Everyone knew Xiao Jingyi now had only about three months left.
Duke Xiao and Madam Xiao had begged Jiang Lingzhi to leave him an heir, having long prepared for this eventuality.
Yet Lu Shi chose this moment to twist the knife!
The room fell silent, awaiting Madam Xiao’s outburst.
“Many thanks for Eldest Sister-in-law’s kindness,”
Jiang Lingzhi spoke up with apparent delight, “Seeing your household soon to welcome new joy, it’s clear you are the most blessed among us.”
Lu Shi’s face immediately stiffened with embarrassment.
After last night’s commotion, Jiang Lingyuan’s pregnancy had naturally become impossible to conceal.
…No doubt every branch of the family was secretly mocking Xiao Yan at this very moment.
The curve of Jiang Lingzhi’s lips deepened: “Eldest Sister-in-law, I’ve heard the Child-Seeking Guanyin at Red Snail Temple in the suburbs is most efficacious. When the most blessed person petitions the bodhisattva, she will manifest her power. Since you’re so sincere, could you request a Child-Seeking Guanyin statue for my husband and me?”
Lu Shi’s expression froze completely.
Red Snail Temple was indeed powerful.
But petitioning the Child-Seeking Guanyin required extreme devotion – three steps one kneels, five steps one bows, seven steps one kowtows.
This was followed by three days of vegetarian fasting at the temple to demonstrate sincerity!
How dare this wretched Jiang Lingzhi make such a demand to humiliate her?
What, did she think currying favor with the Duke and Old Madam made her untouchable?
Yet the entire room was watching her.
Madam Xiao’s face was iron-dark, her gaze sharp as blades, as if ready to send matrons to forcibly escort Lu Shi to the temple should she refuse.
Lu Shi nearly bit her own tongue in regret.
Finally, she gritted her teeth: “Very well. On the first day of next month, I’ll be making incense offerings at Red Snail Temple. I’ll request one for you then.”
Jiang Lingzhi’s peach-blossom eyes shone with earnest gratitude: “Eldest Sister-in-law truly embodies the dignity of the household matriarch. With your blessing, the Fourth Master and I will surely soon have descendants.”
Lu Shi could endure no more, turning away with an ugly expression.
“Jiang Lingzhi!”
Xiao Yan, seeing his mother humiliated – and for the sake of begging offspring for his fourth uncle and Jiang Lingzhi no less – felt acutely distressed.
He blurted out recklessly: “If you want children, go share Fourth Uncle’s bed more often! Why torment my mother?”
“Wretched creature, hold your tongue!”
Eldest Master Xiao Jingping’s eyelid twitched as he scolded: “Show proper respect to your Fourth Aunt!”
Jiang Lingzhi smiled faintly. She’d been so focused on Lu Shi she’d nearly overlooked Xiao Yan, this disgusting fool!
Curving her lips, she spoke with grave concern: “Nephew, you’re not young anymore. You should think before speaking and acting, instead of always making your parents worry after you.”
“Soon to be a father yourself, you must strive harder. Earn some honors sooner, ideally following your uncle’s example to become our Xiao family’s pride.”
Xiao Yan’s face turned green.
Her tone was so gentle, yet each word stabbed like knives to the heart.
At twenty, he’d achieved nothing noteworthy.
He couldn’t endure military hardships, and after three attempts had barely passed the Cultivated Talent exams, merely hoping to inherit the family title.
Having his shortcomings exposed before so many watching relatives, he glared at Jiang Lingzhi in burning shame.
Jiang Lingzhi maintained a faint smile throughout: “Nephew, though I grew up in the countryside with little education, I’ve heard the saying that good advice often grates on the ear. Tell me, is your aunt right?”
What could Xiao Yan say? He could only swallow his anger and endure the humiliation: “Aunt’s lesson is well taken. Your nephew has learned his lesson.”
Jiang Lingzhi felt utterly satisfied. So, bullying a villain with authority was such a delightful experience!
Xiao Yan had thought enduring temporarily would bring calm, but Duke Xiao had no intention of letting him off either: “You’ve already come of age, yet you idle at home all day—what kind of behavior is that? Go take up the post of Wuqi Commandant and get to work!”
The Wuqi Commandant was a nominal military position the court established for sons of noble families, merely a seventh-rank post. Its usual duties involved following patrol guards, watching city gates, or making rounds in the streets. Anyone with real ability or family connections would be ashamed to take such a role.
Xiao Yan, who once prided himself as the capital’s most dashing young master, how could he bear to do such things? Now he was genuinely afraid and pleaded immediately: “Grandfather, I truly know my mistake…”
Duke Xiao snorted coldly: “If you won’t take the Wuqi Commandant post, then go guard Yanmen Pass in Ganzhou in your uncle’s place. Our Xiao family doesn’t raise useless trash!”
Xiao Yan dared not say another word and quickly conceded: “Grandfather, I understand. I’ll go tomorrow.” After all, he knew the difference between losing face and losing his life.
“Get out of my sight now. Don’t linger here annoying me.”
“Yes.”
With the Duke’s backing made clear, the others who came to pay respects to Jiang Lingzhi were all very measured. Even those who joked did so harmlessly, avoiding any awkward situations.
Lu Shi grew even angrier seeing how quickly the household had accepted Jiang Lingzhi’s marriage swap, even flattering her in their remarks. She felt her Yan’er had become the abandoned one.
Enduring until the tea ceremony ended, Lu Shi left Rong’an Courtyard and briskly headed to Swallow Returns Garden where Xiao Yan lived, while instructing Wang Momo to prepare a carriage. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Jiang Lingyuan sobbing in Xiao Yan’s arms, with him constantly comforting her.
Lu Shi’s fury flared up again. Her sharp, upturned eyes glared hatefully at Jiang Lingyuan, sharp as knives.
Jiang Lingyuan shuddered with fear and quickly straightened up from Xiao Yan’s embrace, cautiously greeting Lu Shi: “Madam, are you well?”
Lu Shi’s eyes burned crimson as she stepped forward and slapped Jiang Lingyuan hard across the face. Her words were venomous, determined to vent all the day’s frustrations on her: “Well? Thanks to you, Miss Jiang, I don’t know how many years I’ve lost from my life! If you wanted to enter our Guogong Fu, couldn’t you have used any other method? Did you have to cause such a scene at the wedding? Not only did you disgrace our Guogong Fu, but you’ve also ruined Yan’er, forcing him to take on such a miserable job now? When your parents adopted you, did they have your fortune told? Are you a husband-killer or a jinx?”
The more she scolded, the more convinced she became: Yan’er was once the esteemed eldest grandson of the Duke’s household—who in the capital would dare speak ill of him? Now he’s been reduced to this state because of her!
Jiang Lingyuan covered her face, utterly humiliated by the tirade: “Madam, I’m not…”
Fortunately, Xiao Yan was still willing to protect her, pulling her behind him and grumbling discontentedly, “Mother! What are you doing? Do you still want a grandson or not?”
“If it weren’t for the child in her womb,” Lu Shi, overwhelmed with anger, blurted out recklessly, “I would have had her dragged out and drowned in the pond long ago!”