“Enough!”
Jiang Zhixu snapped, “Both of you, be quiet.”
After just a few brief exchanges between the two, he knew Jiang Wanfu was no match for her.
If the argument continued, the one who would end up suffering would only be his Fu’er.
“The two hundred thousand taels in banknotes you want will be given to you today, on the condition that you obediently enter the palace and refrain from playing any more tricks!”
“In Jingcheng, it would be as easy as turning over my hand for this Prime Minister to have you killed.”
The curve at the corner of Jiang Wantang’s lips deepened, her smile appearing harmless and innocent.
“Understood. After all, Prime Minister Jiang may not excel in other skills, but when it comes to methods of killing one’s own daughter, no one can surpass you.”
Jiang Zhixu’s temples bulged with veins, his knuckles cracking audibly. His sharp gaze pierced toward her as he warned coldly, “Jiang Wantang, know your limits!”
“Everything has been done according to your demands. What more do you want?”
Jiang Wantang’s expression held three parts mockery and seven parts disdain. “I’m someone with a timid nature, easily frightened by threats and intimidation. If I were to fall ill from fear, it wouldn’t matter much, but it wouldn’t be good if it affected my entry into the palace for the selection…”
“Don’t you agree, Prime Minister Jiang?”
Jiang Zhixu clenched his fists tightly, a burning sense of fury surging in his heart.
This was the first time he had ever been pushed to such an extent.
And the one responsible for this was actually…
What a debt-collecting ghost!
Yet, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.
Hmph, let her be smug for a few days. Once she’s in the palace, she’ll have plenty to suffer. By then, even if she kneels and begs him, it will be useless.
The expressions of everyone in the courtyard were far from pleasant, with only Jiang Wantang smiling brightly, appearing to be in rather good spirits.
Not long after, Steward Xu personally led her to view several of the best courtyards within the estate. The layout and specifications of these courtyards were on par with Jiang Wanfu’s, though the decorations and furnishings were ultimately not as exquisite as hers.
Jiang Wanfu watched Jiang Wantang’s departing figure, her eyes dark and venomous, a series of cold laughs echoing in her heart.
Jiang Wantang, your complacency won’t last much longer!
In this lifetime, I will become the mistress of the Marquis Estate, growing old together with Brother Jing Heng, sharing one lifetime with one person.
As for you, hehe…
Just wait to live out your days as a living widow in the imperial palace, enduring the scheming and deceit of the harem, and finally spending your miserable life in the Cold Palace.
…
Jiang Wantang and her maid arrived at a refined and spacious courtyard, where the plaque bore three large characters: “Haitang Yuan.”
The name suited her well.
The courtyard contained a large expanse of crabapple blossoms, which looked quite pleasing to the eye.
Maids and servants bustled in and out, carrying various decorations to arrange the courtyard.
It was clear that this had been arranged for her at the last minute.
After all, in her previous life, she had never received such favorable treatment in the Chancellor’s Estate, nor had she lived in such a spacious courtyard.
See, when you treat them as humans, they don’t act like it;
when you treat them as beasts, they start showing some semblance of humanity.
Steward Xu walked behind Jiang Wantang and asked respectfully, “Second Young Miss, would you like to see if this courtyard meets your satisfaction?”
“This courtyard was specially arranged for you by this old servant. It is large and very quiet.”
Jiang Wantang looked around. “I’ll choose this one.”
Steward Xu smiled. “Very well. In the future, if you have any needs in the estate, Young Miss, feel free to command this old servant.”
Jiang Wantang nodded.
“The hour is growing late. This old servant will not disturb your rest any further.”
With that, Steward Xu withdrew.
Before Jiang Wantang could even sit down, she heard Xiuzhu ask with considerable indignation, “Miss, are you really going to follow their arrangements and enter the palace for the imperial selection?”
Jiang Wantang stretched lazily, her posture relaxed and indifferent as she said, “Of course.”
Xiuzhu anxiously stepped forward, her face full of confusion. “Why?”
“Didn’t you always say that if someone bullies you, you must pay them back double?”
“Why should we endure them and jump into this pit of fire according to their wishes?”
“We could take the silver and run away at night.”
Jiang Wantang smiled. Even her little maid knew this was a pit of fire.
“Silly girl, I’m not doing this according to their wishes.”
Xiuzhu was taken aback. After hesitating for a moment, she still asked, “Miss, is it because of the eldest young master?”
If there was anyone in the Chancellor’s Estate worth Jiang Wantang’s concern, it could only be her half-brother, Jiang Huai Zhou.
If not for Jiang Huai Zhou, Jiang Wantang would have died countless times already.
Whether it was that winter night when she was six years old, or the countless days and nights she endured bullying at that mountain wilderness estate.
It was the people sent by her elder brother who found her; it was her elder brother who saved her life.
Her elder brother said, “Only by staying alive is there hope.”
So for this “hope,” she gritted her teeth and survived countless hardships.
For many years afterward, he continued to help her in secret.
It could be said that without Jiang Huai Zhou, there would be no Jiang Wantang today.
In this world, Jiang Huai Zhou was the only true family she cared about in her heart.
Xiuzhu looked at Jiang Wantang, who remained silent, sighed, and continued, “Only when the eldest young master is mentioned does a slightly genuine smile appear in Miss’s eyes.”
In her previous life, Jiang Huai Zhou was full of ambition but, due to Jiang Zhixu’s involvement, repeatedly failed to gain the emperor’s trust.
Thinking of this, Jiang Wantang lowered her gaze slightly and said softly, “It’s not just for my elder brother, but also for myself.”
“Whether it’s the Marquis Estate or the imperial harem, to me, they are both places of high walls.”
Since she had already decided to return and become the proper second young lady of Xiangfu, she had to choose between entering the Marquis Estate or the imperial palace.
This time, she chose to enter the palace.
Because she not only needed to become strong but also needed power to protect those she wanted to guard.
By evening, Haitang Yuan became lively again.
First, Steward Xu brought a group of seamstresses to take Jiang Wantang’s measurements for new clothes.
Her pitiful appearance in plain clothes at the entrance of Xiangfu during the day had left a deep impression. Even if it was just for show, she could no longer be dressed too shabbily before entering the palace.
Soon after, under the pretext that Xiuzhu was a martial artist and might not serve her well, Steward Xu sent four “sensible and obedient” maids to attend to her.
They were called attendants, but in reality, they were people sent by Jiang Zhixu to keep an eye on her.
However, not long after Steward Xu left, another uninvited guest arrived in the courtyard…