"Lady of Jingyuan Marquis, what is your opinion?"
Prince Qin had no interest in women; he disliked Jiang Shuqin and naturally wouldn't be attracted to anyone else. However, when compared among many choices, Jiang Shuqin undoubtedly possessed irreplaceable advantages.
In the midst of worldly turmoil, the mention of Prince Qin's potential repentance and return to the right path actually refers to the unpredictable day when he might suddenly realize his mistake.
In this situation, he might re-examine Jiang Shuqin, with whom he has a deeper emotional bond.
Upon hearing this, Lady Jingyuan's expression froze.
She knew her son's true nature perfectly well. Since his recovery, what illness could he possibly have? The so-called "insufficiency" was nothing more than his secret aversion to women and his preference for same-sex partners. It was precisely this that had enraged the Marquis, who had beaten him to the point of near death. The Marquis's mansion could conceal the truth from outsiders, but it could not hide it from Jiang Shuqin, their future daughter-in-law. Therefore, they could only use the excuse that "the young master is impotent" to gloss over the matter.
As a mother, Lady Jingyuan longed for her son to return to the right path more than anyone else. After hearing Jiang Huaiyu's words, she indeed fell into deep thought.
Although she longed for a radiant daughter-in-law, she hoped even more that her son could reform, regain the Marquis's favor, become the heir to the Marquis's mansion, and continue the bloodline with his new wife, so that the glory of the Qin family could be passed on and the century-old honor of the Jingyuan Marquis's mansion could continue.
After a long silence, Lady Jingyuan finally spoke.
“Miss Jiang, what you say makes sense.”
Despite her many shortcomings, Jiang Shuqin, as a daughter-in-law, has indeed brought joy to her son. Moreover, her meticulous care for the prince over the past few months suggests that she holds a special place in his heart.
As long as this affection remains, there is a sliver of hope that the heir will change his mind. Therefore, it is indeed not advisable to let Jiang Shuqin leave the Marquis's residence lightly.
Her gaze shifted to Hao Shi and Jiang Shuqin, both of whom stared intently at her with expectant eyes.
Jiang Shuqin even secretly wiped away a tear, her voice trembling as she called out, "Mother-in-law..."
Lady Jingyuan sighed softly, her heart filled with complex emotions. "Fine, I'll give you one more chance." Her voice, though soft, was full of determination and expectation, painting a subtle turning point for the future of this family feud.
Joy instantly shone on the faces of the mother and daughter. To maintain her dignity, Madam Hao did not reveal her inner joy too much, but secretly gave Jiang Shuqin a subtle wink. Jiang Shuqin immediately understood, and gracefully walked to the Lady of Jingyuan Marquis, bowing elegantly in greeting.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mother-in-law!"
Lady Jingyuan glanced at her indifferently and said in a flat tone, "No need to thank me. You should be grateful to your outstanding sister. It was she who made me change my mind."
Jiang Shuqin pursed her lips, forced a smile, and turned to Jiang Huaiyu with a grateful look: "Today's events are truly thanks to your great help, sister."
Jiang Huaiyu responded with a gentle smile, but did not utter a word.
Lady Jingyuan's gaze shifted between the two men, a subtle, unfathomable meaning flashing in her eyes.
Then, her tone turned stern, and she warned, "But you must remember that my agreement not to abolish the marriage was not out of fear of the Jiang family. I do not want today's events to happen a second time. Jiang, if you remain so unreasonable, I will no longer show mercy. At that time, no matter how eloquently you speak, it will be of no use. The rules of the Jingyuan Marquis's mansion cannot be trampled upon by anyone."
Madam Hao was startled and quickly replied, "Please rest assured, Lady Jingyuan, Shuqin will remember your teachings and will be careful in her words and deeds from now on, closely following you to learn how to conduct herself..."
Lady Jingyuan glanced at Hao Shi, who immediately fell silent.
Jiang Shuqin said in a trembling voice, "Mother-in-law, please rest assured, your daughter-in-law will never dare to act rashly again..."
"Remember your promise."
Lady Jingyuan waved her hand gently, signaling to Granny Cui behind her: "Granny Cui, please guide the young mistress to the carriage."
"Yes, ma'am."
Granny Cui immediately stepped forward, gently waved her hand, and politely invited, "Please, young mistress."
Lady Hao still tried to persuade her to stay: "Lady of the Marquis of Jingyuan, your presence at my humble abode is a great honor. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Why not stay for dinner and return to the Marquis's residence later? It won't delay your business."
"Alright, I still have a few heartfelt words to say to you all. I'll be leaving after I've finished." Madam Hao helplessly watched her daughter being led away by Granny Cui.
After her daughter disappeared, she put on a flattering smile and asked softly, "Lady of the Marquis of Jingyuan, may I ask what brings you here today?"
Lady Jingyuan smiled slightly and said in a calm tone, "My dear in-law, there is no need to panic. Even though the Marquis's family has not proposed divorce, our two families are still closely related and should support each other. I heard that the Marquis mentioned that my husband has performed very well in the Ministry of Rites these past few months and has achieved remarkable results. He deserves a promotion. I will go back and tell the Marquis that he must make this happen."
In the blink of an eye, her words changed twice.
Instead of feeling happy, Hao was enveloped by a nameless fear. Only now did she truly understand the bittersweet experience of marrying into the Marquis's family.
The Jiang family benefited greatly from attaching themselves to the Marquis's mansion; family members were promoted one after another, wealth poured in, and their prestige and status rose accordingly. However, the Jiang family's fate was also completely controlled by the Marquis's mansion. If the Marquis's mansion bestowed favor upon them, they would bask in its warmth; if the Marquis's mansion turned against them, they would be powerless to resist.
Seeing her remain silent, Lady Jingyuan smiled contemptuously and then asked, "My dear in-law, are you satisfied with this arrangement?"
"Satisfied, very satisfied!" Madam Hao snapped out of her daze and hurriedly nodded and bowed. "On behalf of my master, I would like to express my gratitude to the Marquis and his wife for their kindness!"
As long as Shuqin doesn't cause any problems, the Jiang family can continue to enjoy this glory and wealth. Hao thought to herself that this was a good thing.
Lady Jingyuan stood up and said with a smile, "Then I'm sorry to have bothered you today. If you have any free time, please feel free to visit the Marquis's residence more often."
"I definitely will," Madam Hao replied with a smile, then added, "I'll personally see you out."
“No need to trouble yourself.” Lady Jingyuan waved her hand lightly and turned her gaze to Jiang Huaiyu. “My dear in-laws have worked hard today and must be tired. Why don’t you trouble Miss Jiang to personally escort me out of the manor?”
“Very well,” Madam Hao gently turned her head, her gaze falling on Jiang Huaiyu, “Then I’ll trouble you to treat her well and see Lady Jingyuan on her journey.”
Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly and replied respectfully, "Yes, sir."
Hao stood quietly in place, and only after everyone's figures gradually disappeared into the distance did she let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
She gripped the doorframe and patted her chest gently; the scene today was indeed terrifying.
After catching her breath, Madam Hao hurriedly headed towards her study.
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