When Luzhu recounted the news she had gathered to Jiang Ruan, she said, "In any case, those officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau have all reaped what they sowed—truly satisfying."
The Imperial Astronomical Bureau officials had colluded with Noble Consort Chen, originally intending to frame Jiang Ruan. Unexpectedly, Huijue intervened midway. The Bi Luo incense on the garment had long been washed away by Tianzhu's perfuming techniques, while the incense on Wang Meiren was handled by Jin Er and Jin San as part of their "gift delivery." Jin Er and Jin San were far more capable than the guards stationed near the imperial concubines' quarters, especially when it came to such covert operations—they executed them with effortless skill.
The Duke of Chen knelt outside Jingyang Palace all night, ostensibly showing reverence and pleading for Noble Consort Chen's mercy. In reality, however, the Emperor perceived it as blatant defiance. The Chen family had already provoked the Emperor's wrath. Perhaps the Duke of Chen hadn't realized it yet, but one day, he would regret his actions today.
Noble Consort Chen had wanted her life, but Jiang Ruan didn’t wish for Noble Consort Chen to die so soon. Just like Xia Yan, as long as Noble Consort Chen lived, she would forever remain a stain on Ye Li's life. Would this so-called filial son, Ye Li, follow in the footsteps of the Jiang siblings and kill his own mother?
In her past life, Ye Li's actions had always revealed his attachment to Noble Consort Chen. If he remained filial in this life, he would never commit matricide. Thus, the only thing Ye Li could do was accelerate his plans to seize the throne.
Without Noble Consort Chen backing him, it was uncertain whether he could maneuver as deftly as before. But given the sudden shift in circumstances, Ye Li was bound to make mistakes.
...
The stars in the night sky seemed unchanged, yet the situation outside had undergone a dramatic upheaval. The palace appeared calm on the surface, but beneath, it was already in turmoil.
State Preceptor Huijue continued his duties as usual, his position more secure than ever after the incident. The Fifth Prince, Ye Hua, and De Fei, however, showed no signs of joy—instead, they grew even more cautious. With the Emperor's mood unpredictable, no one wanted to provoke his displeasure.
As for Ye Li, who had always won admiration for his virtue and talent, he indeed played the part of a filial son. After kneeling outside Jingyang Palace for three days and nights, he finally collapsed from exhaustion. The Emperor, furious, ordered him sent back to his residence and forbade him from entering the palace.
Amidst the sudden upheaval in the palace, Jiang Ruan remained unruffled as she prepared to return to the Jiang residence—because Jiang Li had died.
Had Noble Consort Chen still been in power, Jiang Li's death would have stirred greater waves. But with Noble Consort Chen now confined to the cold palace, Jiang Li's demise was like a small pebble dropped into a vast lake—it sank silently without a ripple. The rumors her death had sparked among the commoners were quickly overshadowed by the scandal of Noble Consort Chen being branded a calamitous star destined to ruin the nation.
Regardless of the outside chatter, Jiang Li was, after all, a daughter of the Jiang family. As the legitimate eldest daughter of the household, it was unthinkable for Jiang Ruan to remain in the palace and neglect her filial duties. The Jiang family said nothing, but Second Madam, seemingly driven mad by grief, led her natal family to storm the Langzhong residence, demanding justice. The Langzhong family coldly rebuffed her, declaring that a married daughter was like spilled water—beyond reclaiming. Since Jiang Li had lost her chastity first, Second Madam had no right to demand an explanation. Jiang Quan hurriedly intervened and took Second Madam away, after which her status in the household plummeted.It was originally thought that with Jiang Li married to the Langzhong's household and Xia Yan confined to the small Buddhist hall, the Jiang residence would now be dominated by Second Madam alone. Yet, on the wedding day itself, such a scandal occurred. Now that Jiang Li was dead, relations with the Langzhong's household were completely severed. Jiang Quan was already furious at Jiang Li's actions, and seeing Second Madam shamelessly demanding an explanation from the Langzhong's household only added to his resentment. In his anger, he simply placed Second Madam under house arrest as well.
After all the twists and turns, apart from the almost invisible bedroom maid Lian Ye, the authority over the household's internal affairs ultimately fell into the hands of Fifth Madam Hong Ying.
When Jiang Li died, the Langzhong's household did not immediately inform the Jiang residence. Thus, only a day after Jiang Ruan returned home, it was already time for Jiang Li's funeral. As the wife of the Langzhong's household, Jiang Li's funeral arrangements were entirely handled by them. Jiang Li's death inevitably led to gossip about the Langzhong's household—a wife who had lost her chastity died just days after entering their home. If Zuo Jiang had no hand in this, no one would believe it. The Zuo family seemed to have considered this, as Jiang Li's funeral was conducted without any negligence. However, those who came to pay their respects could clearly see the displeasure on Zuo Jiang's face.
Zuo Jiang, now with his reputation in ruins and his patron Noble Consort Chen already fallen from power, could no longer be used by Ye Li, who dared not risk his own reputation. His entire career had been ruined by Jiang Li. When he saw the Jiang family members arriving to pay their respects, his gaze could not conceal his fury.
Fearing that Second Madam might cause another scene, Jiang Quan did not bring her along. Jiang Ruan followed behind Jiang Quan as they offered incense to Jiang Li's memorial tablet in the mourning hall. Zuo Jiang, dressed in mourning attire, stared coldly at Jiang Ruan. In his eyes, Jiang Ruan must have had a hand in the Langzhong's household incident. If Jiang Li had brought him shame, Jiang Ruan was the true culprit behind it all.
Jiang Ruan met his gaze calmly. If one's skills were inferior, one must accept the loss. Zuo Jiang had thought he was climbing the ladder to success, only to find it was a shortcut to hell.
Provoked by the disdain in Jiang Ruan's eyes, Zuo Jiang's expression turned almost frenzied. The humiliating memories of recent days, the shame of being mocked behind his back, all surged up uncontrollably. Just as he was about to lash out, a soft voice spoke, "Brother-in-law, please accept my condolences."
The voice did not come from the pensive Jiang Susu but from the timid and delicate Jiang Dan.
The Jiang family now had only three daughters left: Jiang Ruan, alluring and charming; Jiang Susu, elegant and refined; and the remaining Jiang Dan, who seemed to have shed her former humble shell and undergone a remarkable transformation. Though her beauty could not match that of the two legitimate daughters, she possessed a pitiable charm that stirred men's protective instincts. Hearing her voice, Zuo Jiang was momentarily stunned, his gaze falling upon Jiang Dan, dressed in plain white mourning clothes. Jiang Susu was accustomed to wearing white, giving her an ethereal air. Jiang Dan, however, appeared far more human—like the lovely girl next door, pure, adorable, and tenderly moving.Zuo Jiang suddenly remembered that the graceful young lady before him was originally the one betrothed to him three years ago. Back then, he had saved a life and left behind a marriage arrangement. Yet, through some twist of fate, the match had been wrongly tied to someone else. At the time, both the Lang family and the Jiang family had agreed it would be Jiang Li, so he had no choice but to accept it. He had long since inquired that Jiang Li’s temperament was far worse than Jiang Dan’s, and he had already harbored some dislike for Jiang Li. Later, when the scandal broke, Jiang Li had even tried to drag the Lang family down with her in her final moments. Every time he recalled it, Zuo Jiang was filled with anger.
Now, seeing Jiang Dan, his eyes lit up. He thought, This should have been my wife all along. My wife should have been such a gentle and virtuous lady. The more he thought this way, the more he recalled Jiang Li’s shameless arrogance, and the more resentment he felt.
Jiang Dan, however, seemed unnerved by Zuo Jiang’s intense gaze and took two steps back, murmuring, “Brother-in-law…”
Zuo Jiang snapped out of his thoughts and looked up to meet Jiang Quan’s displeased stare. Jiang Ruan didn’t glance his way, but Jiang Susu’s expression was one of mild amusement. Hong Ying supported Old Madam Jiang as Zuo Jiang lowered his head and said coolly, “Thank you for your kind words, Fourth Sister.”
He emphasized the words “Fourth Sister” heavily, as if they carried some unspoken emotion. Jiang Ruan lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting a faint, eerie shadow as the corners of her lips curled slightly—she was smiling.
Tianzhu noticed this subtle movement from Jiang Ruan, and her gaze shifted thoughtfully between Jiang Dan and Zuo Jiang before settling into confusion.
Perhaps the atmosphere here was too awkward, as everyone’s eyes were fixed on them. Jiang Quan hastily said a few words before walking away. Old Madam Jiang seemed to have aged ten years overnight. The Jiang family had lost a daughter for no reason, and in such a disgraceful manner. The family’s decades-long reputation for integrity had been utterly ruined in just a few short years.
Jiang Susu’s expression was complicated. On one hand, she took pleasure in Jiang Li’s downfall, but on the other, Jiang Li’s disgrace had also tarnished the reputation of the other Jiang daughters, which would inevitably affect her own marriage prospects. Thinking of how Xia Yan was still confined to the small prayer hall with no sign of Jiang Quan releasing her, she couldn’t help but feel another surge of irritation.
Turning her gaze to the timid Jiang Dan, who resembled a freshly bloomed chrysanthemum, Jiang Susu’s tone carried a hint of mockery. “Fourth Sister, Brother-in-law was so attentive to you just now. Come to think of it, this marriage was originally meant for you and him—who knew Third Sister would snatch it away? That’s why marriage arrangements shouldn’t be made carelessly. Now that Third Sister has passed, perhaps it’s Heaven’s way of hinting that it’s not too late for you and Brother-in-law to rekindle your fate?”
Because of the incident with Xia Yan, Jiang Susu still harbored some resentment toward Jiang Quan and no longer treated him with the same respect as before. Since Jiang Quan was standing elsewhere, he didn’t hear Jiang Susu’s words. Unrestrained, Jiang Susu spoke freely, but Jiang Dan only smiled timidly and said, “Second Sister, don’t tease Dan’niang.”
Her mild response, devoid of anger, made Jiang Susu’s eyes flicker with frustration. Jiang Ruan was already a cunning opponent with the backing of the Empress Dowager and the Zhao family, and now even Jiang Dan had become difficult to handle. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.
Jiang Ruan, however, seemed oblivious to their exchange, her detached attitude drawing a few extra glances from Jiang Dan.
...The mourning at the Langzhong Mansion had passed without major incident, though not without its share of frights. Zuo Jiang had made another appearance midway through, his demeanor outwardly respectful, yet his gaze kept drifting subtly toward Jiang Dan. The implications of this were unclear, but it was enough to provoke Old Madam Jiang into another outburst. She berated Jiang Quan mercilessly, blaming him and Second Madam for the family's current disgrace, saying their actions had reduced the Jiang family to a laughingstock. Jiang Quan accepted the scolding with a face as dark as storm clouds, his expression grim enough to drip water.
The courtyard where Second Madam resided in the Jiang household was now a scene of desolation. The flowers by the window, long unattended, had withered overnight as if struck by death. Weeds sprouted unchecked everywhere. Second Madam had always been fastidious about such things, fond of opulent displays—her courtyard once adorned with jade and gold ornaments. Now, it looked as though it had been ransacked, the shelves bare and empty.
Dust and cobwebs covered the floor, and the air carried a stale, rotting stench. The windows remained shut, the curtains drawn tight as if the occupant feared daylight, trapping the humid, foul odor inside even in the heat of summer.
On the bed, a figure curled tightly into itself, arms wrapped around its shoulders. The once-haughty phoenix eyes were now bloodshot, filled with a wild, frantic gleam.
A maid lifted a bowl of medicine and said softly, "Madam, it's time for your medicine."
As if jolted from her delusions, Second Madan suddenly sprang up, grabbing the maid's arm. "Medicine? What medicine? Li'er is still suffering at the Langzhong Mansion! Damn those Zuo family bastards, how dare they treat Li'er like this! I must demand justice for her!"
The maid winced in pain but dared not pull away, her eyes reddening as she replied cautiously, "Madam... the Second Young Miss... she's already passed."
"Lies!" Second Madam slapped the maid across the face. "If I hear such treasonous words again, I'll tear your mouth apart and sell you to the filthiest brothel!"
The maid clutched her cheek, tears welling, but remained silent. Suddenly, Second Madam looked at her apologetically. "Yang Liu, I didn't mean to hit you... You're the only one I can trust now..." She clutched her head and let out an anguished wail. "My Li'er is dead! She's dead! She died in the Langzhong Mansion! The Zuo family killed her! My Li'er is gone!"
Her hysterical cries terrified the maid, who forgot her pain and urged, "Madam, Madam, you're having another episode. Please, drink the medicine—it will help calm you."
But since Second Madam's confinement, Jiang Quan had isolated her, leaving only Yang Liu to attend to her. When Second Madam's madness took hold, Yang Liu alone couldn't restrain her. Jiang Li's death had shattered Second Madam, reducing her to these fits of insanity. The physician had prescribed sedatives, but the once-proud woman had fallen to such a pitiable state, a tragic end that evoked sighs of pity.
As Yang Liu stood helpless, the door creaked open, and a gentle, clear voice spoke: "You may leave. I'll take care of her."
Startled, Yang Liu turned and stammered, "F-Fourth Young Miss..."The newcomer wore a soft yellow dress, her smile serene and shy, as she said gently, "I've come to console you, Madam."
Yang Liu cast a worried glance at Second Madam, but when she met Jiang Dan's gaze, she was startled. The once weak and incompetent Fourth Young Miss now had eyes like knives, cold and piercing, as if a snake were watching its prey. Clenching her teeth, Yang Liu forced herself to say, "Then I’ll trouble Fourth Young Miss." She lowered her head and hurried out.
Second Madam was still curled up on the bed, clutching her head in agony. Jiang Dan walked quietly to her side and watched her with an almost appreciative gaze for a long moment before speaking. "Madam, what is the fate of those who steal another’s marriage?"
Second Madam shuddered and let out another pained moan. Jiang Dan continued slowly, "Madam was always clever and ruthless—swift in snatching Dan’s marriage away. So why resort to feigning madness now to escape suffering?"
Finally, Second Madam raised her head, glaring viciously at Jiang Dan. "That should have been your fate! Li’er died in your place, you cursed star! You killed my Li’er—give her back to me!" She lunged forward, claws outstretched, but having been locked away for so long and wasted to a mere shadow of herself, Jiang Dan easily sidestepped her.
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel