Xiao Shao also noticed Jiang Ruan's calmness and even felt a slight pang of disappointment. If she truly cared about his feelings, she should have shown at least a hint of concern at this moment. The calmer she appeared, the more it indicated that she hadn't taken this matter to heart.
This was what Xiao Shao thought, but he misunderstood Jiang Ruan's feelings. As she looked at the remnants of wine in the room, the lingering sweet fragrance in the air, and Jiang Susu's disheveled yet pitifully charming appearance, a slow-burning anger began to rise within her.
At that moment, she suddenly recalled the scene from her past life when Ye Li had her thrown into the Heavenly Prison. Jiang Susu had also come to the prison to gloat, recounting in detail her sweet past with Ye Li. Back then, Jiang Susu's words had struck her like a bolt from the blue. Only at the final moment did she realize her sincere devotion had been nothing but an elaborate deception. Ye Li had secretly conspired with Jiang Susu all along. She couldn't understand why Ye Li, who had repeatedly claimed she was the only one in his heart, had still engaged in intimate acts with Jiang Susu that he had never done with her.
Perhaps back then, Jiang Susu had behaved just as seductively in front of Ye Li, which made him treat her differently.
In both her past and present lives, Jiang Susu seemed determined to fight her to the death. In her past life, she had loved Ye Li, and Jiang Susu had stolen him away. Now, when the Empress Dowager had arranged her marriage to Xiao Shao, Jiang Susu came to snatch him too. Displeasure welled up in Jiang Ruan's heart, and her gaze toward Jiang Susu instantly darkened.
"What do you plan to do?" Xiao Shao asked. "Kill her?"
Though Xiao Shao was known as a Traitorous Subject and his schemes were meticulous, he had no interest in the petty squabbles and jealousies of the inner household. His methods were cruel yet straightforward, bearing the hallmark of the Brocade-clad Guards—simple and brutal. If necessary, kill and be done with it. Jiang Susu didn't understand Xiao Shao. Perhaps because he only existed in rumors, and everything she had heard about him was hearsay, she had mistaken him for an ordinary man. She didn't know that Xiao Shao was inherently proud to the bone. Even if he had been tricked today, he wouldn't obediently submit to the Jiang family's schemes. The most likely outcome was that he would kill everyone in the Jiang household in a fit of rage and leave. Even if the Emperor had no choice but to punish him in the end, it would likely be a heavy-handed gesture with a light-handed resolution.
"Why bother?" Jiang Ruan said softly. "We are sisters, after all. There's no need to be so ruthless. However," she glanced at Jiang Susu, who was glaring at her with hatred, and smiled faintly, "since Second Sister is so desperate to marry, even going so far as to set her sights on you, as her elder sister, I must do her a proper favor."
Xiao Shao looked at her, the corner of his lips quirking upward. "What do you have in mind?"
"Second Sister is a peerless beauty, and her pure, untouched body should be seen by more people," Jiang Ruan said coolly. "There are so many servants in the Jiang household. Surely, any one of them would be overjoyed to marry such a beauty."
A fleeting weariness flashed in her eyes, so brief that only Xiao Shao, with his keen perception, caught it. He sensed that something had shifted in Jiang Ruan's emotions just then, though he didn't know what had prompted her to make this decision.
But when it came to Jiang Ruan's words, he had always unconditionally agreed. So he nodded and said, "Very well."Jiang Susu stared at Jiang Ruan in disbelief, never imagining that Jiang Ruan would dare to go this far. Perhaps it was because in previous encounters, Jiang Ruan had the means to kill her but ultimately held back, leading Jiang Susu to believe Jiang Ruan must have some reservations. Jiang Ruan doted on Jiang Susu so much that if anything happened to Jiang Susu, even the slightest connection to Jiang Ruan would prompt Jiang Quan to spare no effort in making Jiang Ruan's life miserable. But now, with Jiang Ruan speaking like this, it was clear she intended to tear off all pretenses, leaving no room for reconciliation.
Jiang Ruan walked up to her, looking down with calm, indifferent eyes. The hatred from her past life had never left her for a single day. Originally, she had planned to strip Jiang Susu of everything and watch her slowly crumble. But now, it seemed she had overcomplicated things. With Xia Yan already defeated, Jiang Chao's prospects of entering officialdom through the imperial examinations ruined, and her own reputation tarnished, Jiang Susu was a far cry from the radiant, fairy-like figure she had been in their previous life.
Her former obsession now seemed unnecessary. Jiang Susu had always been skilled at putting on an act, playing the part of an ethereal beauty solely because she yearned for higher status. For someone with such lofty ambitions to end up in a lowly position, forced to live under others' mercy—what kind of torment must that be?
For Jiang Susu, this might very well be the most painful form of punishment.
Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze. She couldn't waste all her time on a worm destined to grovel at her feet in this life. She still had Jiang Xin Zhi, the Zhao family, and Ye Pei to consider. Any potential threats had to be eradicated without hesitation. Keeping Jiang Susu around for even one more day was of no benefit to her. Many matters needed to be expedited, and Jiang Susu had enjoyed comfort for far too long.
She said lightly, "Then I'll trouble my husband to find a way to throw Second Sister out. Remember—the more crowded the place, the better." Her lips curved into a smile, radiant and captivating as a red fox. "Such beauty deserves to be admired by thousands."
Xiao Shao was momentarily stunned by the natural way Jiang Ruan referred to him as "husband"—whether from shock or fright, even he couldn't say. But soon, a faint trace of pleasure surfaced on his face. After a brief pause, he called, "Jin Er."
Jin Er scratched his head and stepped forward. "Alright, alright, Master. How about tossing her right at the Jiang residence's front gate? Any farther and it'd be too exhausting."
"That will do," Jiang Ruan said with a smile. "Thank you for your trouble."
"No trouble at all. As long as the young mistress takes care of our master," Jin Er replied with a grin before hoisting Jiang Susu up and darting away. The martial skills of a shadow guard were naturally formidable, and there were already people outside waiting to assist. The servants and maids who had been guarding the doors, eager to watch the spectacle, must have already been subdued—otherwise, they would have shown up by now.
Only after Jin Er left did Xiao Shao lift his gaze to study Jiang Ruan. Suddenly, he asked, "You're unhappy."
"Of course I'm not as happy as you," Jiang Ruan replied, her expression unchanged, her smile still gentle. Yet, for some reason, an undercurrent of displeasure—or perhaps faint anger—could be sensed. She added, "Not everyone gets to experience a stunning beauty throwing herself at them. Husband, you're truly fortunate."
Xiao Shao paused, staring at her for a long moment before suddenly curling his lips into a faint smile.
Jiang Ruan was indeed angry—this realization brought him a quiet sense of joy. The icy expression he had worn since Jiang Susu's appearance finally melted away, leaving only a trace of amusement.Jiang Ruan watched him smile, which only fueled her growing irritation—an irritation tinged with a hint of self-disgust. Since her rebirth, perhaps chastened by the lessons of her past life, she had avoided investing too much expectation in anything. Yet once she set her mind on something, her possessiveness became overwhelming. Now that she had accepted becoming the mistress of Brocade Hero King Manor, whether there was affection between her and Xiao Shao or not, in her heart, he belonged to her entirely—at least on the surface.
Jiang Susu had touched what was hers, naturally displeasing her. Yet the instigator remained blissfully unaware, hiding behind a beautiful face and feigning innocence.
Her mounting anger only made her appear all the more adorable in Xiao Shao’s eyes. Before Jiang Ruan could speak, he pulled her abruptly to his side and seated her on his lap.
"You—!" Jiang Ruan was furious. Strictly speaking, this wasn’t the first time Xiao Shao had done this. Back in Brocade Hero King Manor, she had once been "honored" with such treatment. But at that time, Xiao Shao had been drunk and not in his right mind, so she could overlook it. Now, in broad daylight, despite their engagement, this was far too bold and sudden.
"Don’t move." Xiao Shao pressed a hand to her back. His touch was gentle, but his strength was astonishingly firm, leaving no room for resistance. His next words even robbed her of the will to glare at him. "A husband embracing his wife is only natural."
Jiang Ruan rolled her eyes inwardly, only to hear Xiao Shao add, "It’d be better if a peerless beauty came to seduce me instead."
This man, who had once been so cold and aloof, now spoke such words with effortless ease. Jiang Ruan shot him a disbelieving glance, her confusion deepening. She had thought he was joking, yet his expression was utterly serious, leaving her baffled. Still, after his antics, her earlier displeasure had inexplicably vanished.
Good looks truly allowed one to act with impunity, Jiang Ruan mused to herself, lamenting how beauty could lead one astray. Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the flicker of delight in Xiao Shao’s eyes as he held her.
How long they stayed like that, she couldn’t say—until Xiao Shao’s expression shifted slightly, and he patted her head. "Someone’s coming."
What they did in private was no one else’s business, but Jiang Ruan was still an unmarried maiden who had to uphold propriety. Moreover, in a den of intrigue like the Jiang residence, the slightest misstep could spawn rumors harmful to her reputation. At Xiao Shao’s reminder, Jiang Ruan stood up and primly picked up the teapot, pretending to pour tea for him.
Just then, a knock came at the door. "Young Miss?"
The voice belonged to Hong Ying. Clearly, she had grown suspicious after neither hearing any movement nor receiving a report from the messenger, prompting her to investigate personally. The timing was impeccable—had they not been prepared, they might have fallen right into Hong Ying’s trap.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Come in."Hong Ying's hand paused slightly as she pushed the door, her heart suddenly pounding wildly. Why was Jiang Ruan so calm? And why was it so quiet inside, without even a hint of displeasure in the air? The servants and maids who were supposed to be guarding the door outside were nowhere to be seen. The more frightened Hong Ying became, the more she hesitated to push the door open, and she couldn't help but regret agreeing so rashly to Jiang Susu's request. That Xiao Shao was no ordinary man—if he saw through their scheme and sought revenge, she would be utterly helpless.
The door was eventually pushed open. Taking a deep breath, Hong Ying peered inside and saw everything in perfect order. Jiang Ruan stood beside Xiao Shao, pouring tea for him, and nothing seemed amiss.
Hong Ying scrutinized the pair. Jiang Ruan remained as composed as ever, her lips curved in a faint smile, her thoughts as inscrutable as always. Xiao Shao was similarly indifferent, his expression as aloof as before. Yet despite this, Hong Ying could still sense a faint undercurrent of... joy in the room?
Joy?
What had happened here? Hong Ying glanced around but saw no sign of Jiang Susu. What was going on? Startled at first, she gradually calmed down, even feeling a twinge of relief. Judging by Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao's untroubled demeanor, it seemed Jiang Susu had failed in her scheme. Hong Ying felt a pang of disappointment, yet also disbelief. According to Jiang Susu's plan, she shouldn't have failed. Jiang Susu had such charm that men would go mad for her even without any special tricks. How could Xiao Shao be an exception, remaining unmoved by her?
After a moment's reflection, Hong Ying sighed in relief. She had already regretted agreeing to Jiang Susu's request the moment she pushed the door. After all, Xiao Shao was a high-ranking court official, his influence far surpassing Jiang Quan's. If he discovered she had conspired with Jiang Susu to trap him, his wrath and retaliation would be inevitable. Opposing such a man was far too risky. Now that Jiang Susu had overestimated herself and fled in defeat, the matter could be considered closed—no blame would fall on her.
She forced a smile and said, "This humble one came to see if His Highness and the young lady need anything else. I shall have it prepared at once. Since this is His Highness's first visit to our residence, and given the close ties between our families, we must not neglect our hospitality."
Jiang Ruan glanced at her lightly, her eyes flickering before she suddenly smiled. "How thoughtful of you, Aunt. Now that you mention it, this room does need some tidying up."
Hong Ying froze, bewildered. "What instructions does the young lady have?"
Xiao Shao watched Jiang Ruan silently, his gaze full of indulgence, clearly ready to listen attentively to whatever scheme his young wife had in mind this time.
Jiang Ruan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression utterly sincere, betraying no hint of deception. "The tea room Aunt chose has a lovely view and is quite spacious. But perhaps it hasn't been cleaned in a while—there are even mice gnawing at things inside."
"Mice?" Hong Ying had been tense when Jiang Ruan spoke, but now she laughed. "How could there be mice? The young lady must be mistaken. I had this room thoroughly cleaned beforehand." Besides, Jiang Susu had arranged everything inside and out to set the mood—how could there be mice to ruin such an intimate atmosphere?"If Auntie doesn't believe me, go take a look." Jiang Ruan pointed at the jade screen inside the room, her smile carrying deeper implications. "Just now, a rat suddenly darted out and startled me. Prince Xiao took action and killed it. That's the stain left behind."
Hong Ying followed Jiang Ruan's finger and saw a pool of blood at the base of the jade screen. The blood had splattered, some landing on the jade screen itself, making it starkly visible and causing one's heart to skip a beat.
At first, Hong Ying was puzzled and about to say something when a sudden thought flashed through her mind. Her face instantly paled, and she stumbled back several steps. She stared fixedly at the bloodstain, then turned to look at Jiang Ruan, who nodded at her with a smile and whispered, "Auntie, do you see clearly now?"
At that very moment, a loud cry came from outside: "Terrible news! Terrible news! The Second Young Miss is in trouble!"
Just a few hundred meters from the Jiang residence's entrance, a crowd had already gathered, packed so tightly that not a drop of water could pass through—layers upon layers of common folk.
"Truly a fairy's face and a temptress's body—what a figure, absolutely stunning!"
"Whose daughter is this? How did she end up lying here like this?" some kind-hearted soul asked.
"Look at her attire—does she seem like a decent family's daughter? Ah, brother, you probably haven't seen much of this sort of thing. Scenes like this are common in the capital. Most likely, she's some loose woman who got tangled up with a man and was taught a lesson by the wife. See, this is just to put her in her place. But I must say, this little lady is quite the catch. I wonder which young master is lucky enough to enjoy such a beauty—hard to resist a woman's charms, eh?"
"Bah! What kind of eyes do you have? 'Loose woman'? This is the Second Young Miss of the Jiang family from the Ministry of Personnel's household! The famously talented lady of the capital. Why does she look so familiar? I'm sure I'm not mistaken—what on earth happened here?"
At the center of the crowd stood a figure clad in plain white robes, the fabric clinging to her body in a way that invited the imagination. Her long black hair, freshly washed, hung damply against her, making the already thin clothing cling even more suggestively. The young woman kept her head bowed, but even so, one could glimpse a delicate, pretty face—now flushed with either anger or shame, adding to her allure. Several men nearby were already growing restless, their hands itching to reach out.
Jiang Susu felt as though she might shatter her teeth from clenching them so hard. When that guard had dumped her here, he must have struck some pressure point—she couldn't muster even a shred of strength now. Like a drowned dog, she was left for these lowly commoners to gawk at, forced to endure their disgusting gazes. The mere thought made Jiang Susu wish she could gouge out the eyes of every onlooker. But above all, she loathed the mastermind behind this humiliation—Jiang Ruan.
She couldn't utter a single word, only listen as the vulgar chatter of the crowd assaulted her ears.
"Don't mock my lack of experience. The Jiang family of the Ministry of Personnel is a respectable official household. How could their pure and virtuous young lady behave so improperly? Besides, look at her—she reeks of seduction. No proper young lady would carry herself like this."A potbellied middle-aged man finally couldn't hold back. Waving a fan, he stepped forward and squatted before Jiang Susu, grabbing her chin to force her head up. As she raised her face, the crowd gasped in admiration at her beauty. The man was clearly pleased as well, letting his gaze roam over her body before declaring, "Not bad, quite the beauty. Which pleasure house are you from, miss? Come be my seventeenth concubine—I'll treat you well."
The man was decked in gold and silver but was hideously ugly, his speech crude—clearly some nouveau riche. Normally, Jiang Susu would have berated anyone who treated her this way, but now, faced with such a repulsive visage, she couldn't even speak.
Taking her silence as consent, the man patted her cheek. "Beauty, come home with me now."
But he wasn't the only one with ill intentions. Another voice piped up, "I saw her first—what right do you have to claim her?" This came from a seemingly wealthy young nobleman.
"Enough noise," an older man interjected. "I've also taken a liking to this girl. There's an order to these things."
Beauty always drew attention, especially one as naturally stunning as Jiang Susu. Some wanted to take her home as their own, while others saw her as a gift to curry favor with superiors—such a rare beauty would surely impress.
Unlike the men, the women in the crowd looked at Jiang Susu with disdain. "Tsk, these seductresses grow bolder by the day, brazenly flaunting themselves in public."
"Exactly," the women agreed, their eyes filled with contempt. "Utterly shameless. Only brothel women would act so indecently—no proper lady would!" They had mistaken Jiang Susu for a courtesan.
Jiang Susu burned with fury at her inability to speak or move. If she could, she would have cut out these gossips' tongues. She had always seen herself as an immortal descended from the heavens, aloof and untouchable. Even in the capital, her mystique had only added to her allure. Never had she been reduced to such humiliation—stripped bare under the crowd's scrutinizing gazes. It was utterly degrading!
The only proof of her charm now was the men fighting over her. Even in this state, they still fell for her beauty. But... these men were all vulgar commoners—either money-grubbing merchants or upstart country gentry—a far cry from the refined noblemen who once adored her. The least remarkable of her former admirers would have outshone every man here. The stark contrast between past and present nearly drove Jiang Susu to madness.Jiang Susu looked up and saw the crowded crowd being parted as several people made their way in. Leading the group were a few servants, followed by a woman with a large belly—none other than Hong Ying.
At the sudden sight of Hong Ying, Jiang Susu felt both anger and anxiety. Hong Ying hurried forward and, without a word, ordered the servants to help Jiang Susu away. They both knew this was an embarrassing affair and dared not do anything to reveal their identities, hoping only to settle the matter quietly.
But while Hong Ying thought this way, the surrounding crowd would not have it. The men who had been arguing fiercely over Jiang Susu stopped in unison. One of them stepped in front of Hong Ying and said, "What do you think you're doing? How dare you lay hands on the woman I fancy?"
Hong Ying suppressed her anger and smiled at the man. "Sir, to be frank, this is a distant niece of mine. Something has happened, and I must take her back now. Please step aside."
If it had been anyone else, she might have let it go, but the man was a crude and ignorant wealthy merchant. He burst into laughter and said, "Little lady, don't think you can fool me. This girl is no distant niece—she's clearly some courtesan from a pleasure house. I'm not an unreasonable man. Name your price, and I'll pay whatever it takes. I've taken a liking to this little beauty and will take her back as my seventeenth concubine."
(End of Chapter)
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