Chapter 258 The Jiang family is the most ruthless!
Wan Ning's mother was led to a side hall. Although she was a little uneasy, she was more proud of herself for having the trump card.
She knelt before Madam Jiang with her head bowed, but her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible pride: "This humble woman, Wan, pays her respects to Madam. The child in my womb is that of Qi Lang... the offspring of Lord Qi Lang, and I am already a month pregnant."
Madam Jiang sat upright in the seat of honor, not immediately telling her to get up. She slowly picked up her teacup and glanced at Wan Ningniang from head to toe.
Although she was somewhat attractive, her eyes and brows were full of worldly calculations, her behavior was frivolous and she had no dignity whatsoever. Apart from her petty desire to climb the social ladder, she had nothing else to offer.
Jiang felt even more contemptuous. She put down her teacup and said in a flat voice, "Heh...you've got some nerve."
She curled her lips into a smile. "Do you really think that with this child in your belly, whose father is unknown, you can foolishly dream of stepping into the threshold of my Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion?"
Wan Ningniang was startled by the merciless rebuke. She never expected that Jiang Shi would look down on her so much, even though she was carrying the Qi family's child!
In her desperation, she blurted out in a sharp, urgent voice, "Madam! How can you say such a thing? The child I'm carrying is truly Qi Lang's! My maid Chun'er can testify to that. Think about it, the young mistress has been married for many years and has yet to bear a child! The child in my womb might very well be the eldest grandson of the Qi family! How can you..."
"presumptuous!"
Before she could finish speaking, a cold light flashed in Jiang's eyes, and she shouted sharply to interrupt!
Granny Qian, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and raised her hand—
"Smack!"
A crisp sound!
A heavy slap landed on Wan Ningniang's face, knocking her head to the side and instantly causing her cheek to swell and turn red.
Granny Qian rebuked sharply, "You ignorant fool! How dare you presume to comment on the mistress's affairs?"
Wan Ning's mother was stunned by the merciless slap. Her face stung with pain, and she was filled with shock and anger.
She never expected that this old hag would treat her like this while she was carrying the Qi family's child!
She covered her face and screamed in a desperate voice, "Madam! If you drive me out today, I will smash my head against the gate of the Qi family mansion and die! Let the whole city see how the Qi family forces a vulnerable woman carrying a child to her death!"
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Jiang's eyes, but she did not immediately retaliate.
Seeing that her expression shifted slightly, Wan Ningniang knew there was an opportunity to exploit the situation. She quickly suppressed her resentment and changed to a sorrowful yet mysterious tone, whispering, "Madam, please calm down! Keep me here. I will be of great use to you... and to the Qi family!"
"oh?"
Jiang raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with inquiry, "What use could a woman of unknown origin like you be?"
"I hate Lu Zhaoruo!"
Wan Ning's mother suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with intense hatred, and she practically spat out those words through clenched teeth.
Lu Zhaoruo?
Jiang Shi naturally hated her to the bone. What grudge did the woman in front of her have against her?
Wan Wanning kowtowed again, and quickly revealed her identity: "I am not of unknown origin! My name is Wan Wanning, and I was once Lu Zhaoruo's sworn sister! I came to this capital with her from Jizhou, and I know everything about her past!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang paused slightly in her teacup.
She slowly put down her teacup, took another look at the woman kneeling before her, and the previous contempt and anger in her eyes were gradually replaced by a deep calculation.
The hall fell silent, with only Wan Ningniang's tense breathing remaining.
After a moment, Madam Jiang finally spoke slowly, her voice returning to its usual coldness: "Granny Qian, take her away and settle her in the most secluded courtyard in the west wing. Without my permission, she is not allowed to step out of the courtyard, and she is not allowed to meet with Brother Liang in private."
She gave Wan Ning's mother a cold glance: "Just focus on your pregnancy. We'll discuss other things after you give birth. As for your 'usefulness'..."
She paused meaningfully, then said, "We'll see how you perform then."
Wan Ning's mother felt a huge weight lifted from her heart and quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude.
She knew that her risky move was ultimately the right one!
When Qi Liang returned, he learned from the servants that Wan Ningniang had dared to cause a scene at the mansion gate while heavily pregnant. He was both shocked and furious, and turned to rush to the side courtyard.
"stop!"
A cold shout rang out from behind him.
Jiang walked up to him.
Qi Liang cried out urgently, "Mother! That vile woman dared to..."
"You still have the nerve to yell!"
Jiang interrupted him, saying, "Your father and I have worked hard and finally managed to earn this fifth-rank official position for you, hoping that you will bring glory to our family!"
She lowered her voice in anguish, afraid the servants would overhear: "And what have you done! You've managed to get involved with such a shady woman outside, leaving such a mess! Now she's come to our door causing trouble. If word gets out, and the officials in the Censorate hear about it and report it to the authorities, accusing you of failing to manage your household properly and having questionable morals, do you still want your position? Do you still want the reputation of the Qi family?"
She grew angrier as she spoke, her tone becoming increasingly sharp: "What kind of person is that Wan? She's nothing but a discarded pawn that Lu Zhaoruo kicked out! You actually let her looks bewitch you and brought this enormous trouble upon yourself!"
Jiang took a deep breath and pointed towards the ancestral hall: "Now, go and kneel in the ancestral hall immediately! Think carefully about your future and the family's reputation! You are not allowed to come out without my permission, and you are even less allowed to see that scourge!"
Qi Liang was repeatedly scolded by his mother, especially when he heard words like "Censorate" and "future prospects". He broke out in a cold sweat, and his anger dissipated, leaving only fear. He quickly lowered his head and slunk away towards the ancestral hall.
After Qi Liang's figure disappeared in the direction of the ancestral hall.
Granny Qian stepped closer and asked in a low voice, "Madam, what are your plans for that person in the west wing? Keeping her around for too long will only bring trouble."
A cold, sinister glint flashed in Jiang's eyes: "What's the rush? She's nothing more than a pregnant object now."
Her tone was calm but carried a chilling murderous intent: "For now, let her give birth to the child in peace. That child is ultimately of the Qi family bloodline and cannot be allowed to wander outside."
"As for her personally..."
Jiang snorted coldly, "Didn't you keep saying you hated Lu Zhaoruo to the core? Perfect, once you're feeling better, I'll let her go and give that powerful 'Imperial Merchant' a hard time. She knows Lu Zhaoruo's background well; if used properly, she could be a good weapon."
After saying that, she looked sharply at Granny Qian: "Once the child in her womb is born, she will no longer be of any use..."
Jiang paused, then said, "Find a pretext and have her 'die of illness' quietly. How dare such a lowly wretch tarnish the reputation of my Qi family?"
Granny Qian understood immediately and bowed her head, replying, "This old servant understands and will make the arrangements properly."
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