.
Her uncle, the Emperor, was a man obsessed with reputation. Even though he disliked her, he would not openly target her. To show family affection, he had even promoted her husband beyond the norm.
Jiang Zhixiu’s rapid rise owed much to this. But because the Emperor despised her, Jiang Zhixiu’s advancement had already reached its ceiling. As Assistant Minister of Revenue, he could go no higher. To head a ministry or enter the Grand Secretariat was impossible.
Jiang Zhixiu, it seemed, was unwilling to accept this. Divorcing her was the worst option. It would make him appear heartless and damage his reputation. Even if the Emperor secretly rejoiced, for the sake of appearances, he would never allow it.
But marrying his brother’s widow was different.
She would remain a Jiang wife, not cast aside. The Emperor would not interfere. Meanwhile, she would be suppressed and made uncomfortable. After some years, when people spoke of Jiang Zhixiu’s wife, they would think only of Xie Meiying, not of He Fangting.
This was Jiang Zhixiu’s plan—to please the Emperor and hope for further advancement.
But in her eyes, his scheme was far too naïve.
Her imperial uncle was suspicious to the extreme. The more Jiang Zhixiu acted so, the more he would suspect ulterior motives.
In truth, from the day Jiang Zhixiu married her, the Emperor could never fully trust him.
So, did marrying her hinder his career? Perhaps. But there were only six ministers and five or six grand secretaries. With so many officials, could Jiang Zhixiu truly defeat them all and rise to such heights without her? The chances were slim.
Far more likely, without her financial support, he would still be struggling at the fifth or sixth rank.
Besides, Jiang Zhixiu was simply too impatient.
The Emperor was sixty-five this year, and his health was poor. No one knew which day he might pass away. When that happened, the grudge between her mother, Princess Fuzhuang, and the Emperor would vanish like smoke.
Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, it would be a new world entirely. Whatever abilities Jiang Zhixiu possessed, he could display them then.
At this thought, He Fangting suddenly paused. Perhaps she was overthinking. Jiang Zhixiu had served as an official for many years—things even she, a woman of the inner quarters, could see clearly, he could not possibly fail to see. Maybe he truly had fallen in love with Xie Meiying, madly, irrationally, for love’s sake.
He Fangting shivered, thinking to herself: *Thankfully, I am not mad.*
Leaving Chunming Courtyard, Jiang Zhixiu slowed his steps. Today, he had gone to He Fangting not to quarrel, but to persuade her to accept Xie Meiying and resume managing the household accounts. But his attempt had failed. Their stalemate continued, and the household accounts still lay unattended. Someone had to take charge, or the estate would fall into chaos.
Xie Meiying was the best candidate, but she had not yet entered the household. Without a proper status, it was inappropriate for her to manage affairs.
That left only Li Xixiang as the sole option.
Jiang Zhixiu sighed in frustration and went to his private study. He opened a hidden pearwood cabinet, where treasures gleamed—gold ingots, silver bars, and rare curios. He truly had never embezzled. But because he was attentive to imperial will and diligent in service, he often received rewards from the Emperor. At first, he had handed these rewards to He Fangting. But one day, he suddenly decided to keep them himself—and so he did.
The Ministry also secretly distributed allowances each year for ice and coal, amounting to twenty or thirty thousand taels. He did not consider this “private money,” but rather the family’s last reserve for emergencies.
After a moment’s thought, he took out three thousand taels in silver notes and gave them to Li Xixiang, instructing her to enter them into the public accounts and temporarily manage the household.
Li Xixiang still did not want the responsibility, and Jiang Linxiu was dissatisfied.
The couple had quietly discussed it—their goal was at least twenty thousand.
Jiang Zhixiu said bluntly, “If Sister-in-law does not wish to be burdened, then let us divide the household and live separately.”
Li Xixiang quickly changed her tone, smiling, “I am not afraid of the burden!”
Jiang Linxiu thumped his chest, “Elder Brother, rest assured. Leave the household to us. You may serve at court with peace of mind!”
For if they did not divide the household, they remained kin to the Assistant Minister of Revenue. Their children’s marriages would rise in status. But if they split off, who would they be then?
Jiang Linxiu had sat for the imperial exams for over a decade without even passing as a licentiate. He failed at trade, failed at household management. Only by clinging to Jiang Zhixiu could he live in wealth.
The couple understood these stakes perfectly—and dared not truly anger their elder brother.