Chapter – 05
Wrath.
Jiang Li let out a soft sigh. She knew her mother would not recover so quickly, and no matter how much she worried, she was only her daughter. Perhaps at this moment, her mother just wanted to be alone. She could only say, “Mother, then your daughter will take her leave.”
After bowing, Jiang Li departed.
She had barely left the Wutong Court when she encountered Jiang Changyi approaching.
Jiang Changyi had already removed his armor and changed into casual clothes, yet he still appeared every bit as cold and unapproachable.
Father and daughter met face to face. Jiang Changyi’s gaze turned slightly cold, and he paused with a grim expression.
Jiang Li lowered her eyes, bent her knees in a curtsy, and said calmly, “This daughter greets Father.”
Jiang Changyi’s tense expression relaxed slightly. He had just been wonderingāif Jiang Li remained confrontational toward him, how should he handle it?
If he didn’t show anger, how could he maintain his dignity as a father?
If he did show anger, it would only cause an ugly scene.
She would soon marry the heir of the Huaiyang Hou Mansion and become the heir’s wife.
The Gu family was a century-old aristocratic clan. Old Marquis Gu was a veteran minister who had served three dynasties, and Marquis Gu had contributed to the current Emperor’s rise to power.
This marriage alliance would only benefit the Jiang family.
Jiang Changyi’s tone softened, though it still sounded icy coldāthere was simply no affection between father and daughter.
“Mm, rise. It’s late. Go back and rest early.”
Jiang Li rose with the support of Qingluan and said no more before leaving.
Qingluan glanced back at Jiang Changyi several times. Once they were at a distance, she frowned and said, “Miss, what if the Master and Madam start arguing again?
The Master has such a hot temper and is so unreasonable. What if he raises his hand again? Madam, sheā¦”
Jiang Li said calmly, “He wouldn’t dare.”
The fact that he could come over calmly now meant he had already been reprimanded by the Old Madam.
After all, he was in the wrong. If he dared to continue being arrogant, this matter would only escalate!
Qingluan said sorrowfully, “How pitiful for Madam and Miss. You waited for the Master for so many years, only to end up with this result.”
Jiang Li patted the back of her hand to comfort her and said, “He is no longer important to me. I only feel sorry for Mother.
But he is also a general who fights for the country. I am unwilling to speak ill of him. However, Mother is the one who gave birth to me and raised me. I cannot stand by and watch her be bullied and humiliated.”
After speaking, she paused, walked quickly to a secluded spot, and called out, “Ye Ying.”
From the shadows, a dark guard appeared soundlessly.
Jiang Li instructed, “Go through the Su mother and daughter’s luggage and find the marriage certificate and the betrothal letter for Father’s marriage to Su.
Once you find them, deliver them to Mother. She will understand my meaning.”
Ye Ying vanished from the spot.
The mistress and servant returned to Wangshu Pavilion as if nothing had happened, where several maids greeted them.
Qingtuan fumed, “The Master is truly detestable! How could he treat Miss and Madam like this? If the General were still here, he would never have let him off so easily!”
She was referring to Xia Jinzhi’s father, Xia Chengwu.
“Aren’t they just taking advantage of the fact that Madam has no close relatives left? If not for the fact that the Young General fell in battle and the Old General’s fate is still unknown, how would they dare to act like this?
Even if only for the fact that the Young General lost an arm saving the Master back then, the Master shouldn’t treat Madam this way. If he hadn’t lost that arm, perhaps the Young General wouldn’t have died!”
Qingluan’s tears of grievance fell in large drops, one after another, and she felt even more heartbroken for her mistress and the young lady.
She couldn’t help but choke out, “You didn’t see how ferocious the Master wasāhe even wanted to strike Miss.”
Qingtuan’s face turned pale with fright.
Nanny Zhou, the wet nurse, rushed forward and asked urgently, “Miss, are you hurt anywhere? If you are, this old servant will risk her life to enter the palace and beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to seek justice!”
Nanny Zhou had originally served the Empress Dowager. Later, she was betrothed to a guard, but he died saving the Emperor. She was pregnant at the time and, upon hearing the tragic news, went into premature labor from shock, and the child did not survive.
Having lost her husband and her daughter, she eventually came to serve by Xia Jinzhi’s side and became Jiang Li’s wet nurse.
“Qingluan! How did you protect Miss? How could you let Miss be hit?” Qingtuan anxiously scanned Jiang Li from head to toe.
Qingluan kept wiping her tears, too choked up to speak.
Seeing their concerned faces, Jiang Li said gently, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. Would I really let him strike me?”
Nanny Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, but her brow remained furrowed with worry.
“Miss will be married soon, so that is not a concern. But Madam’s days ahead will likely be difficult.”
Qingtuan clenched her fists and said, “Why notā¦ why not have Madam seek a divorce? With the assets under Madam’s name, she could live happily even after a divorce!”
“Nonsense! What absurdity are you spouting!”
Nanny Zhou glared at Qingtuan and scolded, “Since ancient times, it has been common for men to take concubines. Even keeping a mistress outside is no great matterāespecially since that woman is already dead.
Rushing to divorce now would only confirm the reputation of jealousy! It would tarnish her own name for the sake of someone so unworthy. It’s simply not worth it.
Besides, Miss is about to marry. If Madam stirs up a divorce now, where does that leave Miss?”
Jiang Li drew out her handkerchief and gently wiped Qingluan’s tears, saying calmly, “Silly girl, what are you crying for?
We are not the ones in the wrong. Father has handed Mother such a glaring weakness. From now on, it is *he* who should keep his head down!
And if Mother wishes to divorce, I will certainly support her. I don’t want Mother to endure humiliation for my sake.”
Nanny Zhou and the two maids all had red-rimmed eyes, showing how heavy their hearts were.
Outside, the crescent moon hung high. The Wutong Court was unusually quiet. On the small couch by the window, Xia Jinzhi and Jiang Changyi sat on opposite sides, silent and avoiding each other’s gaze.
Xia Jinzhi’s face was cold; she wouldn’t even spare him a glance, let alone offer him tea.
Jiang Changyi suppressed his inner disgust and aversion, turned to look at her, but was drawn to the “Tongxin” knot on the table.
It was a bracelet woven from red cord intertwined with strands of hair, adorned with small carved gold beads.
The edges of the red cord were slightly worn, showing that its owner often held it.
Distant memories gradually surfaced in his mind.
He instinctively touched his own wrist, but there was nothing there.
Originally, they were a pair.
This was woven by Xia Jinzhi with strands of both their hair after they were married, symbolizing eternal unity of heart.
But his had been lost at some point, he didn’t know when.
Along with it, the affection they once shared had also been lost. But it had been so long ago that he could no longer clearly recall her face from his memories. In his mind, it was Su Jingwan’s smiling countenance that appeared more often.
Twenty years had passedāfrom the spirited youth he once was to now, past forty.
Xia Jinzhi noticed his gaze, turned to look at him, and followed his line of sight. Her eyes narrowed, and she snatched the trinket from the table and threw it to the floor.
Jiang Changyi stared at the Tongxin knot lying on the ground, then casually looked away, pushing aside the messy thoughts in his mind. Softening his tone, he said:
“Jinzhi, Su Jingwan was merely a plaything by my side. She was always just a concubine. You are my legitimate wife; she can never surpass you.
The reason I kept it from you all this time was because I was afraid it would hurt you.
In the end, it is I who have wronged you over these many years. You have suffered today.
Originally, I planned to settle everything first and tell you about it after returning to our chambers. I never expected it to escalate like this.”
Jiang Changyi believed that Xia Jinzhi’s outburst was simply jealousyāa woman’s petty envy.
As long as he showed disdain for Su Jingwan and expressed his feelings for her, she would surely calm down.
But Xia Jinzhi, thinking of the woman who had dashed her head against the wall, could only feel pity. Jiang Changyi was so heartlessāit truly was a loss for that woman, and a loss for herself as well.
She looked coldly at Jiang Changyi and said in a low voice, “If this matter is to be settled, you must agree to one condition. Otherwise, there is no negotiation. Tomorrow, I will definitely enter the palace to lodge a complaint. We will both be destroyed!”
