When Jiang Lingzhi was found by the crowd, she was kneeling in the ancestral hall dressed in mourning attire, clutching Xiao Jingyi’s spirit tablet in her arms.
“What impropriety!” Lu Shi couldn’t help but shriek at the sight: “Today is your wedding day with Yan’er, yet you’re here dressed in mourning cursing him? Still clinging to your brother-in-law’s spirit tablet—how can the women of your Jiang family be so ill-bred, one worse than the other?”
“Heh,” Jiang Lingzhi let out a sudden cold laugh, glaring defiantly at Lu Shi and retorting sharply, “Who said this is Xiao Yan’s wedding day? What greeted me when I stepped out today was General Xiao’s coffin, so I am his wife!”
Her words left everyone stiff-faced. This… this… could Jiang Lingzhi have been driven mad with rage??
After all, the Guogong Fu’s hereditary peerage meant that no matter how despicable Xiao Yan was, as the legitimate eldest grandson, he would eventually inherit the title and become the Duke. Then Jiang Lingzhi would be the esteemed Duchess!
Wouldn’t it be effortless to dispose of a woman who had climbed into bed?
Yet she, in a fit of pique, wanted to switch marriages and wed Xiao Jingyi?
Even though Xiao Jingyi was renowned, heroic, and an exceptionally fine man—he was dead!
Once dead, everything turned to nothing!
Lu Shi’s lips twitched uncontrollably, her trembling finger pointing at this madwoman. A lunatic, truly a lunatic!
Jiang Lingzhi paid no mind to their thoughts, calmly holding the spirit tablet with a resolute expression.
Duke Xiao had four sons and two daughters. In truth, the second branch also had suitable candidates for a marriage swap, but Jiang Lingzhi felt that no matter who was forced to marry her now, they would be deeply displeased. Choosing a dead man was most fitting.
Becoming Xiao Jingyi’s widow before marriage—gaining wealth, power, and status—wasn’t that far more satisfying than entangling with that scoundrel and his mistress?
Moreover, Xiao Jingyi held a higher seniority. By marrying him, she could thoroughly suppress Xiao Yan in the future and properly vent her grievances!
Madam Xiao arrived at that moment. She was Duke Xiao’s second wife and the elder sister of the current emperor, titled Rong’an Grand Princess.
Having witnessed all kinds of women in her lifetime, she looked at Jiang Lingzhi with some surprise—this girl was rather interesting.
Raised in the countryside for so many years, she had somehow developed such a firm and unyielding character, evoking a mix of pity and admiration.
She gently advised, “Child, you’re young and impulsive, but don’t act out of momentary anger. The life of a widow is not easy to endure.”
By now, Jiang Lingzhi had grown even calmer. She replied unhurriedly, “Madam, I am not speaking in anger. No matter how difficult the days ahead may be, they cannot be worse than marrying Xiao Yan! I have heard that the General never married. I am willing to adopt an heir for him, so that after his passing, he will still have offerings. I only beg Madam to grant me this.”
Silence fell over the ancestral hall.
After a long pause, Madam Xiao narrowed her eyes, the warmth on her face fading slightly. “If you insist on switching marriages to Jingyi today, then I must speak bluntly.”
Jiang Lingzhi lifted her head. “Please enlighten me, Madam.”
“If you become Jingyi’s widow before marriage, you must remain chaste for him your entire life. If you ever entertain any disloyal thoughts, this old woman will have you buried with my son!”
Jiang Lingzhi believed Madam Xiao meant every word, but she nodded without hesitation. “Naturally.”
“If you regret this in the future, our Xiao Guogong Fu will not grant you divorce papers. From this day forward, in life you are a member of the Xiao family, in death you are a ghost of the Xiao family.”
“I accept!”
Madam Xiao’s eyes reddened. “Very well. I shall take charge of this matter and agree to the marriage exchange!”
She rose to her feet, leaning on her dragon-headed cane. “Then today, right here in the ancestral hall, you shall perform the wedding rites with Jingyi and officially become husband and wife!”
“Yes.”
“First bow to heaven and earth!”
“Second bow to parents!”
“Bow to each other as husband and wife!”
“Rites completed—”
Jiang Lingzhi held the spirit tablet in her arms. After completing the wedding bows, her wildly pounding heart gradually calmed.
She knew her actions today had been bold and audacious, but she had no regrets!
Her mother had risked her life to bring her into this world. No matter what, she would live with dignity and honor, allowing her mother’s spirit to rest in peace.
Madam Xiao scanned the room and declared solemnly, “Listen well. From this day forward, Jiang Lingzhi is the Fourth Madam of our Guogong Fu!”
“Yes,” the crowd responded, each with their own thoughts.
Just as Jiang Lingzhi was about to rise, still holding the spirit tablet, a loud cry suddenly echoed from the courtyard: “Fourth Master… Fourth Master has returned…”
“What?”
Everyone in the ancestral hall was instantly stunned!
What did they mean, Fourth Master had returned?
Fourth Master had been buried just that morning. How could he be back now? Was this a case of a corpse rising or a ghost haunting?
In the blink of an eye, the messenger rushed breathlessly into the ancestral hall.
It was Di Hong, Xiao Jingyi’s most trusted aide.
Di Hong dropped to his knees before Madam Xiao, so agitated he could barely form coherent words: “Madam, Fourth Master… Fourth Master isn’t dead! He… he has returned!”
“Is this true?” Madam Xiao swayed, gripping her dragon-headed cane tightly as she pressed urgently, “Explain yourself clearly! What exactly happened?”
Di Hong struggled to catch his breath. “Yes, yes! The general was ambushed on his return journey after the campaign. He was severely wounded and fell off a cliff. Everyone thought he was dead, so we reported his passing. Who could have guessed he’d fallen into an underground river and, by incredible luck, drifted all the way to Medicine King Valley? He was unconscious for over a month until someone recognized the general. Medicine King Valley then arranged his return.”
Madam Xiao was both thrilled and heartbroken. “Quick! Take me to see him at once!”
“Yes!”
After taking two hurried steps toward the door, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to Jiang Lingzhi, who still clutched the spirit tablet. Beaming with joy, she beckoned, “Come, dear child! You bring fortune to your husband! The moment you married into our family, Jingyi returned from the dead. Come with me to see him!”
Yet Jiang Lingzhi only felt the spirit tablet in her arms grow unbearably hot. How… how could this be so absurd?