Сhарtеr 17: Discontеnt
Just bеfоrе nоon.
Fuling walked brisklу intо Yilan Cоurtyard аnd аррrоаchеd hеr уоung lady, whо was reading on thе dаybеd, hеr tоnе livеly with ехсitement.
“Мiss, уou wоuldn’t believe it—thе incidеnt that hapрenеd in Old Маdam’s cоurtyard this morning hаs аlrеаdy sprеаd thrоughоut the entirе mansiоn.”
“Now evеryonе knows that thе eldest yоung lаdу, who hаs аlways pridеd hersеlf оn being dignified аnd self-pоssessеd, nоt оnly dеvoured hеr breakfаst likе shе hadn’t eaten in years, showing nо mаnners in front of Old Маdam, but also аtе until she vomited on the spot, splattering Old Madam all over.”
“I heard Old Madam was so furious she bathed twice in a row. She didn’t even call for lunch, saying she had no appetite. The eldest young lady has truly lost face this time.”
Fuling’s eyes sparkled.
Seeing Jiang Luowei in such a situation under her young lady’s planning, she was naturally delighted.
Because if her young lady hadn’t discovered the Gu Worm in time back then, it would have been her young lady herself who would have been harmed and reduced to such a state.
This was what they called evil receiving its due retribution.
Jiang Chuji reclined lazily on the daybed, her ink-black hair cascading loosely over her shoulders like a waterfall. A few strands fell against her fair neck, adding to her casual yet radiant charm.
It seemed everything was within her expectations. Her slender, jade-white fingertips lightly turned a page of the book as she lifted her eyelids indifferently. “What’s happening now in Fanghua Courtyard?”
Fuling immediately replied, “The maid Xiao Tao in Fanghua Courtyard is from my hometown.”
“I quietly went to ask her. Xiao Tao said the eldest young lady locked herself in her bedroom as soon as she returned from Old Madam’s courtyard and has been crying nonstop. Her voice is hoarse from crying by now.”
Jiang Chuji curved her lips slightly, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on them. “Can’t take it already? This is only the beginning.”
Fanghua Courtyard.
Jiang Luowei’s bedroom was in disarray. The vase that had originally been placed on the table was now shattered into several pieces, scattered across the floor.
Jiang Luowei lay prostrate on the bed, tears streaming uncontrollably from her swollen, red eyes, soaking large patches of the bedding.
The carefully styled hairdo from the morning had long since come loose, with several strands of hair clinging messily to her tear-streaked face. She looked utterly wretched.
Having grown up praised by everyone, Jiang Luowei had always been commended for her speech, conduct, and demeanor, all befitting a legitimate daughter. But what happened today made her wish she were dead.
She didn’t need to think to know how the servants in the mansion must be privately mocking her now.
Concubine Zhou, seeing her daughter like this, felt heartbroken and tightly grasped her hand. “Luo Wei, don’t cry anymore.”
Jiang Luowei lifted her swollen eyes, her voice choked with sobs. “Mother, the Gu Worm’s effects were so severe—I had no defense against it at all.”
“Jiang Chuji has experienced this before. When she saw me in that state this morning, she must have guessed that I also used the Gu Worm, yet she said nothing.”
“And since she also has the Gu Worm in her body, why was she able to control herself when she saw food?”
Concubine Zhou frowned.
“That Jiang Chuji is dull-witted—how could she guess anything about a Gu Worm? Even if she saw you in such a state, at most she’d think you were somewhat similar to how she was back then.”
“As for why she could control herself… it must be that the Gu Worm is particularly fierce during its first feeding. After it’s been in the body for a while, it won’t have such a strong reaction.”
Even so, whenever Jiang Luowei recalled how Jiang Chuji had calmly watched her during her humiliating vomiting episode that morning, she couldn’t help but seethe with hatred.Concubine Zhou immediately said, “Now that you’ve incurred the Old Madam’s displeasure, the key is to think about how to explain and make amends.”
“Although you are a daughter of a concubine, your talent is renowned throughout the capital. The Old Madam watched you grow up and still cares for you as her granddaughter.”
“Stop crying now. Quickly freshen up and come with me to the Old Madam’s courtyard.”
Hearing this, Jiang Luowei could only bite her lip and climb out of bed.
Jiang Bingrong returned to the Chancellor’s Manor after court.
As soon as he arrived, he heard from the servants that Concubine Zhou and Jiang Luowei were kneeling outside the Old Madam’s courtyard and had been there for over an hour.
Rushing to the Old Madam’s courtyard, he indeed saw his beloved concubine and daughter kneeling under the sun, their figures swaying unsteadily.
Hearing movement behind her, Concubine Zhou immediately swayed weakly, as if boneless.
Jiang Bingrong went over without hesitation to support her, his face full of concern. “Yizhi, what is going on?”
“…Husband, you’ve returned,”
Concubine Zhou said with a pale face, tears in her eyes, looking pitiful. “It’s all because Luo Wei caused trouble today that I brought her here to seek forgiveness.”
Concubine Zhou recounted how Jiang Luowei had eaten ravenously without regard for her image while accompanying the Old Madam for breakfast and had vomited on the Old Madam.
Jiang Luowei sobbed beside them, “Father, it’s all because I’ve been fasting to lose weight these days for the coming-of-age banquet at the palace in five days.”
“I only eat one meal a day, starving myself too much. That’s why I lost control when I saw the lavish breakfast at Grandmother’s place today and ruined my image.”
“Because of me, Grandmother had no appetite for lunch. Now I kneel here, only hoping Grandmother can calm her anger. No matter what, she must have dinner and not harm her health.”
Looking at his concubine and daughter—one with eyes full of tears, the other crying until her eyes were swollen—Jiang Bingrong could no longer remain seated.
“You two get up first. I’ll go in and speak.”
He immediately entered Old Madam Jiang’s courtyard.
Old Madam Jiang’s expression had been poor, but seeing her son personally come to plead for leniency and hearing that Jiang Luowei had been fasting for the palace’s coming-of-age banquet, her expression softened.
“Mother, Luo Wei has been starving herself every day to make our Jiang family proud at the coming-of-age banquet, which is why she ended up in this state,” Jiang Bingrong said.
“As you know, The Empress is hosting this coming-of-age banquet in the palace under the pretext of Princess Wenyan’s birthday, also to help the Crown Prince select his future Crown Princess.”
“Although Luo Wei is a daughter of a concubine, her beauty and talent are well-known in the capital. If she catches the eye of the Crown Prince and The Empress at the coming-of-age banquet, even if she becomes a Crown Prince’s consort, our Jiang family will prosper.”
The Crown Prince is the future emperor.
If Luo Wei could become a consort of the Crown Prince, she would be an imperial consort in the future. If Luo Wei strives hard and climbs step by step to the position of Empress, what glory would the Jiang family achieve?
Jiang Bingrong had devoted years to nurturing Jiang Luowei with this very plan in mind.
As for Jiang Chuji… this daughter whom he had despised and abandoned since childhood, he only brought her back because of an imperial decree from The Empress.
Although she had become somewhat beautiful now, she had grown up in a temple and had received no education in etiquette or the arts. How could she compare to Luo Wei?
Moreover, she had a mother who had committed such a disgraceful act.
After some thought, Old Madam Jiang found this reasoning sound.Waving a hand, she said, “Alright, hurry and let Yizhi and Luo Wei get up. You’ll all join me for dinner tonight.”
“You’re always so considerate, Mother,” Jiang Bingrong replied.
Suddenly remembering something, he looked up with a furrowed brow, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction. “…Compared to Luo Wei, it’s actually Chuer who disappoints me more.”
“Her own aunt and sister knelt outside Grandmother’s courtyard for so long, yet she didn’t even ask about it or come to plead on their behalf. It’s truly disheartening.”