Jiang Lingyuan was well aware of all this.
She stood frozen for a moment before wiping her tears, lamenting, “Why should this be?”
Even now, she remained deeply resentful.
In her view, Jiang Lingzhi was nothing but a country bumpkin, yet she had taken the position of the legitimate eldest daughter of Shangshu Manor, become the esteemed Fourth Madam Xiao, and even been conferred the title of First-Rank Imperial Noblewoman.
In the entire Da Yong dynasty, the number of First-Rank Imperial Noblewomen could be counted on one hand, and that wretched woman had somehow secured one of those positions.
Meanwhile, she—Jiang Lingyuan—had been meticulously raised as a daughter of the Jiang family, was now carrying the child of Guogong Fu, yet was being forced to become a concubine.
Lu Shi sighed again, lowering her voice as she advised, “According to A Niang, you should agree. Being a concubine isn’t so bad—at least you’ll be a noble one. As long as you can captivate Xiao Yan, there will be plenty of opportunities to be elevated to the main wife in the future.”
Two streams of clear tears fell from Jiang Lingyuan’s eyes. “Why must I be the servant while she gets to be the mistress?”
Chu Shi’s expression darkened, her eyes filled with heartache. “A Niang has heard that Xiao Jingyi won’t live more than three months. That wretched woman won’t be able to enjoy her glory for long.”
After a pause, she added softly, “Ling Yuan, only by marrying into that household… will you be able to act according to circumstances.”
Jiang Lingyuan paused, casting a puzzled glance at Chu Shi. It seemed she understood something, for her eyes brightened slightly. In the end, she agreed, “…Alright.”
After seeing Lu Shi off, Chu Shi went to the study to find Lord Jiang.
Lord Jiang was painting in his study. When Chu Shi informed him that Jiang Lingyuan had agreed to become a concubine, he didn’t even look up, remarking coldly, “Disgraceful.”
A flicker of resentment passed through Chu Shi’s eyes. “My lord, Ling Yuan has grown up by your side since childhood. Do you truly not care for her at all?”
Lord Jiang glanced at her indifferently, sending a chill up Chu Shi’s spine that made her shiver involuntarily.
He withdrew his gaze and returned to his painting. “Get out.”
Chu Shi held back her tears, glaring at him with bitterness.
Despite decades of marriage, he still felt distant and unfamiliar to her.
It seemed all his tenderness and affection had been reserved for Wei Lan. From the moment Wei Lan died, a part of him had died as well. What remained was nothing but a cold, unfeeling shell.
Darkness clouded Chu Shi’s eyes.
She hated Wei Lan.
Hated that damned woman to the bone!
Even after all these years, she still held Jiang Chuan’s heart firmly.
Though he had married her as his second wife, he had always treated her as mere decoration—he hadn’t even touched her once in all these years!
And now, that little wretch Jiang Lingzhi was just as detestable as Wei Lan, blocking Ling Yuan’s path and stealing what was rightfully hers!
They all deserved to die… Ling Yuan, you must not show that little wretch any mercy!
Chu Shi closed her eyes, her face pale and desolate, before turning and leaving the study.
Jiang Xun lay on his bed, lost in thought as he replayed the events of the day. A few knocks sounded at his door. “Second Brother, are you asleep?”
He quickly rose to open the door for her. “Ling Yuan, why are you here so late? Is something wrong?”
Jiang Lingyuan let out a bitter laugh. “Second Brother, I just came to tell you that I’ve agreed to Guogong Fu’s proposal. In three days, I’ll be married off as a concubine.”
A concubine… a concubine…
The thought made Jiang Xun’s heart ache.
As a scion of a noble family, he had been taught since childhood that a concubine was nothing more than a plaything, forever unworthy of standing in the limelight.
But now the rumors outside are growing increasingly rampant, and Ling Yuan’s reputation is indeed ruined. If she doesn’t become Xiao Yan’s concubine, death would be her only remaining path.
Jiang Lingyuan looked up at him, tears falling like broken strings of pearls: “I don’t blame Lingzhi A-jie. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters. It’s what I owe her, after all.”
“…It wasn’t her,” Jiang Xun instinctively explained. “I looked into it today, and this matter has nothing to do with her. Please don’t misunderstand her.”
Jiang Lingyuan was stunned. Was Second Brother actually defending Jiang Lingzhi?
But then she began to feel uneasy. Second Brother had investigated this matter?
Then he must already know that it was A Niang who spread the rumors?!
No, that couldn’t be. Granny Fang was already dead—dead men tell no tales. No matter what, this wouldn’t lead back to her and A Niang.
Thinking this, Jiang Lingyuan quickly adjusted her expression: “I knew Lingzhi A-jie wouldn’t do such a thing. After all, Second Brother, you’re so good to her. Since she shares the same mother as you, how could she possibly be malicious?”
She sighed and added: “It must be that I’m too foolish, offending people without even realizing it, which made someone hold a grudge against me.”
Jiang Xun’s heart ached for her: “Ling Yuan…”
He had suspected Chu Shi, but he never once doubted Ling Yuan. In his eyes, she was an extremely understanding and kind-hearted young woman.
Facing such circumstances, he, as her elder brother, truly felt heartbroken for her.
“It’s alright, Second Brother. Xiao Yan treats me well anyway, and he’ll protect me in the future,” Jiang Lingyuan forced a lighthearted smile.
Jiang Xun breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Ling Yuan was stronger than he thought. With Xiao Yan protecting her, her life in the Guogong Fu wouldn’t be too difficult.
Jiang Lingyuan bit her lip, putting on a troubled expression: “Second Brother…”
Jiang Xun immediately asked: “What is it, A Yuan? You can tell Second Brother anything.”
After hesitating for a while, Jiang Lingyuan finally revealed the purpose of her visit today: “…Second Brother, I really like the Láncuì Xuān shop. Could you give it to me?”
As far as she knew, Láncuì Xuān was the most profitable shop under Jiang Xun’s management.
She thought that since Lu Shi valued generous dowries, if she presented Láncuì Xuān to Lu Shi as a gift, perhaps Lu Shi would calm her anger more quickly.
“Láncuì Xuān?” Jiang Xun felt somewhat awkward: “That shop is no longer in my possession.”
“Not in Second Brother’s hands?” Jiang Lingyuan was momentarily surprised, then found it hard to believe: “Second Brother, don’t tell me you gave it to A-jie?”
Somewhat guiltily, Jiang Xun hummed in affirmation, even avoiding Jiang Lingyuan’s gaze.
Jiang Lingyuan was utterly shocked. Since when had Jiang Xun become so favorable toward Jiang Lingzhi that he would give Láncuì Xuān to her?!
But she had always been good at masking her feelings, so she quickly smiled: “Then Second Brother and I thought alike. I was also thinking that since you’ve given me so many shops, but A-jie has nothing in her hands, I wanted to ask for this shop to give to A-jie.”
“Ling Yuan, you’re always so kind-hearted,” Jiang Xun sighed. “You should take good care of yourself. It’s getting late, you should go back and rest.”
“Alright, you too, Second Brother.”
The moment Jiang Lingyuan turned around, the smile on her face could no longer be maintained, fading away like a receding tide.
She clenched her fists tightly, almost grinding her teeth to dust.
That bitch Jiang Lingzhi! She’s stealing what’s mine again!
Once she’s married off, I’ll make sure she gets what’s coming to her!
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