Chapter 32 My Inescapable Knot
Why did the villain appear so early?!
"Madam Minister, please come in."
Zhao Xian welcomed the person inside, then glanced back at Li Lianniang and Cui Tingyue who were following behind her.
He found an opportunity to say to the two of them, "Stay close to me today and don't leave my side. I'm going to introduce you to the ladies of various families in Jin'an, whom you will be dealing with in the future."
He casually offered a reason to keep the person by his side first.
After all, the villain in the book is related to both of them.
If Cui Tingyue follows the plot normally, once her mourning period is over, no one will care about her marriage. As she gets older, the longer she stays in the Jiang family, the more unclear her situation becomes.
The whispers and comments from others were everywhere, making it hard for Cui Tingyue not to feel anxious.
Meanwhile, Li Lianniang, having saved the villain with a small act of kindness, found herself targeted by him instead.
Cui Tingyue was getting old and couldn't get married, so she could only set her sights on Jiang Wei. Later, somehow she got involved with the villain.
One wanted Li Lianniang, and the other wanted Jiang Wei, so they joined forces.
Now Cui Tingyue has no reason to care about Jiang Wei, but it's uncertain whether the villains will still care about Li Lianniang. It's best to keep her by your side and prevent them from meeting.
Cui Tingyue nodded obediently, "Okay."
Li Lianniang's eyes flickered. King Yu! How could he be in Jin'an?
Even though she had never met King Yu, Li Lianniang was terrified whenever she heard his name.
She had asked Chi Lan to inquire, and it was found that countless girls were sent to the Yuwang Mansion every year, but no one had ever been heard of coming out.
She was almost sent to the Yuwang Mansion.
Li Lianniang was unaware that Zhou had spread the news about her being forced to lose weight and perform a palm dance.
"Lian Niang?"
Li Lianniang suppressed her worries, looked up at her mother-in-law, and took Zhao Xian's arm. "Mother, I'm not going anywhere. I'll just stay with you."
Only in this way can she feel safe.
The doorman announced that another guest had arrived, and the group busied themselves again.
Until all the guests arrived and the midday family reunion ceremony began, Li Lianniang and Cui Tingyue never left Zhao Xian's sight.
Until the family reunion ceremony was held, Zhao Xian deliberately had Granny He take Li Lianniang to the main kitchen under the pretext of inspecting the banquet, so as to prevent any possibility of the villains seeing the female lead in the abused novel.
After the banquet, the front yard was filled with lively drinking and chatter.
In the backyard, the Jiang family had hired an opera troupe to perform. Some ladies who loved watching operas took up front-row seats early on; others who loved to play games organized a game of leaf-shaped cards; and the younger ladies or unmarried young ladies gathered together to play games like flying flower orders or pitch-pot.
With the front and back yards separated, and no need to greet guests at the hanging flower gate, Zhao Xian no longer kept a close eye on Li Lianniang and Cui Tingyue.
Both of them went off to play with ladies and young women they knew and had things to talk about.
Zhao Xian also went to play leaf games with the other ladies. The original owner of this body had put a lot of effort into learning this game, but Zhao Xian ended up reaping the benefits.
Li Lianniang was chatting with a young lady she had met at the Princess's residence about children.
"Oh my, Xiu'er is definitely going to be a beauty. When she grows up, people will be flocking to her door."
“Lianniang, I have two sons, the older one is five years old and the younger one is two and a half years old. Please choose one of them to be my son-in-law.”
Li Lianniang: "..."
The young lady adored Xiu'er; her big eyes and small mouth were incredibly cute.
He held her tightly in his arms and wouldn't let go. "Think about it. If it doesn't work out, I'll have another one later."
She really wanted to take him back as her daughter-in-law.
"The child is still young," Li Lianniang politely declined.
Chi Lan walked over and whispered in her ear, "Young Madam, Qing Fan came to say that the eldest young master is drunk and refuses to go back to his study or drink any hangover soup. He wants you to go and persuade him."
Li Lianniang looked apologetically at the young lady, "Sister Ying, please have some tea and snacks first. I'll excuse myself for a moment."
"Come on, Xiu'er, say goodbye to your mother." The lady called Sister Ying held Xiu'er tightly and didn't intend to give the child back.
Her two sons, even with a large number of servants following them around, were always running around and causing her headaches. So when she suddenly saw such a lovely daughter, she was overjoyed.
Xiujie'er's wet nurse and maid were standing by. Li Lianniang gave a few instructions and left with her maid.
Leaving the area where the women were, Li Lianniang lifted her skirt and passed through the hanging flower gate. Looking at Qingfan who was waiting, she said, "The eldest young master refuses to go back. Can't you have the servants carry him back?"
Qingfan lowered her head: "Young Madam will understand once she goes to see for herself."
"Lead the way."
Following Qingfan to the four-cornered pavilion, Li Lianniang was slightly stunned when she saw Jiang Wei clinging to a pillar.
Qingfan chuckled awkwardly, "I originally intended to help the young master back to his study to rest, but unexpectedly he suddenly clung to the pillar and refused to let go, and wouldn't even drink the hangover soup."
If he hadn't had no other choice, he wouldn't have invited the eldest young mistress.
Li Lianniang lifted her skirt and went up to the four-cornered pavilion. When she got there, she found Jiang Wei hugging a pillar with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.
Normally, Jiang Wei was very serious and rarely smiled, so this was the first time she had ever seen him act like a drunkard.
"My husband."
Hearing the sound, Jiang Wei slowly opened his eyes. Because he had been drinking, his eyes were somewhat dazed. He stared at Li Lianniang for a long time, as if he had just come to his senses. He released the pillar and instead hugged Li Lianniang, saying, "My wife."
Li Lianniang's cheeks flushed instantly. Jiang Wei was a man who valued rules the most. He would never overstep his bounds in front of others. This was the first time he had hugged her and called her "wife" in front of the servants.
Jiang Wei held her tightly, and Li Lianniang couldn't break free. She asked softly, "Husband, you're drunk. Come back to the study with Qingfan and rest for a while."
“I won’t go back. There are monsters. Mother will scold them, but my wife won’t listen.”
Li Lianniang suddenly remembered the time when Li Xinxin drugged him.
Afterwards, he kept a straight face and showed no emotion.
Li Lianniang had been worried that he would hold a grudge against her because of the Zhou mother and daughter, but she never expected that he would think that way.
For some reason, Li Lianniang felt like laughing, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips as she patiently explained, "There are no monsters. The monsters have all been driven away."
Jiang Wei rested his head on her shoulder, shook his head, and still refused to go back.
Li Lianniang glanced at the hangover soup being held by another servant and said, "Alright, we won't go back. Then, my husband, would you like to drink the hangover soup?"
Jiang Wei said blankly, "I need my wife to feed me."
Li Lianniang helped Jiang Wei sit down in the four-cornered pavilion and accepted the hangover soup that Chi Lan brought over.
This was the first time Li Lianniang had ever known that Jiang Wei had this side to him. He rarely drank alcohol. The last time Li Xinxin drugged him, the physician prescribed an antidote afterward. There were servants guarding him at the time, and she was furious. Because it was her own sister who drugged him, she was too ashamed to face him and didn't know what to say to him.
I didn't expect him to remember that incident all this time. He just didn't talk about it on ordinary days, but he remembered it clearly when he was drunk.
"Your Highness, the Prince is leaving and has sent me to find you."
"Don't make a sound."
The attendant followed the gaze of the Prince of Yu and gasped inwardly. "Your Highness, this is Jin'an. The Prince has instructed you not to act recklessly."
"Get lost! What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I'm that kind of person? I'm going back."
After kicking the servant, the Crown Prince of Yu glanced at the pavilion again. The woman's smile was extremely gentle, and her movements as she fed the medicine were even more graceful. She radiated a captivating glow.
After the family reunion banquet ended, the guests were seen off.
Zhao Xian had planned to talk to Jiang Liangxu some more, but she was too tired and went to bed early.
Zhao Xian woke up in the middle of the night needing to use the restroom and found that Jiang Liangxu had already gone to bed sometime earlier. She reached under her pillow and pulled out a shawl...
Early the next morning.
Jiang Liangxu was about to go to his shift when he glanced at the person beside him. Yesterday, he seemed to see her as she was when they first met, flamboyant and fearless.
But later, she gradually spoke less and less, and she was no longer as casual with him as she had been at the beginning. She became more and more proper, which made him more and more uneasy.
Jiang Liangxu raised his hand, intending to brush a strand of hair from Zhao Xian's cheek, but found that his raised wrist was tied with a shawl, with a slender wrist hanging below.
Looking up, I saw that Zhao Xian was already awake, half asleep and half awake, and said, "Go to court or run away?"
Jiang Liangxu smiled, reached out to untie his shawl, and said, "Madam, that's not called running away."
Zhao Xian didn't move, just watched him untie it, "It's a knot I tied that's impossible to untie."
Jiang Liangxu: "..."
Yesterday, because there were guests at home, they didn't have time to talk about going to Fuyang City. Jiang Liangxu went to court too early, so early that Zhao Xian was worried she wouldn't be able to get up.
She wasn't sure if Jiang Liangxu would go back to his room to sleep, so she left the shawl there in advance just in case.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Liangxu simply remained puzzled and lay back down. "Then should I ask for leave today?"
"No need. Can't you go somewhere else? As long as you don't go to Fuyang City, I'm not exaggerating, something really will happen."
“Madam, I went out before the New Year and met an old man in Changzhou. He is very good at observing the sky and predicting the rain. The old man wrote to me, worried that the floods of sixty years ago will happen again. It concerns the people of three cities and cannot be taken lightly. Fuyang City is only one of them. I can not go, but I will have to arrange for someone else to go.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian turned slightly to the side and said nervously, "In that case, we must take precautions quickly, build dikes as soon as possible, or evacuate the people immediately."
"But this is just a guess from an ordinary person. What you're saying will be costly and laborious. If the flood the old man mentioned doesn't happen, early evacuation will become a source of gossip and chaos for the country. No one dares to take that responsibility, and even the Emperor doesn't dare to gamble."
Their eyes met, and neither of them backed down.
After a long while, Zhao Xian took out the scissors from under her pillow and cut the shawl in half with a snip. "Go ahead. But I'll tell you in advance that when you disappear like in my dream, I will not wait in vain. I will remarry. No, even if I remarry, I will be restricted. I will keep many wild men and live a life of revelry every night."
Jiang Liangxu's face instantly turned green. He knew she was just saying it in anger, but he couldn't help being furious. He gripped her wrist tightly, "I promise Madam, I will..."
Zhao Xian immediately raised her hand to cover his mouth: "Shut up, don't make any promises."
Once a promise is made, it's over.
Qin Da's voice came from outside, "Sister Shaoyao, please quickly inform the master that he will be late for court if he doesn't get up soon."
Jiang Liangxu opened his palm.
Zhao Xian asked him, "What?"
"Scissors, and more on your feet."
Zhao Xian threw the scissors onto the bedding and turned her back.
Jiang Liangxu pulled the blankets up for her. "I'm going to court first."
The flood in Changzhou was urgent, but he had another matter to attend to: the Qian family could not be allowed to remain. Regardless of the dangers of his trip to Changzhou, he could not allow the Qian family, this potential threat, to remain.
Listening to him get dressed, wash up, and leave, Zhao Xian sighed, 'Sister, it seems you're destined to be a widow.'
Jiang Liangxu disappeared again while attending court. If Zhao Xian hadn't kept an eye on him and known that he was in Jin'an, going back and forth between court and the Office of Transmission and his study, she would have thought he had secretly run away.
The family reunion banquet was held on the first day of the sixth lunar month. Two days later, it rained in Jin'an, but the rain was not too heavy.
Cui Tingyue looked up at the drizzling rain outside: "It's been raining for two days straight, it's much cooler now."
Li Lianniang skillfully tied a knot in her hand and said, "That's right. Since it started raining, Xiu'er has been sleeping much more. Her wet nurse said she sleeps more soundly at night too."
Cui Tingyue inserted the silk flowers in her hand into the base. "I don't know if it's just my imagination, but Jin'an is hotter than other places."
It's much hotter than where she's from.
Li Lianniang shook her head: "No, I heard from those ladies that it's hotter than usual this year."
"Mother, what do you think?" Li Lianniang asked Zhao Xian.
Zhao Xian's thoughts drifted away with the rain outside. Floods often start with rain, and in ancient times, without the internet, it was impossible to know the situation in different places immediately.
When asked, Zhao Xian was taken aback: "Huh? Oh."
With the final decorations added, the items to be given to the princess were complete.
A huge, arched rosewood frame with ceramic peony beaded curtains, large enough to be used as a screen or decorative partition.
The base of the beaded curtain was also decorated with peony silk flowers.
Those peony silk flowers were all sent by Lu Zhaoying; they looked lifelike from afar, showing her skillful hands.
After instructing the steward to find someone to fire ceramic beads, Zhao Xian needed design drawings for a beaded curtain. She had an idea in mind, but unfortunately, her drawing skills were not good, so she went to find Li Lianniang.
It was only then that she learned that she and Cui Tingyue had made a double-sided peony fan embroidery for her because they were worried that she would be punished for not being able to hand over the items.
She was immediately captivated by the double-sided fan; it was as beautiful as a work of art.
However, Zhao Xian remembered that she had seen a small double-sided embroidered peony screen in the Princess's bedroom.
The double-sided embroidered fan probably wouldn't impress the princess, so she used the fan herself.
The goods were prepared, and the rain stopped that afternoon. The next day, they were loaded onto a truck and delivered to the Princess's residence.
She disembarked at the same spot as last time, where Granny Chen was waiting to greet her.
"The Princess was quite surprised to receive the Madam's invitation yesterday, not expecting that the Madam would actually send it. Since the Madam said that the gift was rather large, it piqued the Princess's interest."
Zhao Xian smiled and didn't take it seriously, although the previous sentence seemed to imply that she didn't have to see her off.
However, when Princess Rongyang went to the Jiang family to inquire, the eldest princess did not respond.
People in the royal family can easily let someone go with a single word, or they can decide someone's life or death with a single word.
You can't trust them.
"I'll have to trouble you to lead the way, Granny."
Seeing a dozen servants carefully carrying a round object covered with a red cloth, Granny Chen smiled and led the way.
The peonies in the Princess's mansion have long since faded, leaving only lush green leaves that sway in the wind, carrying the peony seeds.
Holding a double-sided fan, Zhao Xian stepped into the Luoyang Courtyard she had visited before and knelt once again in the main hall where one's reflection could be seen.
The eldest princess, supported by a palace maid, walked up to Zhao Xian and said in a lazy yet condescending voice, "Madam Jiang, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise."
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace." Zhao Xian's movements were precise and flawless.
The eldest princess looked at the round object behind Zhao Xian, which was taller than a seven-foot-tall man, and asked, "Madam Jiang, what is this that you have prepared?"
Zhao Xian stepped forward and untied the red silk ribbon. As the ribbon loosened, the silk slipped down, revealing what was covering her.
"In response to Your Highness, it is a beaded screen depicting peonies and landscapes in full bloom."
The servants were placed in an excellent position. The room was large, but the middle was rather empty. This beaded screen served as a perfect partition.
The eldest princess collected many things related to peonies, such as the bas-relief peonies carved on the pillars, the peony embroidery on the double-sided embroidered screen, and the exquisite peony embroidery on the gauze...
The eldest princess had seen many wonderful things.
Zhao Xian never intended to use this beaded screen to impress the princess; she only wanted to create momentum.
For example, today she came in a grand manner, bringing gifts and covering them with red silk, telling the people along the way that she was going to offer apologies.
This matter will only be resolved once the eldest princess accepts it.
“Madam Jiang, I originally didn’t care about the so-called compensation you mentioned.” The Princess said, then paused, her tone becoming more appreciative: “You have truly given me a pleasant surprise. Reward me.”
"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your kindness."
“Madam Jiang, the Empress Dowager’s birthday is approaching, and I hope you will keep this item a secret.”
Zhao Xian was somewhat surprised; this was to be given to the Empress Dowager.
However, since she had delivered the goods, he didn't care about anything else and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will keep my mouth shut."
"Granny Chen, escort Madam Jiang."
When Zhao Xian arrived, she removed the carriage roof to install a beaded screen. When she returned, the carriage was still full, and the Princess gave her four boxes of gifts.
As soon as Zhao Xian returned to the Jiang family home, she sensed that something was amiss.
Granny He hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.
Zhao Xian: "Speak, what is it?"
“Master was ordered to leave Jin’an for Changzhou.” As she spoke, Granny He took out a letter and added, “Master left a letter for Madam before he left.”
These days, the madam has been keeping a close eye on the master, all through Granny He, who knows best how worried the madam is about him.
"Don't worry, Madam. Qin Da said that His Majesty dispatched a detachment of the city guard to go with you, Master."
Zhao Xian glanced at the letter in He Mama's hand, reached out and took it, then subconsciously tore it up.
After tearing it into four pieces, Zhao Xian managed to restrain herself. Was her emotion really that strong this time? She even started handling it.
She sighed softly, "Go out, I want to be alone."
After dismissing all the servants, Zhao Xian looked at the torn letter in her hand.
Reason told her to watch, but her body resisted.
But it must be because he couldn't disobey the emperor's orders and had no choice but to go.
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xian casually stuffed the torn letter into the bottom of her makeup box.
When the original owner returns, she can watch it herself if she wants.
--
In the courtyard of the fourth branch of the Qian family, the third master of the Qian family, screams mingled with the lashing of whips, making those outside the courtyard afraid to linger.
Inside the room, clothes were scattered on the floor, mixed with blood and tears. Two maids, one with whip marks all over her back, lay on the ground, while the other, with blood seeping from her cheek, huddled in the corner of a table. The room was a complete mess.
Qian Yan tossed aside the whip with satisfaction, grabbed the wine jug on the table and took a big gulp. He staggered toward the bed, then climbed onto it on both hands and feet and lay down. "Aren't you going to get over here and serve me?"
With a roar, the two maids trembled uncontrollably for a moment.
Both maids were beaten and covered in bruises.
The maid in the corner looked towards the bed with fear in her eyes. She forced herself to stand up, but did not move an inch for a long time.
The maid who had fallen to the ground slowly got up, and her hand accidentally touched the whip that had been thrown on the ground, which was covered with blood and flesh.
The maid tried to pull her hand back to avoid it, but her gaze lingered on the whip. As if possessed, she reached out and grabbed it.
She looked up and her eyes met those of another person.
A few days ago, they saw together a maid being wrapped up and carried out of the mansion.
The maid on the ground slowly got up, but she didn't loosen her grip on the whip. The end of the whip dragged on the ground, leaving tiny bloodstains from the friction.
Another maid limped toward the bed, and the two of them came to the bedside and looked at the man lying on the bed.
The maid quietly climbed onto the bed, and with a light touch, she lifted Qian Yan's head and placed it against her chest. With her other hand, she held the whip and passed it under Qian Yan's neck.
Put Qian Yan's head down and let him lie face down on the bedding.
The maidservant very gently crossed the whip twice, then wrapped one end of the whip around her palm several times.
Another maid raised her hand and gently patted her shoulder.
Finally, the two of them each grabbed one end of the whip and pulled it taut at the same time.
Qian Yan had been violent and drunk, and was fast asleep when suddenly his neck tightened.
"Uh..." He suddenly opened his eyes and began grabbing at things haphazardly with his hands.
The maid on the bed had her foot firmly planted on Qian Yan's lower back, and the whip in her hand was wrapped around her palm several times, making the veins bulge.
Seeing Qian Yan struggling and grabbing wildly, the other maid's strength weakened for a moment. She was glanced at by the maid on the bed, so she simply turned her back and kept squeezing with her eyes closed.
He paid no heed to the whip wrapped around her hand, which was cutting her palm until it bled.
"Uh, help... help... help..."
Qian Yan finally touched his neck, but even after scratching his fingers until they bled, he couldn't pry the whip off.
His pupils widened further, and the blocked breathing left him with nothing but fear in his eyes at this moment.
As if he had thought of something, he kept patting the bed frame, trying to attract the attention of outsiders.
However, one of his hands had been broken, so he couldn't use much strength.
After an unknown amount of time, Qian Yan stopped struggling, but the two maids still wouldn't let go.
--
The Qian family didn't spend much time going to Jin'an, but it took them three days to return.
Qian Junde thought about it all the way home, and when they were almost home, he called his son, "Go and invite the clan elders."
"Father, why are we inviting the clan elders?"
“Expel your fourth uncle’s family from the family genealogy.”
His mother's death forced him to conceal it, but Jiang Liangxu knew about it, which means he had been keeping an eye on the Qian family.
Qian Juncai was spoiled by his mother.
He is not the mother, and cannot use the entire Qian family to atone for Qian Juncai's sins.
Before the clan elders could be invited, bad news came from the fourth branch of the family: "Master, something terrible has happened. The third master of the fourth branch has caught fire in his courtyard. The fire was too big and the third master couldn't be rescued."
Qian Junde's son glanced at his father and asked, "Should we invite the clan elders again?"
Qian Junde glanced in the direction of the fourth branch of the family with his cloudy eyes, and said to his son, "Go to the fourth branch and see what's going on."
This delay put the matter of kicking Qian Juncai's family out on hold.
Soon after, the Qian family hung up white mourning banners, but had not yet received any guests to pay their respects.
The Qian family was then surrounded by soldiers, who rushed into the house and arrested people.
Supported by his son and grandson, Qian Junde walked towards the leader. "Sir, what are you doing here...?"
"Lord Qian, someone has accused your Qian family of buying and selling official positions, embezzling money, accepting bribes, condoning your sons to abduct women, beat and kill maids, and run casinos... numerous crimes, and the evidence is conclusive."
As he spoke, the leader shouted, "Arrest everyone whose name is on the register!"
"Let me go! Do you know who I am? My nephew is a third-rank official, the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review! How dare you arrest me?" Qian Juncai, despite his age, roared with considerable vigor.
“Even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners. If you have the strength, Lord Qian, save it for the prison to seek justice.”
"Don't arrest me, I still need to conduct scientific research, I still need to conduct scientific research..." Qian Shao tried to run away, but the soldiers kicked him, breaking his ribs, and dragged him away.
Qian Junde's legs went weak.
“Father, I’m going to find Jiang Liangxu. He can’t be so cruel. He should blame whoever is wrong. How can he be so indiscriminate?”
“He’s been playing along with us for so many years, probably just to collect this evidence. It’s useless, useless. I thought he only held a grudge against the fourth branch of the family.” Qian Junde kept leaning on his cane: “He holds a grudge against our entire Qian family.”
For multiple crimes, the Qian family's property was confiscated, all the male members who were guilty were beheaded, and the rest were exiled.
When news of the Qian family's affair reached Zhao Xian's ears, Jiang Liangxu and Jiang Heng were already halfway to Changzhou; if they had traveled fast, they would probably have arrived by then.
She only found out afterward that Jiang Heng was also among the city guards, and that he had volunteered for the mission himself.
Granny He said, "When the master left, he told the madam not to pay any attention to the Qian family, as they deserved what they got."
After hearing about the Qian family's situation, Zhao Xian remained silent for a long time.
The original owner of this body had hated it more than ten years ago, but at that time she and Jiang Liangxu were powerless, isolated and helpless, and there was also a maternal grandmother above them who used filial piety to suppress them.
This forced the two young people to back down.
Since Qian Juncai and his wife didn't even intend to spare Jiang Wei when he was still an infant, they were not innocent.
The Qian family protected them afterwards; they were a den of snakes and rats.
I just didn't expect the punishment to be so severe.
When someone investigated the Qian family's crimes, Zhao Xian's sympathy vanished.
Jiang Liangxu left on June 10th, during the hottest time of the day.
At the end of June, urgent news arrived from Changzhou: three days of torrential rain had flooded several villages.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com