After the groom was swapped, the wedding banquet officially began. Among the female guests, there was a buzz of discussion. But the bride was Xie Nongyu, Princess Shanyang. Everyone knew this princess was used to being arrogant and willful. Originally, everyone had sympathized with Imperial Consort Dowager Sang for gaining such a formidable and troublesome daughter-in-law. Now they turned their sympathy to Lady Sang. On the surface, they pretended to congratulate Lady Sang, but in truth, each secretly rejoiced that it wasn't their own son or grandson that Princess Shanyang had set her sights on. Because the men and women feasted separately, Jiang Xuesui was originally sitting at the table with Wen Yuanjia and Wen Yuanxi. However, all at that table were unmarried young ladies, and Jiang Xuesui was the only married young madam. Lady Sang sent Shuangxi to call Jiang Xuesui over and sit next to her. When Jiang Xuesui sat down again beside Lady Sang, she glanced sideways. At this table sat Imperial Consort Dowager Sang of Prince Duan's Mansion, Grand Princess of Zhou and her three daughters-in-law, the Consort Dowager and Princess Consort of Prince Xiang's Mansion, the Consort Dowager and Princess Consort of Prince Su's Mansion, and the two daughters-in-law of the deceased Grand Princess of Jin—Princess Zhaoyang and Wen Yuanhuan. Except for Princess Zhaoyang, the rest were all old acquaintances of Jiang Xuesui. The daughters-in-law at the same table were all busy attending to their mothers-in-law—serving soup, rice, and dishes. Although Wen Yuanhuan's mother-in-law was dead, she had to wait on Princess Zhaoyang. Seeing that Jiang Xuesui was only focused on eating herself, Lady Sang put on airs as a mother-in-law and coughed a few times to remind her. Jiang Xuesui: 'Is Mother-in-law's throat uncomfortable? Then you should eat more light dishes.' Lady Sang said coldly, 'Look, other people's daughters-in-law know how to serve their mothers-in-law. You sit beside me like an outsider.' Jiang Xuesui: 'Didn't Mother-in-law bring Shuangxi out? Shuangxi is used to serving you. I'm clumsy; I'm afraid I'll scald you with the soup, dirty your dress with the food, and I don't know how much rice you eat.' If Lady Sang were a reasonable and lovable mother-in-law, even if she hadn't spoken, Jiang Xuesui would have been a filial and obedient daughter-in-law. But Lady Sang was not like that, so Jiang Xuesui couldn't even be bothered to pretend. Imperial Consort Dowager Sang saw the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law at odds and, fearing an awkward scene, quickly mediated: 'Miaoyi, you should be content to have Yuanyuan as your daughter-in-law. What Yuanyuan said makes sense. She has twenty or thirty maids and nannies attending her. Those hands are for painting; how could they do such chores?' Lady Sang actually reddened her eyes in front of everyone and said with grievance, choking: 'I have always cherished A Qiao the most. He was weak and sickly as a child, and even now grown, his health hasn't improved much. So I want A Qiao to have someone by his side who understands and cares for him. I also cherish Yuanyuan. How could I not know she is a good child? She excels in everything except one small thing—she is not very good at serving others. I can understand Yuanyuan. But how can I rest easy about my A Qiao like this?' She truly put on a display of motherly affection. Grand Princess of Zhou and the two Consort Dowagers of Prince Xiang's and Prince Su's mansions were all moved by this and offered words of comfort to Lady Sang. Meanwhile, the three daughters-in-law of Grand Princess of Zhou and the two Princess Consorts of Prince Xiang's and Prince Su's mansions simultaneously cast sympathetic glances at Jiang Xuesui. Princess Zhaoyang, on the other hand, rolled her eyes at Lady Sang. Wen Yuanhuan's eyes darted away. She wanted to side with Jiang Xuesui, but the money she used to reward servants and manage relationships in the Rong'an Earl's Mansion was all given to her by Lady Sang, so she was wavering. Imperial Consort Dowager Sang sighed once, then sighed again. She had no way to deal with her sister, who was asking for trouble. Lady Sang finally spoke her true mind in front of everyone. 'Yuanyuan, didn't A Qiao originally have four senior maids in his courtyard? Wen Xiang was specially chosen by me to be left for A Qiao as a concubine. The remaining ones—Wen Xiao was given by your grandmother, Wen Ying by your second maternal aunt, and Wen Yuan by your third maternal aunt. I know you and A Qiao are newlyweds, so it would be excessive to have A Qiao take all four as concubines at once. First, let A Qiao promote Wen Xiang to be his concubine.' So this was the trap that had been laid for her. Jiang Xuesui still wore a warm smile and said unhurriedly, 'My husband is the master of the house. Regarding promoting Wen Xiang to concubine, I cannot decide on his behalf. Mother-in-law should discuss it with my husband. If he agrees, I have no objections.' If Wen Qiao dared to agree, she would dare to chop off his head. A monogamous marriage until old age was her bottom line. If Wen Qiao couldn't do that and dared to be fickle, she would divorce him. Princess Zhaoyang's eyes were practically rolling to the heavens at Lady Sang. She sneered sarcastically, 'If the old aristocratic families of Jiangnan found out that Lady Sang is treating a daughter of the Ten Surnames so shamefully, they would raise a storm of "Scholars Crossing North to Drum and Denounce Wen." With the example of my imperial grandfather's first empress as a warning, how dare you, a merchant's daughter, humiliate a lady of the Jiang clan here?' The late Emperor's first empress was Zhang Eying, sister of the then Head of the Zhang Clan. When the late Emperor established the Zhang clan's daughter as his empress, he had promised to be devoted to her alone. But only half a year after Zhang Eying gave birth to the crown prince (the current Emperor Zhengshi), the late Emperor favored Pei Yueshu. When the old aristocratic families of Jiangnan learned that the Son of Heaven of Great Zhao had so humiliated a daughter of the Ten Surnames, they launched over a hundred warships to the Luofu Sea east of Xuanjing. The Head of the Zhang Clan stood at the bow of a ship, beating a drum and cursing the late Emperor for three days and nights, only stopping when they brought Zhang Eying back to Jiangnan. This was recorded in history as 'Scholars Crossing North to Drum and Denounce Zhu.' Zhang Eying also became the first empress since Great Zhao's founding to divorce the Son of Heaven. The Head of the Zhang Clan also added a new family rule: Zhang clan women shall not marry into the Great Zhao imperial family. In those days, the late Emperor, pressured by the power of the old aristocratic families, could not depose Zhang Eying from her empress position. He could only divorce her, which caused the Zhu imperial family to lose all dignity and face, becoming the laughingstock of the world. And Pei Yueshu, who was beloved by the late Emperor all her life, was the succeeding empress, Empress Jingwen. After her death, Pei Yueshu could only be buried in the consort's mausoleum and was not granted the posthumous title of Empress Dowager. It was also the old aristocratic families who petitioned the Son of Heaven to give Pei Yueshu such a shabby end for humiliating the Zhang daughter. That Zhang Eying is still alive today, living in the ancestral residence of the Zhang clan in Sujing's Black Clothes Lane. Every time Emperor Zhengshi goes to Jiangnan, he wants to welcome his birth mother back to the palace, honor her as Empress Dowager, and personally care for her in her old age. But the two red-painted doors of the Zhang ancestral residence have never opened once for Emperor Zhengshi. When Zhang Eying crossed south with her brother to return home, she made a solemn vow never to see any member of the Zhu imperial family again, in life or in death. Even when the late Emperor tried several times to mend relations with his first wife during his lifetime, she ordered her family to keep the doors firmly shut, refusing to see him again. Even when Emperor Zhengshi sought a portrait of his birth mother for comfort, Zhang Eying had her family relay to him: 'You are merely the Son of Heaven of Zhao who borrowed my womb for ten months before being born.' After Princess Zhaoyang cited the example of the late Emperor's first empress, Grand Princess of Zhou and the two Princess Consort Dowagers of Prince Xiang's and Prince Su's mansions also began to side with Jiang Xuesui, advising Lady Sang to be content. Lady Sang was so angry she couldn't eat. Claiming a headache, she left the banquet early. When Jiang Xuesui returned home, she shared a carriage with Wen Qiao. She pretended to ask him: 'Your mother said at the banquet that I'm not considerate enough to you and that I should find you a few considerate chamber servants. Your mother thinks Wen Xiang is good, and I also think Wen Xiang is good. What do you think?' Wen Qiao frowned deeply. 'You are the most considerate person to me. If Mother thinks Wen Xiang is good, let her leave Wen Xiang for A Yu. I think no one is good except you. You are the best.' Jiang Xuesui then told Wen Qiao everything that had happened at the banquet. Wen Qiao: 'From now on, don't pay any attention to my mother. Whenever she has something to ask of you, make her come to me. She is becoming more and more like a nasty old woman.' Jiang Xuesui quickly covered Wen Qiao's mouth. 'No matter how angry you are, don't curse her. Others may curse her, but you cannot. Making such verbal karma will bring punishment from heaven.' Wen Qiao took her hand and placed her palm over his heart. 'I'm afraid you don't understand my heart for you. I wish I could cut it open and show you.' Jiang Xuesui nestled into his arms. 'Brother, I went to the Zhang ancestral residence in Sujing's Black Clothes Lane and saw the late Emperor's first empress. Lady Zhu is a beauty. Even with white hair and fine wrinkles on her face, she is still beautiful. She always advises us young ladies not to believe men's sweet talk. She told us the story of how she and the late Emperor met, got to know each other, fell in love, cherished each other, resented each other, and hated each other. Those words are more terrifying than ghost stories.' She looked up at him. 'Time reveals a person's heart. Brother and I have a long future ahead. You don't need to pour out your heart to me every day. I can see what kind of person you are. Whether your heart changes towards me will be left to time to test.' 'I feel that your heart is always guarded against me,' Wen Qiao said with a serious expression. 'Take what you just said—do you truly and sincerely think Wen Xiang is good?' Jiang Xuesui lowered her eyes guiltily, her long, thick lashes trembling. 'Wen Xiang serves you well. I can see she likes you. I can't make her stop liking you, because it's her freedom to like whom she wants. But I've started to hate myself because I am not tolerant enough toward her. Her hopes rest on you, yet I have to cut off those hopes. That is too cruel for her. If I were to love a man but could not have him because others wouldn't let go, I would definitely resent that person. So if Wen Xiang resents me, I am willing to bear her resentment. But Brother, you must remember: it is for you that I have invited all these troubles.' Wen Qiao's heart nearly melted into a puddle of water at her words. This was the benefit of her open and honest nature. He patted her head and curved his lips. 'No one is at fault. Don't overthink this. The maids who grew up with me—I will arrange suitable futures for each of them.' 'Brother, how about some day we invite an official matchmaker to the mansion? If any of them are willing, we can arrange matchmaking for them. If they are not willing, I will give them gold and silver in the future to buy houses and land.' Jiang Xuesui also had several maids who had reached marriageable age. 'The most virtuous and gentle mistress of a household in all Xuanjing City is my wife,' Wen Qiao said, pinching her cheek affectionately.
Preview