As Jiang Wanfu looked over, Jiang Wantang’s gaze also fell upon her.
The latter curled her lips slightly, her peach-blossom eyes holding a hint of amusement, the beauty mark at the corner of her eye vivid and bewitching, presenting the very image of a temptress.
But to Jiang Wanfu, this smile was nothing short of pure provocation and smugness.
The suppressed anger in her heart suddenly flared into a wildfire—she wanted to tear that wretched Jiang Wantang’s face apart!
“Fu’er!”
“Do not act recklessly!”
Jiang Zhixu’s sharp shout pulled back her last shred of reason.
Jiang Wanfu’s eyes reddened, as if she had suffered immense injustice: “Father, look at her…”
“Fu’er, keep your composure. Just focus on finishing your birthday celebration peacefully,” Jiang Zhixu said gravely. “Her arrogance won’t last long.”
“Sooner or later, I will deal with her!”
Despite his words, Jiang Wanfu still found it hard to accept, trembling uncontrollably with rage.
Madam Qin’s face turned pale, anxiously twisting the handkerchief in her hands, fearing that Jiang Zhixu would take out his anger on her because of Jiang Wantang.
A grand birthday banquet had left everyone in Xiangfu utterly humiliated.
Only Jiang Wantang had stolen the spotlight.
Now, news of the Xiangfu’s second young miss returning to the capital had spread through every street and alley of Shengjing City—even the dogs in the back alleys probably knew that the Xiangfu’s stunningly beautiful second young miss had returned.
Jiang Wantang had just returned to the mansion, rendering Jiang Zhixu’s over a decade of careful planning utterly futile!
Finally enduring until the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, the gates of Xiangfu closed.
The seemingly gentle father tore off his hypocritical mask, revealing his vicious fangs…
“Kneel!” Jiang Zhixu roared sternly.
A faint, almost imperceptible sneer curved Jiang Wantang’s lips as she sat upright in her chair, unmoving, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
“Wretched creature!”
“Are you deaf?”
“I told you to kneel!”
The sudden rise in his furious shout made the window frames vibrate.
Madam Qin’s legs went weak with fright, nearly collapsing if not for the maids supporting her.
Beside her, Jiang Wanfu wore a face full of schadenfreude.
Yet Jiang Wantang merely calmly raised the teacup in her hand, took a light sip, not even lifting an eyelid.
“Prime Minister Jiang is quite fiery-tempered!”
“Ten years have passed, and while your skills haven’t improved, your temper certainly has.”
As she spoke, she slowly set down the teacup and raised her eyes to look at Jiang Zhixu.
Her captivating peach-blossom eyes were filled with mockery: “Wasn’t it you who said you missed me so much it made you ill, and specially sent someone to bring me back for a family reunion?”
“Why is it that upon seeing me, each of you looks as if you’ve encountered an enemy, eyes blazing with hatred?”
“You insolent wretch!”
Jiang Zhixu slammed his palm furiously on the huanghuali table, veins bulging at his temples as he pointed at Jiang Wantang’s nose and cursed: “A little beast raised in the countryside—utterly unfit for decent society!”
“For the sake of showing off, you’ve completely disgraced my Xiangfu!”
Jiang Wantang smiled, retorting without mercy: “That I grew up in the countryside—wasn’t that all thanks to you, you old beast?”
“The ones truly disgraced are you. What does it have to do with me?”
“Besides, what kind of face does your Xiangfu even have to speak of?”
“A shameless face unfit for decent society?”
“How dare you!”
“You rebellious girl! How dare you speak so insolently!”
“Guards!” Jiang Zhixu bellowed sharply, his eyes fierce: “This wretched creature from the countryside defies her elders! Bring the family discipline!”
“Since you don’t understand the rules, today this father will teach you… what respect and hierarchy mean!”
As soon as the words fell, a servant from the estate entered, holding a thick, long leather whip with both hands.
Xiuzhu, the maid who had been standing silently beside Jiang Wantang, was furious. She stepped forward, shielding Jiang Wantang: “With me here, I’d like to see who dares lay a hand on my lady!”
She had thought her lady had finally overcome hardship and was about to live a good life…
But what kind of family was this before her eyes!
Jiang Zhixu paid her no mind, raising the whip and lashing it fiercely toward Jiang Wantang, deliberately aiming for her face as he struck.
Yet Jiang Wantang remained unmoved, showing no trace of fear on her face, even looking at him with a disdainful smile.
As the whip descended, Xiuzhu reacted swiftly, grabbing a chair from beside her and blocking the blow.
A loud “crack” echoed through the hall—the fine pearwood chair shattered into pieces under the force of the whip.
It was clear how vicious the wielder’s strike had been.
Everyone’s expressions changed as they realized that the unremarkable little maid beside Jiang Wantang actually knew martial arts.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhixu burned with rage and raised the whip to strike again…
At that moment, Jiang Wantang, who had been sitting calmly, spoke softly: “I’ve heard there is a famously impartial Dali Siqing in the capital, renowned for his cold demeanor and dedication to ridding the people of evil. I wonder if Prime Minister Jiang’s official authority can compare to his?”
With just these words, Jiang Zhixu froze in place, a flash of panic quickly crossing his eyes.
Clearly, he was afraid.
Jiang Wantang saw it and slightly curved the corners of her lips.
If the person most feared by the common people in the capital was the Tyrant Ji Wuyuan seated upon the imperial throne, then the second was that Emperor’s close minister, the infamous Dasheng’s foremost cruel official, Xie Zhiyan.
In her previous life, even Young Marquis Xiao Jingheng of the Pingyang Marquis Estate would steer clear of him upon encountering him.
Let alone a treacherous minister like Jiang Zhixu, who lacked solid foundations and was not heavily relied upon.
Upon hearing this, Madam Qin, who had been sitting nearby, could no longer remain seated.
“Wantang, hold your tongue!” Madam Qin hurriedly rose, supported by a maid, and walked over to Jiang Wantang, heartbroken: “How can you speak to your father like this, defying him?”
“This is the height of filial impiety!”
Madam Qin wore an expression of anger, using “filial piety” to pressure Jiang Wantang.
“What happened today was your fault to begin with. Your father punishing you is only right.”
“The capital is not like your rustic countryside, where you can act willfully as you please.”
“Yes, Second Sister, we are family after all. Why must you return and make things so awkward for everyone?” Jiang Wanfu spoke magnanimously.
Madam Qin wiped her tears with a handkerchief, nodding in approval: “Our Fu’er is still the most sensible!”
“Wantang, you’ve just returned to the estate. From now on, you must learn more from your elder sister.”
Jiang Wantang coldly watched the “mother-daughter affection” between Madam Qin and Jiang Wanfu before her, finding it utterly contemptible.
It was even more nauseating than swallowing ten thousand dead flies.
This was the blood kinship she had humbled herself for in her previous life, yearning for it even until her death.
How utterly laughable!
Jiang Wanfu lifted her eyes triumphantly, smiling at Jiang Wantang, her gaze seeming to boast: See, no matter what, I am the daughter most cherished in our parents’ hearts!
Jiang Wantang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a low, hearty laugh: “Family?”
“Hmph, who is family with you?”
“What makes you worthy of being called family!”
“A bunch of utterly disgusting, filthy scum!”
Barefaced mockery, without any concealment.
Jiang Zhixu’s face flushed crimson with rage, veins bulging at his temples: “You vile beast!”
“Say that again!”
“In my life, I despise nothing more than being told I’m unworthy!”
“Today, I’ll beat you to death, you little wretch!”
“Guards, hold that maid down!”
“Hmph, let’s see if a mere little maid can protect you!”
With that, several guards lunged toward Xiuzhu.
Jiang Wantang stood up, a brilliant smile on her face, yet her eyes were icy cold: “Oh really?”
“If you beat me to death, who will take your beloved daughter’s place to enter the palace for the imperial selection?”
“Is it… Jiang Wanhe?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Qin’s pupils suddenly contracted as she instantly grasped the implication.
“Master!”
“Father!”
Madam Qin and Jiang Wanfu spoke up simultaneously to stop him.
It wasn’t that either cared much about Jiang Wantang, but each had their own ulterior motives.
Currently, the most suitable candidate in the household for the imperial selection was none other than Jiang Wantang.
Madam Qin knew full well Jiang Wanfu’s weight in Jiang Zhixu’s heart—he would never allow her to enter the palace and suffer mistreatment.
If anything were to happen to Jiang Wantang this time, the remaining candidate would likely have to be her own daughter, Wanhe.
As for Jiang Wanfu, she didn’t want Jiang Wantang dead; she wanted her to live a life worse than death.
The palace was no place to stay…
She wanted Jiang Wantang to experience the same suffering she had endured in her previous life.
Jiang Wanfu quickly stepped forward, supporting Jiang Zhixu’s arm, and comforted him: “Father, Second Sister grew up in the countryside, so her temperament is inevitably a bit unruly. But after all, she is also part of the family. Father must not forget the important matter at hand.”
“Yes, Master, calm your anger. Wantang is still your child after all. As her mother, I will certainly teach her proper etiquette in the future.”
Jiang Zhixu also came to his senses. He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and only then regained some rationality.
He couldn’t look—every time he saw Jiang Wantang’s face, he easily lost control, wishing he could kill her.
Jiang Zhixu suddenly regretted not having poisoned her with a bowl of medicine back then.
She was like a debt collector come to claim his life.
“Enough, such misfortune for our family!”
Jiang Zhixu withdrew the whip, his gaze toward Jiang Wantang filled with indifference, his words even more callous: “The Emperor has issued an edict: the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family shall enter the palace for the imperial selection. If it weren’t for Wanfu’s longstanding engagement with Young Marquis Xiao, such a good opportunity would never have fallen to a country girl like you.”
Look at that—what was clearly a fire pit no one wanted to jump into had turned into some great favor when it landed on her head.