After a long silence, Jiang Zhong finally managed to tell the Old Madam, “His Majesty has ordered the eldest son to reflect on his actions behind closed doors for a month. He wants me to handle affairs here before attending to other matters.” He felt a deep sense of sorrow, realizing this was akin to the saying “when the cunning hare is dead, the hunting dog is cooked”—a bitter taste of being discarded after one’s usefulness ends.
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam clutched her chest and fell backward, fainting. Jiang Zhong panicked and rushed to press her philtrum. Jiang Yunqing and Jiang Changyi, having heard of their return, had come to listen for news and now all rushed forward. Some pressed acupressure points, others called out, and some felt for her heartbeat. After a while, they heard the Old Madam let out a faint breath. Before she could speak, everyone around her burst into tears as if she had died.
Jiang Changyang and Mudan were pushed to the side. They exchanged helpless glances, both feeling they had much to say to each other but unable to due to the circumstances. They could only stand side by side, quietly waiting for the situation to unfold. Mudan felt that standing shoulder to shoulder like this was wonderful, her heart filled with tranquility and contentment. Jiang Changyang felt the same.
The Old Madam gathered her strength, her face turning red with effort, and shouted, though not very loudly, “Everyone, be quiet!”
At this, everyone stopped crying as if a faucet had been turned off, except for Jiang Zhong. He hadn’t shed tears, but felt deeply ashamed, sitting in the lamplight with his head bowed.
The first thing the Old Madam did after catching her breath was to hiss through gritted teeth like a venomous snake, “Go and invite our family’s Madam Du here!” Then she coldly looked at Jiang Changyang: “Remember this well—your father has spent his life in military service, enduring countless hardships, only to have his career ruined by your unfilial hands!” It seemed so unfair that while it was because of his affair that Jiang Zhong was suspended from duty, Jiang Changyang was only to reflect for a month.
Although the Old Madam’s words were unreasonable—the troublemaker wasn’t him, and the real culprit hadn’t even arrived yet—Jiang Changyang chose to remain silent. This outcome was unexpected for him too. What was the point of arguing right and wrong now? By tomorrow, many might say Jiang Zhong was punished because of him. Should he go door to door explaining then? Let them say what they want, he thought. During the wedding ceremony fiasco, he had already decided that life couldn’t be perfect. To gain something, one must lose something. What needed to be paid must be paid—empty fame could be the death of a person.
Seeing him silent, the Old Madam thought he felt guilty and that she was in the right. She was about to criticize Mudan to vent her anger further. Jiang Zhong, unable to bear it any longer and feeling as if ducks were quacking by his ears, said wearily, “Mother! Enough! It’s not entirely his fault. This day would have come sooner or later anyway.”
The Old Madam was stunned, then overcome with grief. She hated Madam Du thoroughly, believing it was she who had instigated this by deliberately reminding her to send Hong’er to Jiang Changyang, causing this disaster. This vicious woman! She must be hoping for everyone in the family to meet with misfortune and die, leaving only her and her son to solely possess Duke Zhu’s mansion.
The Old Madam thumped her cane repeatedly, asking incessantly, “Why hasn’t Du Shi come yet? Is she too guilty to show her face?”
Jiang Zhong, exasperated, stood up and said firmly, “I have my plans for this matter. Mother, please don’t interfere!”
The Old Madam flew into a rage: “I shouldn’t interfere? If I hadn’t interfered before, this household would be in shambles, and you’d be in this state. And you tell me not to interfere?”
Jiang Changyi said gently, “Grandmother, please calm down. Father is only thinking of your well-being. You’re advanced in years and have old ailments; you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Please rest for now; we still need you to oversee everything.”
The Old Madam felt slightly better. Suddenly, someone came to report that several of Jiang Zhong’s old military comrades, now high-ranking officials, had heard about the incident and came to see him. It was understandable that they’d come to check on the situation, even if it might have been inconvenient during the day.
The Old Madam’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly said, “At least there are still some people with conscience. Quick, go meet them and discuss how to appease the Emperor’s anger…”
However, Jiang Zhong, who had already walked to the door, turned back and asked Jiang Changyi to send the visitors away without seeing them. Didn’t the Emperor say earlier that he had good connections and news traveled fast? Meeting these people now would be highly inappropriate.
Jiang Changyi quietly withdrew. The Old Madam sat dejectedly in the lamplight, Jiang Yunqing held her handkerchief and dared not speak, and Jiang Zhong’s brows were tightly furrowed. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. No one had realized that neither Jiang Zhong nor Jiang Changyang had eaten or drunk anything since noon. Mudan walked to Jiang Yunqing’s side and whispered, “Ask the kitchen to prepare some simple, convenient food, preferably soup noodles.” Something warm and liquid would be easier on their stomachs.
Jiang Yunqing, eager to leave, quickly got up and left. By the time the soup noodles arrived, Madam Du finally made her late appearance. Today, she had casually tied her hair in a simple bun, adorned with a pair of plain gold hairpins. She wore a jade-green robe over a silver-white eight-panel gauze skirt with small floral patterns. Although her makeup was light, it was still exquisite. However, there was a difference—she seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
She walked through the crowd expressionlessly, approached the Old Madam, and calmly greeted her despite the latter’s murderous glare: “Daughter-in-law pays respects to Mother.” She then bowed to Jiang Zhong: “This humble wife greets the Duke.” She stood still, her gaze sweeping lightly over everyone’s faces, lingering on Jiang Changyang’s for a moment, filled with bone-deep hatred. But it was only for an instant; she quickly lowered her eyes to look at her feet. Silent and cold, she had lost all of her usual vivaciousness.
Before the Old Madam could angrily speak, Jiang Zhong pushed away the bowl in front of him, coughed forcefully to stop her, and said coldly to Madam Du: “I called you here first to have Yingxue Hall cleaned out. The eldest son and his party will be staying there tonight. Secondly, some family matters must be sorted out. Later, call everyone to the main hall. We’ll deal with Yan Biao.”
At this point, it was natural for Jiang Changyang and Mudan to stay. As for Yan Biao’s matter, it was something everyone knew had to be dealt with. Madam Du was mentally prepared and showed no reaction, saying indifferently, “I’ll follow the Duke’s orders.” She was about to leave to arrange for the room to be cleaned and summon the servants to the main hall.
Jiang Zhong called out to her again: “By the way, you don’t know about what happened today, do you?”
Madam Du looked up at him. Although she didn’t ask, her eyes conveyed her inquiry. What she cared about most now was how things had turned out, what the outcome was. Because Jiang Changyang and Jiang Zhong had returned late, followed by the Old Madam’s fainting spell, she could guess the result wasn’t good but didn’t know the specifics. Jiang Zhong’s gaze frightened her. Though she still tried to stand straight, she didn’t know how much longer she could hold on.
Jiang Zhong said softly, “The eldest son is to reflect behind closed doors for a month.”
Madam Du felt deeply disappointed. How could it be so light? How could it be so easy? Of course, with Jiang Zhong and the Old Madam protecting him, how could it not be easy? She felt a bit desolate inside but maintained a calm exterior, saying lightly, “That’s good then. I should thank heaven and earth. I’ve been sitting at home today, fearing something might happen to him. If it had, I would have had no choice but to die to prove my innocence.”
To make a lie believable, one must first believe it oneself. If she said the Xiao family was behind it, then it was the Xiao family. So when Madam Du spoke of dying to prove her innocence, two crystal tears fell from her eyes, her face full of indignation.
At this point, she still refused to admit it. How long would she keep up this pretense? Jiang Zhong sighed heavily and said, “His Majesty said I’ve mismanaged the household and ordered me to stop handling other matters from tomorrow. I’m to sort out family affairs first.”
This is retribution! Madam Du felt some satisfaction but more fear. The Emperor’s will was indeed unpredictable. At this point, how would the Old Madam and Jiang Zhong view her? She began to worry whether Du Guyi’s idea of pushing all the blame onto the Xiao family would work. It wasn’t a question of whether it could work—it had to work! Otherwise, she would never have peace in this family again.
Jiang Zhong saw her standing in the shadows, her expression changing rapidly, and couldn’t guess what she was thinking. Nor did he care to. He waved his hand: “Go and take care of things.” He leaned against the table, silently looking at Jiang Changyang standing quietly to the side, holding back the bitterness in his heart. He thought sourly, at least they weren’t all taken down. He understood this situation all too well—if an heir had been decided earlier, things wouldn’t have gotten so messy.
Madam Du walked quickly through the courtyard, almost wanting to break into a run. She thought frantically, why did it turn out like this? Even if nothing had happened to Jiang Changyang, it would have been better. Why did Jiang Zhong receive such a heavy punishment?
“Son pays respects to Mother.” Jiang Changyi suddenly emerged from another small path, as respectful as ever.
Madam Du calmed her emotions and said softly, “Oh, it’s Changyi. Where have you been?”
Jiang Changyi carefully said, “Son was just following Father’s orders to see off several uncles. Also, I had people send Yan Biao, Iron Granny, and Men Yi to the main hall.”
“Iron Granny? Why?” Madam Du tried to maintain her elegance, but she could hardly believe the harsh, raspy voice was her own. Iron Granny was one of her maids. Dealing with Yan Biao was one thing, but publicly punishing Iron Granny—wasn’t that a public slap to her face?
Jiang Changyi shook his head: “Son doesn’t know. I happened to be out seeking a doctor this morning.”
Madam Du thought carefully and understood why. Iron Granny had always been in charge of matters at the middle gate. Jiang Changyang and Mudan had stood outside for half a day without anyone attending to them or passing messages inside. Iron Granny had failed in her duties.
She wanted to laugh bitterly to the heavens. Was this meant to establish authority for Jiang Changyang and Mudan? Jiang Zhong, well done, very well done indeed.