Hong Ying's face flushed with anger at the words. This man was utterly unreasonable—reasoning with him was impossible. Yet she absolutely couldn't let him casually take Jiang Susu away today. If Jiang Susu were taken, anyone who recognized her would spread the news, leaving no place for the Jiang family in the capital. As for Jiang Quan, once he learned his beloved second daughter had gotten into such trouble, he would surely pin all the blame on her. What good would come of that?
But Hong Ying had forgotten—even if Jiang Susu wasn't taken now, walls have ears, and fire cannot be wrapped in paper. This matter would inevitably spread. The only reason it hadn't yet was because no one could connect this scandalously dressed woman with the Jiang family's fairy-like second young miss. But the capital wasn't that big—someone would recognize her eventually. After today's incident at the Jiang residence's doorstep, Jiang Susu's reputation was already ruined. What future could she possibly have? For a woman, death might be preferable. And once Jiang Quan found out, how could he possibly let this go?
Hong Ying forced a smile. "Sir, she is no courtesan from the pleasure quarters but a proper young lady from a respectable family. I'm afraid she cannot fulfill your wishes."
"What proper young lady?" The merchant scowled. "Do you take me for a fool? What are you playing at? Men, take my seventeenth concubine home!" Without another word, he signaled his men to seize her. Then, with a smirk at Hong Ying, he added, "Little lady, don't be ungrateful."
"You—" Hong Ying had never encountered such a scoundrel. In her panic, she blurted, "How dare you! Do you know who she is?"
"Who is she then?" The man sneered. "Some noble princess, perhaps?"
Hong Ying choked back her words, not daring to reveal Jiang Susu's identity. Just then, a guard came running from afar, shouting, "Madam Hong! The princess sent me to help search for the second young miss. Any news?"
Hong Ying's mind reeled, her vision darkening as she nearly fainted. Only one thought remained: It's over. There's no good ending to this today.
The guard pushed through the crowd anxiously, stopping beside Hong Ying. At the sight of Jiang Susu collapsed on the ground, he gasped, "So she's here! Who dared treat the second young miss like this? Have they grown tired of living? The princess will never let the culprit go unpunished!"
The onlookers, who had been enjoying the spectacle, were taken aback by the interruption. Hearing the guard repeatedly mention "the princess" and noting his distinguished bearing, they began murmuring among themselves. Even the merchant hesitated before asking, "Young man, which princess do you serve? And who is this lady on the ground?"
Hong Ying quickly interjected, "That's none of your concern. She's one of ours, and we're taking her back now."
But from the crowd, someone shouted mockingly, "Oh ho! Didn't this fine gentleman just vow to take the lady home as his seventeenth concubine? Why the change of heart now?"The guard, without waiting for Hong Ying to speak again, shouted loudly, "How dare you! How dare you insult the young lady. Open your dog eyes wide and see clearly—this is the legitimate second daughter of the Jiang family's Minister's residence in the capital, the full sister of the current Princess of Great Peace!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd erupted in an uproar.
Jiang Susu nearly dug her nails into her palms, her lips trembling uncontrollably, her entire body feeling as if she had been plunged into an icy abyss. This person's performance was flawless; it was clear at a glance that Jiang Ruan had deliberately orchestrated this to expose her identity in public and humiliate her. This was even more unbearable than killing her, because after today's spectacle, there would be no place left to hide her reputation. Her life might as well be ruined from this moment on!
Hong Ying's face also turned pale, wishing she could crumple the guard up and throw him to the ends of the earth. Under the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, she herself wanted to crawl into a hole. More importantly, a sudden wave of dread rose in her heart—under her care, Jiang Susu had encountered such a disaster. Among the three daughters of the Jiang family, only Jiang Susu had truly won Jiang Quan's affection. If his precious daughter became the butt of such a joke, even if out of sheer anger, Jiang Quan would surely kill her!
The root of it all lay with Jiang Ruan. Hong Ying couldn't help but resent Jiang Ruan's ruthlessness—she not only wanted to humiliate Jiang Susu but also to completely destroy her reputation, ensuring she could never hold her head high again. This was a devastating blow to both the Jiang family and Jiang Quan. Jiang Ruan showed no regard for sisterly bonds. Yet Hong Ying forgot—when she and Jiang Susu had conspired against Jiang Ruan, had they ever considered sisterly affection for even a moment? As the saying goes, those who harm others ultimately harm themselves. There was no better example than this.
The onlookers had already begun murmuring incessantly. Even the wealthy merchant who had been clamoring for Jiang Susu to become his seventeenth concubine shut his mouth and began sizing her up. The crowd's eyes were filled with disbelief, and someone spoke up, "I said it earlier—this young lady looks ninety percent like the second daughter of the Jiang family, but you all refused to believe me."
"Who could have imagined?" another replied. "But wasn't the rumored Second Miss Jiang supposed to be a fairy-like beauty? How did she end up in such a state? Was she framed?"
"Framed? Look at her demeanor—the scent on her is unbearable. What proper young lady carries herself like that? In my opinion, Second Miss Jiang must have already... heh heh..."
"Exactly. Ah, she may look like a fairy, but her behavior is anything but proper. No wonder she was mistaken for a top courtesan from a pleasure house."
Such comments continued without end, each word striking Jiang Susu's heart like a hammer, nearly driving her to the brink of shame and fury. Yet the people weren't wrong—the common folk had the sharpest eyes. Since practicing Bewitchment, Jiang Susu's every movement had taken on a seductive air. Even her delicate beauty couldn't mask the allure she exuded. Unlike Jiang Ruan's natural charm, hers carried an invitation, a temptation that beckoned. Men of experience could easily discern the implications. Moreover, what proper young lady would carry herself with such voluptuous grace, let alone dress in such an overtly alluring manner today?Jin Er winked at Jin San, who was mingling in the crowd to steer the rumors, barely containing his glee. His earlier loud shout in the heat of the moment had ensured everyone around—whether they were meant to hear it or not—had indeed heard. Jin San also raised his voice, feigning nonchalance as he said, "Ah, since this is the second young miss of the Minister's household, and now that so many have seen her in such a state, shouldn't you gentlemen take responsibility? After all, she's a proper young lady of pure reputation—how can she be taken advantage of like this for nothing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, another wave of murmurs erupted. Jiang Susu and Hong Ying stood frozen, utterly dumbstruck. Some among the onlookers quickly caught on, with one loudly declaring, "He’s absolutely right! Since I’ve seen the young lady’s body, I’ll take responsibility—I’ll marry her as my lawful wife!"
The words sounded grand, but the speaker was nothing more than a street ruffian. The crowd understood immediately. Jiang Susu had been exposed in public, not just to one person, and no respectable family would take her in as a wife, lest they become the butt of gossip. But for lowlifes and scoundrels, it was different. The Minister’s household was still an official family, and Jiang Susu was quite beautiful. Marrying her could mean clinging to the Minister’s influence—a sweet deal indeed. With this in mind, more and more men stepped forward to "take responsibility," arguing among themselves until it seemed they were all ready to propose to the Jiang family.
Hong Ying couldn’t hold them back as the crowd swelled. Jin Er shouted, "Enough nonsense!" He glared at the servants. "What are you standing around for? Hurry and escort the second young miss back to the manor! These trivial matters can be settled later!"
He left his words deliberately vague, which only emboldened the ruffians further. In their eyes, when a noble family suffered such a scandal, the young lady usually didn’t survive—either taking her own life or becoming a nun. But everyone in the capital knew how much Lord Jiang doted on his second daughter. Surely, Jiang Quan wouldn’t let his precious girl die or suffer a life of austerity. If no respectable family would marry Jiang Susu, wouldn’t that leave her to small fry like them? The thought excited the ruffians even more, some even fantasizing about wearing red wedding robes as the Jiang family’s esteemed son-in-law.
Due to the Minister’s status and Jiang Ruan’s title as the Princess of Great Peace, none dared to use force. But as Jin Er ordered the servants to help Jiang Susu into the carriage and escort her back to the manor, a boisterous crowd of young men trailed behind—all eager to "take responsibility" for Jiang Susu’s virtue. Though they couldn’t resort to force, street thugs excelled at harassment and underhanded tactics, making life miserable for their targets.
Meanwhile, those who had no intention of "taking responsibility" but had enjoyed the spectacle stood at a distance, arms crossed, discussing the affair. It was clear the Jiang household was about to stir up another storm in the capital.
...
Jiang Quan had just returned from court when he received news of Jiang Susu’s mishap. His mind went blank the entire journey back. Upon entering Hong Ying’s courtyard, he found Jiang Susu sitting on the bed, weeping in despair, while Hong Ying looked equally distraught.
Hearing his footsteps, both turned to look. Jiang Susu met Jiang Quan’s gaze and cried out, "Father!" before bursting into uncontrollable tears.In the past, Jiang Quan would have been heartbroken to see Jiang Susu cry like this. But today's incident was no trivial matter. First, there was Xia Yan's shameless affair, and now Jiang Susu was involved in such a scandal. It was like rubbing salt into Jiang Quan's deepest wounds, instantly bringing back unpleasant memories. The pity in his heart vanished without a trace. He strode over to Jiang Susu and, without a word, raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face with a resounding "smack!"
Jiang Susu was stunned by the blow. In all her years, Jiang Quan had never laid a hand on her. Even though she realized the gravity of today's events, she had assumed that shedding a few tears would prompt Jiang Quan to clean up the mess for her. Never had she expected him to slap her without hesitation. Though Jiang Susu was usually foolish, even she could sense that something was amiss with Jiang Quan's attitude. Panic set in as she realized the situation was dire, and she quickly burst into tears again. "Father!"
After the slap, Jiang Quan felt a twinge of regret. Jiang Susu was his precious daughter, doted on since childhood—he had never even scolded her harshly, let alone hit her. Even after Xia Yan's disgraceful actions, he had treated Jiang Susu no differently than before. Seeing her now, covering her face and sobbing, his heart softened slightly, and his anger subsided a little. Coldly, he demanded, "What exactly happened? You've disgraced the Jiang family!"
And it was no exaggeration. The Jiang family, once a respected and upright household, had seen its reputation tarnished in just a few short years. Every scandal had stemmed from Xia Yan and her two children. After a brief respite following Xia Yan's disgrace, another scandal had erupted. Now, the entire capital was laughing at their expense. Within hours, the news had spread everywhere, and the thought of it filled Jiang Quan with frustration.
Jiang Susu's heart skipped a beat. Realizing the situation had spiraled out of control, she knew her only way out was to pin everything on Jiang Ruan. Lowering her head, she said resentfully, "Father, I was framed! You must avenge me!"
Hong Ying, catching on quickly, chimed in, "That's right! The Second Young Lady is innocent. She's only in this predicament because someone set her up. Poor Second Young Lady, suffering such an unjust calamity for no reason."
Jiang Quan hadn't known there was more to the story. Hearing Jiang Susu and Hong Ying's coordinated tale, he flew into a rage. "Who dares to act so brazenly in the Minister's residence? Who dares to scheme against my daughter?"
Jiang Susu was his treasured jewel. His earlier anger had been overwhelming, but now that he heard she had been framed, all his fury found a target. He was determined to hunt down the culprit and tear them to pieces.
"It was... Da Jiejie..." Jiang Susu forced out the words with great difficulty, covering her face as if unable to bear the humiliation. "Da Jiejie had me knocked out and sent there. And Jinying Wang—he's backing her up too."Jiang Susu immediately shifted all the blame onto Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao, unaware that Hong Ying, standing nearby, had a change of expression and silently cursed her as an idiot. Truth be told, while Jiang Susu had some petty cleverness, her tricks were all beneath contempt. Compared to Xia Yan, she was far from competent. It was precisely because Xia Yan had sheltered her too well—never requiring her to worry about anything since childhood—that Jiang Susu truly lacked brains. All she could do was maintain a fairy-like facade to deceive others, much like her current excuse, which was full of holes and utterly unconvincing.
Jiang Quan had been listening intently to Jiang Susu, but as soon as she finished speaking, his expression darkened. He stared at his daughter as if he didn’t recognize her. Jiang Susu had expected Jiang Quan to storm off angrily to confront Jiang Ruan, but she suddenly sensed something amiss. The way he was looking at her frightened her, and she whispered, "Father, why are you looking at me like this?"
"Ungrateful wretch," Jiang Quan’s voice trembled slightly as he took in Jiang Susu’s stunned expression before coldly continuing, "You claim Jinying Wang and Jiang Ruan conspired to harm you? One is a princess, the other a prince—why would they trouble themselves with you? Instead, explain this attire of yours!"
Jiang Susu shrank back, her tone dripping with grievance. "Father, you’re siding with outsiders? I’m your daughter!"
"I have no such shameless, disgraceful daughter!" Jiang Quan roared, his rage overwhelming him. The vulgarity of his words even shocked Hong Ying, who stood nearby. Jiang Quan had always doted on this daughter, yet now he was cursing her like this—clearly, his disappointment in Jiang Susu ran deep.
"Help you?" Jiang Quan’s expression was terrifyingly grim. "What were you scheming? My Jiang family has raised such an audacious daughter, daring to climb into Jinying Wang’s bed! Open your eyes—who is Jinying Wang? If you want to die, my Jiang family cannot afford such humiliation, nor can we pay with our lives!"
Having spent years navigating the political arena, Jiang Quan was no fool. Jiang Susu’s claims were riddled with inconsistencies. Xiao Shao, though cold and formidable, was not one to provoke trouble without cause. A man of such pride would not act lightly unless provoked. Jiang Susu must have angered him somehow. Combined with her attire and the subsequent events, Jiang Quan had a fair understanding of his daughter’s actions and could guess the truth.
At this moment, Jiang Quan couldn’t tell whether disappointment or fury weighed heavier in his heart. He was enraged at Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan for their mercilessness, but he also despised Jiang Susu for her recklessness—for offending Xiao Shao without considering the consequences. Who was Jinying Wang? Even the Emperor dared not cross him. Provoking him would bring nothing but disaster.What disappointed Jiang Quan even more was Jiang Susu's actions. If there was anything in Jiang Quan's life he could be proud of, Jiang Susu should have been one of them. He had always taken pride in this daughter of his. Jiang Susu was elegant and refined, her talents widely renowned. If not for Xia Yan's incident, she would have been pursued by countless noble young masters in the capital. In Jiang Quan's mind, Jiang Susu was worthy of any man—only the highest status could match his daughter's extraordinary qualities. Yet now, this daughter of his had degraded herself like some common brothel woman, even resorting to schemes to climb into another man's bed. Jiang Quan felt a mix of pity for her misfortune and anger at her lack of self-respect. He had initially held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that if the Eighth Prince took a liking to Jiang Susu, he could secure a future for her. But after this incident, any chance with the Eighth Prince was undoubtedly ruined.
Jiang Susu had never seen Jiang Quan like this before and felt a twinge of fear. Clutching his legs, she wailed, "Father, Su Su knows she was wrong! Su Su was just momentarily blinded by desperation. Seeing Da Jiejie marry so well while I'm left with such a tarnished reputation—who knows what kind of family I'll end up with? I thought since Jinying Wang favors my sister, even if I willingly became a concubine, I could still live comfortably under her protection. But I never imagined things would turn out like this. Father, Su Su knows she was wrong! Please don't abandon me!"
Jiang Quan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Jiang Susu's words struck a chord in his heart. Since Xia Yan's disgrace, his daughter had shut herself away in her courtyard, bearing the consequences of her mother's misconduct. As a young maiden, she had been tormented by the fear of whether she could still marry into a good family—so much so that she, a legitimate daughter, had even considered becoming a concubine. A pang of guilt pricked Jiang Quan's conscience. In the end, it was his failure as a father. Once his heart leaned toward Jiang Susu, his gaze toward Jiang Ruan turned cold. He thought bitterly that despite sharing the blood of the Jiang family, Jiang Ruan showed no regard for sibling bonds. Did she truly disregard him as her father, thinking she had powerful backing now?
Jiang Quan snorted. "Enough. I'll think of a way to handle this. For now, don't leave the house. Where is Jiang Ruan? Summon her at once!"
This was clearly an attempt to shift blame. Both Hong Ying and Jiang Susu relaxed slightly. Though Jiang Ruan had schemed well, she couldn't account for Jiang Quan's inherent bias. As long as Jiang Quan lived, he would remain the master of the Jiang household. Naturally, Jiang Ruan would have to address him as her father, and within these walls, she would find no advantage.
Just then, an unfamiliar guard entered and cupped his hands toward Jiang Quan. "Reporting to Lord Jiang, my master says the young madam is unwell and has taken her back to the manor to be examined by the miracle healer, Xia."
Jiang Quan's chest tightened further. Jiang Ruan was clearly cutting off his options. He couldn't demand her return from the Brocade Hero King Manor, but her move was utterly ruthless. Had it been Jiang Ruan's maid who delivered the message, Jiang Quan could have vented his anger. But this was Xiao Shao's subordinate—someone he couldn't strike or scold. With a grimace, Jiang Quan had no choice but to acknowledge the message.The guard scratched his head and suddenly glanced at Hong Ying. That look sent a shiver down her spine. The next moment, she heard the guard's voice filled with concern: "By the way, the young mistress also mentioned that the concubine in the mansion has been running around all day despite her delicate condition. She must be exhausted, so she specially asked His Highness to send an invitation card to summon the imperial physician from the palace. He should arrive soon to examine the concubine thoroughly, lest anything disturb the little brother in her womb."
Hong Ying stiffened, her face instantly turning pale. She instinctively wanted to refuse, but the words died on her lips. If she refused now, wouldn't that be admitting guilt? With Xia Yan's example fresh in mind, Jiang Quan would undoubtedly be even more vigilant about such matters. If he noticed anything amiss, he would surely investigate to the bottom of it. But if she obediently stayed put, what awaited her afterward... would be another storm of blood and tears.
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. If anything went wrong at this critical juncture when Jiang Quan was already in a foul mood, what good outcome could she possibly expect? Now she was truly caught between a rock and a hard place. The two pillows stuffed in her belly suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
After the guard finished his report, he clasped his fists toward Jiang Quan and withdrew. Although Jiang Quan was extremely displeased with Jiang Ruan, imperial physicians weren't easy to summon for just anyone. Today, Hong Ying had been running around all day, and he was genuinely worried she might have harmed the child in her womb. Having an imperial physician examine her would undoubtedly provide much more reassurance. It never crossed his mind that Xiao Shao might tamper with the physician's diagnosis—firstly, given Xiao Shao's character, it was beneath him, and secondly, even if there were any issues with Hong Ying's pregnancy, they could always summon another physician later. Fabricating something like this wouldn't be so simple.
Jiang Quan's mind was at ease, but he failed to notice the stiffness in Hong Ying's expression. Just then, a servant came rushing in from outside, exclaiming, "Master, something terrible has happened!"
"What is it?" The day's events had already left Jiang Quan overwhelmed and barely able to cope. Hearing this abrupt announcement, he roared impatiently.
The servant flinched, casting a timid glance at Jiang Quan before whispering, "A large crowd has gathered outside, beating gongs and drums. They've brought betrothal gifts and are handing out wedding candies at the gate, saying... saying they've seen the Second Young Lady's body and are willing to become her husband... that from now on, they'll be in-laws with the Jiang family."
"What—" Before Jiang Quan could respond, Jiang Susu shrieked.
...
Meanwhile, in the carriage returning to the residence with Xiao Shao, Luzhu asked, "Miss, won't this be letting Second Young Lady and Fifth Concubine off too easily? The master will surely find a way to protect them. Wouldn't all your efforts be in vain?"
"No." Jiang Ruan glanced at the refreshments arranged on the small table in the carriage. Xiao Shao's carriage was fully equipped with every convenience, thoughtful to the point of being utterly comforting. Even the pastries were prepared according to her preferences.
(End of Chapter)
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