The three members of the Jiang family turned their heads together and saw Jiang Zhaoxue slowly stepping over the threshold. Behind her followed Granny Cui with an expressionless face, her presence and authority perfectly displayed.
Madam Jiang looked at the bright-eyed, graceful young woman in front of her, and her eyelids twitched violently in shock.
How could this still be that little bastard who had just been brought back, looking like a stray dog?
The noble aura surrounding her was actually even more overwhelming than that of the legitimate daughter she had carefully raised.
The madam forced down the shock and displeasure in her heart, immediately putting on the smile of a loving mother. She stood up and walked forward.
“Xue’er! You child, you’ve made Mother wait so long! Quickly, let Mother see if you’ve been living well in the Prince’s residence.”
As she spoke, she reached out her hand to grab Jiang Zhaoxue.
But Jiang Zhaoxue did not stop walking. She merely shifted slightly to the side, causing Madam Jiang to grab nothing but air.
She walked straight to the main seat, brushed down her skirt, and sat down boldly. Holding an apple in her hand, she took a bite and spoke unclearly:
“Don’t pretend to be close. Who is your Xue’er?”
She took another bite of the apple.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly. If you have something to complain about, just spit it out. I’m very busy. I don’t have time to act out some touching mother-daughter reunion with you.”
The smile on Madam Jiang’s face instantly froze, and the hand she had stretched out trembled awkwardly in midair.
Seeing this, Jiang Wan immediately stepped forward and knocked the apple out of Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand.
The apple rolled away, all the way to the doorway.
Jiang Zhaoxue let out a distressed cry.
“My apple!”
Jiang Wan looked at her with disdain, putting on the airs of an elder sister as she scolded:
“Third Sister! How can you speak to Mother like that? You have no manners at all. Mother kindly came to see you, and not only did you not even offer her a cup of tea, you’re acting so rude and vulgar! Where is your upbringing?”
Jiang Zhaoxue was still focused entirely on the apple. She shook her head and muttered to herself:
“Wasting food.”
“What did you say?” Jiang Rou frowned and snapped angrily.
Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly raised her hand and slapped Jiang Rou across the face.
“I said, you’re wasting food!”
Jiang Rou was stunned by the slap.
Madam Jiang finally recovered and shouted furiously:
“Jiang Zhaoxue, what are you doing?”
“You’re truly so uncultured. How can you hit someone without even knowing right from wrong?” Jiang Rou said softly, frowning as she pretended to be gentle and reasonable.
Jiang Zhaoxue sat back down in the chair.
“Granny Cui, pick up the apple for me.”
Granny Cui picked up the fallen apple and handed it back to Jiang Zhaoxue.
“Cultured?” Jiang Zhaoxue held the dirty apple and stood up, walking toward Jiang Rou.
“You… what are you trying to do?” Jiang Rou stepped back in fear.
Jiang Zhaoxue tilted her head and smiled.
“Of course, I’m teaching you what manners are.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed Jiang Rou’s hair with one hand, forcing her to raise her head, while using the other hand to shove the apple into her mouth.
“My manners were taught by the wild dogs in the mass grave!”
Jiang Rou struggled, her face turning pale with terror. When Madam Jiang came back to her senses, she rushed forward and pulled her away.
“Jiang Zhaoxue, you… you’re simply a shrew!”
Jiang Zhaoxue was pulled backward several steps and fell back into the chair.
Madam Jiang held one frightened daughter in each arm, both girls’ faces pale and trembling with fear.
“How did you become like this? You have no manners at all! How could the Prince’s residence possibly tolerate someone like you?”
“Enough.”
Jiang Zhaoxue slammed her hand heavily onto the table.
She stared at the three members of the Jiang family, who were furious and flustered, and spoke impatiently:
“Since you insist on talking to me about rules, then today, let’s properly discuss the rules of this Prince’s residence.”
“Granny Cui, tell them. According to the law, what kind of salute should the family members of an external official perform when meeting a first-rank Princess Consort?”
Granny Cui stepped forward and answered loudly:
“According to the law, they must perform the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine bows!”
Jiang Zhaoxue leaned back against the chair, her fingertips tapping rhythmically on the table.
“Did you hear that? I am the ruler, and you are the subjects. Upon seeing this Princess Consort, all of you should kneel immediately!”
The moment these words were spoken, Madam Jiang’s eyes widened.
“You’re crazy! I am your legitimate mother! You want me to kneel to you? Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?”
“If lightning strikes me, I’ll accept it. But you still have to kneel!” Jiang Zhaoxue sneered.
“You unfilial child! What kind of nonsense are you saying?” Madam Jiang’s face turned pale with anger.
“What? Your Jiang family wants to use my influence to climb onto the Prince’s residence’s high branch, yet you aren’t even willing to bow your head? There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world!”
Jiang Rou stood to the side with tears in her eyes, looking extremely aggrieved.
“Third Sister, we are sisters connected by blood…”
“Shut up! Who is your sister?” Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze turned cold.
“You refuse to kneel, don’t you? Fine, then get out! Granny Cui, bring me a broom and sweep these people out!”
Madam Jiang trembled with rage.
She had ruled over the Jiang family’s inner household for half her life. When had she ever suffered such humiliation? To be pointed at and told to leave by a discarded bastard daughter?
“Rebellion! This is rebellion! You little wretch, do you really think marrying into the Prince’s residence has turned you into a phoenix? Today, I will teach you a proper lesson on behalf of the Jiang family ancestors!”
Madam Jiang completely lost her composure. She rushed forward with her hands raised, about to slap Jiang Zhaoxue across the face.
Jiang Zhaoxue remained calmly seated in the chair. She did not even bother to dodge, her eyes filled with mocking amusement as she watched the scene unfold.
Just as Madam Jiang’s slap was about to land, a strong, powerful hand grabbed her wrist.
Granny Cui’s face was cold as she forcefully flung her hand away, directly pushing Madam Jiang several steps backward, nearly causing her to fall to the ground.
“Presumptuous!” Granny Cui’s eyes widened in fury, looking like a terrifying fiend.
“Do you think the Prince’s residence is a place where you can act wildly? You dared to lay a hand on the Princess Consort. How many heads does your Jiang family have that are enough to be cut off?”
“Mother!” Jiang Wan and Jiang Rou hurriedly supported Madam Jiang, who was frightened.
Madam Jiang clutched her aching wrist and was about to start cursing when a steady sound of wooden wheels rolling suddenly came from outside the side hall.
Along with the sound, a deep and cold male voice entered the hall.
“Who wants to hit my Princess Consort?”
Everyone turned around sharply.
They saw Laifu pushing a specially made four-wheeled wooden chair slowly across the threshold.
Sitting on the chair was a man wearing a dark-colored cloak. It made his face appear even paler, showing the weakness of someone who had just recovered from a serious illness, but his appearance was breathtakingly beautiful—unmatched in both heaven and earth.
He was born with an air of nobility. Even sitting in a wheelchair, he naturally made people want to submit to him.
Jiang Wan and Jiang Rou froze completely in place, staring blankly at Xiao Chenghuai sitting in the wheelchair.
Was this really the legendary short-lived Prince who was supposedly so ill that he was on the verge of death and had become disfigured?
This was clearly an immortal descended to the mortal world! A person who looked like a celestial being!
For a moment, after the overwhelming shock came jealousy and regret.
Jiang Wan’s fingernails dug deeply into her palm.
Why?
Why had such a handsome and noble imperial descendant ended up in the hands of that bastard Jiang Zhaoxue?
If she had known that the Prince of Jing would look like this, even if it was only to marry him for a lucky blessing ceremony, she would have been willing!
The moment Jiang Zhaoxue saw Xiao Chenghuai appear, her previous domineering, troublemaking attitude instantly disappeared.
She sprang up from the chair, hurried over to his wheelchair, put one hand on her waist, and pointed at Madam Jiang with the other, looking extremely wronged.
“Husband! You finally came!”