Jiang Lingyuan resided in Jiao Garden, named for the several banana trees planted within the courtyard.
To have a “proper” conversation with Jiang Lingwan, Jiang Lingyuan had dismissed all the servants in her quarters early in the morning. She also hinted to Tao Ye to keep Zhuzhi away, leaving only a trusted maid guarding the entrance to the main room.
When Jiang Bochen and Mei Xueniang arrived at Jiao Garden, they found the courtyard meticulously clean. The banana trees stood bright and graceful, casting cool, verdant shade—a scene befitting the scholarly elegance of an aristocratic family.
Jiang Bochen nodded in satisfaction and strode toward the main room.
The maid at the door immediately rose to bow, about to speak, when a sharp, questioning voice suddenly rang out from the inner chamber: “Second Sister, I asked you a question. Why aren’t you answering?”
It was Jiang Lingwan’s voice. Her tone was urgent, and such a frantic, demanding command lacked the gentleness expected of a Noble Lady, nor did it show the respect a younger sister should have for her elder.
Although Wan Jie’er was usually spoiled and willful, she never neglected proper Rites. Could it be that she bullied her sister like this in private?
Jiang Bochen’s face darkened, and he sternly silenced the maid who was about to enter and announce their arrival: “Stay right here. Don’t move.”
The maid grew anxious and opened her mouth to call out, but Mama Du quickly covered her mouth and dragged her away.
Frowning, Jiang Bochen glanced at Mei Xueniang, whose expression remained calm and solemn. “I wish to hear Wan Jie’er and Yuan Jie’er’s true thoughts,” she said.
Jiang Bochen replied coldly, “I had no idea Wan Jie’er could be so unreasonable and domineering. After this matter is settled, you must discipline her properly and ensure she learns the rules. Otherwise, she will surely cause great trouble and bring disgrace to our Huininghoufu.”
“Understood.”
The two entered the main room and stood at the entrance to the inner chamber. From within, they heard Jiang Lingyuan sigh softly, her voice tinged with helplessness yet exuding gentleness and tolerance: “Third Sister, why do I urge you to reconsider? It’s for Mother’s sake, and for the sake of our family.”
Such understanding and consideration only made Jiang Lingwan appear more unreasonable and willful by contrast.
Jiang Bochen glanced at Mei Xueniang, his meaning clear: See, this is how a young lady from a respectable family should behave.
Mei Xueniang offered no comment, merely leaning in to listen attentively.
“Third Sister, I also wish for Mother to stay at home. But Mother engaged in an affair first, then conceived an illegitimate child. Now, to be with that man outside, she has even requested to leave the family.”
“Since she has done such things, it’s clear her heart is no longer with this family. Even if we force her to stay, we cannot keep her heart. If a scandal erupts and the disgrace becomes public, how could either of us face others?”
“Given this, wouldn’t it be better to follow her wishes and let her go, allowing her to seek her own happiness…”
Seeing Jiang Lingwan’s expression grow increasingly grim, Jiang Lingyuan knew her anger was rising. If she could just drink this bowl of medicinal soup, it would be like adding fuel to the fire—Jiang Lingwan would surely rush to Jinghaoyuan and cause a scene.
Given Mei Xueniang’s deep affection for Jiang Lingwan, no matter how reluctant she might be, she would have no choice but to abort the child.
Then, it would be two lives lost. Her goal would be achieved.
As she picked up the medicine bowl and was about to persuade Jiang Lingwan to drink it, an enraged shout suddenly erupted: “Jiang Lingyuan! What nonsense are you spouting?”
Like a thunderclap out of nowhere, it startled Jiang Lingyuan, who quickly turned around. There stood her father, Jiang Bochen, his face ashen and his gaze sharp with fury as he glared at her.
Jiang Lingyuan’s expression changed drastically, but she immediately steadied herself. “Father, when did you arrive?”
“You still have the nerve to ask!” Jiang Bochen grabbed a round fan and hurled it straight at Jiang Lingyuan.
Jiang Lingyuan didn’t dodge, allowing the fan to strike her face, then calmly knelt on the floor.
“Father, please calm your anger. Yuan Jie’er knows she was wrong.”
Jiang Bochen glared, his tone severe: “What exactly were you wrong about?”
Jiang Lingyuan lowered her head, self-reproachful: “Father wanted Mother to stay at home. Yuan Jie’er should have stood with Father, working hard to keep the family together. I shouldn’t have softened because of Mother’s pleas and tears, acting as her advocate to persuade Third Sister.”
What a masterful move to shift the blame.
Jiang Lingwan watched, unable to help but click her tongue in admiration. She knew Jiang Lingyuan was hypocritical, but she hadn’t expected her skill at lying so effortlessly to be so refined.
In her past life, being deceived by such a person wasn’t entirely unjustified.
However, no matter how capable she was, this time she wouldn’t escape Father’s punishment.
Jiang Bochen raised his eyebrows, his gaze growing colder: “Did your mother tell you to say this?”
“Yes.” Jiang Lingyuan smiled bitterly, with both helplessness and regret: “To protect the child in her womb… that child, Mother wanted to voluntarily leave the household. But she was afraid Third Sister would think Mother cared more for the younger one and not her, unwilling to let her go. So she begged me to fabricate such lies to persuade Third Sister to agree.”
“Third Sister is indeed selfish and unreasonable, but if she were willing to consider Mother even a little, she would have agreed.”
At this point, Jiang Lingyuan was solely focused on clearing her name in front of Jiang Bochen, no longer caring whether Jiang Lingwan would be angered by these words.
Jiang Bochen laughed in extreme anger: “Good, very good!”
Jiang Lingyuan felt a wave of relief. Fortunately, she had reacted quickly enough. Fortunately, Mei Xueniang had said yesterday she didn’t want to abort the child, allowing her to narrowly escape this crisis.
Just then, she suddenly heard Mei Xueniang’s voice: “Yuan Jie’er, when did I ever ask you to persuade Wan Jie’er?”
This…
Was this her hallucination? It must be her hallucination!
Jiang Lingyuan widened her eyes in disbelief, looking toward the doorway.
Mei Xueniang, supported by Mama Du, slowly walked in.
Jiang Lingyuan’s eyes immediately reddened, and she said with grievance: “Mother, please don’t blame me. I did promise you before not to tell anyone. But I didn’t want to deceive Father.”
Even now, she was still pretending!
Mei Xueniang let out a cold, mocking laugh: “Yuan Jie’er, one must speak with evidence. You say I asked you to persuade Wan Jie’er? Where is the proof? Who heard it?”
Jiang Lingyuan looked at Mei Xueniang, calm and unhurried: “Such a private matter, how would Mother let a third person know? When you instructed me, you naturally avoided others.”
“You did this just to protect the child in your womb. If you explain it properly to Father, I believe he will understand you.”
“You are mistaken.” Mei Xueniang shook her head: “And gravely mistaken. I have already told your father that this child will not be kept.”
Jiang Lingyuan was stunned, panic flashing across her face.
“After the incident yesterday, you and I haven’t seen each other. The maids in Jiao Garden and the servants in Jinghaoyuan can all testify to that. Even if I wanted to beg you to persuade Wan Jie’er, I had neither the time nor the opportunity.”
Mei Xueniang’s eyes were filled with deep disappointment: “I have treated you well, no differently from Wan Jie’er, yet I never expected you to slander me like this. People always say stepmothers have it hard. I never believed it before. But now, I have no choice but to believe it. Yuan Jie’er, you have truly chilled my heart.”
Right and wrong were already clear as day.
Yet Jiang Lingyuan refused to accept defeat. She knelt and crawled to Jiang Bochen, clutching his sleeve as she wept, “Father, Yuan Jie’er didn’t lie. Yuan Jie’er was wronged. Please believe me…”
“Silence!” Jiang Bochen trembled with rage, yanking his sleeve back. “Even now you dare spout such nonsense with your eyes wide open? Have all the lessons of feminine virtue and discipline you studied gone to the dogs? It seems I must punish you, or you will never learn repentance.”
“Guards! Guards!” Jiang Bochen’s shouts grew louder with each call. “Lock her in the ancestral hall! No one is to release her without my permission!”
Jiang Lingyuan was horrified, staring at Jiang Bochen in shock. Even as the matrons dragged her away, her expression remained one of disbelief and incredulity.
It was she whom Father had reprimanded, not Jiang Lingwan! It was she who was to be locked in the ancestral hall!
How could this be? How was this possible?
Jiang Lingwan curled her lip. Nothing was impossible. Today was only the beginning—there would be many more such incidents to come. Second Sister, you’ll just have to get used to it slowly.
“Lord, Yuan Jie’er would never do such a thing without reason. She’s just a child—what does she understand? Someone must have incited her to act this way.”
Mei Xueniang spoke solemnly, “I will not rest until this matter is thoroughly investigated. Wan Jie’er, accompany me back.” The last sentence was directed at Jiang Lingwan.
Jiang Bochen immediately followed them.
News of the incident in Jiao Garden soon reached Concubine Qiao.
Concubine Qiao was trimming stray branches from her flowers when she received the servant’s report. Her hand paused slightly, and she accidentally cut off the most beautiful, fully bloomed red rose—the one that should have been left untouched.
Yet her panic lasted only a moment. She quickly steadied herself and went to the ancestral hall to find Jiang Lingyuan.
“The Lord only ordered Second Young Miss confined; he never said visitors were forbidden. What feud lasts overnight between father and daughter? The Lord won’t keep Second Young Miss locked away forever. If you block the way now, how will you face her when she’s released in a couple of days?”
With just a few words, Concubine Qiao persuaded the matron guarding the door and strode confidently into the ancestral hall.
Jiang Lingyuan rushed to meet her, anxiously calling out, “Mother…”
“Call me Concubine!” Concubine Qiao corrected her calmly. Seeing her flustered expression, she added, “Don’t panic. I’ve taught you—you are a Noble Lady, a Well-bred Lady. You must always mind your demeanor and composure. Even if your eyebrows are on fire, you must remain steady. Because only when you are steady, maintaining an elegant and poised appearance, will people listen to you and believe what you say.”
Concubine Qiao spoke unhurriedly, “Look at Mei Xueniang. When has she ever panicked? Even when faced with a life-threatening scandal like ‘having an affair,’ she remained calm and composed, completely suppressing your father. It’s all due to her composure and calmness. This is something you should learn from.”
“I did exactly as you taught today, but Father simply wouldn’t believe me.”
Concubine Qiao nodded. “First, tell me everything that happened in detail.”
Jiang Lingyuan dared not slack off and recounted the events earnestly.
Seeing Concubine Qiao remain silent for a long while, her brows furrowed, Jiang Lingyuan grew increasingly anxious. “Concubine, it’s all my fault for being careless and exposing myself. What should we do now? Are we going to lose?”
They had painstakingly laid the groundwork for so many years, and just when success seemed within reach, it was all ruined in an instant due to her carelessness. Jiang Lingyuan was genuinely terrified in hindsight.
“Don’t be afraid,” Concubine Qiao said. “For now, it’s just that you said a few wrong words. Mei Xueniang still doesn’t know my identity. We still have a chance. Your father won’t let Mei Xueniang keep the child over such a small matter—he will definitely insist on making her abort.”
Jiang Lingyuan’s anxious heart settled slightly. “Then let’s use Ma Yipo’s medicine to ensure Mei Xueniang doesn’t survive the night.”
“No,” Concubine Qiao shook her head. “Just the abortion medicine will do. After this incident, Mei Xueniang will likely be on guard against us. We can’t add the medicine that causes heavy bleeding. First, let Mei Xueniang lose this child. After all, she won’t be able to bear any legitimate sons in the future. We can think of other ways later.”
Though she said this, in her heart, she knew that given Mei Xueniang’s shrewdness, it would be difficult to find such a good opportunity again. Still, this was the best course of action for now.
Jiang Lingyuan gradually regained her composure. “Auntie, I’m so glad I have you.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you,” Concubine Qiao patted Jiang Lingyuan’s hand and asked, “Is anyone in your room close to Jinghaoyuan? I suspect your discovery today wasn’t merely a coincidence.”
“Probably not,” Jiang Lingyuan shook her head, her face pale, though her tone was not entirely certain. “She shouldn’t have gone so far as to bribe someone in my room and set up this trap for me in advance. But it’s best if you investigate just in case.”
Concubine Qiao nodded slowly. “If not, that’s naturally for the best. But if it is, then we, mother and daughter, will have to keep our heads down from now on.”