Upon seeing Jiang Shuwan, Jiang Yao, waving a round fan embroidered with butterflies and flowers, walked straight over.
"Why does elder sister look so unhappy? Has someone wronged you? Tell me, elder sister, I want to see who has the audacity to make you suffer. As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. Even if the Marquis's mansion is in trouble and everyone pushes it when it's down, elder sister is still a county princess personally appointed by His Majesty, a member of the imperial family."
"You loose-tongued brat, what are you saying!"
Hearing Jiang Yao's gloating voice, Jiang Shuwan had just sat down and hadn't said anything when Song Shi slapped Jiang Yao first.
With a "smack," Song slapped Jiang Yao on the back. She couldn't bear to hit Jiang Yao's mouth, so she hit her back several times.
"The Marquis's mansion suffers a disaster, so the Earl's mansion is glorious? You can't tell what's important, is this how I taught you? Are you stupid?!"
"..."
Song Shi beat Jiang Yao mercilessly until she screamed and fell silent, only then did she stop.
She pointed at Jiang Yao's mouth, ordering her to control herself, before personally taking the tea from the maid and serving it to Jiang Shuwan.
“Mother is an elder, how can this be?” Jiang Shuwan subconsciously tried to stand up, but Song Shi pressed her back down and asked her with concern.
"Wanwan, are you tired? There have been many things going on at the Marquis's residence lately, you must not have slept well, right? I heard from your father that His Majesty even issued a special decree for you to participate in the Plowing Ceremony. It seems that His Majesty still values Consort Rong's reputation and is being lenient with you. Don't be discouraged. The matter of the Heir Apparent was indeed wrong. You said he was a good student, how could he dare to cheat in the Imperial Examination?"
"And Lord Yun too, how could the Grand Secretary do such a thing? He's truly disgraced..."
With a deep sigh, Song said with genuine concern.
Clearly, she shared the opinion of the outsiders that Lord Yun had abused his power for personal gain by leaking the exam questions to Pei Yanzhi beforehand.
"This matter is still under investigation, so it would be best for Mother to be careful what she says," Jiang Shuwan said casually as she drank her water.
"What's the point of investigating? We have all the witnesses and evidence, it's just that Pei Yanzhi and Elder Yun are still stubbornly denying it..."
As she spoke, Song rolled her eyes slightly.
Lately, she has been inquiring about the imperial examination scandal every day. She has heard that some officials from the Ministry of Rites have admitted to accepting bribes and leaking the exam questions.
With the physical evidence found at the Marquis's residence, the matter is now a foregone conclusion.
Sitting down next to Jiang Shuwan with her bottom askew, staring at Jiang Shuwan's beautiful face, Madam Song suddenly spoke up, "Wan, Wanwan... how about... you get a divorce!"
"puff--"
Jiang Shuwan spat out a mouthful of tea. She thought Song was going to say something, but she didn't expect Song to say this.
Jiang Yao was also surprised. She stopped idly fanning herself and rushed over to take Song Shi away.
"Mother, what are you thinking? Why are you trying to persuade someone to divorce?"
Jiang Yao was frantic with worry.
If Jiang Shuwan gets a divorce, she will be separated from the Marquis's mansion, and then where will she find any excitement to watch?
"What do you know? When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. Now the Marquis's mansion is deserted and on the verge of collapse. In such a situation, why is your eldest sister still staying in the Marquis's mansion instead of seizing the time to leave?"
Song said with a reproachful look, and then raised her finger and poked a red mark hard on Jiang Yao's forehead.
"Let me tell you, don't cause me any trouble at this time. We're all family, and we must stand firmly by your older sister's side."
Jiang Yao: "..."
Jiang Yao was stunned, and felt even more aggrieved. "Mother! Whose mother are you anyway? Why do you always think of Jiang Shuwan? I am your biological daughter!"
Jiang Yao stamped her feet and cried. She had never felt so wronged when Pei Lingyu took a concubine.
"Then I am still the matriarch of the Jiang family!"
She rolled her eyes at her silly girl, then walked up to Jiang Shuwan, took her hand, and gently stroked it while earnestly advising, "As the saying goes, husband and wife are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately. You don't trust Pei, and you've only been married into the Marquis's mansion for a year and a half. Why suffer in the Marquis's mansion at a time like this?"
"Besides, Pei Yanzhi's cheating in the imperial examination was a disgrace to the emperor. If you distance yourself from him and the Marquis's mansion, people will only praise you and will never laugh at you."
"I've already thought it through. There are so many good men in the world. You have assets in Donglai Street and the title of county princess. Why can't you marry a good husband? I have several talented, handsome, and virtuous children on my side..."
"Mother, please wait a moment."
Seeing that Madam Song was about to propose marriage to her by taking out a small book from her sleeve, Jiang Shuwan quickly called for a stop.
The Song family is really something. They advised Jiang Yao to divorce before, and now they're advising her to divorce again.
I wonder what Pei Yanzhi will think when he finds out that the Song family no longer calls him "son-in-law" after he falls into trouble.
"My mother wants me to get a divorce. Does this reflect my father's opinion?" Jiang Shuwan asked, pondering the question.
"No, but I spoke with your father, and he didn't object."
No objection means consent.
It seems her father also doesn't think highly of the Marquis's mansion.
There is a saying that the higher one stands, the harder one falls, not to mention a national event like the imperial examination. As a minister personally promoted by the old emperor, Pei Yanzhi would surely bring disaster to the Marquis's family if he were convicted.
The entire Pei clan will be ridiculed by the world.
"Good child, listen to your mother, I won't hurt you. If you don't get a divorce now, it will be too late..."
"I'm extremely anxious," said Mrs. Song.
Compared to her previous attempt to persuade Jiang Yao to divorce, this time her approach was much stronger.
Jiang Yao doesn't want a divorce. At worst, people will see her smiling. As long as she's thick-skinned, she won't get hurt.
But if the Marquis's family is implicated in this crime, they will be infamous for eternity, with no chance of ever recovering. Not only will the Jiang family, as related by marriage, lose face, but Jiang's father will also be despised by his colleagues.
In that case, their future would be completely ruined.
Looking at Song's anxious face, Jiang Shuwan knew all too well these things.
However, she couldn't tell Song Shi what was on her mind.
"Mother, rest assured, as long as I am here, no matter what happens to the Marquis's mansion, our Jiang family will be safe."
After solemnly assuring Song Shi, Jiang Shuwan saw that it was almost time and returned to the Marquis's residence.
Staring at her departing figure, Madam Song shook her head and sighed, almost tearing the handkerchief in her hand.
"Why is Wan so stubborn!"
"Hmph, you see? You're thinking of others, but they don't appreciate it at all. You're such a good stepmother, yet you're eager to be someone else's biological mother. You'd be better off spending your time caring for me."
Seeing this, Jiang Yao immediately jumped out. Song slapped her on the arm, which was much harder than the previous slap on the back. Jiang Yao screamed in pain and pulled up her clothes to see that her arm was red.
"Mother! I am your own son!"
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