The Zhao family had specifically instructed Ke Xiuran, who reciprocated by sparing no effort to publicize this case. In just one day, everyone in the capital knew that Jiang Ruan had been wrongfully imprisoned. Not only that, but all the details were also spread around. Hu Qianqiu and Second Concubine’s past romance was exposed to everyone’s eyes, making the green hat on Jiang Quan’s head even more verdant.
However, people didn’t sympathize with Jiang Quan, because from Jiang Ruan’s imprisonment to her release, Jiang Quan as her father had never once visited her, nor was there any sign of him in court that day. People always sympathized with the weak. Originally seeing Princess Hong’an rising step by step surrounded by flowers and prosperity, they hadn’t expected her to live such a difficult life in the Jiang residence—it was truly pitiful.
Second Concubine was sentenced to immediate execution, scheduled for beheading at the meridian gate the next day at noon. Such swift action showed how seriously Ke Xiuran took this matter. Naturally, after Hu Qianqiu was dismissed, Ke Xiuran took the position of Chief Director of the Censorate. Moreover, in Hu Qianqiu’s charges, nearly half of the Censorate officials were implicated. After this long purge, the Censorate was completely reshuffled—not one of Hu Qianqiu’s former people remained. New officials completely rewrote the Censorate’s previous structure, bidding farewell to decades of corruption and welcoming new vitality—but that’s another story.
Aside from Minister Li who was sentenced to death for his heinous crimes, the rest of the Li family children weren’t affected, though they were permanently barred from imperial examinations and civil service. The Li family was essentially finished with this generation. Staying in the capital would be meaningless, so they moved the entire household out of the capital, not even caring for Minister Li and Second Concubine still in prison.
Before leaving, Minister Li had asked about Li Qiang’s whereabouts, but Li Qiang had vanished like smoke—no trace remained. Minister Li knew Li Qiang’s fate was grim and fainted again.
Within the Jiang residence, Second Concubine’s news eventually circulated back.
“Crack!” The porcelain cup in Jiang Dan’s hand slipped and fell to the ground. Tea and porcelain shards scattered everywhere as the maid quickly knelt to clean up. Jiang Dan said urgently, “The Minister’s residence was raided?”
The maid had already told Jiang Dan everything that happened outside. Hearing this question, she replied, “Yes.” But looking at Jiang Dan, she seemed not to have heard the answer, her expression somewhat dazed.
The maid always felt inexplicably afraid of this mistress and didn’t dare say much. She hurriedly picked up the broken pieces and quickly left the room to find cloth to clean the water stains on the floor.
Jiang Dan stared blankly at the large puddle of water on the ground, her mind replaying the news she’d just heard.
The Minister’s residence was raided, Second Concubine sentenced to immediate execution, Minister Li to beheading, Li family children permanently barred from imperial examinations, even Hu Qianqiu dismissed from office, Li Qiang’s whereabouts unknown.
Though Jiang Dan had long predicted Second Concubine couldn’t defeat Jiang Ruan, she hadn’t expected Jiang Ruan’s methods to be so ruthless—one strike destroyed the entire Li residence. Jiang Dan felt a chill of fear. If she treated Second Concubine this way, what would happen if Jiang Ruan learned about that past incident… Her heart turned cold, immediately feeling a layer of cold sweat on her back.
Jiang Dan stood up abruptly. Jiang Ruan was too dangerous. Every day Jiang Ruan lived in this world was a day of threat to her. Either eliminate Jiang Ruan immediately, or enter the palace as quickly as possible, then… slowly eliminate her.
She narrowed her eyes, her nails digging deep into her palms.
…
Because of Second Concubine’s affair, when returning to the residence, the servants looked at Jiang Ruan with subtle traces of fear. Jiang Ruan pretended not to notice. Madam Jiang’s unexpected death left the residence busy with funeral arrangements. Everyone wore white mourning clothes. Originally, she found white clothing disgusting, but now she had to wear white mourning garments.
According to Great Jin Dynasty rules, when household elders died, daughters of marriageable age must observe mourning for a full year. At Jiang Ruan’s age, marriage discussions should have begun, but with Madam Jiang’s death, all daughters in the residence must observe mourning for a year, necessarily delaying marriage arrangements. Except for Jiang Dan whose portrait had already been submitted and couldn’t be changed, both Jiang Ruan and Jiang Susu’s marriage matters had to be temporarily set aside.
Bai Zhi and others were extremely worried about this, though Jiang Ruan herself wasn’t much concerned. The only woman who could make decisions in this residence now was Hong Ying, but Hong Ying was focused on becoming the Jiang residence’s main wife. Moreover, as merely a concubine, she naturally lacked the qualification and inclination to worry about Jiang Ruan’s marriage. When Madam Jiang was alive, she might have considered it, but with Madam Jiang gone, no one in the Jiang residence would pay attention to whether she could be smoothly matched to anyone.
Even Jiang Quan would only consider her marriage as a bargaining chip for exchange. Looking at it this way, observing mourning might not be such a bad thing.
Lu Zhu pushed the door open: “Second Concubine will be beheaded at the vegetable market at noon today. Miss…” Lu Zhu hesitated before asking, “Will you go?”
Bai Zhi frowned: “Such a filthy scene would only pollute Miss’s eyes.”
“Let’s go take a look,” Jiang Ruan said. “After all, we had some connection. It’s appropriate to see her off.” Two lifetimes of connection—that was quite substantial.
…
The vegetable market was surrounded by people watching the excitement. The woman bound with ropes and kneeling on the ground already had filthy clothes, her hair covered with dirt and rotten vegetable leaves—there were always indignant citizens who expressed their anger toward prisoners this way.
“Bah! Shameless thing, actually conspiring with her lover to harm the Princess.”
“Exactly, she was never from a good family. Didn’t you see the Minister’s residence was raided?”
“She brought it on herself. Indeed, what kind of people raise what kind of daughters. That shameless Minister’s wife from a few days ago was probably corrupted by such teachings.”
Amid the chatter, the woman in prisoner’s clothes raised her head, revealing a mottled face. One could vaguely see her former beauty, but her gaze was extremely vacant, her lips bearing a foolish smile with drool covering her face. She whispered to herself—only the executioner closest to her could hear clearly. She was saying: Li’er, mother will take you out to buy clothes.
The executioner curled his lip disdainfully, looking at her with contempt.
In the crowd at the vegetable market, Lu Zhu and Tianzhu flanked Jiang Ruan to protect her from being squeezed by the crowd. Jiang Ruan lifted her veil hat and looked toward the muttering woman.
Second Concubine’s foolish appearance bore no trace of her former shrewd beauty. Though Second Concubine had never actually been shrewd, in her previous life she had envied Jiang Li because Jiang Li had such a strong mother—a concubine’s daughter living more comfortably than legitimate daughters.
When Jiang Ruan was young, Zhao Mei was still the Jiang residence’s main wife, though she was main wife in name only. Xia Yan was gentle and always acted thoughtfully, never giving others leverage against her. But Second Concubine saw that Jiang Quan disliked Zhao Mei and continuously bullied their mother and three children.
In her youth, Second Concubine was quite domineering, privately intimidating Jiang Ruan many times behind others’ backs. The person she had feared in her previous life met such an end in this lifetime. Living again, she realized that those formerly formidable people were nothing special—mere paper tigers.
She had noticed when Second Concubine was released from house arrest and her behavior drastically changed. Jiang Dan was merely using her as a weapon, though Second Concubine also had old grudges with her. Before being arrested and imprisoned, she had written a letter overnight—it contained records of Minister Li Dexing’s wealth accumulation, bribery, and relationship building over the years.
In her previous life, the Li family eventually sided with Xuan Li. The Li and Jiang families had marriage connections, so Xuan Li was happy to provide patronage. However, Xuan Li had a habit of not trusting people unconditionally as he appeared on the surface. For all his people, he would investigate thoroughly, grasping their weaknesses to prepare for emergencies.
Those things Li Dexing had done had once passed through her hands. Naturally, she remembered clearly. As for Hu Qianqiu, it wasn’t targeting Second Concubine specifically. Originally, Hu Qianqiu was in Xuan Hua’s faction, but later seeing the tide turning, he defected to Xuan Li. Nearly half the Censorate eventually became Xuan Li’s people. The Censorate’s position in court was crucial, especially for major cases involving officials. This time, bringing down Hu Qianqiu and reshuffling the Censorate meant cutting off what could have become a significant portion of Xuan Li’s future support.
The Li family, Hu Qianqiu—Xuan Li’s future wings were clipped now. She wondered if Xuan Li’s path to seizing the throne would still go smoothly in the future. As for Second Concubine, she was merely a sacrifice. But she felt no sympathy. In worldly affairs, no one ever sympathized with anyone. In her previous life’s end, when she met such a fate, Second Concubine had relied on Minister Li’s relationship with Xuan Li to live prosperously in the Jiang residence. Though not comparable to Xia Yan, she had climbed upward by stepping on Jiang Ruan’s bones and blood.
The Jiang family used her blood to pave their road without sympathy. She was merely a past-life enemy—how could she be soft-hearted?
Seeing the execution time approaching, normally at this moment, prisoners with relatives and friends would have people come to see them off one last time. Second Concubine wasn’t an orphan, but today not one person came for her final journey. Jiang Li had preceded her to the underworld, the Li family had relocated entirely, and as for Jiang Quan—Second Concubine had put a green hat on him. It was merciful that Jiang Quan didn’t come kick her a few times to vent his anger; how could he eagerly come to see her off?
Amid the sighs, one person slowly stepped forward—plain clothes and veil hat, walking with natural grace and elegance. The crowd gradually quieted, watching this woman who suddenly approached.
The woman walked to the prisoner’s front, lifted her veil hat, revealing a charming and beautiful face. Among the crowd, those who had seen her face immediately gasped: “It’s Princess Hong’an!”
It was actually Princess Hong’an! Common people were most capable of wild imagination. Suddenly discussions arose again: “Actually Princess Hong’an—why would Princess Hong’an come?”
“Such a compassionate heart. This poisonous woman harmed her so, yet Princess Hong’an still comes to see her off. How rare!”
“Truly the war god’s sister. This magnanimity isn’t something everyone can achieve.”
Jiang Ruan turned her head to the executioner with a slight smile: “Elder brother, may I say a few words to my family’s aunt?”
The executioner was stunned by Jiang Ruan’s beauty. Seeing her polite address, he felt both excited and bashful, his face reddening: “Princess is too polite, please go ahead.” He then stepped aside, making space for Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Ruan crouched in front of Second Concubine. Lu Zhu quickly took a clean wet cloth from the basket and gently wiped Second Concubine’s face clean. Second Concubine’s hands and feet were bound and she couldn’t break free, only able to twist futilely.
After Lu Zhu cleaned Second Concubine’s face, Jiang Ruan looked at her: “Aunt looks more beautiful this way. Otherwise, when you meet old friends below, how would it be if they couldn’t recognize you?”
Second Concubine had been vacant and foolish, but hearing Jiang Ruan speak this way, her body trembled slightly. Jiang Ruan leaned down, her lips close to Second Concubine’s ear, whispering: “Second Aunt should also taste what my mother tasted back then.” She said: “Whether you’re mad or not, you can understand my meaning.”
She looked down at the prisoner prostrate on the ground, the hostility in her tone making even Tianzhu beside her feel somewhat alarmed. Jiang Ruan’s gaze became very deep and dark in an instant, like a bottomless whirlpool. She said: “Second Aunt should know about that past incident. Everyone in the Jiang residence should know—you see, they were so evil, they strangled my mother just like that.”
“My elder brother and I—the Jiang residence people so loved stepping on our mother and three children’s blood to climb upward. Now it’s time to teach the Jiang family to taste this feeling too.”
“Second Aunt and Third Sister went to the underworld earliest, along with the Old Madam. When you meet below, do greet each other properly, but don’t leave too hastily—at least wait for the other Jiang residence people.”
“Doesn’t he love this Jiang family most? For the Jiang family’s sake, he sacrificed my one life. I want him to live, to personally witness how the Jiang family is destroyed by my hands.”
“The life debts the Jiang family owes me, I’ll collect them one by one. No one can escape.”
Her lips were soft and warm, her tone smiling, but her words were chilling like an evil spirit: “The hellish path I once walked, the red spider lilies blooming among accumulated white bones along the way—you must appreciate them well.”
She said: “Aunt, take care.”
Second Concubine’s eyes seemed to move when she finished speaking, but only for a brief moment before she resumed her foolish giggling. Jiang Ruan stood straight. The executioner approached with an apologetic smile: “This person’s mind is somewhat addled. The Princess’s words probably can’t get through.”
Jiang Ruan smiled: “Just seeing off my aunt.” With that, she led Lu Zhu and Tianzhu away.
The supervising official threw the execution token to the ground, drawing out his voice in a sharp cry: “Time has come—”
Immediately, the executioner’s blade rose and fell—silver light and blood, blood spurting forth as life ended there.
Jiang Ruan’s steps never paused, as if this were something completely unworthy of stopping for. Only the prisoner’s head rolled into the crowd with a gurgling sound, rolling in the muddy road until its original appearance was barely recognizable.
…
The Li family, once a prominent official household in the capital, had fallen just like that. The Jiang residence became even more desolate. Only Hong Ying was quite joyful—she didn’t need to observe mourning or eat vegetarian food, and could nourish her body vigorously each day. Her belly visibly grew larger day by day. If she didn’t know Hong Ying was carrying a pillow, Jiang Ruan might have almost believed there was actually a child inside.
After Madam Jiang’s death, the household management authority fell to Hong Ying. Perhaps feeling that having a concubine from a pleasure quarter manage the household was inappropriate, Jiang Quan unusually instructed First Concubine to help Hong Ying manage household affairs together.
First Concubine was almost invisible in the residence, posed no threat to Hong Ying, and usually didn’t even match a favored senior maid. Naturally, Hong Ying didn’t take her seriously.
All the daughters in the Jiang residence had to observe mourning for Madam Jiang, but Jiang Dan was an exception. Because her portrait for the selection had been submitted, there had been responses these past few days. Palace people had come—Jiang Dan was selected and would accompany other selected girls to the palace to display their talents. Whether she could actually reside in the palace remained unknown.
However, Jiang Quan was obviously very concerned about this matter. In fact, the emperor’s selection of Jiang Dan wasn’t because of her exceptional talents. In her previous life, choosing a Jiang family daughter for the palace was merely to check the Jiang family’s power. In her previous life at this time, the Jiang family’s influence was already at its peak. But three years ago, since her return to the capital, the Jiang family had been openly and secretly constrained by various parties, their power far less than in the previous life. Even so, the emperor remained wary of the Jiang residence.
Jiang Quan called Jiang Dan to his study for a full two hours. The residence servants all speculated this was Jiang Quan instructing Jiang Dan on what to do. With Jiang Quan valuing Jiang Dan so highly, the servants were happy to dream of the Jiang residence producing an empress.
Lian Qiao carried in peony cakes from the kitchen while saying: “Master truly wants to elevate Fourth Miss. Fourth Miss can’t even compare to Second Miss—how could she win His Majesty’s favor?”
Lian Qiao was straightforward by nature and spoke even more bluntly when no one was around. She wasn’t wrong either. If they truly wanted to rely on a daughter entering the palace to become empress and elevate the Jiang family, why not send Jiang Susu? Jiang Susu was beautiful and quite talented. Though not as enduring in temperament as Jiang Dan, she was more pleasing to men. Sending Jiang Susu to the palace would surely earn the emperor’s favor.
“Master can’t bear to part with Second Miss,” Bai Zhi said softly. “The palace appears glorious and wealthy, but the hardships within are beyond words.”
Lu Zhu pursed her lips: “Master’s favoritism is too obvious. But I think others don’t see it that way. These past few days, the maids in the residence have been rushing to curry favor with Fourth Miss.”
No one understood Jiang Quan’s intentions better than Jiang Ruan, because in her previous life, she had been coaxed into the palace this same way. Jiang Quan only said there were people in the palace to look after her, and Jiang Susu’s health wasn’t good. Everything was for the Jiang family. Plus Xuan Li said he would take care of her, so she entered the deep palace, ultimately not even leaving a complete corpse.
Now standing outside the situation, coldly watching Jiang Quan repeat his old tricks—Jiang Dan wasn’t her. Jiang Dan willingly entered the palace. Jiang Quan was unwilling to sacrifice Jiang Susu but didn’t know that Jiang Dan had the courage to sacrifice the Jiang family, as long as she could climb upward.
Jiang Quan perhaps thought he could control Jiang Dan, not knowing that this move was like releasing a tiger back to the mountains. Jiang Dan, this poisonous snake, once given fertile soil, would inevitably grow rapidly, then… devour the Jiang residence until nothing remained.
Both harbored hidden agendas. Jiang Quan thought he was deceiving heaven and crossing the sea, when actually Jiang Dan was going with the flow. Sitting on the mountain watching tigers fight—how delightful indeed.