Not only were the servants in the main courtyard trembling, but even Tan Yue was dumbfounded and couldn't recover for a long time.
As the matriarch of the Jiang family, Old Madam Jiang was ruthless, but she always treated people with propriety. She could also relinquish power over household affairs without hesitation, and she maintained a very polite relationship with her two daughters-in-law.
Tan Yue is young and doesn't know what happened before.
I've only heard the old nannies mention that the matriarch of the Jiang family was very capable back then. She could accompany the old general on the battlefield, settle things in the rear for him, raise a brave and skilled general, and treat her illegitimate sons who were not related to her by blood well.
The Jiang family's ability to maintain its position is largely due to the skillful management of Old Madam Jiang.
Even after receiving news of the old general's death on the battlefield, she remained calm and composed, handling the funeral in a grand yet not extravagant manner, earning praise from Fengjing.
In Tan Yue's memory, Old Madam Jiang only lost her temper once, when she learned that her granddaughter was not a direct descendant and that the real Jiang family daughter was living away from home. She quickly took back Jiang Liao's management rights and did everything she could to find her direct granddaughter.
This is the second time they've taken action.
Whether it was because she had been on the battlefield back then or because she harbored resentment, Old Madam Jiang's slap was quite hard. Not only did five fingers quickly appear on Jiang Liao's face, but traces of blood even oozed from the corner of her mouth.
"Mother..." Jiang Liao stammered twice, her voice muffled, "Mother, you hit me as soon as you came up. Did you ever think that I am the general's legal wife?"
The title of "嫡" (legitimate son) carries immense weight.
While General Jiang was away fighting, his wife managed the household affairs, maintained relationships, and even handled all the financial matters.
Men on the battlefield only care about fighting, bleeding, and protecting their country.
Old Madam Jiang had once hoped that Jiang Liao would succeed her after her death, but now, she was only disappointed. "Liao, I thought we understood each other. Even if you didn't show favoritism, you still had to maintain a facade after four years of hard work to find the child."
"But how have you acted? In your actions, have you shown even a trace of the composure and dignity expected of a principal wife? Have you lived up to the trust placed in you by your grandfather, and have you been worthy of his service in battle?"
Perhaps it was the mention of her husband, Jiang Jizu, that caused Jiang Liao to momentarily pause in surprise.
"As her biological mother, you offer a mere fifty taels of silver as a gift, which is less than what you would give to your uncles and aunts, or even your cousins. You even withhold the gifts your brother would give to his sister. Liao, what can I say about you? Do you even have the demeanor of a mother?" Old Madam Jiang raised her voice.
Jiang Liao came to her senses, her eyes suddenly turning red. She staggered to her feet and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
"Do you even resemble a grandmother? How did you treat Chenghuan? You raised her for eleven years, how is she any different from your own daughter? You insisted on letting others know she was an adopted daughter, a fake one. The once healthy child has become skin and bones, and almost lost her life."
"The Jiang family is so big, and they're not short of money. Wouldn't it be good to have another daughter? Whose path does having another legitimate daughter block? Why hurt her just because there's no blood relation? What kind of mysterious thing is blood relation that makes you disregard eleven years of kinship!"
She became hysterical, went into a frenzy several times, and even shed tears when she got emotional.
It's clear that Jiang Liao truly loves Jiang Chenghuan.
Just like how Old Madam Jiang doted on Jiang Sheng.
“You can hurt Chenghuan for your own granddaughter, and I can ignore her. Besides, she was the one who disowned me as her mother first. What did I do wrong? What did I do wrong!”
Jiang Liao gritted her teeth and questioned him repeatedly.
So, she treated Jiang Sheng that way to vent her anger for Jiang Chenghuan?
Madam Jiang swayed slightly and closed her eyes.
The path that he had painstakingly paved for Jiang Sheng back then has become a stumbling block for her. Only he himself knows the complex emotions he felt.
"Madam, are you alright?" Tan Yue asked worriedly from the side.
Madam Jiang closed her eyes and remained silent.
Jiang Liao sneered, whether pleased or mocking, "I know my mother has a sharp temper and can see through any pretense. So I don't bother with appearances. If I don't like something, I don't like it. If I can't do something, I can't do it. From now on, I will not be polite to anyone who mistreats my affections!"
On the surface, this appears to be a conflict between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law over their respective beloved children.
But that's not actually the case.
"Mrs. Liao." Old Madam Jiang's voice sounded much older. "When you were indignant for Chenghuan, did you ever think about the fact that Jiang Sheng was the child you carried for ten months?"
Even Jiang Chengyuan knew how to make amends, how to treat everyone equally, and that both of them were younger sisters.
Ms. Liao, have you ever treated both of them as daughters?
Madam Jiang opened her eyes, as if she had made up her mind. "You always want to protect Cheng Huan, and I always want to protect Jiang Sheng. I knew you would be biased, and I didn't even expect you to cherish and make amends to her. I only hope that you can do a good job of putting on a good show and be a mother who does nothing wrong."
"Just because I don't want to talk about some things doesn't mean I don't know them."
"Mrs. Liao, do you want me to bring Jiang Chenghuan's blood relatives here?"
A single, casual remark was enough to wipe the smile off Jiang Liao's face, leaving her pale.
"Or, call the in-laws over, call the brother-in-law who used to frequent brothels, so that the father and daughter can meet and the blood relatives can be reunited."
Madam Jiang remained expressionless and spoke indifferently, "Or perhaps we could discuss how Jiang Sheng was lost back then, whether it was one of your Liao family's women who caught her, and who gave that order."
The old woman from the Liao family...
All the maids and servants in the main courtyard knelt on the ground, and even Tan Yue was pale and trembling.
What secrets did they hear, and do they still have a chance to survive?
Jiang Liao was in a panic. She took a few steps back, but no one helped her, and she fell directly to the ground.
“Mother, I didn’t… I didn’t.” She squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, “No…”
But I just can't say a complete sentence.
Old Madam Jiang looked down at her and said, "I shouldn't have had any expectations of you. You're too unwise, Liao. I'm only making an exchange with you. If you want your beloved niece to live a good life, then play the role of a fair and just legal mother."
"Don't forget, that's still the child you carried for ten months and gave birth to."
After saying this, Madam Jiang turned and left with Tan Yue.
Liu Jiang Liao clenched her fists, trembling and struggling, "No, no...it's not any of those..."
Suddenly, a cry of surprise came from outside the main courtyard.
It was Tan Yue, who was shocked and cautious. "Young Master, what are you doing here?"
Jiang Chengyuan has arrived?
How much did he hear?
Jiang Liao hurriedly got up and staggered to the courtyard gate, only to find a long knife lying on the ground.
There was no one left in sight.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
