Chapter 26 A Masterstroke
The grand drama, full of twists and turns, finally drew to a close amidst the sighs of the onlookers. Chen Zhao and Zhang Lan's family were taken into custody to await trial, while Jiang Ruan regained her rightful place in the Jiang residence. Before the court had even disbanded, Lianqiao and Zisu rushed to her side, both too overwhelmed to speak.
Lianqiao said, "This servant always knew the young lady was blessed by fortune. The Spirit in Heaven must have watched over you. We must burn incense in gratitude to the late madam."
Jiang Ruan shook her head. "In truth, we should thank the two magistrates for upholding justice, as well as Luzhu and the others who stood up to speak for me. Especially Qiu Yan—I owe her my deepest gratitude." With that, she walked up to Qiu Yan and smiled gently. "Thank you, Qiu Yan."
Qiu Yan stared blankly at Jiang Ruan, a trace of fear flickering in her eyes. To outsiders, it might seem as though Jiang Ruan had done nothing—merely letting her maids take the lead. But who could have known that every word spoken had been carefully orchestrated by Jiang Ruan herself? From the very beginning, she had laid this trap—a pit adorned with flowers, sitting back with a smile as she watched Chen Zhao leap into it. The poor fool had even believed his scheme was flawless.
The Zhang family's influence in the estate ran deep. As long as the Jiang family stood firm and Xia Yan remained Jiang Quan's wife, they could act with impunity. Such entrenched power was not something Jiang Ruan could dismantle overnight. That was why Zhang Lan had been so brazen—never expecting Jiang Ruan to bypass the tangled web entirely and strike directly at her and her son. Swift, ruthless, and decisive, Jiang Ruan had cut them down before retreating unscathed to the Jiang residence. Now, no one could touch her. That was true mastery.
Yet such cunning came from a twelve-year-old girl. For six years, Jiang Ruan had feigned ignorance and weakness—such patience was terrifying to the core. A chill ran down Qiu Yan's spine. Who would have thought the most dangerous person in the estate was this seemingly unremarkable young miss? If she returned to the Jiang residence, even Xia Yan and her daughter might not fare well. After years of silence, Jiang Ruan had struck back. The Jiang household was about to undergo a storm.
Qiu Yan bowed her head respectfully. "The young lady is the master. It is only natural for this servant to serve you. Your words humble me."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Not everyone is like you. Still, I am grateful." She took Qiu Yan's hand, feeling the slight tremble in her fingers, and a cryptic smile flashed in her eyes.
Just as Qiu Yan had surmised, Jiang Ruan had finally achieved the first step of her plan. In her past life, Zhang Lan and her son had played a pivotal role in her ruin. Back then, powerless and defenseless, she had been at their mercy. But now, she would no longer surrender her fate to others. On the contrary, no one could lay a finger on her. Returning to the Jiang residence marked the beginning of her vengeance—but more importantly, after this upheaval, Jiang Quan's reputation would be in tatters. If the scorn of the common people would disgrace him, then the Imperial Censor's impeachment would surely hinder his career.
Making Jiang Quan's political path difficult—that was the first thing she intended to do.The courtroom emptied, and Jiang Ruan's gaze fell upon the figure slowly approaching her. As he drew near, she gave a light curtsy. "Lord Wang."
Imperial Censor Wang stroked his white beard thoughtfully. "Young lady, we meet again."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "I wonder how your red plum blossoms fare these days?"
"Neither self-abasing nor fawning, with noble integrity and righteous spirit—they bloom splendidly," Censor Wang replied, his eyes fixed intently on hers. "Though somewhat stubborn."
Jiang Quan chuckled lightly but offered no comment.
Her certainty that this Lord Wang would champion her cause stemmed entirely from memories of her past life. In that lifetime, while confined to the manor, Zisu had returned with news buzzing through the streets—an old man cheated of silver on West Street had sought justice at the yamen, only to be contemptuously driven out by constables. The furious elder soon saw Imperial Edicts strip Qian Wanli of office, for the "old man" turned out to be none other than the Emperor's favored Imperial Censor Wang.
This same Censor Wang was notoriously obstinate, daring to admonish even the Emperor himself, with a penchant for meddling in affairs he deemed unjust. Thus, Jiang Ruan had deliberately proposed visiting West Street that day to resolve Censor Wang's pressing predicament. With him present, Chen Zhao's case would inevitably come under his scrutiny, and having shared the Red Plum Favor with Jiang Ruan, he wouldn't stand idly by her wrongful accusation.
That single red plum blossom had been the stone to knock upon Censor Wang's heart. Though he prided himself on absolute impartiality, all mortals harbor biases—unless completely detached from worldly desires. The censor's preconceived favor toward her meant Qiu Yan's claim of her innocence would instinctively gain his belief, prompting his relentless pursuit of evidence in her favor.
Censor Wang was an excellent move, but the true brilliance lay in the aftermath. A man of such unbending integrity, witnessing Jiang Ruan's circumstances, would inevitably develop profound dissatisfaction toward his fellow official Jiang Quan. Upon returning to the capital, he'd surely deliver a scathing impeachment—the devastating impact of such weighty words upon Jiang Quan was predictable.
Jiang Ruan smiled. "This humble one can never repay your lordship's kindness."
Censor Wang wore an odd expression. "Do you thank me for clearing your name, for sending you home, or for my cooperation in court today?"
That such an upright official had survived decades in politics proved his capability. Unsurprised he'd seen through her, she replied calmly, "All three."
The censor studied her deeply. "Young lady, don't overburden your mind. Today's trivial assistance merely repays those red plum branches. You spoke of plum blossoms fragrant through bitter cold, but I say this phrase suits you better." He shook his head. "Have constables escort you later to retrieve your belongings. All things should return to their rightful owners."
Jiang Ruan nodded her thanks.Imperial Censor Wang took a few more steps forward, then suddenly stopped. Without turning around, he spoke with his back still facing Jiang Ruan: "By the way, your father lacks discipline in managing his household, allowing his legitimate daughter to be bullied at will. To cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world—if Jiang Quan's own household is in such disarray, his conduct in officialdom must also be fraught with partiality. Upon returning to the capital, this old man will submit a memorial to censure him as a warning to others."
At noon, the servants from the estate gradually carried the trunks back. Two fine pearwood chests were returned, though most of the clothes inside were worn with age. The jewelry was relatively intact, but the silver could not be recovered. A maidservant looked at Jiang Ruan with lingering fear: "Miss, we've recovered all that could be found..."
"It's fine, you may go," Jiang Ruan said with a shake of her head. The Zhang Lan family was lazy and averse to work—once the banknotes fell into their hands, they were either squandered by Chen Zhao to woo women or gambled away by Chen Fu. The jewelry and clothes, taken by Chen Fang, had ironically escaped destruction. Still, they were no longer usable.
(End of Chapter)
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