Jiang Yao spoke coolly, as if mentioning something inconsequential, “Your young son is keeping a mistress in the east of the city. She is now six months pregnant, and I had a doctor check her pulse—the doctor says she is carrying a boy.”
Granny Chu’s face instantly paled at the news. Her body violently shook, her whole figure convulsing with emotion.
That house! Even the First Madam didn’t know about it. How could the Third Young Lady possibly know!
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! It’s…”
The moment she opened her mouth, Madam Liu shot a look at the person standing next to Granny Chu.
That person moved swiftly, covering Granny Chu’s mouth with one hand and forcibly pouring a bottle of silence drug down her throat with the other.
As the medicine took effect, Granny Chu’s throat instantly burned with agonizing pain. She managed a few broken, airy gasps before fainting from the sheer agony.
Old Madam Jiang witnessed this and was instantly furious. She slammed her hand down on the table, sharply demanding, “What are you doing!”
Madam Liu clutched her chest, looking panicked, as if she were also startled. She stammered, “That… Granny Feng! You! Why did you do that!”
Although she feigned panic, her eyes were cold as ice, completely devoid of pity.
Granny Feng frantically crawled toward Old Madam Jiang, crying with tears and snot streaming down her face: “Old Madam, it was this old servant who instructed the Chu woman! This old servant was blinded by greed, which led to this terrible disaster!”
“Madam Liu!” Old Madam Jiang’s gaze was like a knife, piercing through Madam Liu.
Madam Liu wept, her voice trembling: “Mother, I truly knew nothing of these matters! Granny Feng is my personal attendant, and I didn’t know she would do such a thing!”
“I know, Mother, that you have always been displeased with me, and by extension, you are displeased with my son, Wencan. But I would never do such a thing!”
Madam Liu put on a show of being terribly wronged, but inwardly, she was gritting her teeth with hatred.
Poor Wencan, he is even looked down upon compared to a concubine’s daughter from the Third Branch.
Jiang Yao was surprised that Madam Liu would discard even her own trusted nanny and turn the situation around to garner sympathy.
However, she hadn’t planned on taking Madam Liu down entirely today; the most important thing was still to secure her position with Old Madam Jiang.
“Grandmother, Eldest Aunt has always treated me very well. I believe Eldest Aunt was simply misled by her subordinates this time.”
Old Madam Jiang’s mind was clear. How could she not know of Madam Liu’s schemes?
But Madam Liu was, after all, a daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. If this matter were to spread, it would be detrimental to everyone.
Moreover, Wencan was still young and would have to take the Imperial Examinations in the future…
She looked coldly at Madam Liu, her eyes burning with fury: “Stupid! Utterly stupid!”
Every word landed like a heavy hammer on Madam Liu’s heart, nearly suffocating her.
“How could I have chosen a fool like you to be my son’s wife!” Old Madam Jiang’s voice was icy, her gaze sharp.
Madam Liu’s lips trembled, and she clenched her hands so tightly that her fingernails nearly dug into her flesh, yet she dared not refute. She could only grit her teeth and nod: “It is all my fault, Daughter-in-law.”
“If not for Wencan’s young age… Very well. Go to the Buddhist hall for a month of quiet reflection.”
“And replace all the items stolen by that wicked servant at the assessed price for the Third Young Lady.”
“This…” Madam Liu bit her lip. “It was so long ago. I’m afraid it will be difficult to find everything…”
“No worries, Eldest Aunt,” Jiang Yao smiled sweetly, instructing Chunlan (春蘭) behind her to hand over a ledger. “Your niece has recorded everything right here.”
Although she couldn’t take down Madam Liu in one go, the money had to be recouped—take the wool from the sheep it belongs to.
“You!” Madam Liu was livid, glaring at Jiang Yao.
She never imagined she would stumble and fall over Jiang Yao today.
“Enough. It is settled,” Old Madam Jiang declared decisively.
Madam Liu’s lips trembled, her hands tightly clenched until her fingernails almost dug into her flesh. She dared not argue, only gritting her teeth and nodding, “Yes.”
“Take that wicked servant who betrayed her master, give her twenty heavy strikes with the plank, and sell her off,” Old Madam Jiang continued, turning her prayer beads.
Jiang Yao stayed and chatted with Old Madam Jiang for a long time, only leaving after they had finished their midday meal.
On her way back to her courtyard, she ran directly into Madam Liu, who was busy packing her bags.
Madam Liu, having lost her confidante and being forced to pay compensation, completely lost her usual gentle and affectionate demeanor. She tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand, staring at Jiang Yao without saying a word.
If it were anyone else, they might actually be intimidated.
Unfortunately, Jiang Yao was not an ordinary person. A faint smile touched her lips. “Hello, Eldest Aunt. Have you had your lunch?”
“Oh, is this the compensation Eldest Aunt is giving me? Quick, hand it over. Don’t let it weigh you down.”
The weather was perfect that day, ideal for a spring outing.
Jiang Yao hummed a tune as she sat before her dressing table.
“Today, give me an ‘Evil Woman Look.’ I’m going out to break up some lovebirds.”
“M-Miss, what is an ‘Evil Woman Look’?” Chunlan looked unsure where to start.
“Just… sigh, never mind. A simple makeup look will do.”
Lest people misunderstand how much she cares about this outing.
The door was pushed open, and Xia Chan entered hurriedly, leaning down to whisper something in Jiang Yao’s ear.
“What!? He, he, he accepted?” Jiang Yao looked up, shocked, momentarily forgetting that Chunlan was standing right in front of her applying her eyebrows.
Chunlan’s hand twitched, and a drop of black brow pomade fell, instantly smudging her brow. The originally faint brow color immediately became thick and dark as ink, starkly contrasting with her fair skin.
“Miss, your brow, your eyebrow…” Chunlan panicked.
“It’s fine. Just wipe it off with clean water.”
Jiang Yao waved her hand, then turned back to Xia Chan.
“You mean, Xie Yunian agreed to the outing?” She looked suspicious and wary. “Are you sure?”
How could Xie Yunian agree to this?
“Reporting, Miss, the young servant by Master Xie’s side came in person,” Xia Chan replied.
Xia Chan was quick-witted and meticulous; it was unlikely she was mistaken.
“Miss, that’s wonderful! You get to see Master Xie again!” Chunlan exclaimed happily.
Jiang Yao forced a strained laugh. “Ha… haha, that really is great…”
“Why did he only reply today?”
It’s almost time to leave; they’re cutting it close.
“The servant said their gatekeeper suddenly fell ill and was recuperating at home for a few days. Master Xie realized the gatekeeper hadn’t reported back, so he quickly sent his most trusted servant to personally come and apologize.”
Thanks, but no thanks for the apology next time.
Prince Jin’s carriage slowly pulled up in front of the Jiang manor gate.
Xiao Wuheng sat tall on his horse, dressed in a dark silk robe, his waist secured with a gold and jade belt, and wearing a jade crown.
His gaze swept past the stone lions in front of the gate and landed on the Jiang family steps.
There, Jiang Ying was dressed in a moon-white dress, covered by a layer of light gauze that gently fluttered in the breeze. A few strands of hair fell to her shoulders, adding a touch of softness to her cool demeanor.
His eyes immediately softened as he looked at Jiang Ying. He dismounted his horse and approached Jiang Ying.
“Miss Jiang, you’ve been waiting long.”
Only then did Jiang Yao get a close-up look at the carved, sharp jawline of the original novel’s male lead.
As the male lead, Xiao Wuheng was naturally handsome.
But… she snorted internally. He looks like a hypocrite.
Jiang Ying’s eyes flashed with surprise upon seeing Prince Jin personally dismount to greet her. “Greetings, Your Royal Highness Prince Jin.”
Her initial impression of Xiao Wuheng was not very good.
After all, who in the capital didn’t know that Prince Jin, Xiao Wuheng, spent his days playing with cats and dogs, lacking any proper decorum?
Xiao Wuheng’s mouth curved into a smile, and he raised a hand to signal, “Miss Jiang, there’s no need for formalities. It is my great fortune to be able to go on this spring outing with you today.”