Chapter 138 Princess Heng is anything but delicate; she conquers all sides.
Zhang Yumo had already changed her clothes and redone her makeup. She stood with Jiang Rumeng outside the screen. She was confused by what she heard and thought to herself: His injuries were caused by someone beating him. Who was so cruel as to beat him up, and he was willing to endure the beating?
Jiang Rumeng smiled and said, "Miss Zhang, don't overthink it. My older brother is a good man; he just had a hard life when he was young."
“How so?” she asked.
Jiang Rumeng said, "In short, my brother is not the kind of heartless person. If he is willing to talk to you in the future, you will understand. It's all fate playing tricks on people. My brother has a lot on his mind. Miss Zhang is well-educated and reasonable. You should be more understanding of him. These years have not been easy for him. He has to concentrate on his studies and take care of his family."
It was only because his third sister acted like a little adult that he was allowed to go out and make his way in the world. Otherwise, with his talent and learning, he would have entered officialdom long ago and might have made a name for himself. He wouldn't be preparing to take the imperial examination now.
There are gains and losses in life; no matter where you are in life, there will always be new chapters and new opportunities. Now that he has gained the favor of Prince Heng, perhaps that is an opportunity.
"Sister Rumeng, I understand. I will never be a burden to Young Master Jiang. I will treat him well." Zhang Yumo's eyes were serious and firm.
Jiang Rumeng said, "What do you mean by being a burden? Husbands and wives should be tolerant, understanding and supportive of each other. Now that you have accepted Jin Yan's engagement gift, you are already his fiancée. Why do you still call him Young Master Jiang? Calling him Jin Yan is much more intimate."
Zhang Yumo's cheeks flushed. "Yes, I understand, Sister Rumeng."
"Just call me Second Sister! It sounds more intimate that way."
"Second Sister." Zhang Yumo smiled sweetly. In the future, when she sees Princess Heng, can she call her Third Sister in private?
That's how we should address each other, like family.
Jiang Rumeng especially liked Zhang Yumo, and whispered, "Actually, my older brother is very easy to please. We women shouldn't be aloof in front of men; we should learn to be charming and coquettish. Women who know how to be charming and coquettish have the best lives..."
Zhang Yumo was stunned, thinking that Jiang Rumeng and her husband must have a very good relationship. Little did she know that her husband was actually henpecked.
With her personality, she would never become henpecked by Jiang Jinyan, or perhaps she would become henpecked by him.
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Meanwhile, on the other side, Jiang Fenghua returned to the banquet and dealt with the Li and Su families. She couldn't let these two families spread rumors about the Jiang family in front of everyone.
Just now, Zhang Yumo's fate was unknown and she was on the verge of death, so she didn't want to argue with them. But now she wouldn't be so easy to talk to.
As soon as she returned to the banquet, she heard Madam Li smiling and gossiping about her elder brother and Zhang Yumo, speaking vividly and engagingly. Even Madam Su, who was in her sixties or seventies, chimed in, saying some nonsensical things that captivated everyone's attention.
When Jiang Fenghua arrived, the crowd quieted down considerably.
The Fourth Princess and the Third Princess sat upright to one side. The Second Princess was not present for some reason. They were also listening intently. After all, they had witnessed this with their own eyes, so they did not say anything.
When the Third Princess saw her arrive, she took the initiative to say, "Fenghua, sit here."
Jiang Fenghua, with an air of nobility and poise, calmly and authoritatively sat down at the table where the conversation was going on.
Her gaze turned slightly cold as she stared at Madam Li. "Young Master Li only humiliated a courtesan back then. If it had been a respectable young lady, I wonder how many years he would have spent in jail. If it had been a noblewoman, I'm afraid he would have lost his life. What a pity..."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I heard that the woman was tortured beyond recognition and almost lost her life. Young Master Li had such a fetish at such a young age, yet he was not punished by law in the end, which is a pity."
When the old matter was brought up again, Minister Li's wife became red-faced with anxiety. Did she mean that the Li family was abusing their power and had no regard for the law?
She wasn't afraid of Jiang Fenghua, a mere young girl. She was just lucky to have a seductive face that caught the eye of the Empress and was betrothed to Prince Heng. Otherwise, it would have been a pipe dream for the Jiang family, a small family of tutors, to climb up to the imperial family.
But nothing lasts forever, and men are fickle. Did she think that once she became the Princess Consort of Heng, she would be secure forever?
You're still too young!
Of course, Madam Li wouldn't openly criticize Princess Heng, since she was now Princess Heng.
She said, "What do you mean by that, Your Highness? It was Young Master Jiang who hit my son. He injured someone first, so he should be the one in jail. And now he's flirting with an unmarried woman. He's a disgrace to being a scholar. It seems the Jiang family's discipline isn't strict either. If it weren't for Prince Heng intervening, Young Master Jiang would still be in jail." Her son was only messing around with a prostitute, a lowly piece of trash. Isn't that what prostitutes do—for entertainment? Who here would say a word for a prostitute? Does Jiang Fenghua think that just because she's Prince Heng's consort, she can stand up for everyone? Isn't she overestimating herself?
Jiang Fenghua remained calm and composed, her face neither flushed nor red. She said lightly, "Oh, it seems everyone has forgotten the case of the missing girl the Yang family handled over half a year ago. Madam Li is so protective and doting on her son; I suspect Young Master Li might also want to follow suit! As the saying goes, 'You can tell a person's future from age three, and their character from age seven.' Young Master Li is already in his twenties and yet he's like this. What woman would dare marry him in the future?" She meant that if Li Cheng could abuse and humiliate a courtesan, it was inevitable that he would abuse his future wife. He was such a grown man, and he couldn't change.
Her voice was cold and deep, exuding authority without anger.
Madam Li trembled at the thought of the Yang family being wiped out. She explained, "My Cheng'er is not like that. It was that courtesan who seduced her."
These words sound unconvincing. The matter has escalated to such a great extent. Besides, there are no secrets among wealthy and powerful families, and they love to stir up trouble and enjoy watching the drama unfold.
At this moment, everyone's gaze towards Madam Li changed, as if she were a plague god.
Jiang Fenghua added, "As a woman, Madam Li, please watch your words!" Her words had a double meaning; she was also speaking up for Zhang Yumo. After all, Zhang Yumo was a young lady from the Duke of Zhang's mansion. She had only broken off her engagement with her son, yet she was being humiliated like this.
Knowing Li Cheng's character, anyone would choose to break off the engagement. Are they stupid?
"You..." Madam Li was so angry that her face turned pale, and she was speechless after being rebuked.
She persisted, "Madam Li, how could you portray my elder brother's act of saving someone as so despicable? If your daughter were about to drown, would you just watch her drown? Your daughter is truly unlucky to have such a heartless mother like you. Even if you love your son, you shouldn't neglect your daughter! They're all born from the same womb..." Madam Li was notorious for favoring sons over daughters, and she didn't forget to sow discord between her and her daughter.
The Third Princess was so surprised to see how eloquent she was, not at all gentle and delicate, and much stronger than her. Her jaw nearly dropped.
Only then did the Third Princess Consort have a chance to interject and act as a peacemaker. "Oh dear, it's all thanks to Young Master Jiang for saving Miss Zhang. Fortunately, he publicly promised to marry Miss Zhang. This was truly a lucky accident that led to a marriage. This is a good thing!" After all, she was the wife of a high-ranking official.
Old Madam Su was clever. Seeing that Madam Li was being criticized, and knowing that Jiang Fenghua was not one to let things go easily, she chose to remain silent.
Even knowing she would be cuckolded, she wouldn't insist on marrying Zhang Yumo now.
Jiang Fenghua, however, was not going to let her off the hook. It was all this old woman's doing. She smiled and said, "I heard that Madam Su has already proposed marriage to the Duke of Zhang's mansion. I wonder which of your grandsons Madam Su is planning to propose to?"
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