Madam Du had anticipated this scenario. She swiftly pulled a golden hairpin from her head and held it to her throat, shrieking, “Who dares touch me? Jiang Zhong, do you truly wish to force me to my death? Shall we settle this here or in court? You decide!” Her remaining authority, coupled with this dramatic gesture, deterred anyone from forcibly removing her.
The Jiang clan members began to murmur among themselves.
Jiang Zhong initially dismissed Madam Du’s behavior as irrational hysteria. However, he believed she would indeed harm herself if pushed too far. On this auspicious day, he wished to avoid such a scene. Yet, a part of him wanted to expose Madam Du’s apparent madness to everyone, to justify any future actions. Torn between embarrassment and fear of complications, he found himself at an impasse. He could only attempt to placate her, “Haven’t I agreed to all your demands? Please, put down the hairpin. We can discuss this rationally.”
Seizing the moment, Jiang Changyi crawled on his knees to Jiang Zhong, sobbing, “Father, I beg you to reconsider! I understand Mother’s grief over Second Brother, and today’s events have understandably upset her. But I cannot bear such accusations!” He wept bitterly, presenting himself as a victim of his stepmother’s madness, unfairly maligned despite repeated concessions. Unlike Jiang Zhong, however, Jiang Changyi harbored a guilty conscience, frantically considering how to use the porcelain bottle to silence Madam Du.
Hatred blazed in Madam Du’s eyes as she aimed a kick at Jiang Changyi’s face, shouting, “You ungrateful wretch! How dare I make such claims? Today, I’ll expose your true nature for all to see! You’ve climbed over your brother’s corpse to reach your current position. Do you not suffer nightmares?”
Jiang Changyi quickly lowered his head, weeping and dodging the kick.
Xiao Xuexi, initially stunned, suddenly screamed, “The Madam has lost her senses! Quick, escort her out!” However, the ancestral hall was a restricted area, and few of the Xiao family’s servants were present. Most onlookers awaited Jiang Zhong’s lead, and given his fear of Madam Du’s self-harm, they hesitated to intervene. Xiao Xuexi’s cries went unheeded.
The gravity of the situation finally dawned on the assembly. An elder asked Jiang Zhong, “What is the meaning of this?”
“She’s gone mad. Zhong’er’s death traumatized her. We thought she had recovered, but she’s relapsed,” Jiang Zhong glared at Madam Du, sternly warning, “Du Shi…” He now loathed Madam Du, realizing her true intentions. He decided that if they survived this ordeal, he would ensure she never left her chambers again.
Ignoring Jiang Zhong, Madam Du addressed the crowd, “Honored elders, I am not mad. I am perfectly lucid! Today, I ask you to witness a heinous crime—a younger brother murdering his elder to inherit a title! This family, aware of his evil deed, still indulges him. I…” she gritted her teeth, “have evidence! I’ve waited until now to speak out, fearing for my life!”
The claim of evidence elevated this beyond mere accusation. Fratricidal conflict over inheritance was a grave matter indeed. If true, it spelled doom for the entire family. The seemingly docile Jiang Changyi now appeared in a sinister light. Regardless of the truth, the crowd’s perception of him shifted dramatically.
Jiang Zhong, his face contorted with rage, lunged forward and kicked Madam Du to the ground. Such accusations threatened to destroy the entire family. He no longer feared her death; indeed, her demise might simplify matters.
Madam Du, allowing herself to be knocked down, looked up at him with a cold smile. “Are you afraid? It’s too late!” She chuckled softly, “Ah Zhong, you’re in deep trouble now. Even if you kill me, you can’t hide this. I warned you, but you wouldn’t listen. I dream of Zhong’er every night, crying out in pain, pleading his innocence… Have you ever dreamed of him?” She knew he hadn’t; he only cared for himself and his precious younger son.
Her laughter chilled Jiang Zhong to the bone. He gazed at Madam Du with a mixture of sorrow and shame. How had it come to this? Did she intend for everyone to join Jiang Zhongzhong in death? Regardless of the truth, he couldn’t allow it. Gathering his resolve, he pinned Madam Du’s arms behind her back and lifted her, intending to remove her personally. He then bowed to the assembly, apologizing and citing Madam Du’s illness as a reason to postpone the ceremony.
Though the Zhu Guo Gong manor’s influence had waned, it still commanded respect. At Jiang Zhong’s word and the servants’ urging, the crowd began to disperse, albeit reluctantly and full of questions.
Madam Du’s shrill laughter pierced the air, reminiscent of a night owl’s cry, “Are you all blind and deaf?” Her words were muffled as Jiang Zhong covered her mouth.
Xiao Xuexi boldly interjected, “The Madam is unwell! Quickly, summon a physician to examine her!” She hoped to have Madam Du declared insane and confined.
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside. Du Qian burst in with a group of men, followed by panicked Jiang family servants. He surveyed the scene with displeasure, his gaze settling on Madam Du. This wasn’t the plan they had agreed upon. While her outburst might satisfy her desire for vengeance, it disregarded the consequences for him and the Du family. They had agreed to deal with Jiang Changyi first, then address the Xiao family separately.
Madam Du briefly averted her eyes, feeling a twinge of guilt, but quickly regained her resolve. Having already crossed the line, retreat would yield no mercy. She was determined to utterly ruin Jiang Changyi, to leave him without even a burial place. Besides, she hadn’t mentioned the Xiao family.
The siblings exchanged a knowing glance. Du Qian approached with a forced smile, gently removing Jiang Zhong’s hand from Madam Du. “You’ve been married for twenty years. Surely you can discuss this civilly.” He then apologized to the Jiang clan members for the intrusion, citing unavoidable circumstances. However, his men blocked all exits, preventing anyone from leaving or entering. The onlookers, even those wishing to remain uninvolved, found themselves trapped in this unfolding drama.
Xiao Xuexi, clutching her belly, trembled with anxiety, barely able to stand. Gathering her wits, she feigned labor pains, intending to seek help outside. Madam Du observed this coolly, making no move to stop her.
Jiang Changyi, unwilling to accept defeat, approached Madam Du. He bowed respectfully while discreetly showing her the porcelain bottle, his voice laden with feigned hurt, “Mother, if you object to my inheriting the title, I’ll gladly relinquish it. Why resort to such harmful accusations?”
“Silence! Who are you calling mother, you bastard? Had I known this day would come, I’d never have allowed you into this world!” Madam Du ignored the bottle, focusing on Jiang Zhong instead. “Let me tell you how Zhong’er died. This man, to secure his inheritance, bribed someone with a grudge against Zhong’er to kill him during a drunken brawl. He promised the murderer wealth and escape, then silenced him permanently by feeding him to wolves. He thought his plan flawless, but someone witnessed it all…”
By now, Jiang Zhong realized the futility of pretense. Madam Du’s brazen display suggested thorough preparation. Regardless of the truth, he wished to avoid further public spectacle. His mind raced frantically, seeking any possible solution. He interrupted Madam Du, shouting, “Let’s discuss this in private!” Better to continue this behind closed doors.
Madam Du refused to yield, sneering, “What are you afraid of? Didn’t you claim I was raving madly? Let everyone hear and judge whether I’m speaking nonsense!”
“Madam, you’ve gone too far. I had hoped to avoid this, but you leave me no choice,” Jiang Changyi said painfully, producing the porcelain bottle from his robes. He announced gravely, “Do you recognize this bottle, Madam? It contains a drug that induces fits. The late Baixiang assisted you in many misdeeds, and she confided everything to me before her death. Please, don’t force my hand.”
“Bah!” Madam Du spat at him, laughing coldly. “Dropping the act at last? I don’t recognize any bottle. As for Baixiang, you seduced her, killed her, and now use her name to slander me?” She feared nothing; the dead couldn’t testify. She produced a paper from her sleeve, “But you… this document clearly states…”
Jiang Changyi responded with infinite sorrow, “False charges are easily fabricated. Madam, you’ve always been cunning, and Uncle Du’s influence is far-reaching. Producing false evidence to eliminate someone is child’s play for you. Without witnesses, how can I believe you? Meanwhile, I have both physical evidence and eyewitness testimony against you. You drugged the Old Madam, orchestrated false accusations of filial impiety against my elder brother, killed Baixiang to silence her, and now you’re trying to destroy me! No matter how much you hate Father, how could you harm so many?”
“Liar!” Madam Du roared. “You’re afraid, so you slander me!”
Both parties, somewhat uneasy, strove to discredit each other. Meanwhile, Jiang Zhong nearly fainted. Heart palpitations? Only one person in the family suffered from that condition. Trembling like a leaf in the wind, Jiang Zhong struggled to maintain composure. “This is a family matter. Let’s discuss it inside, away from prying eyes.” He ordered the clan elders to be escorted out, promising to personally apologize later. Some were reluctant to leave, forcing him to insist.
Du Qian’s expression gradually changed as he eyed Madam Du suspiciously. What else had she concealed from him? If it were merely about falsely claiming military merits, he could manage. But other matters might leave him vulnerable. Surveying the onlooking Jiang clan members, he intuited that their departure might be wise. He tacitly approved Jiang Zhong’s actions.
Once the outsiders had left, Jiang Changyi straightened up and spoke calmly, “Madam, why must you push this to the extreme? Even if my wife has displeased you, you shouldn’t jeopardize the reputation and future of both the Jiang and Du families. If you’re unsatisfied, just say so. I’m willing to give my flesh and blood to my second brother; what else could I possibly withhold? Isn’t that right, Father?” The subtext was clear: if pushed too far, everyone would suffer. Better to seek reconciliation.
At that moment, a scream erupted from outside, “Disaster! The Old Madam has collapsed, and the Young Madam has fallen!”