Jiang Lingwan smiled and nodded, “How could I possibly be unwilling?”
In her previous life, she had been divorced and lived freely and gloriously on her own. There was no need to endure the moods of her mother-in-law or sisters-in-law, no need to scheme against her Zhouli or compete with concubines for favor. That kind of life couldn’t have been more carefree.
Jiang Lingwan smiled as she looked at her mother, “You have money in hand and know how to do business. Leaving the Jiang Family would only mean living an even better life. I am a thousand, ten thousand times willing. You’ve suffered enough grievances these past few years—don’t you want to live the kind of life you had in Qingcheng County again?”
Her mother was her maternal grandfather’s only cherished pearl. Grandfather raised her like a son, not only teaching her to read and write but also passing down his exquisite jade carving skills. By the age of ten, her mother was already accompanying Grandfather on business trips, and by fourteen, she could single-handedly manage the family enterprise. Her intellect and vision were no less than any man’s.
Later, when she married Father, it was Father who married into the Mei family. In the Mei household, Mother still had the final say.
Having been in charge since childhood, coming to the capital meant she had to lower her head and submit. Now, with the opportunity to live as freely and unrestrainedly as before, Jiang Lingwan didn’t believe her mother wasn’t tempted.
Jiang Lingwan looked at her mother and indeed saw unmistakable nostalgia and longing in her eyes.
Feeling even more confident, Jiang Lingwan shot a glance at Mama Du.
Mama Du, visibly agitated, her voice trembling uncontrollably, said, “Madam…”
“Not so fast,” Mother interrupted Mama Du. Her usually calm and decisive face showed a hint of hesitation, “Let me think it over.”
But Mama Du didn’t heed her words. Anxiously, she blurted out, “But the situation no longer allows us to think it over. If you don’t leave, the young master or young lady in your womb won’t be safe. The Lord has made up his mind this time—he absolutely won’t let you keep the child.”
“That’s right, Mother. Your only worry is me, isn’t it? Look at what I’ve done these past two days—you should feel reassured.”
Jiang Lingwan pressed on, “Just now, I went out and accomplished something significant. This will show you my capabilities, and soon you’ll believe I’ve grown up.”
Without waiting for her mother to respond, she asked Mama Du, “Before I left, I asked you to relay a message to Mother. Did you say it?”
Mama Du wiped her tears, “I said it all.”
Mei Xueniang initially didn’t want to disappoint her daughter and intended to coax her as she had in the past.
But after considering her daughter’s actions over the past two days, she hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell the truth, “Wan Jie’er, I know you told me those things to scare your father, hoping he’d abandon the idea of terminating the pregnancy because of the risks. But your father is as stubborn as ever—he’s sent someone to invite Old Imperial Physician Zhao.”
Jiang Lingwan laughed heartily, her smile lighting up her face brighter than the sun, “I never expected those words alone to change Father’s mind. My goal was to make Father take the initiative to invite a Taiyi back. Only then could we thoroughly humiliate Concubine Qiao and protect my little brother or sister.”
She just hadn’t expected Father to invite Old Imperial Physician Zhao, her grandfather’s childhood friend and a highly respected figure in the Apricot Grove Realm. This was even better than she had anticipated.
Mei Xueniang immediately understood and stared at her nervously, “What did you do?”
“Naturally, I did what needed to be done.” Jiang Lingwan replied with a hint of pride, recounting to her mother how she had won over Ma Yipo.
Mei Xueniang’s expression changed. “You child, how could you be so reckless? Since you knew Ma Yipo was no simple person, why did you still provoke her? What if something happened to you? Someone like that, with such cruel methods—how could a child like you possibly handle her…”
“Mother.” Jiang Lingwan suddenly threw herself into Mei Xueniang’s arms, hugging her tightly. She lifted her head, looked up with a face full of playful, coquettish smiles, and said, “I’ve done such a big thing—aren’t you going to praise me?”
She was so beautiful, so soft, and so shamelessly playful that Mei Xueniang couldn’t bring herself to scold her anymore. In the end, her words turned into nothing more than a helpless, affectionate reproach: “You, you… don’t ever do this again.”
Jiang Lingwan giggled, utterly pleased with the situation.
Her mother was always the most composed, never flustered even if the sky fell. Yet when it came to her, she would grow anxious and irritable. In her past life, Jiang Lingwan hadn’t understood that this was a case of “concern leads to confusion.” She would always argue back, even stomping off to complain to Jiang Lingyuan.
Now she knew—her mother loved her most. Whenever her mother scolded her, she would use this trick, and it always worked. Just like when Hei Zai did something wrong, he would act coquettish in the same way.
Jiang Lingwan felt rather proud of herself, completely unaware that there was anything wrong with a young lady of noble birth imitating a dog’s shameless antics.
She happily linked arms with her mother. “Let’s go, I’ll accompany you to wait for Old Imperial Physician Zhao.” And also to wait for Concubine Qiao and Ma Yipo.
…
Jiang Bochen paced back and forth in Concubine Qiao’s main room, hands clasped behind his back, clearly anxious.
Before long, Concubine Qiao entered, carrying a black lacquered food box.
She was no longer young, but she had aged gracefully. Her makeup was impeccable, her speech unhurried and gentle, like a soothing stream of water that could easily calm the restlessness in one’s heart.
“Lord, the medicinal decoction is ready. Shall we send it over now?”
Jiang Bochen didn’t answer. Instead, he asked her, “Is this medicine safe?”
“Does the Lord not trust me?” Concubine Qiao leaned against the table, lifting her gaze to meet Jiang Bochen’s.
“No.” Jiang Bochen had been thinking about Mei Xueniang’s words and was somewhat worried. “I’m just afraid Ma Yipo’s medicine might not be reliable.”
Concubine Qiao lowered her eyes, a faint trace of melancholy in her tone. “I’ve been taking Ma Yipo’s medicine all these years. If there were any issues with it, I would have long since crossed the Naihe Bridge. How could I have lived until now?”
“Oh, what am I saying!” Concubine Qiao covered her mouth. “The Lord doesn’t like to hear such things. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Jiang Bochen took two steps forward and grasped Concubine Qiao’s hand. “Four years ago, when Mei-shi was gravely ill, it was you who tirelessly attended to her at her bedside, never leaving her side, never even changing your clothes. To keep me from worrying, you hid the fact that you had caught her illness, delaying your own treatment and missing the best time for recovery. That’s why you’ve been left with lingering health issues, never stopping your medication all these years.”
“When Mei-shi returned from offering incense at the temple and something seemed off, you were the first to notice and tell me. I know how good you are, and I trust you. That’s why I entrusted this matter to you.”
“But I don’t want to do it.” Concubine Qiao turned her head away in self-reproach, revealing a slender, pale neck that looked fragile. “I only told you about Madam’s situation because I was afraid she might suffer. I never expected Madam would actually… and I certainly never thought you would force her to have an abortion, or that you would make me prepare the medicine. Madam and I are like sisters. By becoming the villain in this, I’m afraid she’ll resent me for the rest of her life.”
Jiang Bochen took the opportunity to embrace her, comforting her, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”
“I’m just afraid, Lord…” Concubine Qiao looked up, her eyes already moist. “The risks of miscarriage—even the most skilled physician wouldn’t dare guarantee there will be no issues. If you have me prepare the medicine today, and if… if something happens to Madam, and you regret it and blame me, what should I do then?”
She suddenly grabbed the hem of Jiang Bochen’s robe at his waist, her expression pleading. “Lord, why not let Madam keep the child? After all, it’s a life. Even if he truly isn’t of Jiang Family blood, he’s still Madam’s child. It would just mean an extra mouth to feed. If you don’t speak of it, I don’t speak of it, and Madam doesn’t speak of it, who would know? Perhaps that man didn’t even get a clear look at Madam’s face. He surely won’t come back for Madam or the child.”
As Jiang Bochen listened, his expression grew increasingly grim. “Let’s go, I’ll go with you. Everything is my decision. Even if Mei Xueniang blames someone, it won’t be you.”
Concubine Qiao breathed a sigh of relief. Mei Xueniang was too domineering and, as the principal wife, held a higher status than her, a mere concubine. If Mei Xueniang refused to drink the medicine, there was truly nothing she could do.
Fortunately, she had managed to persuade Jiang Bochen. With him overseeing things, Mei Xueniang would have no choice but to drink this bowl of medicine, whether she wanted to or not.
…
Concubine Qiao took the medicine bowl out of the food container and glanced at Jiang Bochen.
After Jiang Bochen nodded, she held the bowl with both hands and presented it to Mei Xueniang. “Madam, allow this concubine to serve you the medicine.”
Mei Xueniang’s gaze was icy as she stared coldly at her. “Madam Qiao, how can you face me after this?”
“This concubine had no choice.” Concubine Qiao’s eyes reddened. She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling. After a long moment, she looked up again, her face already streaked with tears. “Madam, I personally prepared this medicine. I asked Ma Yipo to add pain-relieving herbs. You’ll fall asleep, and when you wake up, it will all be over.”
“Sister, it’s only right that you blame me, that you hate me.” Concubine Qiao knelt down, pleading sorrowfully. “Enduring prolonged pain is worse than enduring a short, sharp pain. You should… just drink it.”
Mei Xueniang took a deep breath and said despondently, “Very well. You were forced into this, merely following the Lord’s orders. Thank you for considering me and adding pain-relieving herbs.”
Reluctantly, she took the medicine bowl. The double-stranded twisted silk jade bracelet on her wrist struck the rim of the bowl, producing a crisp sound.
“If Sister doesn’t blame this concubine, I… I will be content.” Concubine Qiao covered her face and began to sob softly.
Concubine Qiao was so grief-stricken that one might have thought she was the one facing the miscarriage.
A cold sneer flashed in Mei Xueniang’s eyes. What a deeply affectionate and utterly hypocritical Concubine Qiao. No wonder Jiang Lingyuan was so adept at hiding her true nature at such a young age—it was clearly a family trait.
Mei Xueniang brought the bowl to her lips, pretending to drink, but suddenly frowned. “No, something’s off about the smell of this medicine.”
Concubine Qiao’s hand, wiping away tears, paused, and she slowly raised her head. “Sister, at this point, you… sigh…”
“Xueniang.” Jiang Bochen, who had waited so long for this moment, would not allow Mei Xueniang to back out now. “Don’t waste any more time. Drink the medicine quickly. After this, we will still be husband and wife, and you will still be the principal wife of the eldest branch of Huininghoufu.”
“This medicine isn’t right. It didn’t smell like this yesterday.” Mei Xueniang set the bowl down. Beneath her calm expression, anger simmered. “I won’t drink this medicine.”
Concubine Qiao’s hand, clutching the handkerchief, suddenly tightened into a fist, yet her face still wore a misty-eyed expression: “Lord, since Sister is unwilling…”
Jiang Bochen waved his hand, leaving no room for refusal: “Mama Du, go and fetch Old Imperial Physician Zhao.”
Originally, he had not wanted Old Imperial Physician Zhao to know about such unsavory matters. After all, Old Imperial Physician Zhao was his elder, and bringing such affairs before an elder was always undignified.
If it weren’t for his fear that Mei Xueniang might miscarry unexpectedly, if it weren’t for taking precautions against any eventuality, why would he have called for Old Imperial Physician Zhao?
Since the physician was already here, it was best to invite him over.
“Since you are not at ease, then I will put your mind at rest.” He looked toward Mei Xueniang, thinking that once Old Imperial Physician Zhao arrived, he would see what excuses she could still offer.
Concubine Qiao’s heart skipped a beat, and she secretly rejoiced. Mei Xueniang had indeed been on guard—fortunately, she had been more skillful and had not added anything to the mix.
She wiped her tears and stood up to await Old Imperial Physician Zhao.