Princess Chang listened to Jiang Jinshu’s heartfelt words, her eyes slightly reddening. She gently patted the back of Jiang Jinshu’s hand, her tone filled with tenderness and pity.
“You truly see things clearly, child. If your mother were looking down from heaven, seeing your courage and resolve today, she would surely be proud of you.”
“Since you’ve made up your mind about this matter, let’s plan it step by step. As you said, Shenjia relies on your dowry to sustain itself, so they certainly won’t let you go easily.”
“Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll see if I can find an opportunity to ask the Emperor to issue an imperial decree for divorce. Meanwhile, you should reconnect with your maternal grandmother’s family. Although I care deeply for you, your grandmother’s family is in a better position to help you reclaim your dowry from Shenjia.”
Jiang Jinshu bit her lip and spoke guiltily.
“Aunt, I was blind and foolish before, listening to Madam Shen’s words. I grew distant from my grandmother’s family, and even with you…”
Princess Chang comforted her.
“No one holds grudges against their own family. Look, since you came to Chang Gongzhu Fu, have I distanced myself from you even a little?”
“Just listen to me. Go visit your grandmother and spend some time chatting with her.”
Jiang Jinshu nodded.
“Alright, Jinshu will listen to Aunt. I’ll pick out gifts for Grandmother in the next couple of days and pay her a visit.”
Princess Chang then asked many questions about Jiang Jinshu’s life in Shenjia. The two talked until after lunch and afternoon tea, when Jiang Jinshu finally prepared to return to Shenjia.
Shenjia.
Shen Nanyue looked at Shen Nanxing, who could only rest lying on his stomach, her eyes filled with heartache.
“Xing’er, why are your injuries so severe? You can’t even lie down properly to rest. Jiang Jinshu doesn’t even take good care of you—she’s out enjoying herself instead. When she returns, we must teach her a proper lesson.”
Shen Nanxing had never been in such a wretched state. The pain from his wounds throbbed faintly, and his disgust for Jiang Jinshu grew even stronger.
“Sister, don’t mention her. Just thinking of her fills me with anger.”
Su Yunyan chimed in from the side.
“I wonder where Sister went. Could she be going to complain to Princess Chang again?”
“Yesterday, Sister hit me, scolded me, and even caused Brother to be caned. Even if she was angry or jealous, she should have calmed down by now.”
“As Brother’s wife, she won’t even come to see him. Does she even care about Brother at all?”
With Su Yunyan’s skillful manipulation, Shen Nanxing found her even more considerate.
“Yan’er, don’t mention that vicious woman. She could never be as understanding as you.”
Hearing Su Yunyan repeatedly call him “Brother,” Shen Nanyue felt an inexplicable discomfort.
“Yunyan, since your relationship with Xing’er is now known to everyone, you should change how you address him. Although this incident has damaged Shenjia’s reputation, you and the child in your belly no longer need to hide.”
Su Yunyan lowered her head, fiddling with her handkerchief as she spoke with feigned grievance.
“I’m afraid Sister won’t accept me and the child. Mother, Eldest Sister, Husband… as long as I can stay in Shenjia, Yunyan doesn’t care about status. It’s just that the child in my belly is, after all, Shenjia’s eldest grandson…”
Tears began to fall as she spoke.
“It’s all because I, as a mother, am incompetent, that he’ll be born with an unclear identity. I fear he’ll be mocked by others in the future.”
Madam Shen immediately spoke up upon hearing this.
"This child is of our Shenjia bloodline, how could we possibly let him suffer any injustice? Matters concerning Shenjia descendants are not for her Jiang Jinshu to agree or disagree with."
Shen Nanyue also spoke.
"Yunyan, don't cry anymore. You're still carrying a child, crying too much isn't good for the baby either."
"The child in your belly is my own nephew. If Jiang Jinshu dares to neglect him, I will never let her off."
Shen Nanxing, lying on the bed, spoke up.
"Mother, elder sister, since Jiang Jinshu already knows, why not make Yan'er my equal wife? That way, our Shenjia's first grandson won't be born a concubine's child. Moreover, Yan'er and I are deeply in love, and in terms of status, I am even more unwilling to let Yan'er suffer."
Madam Shen nodded after listening.
"That's fine too, this way you will have a legitimate heir."
A flash of triumph passed through Su Yunyan's eyes, disappearing quickly.
"Yunyan thanks Mother, elder sister, and husband on behalf of the child."
Shen Nanyue spoke.
"Given our many years of sisterly affection, you and Xing'er being together naturally strengthens our bond. You just need to focus on resting well, taking care of yourself and the child. Mother and I will go speak with Jiang Jinshu."
As they were making plans.
Biner walked in.
"Madam, young miss, the young mistress has returned and went directly back to her own courtyard."
Shen Nanyue thought this was unacceptable.
"That little wretch really has grown bold. She was out all day, and upon returning still doesn't come to see Xing'er. Where is the demeanor of a proper wife?"
"Mother, you stay seated here. Your daughter will go now and properly teach her what it means to be a daughter-in-law and a wife."
At Shenjia's Yayun Ju.
Caiyue poured tea for Jiang Jinshu.
"Young mistress, the little maid said that today, Biner from the young miss's side came to our courtyard saying Madam was unwell and asked you to go attend to her. If you ask me, this is clearly just another scheme to make things difficult for you, young mistress."
Jiang Jinshu took a slow sip.
"Caiyue, you've grown up with me since childhood. From now on, just call me young miss. As for this Shenjia young mistress title, whoever wants it can have it!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out.
"Jiang Jinshu, you unfilial and disobedient wretch! Now you dare put on airs with my mother?"
They saw Shen Nanyue enter with several maids and older servants in tow.
She certainly put on a grand, imposing display. Jiang Jinshu calmly drank her tea.
"Yesterday, the scandal between Nanxing and Yunyan became known to everyone, ultimately even disturbing Princess Chang. I have been busy since early morning going to the Princess's Mansion to apologize, cleaning up Shenjia's mess. And you, a married-out daughter of Shenjia, return only to shout at me like this?"
Shen Nanyue stepped closer, her eyes filled with rage and disdain as if she wanted to devour Jiang Jinshu whole.
Seeing this, Caiyue stood nervously beside Jiang Jinshu, her hands clenched into fists.
"Apologize? Jiang Jinshu, don't take everyone in Shenjia for fools. You went to the Princess's Mansion for nothing but to lodge a complaint. I see your little schemes clearly."
Hearing this, Jiang Jinshu picked up her teacup, her expression completely unperturbed as she watched Shen Nanyue's tantrum.
"Think whatever you like."
Seeing her so calm only fueled Shen Nanyue's fury further.
"Jiang Jinshu, you still have the mood to sit here drinking tea? Do you know how Xing'er's injuries are? As a wife, not only do you fail to care for him attentively, but you also run outside all day. Do you have any regard for Shenjia at all?"
Shen Nanyue's voice was sharp and piercing, as if it could tear through the entire room.
Jiang Jinshu gently set down her teacup, her gaze as calm as still water, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips.
"Isn’t Su Yunyan taking care of him by his side?"
Shen Nanyue looked down at Jiang Jinshu from her superior position.
"Since you’re too lazy to care for him, let Yunyan take your place. Yunyan is gentle-natured and now carries a child. Contributing to the Shen family’s lineage is a great achievement. From now on, she will be Xing’er’s equal wife, sharing the same status as you. You must not make things difficult for her."
Jiang Jinshu set down her teacup and smiled mockingly.
"Equal wife? Do you still think the Shen family hasn’t been ridiculed enough? A daughter becoming her brother’s equal wife—if word gets out, the whole world will laugh their heads off."
"I will not agree to this. If Su Yunyan knows her place, she should be content as a concubine and not wander in front of me, disgusting me. If she doesn’t know her place—"
She then glanced at Shen Nanyue.
"I, Jiang Jinshu, am not someone to be trifled with."
Shen Nanyue saw that the respect Jiang Jinshu once held for her had completely vanished from her eyes and spoke with anger in her voice.
"If Yunyan doesn’t become an equal wife, the child in her belly will be born a commoner. Jiang Jinshu, that is the Shen family’s eldest grandson. How can you be so malicious as to let him become a commoner?"
Jiang Jinshu looked Shen Nanyue over. The clothes she wore were made from fabric from her own dowry, and the hairpin in her hair was also from her dowry. Hah, what a shameless creature.
Jiang Jinshu slowly stood up.
"That’s right, I am that malicious. I suppose you kind-hearted people wouldn’t stoop to taking things from someone as malicious as me. Why not return everything you’ve taken from me?"