Jiang Shuqin's face turned ashen instantly. "It's clearly the young master's fault! How can you shift the blame onto me?"
Lady Hou's gaze was as cold as ice as she stared directly at Jiang Shuqin. "What's wrong with the young master? Aren't you afraid of bringing death upon yourself with such slander and defamation?"
Startled, Madam Hao quickly grabbed Jiang Shuqin's arm tightly to prevent her from saying anything more.
She stared at Lady Hou in disbelief. So this was the reason she could discuss the heir's affairs so calmly—because she had never taken the Jiang family seriously, allowing her to so easily confuse right and wrong and distort the truth. She secretly thought that if news of today's events were to reach the Jiang family, they would likely face annihilation.
Seeing their terrified expressions, Lady Hou smiled faintly, but her words sent chills down their spines. "Oh, by the way," she said, "I heard that my father-in-law made two mistakes during his tenure at the Ministry of Rites. His instability is worrying, and I'm afraid he's not up to the task. I just heard from the Marquis that there's a vacant county magistrate position at Yanmen Pass in the north. I think my father-in-law seems quite suitable. Besides, your Jiang family has been entrenched in the capital for many years; perhaps you're tired of its prosperity. Why not go to the north and experience its magnificent scenery? That wouldn't be a bad idea."
Yanmen Pass, that frigid frontier region, is desolate and lonely...
Her words carried weight not only in banishing Jiang Wenyuan to that remote place, but also in uprooting his entire family and exiling them to that desolate land.
Hao's teeth chattered; for the first time in his life, he was experiencing true terror.
If the Jiang family is truly banished to that barren land, how could they ever hope to rise again? Jiang Wenyuan, his children, and she—all of them will be plunged into an abyss of no return…
A pang of regret welled up inside her. She shouldn't have let Jiang Shuqin make the decision herself. Once that choice was made, it would not only destroy her daughter's future, but also the honor and disgrace of the entire Jiang family.
Jiang Shuqin, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, hurriedly cried out, "Mother-in-law, you've misunderstood me!"
“I… I didn’t mean to ask you for a letter of divorce. I meant to say that I would never accept a letter of divorce. I know how much you have done for me and how you are willing to guide and support me. You even sent your most reliable nanny, Cui, to assist me. I absolutely do not want to leave the Marquis’s mansion!”
Her eyes were filled with sorrow, and her tone was extremely sincere.
How could she possibly be willing to set foot in such a hellish and bitterly cold place as Yanmen Pass? Besides, if the Jiang family were to decline, how could she find a better place to settle down? Wouldn't that just give that lowly maid Jiang Huaiyu a chance to mock her?
No, she would never allow such a tragedy to happen.
If she had to choose, she would still yearn to be that powerful and influential lady of the house, wielding wealth and power, and deciding the fate of others—a feeling that was truly intoxicating.
Even though she is now only the Crown Prince's wife, having tasted the feeling of being high and mighty, she no longer wants to return to an ordinary life.
Lady Hou scrutinized her coldly, "You think you can manipulate me? You're not qualified."
Jiang Shuqin shook her head and said sincerely, "I am sincere, Mother-in-law. Please understand that since I entered the Marquis's mansion, I have been taking care of the young master wholeheartedly. Please give me another chance..."
"There's no going back in this world. Besides, as I just said, there are countless people who want to enter the Marquis's mansion. The Qin family doesn't necessarily need you. I've already given you a chance, but you didn't seize it."
The Lady Hou's gaze swept across her face like an icy blade, her tone revealing deep disdain.
"While you may have a somewhat attractive face, you are otherwise completely unqualified to be my daughter-in-law. I am willing to patiently explain to you that I am only giving you a letter of divorce out of consideration for the few months you have taken care of the young master. You have chosen your own path, and you cannot easily take back what you have said. I advise you not to be so arrogant."
“Mother-in-law… I’m willing to stay, please give me another chance…”
No matter how much Jiang Shuqin cried and begged, the Lady Hou remained cold and unmoved.
Hao was extremely anxious. In her panic, she caught sight of Jiang Yu sitting quietly to the side. She quickly stepped forward and whispered urgently, "Huaiyu, you have always been exceptionally clever. Quickly devise a good plan. If the Jiang family is really demoted and exiled, who will we be able to rely on to take care of you and Yujing in the future?"
Jiang Huaiyu stood tall and straight, his gaze firm, yet he did not cast a single glance at Hao Shi.
“Mother, when the Jiang family is at peace, you wish I would stay far away so as not to disturb your peace; but once the Jiang family encounters any trouble, no matter how big or small, you always push the responsibility onto me. Am I destined to bear all the misfortunes of the Jiang family?”
Whether it was the forced marriage arrangement, the struggle over the dowry, Jiang Shuqin's every word and action, or even a single letter from the Jiang family, all of these could exhaust her for days, leaving her humiliated and harshly criticized upon her return. She was even forced to perform those complicated religious rituals in Jiang Shuqin's place…
Every single detail is vividly remembered.
It seemed that in the eyes of the Jiang family, she was nothing more than a loyal dog that could be summoned and dismissed at will.
In her past life, she blindly followed the Jiang family. In order to preserve the family's wealth and honor, she endured humiliation and wasted her life in the Marquis's mansion. That was already a complete repayment of the Jiang family's kindness.
She was completely exhausted.
In this life, she will live for herself.
Hao was surprised that she would suddenly erupt with these pent-up emotions, and said somewhat resentfully, "What time is it, and you're still harping on these trivial matters? Are you blaming me for making you take the place of that ritual? I've already promised to compensate you. Alright, hurry up and come up with a solution!"
While nervously watching the movements of Lady Hou, she quickly and quietly conveyed these words to Jiang Huaiyu.
Jiang Huaiyu sighed softly, her tone firm: "Mother, if you want me to lend a helping hand, I have one condition I must state."
Hao was both anxious and furious, her eyes seeming to spit fire.
"The Jiang family is on the verge of collapse, and you dare to make demands of me?"
Jiang Huaiyu's eyes lowered slightly, her voice gentle yet firm as she slowly said, "I will always remember the Jiang family's kindness in raising me, and I will never neglect my filial duties. However, I implore you not to summon me back so frequently. I know you do not desire my presence, and I do not wish to suffer that indifference unjustly. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, it is best for us to keep our distance and avoid each other."
She slightly raised her head, her gaze piercing through the void, landing on Madam Hao. "This is my only request, Mother. Can you grant it?"
A surge of anger welled up in Hao's heart, and she wanted to scold her for being ungrateful, but the current situation was urgent, and she had no other choice but to place her last hope on Jiang Huaiyu.
She suppressed her anger, gritted her teeth, and stared sharply at Jiang Huaiyu. "If you can truly resolve the current crisis of the Jiang family, persuade the Lady of Jingyuan Marquis to change her mind, and preserve the position of the Lady of Shuqin, then I will agree to your conditions. From now on, we will go our separate ways, and the Jiang family will never cause you any more trouble."
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