Though Mudan had a fondness for talented scholars, she was ultimately a woman who traded in flesh. A thousand gold pieces for one night was hardly excessive, especially for the first night. With so many young masters from noble families vying for her tonight, how could Jiang Chao possibly dominate alone?
In her past life, Peony Girl's debut had been purchased by Li Yang, the eldest son of the powerful minister Li Dong from the capital. Li Yang had paid ten hu of pearls and five thousand taels of gold for Mudan's first night, which later made her famous throughout the capital as the most expensive courtesan. In this life, however, it remained to be seen whether Jiang Chao had the silver to compete with Li Yang.
Li Dong... Jiang Ruan's lips curled into a chilling smile. In her past life, he had let Pei Er die beneath him—a scene she would never forget. Li Yang's appearance now marked the beginning. The death knell had just sounded; her vengeance was finally about to begin.
Among the Twelve Paradises in the capital, none was more beautiful than the Hundred Flowers House.
Located in the bustling As You Wish Alley on East Street, the Hundred Flowers House was built in resplendent luxury. Every woman there possessed unique talents, enchanting the men of the capital to the point of forgetting their homes. It was no exaggeration to say the establishment earned a thousand gold pieces daily.
Among them, Peony Girl was the jewel of the Hundred Flowers House. Her charm lay in her allure, her pride in her bones. With a hint of foreign ancestry, her features were striking and irresistibly captivating. Bold and fiery in demeanor, yet fond of scholars, these contradictions only deepened her appeal. Countless men had spent fortunes trying to win her favor, but Mudan sold her art, not her body—until tonight, when, after three years in the Hundred Flowers House, she would auction her maiden night.
The hall was now packed to the brim. Behind swaying beaded curtains, young masters from noble families filled every seat, each eager to become Peony Girl's chosen guest.
Seated in the center was a young man in green, barely twenty, with a handsome face marred by dark circles under his eyes—a clear sign of overindulgence. Fanning himself with an air of rakish charm, he remarked, "Why hasn't Peony Girl come out yet? She's kept everyone waiting."
Beside him stood a young woman in a sheer pink gauze dress, her jade arms lifting a small cup of wine to his lips. "Sister Mudan is still dressing," she cooed. "Young Master Li's words wound me. Could it be you only have eyes for her?"
The green-clad youth was none other than Li Yang, the eldest son of Prime Minister Li Dong's household. Li Dong had two sons: the elder, Li Yang, was a wastrel who spent his days in brothels, inheriting seventy percent of his father's lustful nature. The younger, Li An, was clever and talented, already making strides in his official career at a young age.
Tonight, Li Yang had come to the Hundred Flowers House with one goal: to claim Mudan's maiden night.
Not far from Li Dong's seat, another man sat with a drunken gaze. His sapphire-blue robe was stained with wine, and a burly servant stood by his side. A beautiful courtesan poured him another drink. This was Jiang Chao, who had arrived already intoxicated.
His eyes shadowed, Jiang Chao abruptly pulled the serving girl into his lap. "I heard," he said, "that your Peony Girl loves talented scholars the most?"The woman, caught off guard as she was pulled into his embrace, was about to put on a coy act when Jiang Chao suddenly asked that question. Women in brothels naturally knew how to read the room. Though unsure of the reason, she could tell from Jiang Chao’s fine attire that he must be from a wealthy family and dared not neglect him. Softening her voice, she said, "Not entirely, but Peony Sister usually picks men of talent." She giggled coquettishly, "Judging by your appearance, young master, you seem like a true scholar, undoubtedly erudite and learned."
Her words only made Jiang Chao’s expression darken, as the image of Liu Min sitting leisurely atop a tall horse flashed before his eyes. He immediately shoved the woman away and coldly took a sip of wine. The woman, baffled by his sudden anger, cursed inwardly at her bad luck before forcing a smile and leaving.
Just then, a clear voice rang out from upstairs: "Peony Girl has arrived."
Instantly, the room erupted in excitement. Li Yang, who had been fanning himself, paused and narrowed his eyes to look upstairs.
A veiled woman appeared on the upper floor, dressed in a yellow hibiscus cross-collared thin gauze dress, draped in green cloud gauze flower plain silk. Her hair was styled in a double-looped fairy gazing hairstyle, adorned with a rose pearl swaying hairpin. Her jade-like wrist bore an agate bracelet. Though the attire seemed elaborate, it didn’t appear cumbersome on her—instead, it was uniquely captivating. Standing on the balcony, she shone like spring blossoms, effortlessly drawing all eyes to her.
Though her face was hidden behind the veil, her graceful figure alone was enough to stir restless desire in the men below, who itched to rush forward and tear it off.
The woman, however, stood boldly on the small platform of the second floor, leaning against the railing. Suddenly, she let out a light laugh, her voice as clear and pleasant as silver bells, yet carrying a hint of wildness. She raised a pair of delicate, jade-like hands and gently lifted the veil, revealing a face that could shame the moon and flowers.
Truth be told, while Peony was beautiful, she was no match for the stunning beauties like Jiang Susu or Jiang Ruan of the Jiang family. What set her apart was her exotic charm. Her slightly darker complexion didn’t make her seem rustic. Her sapphire-blue eyes, like precious gemstones, ensnared the hearts of most men present with just a glance. Li Yang murmured, "Such a natural-born enchantress—once obtained, one would never long for home. Peony, I must have her!"
Though Jiang Chao wasn’t as lustful as Li Yang by nature, he was still a man at heart and had been drinking. Now, with the alcohol coursing through him and Peony’s irresistible allure, a fire ignited within him.
Peony was a master at this game. Every man in the capital wanted to toy with her, but in the end, it was never clear who was toying with whom. She let the veil flutter down lightly, and instantly, the men surged forward in a frenzy to snatch it. The victor, a brawny young man, held it to his nose and inhaled deeply, his gaze turning dazed with infatuation.
Li Yang frowned, but Peony merely chuckled from above and said, "Gentlemen, Peony is here. Now, let the bidding begin."
Her bold posture and tone sent the crowd below into another frenzy. Li Yang’s eyes locked onto her: "Such a rare beauty is surely meant for my enjoyment alone."
With a wave of his hand, he signaled his servant to join the bidding.Li Yang was brimming with confidence. When it came to wealth in the capital, his Li family was undoubtedly second to none. His father, Li Dong, had once engaged in bidding for courtesans as well. Money was no object to him—what mattered was winning the beauty’s favor.
Though there were many young masters from noble families in the audience, most who came to bid at a brothel were good-for-nothings. Even those with some capability were constrained by the fear of their elders finding out, using only their personal funds and thus acting timidly. But Li Yang cared neither for appearances nor consequences—he wasn’t afraid of his father knowing. In fact, if his father learned of this, he might even encourage him to return another day to taste the charms of that peerless beauty.
Feeling smug, Li Yang watched as the bidding started fiercely but gradually died down, simply because the prices had escalated beyond what even ordinary wealthy families could afford. Mudan smiled demurely, watching the silver pile up bit by bit.
In the end, only two bidders remained. One was Li Yang’s attendant, and the other was a burly, rough-looking man.
Li Yang beckoned his attendant back to his side. Seeing the bid had already reached three thousand taels of gold, he lazily raised four fingers. "Four thousand."
The burly man retreated behind Jiang Chao and whispered, "Young Master, that man is clearly provoking you."
Jiang Chao was seething with frustration. He had been determined to win Mudan tonight, and though he was thoroughly drunk, he vaguely understood that four thousand taels of gold was no small sum. He didn’t have that much money. But hearing Da Niu’s words—that the other man was taunting him—Jiang Chao’s mind flashed with the image of Liu Min’s haughty, disdainful gaze. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Five thousand!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Never in history had a courtesan’s night been priced at five thousand taels of gold. Li Dong snorted and scrutinized Jiang Chao. Though the latter’s attire was expensive, it still couldn’t compare to his own. Convinced Jiang Chao was merely bluffing, Li Yang waved a hand dismissively. "Six thousand."
"Seven thousand," Jiang Chao spat through clenched teeth. As he glared at Li Yang, the man before him seemed to transform into the triumphant top scholar who had paraded through the streets that very day, basking in glory. One thought consumed him: he had to outbid him, no matter what.
"Eight thousand," Li Yang snapped.
"Nine thousand!" Jiang Chao smashed a teacup in his fury.
Li Yang was livid, now certain this man was deliberately opposing him. "Add another bushel of pearls," he declared.
Seeing that Li Yang had shifted from gold to pearls, Jiang Chao stared at his wine cup, and a sudden clarity struck him. There was no way he could produce nine thousand taels of gold—let alone more. Worse, if Jiang Quan found out about this, he’d beat him half to death. But now, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, how could he back down in disgrace? Li Yang had stoked his competitive spirit, and his impulses overtook his reason. Raising his head, he met Mudan’s gaze from the second floor—her smile soft, seemingly encouraging, yet also mocking. His heart swelled with reckless bravado. "Ten thousand!" he roared.
Silence fell.
The crowd stared at him as if he were a fool, but Jiang Chao only had eyes for Li Yang. To him, Li Yang was now the furious, helpless Liu Min, utterly at his mercy.Though Li Yang was a playboy, he was well-versed in the rules of pleasure quarters. While beauties were desirable, ten thousand taels was far too steep—that sum could buy several young foreign dancers with untouched purity. After some thought, he found it utterly unworthy. Though inwardly furious, he still smiled and said, "In that case, this young master won’t snatch another’s delight. What a pity, Peony Girl." With a cupped-hand salute, he turned to leave. Yet as he reached the door, his resentment flared. His eyes turned venomous as he whispered to his attendant, "Investigate that man thoroughly! Daring to compete with me for a woman—I’ll make him regret it for life!"
After Li Yang left, Peony chuckled softly. "Young master, your willingness to spend a fortune for Peony truly moves me. Please deliver the banknotes to the madam downstairs first, then come to Peony’s chamber for a private gathering."
Banknotes? Jiang Chao suddenly snapped back to reality. Meeting Peony’s gentle blue gaze, he inexplicably broke into a cold sweat. He knew full well he had no extra silver to pay for her, but the Hundred Flowers House wasn’t without backing in the capital. What if this escalated?
Just then, his burly attendant, Da Niu, spoke up: "My young master left in too much haste today and forgot to bring silver."
The crowd burst into laughter. Coming specifically to buy Peony’s maidenhood yet forgetting money—what a joke!
Peony watched him with amusement. "But the Hundred Flowers House doesn’t extend credit. Why not fetch the silver first, then we can have a proper chat?"
Her mocking tone enraged Jiang Chao. Already drunk and unrestrained, seeing the scorn on Peony’s face, he leapt up and roared, "You’re just a money-grubbing whore peddling flesh! Pretending to love scholars—what hypocrisy! Slut!"
Peony’s expression darkened. Immediately, a group of armed guards emerged—Peony had wide connections among nobles who’d gifted her these protectors. They encircled Jiang Chao tightly as Peony said coolly, "It seems the young master came to make trouble, or perhaps to skip the bill? The Hundred Flowers House has its own ways of dealing with such guests." She tilted her chin. "Would the young master prefer to keep his left hand or his right?"
Jiang Chao’s heart lurched. He lunged forward, snarling, "I’ll kill you, you bitch!"
The guards swiftly pinned him down. Da Niu panicked. "Spare him, miss! My young master isn’t refusing payment. Please send someone to the Jiang residence in the capital—he’s the second son of Lord Jiang. Take his token to collect the silver."
Whispers spread through the crowd. Lord Jiang was known for his upright household, yet his son showed such disgraceful behavior. Many recalled the rumors about Jiang Susu during the recent Lantern Festival, thinking how deceiving appearances could be—the Jiang family wasn’t as virtuous as it seemed.
Peony’s eyes gleamed. "In that case, madam, take some men to the Jiang residence. And let all present bear witness—this Young Master Jiang spent ten thousand taels for Peony’s night. Once the silver arrives, Peony will naturally entertain him all night." With that, she turned away without another glance, her sleeves sweeping dismissively.Though Mudan was merely a courtesan in the capital, her connections spanned far and wide, with many high-ranking officials and nobles among her acquaintances. Countless people still had to give her face. Thus, she truly didn’t take someone of Jiang Chao’s status seriously.
...
At night, Jiang Ruan closed her book and prepared to rest when faint cries drifted in from outside. She rubbed her temples. “What’s going on?”
Zisu rose to bring her hot water. “Not sure. It started a while ago. Luzhu went out to ask around.”
Just then, Luzhu slipped into the room. Seeing Jiang Ruan and Zisu looking at her, she said, “Seems like people from Hundred Flowers House are here, saying Second Young Master owes them money.”
“Chasing debts all the way to the manor,” Zisu couldn’t hide the disdain in her voice, harboring an innate aversion to places like Hundred Flowers House.
“Madam and the master are arguing fiercely,” Luzhu smirked slyly. “Madam wants to pay the silver to redeem Second Young Master, but the master says there isn’t that much. Madam started crying and quarreling with him.”
Jiang Ruan smiled. “Madam has truly misjudged him.” Indeed, the Jiang Manor didn’t have ten thousand taels of gold. For all its grand appearance, it was merely an empty shell. Moreover, a large sum had recently been spent to bribe Official Zhao for Jiang Chao’s imperial examination—though it had all gone to waste, the silver was truly spent.
“With such a big matter in the manor, how can a daughter not go and see?” Jiang Ruan stood up. “Let’s take a look.”
Luzhu and Granny Zhou slept in the adjacent room, and Jiang Ruan didn’t wake them. Lianqiao and Zisu draped her in an outer robe and cloak. Just as they reached the courtyard gate, they saw Furong supporting Jiang Dan, who was also coming out. Startled at the sight of Jiang Ruan, Jiang Dan hurriedly bowed and asked timidly, “Has Da Jiejie also heard about Second Brother?”
Jiang Ruan nodded. “Though I don’t know the details, I ought to take a look.”
“I thought the same,” Jiang Dan lowered her head shyly. “After all, we’re sisters.”
Jiang Ruan glanced at her with a smile and said no more. The two then headed for the main hall. Upon entering, the first thing they heard was indeed Xia Yan’s sobbing. Jiang Ruan raised a brow, noticing all the concubines present. Jiang Li wore a look of schadenfreude, while Jiang Susu’s face was deathly pale, her eyes betraying panic upon closer inspection.
The bedroom maid Lian Ye was cautiously comforting Xia Yan. “Madam, don’t cry. You’ll ruin your health.”
Xia Yan ignored her, clutching Jiang Quan’s arm tightly as she wept. “Master, he’s our flesh and blood! Do you truly mean to abandon him?”
Jiang Quan pursed his lips and glanced down at Xia Yan. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her usually scholarly face was streaked with tears, making her appear even more delicate. After all, she was the woman he truly loved. He helped her up with a sigh. “It’s not that I don’t want to save him, but the manor simply doesn’t have that much silver.”
“We can borrow,” Xia Yan said frantically. “Master, you know many officials. Just borrow for a short while. I can also ask my family. Master, Chao’er can’t fall into their hands—what kind of place is Hundred Flowers House, Master!”
“Nonsense!” Jiang Quan pulled his hand away, his gaze hardening once more. “Borrowing from colleagues—do you think the Jiang Manor’s dignity is something to be trampled so casually?”"Father, what has happened? And what is this Hundred Flowers House?" Jiang Ruan asked. Only then did everyone notice her and Jiang Dan had arrived. Jiang Quan frowned, "Why are you here?"
Zisu and Lianqiao pursed their lips. Even the concubines and bedroom maids of the household were present, yet Jiang Ruan and Jiang Dan were not summoned—truly treating them as invisible. Jiang Ruan said, "I heard arguing in the night and came out of concern. Has something happened?"
Her expression was genuinely worried, and Jiang Quan gazed at her with a complicated look. Under the lamplight, Jiang Ruan's features were as exquisite as a painting, her crimson satin cloak making her appear as delicate as jade. He had heard about the Lantern Festival incident a few days prior and had even suspected Jiang Ruan. Now, the young girl stood gracefully before him, and upon closer inspection, she bore some resemblance to Zhao Mei in her youthful vigor.
He was momentarily lost in thought, but Xia Yan brightened at the sight of Jiang Ruan and rushed over, "Ruan'er, Mother knows you have the softest heart and are a kind child. Now that your second brother is in trouble, could you lend us the dowry your mother left you to save him? I promise to repay you in time."
She looked at Jiang Ruan expectantly. Jiang Ruan met her gaze calmly. Had Xia Yan lost her mind to ask her for help? Unfortunately, she smiled faintly, "Mother, what are you saying? If I had the silver, of course I would help Second Brother. But as you know, six years ago, I was sent to the estate, where wicked servants robbed me blind. My mother's dowry was long plundered by them." She sighed, "I truly have no means to help."
Xia Yan's hands dropped, and she stared at Jiang Ruan in shock. Jiang Ruan returned her gaze steadily, wondering if Xia Yan now regretted sending her to the estate—this was her own doing!
Back then, Zhao Mei had severed ties with the Zhao family to marry Jiang Quan, so her dowry had been meager. Still, as a general's daughter, over the years, she had accumulated some jewelry and valuables worth a couple of thousand taels. Xia Yan, to maintain her virtuous facade, had never dared to touch that dowry. The items stolen at the estate had been returned when Imperial Censor Wang intervened on Jiang Ruan's behalf, but she had immediately instructed Lianqiao to convert everything into silver notes—precisely so she could refuse Xia Yan outright if the topic ever arose.
Xia Yan seemed utterly drained, collapsing to the ground and murmuring, "My Chao'er... has it truly come to this?"
Jiang Susu, unable to bear it any longer, rushed to her mother's side, and the two burst into loud sobs together.
Jiang Li frowned, "Second Brother has gone too far. The household doesn’t have that much silver, and now he’s angered Father."
Second Madam quickly covered Jiang Li's mouth, knowing this was not the time to add fuel to the fire. Sure enough, Jiang Quan glared fiercely at Jiang Li. Seeing this, Hong Ying stepped forward, "Madam, crying won’t help now. Though we don’t have ten thousand taels of gold, we should have a few thousand. Why not gather what we can and negotiate with the Hundred Flowers House to release him first?"Jiang Ruan inwardly laughed, glancing at Hong Ying. Having come from a brothel herself, Hong Ying couldn't possibly be unaware of the rules of such establishments. The more popular the courtesan, the higher her value, and not just anyone could afford to offend them. If one incurred a large debt and couldn't repay it, they would have to leave behind their life. If the debt remained unpaid, there was no room for negotiation. If the Jiang family went to Hundred Flowers House tonight offering only partial payment, it would be tantamount to admitting they couldn't cover the remaining sum. According to the rules, Jiang Chao would then have to leave behind a part of himself.
This Fifth Concubine, for all her gentle and refined appearance, was after all from the streets—her methods were no less ruthless than her own.
Jiang Quan looked at Xia Yan and her daughter, who were crying their hearts out, and his heart softened. He finally said, "Stop crying. Butler Zhang, go to the storeroom and get some silver. Find a few people to make a trip to Hundred Flowers House."
Xia Yan's sobs ceased as she finally breathed a temporary sigh of relief.
Jiang Quan then turned his gaze to Jiang Ruan and the others standing nearby. "There's no use in you staying here. Return to your courtyards and don't wander around unnecessarily."
Jiang Dan timidly acknowledged the order, while Jiang Ruan nodded slightly. She left the hall together with Jiang Li. Since Jiang Li's courtyard was in a different direction, Jiang Ruan said to Jiang Dan as they parted, "I never imagined Second Brother would make such a grave mistake. If Grandmother finds out, I wonder how furious she'll be."
Jiang Dan was taken aback, and Jiang Li's footsteps faltered momentarily before she quickly walked away. Jiang Dan asked, "Da Jiejie, are you saying Grandmother doesn't know about this yet?"
"Have you seen any sign of Grandmother tonight?" Jiang Ruan replied. "Since she hasn't appeared, naturally she doesn't know." She walked slowly, her face wearing its usual smile, wondering if Old Madam Jiang would fly into a rage upon waking the next morning to learn that half the family's savings had been spent to cover Jiang Chao's reckless indulgence.
And Jiang Chao—he would certainly not return whole.
...
That night, Jiang Ruan slept deeply. When she opened her eyes the next morning, sunlight was already streaming into her room. Zisu, seeing her awake, smiled and said, "Miss slept quite soundly last night and is rising late this morning."
"Mother didn't summon me for morning greetings, so it's fine to be late," Jiang Ruan replied with a light laugh.
"The mistress has no mind to call for greetings now—she's far too busy," Lianqiao remarked as she brought warm water to help Jiang Ruan wash her face. "Mei Qing Courtyard is in complete chaos."
Jiang Ruan took the towel. "What's the situation now?"
"Young Master Second had the little finger of his right hand chopped off," Lianqiao said. "He came back covered in blood—it was terrifying." After a pause, she added, "The news has already spread outside. They say Young Master Second splurged thousands at Hundred Flowers House but was actually penniless. Our Jiang family couldn't produce the full sum immediately and only gave five thousand taels. Out of respect for the master, Hundred Flowers House spared his life but took a finger instead."
After finishing her wash, Jiang Ruan handed the towel back to Lianqiao. "What else?"
"Miss truly has foresight," Lianqiao said. "Somehow, Old Madam found out and flew into a rage. She placed the mistress and Second Young Miss under house arrest and then fell ill from anger. The physician just finished seeing to Young Master Second and is now attending to Old Madam."
"Third Sister acted swiftly," Jiang Ruan murmured with a faint smile. "Has the news spread throughout the capital?"
"Of course," Luzhu chimed in as she entered from outside. "By now, everyone knows about Young Master Second's extravagant night at Hundred Flowers House for the sake of a beauty—and how he lost a finger for it. People are even saying the Jiang family is actually quite poor." At the last remark, she glanced awkwardly at Jiang Ruan's expression, only to find her entirely unperturbed. Instead, Jiang Ruan asked about something else: "How is Father now?"
"The master is furious. If Young Master Second weren't unconscious in bed right now, he would have rushed over to beat him. It seems something truly disastrous has happened."Jiang Ruan lowered her head to take a sip of the tea Zisu handed her. After Jiang Chao's antics last night, the Jiang family's reputation was utterly ruined. For someone like Jiang Quan, who placed such importance on prestige, this was undoubtedly a devastating blow. Following this incident, the Imperial Censors would surely submit memorials impeaching him, which would also hinder his political career.
But the most critical issue was the conflict with the Li family of the capital. Last night's extravagant spending meant Jiang Chao had won the competition, inevitably offending Li Yang. Li Yang was a narrow-minded man—how could he let this go so easily?
Let it continue like this, Jiang Ruan thought as she gazed out the window. Jiang Chao had monopolized the title of the Jiang family's legitimate son for so many years that the world had nearly forgotten Jiang Xin Zhi's existence. This debt would be collected on Jiang Xin Zhi's behalf. Jiang Chao, is this pain already too much? The fall from heaven to hell is but a single step—yet this is only the beginning.
...
In the study, Xia Yan looked at Jiang Quan in panic. "Master, you can't lock Chao'er away! Why must he be barred from the Imperial Academy?"
"That unfilial son!" Jiang Quan was furious. "Have you heard what people are saying about our Jiang family now? Squandering fortunes at the Hundred Flowers House—all these years of raising him have been wasted! Failing the imperial examinations, drowning himself in wine every day—this is the fine son you've raised!"
"I know you're angry, Master," Xia Yan knelt down. "But Chao'er is young and ignorant—who hasn't made mistakes? Chao'er is my son, born after ten months of pregnancy. Don't you remember how he was mocked as a bastard in his childhood? Everything he's done was to bring glory to the Jiang family. Failing the exams devastated him, which is why he made such a grave mistake. Hasn't he been punished enough already? He's already lost a finger—please, Master, have mercy on him."
Jiang Quan looked at Xia Yan kneeling before him and took a deep breath. This was the woman he loved, yet she had waited years before becoming his wife. Jiang Chao had been born a bastard, and no matter how much he tried to compensate, it changed nothing.
Xia Yan pressed on, "Master, are you going to abandon your only son now?"
Jiang Quan's heart lurched. Jiang Xin Zhi had been missing, presumed dead, for six years—he had long considered that son gone. Xia Yan was right; Jiang Chao was now his only son. He slumped into his chair, his voice weary. "I'm doing this for Chao'er's own good. Last night's incident has made him an enemy of the Li Prime Minister's son. If he doesn't lay low, Li Yang won't let him off easily."
Xia Yan was stunned. "Prime Minister Li? Who is this Li Yang? How could Chao'er have offended them?"
With a sigh, Jiang Quan explained the whole matter to her. There was one thing he didn't mention—Li Dong was a close associate of the Eighth Prince. Now that he had offended Li Dong while trying to curry favor with the Eighth Prince, if Li Dong interfered, the Eighth Prince's patronage would be lost to him. Moreover, Li Dong held considerable influence in court—none of this boded well.
After hearing Jiang Quan's words, Xia Yan pondered. "Master, from what you're saying, you don't wish to antagonize the Li family?"
"Aligning with the Li family would be a great boon for the Jiangs," Jiang Quan shook his head. "I had hoped to find an opportunity to establish ties. Instead, Chao'er's actions have only sown enmity."Xia Yan fell silent for a moment as an idea surfaced in her mind. She said, "Does my lord know what the most stable relationship is?"
Jiang Quan looked at her. Xia Yan continued, "What if we form a marriage alliance with the Li family?"
"Li'er is too flamboyant in her actions, and Dan'er is too young," Jiang Quan frowned. "Don't entertain such wild thoughts."
Xia Yan shook her head. "After all, Li'er and Dan'er are daughters of concubines, and their status doesn't match. They can't be the principal wife."
"Are you suggesting Su Su then?" Jiang Quan frowned deeper. "What kind of place is the Li family? It's common for father and son to share a wife there. Even if I wanted to curry favor with the Li family, I wouldn't send Su Su into such a pit of fire."
"My lord, what are you saying?" Xia Yan took a few steps closer to Jiang Quan, nestling against him as her delicate hands gently massaged his shoulders. "Su Su is my flesh and blood too. How could I think that way about her? I meant Ruan'er." Seeing Jiang Quan's stunned expression, she continued, "Ruan'er has a steady temperament. Though I worry too, doesn't the Li family have a younger son? That boy is exceptionally clever. If he took a liking to Ruan'er, their status would match perfectly, wouldn't it? That way, we'd establish a connection. Then if we make some amends, surely Li Dong wouldn't trouble us further."
Hearing this, Jiang Quan had an epiphany. "I'd completely forgotten about Li An. You're right—Li An has a brilliant future ahead. If Ruan'er married him, our Jiang household would gain support. But," he hesitated, "such a good match—why not consider it for Su Su instead?"
"Ruan'er has had a hard life," Xia Yan said gently. "Su Su at least has me to look out for her, but Ruan'er is a motherless child. They're both daughters of the Jiang household—would I deliberately harm her? Besides, I'd like to keep Su Su with me for a few more years. There's no hurry for her marriage; we can take our time choosing."
Seeing the smile on Xia Yan's face, Jiang Quan's expression finally softened. He pulled her into his arms. "I know you're a woman who understands what's important. Marrying you was the fortune of my life. Don't worry—I'll definitely find Su Su an excellent match. I'll never let her suffer in this lifetime."
(End of Chapter)
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