Chapter 50 Fishing Requires Bait
Jiang Wanru lifted her skirt and ran quickly to Aunt Liu's side.
Looking at the mangled back, the hand that had been reaching out to help froze in mid-air, unsure of where to touch.
Jiang Wanru suddenly looked up and pointed at Jiang Wanning, "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
"So you're not going to let me embarrass myself at the spring banquet today either?"
"This is all your conspiracy! Should I tell Father?"
Jiang Wan Ning sneered inwardly.
Is he no longer pretending?
Fine, if you won't pretend, I will.
Jiang Wan Ning took out a handkerchief and imitated the aggrieved expressions of Aunt Liu and Jiang Wan Ru every time.
"What are you saying, little sister?"
"The Spring Banquet was my sister's way of showing off, and it was also because she didn't wear the clothes I kindly prepared for you, but insisted on dressing like a prostitute."
"Being less attractive than others and making a fool of yourself, you're actually resenting your older sister? That's so illogical."
Peony received a look from Jiang Wanning and continued, "Second Miss, how can you slander the Eldest Miss like this?"
"It's fortunate that Miss pleaded for you and your daughter, otherwise Aunt Liu would have been beaten to death by the master long ago."
Jiang Wanru was stunned for a moment, then turned her head blankly to look at Zhang Mama.
Granny Zhang wiped the water from her face and whispered, "Second Miss, Master... knows about the loan sharking."
When Jiang Wanru returned, she was already seething with anger and wanted to vent it on Aunt Liu.
It's all her fault for choosing this dress; it's the same one worn by a geisha, and what's worse, the geisha looks better in it than she does.
She dances better than I do.
After getting off the carriage, he angrily walked towards Bihe Courtyard, but when he reached the gate, he heard Zhang Mama's cries.
He couldn't care less about embarrassing himself right now. "You...you know? How could you?"
Granny Zhang glanced at Jiang Wan Ning and whispered, "Second Miss, these things were all done by your concubine. You were unaware of them."
"The master won't punish you."
How could Jiang Wanru not understand that her aunt was taking the blame for her?
"Auntie!" Jiang Wanru cried out as she looked at Auntie Liu's bloodied and mangled back, "Auntie, wake up!"
"Hurry up and call the doctor!"
Jiang Wanru roared at the servants.
"Don't worry, little sister, there's still one more lash you haven't received," Jiang Wan Ning said calmly.
"Although I begged my father to let me carry out the execution so that my aunt would suffer less, I am not as strong as my father."
"But this number is unavoidable. If he says twenty lashes, then it must be twenty lashes. Otherwise, if Father blames us, my sister won't be able to explain it, will she?"
"Young Miss, the master already gave you one lash in the front hall. Twenty lashes are enough. What you're doing... Ah—"
Before Granny Zhang could finish speaking, Peony kicked her away again, "You insolent servant, have you already forgotten what the young lady just said?"
"Jiang Wanning!" Jiang Wanru roared, "What are you doing?"
Jiang Wan Ning stared coldly at the furiously roaring Jiang Wan Ru, "Is my sister blind?"
As she spoke, she picked up the whip beside her and stood up. "It's getting late. Let Auntie get another lash early so she can go inside and rest soon."
"If this drags on and someone dies, I won't be responsible."
"You dare!" Jiang Wanru roared, "If something happens to my aunt, do you think you can get away with it?"
"You'll definitely suffer a lowly fate then!"
Jiang Wan Ning chuckled, "Second sister, you really are adorable."
“Me,” Jiang Wanning stared at her and said, “Jiang Wanning.”
"The only legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family, the only granddaughter of the Grand Tutor's family, the future Princess of Langya, and the county princess personally appointed by the Emperor."
"Even if I were to take the life of one of my concubines, do you think that's a big deal?"
"Not to mention that it's because of your obstruction that I haven't been able to take action."
"My aunt is borrowing money at exorbitant interest rates in an attempt to trade with the Western Xia Kingdom; this is a capital offense!"
Jiang Wanning said something that forced Jiang Wanru to take a step closer, and Jiang Wanru kept retreating.
Finally, he collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Wan Ning suddenly smiled and gently helped the person up, "Good sister."
"Did I scare you just now, sister?"
"But you also have to understand your sister. Now that she's in charge of the household, everything is different from before."
"Didn't my aunt always say that she had many things to do in managing the household that she couldn't control? Sigh, now I feel the same way."
"This whip strikes my aunt, but it hurts me more. But rules are rules, and I dare not disobey my father's orders, do I?"
"As for these unruly servants, they can't be left unchecked, otherwise how will you manage the household in the future, sister?"
"My dear sister, you surely understand your older sister, don't you?"
At this moment, Jiang Wanru felt that Jiang Wanning was like a devil.
“Good sister, it breaks my heart to see your aunt like this.” Jiang Wan Ning continued, “How about you take this last lash for your aunt?”
"At that time, your father will definitely feel sorry for you and think you are filial."
"If my sister pleads with Father again, maybe Father will use his own money to pay off the loan on behalf of my aunt."
Upon hearing the last sentence, Jiang Wanru froze, looking at Jiang Wanning in disbelief, "Father?"
"He's unwilling to pay off his mother's...aunt's debt?"
"In such a situation, Father is already being kind by not sending Aunt to the estate to fend for herself. How could he possibly avenge Aunt?"
"That's fifty thousand taels!"
"What's your decision, little sister?" Jiang Wan Ning asked enticingly.
Jiang Wanru looked at Aunt Liu, who had fainted on the ground, and knew how painful that whipping had been.
If it leaves a scar...
"Or perhaps we should..."
"Second Miss!" Before Jiang Wanru could finish speaking, she heard Zhang Mama shout.
If the concubine wakes up and finds out that she didn't want to take the punishment for her, will she be sad?
Being heartbroken is a small matter; what if they stop caring about me in the future...
Jiang Wanru clenched her hands tightly, hesitated for a long time, and then said, "Okay!"
"Smack!"
"ah--"
Before Jiang Wanru could finish speaking, Jiang Wanning lashed her face with a whip.
Jiang Wanru covered her burning face, "You...you..."
"Little sister, this makes it seem more real."
“I will tell Father that you rushed up to protect Aunt Liu and that's how I accidentally hit your face.”
"Your father will naturally feel sorry for you then."
"Don't worry, I have medicine here, it won't leave you with scars."
Jiang Wan Ning gently comforted her.
He turned to the maid behind him and said, "Hurry up and help the concubine and the second young lady into the house."
"yes."
"Sister, please take good care of Aunt. I'll go find a doctor now."
Without giving Jiang Wanru a chance to speak, he turned and left Bihe Courtyard.
"Peony, send all the servants away from Bihe Courtyard and send our people in to keep an eye on things."
"Furthermore, no one is allowed to enter or leave Bihe Courtyard without my permission, except for Granny Zhang."
"Don't worry, Miss, I understand. But why isn't Granny Zhang being taken care of? Shouldn't that old man be the one who needs to be controlled?"
Jiang Wan Ning smiled and gently pinched Shao Yao's nose, "Because you need bait to fish."
Do you understand now?
"Understood."
"Do you really understand?"
"Heh...hehe." Peony scratched her head. "I'll just do as Miss says."
“Let’s go, we should go and have a good cry in front of our father,” Jiang Wan Ning said with a smile.
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