In Da Yong, there are three methods for a married couple to separate. The first is Héli, where both parties amicably negotiate and sign a Héli Letter to dissolve the marriage.
The second is through a Letter of Divorce, which the husband may issue if the wife violates any of the Seven Grounds for Divorce.
The third is Yìjué, initiated by the wife. However, abandoning one’s husband is considered disrespectful, and the wife must go to the magistrate’s office and publicly roll over a three-zhang-long Nail Board.
Jiang Lingzhi was pinned to the ground, her face pressed against the cold floor tiles. Her heart had long grown numb—this family cared only for Jiang Lingyuan’s happiness.
Another twenty strokes of Jia Fa, and now they wanted her to roll over the Nail Board. It was clear they intended to take her life.
Jiang Lingyuan looked down at Jiang Lingzhi with feigned sympathy. “Sister, one day you will understand that the family only wants what’s best for you.”
“Then just beat me to death.”
Jiang Lingzhi’s eyes were icy as she met Old Madam Jiang’s vicious gaze. Suddenly, she no longer felt afraid.
She sneered, “That day in the ancestral hall, Madam Xiao already told me: since the marriage was swapped, no matter what, the Guogong Fu would never allow me to leave. It is precisely for this reason that the Emperor has enfeoffed me as a First-Rank Imperial Noblewoman. If I were to initiate Yìjué with Xiao Jingyi today, it would be defying the imperial decree. If you beat me to death, you would be openly scorning the Emperor’s grace. Old Madam, go ahead and strike—I would be delighted to have the entire Jiang family and its nine generations buried with me!”
Old Madam Jiang’s expression shifted instantly. “What did you say?”
Her grip loosened, and the Jia Fa implement slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.
Chu Shi and Jiang Lingyuan also paled. What? Jiang Lingzhi could never leave the Duke Xiao’s residence? Then how could they reclaim the dowry?
Jiang Lingzhi stiffened her neck and struggled slightly. The matrons holding her down, sensing the shift in situation, released their grip.
Xueying and Yunrou hurried forward to support her. Jiang Lingzhi lifted her chin and addressed Old Madam Jiang with cold arrogance, “As for the matter of the Hui Shu Pi Pao Zi, if you’re dissatisfied, why not go complain to Madam Xiao?”
Old Madam Jiang frowned deeply.
Jiang Lingzhi had always been timid and hesitant before—how dare she become so domineering now, relying on the Xiao family’s influence?
Jiang Xun also looked displeased, as if embarrassed by Jiang Lingzhi’s behavior. He stood up and gestured dismissively, saying coldly, “I’ll see you out.”
Expressionless, Jiang Lingzhi rose and walked out.
Once outside, she leaned on her maid’s hand to board the carriage. Before she could settle, Jiang Xun leaped onto the carriage shaft, snatched the whip from the coachman, and shouted, “Hyah!”
Caught off guard, Jiang Lingzhi nearly hit her head against the carriage wall. She jerked the curtain open in shock, glaring furiously at Jiang Xun’s back. “What are you doing?”
Jiang Xun, driving ahead without turning, rebuked her, “Have you never seen silver before? Even embezzling the Hui Men Li—such shortsighted, vulgar behavior! You have no dignity of a noble daughter!”
Jiang Lingzhi paused. “The Jiang family never raised me as a noble daughter anyway.”
Jiang Xun was speechless.
Indeed, what noble daughter was raised in the countryside and knew how to slaughter pigs?
But remembering how his mother had died of postpartum hemorrhage giving birth to her, his heart hardened again. “That is your fate.”
Jiang Lingzhi fell silent.
Bitterness seeped slowly through her heart, tightening around it until she could barely breathe.
If she had a choice, she would rather never have been born.
Outside the carriage, Jiang Xun spoke again, his tone laced with disgust and threat: “Jiang Lingzhi, whether you degrade yourself and refuse the héli is your own business. But I’m telling you, the Xiao family sent word yesterday that they will soon welcome Ling Yuan into their household. When you both reside in the Guogong Fu in the future, you are not to bully her.”
After a pause, his voice carried a hint of pity: “Besides, eldest brother will soon return from the southern border. If he finds out you’ve bullied Ling Yuan, you’ll meet a gruesome end.”
When A Niang died, eldest brother was already seven years old.
Upon learning of A Niang’s death, he nearly drowned this newborn sister in a water vat.
Amid Jiang Xun’s threatening warnings, she listlessly lifted the carriage window curtain.
She spotted a street vendor carrying Bīngtánghúlu and hawking his wares. The bright red hawthorns glazed with syrup shimmered temptingly in the sunlight—a flavor she had never tasted.
Jiang Xun continued his nagging, his low, menacing voice echoing incessantly in her ears, truly irritating.
Jiang Lingzhi suddenly interrupted him: “Could you buy me a stick of Bīngtánghúlu?”
Jiang Xun: “?”
He instantly grew furious. Here he was discussing serious matters with her, and she was asking for Bīngtánghúlu!
She was already seventeen—did she still think herself a child?
What noble young lady of her age would even glance at such a thing?
Seeing the carriage about to turn the corner, Jiang Lingzhi urged again: “Just buy one stick!”
“What’s so good about that?” Jiang Xun cut her off harshly, extremely impatient. “Did you even hear what I said?”
The carriage had completely turned the corner, and the Bīngtánghúlu vendor was no longer in sight. Knowing she wouldn’t get to eat it, Jiang Lingzhi abandoned the idea.
But… if he wouldn’t even buy her a stick of Bīngtánghúlu, why should she readily agree to such an unreasonable demand?
Jiang Lingzhi replied: “I could agree, but you’d have to count this as you begging me. If you’re willing to pay up, I’ll consent.”
Jiang Xun let out a contemptuous laugh, as if saying she was truly worthless scum.
After a moment’s thought, he reached to his waist, unclasped a jade token, and tossed it into the carriage behind him.
His tone was calm, as if discussing business: “I own a jewelry shop on Yong’an Street called Láncuì Xuān. It’s always done well, and the manager is capable—no need for you to bother with management. The earnings are enough for your needs. I’m giving it to you today. Don’t go back on your promise.”
Jiang Lingzhi uttered an “oh,” picked up the jade token, and held it in her hand, examining it back and forth. The jade felt warm to the touch, with intricate and exquisite patterns, and the character “Lán” carved on it.
She marveled inwardly: For Jiang Lingyuan’s sake, he actually parted with a jewelry shop right away—how generous!
She accepted the jade token with complete peace of mind.
Only with money could one live securely—only a fool would refuse it.
Besides, since he, as her brother, treated her so harshly, what was wrong with taking some compensation from him?
As for his demands that she endure humiliation—well, she was sorry, but she couldn’t tolerate even a bit of it.
She played with the jade token with interest and sincerely flattered: “Second Young Master Jiang is truly a good brother.”
Jiang Xun thought her “good brother” remark was her yielding and acting coy toward him, and his contempt for her deepened.
Her tone was full of disdain: “It’s just a shop. You’re so ignorant that you foolishly agreed to a marriage exchange to marry Xiao Jingyi.”
Jiang Lingzhi paused her movements and earnestly corrected, “Marrying him is quite good.”
Thanks to him, she had enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, servants to attend to her, and people respectfully addressed her as Fourth Madam.
“He’s good?”
Jiang Xun instinctively wanted to explain how terrifying Xiao Jingyi truly was, but he stopped himself before the words left his mouth.
What was the point of saying such things to someone who was about to die?
It felt like kicking someone when they were down.
Unsure of what else to say to her, he remained silent as he drove the carriage.
Xueying and Yunrou had overheard the entire conversation between their mistress and Second Young Master Jiang, and for a moment, neither dared to speak.
Jiang Lingzhi, however, remained cheerful throughout. When she got off the carriage, she calmly bid farewell to Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun snorted contemptuously, but for some reason, beneath his scorn, he felt an inexplicable restlessness.