Jiang Zhengming looked up and saw Madam Wu. He then looked into the hall and saw Madam Yang with red eyes, as if she had just been crying.
Madam Wei's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, as if someone had borrowed ten thousand taels of gold from her family and hadn't paid it back.
Behind Madam Wei stood a man with his head bowed, and Jiang Zhengming did not recognize him at first.
"Why is Lord Jiang here too?" Madam Du greeted him politely, as if it were none of her business.
The servants and maids in the hall had strange expressions; some were looking down at their shoes, some were wringing their handkerchiefs, and others were fiddling with the hem of their clothes, creating an eerie atmosphere.
The clan leader, who had come with them, was about sixty years old. He glanced sharply at everyone and then turned to look at Jiang Zhengming with a questioning look.
Looking at the room full of women and children, they didn't look like people who had been fighting. Besides, how could Jiang Jiaojiao, a girl, get into fights so easily?
The clan chief and several clansmen met Jiang Zhengming downstairs, who had arrived shortly afterward, and learned that Jiang Zhengming had not invited them to come.
When the clan chief heard that Jiang Jiaojiao had been beaten, he followed her upstairs.
I just asked the waiter downstairs, and he and the manager both stammered when they spoke, saying that no one was fighting here.
Madam Wei knew she was in the wrong, and saw that the Jiang family looked like they had come to hold her accountable.
She subtly nudged Wei Mingzhou behind her with her elbow, then glanced down the stairs.
Aji hid to the side of Wei Mingzhou and saw out of the corner of his eye that the First Madam touched the Young Master. He immediately understood what the First Madam meant.
Aji looked at Yang and saw her walking towards Jiang Zhengming with a wronged expression.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Aji tugged at Wei Mingzhou, "Young Master, let's find a chance to slip away."
Wei Mingzhou thought his stepmother was making him stand out and admit his mistake.
Only after being reminded by Aji did he realize that his stepmother was the mother of the Empress and the wife of the Prime Minister. How could she possibly make him go out and admit his mistake? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the Prime Minister's mansion?
While everyone's attention was focused on Jiang Zhengming's face, Wei Mingzhou and Aji bypassed the crowd and slipped out from behind the servants.
By the time Madam Yang heard the sound of people coming downstairs, it was too late to call them back.
“Master, you’ve finally arrived! The Prime Minister’s mansion is abusing its power, and the Third Young Master Wei is bullying men and women. Our beloved daughter has been… ruined by him.”
As Yang spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she cried as if her heart was breaking. If one did not know the truth, one would really think that the Third Young Master Wei had done something heinous.
Before Jiang Zhengming could speak, Madam Wei said sternly, "Yang, don't spout nonsense. Although Sanlang is a son of a concubine, he is still a good son of the Wei family. If it weren't for your daughter seducing him, would he have done such a thing?"
The lady in the mansion knew a principle: one prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer. Even if her illegitimate son was no good, she would still actively defend him in front of outsiders.
“If your third young master hadn’t invited Jiao’er, she would never have come here.”
Although Yang had also encouraged her daughter to attract Wei Mingzhou's attention, at this moment she insisted that it was Wei Mingzhou's fault.
Seeing the two arguing heatedly, Mrs. Wu, who was standing to the side, lifted her foot to leave.
“Lord Jiang, we must speak the truth. My son did not force your daughter. If you don’t believe me, ask Madam Wu and Madam Du who are here.”
"Madam Wu, please don't leave. Stay and say something fair!"
When Madam Wu was called back by Madam Wei, she quickly pulled her leg back.
She turned to look at the maids behind her, "I was asleep just now, do you know what happened?"
The two maids looked at each other, wondering whether they should tell the truth or what to say since the lady had asked them this.
Seeing the two maids looking bewildered, Madam Wu said in a serious tone, "The Prime Minister's wife and Lord Jiang are both reasonable people. Just tell me truthfully what you saw and heard."
The two maids' faces flushed red.
One of the maids lowered her eyes slightly and said, "I overheard Young Master Wei and Miss Jiang talking about breaking off the engagement and proposing marriage. They didn't argue or make a scene. And then, well..."
The maid was not yet married, and her face flushed red before she could finish speaking.
What happened next is too embarrassing to talk about.
“The two of them got together after that,” another maid added readily.
After saying this, the maid felt very relieved.
What an unlucky day! I'll definitely have to get some good incense when I get home.
After hearing this, Jiang Zhengming's face turned ashen. The Jiang clan patriarch stepped forward and said, "The deed has already been done, and there is no point in blaming anyone anymore. In my opinion, let's just let it go."
The clan chief never thought highly of Yang Shi. If this matter escalated, it would be difficult for the girls in the Jiang family to find husbands. For the sake of the overall situation, it was the best outcome to let the two get married.
Seeing that there was really nothing more for her to do here, Madam Wu left in a hurry without even saying goodbye.
Madam Du found a comfortable armchair and sat down. She couldn't leave yet; she had to wait to go to the Prime Minister's residence to retrieve her daughter's betrothal letter before the marriage could be considered completely called off.
"How can I grant your request?" Madam Wei asked arrogantly, not even glancing at the Jiang clan leader.
“Since your third son is not yet married, it’s only natural that you should bring my darling home in a grand sedan chair.” Madam Yang pressed her advantage and proposed her idea.
"Impossible. Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. A bride is betrothed to a wife, and a concubine is taken if she elopes. Your daughter lost her virginity before marriage, so it is impossible to give her the position of the principal wife."
"Madam Wei, my beloved is a legitimate daughter, while the Third Young Master is born out of wedlock. Wouldn't it be considered a marriage of convenience for my beloved to become his legal wife?"
Hearing this, Madam Wei glanced at Jiang Zhengming and snorted coldly, "Lord Jiang, if I remember correctly, your second wife was promoted by your concubine, wasn't she?"
"A daughter born to a concubine becomes noble just because she becomes the legitimate daughter? If it weren't for Lord Jiang's sake, she wouldn't even have the status of a concubine."
Jiang Zhengming was quite wary and dared not argue. His lips twitched violently, and he was speechless.
He was both angry and annoyed. His most beloved daughter had lost her virginity, and any explanation would be in vain.
The Jiang family patriarch and his clansmen all looked grim. The patriarch had advised Jiang Zhengming to remarry, but Jiang Zhengming was completely infatuated with Yang.
Furthermore, spurred by what happened five years ago, he didn't have time to think things through before officially making Yang his official wife.
Everyone present understood that Madam Wei's words made perfect sense, and Jiang Zhengming naturally understood as well.
He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Madam Wei, saying, "Then it's settled. Madam Wei, please send someone to the Minister's residence to pick them up as soon as possible."
Madam Wei flicked her sleeves, snorted coldly, and led her servants away, with Madam Du also leaving with her.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiaojiao, who was in the private room, collapsed to the ground.
She never dreamed that the marriage she had painstakingly planned would end up with her being a concubine.
I listened to the footsteps outside fading into the distance.
Caiyan helped Jiang Jiaojiao up with all her might.
While tidying Jiang Jiaojiao's hair, Caiyan comforted her, "Miss, don't be afraid. So what if I'm a concubine? As long as the Third Young Master's heart is with you, you'll be in charge of the household when we live separately in the future."
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