The sound of the military cane striking flesh produced a dull yet chilling thud, each blow seemingly striking one’s heart. Standing behind Jiang Changyang, Mudan turned her face slightly away, unwilling to witness the bloody scene before her.
In the bright lamplight, the servants of the Zhu Duke’s mansion stood divided by gender, watching in hushed silence as Yan Biao—once the influential and well-connected head steward—lay motionless, barely clinging to life, his body a bloody mess.
The order came directly from the Duke. Yan Biao had committed the grave error of betraying his master. The details weren’t important; the charge alone was enough. The Duke wanted them to watch closely, to see the fate of those who betrayed their masters. As servants of the Duke’s household, their duty was to maintain its stability and unity. Causing trouble would result in such consequences. Most stood in terrified silence.
The Old Madam sat in the center of the main hall, eyes closed, fingering her beads and quietly chanting Buddhist sutras. Jiang Zhong and Madam Du sat on either side, both expressionless. One’s face was dark, the other’s pale. Jiang Yunqing kept her head down, silently twisting her handkerchief. Jiang Changyi, full of pity, couldn’t bear to watch but had to remain vigilant, softly advising Jiang Zhong, “Father, isn’t this enough? Any more and we might have a death on our hands.”
Jiang Zhong wished he could beat all traitors like Yan Biao to death, but he knew that in these precarious times, it wasn’t possible. He nodded slightly, and Jiang Changyi immediately asked the one administering the punishment, “How many strokes are left?”
“Not yet sixty, sir,” came the quick reply. The Duke’s household didn’t use ordinary wooden rods for punishment, but military canes. There was no fancy technique—one strike guaranteed to make the victim cry for their parents. This time, Jiang Zhong had ordered a full hundred strokes, which would naturally be carried out in full, or the man would have died long ago.
The Old Madam spoke up at an opportune moment, “I’m old and can’t stand the sight of blood. I think this is enough. We can hand him over to the authorities tomorrow.” In reality, handing him over to the authorities meant certain death, though she put it nicely.
Jiang Zhong nodded. Several strong guards dragged Yan Biao away like a dead dog. Then, a few women dragged out another woman, already half-dead with fear, laid her on the ground, and lifted her skirt to prepare for the beating. The woman dared only to sob quietly, her whole body shaking like a sieve, her pale flesh particularly eye-catching in the lamplight.
Madam Du could no longer sit still. She stood up abruptly, swept her sleeve, and left. Jiang Zhong watched her retreating figure impassively and wearily, ultimately showing mercy by not embarrassing her publicly.
Having been away for long periods, he had rarely managed household affairs. Although men traditionally handled external matters and women internal ones, the influence of the female head of the household couldn’t be ignored, often significantly affecting a man’s career outside the home. For many years, he had fully trusted Madam Du, leaving everything to her management. She had always done well, almost flawlessly.
Although they occasionally had disagreements about the children, most of the time they were in harmony. She understood what he wanted with just a glance and would work tirelessly to accomplish it, and do it well. He trusted her as he trusted himself, never doubting, never imagining a day like this would come. If not for this incident, everything would have continued as usual, and he would never have seen the differences beneath the surface. He didn’t know whether to be grateful that this incident had revealed her true face or to wish things could return to how they were before, with such events never happening.
Compared to Jiang Changyang’s defiance and the Emperor’s stern coldness, he now hated Madam Du the most. For twenty years, the crutch he had relied on suddenly gave way, leaving him uncomfortable, displeased, and at a loss. She had deceived him, betrayed him, and spent twenty years weaving lies and false appearances, fooling him completely. But at the same time, he wondered if everything in the past had truly been deception. Had she never had any genuine feelings for him? He still couldn’t believe that. He glanced at Jiang Changyang. Yes, Madam Du hadn’t been wrong about one thing—everything had started to unravel after Jiang Changyang’s return. What should he do now?
Though outwardly calm and cold, Jiang Zhong was inwardly filled with bitterness. He had never been a particularly clever man. When A You left, she had said he was just a brute with a stronger will to live than most, which happened to make him suitable as the Emperor’s dog—and a stupid dog that only knew how to fight at that. He had been indignant; she didn’t understand him at all.
But he knew his weaknesses. He wasn’t good at smooth talk or flattery. Caught between his mother and A You, he struggled to please either side, living a tiring life. Whenever he saw others in close harmony, he envied them. He feared the Emperor, knowing everything he had was given by the Emperor and could be taken away at any moment. He couldn’t bring himself to fawn and flatter like others did. Once, when he tentatively tried to say something nice, the Emperor had given him a meaningful smile and said he too had changed. He could only carefully guard his small domain, avoiding the limelight when possible and trying not to offend anyone.
The Emperor seemed satisfied with him this way, often summoning him for company. But even so, he still felt like he was treading on thin ice every day. Whenever he started to feel at ease or happy, he would sense the Emperor’s cold gaze upon him, only to turn and see nothing. Even after so many years, he couldn’t forget that incident. Though the Emperor had never mentioned it, always appearing magnanimous on the surface, Jiang Zhong believed he had never truly forgotten. The Emperor had always been one to hold grudges.
Thanks to Madam Du, he had been freed from worrying about household matters, and she always found solutions when he was in difficulty. His heart softened slightly. Although she had gone too far in this matter, she was only looking out for herself and their children. How could a woman not be jealous? Women were known for having long hair but short wisdom; they were bound to make mistakes. However, he was very clear about one thing: with such a big mess now, the household could no longer remain under Madam Du’s control. It was necessary to reassert authority and reorganize household affairs properly. Otherwise, there would be more chaos in the future.
“Ah!” The woman on the ground let out an ear-piercing scream. Mudan’s heart jumped, and she tugged at Jiang Changyang’s sleeve. “Shall we leave too?” She had no interest in watching punishments, especially not the beating of a half-naked woman. Jiang Changyang quietly informed Jiang Zhong, who gave Mudan a bland look without saying anything.
Jiang Changyang gestured for Mudan to follow him. The two walked one after another, skirting the crowd until they reached a secluded spot where they tightly clasped each other’s hands. Mudan whispered, “I don’t understand why they insisted on making us watch. Does beating someone like this solve all problems?” She was skeptical.
Jiang Changyang lovingly stroked her head. “Beatings can’t solve everything, but they can certainly intimidate many people in the short term. At least the next time someone considers doing something similar, they’ll think carefully about whether they dare to face the consequences.”
Mudan nuzzled his palm like a puppy, whispering, “I’ve been worried about you all day.”
Jiang Changyang loved this gesture, feeling her boundless affection and love for him. Filled with joy and warmth, he said softly, “I told you to wait for me without worry. Remember, when I make a promise to you, I’ll keep it.”
Many things were beyond their control. Mudan understood this clearly, but she loved hearing Jiang Changyang say such things. It gave her the feeling that he was omnipotent, that his broad shoulders could support their little family, shelter her, and bring her a peaceful life. Well, it wasn’t peaceful yet, but it would be eventually.
Yingxue Hall was where Jiang Changyang had lived as a child. Plum trees grew outside, though at this season there were no flowers to admire, only green leaves. Jiang Changyang, his gaze complex, held Mudan’s hand as they stood in the courtyard, looking around.
Understanding his mood, Mudan said, “Why don’t you show me around? I’m very interested in seeing where you lived as a child.”
“All right,” Jiang Changyang agreed, but as he looked up and saw the exquisite palace lanterns hanging in the corridor, he suddenly lost all enthusiasm. He changed his mind and said quietly, “You’ve had a tiring day, and tomorrow morning you’ll need to rush home to change clothes and prepare gifts. Let’s forget it.” The past was gone and could never return.
“Okay, you’ve been wronged today. You’re the most important, so whatever you say goes,” Mudan said, sensing his sudden drop in mood. She took his hand and they walked inside together. Suddenly, they saw a beautiful young woman leaning against the courtyard gate, smiling at them. She called out sweetly, “This servant pays respects to the Young Master and Young Mistress.”
In the dim lamplight, Mudan couldn’t see clearly who it was, but she was startled. What was this about? She saw Jiang Changyang’s face harden as he withdrew his hand from hers and said sternly to the woman, “Why are you here? How did you sneak in?”
The woman’s smile faded. She came forward to bow, now speaking in a male voice, “The Madam heard about today’s events and was very worried. Master Fang inquired and said everything was fine, but the Madam was still concerned and sent me to check. She was also worried that the Young Mistress might not have clothes to change into, so she sent a set with me.”
Mudan took the bundle, unable to help smiling. Who else could this be but Shun Hou’er? Poor thing, no wonder Lü Fang had suspected he was a woman when he saw him, thinking bringing him out would cause trouble.
Seeing her smile, Shun Hou’er smiled back, quietly retreating with his hands at his sides. Mudan quickly said, “Where are you going? The ward gates are all closed. What if you’re caught?”
Shun Hou’er replied, “Don’t worry, Young Mistress. I have my ways. I can’t stay in the inner quarters; it would cause gossip.” With that, he quickly disappeared into the shadows. Jiang Changyang laughed, “Don’t worry about him. He’ll find a cool place to rest.”