The clan leader assumed that once he spoke, Zhu Xinyan would obediently step forward and apologize.
With the clan leader backing her up, Madam Xu also became arrogant, putting on airs and planning to use the injuries on her face to extort a hefty compensation.
But to both of their surprise, Zhu Xinyan had absolutely no intention of apologizing.
She let out a mocking laugh and walked forward with graceful steps. The embroidered lotus flowers on her skirt swayed open and closed with her movement, making her look like a fairy strolling among blossoms.
Zhu Xinyan already possessed a strikingly beautiful face. Though she was still in mourning and wore no makeup, her beauty remained dazzling.
The breeze stirred the loose strands by her temples and tugged at the hearts of those watching.
Ignoring the malicious gazes around her, she calmly walked to a stone stool and slowly sat down.
But the moment her backside barely touched it, she sprang up like a firecracker.
“Mother of heaven! It’s hot! So hot!”
Although it was late summer, the noon sun had been blazing all afternoon, turning the stone stool into something like a burning coal.
Zhu Xinyan had originally intended to appear poised and elegant, displaying the bearing of a noble young lady to intimidate the Jiang clan members.
Who knew she would fail so spectacularly this time?
Still, she quickly suppressed her embarrassment, embracing the mentality of “as long as I’m not embarrassed, then the embarrassed ones are others.”
She stood there calmly despite the danger, utterly composed.
Amid the laughter, she generously called for Qiao’er.
“Go fetch me a cushion.”
Qiao’er glanced awkwardly at the “troublemaking” stone stool and pursed her lips.
“Miss… do you really have to sit there?”
Zhu Xinyan answered calmly, “You don’t understand. This is called ‘where you fall, that’s where you get back up.’”
Remembering how hot it had been, she added another sentence at the last moment.
“Make sure it’s a thick one.”
The servants quickly brought over a cushion, and Zhu Xinyan gracefully sat down again.
Casting a cold glance at the still-standing clan leader nearby, she parted her lips and said lightly,
“My apologies. There aren’t enough chairs in my house, so I’ll have to trouble everyone to stand.”
The clan leader was ignored by Zhu Xinyan and lost face, but he still maintained a forceful tone.
“Enough nonsense. You still haven’t apologized to Madam Xu! Don’t waste our time.”
“Apologize? What a joke.” Zhu Xinyan sneered and shot back, “She tried to sell off my maid while I was away. And before that, she stole many of my belongings without permission. She was clearly the one in the wrong first, so why should I apologize?”
The clan leader’s expression stiffened as he was about to speak, but Jiang Fourth, eager to defend his wife, stepped forward first.
“Talk about ‘biting the hand that feeds you.’ My wife only arranged a marriage for Qiao’er because she saw the girl couldn’t get married otherwise. And those things from before? Seventh Brother willingly gave them to us. True, your dowry was plentiful when you married in, but since you’ve entered the Jiang family, there should no longer be any distinction between yours and ours.”
As he spoke, he raised his slanted brows, revealing his mean and petty nature.
“Now you’re bringing up old debts. Could it be you’re already thinking of remarrying? Otherwise, why did you rush out so crazily right after Jiang Yihan’s seven-day mourning period ended?”
Hearing this, Zhu Xinyan’s expression remained unchanged. She mocked him coldly.
“Well done, Jiang Fourth. You’re quite skilled at twisting words. The filthy things you and your wife have done are brushed aside with a single sentence, and somehow the blame gets shifted onto me instead. Truly like Zhu Bajie swinging his rake and striking back at the victim.”
Madam Xu shot her a vicious glare and fanned the flames from the side.
“Clan Leader, I heard from others that she kept running in and out all day today. She was even flirting openly with an old man on the street, acting quite intimately.”
As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe tears.
“Tell me, before her mourning period is even over, this widow is already behaving so shamelessly. How can my Seventh Brother ever rest peacefully in the underworld?”
The moment she finished stirring up trouble, discussions immediately erupted around them.
“She just became a widow and already can’t restrain herself. Maybe she was cheating long ago.”
“Look at that seductive face of hers. Jiang Seventh probably wore a dozen green hats already.”
“…”
Qiao’er could not bear hearing her mistress slandered and immediately raised her voice in protest.
“Fourth Madam, you can eat recklessly, but you can’t speak recklessly! Everyone says widows are surrounded by gossip, and a woman’s reputation is more important than heaven itself. You’re pouring dirty water over my young lady’s head. Are you trying to drown her with rumors so you can keep the stolen property for yourselves?”
The moment Qiao’er brought up money again, Madam Xu panicked, afraid the clan leader would investigate further.
“You little slut, let’s see if I don’t rip that mouth of yours apart!”
Seeing the situation descend into chaos and fearing it would ruin his plans, the clan leader immediately shouted for silence before turning to question Zhu Xinyan again.
“Is what she said true?”
Zhu Xinyan did not deny it in the slightest. She admitted it openly and confidently.
“Yes, I did go out. May I ask which law of the Great Zhou states that widows are forbidden from leaving the house? Even if it’s your Jiang family rule, then why was Third Aunt allowed out after Third Uncle died, but I’m not?”
Caught off guard by her sudden question, the clan leader choked for a moment, but quickly found an excuse.
“You are eighteen and in the prime of youth, so naturally we must be more careful with you. But she is plain and coarse-looking, so she is safer outside.”
The innocent Third Aunt, struck by this stray attack, could only think:
Clan Leader… was that really necessary?
What a terrible excuse.
At this point, Zhu Xinyan completely saw through the clan leader’s impure intentions.
If she lowered her head and submitted this time, she would likely suffer under his oppression forever after.
Not wanting to continue listening to his hypocritical nonsense, she bluntly asked,
“And if I insist on going out from now on? What exactly can you do to me?”
Having his authority challenged repeatedly in public, the clan leader’s face darkened to an ugly shade.
A dangerous gleam flashed across his eyes as he threatened sinisterly,
“If you insist on going your own way, don’t blame us for being ruthless. Sixth Brother, bring it out.”
The moment his words fell, a short, thickset man stepped forward holding a red-hot branding iron.
His vulgar gaze slid from Zhu Xinyan’s face down to her chest, lingering there.
He licked his dry lips and said frivolously,
“With skin this delicate, branding your face would really be a pity. But after fifteen years, the clan leader can petition the authorities for a chastity arch in your honor. At least your pretty little face won’t have been ruined for nothing.”
“A chastity arch would only benefit your Jiang clan. What does it have to do with me?”
Without the slightest fear, Zhu Xinyan snorted coldly.
“So that’s why security was so lax today. You deliberately let me go out just so you could wait for me here.”
“As expected of Seventh Brother’s wife, clever enough to see through it immediately. But who told you to be born with such a tempting face? If outsiders start coveting you and crawling into your bed, then we’d rather our own brothers enjoy the advantage first!”
“You all agree, don’t you?”
Amid the growing lewd laughter came waves of agreement.
These people had long coveted Zhu Xinyan’s beauty. Only because Jiang Yihan possessed scholarly status had they not dared act recklessly before.
Now that only a widow and orphan remained, they no longer had any scruples.
They only hoped to seize evidence of wrongdoing soon, permanently imprison her within the Jiang family, and then take over her wealth.
Faced with this pack of wolves and tigers, Qiao’er would be lying if she said she wasn’t afraid.
But still, with the resolve to die protecting her mistress, she stepped in front of Zhu Xinyan and softly asked,
“Miss, what should we do now?”
The clan leader assumed that once he spoke, Zhu Xinyan would obediently step forward and apologize.
With the clan leader backing her up, Madam Xu also became arrogant, putting on airs and planning to use the injuries on her face to extort a hefty compensation.
But to both of their surprise, Zhu Xinyan had absolutely no intention of apologizing.
She let out a mocking laugh and walked forward with graceful steps. The embroidered lotus flowers on her skirt swayed open and closed with her movement, making her look like a fairy strolling among blossoms.
Zhu Xinyan already possessed a strikingly beautiful face. Though she was still in mourning and wore no makeup, her beauty remained dazzling.
The breeze stirred the loose strands by her temples and tugged at the hearts of those watching.
Ignoring the malicious gazes around her, she calmly walked to a stone stool and slowly sat down.
But the moment her backside barely touched it, she sprang up like a firecracker.
“Mother of heaven! It’s hot! So hot!”
Although it was late summer, the noon sun had been blazing all afternoon, turning the stone stool into something like a burning coal.
Zhu Xinyan had originally intended to appear poised and elegant, displaying the bearing of a noble young lady to intimidate the Jiang clan members.
Who knew she would fail so spectacularly this time?
Still, she quickly suppressed her embarrassment, embracing the mentality of “as long as I’m not embarrassed, then the embarrassed ones are others.”
She stood there calmly despite the danger, utterly composed.
Amid the laughter, she generously called for Qiao’er.
“Go fetch me a cushion.”
Qiao’er glanced awkwardly at the “troublemaking” stone stool and pursed her lips.
“Miss… do you really have to sit there?”
Zhu Xinyan answered calmly, “You don’t understand. This is called ‘where you fall, that’s where you get back up.’”
Remembering how hot it had been, she added another sentence at the last moment.
“Make sure it’s a thick one.”
The servants quickly brought over a cushion, and Zhu Xinyan gracefully sat down again.
Casting a cold glance at the still-standing clan leader nearby, she parted her lips and said lightly,
“My apologies. There aren’t enough chairs in my house, so I’ll have to trouble everyone to stand.”
The clan leader was ignored by Zhu Xinyan and lost face, but he still maintained a forceful tone.
“Enough nonsense. You still haven’t apologized to Madam Xu! Don’t waste our time.”
“Apologize? What a joke.” Zhu Xinyan sneered and shot back, “She tried to sell off my maid while I was away. And before that, she stole many of my belongings without permission. She was clearly the one in the wrong first, so why should I apologize?”
The clan leader’s expression stiffened as he was about to speak, but Jiang Fourth, eager to defend his wife, stepped forward first.
“Talk about ‘biting the hand that feeds you.’ My wife only arranged a marriage for Qiao’er because she saw the girl couldn’t get married otherwise. And those things from before? Seventh Brother willingly gave them to us. True, your dowry was plentiful when you married in, but since you’ve entered the Jiang family, there should no longer be any distinction between yours and ours.”
As he spoke, he raised his slanted brows, revealing his mean and petty nature.
“Now you’re bringing up old debts. Could it be you’re already thinking of remarrying? Otherwise, why did you rush out so crazily right after Jiang Yihan’s seven-day mourning period ended?”
Hearing this, Zhu Xinyan’s expression remained unchanged. She mocked him coldly.
“Well done, Jiang Fourth. You’re quite skilled at twisting words. The filthy things you and your wife have done are brushed aside with a single sentence, and somehow the blame gets shifted onto me instead. Truly like Zhu Bajie swinging his rake and striking back at the victim.”
Madam Xu shot her a vicious glare and fanned the flames from the side.
“Clan Leader, I heard from others that she kept running in and out all day today. She was even flirting openly with an old man on the street, acting quite intimately.”
As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe tears.
“Tell me, before her mourning period is even over, this widow is already behaving so shamelessly. How can my Seventh Brother ever rest peacefully in the underworld?”
The moment she finished stirring up trouble, discussions immediately erupted around them.
“She just became a widow and already can’t restrain herself. Maybe she was cheating long ago.”
“Look at that seductive face of hers. Jiang Seventh probably wore a dozen green hats already.”
“…”
Qiao’er could not bear hearing her mistress slandered and immediately raised her voice in protest.
“Fourth Madam, you can eat recklessly, but you can’t speak recklessly! Everyone says widows are surrounded by gossip, and a woman’s reputation is more important than heaven itself. You’re pouring dirty water over my young lady’s head. Are you trying to drown her with rumors so you can keep the stolen property for yourselves?”
The moment Qiao’er brought up money again, Madam Xu panicked, afraid the clan leader would investigate further.
“You little slut, let’s see if I don’t rip that mouth of yours apart!”
Seeing the situation descend into chaos and fearing it would ruin his plans, the clan leader immediately shouted for silence before turning to question Zhu Xinyan again.
“Is what she said true?”
Zhu Xinyan did not deny it in the slightest. She admitted it openly and confidently.
“Yes, I did go out. May I ask which law of the Great Zhou states that widows are forbidden from leaving the house? Even if it’s your Jiang family rule, then why was Third Aunt allowed out after Third Uncle died, but I’m not?”
Caught off guard by her sudden question, the clan leader choked for a moment, but quickly found an excuse.
“You are eighteen and in the prime of youth, so naturally we must be more careful with you. But she is plain and coarse-looking, so she is safer outside.”
The innocent Third Aunt, struck by this stray attack, could only think:
Clan Leader… was that really necessary?
What a terrible excuse.
At this point, Zhu Xinyan completely saw through the clan leader’s impure intentions.
If she lowered her head and submitted this time, she would likely suffer under his oppression forever after.
Not wanting to continue listening to his hypocritical nonsense, she bluntly asked,
“And if I insist on going out from now on? What exactly can you do to me?”
Having his authority challenged repeatedly in public, the clan leader’s face darkened to an ugly shade.
A dangerous gleam flashed across his eyes as he threatened sinisterly,
“If you insist on going your own way, don’t blame us for being ruthless. Sixth Brother, bring it out.”
The moment his words fell, a short, thickset man stepped forward holding a red-hot branding iron.
His vulgar gaze slid from Zhu Xinyan’s face down to her chest, lingering there.
He licked his dry lips and said frivolously,
“With skin this delicate, branding your face would really be a pity. But after fifteen years, the clan leader can petition the authorities for a chastity arch in your honor. At least your pretty little face won’t have been ruined for nothing.”
“A chastity arch would only benefit your Jiang clan. What does it have to do with me?”
Without the slightest fear, Zhu Xinyan snorted coldly.
“So that’s why security was so lax today. You deliberately let me go out just so you could wait for me here.”
“As expected of Seventh Brother’s wife, clever enough to see through it immediately. But who told you to be born with such a tempting face? If outsiders start coveting you and crawling into your bed, then we’d rather our own brothers enjoy the advantage first!”
“You all agree, don’t you?”
Amid the growing lewd laughter came waves of agreement.
These people had long coveted Zhu Xinyan’s beauty. Only because Jiang Yihan possessed scholarly status had they not dared act recklessly before.
Now that only a widow and orphan remained, they no longer had any scruples.
They only hoped to seize evidence of wrongdoing soon, permanently imprison her within the Jiang family, and then take over her wealth.
Faced with this pack of wolves and tigers, Qiao’er would be lying if she said she wasn’t afraid.
But still, with the resolve to die protecting her mistress, she stepped in front of Zhu Xinyan and softly asked,
“Miss, what should we do now?”