Jiang Jiaojiao was on the verge of tears. Wei Mingzhou hadn't said a single word in her defense, nor had he shown any intention of protecting her.
When we're intimate, we whisper sweet nothings and caress each other, but afterwards, once we're done, he's a completely different person.
She seemed not to hear Caiyan's words, her mind filled with the phrase "run away to become a concubine".
Caiyan saw that her mistress's eyes were red and swollen, her gaze was blank, and her makeup was completely ruined by tears.
She only brought lip rouge with her when she went out, so she couldn't touch up her makeup. There were still bloodstains and an unknown mixture on the hem of her skirt.
If this disheveled young lady were to leave the teahouse, even a fool would be able to tell what she had been through.
Caiyan tidied herself up hastily and went to the door to observe what was happening outside.
In the lobby on the first floor.
Gao Mu and Cang Yun had long since accomplished their mission and disappeared without a trace.
Seeing that the matter was already settled, Madam Wei knew it was impossible to salvage the marriage with the Du family.
She had no choice but to obediently let Madam Du's carriage follow behind hers back to the Prime Minister's residence to retrieve the birth certificate.
In the lobby on the second floor.
Jiang Zhengming's eyes blazed with uncontrollable rage, and his teeth were grinding together.
Today's events were too humiliating; he had never suffered such disgrace even in the imperial court.
His gaze towards Yang was icy cold. "This is the kind of daughter you raised? A disgrace! Why don't you make her get out here right now?"
"Husband, that Third Young Master Wei is handsome and despicable. He seduced Jiao'er first. It's not entirely Jiao'er's fault. You can't let our daughter really become a concubine in the Wei family!"
Concubines were of lowly status, and the mistress could beat, scold, or even sell them at will. Madam Yang went to great lengths to prevent her daughter from becoming a concubine like herself.
"If you don't want to be a concubine, then send me to the estate and never return to the capital."
Jiang Zhengming hardened his heart. At worst, he would just announce to the public that the second young lady had died suddenly.
His angry face twisted, and his usually gentle features became particularly frightening when he turned gloomy.
"No! Husband, you can't treat our beloved daughter like this! She's your darling too!" Madam Yang rushed forward, grabbed Jiang Zhengming's arm, and burst into tears.
Jiang Zhengming suddenly recalled the scene from five years ago.
He knew nothing; it was Madam Yang who, along with her servants, carried Yue'er back to the mansion.
When I saw Yue'er, she seemed to be unconscious.
Why is there not a single word from the Princess's residence about Yue'er losing her virginity?
Did no one in the princess's residence know about this? Looking back now, something just doesn't seem right.
Jiang Zhengming was furious at the insult to his family. He flung his sleeve and Yang was caught off guard, falling heavily backward.
"Zhengming, there are too many people here, so let's go back to the manor and discuss a solution," the clan chief advised.
"Hmph! You shameful thing, why don't you go and take that wretched girl back?" Jiang Zhengming glared at Yang Shi, who had just gotten up from the ground, and led the clan leader and the others away.
Yang rubbed her sore elbow and walked towards the private room with tears streaming down her face.
"Jiao'er, let's go back and think of a solution."
"Mother, it was all because I trusted Sanlang's words. I'm not reconciled!"
“Let’s go back and discuss this; this isn’t the place to talk.”
Yang looked around. Caiyan saw her cold gaze fixed on her and was startled, knowing that she was bound to be punished.
"What are you standing there for? Go and change your clothes with the young lady."
Having not brought any clothes with her, Caiyan suppressed her disgust and swapped clothes with Jiang Jiaojiao.
The three of them went downstairs and left.
The waiters at the teahouse knew about the scandal that had happened upstairs, but they didn't dare come up to watch. However, those who needed to know already knew.
In the Minister's residence, Jiang Zhengming sat in the main hall, his face as black as ink.
The clan chief and several clansmen exchanged glances before turning to Jiang Zhengming and saying, "Although we've paid the teahouse to keep quiet, this matter can't be kept under wraps. You can no longer protect the Yang family."
Another clansman chimed in, "If this news gets out, it will definitely be difficult for the young ladies in the manor to find husbands. The eldest young master will also be of marriageable age in a few years, and it will be difficult for him to marry a lady from a prominent family."
No matter how powerful the Prime Minister's mansion is, it has little to do with a single concubine of the Wei family.
Jiang Zhengming was unwilling to let his legitimate daughter marry down.
Everyone chimed in with their opinions, and after some deliberation, Jiang Zhengming decided to demote Yang to a concubine. Jiang Jiaojiao was no longer the legitimate daughter and was reduced to her original status.
Then he ordered that Yang's management of the household be taken away, and that the mother and daughter be confined to their quarters to reflect on their actions.
When Yang learned that she had been reduced to her original state again, she cried her heart out.
Jiang Jiaojiao locked herself in her room and cried for a while before starting to think of a solution.
Caiyan was punished with a beating, but because she was usually sweet-talking and good at pleasing the servants and stewards in the mansion, the beatings were not very severe.
As expected, within half a day, the scandalous affair between Jiang Jiaojiao and the Prime Minister's illegitimate son in the teahouse spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
When Wei Mingzhou returned, he naturally received a scolding.
The happiest person was Du Yutong. When she saw her mother bring back the betrothal letter and her father understand the reason for breaking off the engagement, she was so happy that she ate an extra bowl of rice at dinner.
At night, Jiang Shuyue played with her son for a while. When the little guy yawned, Jiang Shuyue told Lan'er to take Sui Sui back to his room to sleep.
After Sui Sui left, Jiang Shuyue rested her chin on her hand, her head slightly lowered. The soft light illuminated her ethereal profile, and her butterfly-like eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes.
Outside the beaded curtain, Nangong Zeyue, dressed in a cloud-patterned brocade robe, stood quietly in place, his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on that graceful figure through the beaded curtain.
Seeing that Jiang Shuyue remained motionless, he coughed lightly after a moment.
Jiang Shuyue looked up. "You haven't rested yet. Come in and have a cup of tea."
The sound of the beaded curtain rustling rang out as Nangong Zeyue walked in, his extremely handsome face bearing a calm and elegant smile.
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