Lady Du cried out while clutching at Jiang Zhong, “Since you’re here, speak plainly. What do you want? What do you expect from me? Must I grovel and cut out my heart to satisfy you? Do you want me to hand over Zhong’er and my life to that mother and son, letting them do as they please? Is that what you consider fair to them? What have I done to them? You were the one who let them go, you were the one who couldn’t bear it. If you miss them so much, why didn’t you dare tell the Emperor you didn’t want this marriage? You promised my mother you’d treat me well—is this how you keep that promise? You’ve ruined my life, you’ve ruined my entire life!”
Things weren’t like this before, Jiang Zhong thought. He had no choice then, and she had said she was willingly following him, not expecting to replace Ah You in his heart. Why had everything changed now? Why was everyone forcing his hand? What did they want from him? Lady Du’s clawing left his hands and waist stinging with pain. Unable to tolerate it any longer, Jiang Zhong grabbed her hands and shoved her away, shouting angrily, “Let go of me! How dare you behave so inappropriately! Calm yourself! Must you force me to spell it out? I’ll tell you this: I know very well who’s right and who’s wrong!”
Lady Du stumbled from his push, falling hard onto the floor. The physical pain intensified her emotional anguish. Stunned for a moment, she covered her face and cried out in despair, “You hit me, Jiang Zhong. You hit me?” She raised her arm high, revealing the scar, and laughed hysterically through her tears, “Your promises are worth nothing… I finally see you for who you are… Tell me, what have I done? If you have proof, then say what I’ve done!”
Seeing the coin-sized, pinkish scar on her arm, Jiang Zhong remembered the scene of a flower-like young girl, tears streaming down her face, resolutely cutting her flesh with closed eyes. He choked, unable to speak for a moment. After a long pause, he said harshly, “If you truly value our marriage and care for Zhong’er’s well-being, tell that mad dog Yun to shut his mouth immediately.” With that, he turned to leave with large strides.
Seeing this, Bai Xiang hurriedly crawled out from her hiding place, clinging to Jiang Zhong’s feet and pleading, “My lord, please calm your anger. Let’s talk this through. If not for my lady’s sake, then consider her years of hard work and sacrifice for this family. Don’t let small-minded people cloud your judgment…”
“Small-minded people clouding my judgment?” Jiang Zhong thought. “Who’s small-minded? Am I so easily fooled, a spineless fool who can’t tell right from wrong?” His face turned cold as he kicked Bai Xiang in the chest, roaring, “You insolent dog, daring to lecture your master! Drag her out and slap her until she learns her place!”
However, the crowd of servants eavesdropping outside dared not act, fearing Lady Du’s displeasure and ignoring Jiang Zhong’s command. This deeply wounded Jiang Zhong’s pride. No one had informed him of the day’s events, and now even his order to punish a mere maid went unheeded. Whose family was this—the Du’s or the Jiang’s? He laughed coldly, “It’s time to restore order in this household.”
Immediately, someone understood his tone and boldly came forward to drag Bai Xiang away. Terrified, she looked to Lady Du for help, ignoring the pain in her chest. But Lady Du merely stared coldly at Jiang Zhong, lost in her sorrow and anger, paying no heed to her maid’s fate.
“I did this for you! How can you abandon me?” Bai Xiang cried out pitifully, “My lady, save me!”
Lady Du remained silent. Should she break ties with Jiang Zhong completely? She could easily save Bai Xiang, but that would further escalate the conflict with Jiang Zhong, leaving less room for reconciliation. On the surface, it seemed Bai Xiang had offended the already irritated Jiang Zhong with her words. In reality, Jiang Zhong was venting his frustration at Lady Du through her trusted maid, trying to regain some face. Forcefully saving Bai Xiang would challenge Jiang Zhong’s authority in front of the entire household—something he couldn’t tolerate. Thus, she couldn’t interfere.
Of course, there was another option: she could beg Jiang Zhong for mercy, satisfying both his ego and emotional needs. But she couldn’t do that. She had endured for so long and come this far; backing down now would undo everything. Experience had shown that Jiang Zhong was ungrateful, remembering pain but not kindness. Why did he care so much about Wang Ah You and Jiang Chang Yang? Because that mother and son pair constantly slapped him in the face, publicly and privately. Why did he treat her this way? Because she always gave him the best, forgetting to let him know how hard it was to obtain.
So, Lady Du calculated that the insignificant Bai Xiang wasn’t worth jeopardizing her greater plan. She decisively chose to remain silent, sitting on the ground, quietly weeping, looking pitiful but not uttering a word.
When gods fight, mortals suffer. Bai Xiang realized her fate. As she was being dragged out, she regretted her actions. Why had she rushed out at such a sensitive moment to show her loyalty? Perhaps Lady Du already thought she knew too much and was looking for an opportunity to dispose of her. Look at Song Xiang, who usually couldn’t compare to her—she wisely hid outside, only emerging after the storm to comfort Lady Du, tears streaming down her face, showing sisterly affection and looking at Bai Xiang with sympathy. How considerate… Ah, she must have been possessed to act so foolishly. As the old gatekeeper often said, it must have been fated.
Bai Xiang was dragged out, prepared to face her destined tribulation. But soon, someone arrived like a heavenly warrior on a five-colored cloud to save her. The third young master, Jiang Chang Yi, appeared as if descending from the heavens. He compassionately pleaded with the executioners, boldly guaranteeing that the Duke was merely confused by anger and wouldn’t hold a grudge against a small maid afterward. Even if there were consequences, he would take responsibility. His request was modest: just reduce the number and intensity of the slaps.
Everyone knew Bai Xiang’s usual status, but she was caught helplessly between Lady Du and Jiang Zhong. Now that someone was taking charge and offering a solution, why not accept it? Although she still suffered some swelling, Bai Xiang managed to preserve her chance for a comeback. Her face wasn’t broken, her teeth remained intact, and no bones were broken—she merely endured some pain. If someone were to ask her now who she hated most and who she was most grateful to, she would unhesitatingly say she hated the cold-hearted, cruel Lady Du the most and was most grateful to the handsome, kind third young master.
On this starry night, Bai Xiang resolved to follow the third young master. Only by his side could she enjoy a life of luxury and have a future. In this ducal mansion, the eldest young master was too cold, not knowing how to cherish women (just look at Hong’er’s fate); the second young master was too perverse, even more cruel than Lady Du (who would keep a leopard to frighten women and laugh heartily at their tears?). Therefore, only the gentle and kind third young master was suitable to be the future master of the ducal mansion. The noble Miss Xiao looked down on and bullied the third young master, but that didn’t matter. She would use her sincerity, care, and gentleness to look after him and help him regain his pride.
Bai Xiang fell asleep clutching the small jade medicine bottle tightly. Early tomorrow morning, she still had to serve Lady Du. The petty Song Xiang couldn’t take away everything she had worked so hard for.
The dispute between Jiang Zhong and Lady Du ended with a maid being slapped as a lesson, benefiting neither of them. From the moment Jiang Zhong left, Lady Du stubbornly refused to speak, ignoring anyone who addressed her. She refused to manage any affairs in the Zhu ducal mansion. When the morning drum sounded, she didn’t rise to attend to the dowager as usual. She lay stiffly in bed, eyes closed, refusing food and water, not speaking, too lazy to even move a finger. She was not someone to be bullied at will; she had her pride and dignity.
Song Xiang didn’t know what to do, merely standing by and shedding tears until the swollen-faced Bai Xiang arrived. Still exercising her authority as the head maid, Bai Xiang scolded Song Xiang in a low voice, instructing her to go to the kitchen and personally prepare bird’s nest porridge for Lady Du. If she was so loyal, let her slowly simmer the porridge by the steamer in the July heat.
Song Xiang wanted to object—how could such a task be for a maid like her? It was the cook’s job. Moreover, Bai Xiang had angered the Duke last night and ended up in this state. How dare she still appear so boldly? Did she think she was still the Bai Xiang of yesterday? Song Xiang looked at Lady Du tearfully, but seeing no response, and remembering that the Duke hadn’t specified any punishment for Bai Xiang, she retreated with red eyes, strictly following Bai Xiang’s instructions.
Once all the unnecessary people had been dismissed, Bai Xiang knelt beside Lady Du and said tearfully, “My lady, you’ve suffered.”
Lady Du suddenly opened her eyes, staring at her for a moment before saying softly, “You’re the one who suffered. Don’t you resent me?”
Bai Xiang shook her head, “How could my lady contend with the Duke? It was my fault for not reading the situation, causing you trouble and embarrassment.” Then, worriedly, she added, “Although the third young master intervened last night, I fear I may not have the chance to serve you anymore in the future.”
Lady Du sighed, “He just cares about saving face; he won’t truly hold a grudge against a small maid like you. Rest assured, I remember your loyalty to me and won’t mistreat you. Now there’s an urgent matter I need you to handle.”
Another nefarious deed? Bai Xiang’s heart skipped a beat. She leaned in closer and whispered, “What is it?”
Lady Du pulled out a letter from under her pillow. “Find a way to deliver this letter. Also, go to the dowager and tell her I’ve been beaten and can’t get out of bed. Then, find an opportunity to ensure she can’t get out of bed either.” A fish dying in a broken net is foolish, she thought. She wanted the fish to die, but the net to remain intact.