Stepping into the room, a sweet smell lingered at his nose. He was stunned to see the cloud of smoke all over the place, making him unable to see clearly. He spoke anxiously, “Beauty, where are you?”
“Eldest Young Master Li, you’re scaring Su’er.” A gentle voice echoed in his ear.
Li Yang’s heart was shaken. Jiang Su Su’s beautiful face floated before his eyes. He was so giddy with joy that he promptly embraced her. “Su’er’s being so proactive, it’s really making me feel moved.”
The girl in red regarded him calmly. Li Yang strived to open his eyes wider, but her face was still fuzzy. Yet, he didn’t care. He just wanted to get close to her and kiss her fiercely. Unexpectedly, the girl suddenly laughed. “Eldest Young Master Li, Su’er has a gift for you.”
When Li Yang heard this, he felt that even though he had met countless people, he had never encountered such an interesting woman. Obviously, she looked like a fairy, but took the initiative to act like a slut. His interest was piqued. “What kind of gift?”
The girl whispered, “The gift is — go to hell.” As soon as she said this, she ruthlessly smashed him with a flower vase that was tucked behind her back. Li Yang did not expect the beauty to suddenly become a life-stealing Asura. Thus, taken by surprise, he was heavily wounded with blood gushing out immediately from his head. His body swayed and fell down.
Jiang Ruan looked at Li Yang lying sprawled on the ground with a cold smile on her lips. She crouched down, fiddled with the broken china pieces, and suddenly softly smiled .
Li Dong and Li Yang were the most disgusting people. This father and son pair committed inappropriate and illicit acts in the Grand Councillor’s fu. This was widely known to everyone of all ranks in society. Reputation was not the most important thing in dealing with such a brazen person.
Before she died in her last life, she only knew that Li Dong had violated Pei’er, but she had no idea if Li Yang also had a share in it. Even if it was not so, the father’s debt must be repaid by the son. It was not too much.
She slapped the piece of china on Li Yang’s face. “Young Master Li, I gave you a gift. Isn’t it your turn to return the favour?”
A short time later, Jiang Ruan left the room. Just as she reached Su Xin Yuan’s gate, she heard a young manservant’s voice. “Young Master! Where are you, Young Master?”
It was the manservant at Li Yang’s side. Jiang Ruan paused. It was too late to hide. Her mind kept turning, but she still couldn’t come up with a solution. Then, all of a sudden she heard the young manservant screaming in shock, and then there was nothing. After hesitating for a few moments, Jiang Ruan walked out of the gate and saw the young manservant lying face down a few steps away from the gate. It seemed as though he had fallen down and fainted.
Jiang Ruan frowned. She looked around. Seeing no one, she went around the unconscious manservant and left in a perfectly composed manner.
Up in a tree, a young man in black played with the stones in his hand. His long eyelashes drooped, covering his contemplative eyes. He had come to the Jiang fu to investigate Xuan Li’s matters but came across an unexpected scene. It seemed that the Eldest Young Miss of the Jiang fu and the Eldest Young Master Li had old scores to settle. It was very shocking to see the ruthless way she acted against her enemy.
Shu Xiang had been waiting in the garden but then walked towards Su Xin Yuan. While still halfway, she saw Lu Zhu running over in a panic. Shu Xiang asked hurriedly, “What’s going on? You look so anxious, did something happen?”
“No, nothing.” Lu Zhu masked her expression. “Go back to Ruan Ju first. I still have some things to do.” After saying this, she left in haste. Seeing this, Shu Xiang’s heart was set. After some thought, she went in the other direction.
Jiang Quan and Li Dong had finished talking about the official matters, so they casually strolled around the Jiang fu, talking about the marriage between the two families. Although Li Dong was lecherous, he was also cunning like an old fox. He was being vague with his words. Xia Yan, keeping them company, sneaked in a few words, but Li Dong’s attitude was obscure, saying it depended on Li Yang’s wishes.
As they walked, they got closer and closer to Su Xin Yuan. At this exact moment, suddenly a pretty servant girl rushed out from the other direction, looking frightened. When she caught sight of Xia Yan, it was as if she had seen her saviour. She knelt down and cried, “Please help, Furen! Please help my Eldest Miss!” After she spoke, she looked up and was stunned as if just now realizing that Li Dong was present.
Xia Yan looked at the servant girl in surprise, her brows knitted. “What does this mean? What happened to Ruan‘er?”
The servant girl seemed frightened, looking submissive and not daring to speak. Xia Yan was more and more impatient. “What on earth has happened?”
As soon as these words were uttered, a woman’s scream from within Su Xin Yuan was heard. The cry was so shrill that everyone present couldn’t help but shiver. Xia Yan was stunned. She didn’t speak anymore and rushed quickly to Su Xin Yuan.
Lin Lang followed her closely. When they reached Su Xin Yuan, it was extremely quiet; there was no one in the courtyard. Xia Yan went to the small guest room first. The room was tranquil, the teapot and the teacups on the table were in the same position as before, undisturbed.
Both Lin Lang and Xia Yan stared blankly, only to hear another scream. This time, it was loud and clear, coming from Jiang Su Su’s bedroom.
For a second, Xia Yan could not help wonder why the location had changed to Jiang Su Su’s room. But then, a foreboding feeling rose inside her heart. She pushed Lin Lang, who stood in front of her, away and rushed into Jiang Su Su’s room.
As soon as she entered the room, she smelled the strong and nauseating stench of blood. Xia Yan’s eyes jumped at the startling sight of blood on the ground. A sound of weeping reached Xia Yan’s ears, making her feel as if struck by lightning. She took a few steps forward. Wasn’t the one standing in the room crying Jiang Su Su?
Li Yang’s head was covered with blood at Jiang Su Su’s feet. His former appearance couldn’t be seen at all. Meanwhile her eyes were tightly shut, dreading the imminent disaster; knowing that there was no silver lining in the clouds that could save her.
“No -” Xia Yan’s eyes widened. The sound of footsteps came from behind the door. It was already too late to stop them. She heard Jiang Quan’s voice, “What happened?”
The voice stopped abruptly, and then there was a scream. “My son!”
Li Dong stared with wide eyes as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He rushed to Li Yang’s side and shook him. “Son, wake up!”
Li Yang seemed to be unconscious. Li Dong lowered his head and looked down at Li Yang’s lower body. The fine silk robe was bloodstained from his waist down. His gaze was fixed on the badly mangled thing nearby, then he let out a torturous howl.
Whoever saw his own son castrated wouldn’t be indifferent.
Li Dong looked up again, his eyes were scarlet. “Jiang Quan, I want you to pay with a life!”
“Not me, not me.” Jiang Su Su was trembling with fear and tears were all over her face. “He was already like this when I entered the room. Not me, it really wasn’t me. “
But no one could believe her words as the scene in front of their eyes unfolded. The most powerful hypothesis being that Li Yang was overcome with lust and wanted to commit an immoral act against Jiang Su Su, who then broke his head with a vase and castrated him in anger.
Xia Yan defended her, “No, it couldn’t be Su‘er. She is timid and wouldn’t treat Eldest Young Master Li like this. Minister Li, don’t panic. The assassin must still be hiding inside the courtyard. Where is Ruan’er? Su’er, you are not with Ruan‘er. Where is Ruan‘er?” She thought it must have been Jiang Ruan’s act of shifting the blame and Jiang Ruan probably hadn’t left the courtyard yet.
Li Dong raised his head. However, before he could speak, he heard a soft female voice outside. “Father, Mother, what has happened? Why is everyone in Second Sister’s room?”
Xia Yan’s whole body immediately stiffened when she saw Jiang Ruan standing at the gate of the courtyard. She was wearing red from head to toe, sultry like fire. Today, she’d even put on some powder. She looked extremely beautiful. By comparison, Jiang Su Su Su, who was in a teary mess, cut a sorry figure.
“Ruan‘er, weren’t you picking bolts of satin with Su’er in the room. Why did you go out?” Xia Yan asked eagerly.
“I waited for Second Sister but she was late. I thought it would be better to take the initiative to find her. But unexpectedly, I couldn’t.” Jiang Ruan explained, “So I asked Lu Zhu to pick some red plum flowers in the garden with me, thinking that they would look good in the vase.” As she spoke, in her raised hands, there were indeed a few branches of plum flowers.
Xia Yan was paralyzed on the ground. Jiang Quan’s forehead throbbed painfully. Looking at Li Yang unconscious on the ground, a trace of cruelty flashed across Li Dong’s face. He yelled, “Slut, pay back my son with your life!” Before people could see his movements clearly, a sharp piece of broken china was already in his hand. Jiang Su Su jumped back in fear. Li Dong was fat and not particularly nimble. Jiang Su Su was able to dodge, but she felt a scorching pain on her right cheek. When she reached out to touch it, her hand was soaked with blood.
Jian Quan shouted, “Impudent!”
The courtyard’s guard made every effort to pull Li Dong away. Jiang Su Su collapsed while covering her face and burst into tears. Looking at Jiang Su Su’s bloody face, Xia Yan’s heart was in pain and she immediately fainted.
“Call the doctor!” Jiang Quan said worriedly.
Li Dong also dispatched people to carry Li Yang. “Go back to the fu immediately.” Before leaving, he looked at Jiang Quan maliciously. “I will not give up this matter. Jiang Quan, I will make you pay the price!”
After Li Dong’s party left, Jiang Quan rubbed his forehead. Because of concerns and worries about Jiang Su Su and Xia Yan, he left for Yan Hua Yuan in a hurry. For a while, Su Xin Yuan was restored to its former desolation.
Lu Zhu stood silently at Jiang Ruan’s side. Amid the bloodstained ground, Jiang Ruan smiled and said softly, “Shu Xiang, won’t you come in?”
Shu Xiang’s face was deathly pale. She seemed to have sensed the devil incarnate in Jiang Ruan. Earlier, she thought that the matter was finished when Lu Zhu had that look of worry, so she hurriedly reported back to Xia Yan. Who could have known that it would be Jiang Su Su who fell into the trap? It was too much to call all of this a coincidence.
“You’ll remember the road to Su Xin Yuan now and never forget it in your lifetime.” Jiang Ruan smiled at her. “Right?”
Lu Zhu had a hard to conceal look of contempt in her eyes. Shu Xiang’s back was covered with cold sweat. She knew that Xia Yan would not let her off lightly this time. The girl in red, however, seemed to be in harmony with the blood-stained ground. Her expression showed no signs of panic. With an indifferent smile, she turned around and left.
This day was bound to be a momentous one for the capital’s Jiang family. In a few short days, Jiang Chao’s finger was cut off, Jiang Su Su was disfigured, Xia Yan fainted from anger, and Old Jiang Madame was bedridden.
Such a big Jiang fu- it was unknown when it started showing signs of collapse. So subtle, but the rotten things were deep-rooted. One day, they broke through the ground and began to nibble away at this magnificent fu.
Jiang Ruan sat at the table drinking tea. A little of the freshly made hundred flowers honey, sent from Zhuangzi, was allocated to each courtyard. To it were added a few petals of the freshly picked red plum flowers from the yard. This simple flower tea had a special taste when drunk.
That afternoon, the mishap took place and in the evening Jiang Dan came to see Jiang Ruan. She looked at Jiang Ruan and asked anxiously, “Da Jiejie, I was in the courtyard today and didn’t go out at all. I heard that you were on the scene. Is it true that Second Sister smashed Eldest Young Master Li’s head? “
Jiang Ruan smiled at her. “Oh, Second Sister’s news traveled swiftly. But, you don’t seem to believe it?”
“No, no.” Jiang Dan quickly waved her hand. “It’s just that Second Sister has always been gentle. I just didn’t expect that she would have the courage to hurt Eldest Young Master Li.” As she spoke, she probed Jiang Ruan’s expression.
“Rabbits will bite when they are cornered.” Jiang Ruan spoke in a slow and deliberate tone. “People who normally look docile also have a fierce side, but we can’t see it.”
Jiang Dan paused and then smiled. “What Da Jiejie said is true.” After talking for a while, Jiang Dan timidly said goodbye and left. Lian Qiao accompanied Jiang Dan to the courtyard’s gate. When she came back, she remarked, “Fourth Miss is really odd. Furen does not treat her very well, yet she is anxiously inquiring about Second Miss.” She shook her head. “Wasn’t she being excessively kind?”
Jiang Ruan smiled but kept silent. She was vague about Jiang Dan’s feelings. She only knew that since the death of Third Yiniang, Jiang Dan was raised at Zhao Mei’s side. At that time, Jiang Dan was not as cowardly as she was now. Although she was somewhat timid, she was always fawning over people and showing off her cleverness. Zhao Mei also liked her very much. Although sometimes Jiang Ruan was annoyed with Jiang Dan’s striving for favours. Ultimately she felt pity for her after losing her mother and understood her rush to fall all over others. But Jiang Xin Zhi, who had always been gentle, didn’t like Jiang Dan very much. Although he didn’t show it, he always had a kind of polite alienation.
In the last life, Jiang Dan seemed to have been married out as a noble son’s concubine. She was a daughter born from a concubine, never mind wishing to be the legal wife of a family of better standing. Also, she was also uncertain about the subsequent events, and didn’t know whether Jiang Dan had contributed in making her the enchantress who brought calamity to the country.
While they were still conversing, she heard someone talking outside. Lu Zhu pushed the door and entered. She stuck her lip out and said, “Shu Xiang came back just now. I saw that her face was covered with slap marks and she was unsteady on her feet. Her face was really pale. “
Jiang Ruan smiled. Today, Shu Xiang had messed up so greatly, Xia Yan wouldn’t let her go easily. However, she was still the chess piece placed in Ruan Ju, so Xia Yan was reluctant to kill her for the time being and spared her life.
“Miss,” Bai Zhi asked, “This servant doesn’t understand one thing. That time, Furen gave you four servant girls. Why do you treat this Shu Xiang differently? You aren’t this careful toward the others.”
“Perhaps, I have an old score to settle with her,” Jiang Ruan whispered. “Lu Zhu, besides the Li family’s father and son, was there anyone else who visited the fu today?
“This servant asked many people, there was indeed no other visitor.” Lu Zhu answered. “Miss, was there a problem?”
Jiang Ruan shook her head. Li Yang’s manservant wouldn’t faint without any reason. If it wasn’t an outsider, it could only be someone inside the fu helping her in secret. But that also meant that what she did today was discovered by another. The man helped her, but that didn’t necessarily mean that he was a friend and not a foe.
Who on earth was he? Jiang Ruan pondered.
In Yan Hua Yuan, Xia Yan swept the one remaining celadon[1] teacup off the table until it smashed into pieces. The surrounding servant girls held their breath. Lin Lang came forward to advise. “Furen, don’t be angry. It will harm your body.”
[1] Celadon : A term for pottery denoting both wares glazed in the jade green celadon color, also known as greenware, and a type of transparent glaze, often with small cracks, that was first used on greenware, but later used on other porcelains. Celadon originated in China, though the term is purely European, and notable kilns such as the Longquan kiln in Zhejiang province are renowned for their celadon glazes. Celadon wares were highly regarded by the Chinese Imperial court. The similarity of the color to jade, traditionally the most highly valued material in China, was a large part of its attraction.
Thwack! Xia Yan slapped her with the back of the hand. Immediately, five obvious finger marks showed up on Lin Lang’s face. She didn’t dare to move. The other servant girls around, seeing the most favoured Lin Lang being slapped, stayed in place, motionless.
Xia Yan was about to explode in anger. Remembering the last words of the physician who treated Jiang Su Su, she felt even more emotional: “Your daughter has a deep wound and lost too much blood. She is still alright now, but I’m afraid it will leave scars later. “
Jiang Su Su’s devastatingly beautiful face was now ruined. How could she marry into a wealthy and noble family in the future! She hated Li Yang for hanging between life and death in Jiang Su Su Su’s boudoir. She hated Li Dong too for scratching Jiang Su Su’s face. And she hated Jiang Ruan the most. She didn’t believe that all this had nothing to do with Jiang Ruan!
Obviously, it had been an infallible arrangement. As long as Jiang Ruan entered the small guest room and drank the tea on the table, Li Yang would come inside the courtyard and commit an act with Jiang Ruan. After Jiang Quan and Li Dong found them by accident and the truth came out, this matter would be over. Jiang Ruan’s reputation would be ruined, so she could only enter the Li family to be a low-rank concubine. However, it never occurred to her that Jiang Ruan would not enter the guest room at all and not drink the tea. Unknowingly, Li Yang collapsed in Jiang Su Su’s room just when Jiang Su Su returned to the room!
Now she was afraid that Li Dong fiercely hated Jiang Su Su. Even if she hated Li Dong just as much, Li Yang was badly injured and castrated in the Jiang fu. She had no idea what kind of method Li Dong would use to retaliate. At the thought of it, Xia Yan felt a lingering fear. “No, I have to think of a way.” Xia Yan walked around the room a few times, made up her mind, then went to her desk, and had Lin Lang grind some ink.” I’m going to write to my father and ask him to come up with an idea. “
At the same time, Jiang Quan rubbed his forehead in the study. In a mere few days, several threads of white hair began to grow at his temples. His favourite son and daughter were suffering from this kind of disaster. He was seized with anger, but the other side was Li Dong, Eighth Prince’s man.
Hong Ying stood behind him, a pair of lily-white hands pressing his scalp gently while telling him tenderly, “Laoye, be at ease. Second Young Lady and Second Young Master will get better. “
Jiang Quan’s eyes drooped dejectedly. His eyes that were always high-spirited were now filled with sorrow. The son and daughter that he had the most pride in were now bedridden and perhaps both would be disabled. He recalled Xia Yan’s words. With the only di son and di daughter in the fu being like this now, who would inherit Jiang fu in the future? “I, Jiang Quan, have fallen to this extent. I was unable to protect my children.”
Hong Ying’s gentle words were in his ears. “Laoye, that’s incorrect. Don’t we still have Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Miss? “
Jiang Xin Zhi and Jiang Ruan. Jiang Quan was slightly shocked. Jiang Xin Zhi had left Jiang fu many years ago and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead. He called to mind Jiang Ruan that he saw in Su Xin Yuan today. She was a slender and elegant young girl, wearing light makeup. She had blossomed into an unparalleled beauty. Her red dress made him think of Zhao Mei when she was young.
Compared to Zhao Mei, Jiang Ruan was less wilful and impetuous, more sweet-tempered and vibrant. He loathed Zhao Mei from the beginning because Zhao Mei fell in love with him. Since Zhao Mei was a young lady from a wealthy and noble family he had no alternative but to marry her, but he never loved her. Zhao Mei, a general’s daughter, learned the four arts (zither, go, calligraphy and painting) for him.
Since he didn’t love Zhao Mei, he never showed any concern or care even for Jiang Xin Zhi and Jiang Ruan. Now, were Jiang Chao and Jiang Su Su’s mishaps Heaven’s punishment for him?
“Li Dong won’t leave the matter at that,” Jiang Quan sighed deeply. “Li Yang looks like that now. I’m afraid he will ask to marry Su‘er.“
Hong Ying’s hands stilled. “Asking for marriage?”
“If Li Yang dies, the matter rests here. But if he doesn’t, with that kind of appearance, I’m afraid that no good family will consent to give their daughter to marry him in the future,” Jiang Quan explained. “Now, he hates Su‘er to the bone. If she gets married to him, she will be tortured in every possible way. Su‘er will barely survive there nor can she die, thus she will never be happy.”
“Is Laoye willing to break off relations with Grand Councillor Li for Second Young Lady?” Hong Ying inquired.
“No,” Jiang Quan replied,” the Jiang fu needs to ingratiate itself with His Highness, Eighth Prince, but in order to accomplish that it will be impossible to break off relations with the Li family.”
“Then, Laoye is willing to marry Second Young Lady to the Li family?” Hong Ying probed him.
“Su‘er is my most beloved daughter. I would never send her to a living hell.” Jiang Quan said, “Even if Li Yang was in good condition, I would not marry Su‘er to him, not to mention that he is just a waste now.”
“What will Laoye do?” Hong Ying had a faint guess in her heart and her voice became even more gentle.
“I don’t want to send Su‘er to them. If I can compensate them with Ruan‘er, maybe I can pacify Li Dong and his son’s anger,” Jiang Quan told her. “Ruan‘er, who is beautiful now, may look even more remarkable as she grows older. By giving them my innocent di daughter as compensation, perhaps, they will feel the Jiang fu’s sincerity.”
Even though she had guessed at this a little bit, Hong Ying was still shocked beyond words. Unexpectedly, Jiang Quan could think of causing Jiang Ruan a lifetime’s worth of misery in exchange for Jiang Su Su’s liberation. How could there be such a father in the world who treated his own flesh and blood so differently! Had she not heard it with her own ears, Hong Ying could never believe that these words came from Jiang Quan’s mouth.
She couldn’t help saying, “Laoye, do you know what marrying Eldest Young Miss off means?” It would signify that Jiang Ruan becomes a tool for the Li father and son to vent their anger. Li Yang and Li Dong would transfer their hatred for Jiang Su Su to Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan would have to live a life of humiliation.
Jiang Quan didn’t open his eyes. “I have no other way. Ruan‘er, as the elder sister, should love and protect her.”
He spoke as if this was proper and a matter of course. Hong Ying felt a chill in her heart and reluctantly smiled. “Laoye, you’d better wait until Second Young Lady wakes up to make a plan. We also don’t know Second Young Master Li’s situation yet. “
Jiang Quan was stunned. “You are right, this matter will be discussed later. Now, we will wait until Su’er wakes up. You can withdraw.”
Hong Ying hurriedly withdrew from the room. When she got out, she still felt a lingering fear. She shuddered to think of Jiang Quan’s words just now. Everyone in the capital had heard about the Li family’s father and son’s disgusting means. It was really chilling that Jiang Quan could propose marrying Jiang Ruan off to that family without batting an eyelid.
Jiang Ruan once threw her an olive branch, but Hong Ying was always careful and did not ally herself with others easily. But she could clearly perceive that the course of events inside the Jiang fu had changed surreptitiously since Jiang Ruan returned. Eldest Jiang Miss looked gentle and pleasant, but during the mishaps that had occurred over these past few days, she was all safe and sound while the Xian Yan mother-daughter pair came to grief. Hong Ying was born in a brothel, she wasn’t so naive to think that it was all due to Jiang Ruan’s luck.
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Translated by : Mazu
Edited by : Anks & Ely
