Old Madam Jiang looked at her in confusion. “Are you Jiang Qingran?”
“Yes.” As Jiang Qingran answered, her personal maid, Qinghe, had already placed a chair behind her. Ignoring everyone around her, she sat down leisurely and lifted her eyes lazily. “And may I ask why you’ve summoned me here?”
Old Madam Jiang’s expression darkened. With a loud bang, she slammed her teacup onto the floor in front of Jiang Qingran’s feet. “Insolence! Why don’t you kneel and pay your respects when you see your elders? How dare you sit down so brazenly! You ill-bred wretch!”
Faced with the old lady’s fury, Jiang Qingran remained completely unbothered. A faint smile played on her lips. “I’d love to be a refined and well-educated young lady. But with no parents above me and no elder brothers by my side, who exactly was supposed to teach me?”
“Fifth Sister!” Jiang Qingyue stepped forward. “You mustn’t say such things. Aren’t you practically cursing the entire family to death?”
Hmph! She had been wondering how to make this jinx even more disliked by the family. Unexpectedly, Jiang Qingran had opened her mouth and invited trouble all on her own.
Jiang Qingran shot her a cold glance. “Step back. When I’m speaking, a concubine-born daughter like you has no right to interrupt.”
It was truly laughable. Her birth mother was the rightful principal wife of the Prime Minister’s residence, making Jiang Qingran the Jiang family’s only legitimate daughter. Yet Cai Xiumei was weak, timid, and submissive. To curry favor with Jiang Wenxiang, she had even stooped to serving tea and waiting upon his favored concubine, Shen Ruoliu.
As a result, Jiang Qingran was branded a harbinger of misfortune, while Shen Ruoliu’s daughter, Jiang Qingyue, became the family’s so-called lucky star. What an outrageous farce.
Jiang Qingyue’s face turned pale. She clenched her teeth so hard they nearly creaked. Since childhood, she had been the cherished jewel in her parents’ hands, pampered and doted on, tutored by renowned masters. She excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was also highly skilled in medicine and adept at socializing. Combined with her breathtaking beauty, she was the center of attention wherever she went among the noble daughters of high society. Only one thing remained a thorn in her heart that could never be removed: Her status as a concubine-born daughter. The slightest touch was enough to make the wound bleed afresh. Her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Fifth Sister is right. It was I who overstepped.” Jiang Qingyue lowered her head submissively.
How could Jiang Wenxiang stand by and watch his precious daughter suffer such humiliation? Raising his hand, he moved to slap Jiang Qingran. “You little beast! You dare bully your elder sister right in front of me? I’ll beat you to death!”
“Prime Minister Jiang!” Qinghe warned sharply, grabbing his wrist in one swift motion. “No one is allowed to lay a finger on my young lady.”
Jiang Wenxiang frowned, fury blazing in his eyes. “Let go!”
A mere servant girl dared raise her hand against him? She must be tired of living!
Jiang Qingran let out a mocking laugh. “Qinghe, you’re far too bold. A tiger may be vicious, but it doesn’t devour its own cubs. As for our esteemed Prime Minister, his heart is so cruel that he could abandon his own flesh and blood in the countryside and leave her to fend for herself. He’s worse than a beast. If you hit him, who knows? He might just swallow you alive.”
“Hmph!” Qinghe abruptly released Jiang Wenxiang’s wrist, nearly sending him sprawling to the ground.
So enraged was Jiang Wenxiang that a sharp pain stabbed through his chest. “Guards! Seize her and…”
“My lord!” Before he could finish, Shen Ruoliu gracefully stepped forward and wrapped a hand around his arm. “Fifth Miss was sent away to live on the estate when she was young. It’s only natural that she harbors resentment. Though her words are inappropriate, the important matter should come first.”
Jiang Wenxiang closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before finally calming himself. “If a child is not taught, the fault lies with the father. You rebellious girl, so disrespectful of your elders and so willfully unruly. It’s all because I failed to beat that defiant streak out of you when you were young. You were never supposed to set foot in the Imperial Capital again. But His Majesty, in his boundless mercy, has bestowed a marriage between you and the Seventh Prince. Make your preparations. In three days’ time, you will be married into the Seventh Prince’s manor.”
Crash! With one kick, Jiang Qingran overturned the tea table before her. Her expression turned cold and imposing.
“Jiang Wenxiang, who do you think you are? You say I wasn’t allowed to enter the Imperial Capital, so I wasn’t allowed to enter? Fine, say that in your own home if you want. But once you’re outside, you’d better keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, people might start thinking you’re plotting rebellion.”