Jiang Zhixiu, frantic, swore oaths and poured out his heart until he finally learned what had happened.
At once, his anger blazed. “My mother is simple and honest—how could she suddenly say such things? It must have been Madam He’s instigation! Meiying, if you turn against me because of this, you will have fallen into her trap!”
Xie Meiying wept. “She is so formidable—how could I ever fight her? Jiang Lang, Jiang Lang, let me go!”
Jiang Zhixiu seized her in his arms. “You must not leave. You are mine!”
With tender words and utmost gentleness, he coaxed her until she reluctantly agreed to stay. But inside, his fury only grew hotter. He could not wait another moment. He ordered the maids to attend carefully to Xie Meiying, then strode quickly to Chunming Courtyard.
Seeing He Fangting, he burst out: “You’ve made a fool of my mother!”
He Fangting did not deny it. She smiled. “It was your whole family who first took me for a fool.”
Jiang Zhixiu was struck dumb, glaring at her, unable to find an opening. He could not win in argument, and he dared not strike her. Besides, with so many servants at her side, he might not even prevail.
Breathing heavily, he suddenly said coldly: “He Fangting, you will regret this.”
She smiled serenely. “Once the stone is placed, there is no regret.”
She wanted to see what other tricks he had left.
The next day, messengers arrived from Marquis Changning’s household, saying the Third Master was unwell and requesting Princess Shunan return to her natal home.
He Fangting felt a twinge of disappointment. So this was it? She had thought Jiang Zhixiu might devise some clever stratagem.
Marquis Changning’s residence, a venerable noble house, lay in the eastern city, while the Jiang family, newly risen, lived in the south. The two estates were far apart.
With crowded streets, her carriage took half an hour to reach the Marquis’s gates.
Her half-sister, He Fangyan, was waiting at the second gate. Seeing her, she beamed, clasped her hand affectionately, and said, “Elder Sister, why didn’t you bring Ying’er?”
He Fangting replied, “Yu’er took her out to play.”
These days, Yu’er often went about with Xie Rongmo, sometimes bringing Ying’er along. She had thought to forbid it, but decided that the quarrels of their elders should not entangle the children. Inwardly, she worried that young people, prone to rebellion, might be pushed closer to Jiang Zhixiu and Xie Meiying if she tried to stop them.
After all, no matter how close they grew to Xie Rongmo, it would change nothing.
Mentioning Jiang Jiaying was only a pretext. In truth, He Fangyan cared little where she was. Her eyes gleamed as she smiled, “I heard your household has gained a new guest. When will we be drinking wedding wine?”
When she heard the news, she was so delighted that she ate half a bowl more rice. Since childhood, she had never understood one thing: He Fangting, motherless from youth, unloved by her father, despised by the Emperor—how could she still live so serenely, with the bearing of a cherished princess?
Every time she saw her, she grew angry. Now, with her brother-in-law about to take another wife, she was eager to see how He Fangting would cope.
If He Fangting cried, she would laugh for half a day first, then help her deal with that wretched Miss Xie. How could a daughter of the He family be bullied to the end?
He Fangting smiled faintly. “Has the household grown so poor that it cannot even buy wine, that you must beg it from me? Tell me, how does Madam Lu manage the estate?”
This younger sister had long wanted to see her embarrassed—it was nothing new.
But He Fangting never took it to heart. After all, He Fangyan was far too young, only a year older than Ying’er. Though they were sisters, they were practically of different generations.
To He Fangting, she was just a child who did not understand the world. To take offense at her would be petty.
Still, He Fangting would not swallow her insolence. Any grievance, she repaid on the spot.
He Fangyan sputtered, “…You dare to criticize my mother?!”
He Fangting smiled. “Of course I dare. Have you forgotten? I am a princess by imperial decree. Even if I curse Madam Lu outright, she must endure it.”
“You—you—you… hmph!” He Fangyan stamped her foot and ran off.
Qing Hao and Bai Wei exchanged glances, secretly amused.
The Second Young Lady was hopeless. She was no match for the Princess, yet every chance she got, she provoked her. Never learning from defeat, she would surely try again next time.
In the main hall of the He family’s third branch, He Ziming sat in wide sleeves and tall crown, sternly composed beside his new wife, Madam Lu. Both waited solemnly for Fangting.
After waiting long, Madam Lu grew uneasy. “She won’t refuse to come, will she?”
He Ziming shook his head. “She will come. My eldest daughter always maintains appearances. She would never give others cause to gossip. Her delay is only to show her airs.”
Just like her mother—seeing herself as a cloud in the heavens, others as mud beneath her feet. Even stripped of her phoenix perch, she still wanted to act the golden phoenix.
By the time He Fangting arrived, the couple had already drunk several cups of tea.
“Greetings, Father, Madam.” He Fangting saluted with perfect form. Madam Lu was only three years older than she, so He Fangting never called her “Mother,” nor did anyone force her to.
“Princess, no need for such courtesy,” Madam Lu said with false sweetness.
He Ziming, however, spoke bluntly and sternly: “A woman’s virtue lies in obedience. How dare you defy your husband? Moreover, marrying your husband’s brother’s widow is the decision of the Jiang elders. As a daughter-in-law, you must obey. Otherwise, you are unfilial!”
He was not ill at all. He had summoned his daughter only to make her agree to Jiang Zhixiu marrying Xie Meiying.
He Fangting asked curiously, “May I ask, Father, how did Jiang Zhixiu persuade you?”
She knew her father’s nature well. He had always looked down on the Jiang elders, ashamed to have such in-laws. Yet now he sided with them.
He Ziming snapped, “Why should he persuade me? I speak out of righteous principle!”
He Fangting burst out laughing. Her father, speaking “righteously” on behalf of her husband, who wanted another wife?
It seemed the very phrase “righteous principle” had been sullied.