Chapter – 06
A Temporary Measure.
Jiang Changyi’s temple throbbed violently. He was now a meritorious official, and the Emperor, needing to appease him and the other generals guarding the border, would surely treat him generously.
However, if this matter blew up, it would greatly damage his reputation. After all, he was in the wrong, and he had indeed benefited from the Xia family’s favor.
Although Xia Jinzhi’s father and brothers were gone, their prestige remained. Furthermore, she had been raised by the Empress Dowager, and there was still affection there.
If it escalated, his reputation would be ruined, he would incur the Emperor’s displeasure, and he would be the one to suffer.
After much deliberation, he could only endure.
But the more he endured, the more he detested Xia Jinzhi, believing her to be excessively jealous and narrow-minded.
As the matriarch, her duties were to be filial to her parents-in-law, manage the inner household, support her husband, and raise their children. Everything Xia Jinzhi had done over the years was simply her duty!
He had only two women by his side in his entire life. Compared to men who had multiple wives and concubines, he was already very restrained.
Yet Xia Jinzhi was still unsatisfied.
Jiang Changyi forced a smile, but the strain made his expression look strange, showing he was at his breaking point. He suppressed his anger and coaxed, “It’s my fault. Tell me, I’ll listen.”
In his heart, he thought, what could a woman possibly demand? It would be something about wanting a lifetime of devotion and love, and he could just offer some promises.
Xia Jinzhi spoke each word with calm precision: “I want you to use your military merits to petition for A-Li to be given a title, ensuring that in the future she can stand on her own without relying on anyone! My Xia family is full of loyal martyrs. The Emperor, for the sake of the Xia family, will surely not treat A-Li unfairly.”
Jiang Changyi’s expression drastically changed, a flash of malice passing through his eyes.
He had toiled for years to achieve his current merits. Now that he had returned victorious, he naturally awaited his reward. Even if it wasn’t as great as being made a marquis or a prime minister, he could at least be promoted and given an honorary title.
But what did Xia Jinzhi mean?
She wanted him to use his hard-won battle achievements to petition for Jiang Li?
Jiang Li was a girl who would marry out sooner or later.
If she married into the Gu family, she would become a member of the Gu household. How could his hard-earned military achievements be used as a dowry for someone else?
“Do you know what you’re saying? Are you insane?”
He was utterly incredulous.
Xia Jinzhi’s eyes were calm, her tone resolute.
“This is my only condition. General, please consider it carefully!”
“I disagree!”
Jiang Changyi’s voice was cold, his eyes sharp as knives, glaring at Xia Shi with venomous intent.
“Very well.” Xia Jinzhi’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Nanny Zhao, fetch the Imperial Edict of Immunity. We are going to the palace to file a complaint with the Emperor!”
In ancient times, filing a complaint directly with the Emperor (an “appeal to the throne”) carried severe punishments, including flogging, exile, and whipping. The complainant would often be punished regardless of whether the accusation was true, especially for jumping the hierarchy or disrupting imperial processions.
But Xia Jinzhi possessed the Imperial Edict of Immunity, which naturally exempted her from punishment. It had been personally bestowed by the Emperor after her father went missing while being pursued by enemy troops at the border.
Nanny Zhao walked to the vanity, took out a brocade box, and stood by Xia Jinzhi’s side.
Xia Jinzhi smiled slightly, confident and proud.
“Send word back to the Duke of Zhen’s mansion. Tell my Second Uncle that a daughter of the Xia family has been wronged and humiliated. Invite the clan elders to seek justice for me!”
Her father and brothers were all renowned generals with illustrious military records, immortalized in history. How could they compare to Jiang Changyi?
Especially her elder brother, who had gained fame at a young age and struck fear into the hearts of the enemy.
The Xia family was currently at its peak, and naturally, much of that was due to the contributions of her father and brothers.
So even though she had lost them, she still had the Xia family behind her!
Jiang Changyi roared in anger, “I merely took a single concubine, and now she has been hounded to death by you! What more do you want? Aren’t you afraid of your reputation for jealousy spreading?”
“You know better than I do why Su Shi died. Whether she was a wife or a concubine, there are still clues to be found. Whether it is my jealousy or your heartlessness, I will let everyone see for themselves.”
With a look from Xia Jinzhi, Nanny Zhao called out, “Tingqin.”
Tingqin entered with her head bowed, walking slowly, holding a marriage certificate and a birth chart in her hands.
Jiang Changyi instantly realized what they were. He slammed the table and rose, reaching out with a wide palm like a claw, viciously aiming for Tingqin’s neck.
He hadn’t expected Xia Jinzhi to be so scheming, to have stolen the marriage certificate and birth chart from Su Jingwan amidst the chaos.
Tingqin was as light as a swallow, dodging his grasp in a single turn. Like a nimble cat, she dashed out of the room.
Leaving the furious Jiang Changyi glaring viciously at Xia Jinzhi, his face twisted with a ferocity that seemed ready to devour her.
Xia Jinzhi remained composed and dignified, picking up her teacup for a light sip.
Jiang Changyi breathed heavily, his eyes bloodshot.
Xia Jinzhi put down the teacup, gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, and curled her red lips into a mocking smile.
“If this gets out, Su Shi will be neither a proper wife nor a concubine. After all, I, the principal wife, never received her tea as a concubine. And your son and daughter wouldn’t even be considered legitimate children of a concubine. They’d have no status at all; they’d simply be bastards.”
“Are you really going to force me like this?”
Jiang Changyi stared fixedly at Xia Shi. At this moment, his mind was in chaos. He felt utterly humiliated, trampled underfoot, yet he didn’t even have the strength to fight back.
He had endured hardship at the border for so many years. Most of his recognized achievements were actually for his efforts, with very few genuine military victories. But regardless, guarding the border and fighting on the battlefield were worthy of respect.
Xia Jinzhi withdrew the cold light from her eyes, her tone softening, “You, like my father and brothers, are a general fighting for the country. I do not wish to make things difficult for you either. But search your conscience. Have you been fair to me? If you had sent word of this to me, I would certainly not have opposed you taking a concubine!”
But the anger in Jiang Changyi’s heart could not be quelled by her few words.
Why hadn’t he told Xia Jinzhi about Su Jingwan’s existence back then? Wasn’t it because he was afraid that if she knew, she wouldn’t wholeheartedly manage the household affairs? His two younger brothers were incompetent, and their wives were not up to standard and lacked vision.
Only Xia Jinzhi could support the Jiang family, and only with her, leveraging the Xia family’s power, could the Jiang family stand firm in the capital.
Furthermore, since he wasn’t in the capital, if he had no son to inherit, wouldn’t the family property fall into the hands of the second and third branches?
So even though Xia Jinzhi was pregnant at the time, he still married Su Jingwan.
If Xia Jinzhi gave birth to a son, Su Jingwan would be a concubine; if a daughter, then she would be a co-wife. He absolutely could not allow his son to be born a bastard.
He just never expected Xia Jinzhi to be so uncompromising and refuse to yield an inch.
At this moment, Jiang Changyi’s heart was bleeding. Gritting his teeth, taking several deep breaths, and weighing the pros and cons, he finally spoke, his voice as if his heart was being carved out: “I agree!”
With that, he shot one last icy glare at Xia Jinzhi and strode out of Wutong Courtyard.
Only after he had left did Xia Jinzhi slump, as if all strength had left her, her straight back bending in exhaustion.
Nanny Zhao said with distress, “Madam, doing this will end the bond between husband and wife.”
“It ended long ago.”
Xia Jinzhi exhaled, forcing herself to perk up, and instructed, “After he goes to the palace to petition for A-Li, leak the news to the third branch. Say that I didn’t know he had taken a concubine at the border, and in a fit of jealousy, I caused Su Shi’s death…”
She wanted to secure a future for her daughter, but she also wanted justice. However, without hitting rock bottom, how could one see clearly who the people around you truly are?
What she wanted was a divorce (he li). She could leave, but her daughter could not, so she had to plan this step by step…
Tingqin entered the room and presented the marriage certificate and birth chart.
Xia Jinzhi took them with trembling hands, reading every word. Each character felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart.
“…On this day, the peach blossoms bloom brilliantly, fitting for a home and family; may future generations flourish endlessly, prospering and thriving. We pledge our vows of white hair and shared old age, writing them on this scarlet scroll; a covenant of red leaves…”
She suddenly crumpled the marriage certificate and threw it to the ground.
The date on this marriage certificate was only eight months apart from hers and Jiang Changyi’s.
Tingqin silently picked it up and put it away.
Xia Jinzhi instructed again, “Nanny, bring that chest of letters and light a brazier.”
Nanny Zhao sighed heavily but went to carry out the order.
The chest was large, filled to the brim with letters.
A servant brought in a brazier.
Xia Jinzhi threw letters, each addressed with ‘To My Beloved Wife’ and ‘My Dear Jinzhi,’ one by one into the fire.
