Unable to contain her fury, she lifted her foot and kicked Jiang Xun hard behind the knee.
Then, fearing he might retaliate, she quickly leaped onto the carriage: “Second Young Master Jiang, consider that kick repayment for my three sticks of sugar-coated haws.”
Jiang Xun gasped in pain, cursing under his breath.
By the time he straightened up to settle the score with Jiang Lingzhi, the carriage had already sped away.
It took him quite a while to catch his breath before he turned and entered a teahouse not far away.
Wuyou Teahouse was renowned throughout the capital and even the entire Da Yong dynasty.
With its elegant layout and reasonable prices, everyone from nobles and officials to commoners and people from all walks of life loved to come here for tea and relaxation.
Precisely because it attracted such a diverse mix of patrons, it was very convenient for gathering various bits of gossip.
This teahouse had been left to him by his mother, Wei Lan.
Familiar with the place, he went up the stairs and entered a private room by the window on the second floor.
Soon, a waiter brought in tea: “Second Young Master, your tea.”
“Where did those rumors outside originate?” Jiang Xun picked up the tea, took a sip, his expression grim. “Bring me chrysanthemum tea instead. I need to cool down.”
His initial assumption had been wrong, but he wouldn’t believe Jiang Lingzhi was completely innocent just because she had been assertive.
So he was determined to investigate and get to the bottom of it.
If it really was her, he would absolutely do as she said—report her to the authorities, have her imprisoned, and teach her a proper lesson!
The waiter swiftly cleared the tea and brought in Hangbai chrysanthemum tea. As he poured, he answered the earlier question: “Second Young Master, these rumors first started with an old woman…”
As Jiang Xun listened, his heart gradually sank.
He abruptly grabbed the tea from the table, gulped down half the pot like a cow, tossed down a piece of broken silver, and left with a dark expression.
Returning to the Jiang residence, he headed straight for the inner courtyard without a word. Just as he stepped through the Chuíhuā Gate, he saw servants hurriedly carrying a body wrapped in a straw mat toward the side gate.
“…Halt!” he shouted. “What’s going on?”
The servants turned and, seeing it was the Second Young Master, quickly set down the mat and came forward:
“Second Young Master, it’s Granny Fang. She got drunk and fell into the water… Madam ordered us to bury her and not let any ill luck linger in the residence.”
Jiang Xun let out an ambiguous “oh.”
It sounded like she got what she deserved… but why such a coincidence?
The woman the waiter had described was none other than Granny Fang from the residence.
He had just returned to question her, and now Granny Fang was dead.
Was it really an accident, or was it a cover-up?
He had no way of knowing.
“Second Young Master, it’s almost dark. If there’s nothing else, we’ll go ahead and take care of the body.”
“Go ahead.”
Jiang Xun responded expressionlessly.
Standing there in the deepening darkness, he suddenly felt as though he couldn’t see clearly.
…
When Jiang Lingzhi returned to Guogong Fu, she ran straight into Lu Shi, who was rushing by with an unpleasant expression.
Beside her was a matron with a headscarf—upon closer look, it was Wang Momo, whose chignon she had sliced off with a knife.
The mistress and servant nearly had a heart attack at the sight of Jiang Lingzhi.
Their already unpleasant expressions grew even darker.
Yet Jiang Lingzhi remained completely oblivious, still greeting with a cheerful smile, “Oh, it’s Eldest Sister-in-law! Where are you heading so late at night?”
Lu Shi shot her a resentful glare.
Unable to hold back, she sneered sarcastically, “To propose marriage at your Jiang family! Fourth Sister-in-law, you probably don’t know yet—a daughter of your Jiang family is about to become a concubine.”
Being a concubine was hardly a respectable matter. If any sister in a family became one, it would lower the entire family’s standing.
Yet Jiang Lingzhi seemed entirely unbothered, merely clicking her tongue and adopting a tone of deep sympathy: “Then Eldest Sister-in-law won’t be getting a generous dowry this time.”
Lu Shi gritted her teeth in anger, snorted, and stormed off in a huff.
Yunrou couldn’t help but spit in disdain, “Ugh, what kind of person is she!”
Xueying pulled her back, “Don’t stoop to her level. This is what they call ‘lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own feet.’ From now on, the main household courtyard is bound to be lively.”
Yunrou nodded, “You’re right.”
Jiang Lingzhi led her two gossipy maids back to Shun Yuan.
As soon as they entered, they noticed several additional pots of peonies in the courtyard.
A servant explained that Second Madam Gu Shi had sent them over—extremely rare and precious Yao Huang Peonies.
Yunrou was instantly delighted, “Fourth Madam, the peonies from Second Master’s courtyard are the most beautiful! They’re usually treasured like rare gems, yet Second Madam actually sent us several pots.”
Xueying added, “Yes, these plants are strong and healthy, with many unopened buds. If we care for them well, they could bloom until mid-May.”
Jiang Lingzhi smiled faintly. Second Madam Gu Shi was clever and perceptive.
Knowing that the Peony Banquet had benefited from her influence, she was now sending a thank-you gift to show goodwill.
She nodded, “Then let’s take good care of them. Spring is the perfect season for admiring flowers.”
“Have dinner served—I’m hungry.”
In her good mood today, she intended to eat two bowls.
……
At the Jiang residence.
Chu Shi and Lu Shi were locked in a tense back-and-forth negotiation over the marriage.
Lu Shi’s tone was cold and unyielding, “Madam Jiang, since Jiang Erxiaojie is involved with Xiao Yan, our Guogong Fu is not an unreasonable family. We agree to take her as a concubine and will come to fetch her in three days.”
Chu Shi’s expression was grim, “Madam Xiao, why must it come to this? Ling Yuan and Xiao Yan are truly fond of each other, and she’s carrying Xiao Yan’s child. How can you be so indifferent?”
Lu Shi replied indifferently, “Only after entering Guogong Fu will the child be considered a member of the Xiao family.”
Jiang Lingyuan, hiding in the side room, overheard Lu Shi’s intention to make her a concubine and flew into a rage. She knocked over the incense burner on the kang table and smashed all the vases in the room to pieces.
“Madam Jiang, go and talk some sense into her. I’ll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. If you refuse, I’ll be on my way.”
Seeing Lu Shi’s unyielding attitude, Chu Shi had no choice but to rise and head to the side room.
The moment Jiang Lingyuan saw Chu Shi, she burst into tears, “A Niang, I won’t be a concubine! I refuse to be a concubine!”
Chu Shi patted her shoulder comfortingly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Jiang Lingyuan seethed with anger and resentment, “A Niang, it’s all Jiang Lingzhi’s fault! Why did she have to steal my dowry? Why is she ruining me like this… Wuwu…”
Chu Shi sighed, “But Yuan’er, given the circumstances, we have no other choice…”
When Lord Jiang learned of the matter, his only stance was to have Jiang Lingyuan hanged with a white silk rope to uphold the Jiang family’s honor.
No matter how much Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Xun pleaded, they could not sway Lord Jiang.
If Lu Shi hadn’t arrived, Ling Yuan would have already descended to the underworld by now.