Chapter Sixteen: The Young Become Concubines, While the Elders Still Serve Greater Purposes

Only the lower half of her face rested against Xie Changzhi’s chest, a faint smile curving at the corner of her lips.

Old Madam Jiang sat frozen in place, her complexion shifting from pale to flushed. She had spent a lifetime scheming with her signature cunning, yet today she had finally met her match.

Outside the courtyard gate, the crowd gathered in growing numbers, eager for a spectacle. Upon hearing that Old Madam Jiang intended to starve her granddaughter to death over grain, they began to curse her vehemently.

Even the spittle flying through the air could have drowned the two of them!

Old Madam Jiang’s eyes darted anxiously as she glared at Aunt Jiang, who was shrinking back like a frightened quail.

“You clueless thing!”

“Mother, mother, let’s leave first and reconsider this matter carefully later,” Aunt Jiang said with a shiver, quickly moving forward to support Old Madam Jiang.

Old Madam Jiang exhaled in relief, but as she rose, her confidence seemed to swell once more. She turned and shouted at Cheng Yuan again.

“Jiang Yuan, you’d better think carefully over the next couple of days. A daughter who marries out is like water spilled — gone and forgotten. If you sever ties, you will have no ancestry! Your little brother Jiang Hu is still so young. Without the clan’s support, how will he study or find a wife in the future?”

“I don’t need my sister’s help! Hu’er doesn’t need to study or marry. You’re a wicked grandmother! Go away!”

Cheng Hu hurried in from outside, pushing hard with his small hands until Old Madam Jiang staggered two steps back, his pupils dilated.

“You’re a bad grandmother! You’ve always spoken ill of sister and mother to me! Now you want to bully sister again! I don’t want a grandmother like you!”

The onlookers gasped, “Kids don’t lie! I’ve watched Hu’er grow up, and this Old Madam Jiang truly has done nothing but evil!”

“She’s really terrible. I used to think she just cared too much about not breaking up the family, but it turns out she’s a scheming old hag stirring up trouble!”

Cheng Yuan looked at her little brother in surprise. Normally reserved, today he spoke so much.

Cheng Hu glanced back at her, his dark eyes filled with nervousness and a hint of hope.

Cheng Yuan understood and smiled at him. He then shyly pressed his lips together, the corners lifting slightly.

“Let’s go, mother. Let’s leave now!”

Old Madam Jiang clearly wanted to say more, but Aunt Jiang pulled her firmly away from the crowd.

“Clear out! What are you looking at? Keep staring and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

“Bah! Who wants to look? Don’t come touching us or you’ll get blamed!”

On the way back, Old Madam Jiang resumed her usual vigorous scolding, uttering every poisonous word she could muster. Aunt Jiang listened, irritated enough to stomp her foot.

Such a talented speaker, so capable, yet she never gained any advantage over Cheng Yuan!

Originally, they thought she might succeed, but she ended up running away like a beaten dog.

Better off than her!

“What happened? Did that mother and daughter agree?” Aunt Jiang’s husband had come home and approached them, but Aunt Jiang slapped him away.

“Bah! Can’t read the mood!”

Seeing through the façade, Aunt Jiang’s attitude grew careless toward Old Madam Jiang, her mind wandering.

“I’m telling you, tonight you’re going to capture that filthy girl for me. Did you hear? This is a sedative!”

Old Madam Jiang slammed a small paper packet on the table, spitting as she barked at her.

“Why me? You know how fierce that little beast is! Let Jiang Da go.”

Aunt Jiang wiped the spit from her mouth with a grimace, furious.

She had thought that being the only daughter-in-law gave her an advantage, but instead she had inherited a burden — no extra grain or silver, and all the household’s torment directed at her!

“If you won’t go, when the county officials arrive tomorrow, you’ll send He’er!”

Old Madam Jiang’s voice sank, eyes fixed on the little girl feeding chickens in the yard.

Noticing the gaze, the thin face turned away, fear flashing in her eyes.

“Grandmother…”

Aunt Jiang’s heart jumped. She quickly blocked the girl’s view and smiled ingratiatingly.

“I’ll go, I’ll go tonight. Leave it to me.”

Old Madam Jiang gave her a heavy look, then suddenly went into the bedroom, returning with a gleaming object in hand.

Aunt Jiang startled — a dagger no longer than a pinky finger!

Iron was strictly regulated by the court; even broken kitchen utensils had to be surrendered before replacements could be purchased. Where did her mother-in-law get such a sharp dagger?

Old Madam Jiang instructed carefully, “If anyone stops you, use this. Make sure it’s clean. And remember, the second daughter-in-law must not be killed.”

Not kill? Was there any use in keeping it then?

Aunt Jiang wanted to ask but swallowed her words when she saw the flashing blade.

It wasn’t her concern anyway. If the second daughter-in-law met misfortune, it was her own doing — blame Cheng Yuan for not being obedient enough!

—

“Why are you so foolish? You even dared to seek death?”

Cheng Zhifang had overheard everything clearly from the small kitchen. Had she not been worried about the grain stored there being discovered, she wouldn’t have waited until the two left.

Her eyes welled with tears of anger as she first tossed a chestnut at Cheng Yuan, then gently tapped her forehead.

“Mother, don’t worry, I was just acting. Besides, Changzhi is here!”

Cheng Yuan smiled sweetly, leaning forward, blinking obediently.

“Mother, I’ll protect Miss Cheng Yuan.”

Xie Changzhi quickly added his promise.

Though he had indeed been frightened, it was only a performance. Still, Miss Cheng Yuan was truly brave, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

“Mother, don’t blame sister. It’s all because of the wicked grandmother,” even Cheng Hu clung to their side. Cheng Zhi glared at him but gave up.

“You, still able to smile.”

The four sat around in the main room, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Outside the door, Xie Yanzhi pressed close, peeking inside.

“If you’re jealous, come in.”

Xie Tingjun stacked firewood neatly.

Xie Yanzhi immediately withdrew, pouted, and kicked the snow.

“Who’s jealous? That shrew’s so ugly, no one would want her!”

“Oh? A shrew?”

A chilling voice came from behind, coldly adding, “The snow in the courtyard and backyard won’t be cleared; no lunch for my shrew today.”

Xie Yanzhi was furious, grabbing a broom to sweep frantically. Snowflakes swirled around him, mingling with the falling snow, until a sorrowful gaze was finally hidden when Cheng Yuan entered the bedroom.

Inside, Xie Changzhi sat stiffly on a stool. Hearing the door open, he sprang to his feet.

He rubbed the corner of his clothes nervously. “Cheng Yuan, did you call me?”

Cheng Yuan nodded, extending her hand to reveal two small metallic rods resting in her palm.

Xie Changzhi was used to her sudden appearances of strange objects, but his gaze was drawn to the curious new items.

“What are these…”