After the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet, everything seemed to return to tranquility. That day, however, Jiang Susu hadn’t returned in Madam Yao’s carriage, claiming that some young master had offered his carriage and insisted on escorting Jiang Susu back to the Jiang manor. Jiang Susu had somehow agreed to this, but since everyone’s conversation centered on the Xia family madams from today’s events, she was overlooked.

In the carriage returning to the Jiang manor, Madam Yao learned what had happened from Zhao Feizhou’s account and thanked Jiang Ruan once again. She was somewhat puzzled though: “Where did those two maids go?”

The maid beside Yu Ya and the informant maid were never found in the end. Jiang Ruan said, “The informant maid was originally my person. As for Second Madam Xia’s servant, she’s currently been sent to a manor in the countryside. In a few days, she’ll be sent away from the capital.”

Madam Yao nodded and felt relieved. Zhao Yulong, however, was somewhat skeptical. Jiang Ruan always acted cleanly and efficiently, never leaving any loose ends. Yu Ya’s servant being alive would be a hidden danger, and with Jiang Ruan’s ruthless nature, how could she feel at ease with such a threat remaining? But her words were always half-true and half-false, and Zhao Yulong couldn’t find any evidence, so he could only keep his thoughts to himself.

After returning to the manor, Jiang Quan hadn’t yet returned, but the wives and young ladies looked at Jiang Ruan differently. Some bolder matrons even pulled Lu Zhu aside to quietly ask, “Is the eldest daughter of the Xia family really Second Master Xia’s child?”

Lu Zhu gave a few perfunctory responses before returning to Ruan Residence with Jiang Ruan. After they went back and closed the door, Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi came out to greet them. Lian Qiao, always quick to speak, immediately said everything at once: “Miss, the Xia family’s scandal has now spread throughout the entire capital. Master also knows about it. He encountered Second Miss returning to the manor at the gate, said a few words, and got into an argument with her. Second Miss is now reflecting in her courtyard, and Master left in a fury.”

Jiang Ruan raised an eyebrow. What time was this? The Xia family had such a major incident, and since the Jiang manor was related by marriage, they would naturally be watched by the people. But Jiang Susu didn’t understand the stakes and returned in another family’s young master’s carriage—wasn’t this delivering ammunition for people to gossip about? Everyone would only say that the Xia family naturally carried improper blood in their bones, and with Jiang Susu acting like this, she had put the Jiang manor on the fire to be roasted as well. Now the Jiang manor wasn’t like its former flourishing state—they could only maintain face, not lose it. How could they withstand others’ gossip and mockery? Even if Jiang Quan doted on Jiang Susu, he couldn’t help but get angry.

Bai Zhi said, “Now the Xia family’s reputation is completely ruined. The eldest daughter of the Xia family will probably have to be removed from the palace’s list of selected women.”

A child born from an uncle and sister-in-law’s affair had an unclear background and naturally couldn’t enter the palace. Jiang Ruan lowered her eyes. In her previous life, Xia Jiaojiao had been very favored in the palace because of Xia Cheng’s support behind her. Among beauties of the same rank, Xia Jiaojiao’s life was worlds apart from hers. Even though she posed no threat, Xia Jiaojiao would find trouble with her every few days. This Miss Xia, who considered herself of noble blood, now learning she was merely a bastard child—would she feel a different kind of devastation?

…

In the Marquis Xia manor, Shen Rou and Xia Tiancai knelt on the ground. Xia Tianyi’s face was iron-blue as he viciously kicked Shen Rou: “Bitch!” His gaze toward Xia Tiancai was also full of venom.

Xia Cheng held the long whip used for family discipline—a thick, jet-black whip that had been soaked in medicinal solutions for many years, making it particularly sturdy. When it struck human flesh, it made “crack crack” sounds, and after each strike, Shen Rou’s delicate skin would have another bloody wound.

“Stop hitting, stop hitting!” Shen Rou cried and screamed. Her clothing had long been torn to tatters under the whip’s assault, and her originally tender, fair skin was now covered with bloody marks. The wounded, scarred appearance no longer held any of its usual beauty—it was nauseating to look at. Xia Cheng stopped the whip in his hand, breathing heavily. After striking more than ten times in succession, he was feeling somewhat exhausted. Xia Tiancai had been involved with Shen Rou for so many years, and seeing Shen Rou suffer, he now felt pity for her, saying to Xia Cheng: “Father, this matter has nothing to do with Rou’er. It’s all your son’s fault. Don’t hit Rou’er anymore!”

It would have been better if he hadn’t spoken. Once he did, Xia Cheng became even more furious. Thinking that it was this worthless son and this immoral daughter-in-law who together had created such a huge joke for the Xia family, he felt he wished he had never given birth to this son Xia Tiancai. He immediately lashed the whip toward Xia Tiancai.

“Master, no!” came a cry from the side. Madam Xia had already rushed over, grabbing Xia Cheng’s arm with one hand: “Tiancai is your son! How can you bear to beat him like this? It’s all this woman who seduced Tiancai. If anything happens to Tiancai today, I won’t live either. If you want to beat someone, beat me together with him!”

Xia Tianyi was rigid by nature, not as flexible and clever as Xia Tiancai. The old hand at romance naturally had a way with beautiful words, and he usually coaxed Madam Xia into complete submission. Madam Xia loved this younger son the most. Though she was also angry about Xia Tiancai’s disgraceful behavior, seeing him being beaten made her anxious, so she naturally wanted to protect him.

Seeing this scene, Xia Cheng became even more furious: “A loving mother spoils her child! A loving mother spoils her child!”

Seeing Xia Tiancai protecting Shen Rou like this, Yu Ya, who had been watching the show from the side, immediately felt unwilling. She was nothing but a cheap woman, yet even in this situation, she could still gain Xia Tiancai’s pity. She only wished Xia Cheng had beaten Shen Rou to death.

Xia Tianyi naturally saw his second brother’s behavior, and his anger reached the heavens. When someone usually gloomy and rigid by nature truly harbored malice, it was beyond everyone’s imagination.

Yu Ya’s voice was mournful: “Mother’s words are like this, but isn’t it too unfair to eldest brother? Eldest brother has suffered grievances—who has asked him even one question?”

Madam Xia was speechless. Xia Cheng looked at his eldest son with some guilt. Regardless of what impact this matter had on the second branch, for the first branch, for Xia Tianyi, it was like a devastating disaster. The wife he had cherished for many years had actually been cuckolding him for years, and the adulterer was his own second brother. He had even been raising another man’s daughter for years. All of this was an enormous humiliation for any man. If it had been Xia Cheng himself, he would probably have already taken a knife to finish off that pair of adulterers to vent his anger.

Xia Tianyi wasn’t like the romantic Xia Tiancai. Though he was moderate in his actions, he was steady. From childhood to adulthood, he had never caused Xia Cheng any trouble. The only thing that made Xia Cheng somewhat dissatisfied was that he doted on Shen Rou too much. Even though Shen Rou had only given him one daughter, Xia Tianyi had never taken concubines. He only had two chamber maids he had taken in when Shen Rou was ill, and they still maintained their unchanged status. But it was the beloved wife Xia Tianyi cherished who had cuckolded him so thoroughly. Xia Tianyi’s mood could be imagined. But Xia Cheng absolutely couldn’t let Xia Tianyi kill Xia Tiancai. Knowing he had wronged his eldest son, he could only severely whip Xia Tiancai to let Xia Tianyi vent some anger.

Just as he was about to act, he heard a young woman’s delicate cry in the hall: “Mother! What’s wrong with you?”

Xia Jiaojiao had heard from servants that her mother and second uncle were receiving Xia Cheng’s whipping in the hall. At first, she thought the servants were gossiping nonsense, because Shen Rou was quite favored in the Xia family—why would she be punished for no reason? Feeling suspicious, she came to look and was terrified. Shen Rou had been beaten until her whole body was bloody, lying on the ground barely breathing. And her father, who usually cherished Shen Rou dearly, stood coldly to the side without any sign of heartache.

Looking at Xia Tiancai again, he no longer had his usual romantic and carefree appearance, though compared to Shen Rou’s injuries, he was much better off. He knelt on the ground in embarrassment with several wounds on his body. Xia Cheng held a whip in his hand, his gaze seeming ready to devour people. Xia Jiaojiao felt afraid in her heart and ran to Shen Rou’s side in a few steps, crying: “Mother, what’s wrong with you?”

Shen Rou slightly raised her eyes, seeing her daughter, and struggled to utter a few words: “…Jiaojiao, leave quickly.”

“I won’t leave.” Xia Jiaojiao cried even harder, glaring at Xia Cheng: “Grandfather, what did Mother do wrong? Why did you beat her like this? You’re trying to kill Mother!”

Xia Cheng didn’t want Xia Jiaojiao to know about these matters and said sternly: “Go back to your courtyard and don’t come out!”

“I won’t leave!” Xia Jiaojiao screamed, turning to look at Xia Tianyi who stood silently to the side. She threw herself at Xia Tianyi’s legs and cried: “Father, Grandfather wants to beat Mother to death, and you’re just going to stand by and watch? Father, are you really so heartless?”

Xia Jiaojiao was naturally beautiful, and her crying appearance was pitiful. Xia Tianyi had always doted on her. When Xia Jiaojiao was born, even though she was a daughter, Xia Tianyi hadn’t felt the slightest disappointment. From childhood to adulthood, Xia Jiaojiao had grown up pampered like a pearl. Xia Tianyi had never even spoken a harsh word to her. If this were any other time, with Xia Jiaojiao crying like this, Xia Tianyi would have been heartbroken long ago. But today, looking at Xia Jiaojiao’s face, Xia Tianyi was reminded of his beloved wife and second brother’s passionate moments together, and anger immediately surged in his heart. He found Xia Jiaojiao’s face particularly disgusting. Seeing Xia Tianyi’s expression change, Xia Jiaojiao hadn’t yet understood when she was kicked away by Xia Tianyi!

Xia Tianyi was a man, and with anger still in his body, that kick carried real force, sending Xia Jiaojiao flying until she hit a small porcelain pot of hot soup that was warming on a nearby table. Immediately, there was a scream as the pot of scalding hot soup poured right over Xia Jiaojiao from head to toe. Xia Jiaojiao covered her face, rolling on the ground and crying in pain. It was already scalding hot liquid—how could a young woman’s tender skin remain unharmed when doused with it?

Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Shen Rou spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and fainted. Xia Tiancai felt heartbroken—Xia Jiaojiao was his daughter after all, and seeing her like this, he nearly went mad with rage, shouting at Xia Tianyi: “Xia Tianyi!”

This action from Xia Tiancai finally drove away the last trace of complex feelings in Xia Tianyi’s heart. He laughed coldly, and an eerie smile appeared on his usually rigid expression as he said to Xia Jiaojiao, who was screaming and rolling on the ground: “I’m not your father. Your father is him, your second uncle! You’re a bastard your mother bore with a wild man outside. Don’t call me father!”

These words coming from the man who had always cherished Xia Jiaojiao the most stunned not only Xia Tiancai but also Xia Cheng and Madam Xia.

Whether Xia Jiaojiao heard Xia Tianyi’s words or not, she continued covering her face and screaming on the ground. Xia Cheng and Madam Xia felt somewhat numb and quickly called for maids to carry Xia Jiaojiao away and sent for a physician. However, everyone could see clearly that with such a large amount of scalding soup poured over her, Xia Jiaojiao’s face was probably ruined.

Though Xia Tiancai felt heartache for Xia Jiaojiao, he was more afraid of this suddenly gloomy and terrifying eldest brother. He immediately dared not say anything more. Shen Rou was already unconscious, now covered in wounds. Even if she woke up and learned what had happened to Xia Jiaojiao, she would probably wish she were dead—if she could survive at all.

Yu Ya watched everything happening before her with immense satisfaction. Shen Rou was reaping what she had sown, that bastard child was now disfigured, and Xia Tiancai temporarily didn’t dare go out philandering.

With Xia Jiaojiao in such a state, Madam Xia wailed and cried. With Shen Rou barely breathing, Xia Cheng had no heart to continue the family punishment. He told Xia Tiancai to get back to his own courtyard and reflect, had Shen Rou carried to a small house in the back courtyard and locked up. Xia Cheng looked at Xia Tianyi, about to speak, but Xia Tianyi expressionlessly turned and left without saying a word.

Seeing this, Xia Cheng couldn’t help but feel alarmed. The calmer Xia Tianyi appeared, the more uneasy Xia Cheng felt, fearing that Xia Tianyi might do something extreme in his anger. He knew that though Xia Tianyi seemed unremarkable, no man would let such a matter rest easily. If Xia Tianyi had beaten Xia Tiancai, that would be fine, but he had said nothing at all.

With Xia Tianyi gone and Xia Tiancai being helped back to his courtyard, only Yu Ya remained in the hall besides Xia Cheng. Xia Cheng looked at Yu Ya coldly, snorted, and left without a word. Yu Ya was startled, thinking Xia Cheng was blaming her for Guo Meng’s matter, and quickly followed: “Father, I didn’t have anyone harm Guo Meng.”

“Yu Ya, don’t forget your status,” Xia Cheng suddenly said this. Seeing Yu Ya’s confused expression, he said coldly: “Even if you die, you’re still a person of the Xia family.”

…

By evening, Yu Ya finally understood what Xia Cheng’s words meant.

Because Xia Tiancai had injuries, Madam Xia felt sorry for him and sent someone to prepare medicinal soup, instructing Yu Ya to take good care of Xia Tiancai. Though Yu Ya held much resentment toward Xia Tiancai in her heart, she still considered him her husband and genuinely cared for him. Though angry, seeing Shen Rou in such a state and Xia Jiaojiao disfigured, her resentment had been vented and she felt much better. So she didn’t hold grudges and brought the medicine to Xia Tiancai’s bedside, intending to personally feed it to him.

Unexpectedly, Xia Tiancai reached out and knocked over the medicine bowl in Yu Ya’s hands. Yu Ya was stunned, then immediately flared up, screaming: “Xia Tiancai!”

“Bitch!” Xia Tiancai looked at her coldly.

Though Xia Tiancai had philandered outside before, he was naturally born with a face that pleased women and could speak beautiful words. He had never been particularly outrageous in his treatment of Yu Ya at home and could be considered superficially harmonious. He had never spoken such harsh words so openly before.

“What did you say—” Yu Ya was quick-tempered and wouldn’t yield, immediately standing up: “Xia Tiancai, you’re having an affair with your own sister-in-law, and you still have the face to scold me? What right do you have to scold me?”

“Acting so high and mighty for whom?” Xia Tiancai laughed sarcastically: “If you wanted, you could also go find eldest brother and see if he’d be willing to spend romantic moments with you.”

“You—how can you be so shameless—” Yu Ya was shocked.

“Hmph,” Xia Tiancai apparently had many dissatisfactions with Yu Ya, and his words were vicious: “Your behavior today—wasn’t it all to make Rou’er lose face? Are you satisfied now? Yu Ya, to tell the truth, if it weren’t for your father and dowry, I would have married a prostitute rather than you. What’s good about you? You’re neither gentle nor pleasant, and seeing your arrogant appearance every day disgusts me. Do you think that because you bore a son, you can run wild in this manor? Let me tell you, your son means nothing to me. I can have many more sons in the future. In my heart, only Jiaojiao is my daughter…”

“Xia Tiancai, how can you say such things…” Yu Ya was thunderstruck. As pillow companions for so many years, she was only now discovering what her husband really thought in his heart.

“You did such things—do you think Father has no anger in his heart? Is the Marquis Xia manor a place where you can act recklessly as you please?” Xia Tiancai sneered: “Since you occupy the position of Second Madam Xia, you must obediently listen to me!”

Only then did Yu Ya understand why Xia Cheng had looked at her so strangely when he left earlier, and what his final words meant. Xia Cheng blamed her for exposing this matter and bringing shame to the Xia family. Xia Cheng was very dissatisfied with her and probably wouldn’t stand up for her in the future. He might even find ways to make her life difficult. The Xia family had created such disgusting affairs themselves, yet instead of reflecting properly, they had the face to blame her! Yu Ya almost wanted to laugh.

“You can slowly stay in this manor and atone for Rou’er and Jiaojiao’s sins,” Xia Tiancai said.

“Xia Tiancai, you’re not human—” Yu Ya screamed and pounced on him, apparently hating Xia Tiancai to the core, her hands continuously clawing at Xia Tiancai’s body and face. Xia Tiancai hadn’t expected Yu Ya to be so fierce and unladylike in her bones, but though he was injured, he was still a man and naturally much stronger than Yu Ya. He immediately fought back. For a time, the two entangled together, fighting inseparably.

While the two were in such chaos, they didn’t notice that the door had been pushed open a crack at some point. Xia Jun stood quietly outside the door, expressionlessly watching the melee inside. His eyes were gloomy, staring motionlessly at the action inside—it was truly somewhat frightening.