When Second Master Jiang and his wife brought Jiang Qian to Cixin Hall, the head maid A-Fu stood at the door and curtsied to the three: “Second Master, Second Madam, the Old Madam is tired and has already retired.”
“Old Madam has retired already?” Second Master Jiang looked puzzled.
The Old Madam had been quite energetic when they went to Marquis Changxing’s mansion.
Madam Xiao, well-versed in inner courtyard politics, immediately understood Old Madam Feng’s meaning: she was refusing to see Qian’er.
“Since Old Madam has retired, we’ll come pay our respects another time.” Madam Xiao quietly pulled Second Master Jiang away, returning to Yaxin Court.
Yaxin Court appeared much the same as usual, except the servants were unconsciously walking more softly, creating an oppressive silence.
As soon as they entered the room, Jiang Qian burst into tears: “I’ve brought shame to the Earl’s mansion. Grandmother must be angry with me, that’s why she won’t see me—”
Jiang Qian was particularly sensitive about such matters.
Second Master Jiang said impatiently: “What use is crying at a time like this? Your grandmother is just tired, how did you jump to her not wanting to see you?”
Tears streamed down Jiang Qian’s face. Though she didn’t argue, she laughed coldly inside.
In her former days of glory, when had Grandmother ever treated her like this during her visits home? Now she was clearly showing her disapproval, making her stance known.
But telling her father this would only irritate him—men and women were indeed different.
“Qian’er, I want to ask you, what are your plans?” Second Master Jiang indeed had no patience for women’s power struggles, focusing instead on the urgent matter at hand.
Jiang Qian stopped crying and lowered her head: “Daughter will follow Father and Mother’s guidance.”
“We want you to seek a formal separation from the Marquis Changxing’s heir. We said as much at the Marquis’s mansion.”
As the woman’s family, they naturally had to take a stance after what the man had done. But to avoid future blame from their daughter, they needed to ask her opinion.
“Whatever Father says, daughter will obey,” Jiang Qian said obediently.
“Very well, then I’ll petition the authorities. Once we get the separation papers, I’ll have your mother go to the Marquis’s mansion to retrieve your dowry. We’ll be done with them after that.” Second Master Jiang left the room immediately after speaking, not wanting to linger.
Only then did Jiang Qian throw herself into Madam Xiao’s arms, sobbing: “Mother, your daughter’s life is so bitter! What will become of me?”
Madam Xiao patted Jiang Qian’s back gently, comforting her: “I’ll have some gossipy old servants spread the word about how the Marquis’s heir abused you. When people learn of your suffering, they’ll only feel sympathy. After time passes and things settle down, Mother will find you another good family.”
The Great Zhou dynasty was liberal in its customs, and quite tolerant of women. It wasn’t unusual for widowed or divorced women to remarry, even marry a third time.
Of course, most women’s second marriages were to families of lower status than their first.
Jiang Qian shuddered violently in Madam Xiao’s arms: “Mother, I want to stay by your side forever. I don’t want to marry again.”
If she encountered another psychopath like Cao Xingyu, how could that compare to staying comfortably in the Earl’s mansion? She needed to gain her mother’s sympathy now to ensure a better life in the mansion later.
Madam Xiao thought it natural that her daughter wouldn’t want to consider remarriage after such an ordeal and quickly said: “Alright, don’t think so far ahead. Stay with Mother as long as you wish.”
Only then did Jiang Qian smile through her tears.
With all of the capital watching the Marquis Changxing’s heir’s murder case, news of Second Master Jiang petitioning for separation spread through the streets like wings had been attached to it.
“Have you heard? The East Peace Earl’s mansion is seeking separation from the Marquis Changxing’s family.”
“Separation is good! Best to stay far away from such a family early on. I heard the Earl’s daughter was beaten black and blue every few days after marrying there. Poor thing, such a refined young lady from a good family, her body was never free of bruises…”
“What a sin! Any family’s daughter meeting such a fate would seek separation. But these noble houses are particular—it’ll be hard for this young lady to find another match of equal status now, won’t it?”
“I heard two young ladies from the Earl’s mansion stayed at the Marquis’s residence for some time before this happened. Who knows if they suffered any harm…”
“Heh, who can say for sure…”
When these rumors reached the East Peace Earl’s mansion, they angered Old Madam Feng so much that she trembled, summoning Madam Xiao to berate her harshly.
With her once-proudly married daughter now in disgrace, Madam Xiao could only endure the scolding silently. After returning, she couldn’t help complaining: “Qian’er, if you knew what kind of beast he was, why did you invite your sisters to stay at the Marquis’s mansion?”
Jiang Qian naturally denied any scheme against Jiang Si, saying pitifully: “Daughter invited the sisters to stay to show I had face in my maiden home, hoping it would make Cao Xingyu more wary—”
Madam Xiao heaved a long sigh, feeling a splitting headache.
She could only hope this incident wouldn’t affect Cang’er’s studies.
Sixth Miss Jiang Pei was equally unsettled at this moment.
Sharing a courtyard with Fifth Miss Jiang Li, she rushed to Jiang Li’s room after hearing the outside rumors.
“Fifth Sister, have you heard what’s being said outside?”
“What things?”
Jiang Pei stamped her foot: “Such a huge scandal at the Marquis Changxing’s mansion, and you haven’t even sent your maids to gather news?”
Jiang Li pressed her lips together in silence.
As a mere concubine-born daughter, she couldn’t resolve anything anyway. Better to stay quiet than invite unnecessary trouble by rushing about.
Jiang Pei burst into tears: “Fifth Sister, you’re such a wooden block! Now everyone’s saying we stayed so long at the Marquis’s mansion and were taken advantage of by Second Brother-in… pah, by that beast! We can’t clear our names even if we jumped into the Yellow River!”
Jiang Li spoke slowly: “The capital has many excitements, such talk will disperse in a few days. When Second Sister warmly invited us then, how could we as younger sisters refuse?”
Jiang Pei froze, suddenly grabbing Jiang Li’s wrist: “Was Second Sister doing this deliberately?”
“Doing what deliberately?”
Jiang Pei closed her eyes, thoughts racing through her mind, perhaps never having been so clear before.
No wonder Second Sister repeatedly invited them to stay at the Marquis’s mansion, no wonder her attitude toward Fourth Sister was so strange, almost servile. The answer was simple: Fourth Sister was to be the Marquis’s heir’s next target!
Jiang Pei’s eyes snapped open.
“Sixth Sister, what’s wrong?” Jiang Li asked, puzzled.
“Nothing, Fifth Sister, I’m going back to my room.” Jiang Pei forced a smile and walked back stiffly, her legs feeling like thousand-pound weights.
She understood now—Jiang Qian wasn’t innocent at all, but an accomplice!
As Jiang Pei left, the beaded curtain swayed gently, the jade beads making crisp, melodious sounds as they clinked together.
Jiang Li stared at the curtain for a long while, letting out a soft sigh.
It seemed Sixth Sister had figured it out too.
With such a person living in the Earl’s mansion, she would have to be even more vigilant.
At the Capital Prefecture office, the case of the Marquis Changxing’s heir’s murder of ten women wasn’t fully concluded. Finding and notifying the victims’ families would take considerable time. During this period, Zhen Shicheng sent people to investigate Jiang Si’s situation.
That young lady who appeared in the Marquis’s garden—it couldn’t have been a coincidence.