At this moment, Jiang Cheng remembered everything.
He had come to Zhaoyang Yuan because Jiang Wang-shi had instructed him to.
Moreover, Zhao E had also given her consent.
He remembered that he had barely reached the edge of the bed when he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head, a roaring in his ears, and then he knew nothing more.
When he opened his eyes again, he had become this wretched sight before him.
For a moment, he could not figure out who had struck him from behind.
“What nonsense are you talking!” Old Madam Jiang scolded. “You made a mistake, and if you admit your fault and correct it, we are all family—no one will blame you too harshly. The punishment can also be discussed. Your sister-in-law is not an unreasonable person.
Why must you falsely accuse your own mother? Would your mother be that kind of person? Your elder brother is her own flesh and blood—who would believe such words if you said them out loud?”
Her words were tactful, but in truth she was hinting to Jiang Cheng, hoping he would take responsibility for the matter first. As for what came next, that could be discussed later.
“Mother, say something!” Jiang Cheng turned his face to look at Jiang Wang-shi. “It was clearly you who told me to come…”
“How could I have told you to come?” Jiang Wang-shi’s heart was flustered, and her voice rose sharply.
She could not possibly admit to this.
“I see this situation is aimed at me…” Zhao E spoke through tears. “You all find me displeasing, and deliberately set a trap for me, didn’t you…”
When Jiang Cheng heard this, he was momentarily stunned.
Seeing that he still did not catch on, Zhao E cursed “idiot” inwardly, then continued weeping: “Back then, you promised all sorts of benefits to coax me into marrying here, and now that I have come, you turn around and treat me like this…”
When she said this, Jiang Cheng suddenly saw the light. He immediately struggled and roared: “Wang Qunhui, you did this on purpose, didn’t you? First you coaxed me over, then you had someone hit me and capture me, and then you bit back!
All these years, to deal with us mother and son, you have truly racked your brains, even resorting to such filthy means!”
In his fury, he even shouted out Jiang Wang-shi’s full name.
He had been wondering why Jiang Wang-shi, who had always treated him harshly, would be so kind as to give him such a sweet deal. So all of this was Jiang Wang-shi’s vicious scheme—to deal with him, Jiang Wang-shi truly stopped at nothing.
“Jiang Cheng, do you know what you are saying?” Jiang Wang-shi was so angry that her hands were trembling. If she could, she would strangle Jiang Cheng to death right now.
“Don’t you understand what I’m saying? Let me go!” Jiang Cheng struggled desperately.
The two servants could barely hold him down.
“Would a mother do such a thing?” Jiang Wang-shi intended to deny it to the death. “If you speak, you must have evidence. You say I told you to come—do you have proof?”
When she had given such instructions back then, she naturally would not have kept anyone nearby.
“You, you are truly shameless!” Jiang Cheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at her. “Poisonous woman! Since you had already planned to scheme against me, how could you possibly leave behind evidence?”
“Please, Mother, decide on this matter.” Jiang Wang-shi ignored him and turned to bow to Old Madam Jiang.
Old Madam Jiang looked at her with great displeasure. “Have a few people drag him down and lock him up. Send someone to bring Shike back to decide on this matter.”
She was referring to sending for her eldest son, Fuguo Gong Jiang Shike, to return and handle the matter.
Jiang Wang-shi simply did not want her to enjoy her old age in peace, and had thrown this hot potato at her.
At her age, why should she trouble herself with these matters and earn resentment for it?
The moment Jiang Cheng was dragged away, he still couldn’t help but look back at Zhao E.
Zhao E wept, her eyes red-rimmed as she gave a slight shake of her head, a hint of reluctance in her apricot eyes.
Jiang Cheng was instantly filled with satisfaction—it seemed Zhao E still had him in her heart.
“About this matter, when your father-in-law returns tomorrow, he will give you an explanation.” Jiang Wang-shi stepped forward to help the old madam up. “Mother, let me escort you back to your courtyard to rest first.”
Once the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair had left, Jiang Chen-shi remained behind.
She first made a pretense of comforting Zhao E, but before she had even said a few words, she began asking about the night’s events.
Earlier, she had only seen a fragment of what happened and hadn’t yet grasped the full sequence of events. It felt as though countless ants were crawling around in her heart, unbearably itchy.
So Zhao E picked out what to say and told her, and only then sent her away.
“Bring hot water.”
She gave the order, then walked to the inner chamber, undid her sash, and stepped behind the screen.
The wine had soaked through even her inner garment, making her very uncomfortable. She had long wanted to bathe.
The maidservants quickly brought in hot water.
After bathing properly and taking a calming decoction, Zhao E put on her inner robe and got into bed.
Zhou Yu was leaning against the head of the bed, drawing up his long legs to let her into the inner side.
Zhao E took the small soft quilt and held it in her arms, then lay down with her back to Zhou Yu and closed her eyes.
She didn’t notice at all that Zhou Yu had not reached out to embrace her as he usually did.
In a place where she felt safe, holding the small soft quilt and having taken the calming decoction, she quickly fell asleep.
The next day, Nanny Chun came to Zhaoyang Yuan.
“Eldest Young Madam.” She bowed to Zhao E. “The Madam sent this old servant to inform you that the Duke has returned and has already punished Young Master Cheng.”
She was the nanny who had accompanied Jiang Wang-shi as part of her dowry, so she was naturally Jiang Wang-shi’s confidante. Even the way she looked at Zhao E was much the same as Jiang Wang-shi.
“Oh?” Zhao E leaned against the soft couch, slightly raising her dark brows. “How was he punished?”
“The family discipline was used—a full thirty lashes.” Nanny Chun looked at her and said in a self-important tone, “Young Master Cheng is already lying on the bed unable to move. Eldest Young Madam should also let go of her anger. Let this matter be written off.”
Zhao E sat up straight, her dark brows knitting slightly, her gaze calm and clear as she tilted her head to size her up. “Are you teaching me how to conduct myself?”
Nanny Chun’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head. “This old servant would not dare.”
She was puzzled. This Zhao E—clearly she had the appearance of an unteachable wastrel, so how could there be such an aura in her bearing?
Especially that gaze—it was frighteningly intense, scaring her so much that her breathing caught for a moment.
“You may withdraw.” Zhao E leaned back against the chair once more.
After Nanny Chun left, Ling Feng quickly entered the room. “Miss, A-Ning has sent word.”
Zhao E did not look at her and asked lazily, “What is it?”
“She says the Second Young Master has been willing to eat these past few days, and is also willing to leave his room to bask in the sun in the fence courtyard.” Ling Feng replied with her head lowered.
“Did he send any message for me?” Zhao E rested her head against the back of the chair, gazing at the ceiling, and asked in a quiet, serene tone.
“That—this servant has not heard of any.” Ling Feng hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
She did not know the young miss’s past, but seeing her like this always made her heart ache for no reason.
It seemed the young miss was hiding many things in her heart. Her usual profligate and flamboyant manner was merely her armor; the young miss before her now, who made one’s heart ache, was the real her.
“Send word that I will go to keep him company on the first day of the ninth month.” Zhao E paused for a moment, then gave the instruction.
“Yes.”
Ling Feng acknowledged and withdrew.
Zhao E called Xiyu in again: “Have the small kitchen prepare some nourishing soup, pack it up, I’ll need it later.”
Jiang Cheng had been beaten, so she had to go see him, hear how he planned to take revenge on Jiang Wang-shi, and along the way give him some ideas.
On this day at the end of August, Zhao E rode a horse carriage out of the Fuguo Duke’s Residence, heading straight toward the direction of the North City Gate.
There was a market here, one that specialized in selling incense candles, yellow paper for offerings, and similar goods.
Zhao E finished her purchases at the largest shop, and after watching the maids arrange everything onto the carriage, she lifted her skirt and stepped onto the small stool.
Beside her, Ling Feng quietly reminded her: “Miss, Xiao Wangye…”
She didn’t know what had happened between the miss and Xiao Wangye, but ever since the day Jiang Cheng was knocked unconscious by her, Xiao Wangye had not come looking for the miss again.
“Brother-in-law.” Zhao E stepped down from the small stool, her tone drawn out long, carrying an indescribable lingering tenderness.
She raised her delicate, lovely little face, her eyes flowing with emotion, and with a light smile glanced at Zhao Yuehua, who was holding Zhou Yu’s arm.
These past few days had been too busy; only now, seeing Zhou Yu, did she vaguely recall that Zhou Yu seemed not to have gone to Zhaoyang Yuan for several days.