"Second Sister's heart's desire has always been to marry into a noble family and enjoy power, but now she has lost that qualification. She is even about to become the very type of person she despises the most. There are no eternally privileged people in this world, and failing to be one of them will torment her more than death itself." Jiang Ruan spoke calmly, "As for Hong Ying, do you really think Jiang Quan will let her off?"
Jiang Quan may appear aloof on the surface, but in truth, he is not a forgiving man. Hong Ying dared to deceive him about his offspring, which is a grave offense in his eyes. Her fate will undoubtedly be dire—greed knows no bounds, and everyone must pay the price for their avarice. It's just that Hong Ying's price will be particularly steep.
"None can escape it," she said.
There are no walls without cracks, especially when a young lady from a prominent family is exposed in public. Rumors spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of the capital that very day. Yet misfortunes never come singly. As if the heavens found the Jiang family's troubles insufficient, another piece of gossip surfaced simultaneously.
In Brocade Hero King Manor, Jiang Ruan sat at a table sipping tea—premium Guzhu Purple Bamboo Shoot tea, paired with exquisite peony bean cakes, sweet to just the right degree without being cloying. The manor's chefs were first-rate, crafting simple yet refined delicacies that even the imperial kitchens might struggle to rival. The servants had told Luzhu that the old Jinying Wang had been a man of refined tastes, and these chefs had been carefully sought out from afar. However, after the old Jinying Wang and his wife passed away, Xiao Shao's casual nature meant he preferred simplicity in his meals, leaving the chefs with little opportunity to showcase their skills. Now that a princess consort had arrived, they naturally exerted all their efforts to please her, hoping to win her favor and secure more chances to display their culinary talents in the future.
Though the reason sounded somewhat amusing, Luzhu found herself gradually reassured, for the servants' words conveyed one clear message: the manor's staff genuinely regarded Jiang Ruan as their princess consort. Otherwise, why would they go to such lengths? The maids' greatest concern had been that Jiang Ruan's marriage into the manor—a step up in status—might lead to servants bullying their mistress despite Xiao Shao's impeccable character. But seeing how respectfully the manor's staff treated Jiang Ruan, and finding no fault with either the manor or Xiao Shao, their worries dissipated entirely.
As Jiang Ruan drank her tea, she noticed Lianqiao entering with a cheerful smile. "Miss," she greeted.
Jiang Ruan acknowledged her, and Lianqiao placed freshly picked flowers into a gilded phoenix-patterned vase. Though Brocade Hero King Manor was lavishly constructed, Xiao Shao's overly reserved nature left it feeling somewhat barren and unadorned. While it might not have mattered when he lived alone, Jiang Ruan would soon reside here as well, prompting Lianqiao to consider ways to add a touch of vibrancy. After all, men and women had different tastes—even a few flowers in a vase could breathe life into a space, couldn't they?
"Miss," Lianqiao said as she arranged the flowers, "I heard quite the news today. Can you guess what it is?" Though she tried to maintain composure, her face betrayed excitement, and her eyes sparkled with barely contained delight. Jiang Ruan glanced at her and asked, "Did something happen to Hong Ying?""Young lady, you're truly amazing," Lianqiao was stunned for a moment before darting over to Jiang Ruan's side. She blinked and said, "Isn't it just so? Today, the moment I stepped out, I heard it—every street and alley is buzzing with the news! They say the master kicked Concubine Hong so hard she miscarried!"
"Miscarried?" A flicker passed through Jiang Ruan's expression.
"Well, it's a long story," Lianqiao sat down on a small stool nearby and continued, "They say yesterday, the fifth concubine was running around all day. The master even summoned an imperial physician from the palace to examine her. At first, everything seemed fine, but just as the physician was about to arrive, the fifth concubine suddenly claimed she felt extremely unwell and wanted to sleep immediately. The master, being sharp as he is, immediately sensed something amiss and confronted her. And then—" Lianqiao paused for dramatic effect, hoping to pique Jiang Ruan's curiosity. But when she looked up and saw Jiang Ruan's expression hadn't changed at all—as if she had already anticipated this—she awkwardly rubbed her nose and continued, "And then two large cotton pillows fell out from under the fifth concubine's dress!"
Lianqiao became increasingly animated as she recounted the story, gesturing wildly. "At that moment, the master realized he'd been deceived. Quick as lightning, he delivered a powerful kick, and then—" She coughed twice before mimicking Jiang Quan's furious voice, "'You vile woman! I treated you with utmost sincerity, yet you deceived me! Your heart is beyond redemption!'"
"Stop, stop—" Jiang Ruan massaged her temples. If this went on, even the servants from the Brocade Hero King Manor might gather around for a free storytelling session. "There's no need to go into such detail."
Lianqiao looked a little disappointed but obediently toned it down. "Anyway, the master kicked her, and Concubine Hong started bleeding. Coincidentally, the physician arrived just then and examined her. Turns out, the master's kick was so forceful it caused her to lose the baby—a real baby, not even three months along."
Jiang Ruan pondered for a moment before saying, "So that's how it was."
So, that day, when the physician was about to arrive, even the usually composed Hong Ying had panicked. Panic often leads to foolish mistakes—normally, Hong Ying was clever enough to avoid such blunders. But yesterday, in her nervous state, she had come up with that clumsy excuse. Though Jiang Quan doted on Hong Ying, that didn't mean he was a fool to be easily deceived. After the incident with Xia Yan, he had become particularly sensitive about matters of heirs. Once suspicion took root, he became relentless in his questioning. During their argument, Hong Ying's deception unraveled, and Jiang Quan's fury knew no bounds. To be repeatedly tricked by his own women—how could he swallow such humiliation? No matter how much he had cherished Hong Ying before, in his eyes now, her crimes were unforgivable.
Yet, in a twist of fate, Hong Ying hadn't even realized she was actually pregnant. She had likely been relying on false hope, using potent and dangerous medicines to fake her pregnancy. Ironically, those very medicines had only taken effect now, resulting in a real pregnancy—one that Jiang Quan's kick had abruptly ended.The physician who treated Hong Ying had a loose tongue, perhaps thinking the Jiang family's affairs were truly laughable gossip worth sharing. Upon returning, he immediately told his colleagues. With so many imperial physicians in the palace—some connected to nobles, others from humble backgrounds—it didn’t take long for the news of Jiang Quan kicking his own concubine and causing her miscarriage to spread far and wide. From noble households to the common folk, everyone knew, truly shaking the capital.
Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze. In her past life, Hong Ying had already been utterly defeated by Xia Yan by this time, let alone having any hope of bearing children. If she hadn’t been greedy in this life, she might have enjoyed some peaceful days. Now, the hope for her future was shattered. Jiang Quan would show no mercy to a woman who had turned him into a laughingstock—Hong Ying’s fate was predictable. But the one suffering the most now was Jiang Quan. An invisible rift had already formed between him and Jiang Chao. With the Jiang family lacking heirs, Jiang Quan had placed great importance on the child in Hong Ying’s womb. Now, having killed it with his own hands, it was undoubtedly a devastating blow for someone like him.
Lianqiao added, “Miss, there’s more. While Fifth Madam is in such a state, Second Miss is also in turmoil. Since yesterday noon, many people have gathered at the mansion’s gates, demanding to marry Second Miss, claiming they had seen her body and must take responsibility. These people couldn’t be driven away no matter what. When guards were called, they lay at the entrance wailing, accusing the Jiang family of disregarding human life. The master was furious and publicly apologized, declaring he would send Second Miss to a temple to become a nun. Upon hearing this, Second Miss fainted and later argued with the master, but he remained resolute. Today, the master forcibly sent her to a family temple a hundred miles away, saying she would truly have her hair shorn and become a nun.”
“Becoming a nun is too lenient for her,” Lianqiao said indignantly. “She should have been forced to marry one of those men. But the master has always doted on Second Miss—this decision ruins her life. It’s shocking.”
“How so?” Jiang Ruan replied coolly. Lianqiao detected something unusual in her tone and looked up, startled by the coldness in Jiang Ruan’s eyes. Jiang Ruan continued, “He’s going to great lengths to pave the way for Second Sister.”
Indeed, if Jiang Susu had married one of those street ruffians, her life would have been ruined. But by shaving her head and becoming a nun, the Jiang family’s reputation was preserved, and Jiang Susu was given a way out, sparing her further humiliation. Far from the capital’s gossip, she would gradually fade from public memory—until an opportunity arose for her to return. And when would that be? Naturally, after the struggle for the throne concluded, the old emperor passed, the new emperor ascended, and Ye Li achieved his ambitions.
By then, Jiang Quan might be rewarded with fame and power. With such guarantees, who would care about Jiang Susu’s past? Jiang Quan had played his cards well. In both past and present lives, he had paved the way for this daughter, ensuring her safety and prosperity.
In her past life, Jiang Susu had claimed she couldn’t tolerate even a speck of dust in her eye. Little did she know that in this life, she was the speck in Jiang Ruan’s eye. This time, Jiang Ruan was ruthless and merciless—she couldn’t bear to witness such fatherly devotion. Jiang Quan’s chess game was masterful, but she had no intention of letting him win."Lianqiao, go out and tell Jin Er," Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze, "I'd like to ask him for a favor."
The shadow guards Jin Er and Jin San couldn't stray too far from Jiang Ruan. Lianqiao acknowledged and asked, "What matter does the young lady wish to entrust to Jin Er?"
...
After searching outside for a long time without spotting Jin Er, Lianqiao instead saw another man dressed in guard attire from afar. His face seemed familiar, though she couldn't quite recall where she'd seen him before—likely one of Xiao Shao's subordinates. She approached and inquired, "Excuse me, do you know where Jin Er is?"
The man turned around. With striking features and handsome looks, he stared fixedly at Lianqiao for a long moment. Feeling unsettled by his gaze, her fiery temper flared as she arched her willow-leaf brows and snapped, "What are you looking at?!"
"So it was you storytelling inside earlier," the man remarked. Though his expression remained neutral, his tone carried a hint of teasing.
Lianqiao froze momentarily before retorting angrily, "None of your business! How dare you eavesdrop! Just wait until I report this to the young lady—when the prince finds out, you'll be in for it!"
The man was none other than Ye Feng. Over the past few years, he had been sidelined by Xiao Shao, relegated to gathering intelligence at the Treasure Exchange Pavilion—a tedious and monotonous existence. Without his master's orders, he couldn't leave on his own. Recently, however, Xiao Shao had unexpectedly summoned him back, likely to assign tasks before an upcoming journey. Earlier, overhearing Lianqiao recounting matters about the Jiang household to Jiang Ruan, he had been surprised by the maid's sharp wit. Having such a lively companion during missions would surely banish any boredom.
Now, hearing Lianqiao mention Jiang Ruan, Ye Feng's mouth twitched. Last time, it was precisely because of a mistaken identity involving Jiang Ruan that Xiao Shao had cold-shouldered him for years. With Jiang Ruan's status now elevated as the future young mistress of Brocade Hero King Manor, offending her—or even just her maid—would undoubtedly incur Xiao Shao's wrath. The prince's protective nature toward his wife was well-known. Hastily, he said, "My apologies. What do you need Jin Er for?"
"The young mistress has a task for him," Lianqiao replied bluntly. Straightforward by nature, she wasn't one to hold grudges. Since Ye Feng had apologized, she saw no need to press the matter.
"He's on a mission and isn't in the manor at the moment," Ye Feng informed her.
Lianqiao frowned. "When will he return?"
"Likely tomorrow evening," Ye Feng said. "Is it urgent?"
"Tomorrow evening might be too late..." She bit her lip, anxiety creeping into her expression. "Why did he have to leave now of all times?"
Curious, Ye Feng offered, "Whatever it is, I can do it too."
"You?" Lianqiao shot him a sidelong glance and shook her head. "I really don't trust you."
That sidelong glance revealed a youthful, spirited charm in her eyes. Among Jiang Ruan's maids, each possessed striking beauty with distinct traits—Zisu was dignified, Lianqiao fiery, Luzhu clever, and Tianzhu aloof. Of them, Lianqiao and Luzhu were particularly favored by the men. Though their time at Brocade Hero King Manor had been short, many of Xiao Shao's subordinates had already begun vying for the two maids' attention.Ye Feng was accustomed to women who were either as cold and aloof as those in the Brocade-clad Guards or as gaudy and coquettish as the painted ladies in brothels. It was rare for him to encounter someone as straightforward and fiery as Lianqiao, whose every gesture exuded genuine emotion. At this moment, her almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, paired with lips reddened by slight anger, made her face appear even more flushed. His heart stirred instantly, and before Lianqiao could speak, a competitive spirit—typical of youth—surged within him. He grabbed her wrist abruptly and declared, "Don’t believe me? Well, I’ll make you believe me this time!" With that, he seized Lianqiao and leaped out of the courtyard, ignoring her startled screams.
On the rooftop, Jin San spat out a blade of grass he had been chewing and muttered a single word: "Fool."
Jin Four curled her lips and dusted off her sleeves. "Let’s go, time to work!" she said.
...
Meanwhile, near the YunDing Mountain area, wild grass and tangled trees grew thickly along the muddy, narrow path. The carriage wheels rolled noisily, occasionally splattering flecks of mud. As the sky gradually darkened, the destination still seemed far off, with no shelter in sight for miles. Not a single household could be found for lodging, leaving the carriage destined to spend the night in the desolate wilderness.
Despite this, the carriage was lavishly furnished, at least appearing quite comfortable on the outside. The coachman, seasoned and skilled, minimized the jolts and bumps along the rugged road, doing his utmost to ensure a smooth ride.
The lead guard announced, "We’ll rest here for the night."
Inside the carriage, Jiang Susu sat with a pale face, her expression utterly indifferent. Dragonfly, sitting beside her, spoke softly in consolation, "Miss, it’s getting late. Have some broth and rest."
Ever since Butterfly had been sold off by Jiang Susu following the incident with the placenta, Jiang Susu had never promoted any of her second-tier maids to fill the vacant position of first-tier maid. Dragonfly had remained her sole personal attendant. As a trusted confidante, Dragonfly was fiercely loyal to Jiang Susu, often offering advice when needed. Yet she never imagined Jiang Susu would fall to such a state. As a maid, she was bound to share her mistress’s joys and sorrows—even if it meant becoming a nun in the family temple.
(End of Chapter)
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