Сhарtеr 22: Littlе Liаr
How соuld hе hаvе forgotten аbоut the Duke оf Shu!
With everуоnе саusing suсh a ruсkus, Jiаng Вingrоng’s head wаs throbbing. For a momеnt, hе had асtuаllу fоrgottеn thаt Мo Chiхiаo wаs still a guest in his manоr.
This instаntly made his fоrehеad brеаk out in a swеat.
Mo Сhiхiао had witnessеd еvеrуthing that just haрpеned.
Hе had said hе wanted tо see how hе wоuld hаndle this mаttеr.
The Impеrial Guаrd Divisiоn, the Duke оf Shu—they wеre tаntаmоunt to thе Empеror’s eуеs.
Мo Chixiao was watching. Не was the Chanсеllor of the nаtiоn; if he couldn’t even handle a family matter properly, how could he assist His Majesty in governing the country?
If he were to ignore the blatant truth of a matter and resolve it hastily, wouldn’t that prove he was a man who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong?
“This… is truly an embarrassing display for the Duke of Shu to witness.”
Jiang Bingrong forced a smile.
The next second, his face filled with rage as he raised his hand, gritted his teeth, and slapped Concubine Zhou across the face.
He furiously rebuked, “You wretched woman! I always thought you treated Chuer with sincerity, but I never imagined you would bribe a maidservant to frame the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s Manor like this.”
“Chuer was confined in that Plum Fragrance Courtyard for nearly three months. From this day forward, you will also go to that Plum Fragrance Courtyard and stay there for three months. You are only permitted one meal a day. Reflect well on your transgressions!”
The slap left Concubine Zhou dizzy and disoriented, tears and mucus streaming down her face.
She had been in the Chancellor’s Manor for many years, and this was the first time Jiang Bingrong had ever struck her.
She simply couldn’t understand how things had suddenly turned out this way.
She had thought her plan was flawless, a matter long since settled. But Jiang Yanchuan had rushed to Lincheng, found Fang’er, and completely exposed everything. She was caught off guard and thrown into utter disarray, which was how she ended up in this state!
“My lord…” Concubine Zhou cried, kneeling on the ground with her face highly swollen, wanting to say more.
But with a gesture from Jiang Bingrong, she was dragged away.
“Mother!” Jiang Luowei cried out on the spot. She wanted to step forward to protect her mother, but several servants immediately restrained her as well.
Jiang Bingrong’s chest heaved. “Take the Eldest Miss back to her room. She is not allowed to come out without my permission!”
The implication was that Jiang Luowei was also to be confined.
It wasn’t that Jiang Bingrong was unaware of the proper hierarchy between the legitimate and the illegitimate.
He had doted on a concubine and an illegitimate daughter, causing his legitimate daughter to suffer endless grievances. It would have been one thing if outsiders didn’t know, but now, in front of Mo Chixiao, he had to make his stance clear.
After both Concubine Zhou and Jiang Luowei were taken away, Jiang Bingrong finally looked at Jiang Chuji.
The young lady was still being sheltered in Jiang Yanchuan’s arms. When Jiang Bingrong approached, her body instinctively flinched.
This sent another pang of heartache through Jiang Yanchuan.
His tone was wary. “What does Father intend to do?”
Jiang Bingrong hadn’t expected his own son to now treat him as if he were an enemy.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at Jiang Chuji, his attitude unprecedentedly gentle. “Chuer, regarding what happened before, and what happened today, Father was wrong to blame you. What compensation would you like from me?”
Jiang Chuji’s face was pale. Her eyes, brimming with tears, she shook her head gently. “Chuer doesn’t need any compensation. As long as Father and Grandmother know that Chuer never stole anything, that is enough.”
“Also, Father, I think Concubine was just momentarily confused. Chuer has lived there and knows that the Plum Fragrance Courtyard is dark and damp, with mosquitoes in the heat and drafty windows in the cold. Father, please don’t confine Concubine for so long.”
At these words, the surrounding people showed expressions of pity.
The Second Miss was too pitiful, too kind.
She had been so horribly framed, endured so many scornful looks during this time, and her reputation had nearly been ruined. Now that the truth was finally out, she was still speaking up for the person who had harmed her.
They also hadn’t realized how harsh the conditions in the Plum Fragrance Courtyard were. The Second Miss wasn’t thinking about punishing Concubine Zhou more severely; instead, having been caught in the rain herself, she was thinking of holding an umbrella for others.
Thinking about how they had privately gossiped and looked down on the Second Miss before, a sense of guilt arose in everyone’s hearts.
Jiang Chuji said she didn’t want compensation, but as her father, Jiang Bingrong had first failed to investigate the truth and confined his daughter for three months. Today, he had also indiscriminately used family discipline to beat her. How could he possibly not compensate her?
It would be impossible to justify.
Jiang Bingrong looked at the chief steward of the Chancellor’s Manor and instructed, “Go to the accounts office later and withdraw fifty taels of silver for the Second Miss.”
He then looked at Jiang Chuji, his tone carrying a rare hint of fatherly affection. “Chuer, go out for a stroll on the streets tomorrow. Buy whatever you want, eat whatever you want, and just enjoy yourself.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuji seemed pleasantly surprised, her clear eyes shining with light. “Daughter thanks Father.”
As for Old Madam Jiang on the side—
Thinking about how she had blindly trusted a maidservant instead of her own legitimate granddaughter, Old Madam Jiang couldn’t help but feel her face burn with shame.
She came over and took the young lady’s hand. “…Chuer, it was Grandmother’s fault. Grandmother should have believed you.”
Jiang Chuji, as docile as ever, said softly, “It’s not Grandmother’s fault. Chuer doesn’t blame Grandmother.”
“That’s enough.”
At this moment, Jiang Yanchuan spoke in a cold voice, pulling the young lady’s hand back from Old Madam Jiang’s grasp. “Chuer has had a fright today. I’ll take her back to her courtyard first.”
When Old Madam Jiang looked at her grandson, her tone became anxious. “Yanchuan, you still haven’t had a physician look at your injury…”
The wound on Jiang Yanchuan’s arm was still shocking to behold, but his expression remained cold.
His eyes held a disappointment that saw through everything.
“If Chuer had been the one struck by that whip and ended up like this, would Grandmother be this worried about her injury?”
“No one in this family loves Chuer, so I will. From now on, I will not allow anyone to bully her again.”
If he was to be detested because of his mother’s affairs, then as her elder brother, why should he let his younger sister bear it all alone?
It was like a declaration to everyone. After speaking, Jiang Yanchuan turned around, pulling the young lady with him.
He happened to see Mo Chixiao sitting on a chair not far away.
At this moment, Jiang Yanchuan was in no mood for pleasantries with Mo Chixiao. He nodded at the man, indicating that he was leaving with his sister first.
Mo Chixiao had always acted mysteriously, and his occasional appearances in the imperial court were on a whim. Jiang Yanchuan had not had much interaction with him before.
But meeting him today, he did not fear the Duke of Shu’s power like others did. Nor did he believe Mo Chixiao was the ruthless killer of rumors, best to be avoided.
One shouldn’t judge whether a person is worth befriending based on rumors.
In fact, perhaps because they were of a similar age, he felt a certain rapport with Mo Chixiao.
Mo Chixiao also nodded back at him.
However, Jiang Yanchuan did not notice that after looking at him, Mo Chixiao’s gaze fell upon the young lady he was protecting.
From a distance, Jiang Chuji’s eyes met the man’s slightly narrowed ones, their gazes locking across the space.
She saw the man’s lips curl, as if he had said something.
As it happened, she knew a little lip-reading.
What Mo Chixiao said was— “Little liar.”
He called her a little liar.