Chapter 38 I Want to Favor Other Women
Kneel down!
The majestic yet aged voice crashed down once more, plunging the entire Jiang residence into a profound sense of eeriness and unease, with everyone holding their breath.
Jiang Shuifu stared intently and saw a hunched and thin figure, yet proud and unyielding, walking slowly towards her with a cane.
He then stopped three feet away from her, looking down at her and issuing orders with an imposing air.
This is her grandfather, Jiang Zongnan.
Her gaze shifted, and there was her grandmother.
Grandmother's complexion was also not good. Her originally kind face had become much more serious, her lips were pursed into a straight line, and the bright red gem on her forehead band had become even darker, revealing an aura of a stranger who should not be approached.
Standing beside her grandmother were her aunt and uncle, her maternal uncle and aunt, all of whom were her very close relatives. They all looked helpless, their eyes filled with heartache for her.
Upon hearing this, Tiger, Little Sister Bao, and Bean Sister, among other grandchildren, knelt down in fear.
Jiang Shuifu now understood the situation: her grandfather was angry, so he wouldn't even open the door for her, and she could only obediently kneel down.
“Your unfilial granddaughter Jiang Shuifu has returned. Please, grandparents, do not be angry and take care of yourselves.”
Jiang Zongnan was still angry and retorted in a strong voice, "Come back? Our Jiang family will not tolerate a divorced woman!"
There was no fear of being hit hard in Jiang Shuifu's eyes, nor any resentment at being verbally abused by her family. She knew her grandparents wouldn't do that. Her eyes were firm, and her straight back gradually bent as she knelt and kowtowed.
“It is my fault, my granddaughter. I have disobeyed my grandparents’ teachings and failed my mother’s last wish. The Jiang family has a rule that you must put yourself first in everything. You are the most important person. Everyone else is just an insignificant piece of rotten cabbage. I should not lose myself for a piece of rotten cabbage. I may not love others, but I must love myself!”
Grandmother's expression softened, but Grandfather's remained unmoved, and she continued to list her faults:
“Granddaughter is terribly wrong. She shouldn’t have lost her dignity for a man, shouldn’t have changed herself completely for a man, shouldn’t have wronged herself, and even more so, shouldn’t have knelt here today to reflect on herself, because her grandparents can’t stand seeing her kneeling and being punished!”
Her grandparents couldn't bear to see her kneeling, but she knelt for a long time, all for a man. This was her biggest mistake.
Grandmother's complexion improved somewhat, and the ruby on her forehead ribbon finally came to life, shimmering and radiating its proper light. She sighed.
"Alright, get up. It's fine if you go back and copy the family precepts dozens of times, but there can't be a next time. Men are all fleeting, there are plenty of them, but Jiaojiao is the real treasure!"
Jiang Shuifu knew that her grandmother was soft-hearted. She hadn't seen her grandmother for a long time, and her grandmother had many more white hairs. She wished she could bury her head in her grandmother's arms.
Since her grandfather hadn't given any instructions yet, she obediently awaited his judgment.
Her cautious gaze only fueled the old man's anger. He slammed his golden cane on the ground, his temper flaring.
“We’ve raised you for over a decade, and you’ve only been back for five years, and you’ve already become so timid and hesitant. Aren’t you going to get up and wait for this old man to help you?”
"What kind of man did she marry! Was she to be treated like a servant? It's outrageous! He's royalty, after all; everyone here has broken limbs. Such a fine young woman has been tortured like this! Divorce? Divorce is a better option!"
Grandfather cursed Shen Jizhao for half an incense stick's time. Fortunately, this place is far from the capital, otherwise the Jiang family would definitely have been slaughtered.
He only stopped speaking when Jiang Shuifu's leg swayed slightly from the strain. Then, he extended one end of his golden cane and said in a weak voice:
"Get up! You're back in the Jiang family, no need to be aggrieved. However, family rules cannot be ignored. Guards!"
Everyone present stared wide-eyed, and the grandmother, with a pained expression, advised:
"Old man, she just got back, she's exhausted from the long journey, and her health is completely ruined. If you still want to punish her, I'll be the first to disagree!"
Jiang Shuifu shook her head, telling her grandmother not to worry: "Grandmother, Grandfather is right. Since I have violated the family rules, I should be punished. Without rules, there can be no order. I am willing to be punished!"
Only by remembering this lesson can we prevent it from happening again!
Therefore, she should accept this punishment!
Jiang Zongnan took the bamboo clapper, took a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination and deep-seated heartache.
"Clap clap clap!"
The paddles came down one after another. Although Jiang Zongnan was old, his strength was still considerable. After ten strokes, Jiang Shuifu's palms were bleeding and her skin was torn open, but she endured it without uttering a sound.
Grandmother and everyone in the mansion couldn't bear to watch this scene, and Tiger and the others had their eyes covered by the adults.
As the last stroke landed, Jiang Zongnan's eyes were already slightly red. He helped her up. He was old and not very agile, but he was extremely steady when he touched her. She could feel that he had used all his strength and love.
She was very happy that so many people loved her unconditionally.
Jiang Zongnan made a vow:
"Jiaojiao, the Jiang family will always be your support, and your grandparents will take care of you for the rest of your life!"
Unlike before when she would cry and make a scene after being beaten, Jiang Shuifu simply hummed in response, her eyes full of smiles, using this method to comfort her grandfather that she was not in pain.
Her grandmother, uncle, and aunt called doctors to check on her injuries, and even Tiger and his family came to pat her palms and comfort her.
Grandfather is gone. His back is no longer straight. If you look closely, you can see that his steps are slow and heavy, as if he can no longer lift his feet. He is tired, helpless, and heartbroken.
It turns out that this marriage broke her family's hearts; the person she chose, her judgment, was truly terrible.
.
After the beating, Jiang Shuifu was forced to stay in bed for three days by her grandmother, who wouldn't let her go anywhere. She was extremely bored, but luckily, she had Tiger and the other children to play with her. However, children are often unrestrained in their speech:
"Sister, why don't you stay in the capital? Isn't the capital so much fun? Don't you love having fun the most?"
Little Sister Bao scratched her head and asked, "Big Sister, now that you're divorced, does that mean we won't have a brother-in-law anymore?"
Doujie, the eldest and most sensible, said: "Are you silly? There's no brother-in-law. We've never even met him. He's such a high-ranking official, why would he care about us? He's never even bought us a string of candied hawthorns!"
Little Sister Bao grinned mischievously: "Then you can find a new brother-in-law, Sister. There are so many men in Su Yang, you have to choose carefully. You have to choose someone generous. We want to eat the sweetest and biggest candied hawthorn!"
Jiang Shuifu smiled. These little rascals were too clever. They weren't concerned about her finding a husband at all; they were clearly using this as an excuse to ask her for food. They were all drooling.
"Okay, whatever you want to eat, your older sister will buy it for you!"
Finally, after lying in bed for more than ten days, she was able to go out and see the sunlight.
Jiang Shuifu brought the peaches to an extremely happy place filled with laughter and joy.
Pan Tao's eyes lit up, both conflicted and excited: "Miss, do we really want to go in?"
Although Xiaomei and the others are greedy, what they said makes sense.
She got divorced!
She has no husband's family anymore!
I'm all alone now!
In that case, why doesn't she just live life to the fullest!
Life is short, so seize the day and enjoy life to the fullest!
Jiang Shuifu looked at the peaches with curiosity and anticipation, yet still pretended to be serious, and deliberately teased her: "Then don't go!"
The peach didn't respond, "Wherever Miss goes, I'll go!"
Jiang Shuifu flicked her head, then swaggered in with her hands behind her back: "Madam, give me your most popular signboard!"
That's right, this is Su Yang's largest brothel, a place where male prostitutes are hired for entertainment.
Soon, a handsome man with almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and thin red lips walked in, carrying a zither in his well-defined hands.
It was the first time Pan Tao had ever seen a male prostitute like this. Her face turned red, but she still stared at him intently, afraid of missing a single expression—no, a single note from his zither.
The young man's zither playing was melodious and graceful. Anyone who knew the zither would surely praise it as heavenly music, but Jiang Shuifu didn't understand it. However, that didn't stop her from nodding.
Not bad, this young man is quite good-looking. Although he's far inferior to Shen Jizhao, she's been looking at him for five years and is already tired of him.
For the past five years, she has faced his icy face every day. It's such a waste that face is given to him; she has never had the chance to appreciate his smile. She wonders how amazing that face would be if given to someone else.
Jiang Shuifu is naturally attracted to good looks, or to put it bluntly, she's a bit lecherous. Otherwise, how could she have fallen in love with Shen Jizhao at first sight and wasted five years of her life?
Now, she listened to music and ate pastries, enjoying the most comfortable treatment. She never knew that life could be so enjoyable. No wonder men like to visit brothels.
"Miss, do you like this piece? I also have a secret recipe; would you like to try it?"
Jiang Shuifu became interested, sat up straight, and narrowed her eyes: "What exclusive secret recipe?"
The young man smiled gently, a perfect curve at the corners of his mouth. His smile was bright yet masculine, and she realized just how handsome a man could be when he smiled.
The male prostitute leaned closer and whispered a few words to her. Her expression changed more and more, and she was very surprised, as if she had opened the door to a new world.
She slowly straightened up, then leaned back again. After thinking it over again, the peaches behind her couldn't hold back any longer, so she simply gave in to their wishes: "Peach, go ahead!"
The peach was very excited, her face flushed red from the crab, and she nervously clenched her fists. This was the first time she had ever done something like this!
She hesitated for a moment, then finally took a big step and lay down.
Afterwards, Jiang Shuifu continued to stroll down the street, spending money like water and enjoying her new and wonderful life. Behind her, Pan Tao looked extremely relaxed, with a rosy and radiant complexion, and was even humming a tune.
She asked her curiously, "What? Is his technique really that good?"
Pan Tao laughed smugly, "Of course, Miss, that male prostitute's technique was amazing! He massaged away my years-long shoulder and back pain in one go. Now my shoulders don't ache, my back doesn't hurt, and I feel completely refreshed!"
Jiang Shuifu nodded nonchalantly. "Is this comfortable?" Her eyes darted around. "Maybe I should try it next time?"
The male and female performers in Su Yang's brothels all sell their art, not their bodies. She has no worries about them doing anything out of line. Everyone gets what they need; you watch the show and listen to the music, and they make money. That's all.
She had been holding back for too long, living with an iceberg for three years. Although the iceberg had softened a lot later, he was still clueless about romance and his performance in bed was terrible. Now that they were divorced, of course she was free to roam the world and treat herself well.
Looking at men, or more accurately, simply appreciating them, is perfectly normal.
However, she still prefers someone burly and strong, with a good physique, someone who's like a brick. Next time, next time.
Jiang Shuifu was overjoyed, while Shen Jizhao in the capital was as black as coal, unable to swallow the blood at the corner of his mouth.
Jinqing bandaged his wounds, brought him the medicine, and urged him to drink it:
"Your Highness, please rest. Your body can't take it anymore. You still have injuries that should have healed long ago, but they've been bleeding for a month. If you don't take your medicine soon, your health will collapse!"
For the past two months, Shen Jizhao has not had a good night's sleep. He has been working day and night on government affairs and has also been busy going out of the capital to arrest people. In the process, he inevitably gets injured.
He refused treatment, always smashing his medicine after just one sip, his health deteriorated, and he could no longer maintain his former indifference, frequently losing his temper.
He should have been married long ago, but now the Eastern Palace is terrifyingly empty except for him; he can even hear the candlelight burning. He smashed the medicine again: "Get out! Get out of here! I don't need your concern!"
Nobody cares about him, and he doesn't need anyone's concern.
Whether it's his parents or his subordinates, they are all other people.
Shen Jizhao's wedding was not held as scheduled. After Jiang Shuifu left, he went to the emperor and asked to postpone the wedding on the grounds that there were urgent matters of state.
The emperor severely reprimanded him and dismissed several of his cases. This was the first time in his twenty-odd years of life that he had "miscalculated" and received such a heavy punishment.
There was nothing he could do; he was annoyed by those two women. One was pretentious, and the other was stupid. If they were brought into the Eastern Palace, wouldn't it cause chaos? He originally wanted to cancel both marriages, but the emperor would never agree to such a ridiculous thing.
Besides, that woman had just divorced him, and he broke off the engagement. If word got out, it would be absurd to say that he couldn't let her go, and the emperor would certainly not allow a dignified crown prince to be so preoccupied with romantic love.
Jinqing grew anxious and continued to persuade him, "Your Highness, you have already done so much in the past two months. His Majesty has long since calmed down. You don't need to work so hard!"
Shen Jizhao snorted, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth again: "Yes! Two months! No, it's two months and nineteen days!"
Jinqing asked in confusion, "What?"
Shen Jizhao raised his eyes, his gaze icy and filled with a malevolent aura, as if he wished he could be torn to pieces.
"Who told you I can't let her go? She's just a woman. Would I care? I can have any woman I want, whether she's slender or plump, beautiful or voluptuous. One look from me and the Eastern Palace is overflowing! Cough cough cough!"
He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and his eyes quickly filled with bloodshot veins that, accumulated over time, were now denser than a spider web.
Jinqing looked at him with a look of utter disbelief. Oh no, His Highness the Crown Prince was starting to hallucinate. When did he ever mention the Crown Princess, or rather, the former Crown Princess?
Jinqing was experienced and quickly figured out that His Highness the Crown Prince couldn't let go of his former Crown Princess and was throwing a tantrum here!
As a competent subordinate, he offered advice, or rather, gave Shen Jizhao the way out he wanted:
"Your Highness, would you like to see Su Yang's carrier pigeon?"
Shen Jizhao knew from the beginning that Jiang Shuifu was going to Suyang. He had already arranged for people to follow her and secretly protect and monitor her. However, it had been two months, and he had not sent a single message by carrier pigeon.
Shen Jizhao tried his best to keep her from leaving the East Palace and from him. He apologized to her, made promises to her, and even said he could abandon the harem for her sake.
He further proved to her the emotion he had previously disdained and hidden: he cared about her, so he brought back everything she had given him.
But she still left, leaving decisively. Of course he was angry, and as proud as he was, he would not allow her to bow her head again.
He practically roared, his face ashen.
"Who told you I like her? I would never do that. She didn't just throw her away so easily... She left me. I only feel hatred for her. I hate people who give up halfway!"
After saying that, he became even angrier. He wouldn't admit it, but the fact was that she had abandoned him!
Yes, she dumped him!
His breathing suddenly slowed down and gradually returned to calm.
Jinqing wished she could hang from a tree immediately and escape from here; he was too terrifying, and his emotions were too abnormal.
After a long while, Shen Jizhao opened his eyes. His eyes were clearer, but there was still an unyielding turbidity in them. He had resumed his posture as a powerful ruler.
"Give the order: I wish to favor other women!"
She abandoned him? He could too!
.
Jiang Shuifu was very happy. It was her first time visiting a brothel, and she felt it was quite nice. Although her identity was special, few people in Su Yang recognized her, as she had been gone for five years.
Therefore, she could openly indulge in entertainment. It had been more than half a month since her last visit to the brothel. She couldn't forget the male prostitute's skills and wanted to experience them for herself. The peaches had described them as miraculous, so she wanted to see if it was really true.
However, she could no longer be diligent. Although her grandparents doted on her, they wouldn't allow her to do such unconventional things.
For the past two weeks, she has been riding through the streets, indulging in unrestrained joy. Today, she went to a storytelling house.
This storytelling hall was bustling with activity, packed with guests. The old storyteller on stage was speaking with great enthusiasm, his spittle flying everywhere.
"Last time we talked about the story of the fox spirit and the emperor. This emperor was not like a traditional emperor. He had no love in his heart, and his harem was practically empty. But when he met the fox spirit, he was captivated at first sight. He couldn't take his eyes off her. His eyes were filled with burning desire and a determination to have her. The fox spirit was so charming and alluring that she made the emperor neglect state affairs and indulge in revelry every night!"
Speaking of this scandalous affair, many men in the audience grinned from ear to ear. One of the womanizers couldn't contain himself and joked:
"Beauty is a curse, and it's been said since ancient times that even heroes can't resist the charms of beautiful women. It's perfectly normal. However, there's been a romantic affair in the capital recently!"
The capital city is a place of great interest, and everyone wants to hear about what's happening there so they can brag about it back home. Someone asked curiously, "Oh? What is it? Which spoiled brat is it?"
The dashing man shook his head: "He's not some scoundrel who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun. He's the most distinguished young man in the entire Great Bei!"
Once these words were spoken, everyone knew the true nature of this young man. Who else could be the most noble besides Crown Prince Shen Jizhao?
The tea that Jiang Shuifu put into her mouth suddenly tasted a little bitter. How could she still hear news of him even though she was thousands of miles away?
But what happened to him?
Is it related to a woman? Isn't he supposed to be the most rule-abiding?
It was a rare thing to hear him break his vows for beauty in his lifetime, and she silently listened.
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Author's Note: The next chapter will have 70% anti-piracy measures enabled. Just letting you all know in advance.
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