Chapter 31: The Second Aunt Offers a Cunning Strategy

Jiang Shiyuan remained unfazed.

This matter concerned the future prospects and social standing of the men in the family, as well as the lifelong happiness of her fourth younger sister. Naturally, she had to speak up. However, her second aunt, Madam Zhang, had been waiting for this opportunity. Seeing Jiang Shiyuan about to ruin her plans, she immediately spoke in a harsh voice with a cold expression.

"The eldest young lady certainly speaks without feeling the weight of the words. Among all the young ladies in this household, who has a backer as powerful as yours? The Marquis of Wenyuan treats you like the apple of their eye; if not one house, there will always be another, and they are all sons of high-ranking, wealthy families. But the other girls in this house are not you. They have no particular talents and no powerful backers. If it weren't for Jin'er thinking to build bridges for them, what kind of families could they marry into? At best, they would marry impoverished scholars or wealthy commoners—what kind of future would that be? Just because you are all daughters of the Jiang family, does it mean that because you can marry into a noble house, they must necessarily settle for less?"

The tone of her speech was dripping with sarcasm, and the Old Madam Jiang’s expression grew displeased. However, looking at the string of eighteen prayer beads she had just been gifted, she did not speak immediately, silently allowing her second daughter-in-law, Zhang, to continue her lecture.

Jiang Shiyue, standing beside Madam Zhang, did not know Jiang Shiyuan's true intentions at this moment. Believing that her foster mother was truly acting for her own good, she looked at her eldest sister with a trace of resentment. Yet, she dared not question her directly, only wearing a look of grievance that made others pity her. Seeing this, Hai Yiniang felt distressed and wanted to step forward, but she was pulled back by Yang Yiniang, who shook her head solemnly. Both were concubines in this household with similar status, and over the years, they had relied on each other for support. However, because Yang Yiniang came from a respectable family and was well-read, her insight was sharper than Hai Yiniang’s, who usually deferred to her judgment. Seeing this restraint, Hai Yiniang stopped, her brows furrowed deeply, her eyes filled with worry as she watched her daughter, fearing she might do something reckless in her youth.

Jiang Huaishan’s expression darkened upon hearing this. He could hardly bear to say a harsh word to his own daughter, yet she was being belittled by his second sister-in-law, who had gained all the advantages and yet played the victim. It was a farce. With a stern face, he said, "Second sister-in-law, watch your tongue. It is not your place to make decisions for this household. Ah Nian has only said a few words and has not even finished explaining. Why are you in such a rush to oppose her? You use her status to sow discord—if she were truly that kind of person, why bother returning to the Jiang family? Would it not have been more comfortable to stay at the Marquis of Wenyuan’s estate? Furthermore, if she had truly acted in such a manner, she would not have allowed Shijin to commit an act that brought such shame upon the family, only to have Ah Nian’s kindness lead her to break off the engagement and marry in her stead to resolve the crisis. How did it become her fault in your words? The foolishness of a woman is truly displayed to its fullest extent in you!"

Madam Zhang was so thoroughly rebuked by her brother-in-law that her face turned bright red with shame. She had always been a petty person, but during the years following her husband's sudden death, she had been forced to live under someone else's roof and had to remain low-profile. Now that she had finally achieved a life of status, she had forgotten the hardships of those years and the kindness of others, even feeling as though the Jiang family owed her and her daughter. The more she thought about it, the more resentful she became, and her gaze sharpened, losing the respect she once held for Jiang Huaishan.

"Big Brother, I don't care for your tone. You speak of the foolishness of women, but isn't Mother also a woman? When she raised you and the second son, why didn't you call her foolish? And your late wife—she was a woman when she married you, wasn't she? Why did you never call her foolish? Why is it so harsh when it comes to me? Have I done something wrong by seeking a future for the girls in this house? Am I foolish? Big Brother is certainly clever, and the eldest young lady has inherited your skills, but why haven't I seen you two use your wits to do anything for this family?"

Jiang Huaishan had spent many years in the officialdom and could have easily countered such remarks without a trace, but he was stopped by Jiang Shiyuan, who said calmly and steadily, "Father, this is not the time for anger or blame. I have my reasons for saying what I did."

Jiang Shiyuan did not want to waste breath on her second aunt. She knew that to strike a snake, one must hit its seven-inch mark. Was her second aunt not acting recklessly here, relying on the Old Madam’s status to suppress others with the guise of filial piety? If she could convince the Old Madam, this farce would naturally resolve itself.

"Grandmother, you may not know this, but my second cousin currently serves at the Weiwei Temple. Therefore, I have learned much about the reputation of this Third Young Master of the Prince's estate from him. To say nothing of other things, the most outrageous incident is that he once stole thirty thousand taels of silver from the Prince's estate to pay off gambling debts. After Prince Chun found out, he was severely beaten with rattan rods, which injured his health and caused his temperament to change drastically. It is said that he becomes violently enraged at the slightest provocation. Many young masters of noble families at the Weiwei Temple have clashed with him, and two soldiers of no consequence were beaten until they were severely injured. If not for the Prince Chun's estate using money to suppress the matter, I fear this Third Young Master would have already been thrown into prison."

As Jiang Shiyuan spoke, her tone was calm and her expression composed. However, the Old Madam Jiang sitting opposite her wore a look of utter disbelief. How could the reputation of this Third Young Master be so different from what her second granddaughter had told her? Was he not described as elegant, modest, and as pure as jade?

Before the Old Madam could recover, Jiang Shiyue was even more shocked. When her foster mother, Madam Zhang, had come to tell her of this match, she had thought that heaven was finally pitying her and offering her a future. She never imagined he was such a man! Her eldest sister had nothing to gain or lose in this matter, so there was no point in her lying. The anticipation and joy that once filled her eyes now turned into a look of evasion and fear. If even soldiers could be beaten until severely injured, would she not lose her life within days if she were to marry him? Thinking of this, she looked at Jiang Shiyuan with mounting terror, as if waiting for her next words.

"Are you not just repeating hearsay?"

"This was witnessed by Second Cousin himself. Father knows him; he is a man of integrity who never lies."

The simple dialogue between father and daughter was like a slap in the face to Madam Zhang. Her second cousin would certainly not speak nonsense, but the same could not be said of her—after all, a mother and daughter would do anything to climb the social ladder.

Thinking of this, the once-firm Old Madam Jiang began to waver. She hoped that her granddaughters would marry into noble houses to stabilize the Jiang family’s standing, but if it were truly as her eldest granddaughter said, would she not be gambling with the lives of the Jiang girls? She was not so heartless as to go that far. Thus, her expression toward her second daughter-in-law, Zhang, was no longer as warm or trusting as before, and she asked with a trace of suspicion, "Hasn't Jin'er been married there for over a month? Why didn't she find out clearly before coming home to tell us? If the Third Young Master is truly such a man, how can we let Xiaoyue marry him?"

The Old Madam’s questioning and Jiang Shiyue’s avoidance made Madam Zhang furious, but she had to force herself to remain calm, wanting to see the matter through. Even if it failed in the end, she had to ensure this meal proceeded smoothly; otherwise, if the son-in-law saw that his wife’s maternal family was so divided, wouldn't that harm her daughter's future?