Chapter 40: Greed The Courtesan Is Already Pregnant

“Father, Mother, Wei Kun.” He glanced at the frail man trailing behind them, “Stop making false accusations. Even if you bring my parents into this, it won’t change anything. You’ve been involved with a courtesan, and my sister has decided to divorce you. There’s nothing more to say.”

“Jiang Di, how can you encourage separation instead of reconciliation!” Wei Kun grew anxious, “And you’re saying such things in front of the children! For a scholar like you, aren’t you ashamed?”

“Oh, and regarding these two children, our Jiang Family is willing to raise them. Your Wei family isn’t well-off, and you’ve been busy fooling around with courtesans—I suspect your family resources are nearly depleted. If you’re sensible, we’re willing to offer you appropriate compensation, and we won’t sever the children’s relationship with you.”

“Jiang Qingshi, these children are of Wei blood! How can they go with outsiders!” Wei Kun became thoroughly enraged, “I heard you passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. So what if you’re a scholar? Does that mean you can disregard reason?”

“Third Son.” Old Master Jiang spoke up with his hands clasped behind his back, “What kind of talk is this? You’re making us a laughingstock. Yunxiu, you’ve been sensible since childhood. Having conflicts with your husband’s family is one thing, but how can you take it to the point of breaking relations completely? Hurry and go back with Wei Kun. This child has been honest since he was young and has treated you well. Who in our village doesn’t envy your good marriage! Before coming today, I’ve already scolded Wei Kun, and he’s promised me he’ll cleanly break off with that courtesan. If he offends again in the future, I as your father will stand up for you!”

“Father, so his flimsy promise is enough to make this matter disappear?” Jiang Yunxiu sneered coldly, “I heard that kiln girl is already pregnant, waiting for Wei Kun to redeem her so she can become his proper wife. Wei Kun, we were husband and wife after all. As my brother said, let’s part on good terms. I can give you several taels of silver—you can use it to redeem that woman. From now on, live your life well and stop tormenting me and the children.”

Only upon hearing his sister’s words did Jiang Qingshi realize the situation was more serious than he had imagined. So Wei Kun had even gotten someone pregnant outside. Jiang Qingshi immediately felt even more disgusted looking at Wei Kun: “When you married my sister, you made solemn vows. My sister has worked diligently in your Wei family for several years. Now you’ve gotten some woman pregnant outside—how dare you still have the face to seek reconciliation with my sister? Get out of here now, before I report this to the authorities!”

“Yunxiu, I’ve spoken with that woman. I’ll redeem her, but the child can’t stay.” Wei Kun pitifully took a step forward, “Yunxiu, how could she compare to you? I was just momentarily confused, but in my heart, there’s only you. After having you, no other woman could ever catch my eye!”

“You don’t actually think I’d be moved by this, do you?” Jiang Yunxiu’s tone grew even colder, “Wei Kun, you’re cowardly, selfish, and useless. All these years you’ve just been living off your family’s inheritance. Someone like you—your affection is as worthless as weeds. I’ve endured you to my limit. Today, you and I will write the divorce papers, and we’ll free each other. I’m determined to divorce you. If this matter goes to the authorities, none of us will save face.”

“Jiang Yunxiu!” Wei Kun, stung to the core, flew into a rage. “After all my kindness over the years, you show no gratitude at all! Not only have I treated you well, but I’ve even secretly subsidized your brother with money. Have you forgotten all that?”

“We will repay you that silver,” Jiang Yunxiu replied with visible impatience. “I never intended to discuss such matters in front of the children, but fortunately both my children are sensible and understand their mother. Wei Kun, stop making unreasonable trouble.”

“You weren’t like this before…” Wei Kun’s eyes darted around like a rat’s before suddenly fixing on Wei Fengling. He rushed forward and grabbed Wei Fengling’s arm. “It’s because of him, isn’t it? We’re not even divorced yet, and you’re already in such a hurry to marry someone else!”

Jiang Yunxiu frowned deeply. “What nonsense are you spouting? This is the first time I’ve met this gentleman…”

Before she could finish, Wei Fengling twisted Wei Kun’s arm behind his back, making him howl in pain. Though Wei Fengling had grown up in a wealthy family and had seen much of the world, understanding the ugliness of human nature, he had rarely encountered such shameless scoundrels as the Jiang family and Wei Kun.

This was ultimately a family matter between the Jiang and Wei families, so he had initially been reluctant to intervene. But when Wei Kun went too far, Wei Fengling could no longer restrain himself.

“How dare you slander her without proof?” Wei Fengling threatened. “Divorce Miss Jiang immediately, or else…”

Wei Fengling’s robust physique made him appear as intimidating as a door god when angered. He lifted Wei Kun as easily as a chick, wondering how Jiang Yunxiu could ever have been involved with such a man—so weak and despicable, looking more than ten years older than her.

“Young man, this is none of your concern,” Old Master Jiang trembled with rage, furious that his daughter had attracted such trouble and fearful that their family’s reputation would be tarnished. “Jiang Yunxiu, if you still acknowledge me as your father, return home with Wei Kun at once! Otherwise, we sever our father-daughter relationship!”

Jiang Yunxiu was stunned. She still held some affection for Old Master Jiang. Though he had treated Jiang Qingshi poorly, she was the Jiang family’s only daughter, lovely and cherished—enough to soften even the hardest heart. Yet she knew his feelings were limited, or he would never have spoken such words.

Steeling herself, Jiang Yunxiu said, “Father, I’ve always loved and respected you. But if our bond means so little to you, then I see no reason to cling to it.”

Yuan Yuexian burst into laughter upon hearing this. “Oh, Father, you’ve always suspected that the third son and Yunxiu weren’t your biological children. It seems you weren’t wrong—look how heartless they are, eager to break away from our Jiang family!” Since their previous falling out, Yuan Yuexian had completely torn relations with the Jiang family and now watched the drama unfold with glee, wishing nothing more than to see the Jiang family descend into chaos.

Jiang Wenjiang’s treatment had left her heart cold, but she had also seen through the essence of the matter. The Jiang Family was now merely an empty shell – buying a house for Jiang Laosan had completely drained the family’s resources. That was precisely why they dared not divorce her now; if they did, Jiang Wenjiang would never be able to marry again! Only someone as foolish as her would rush headlong into suffering with the Jiang Family like she was racing to be reborn!

Jiang Yunxiu hadn’t known about what happened during the New Year. Hearing Yuan Yuexian’s words, memories from the past suddenly flooded back to her in fragments. No wonder Father had always treated Nian Chen poorly… Jiang Yunxiu looked at Old Master Jiang: “Father, is this true?”

Old Master Jiang was utterly furious with Yuan Yuexian in his heart. He hadn’t wanted to bring her along in the first place, but she had clung to them like a stubborn pest, impossible to shake off. This woman was truly here to ruin everything!

From Old Master Jiang’s expression, Jiang Yunxiu had already discerned the truth. Being a straightforward person, seeing her father’s demeanor extinguished any remaining hope in her heart: “Father, since you’ve always suspected that Yunxiu and Nian Chen aren’t your biological children, let’s end this here. We’ll have no further relationship from now on.”

Jiang Qingshi spoke gravely: “In that case, let’s draft a clear family separation agreement and have the authorities witness it. Henceforth, the two of us will have no connection with the Jiang Family.”

Jiang Yunxiu was momentarily stunned by Jiang Qingshi’s words – her brother was taking this rather far… But twins had always shared a special understanding. After a moment’s reflection, she grasped Jiang Qingshi’s intention. Now that Jiang Qingshi had become a Scholar and would continue advancing his career, having the Jiang Family’s mess as baggage would only hinder his progress later. It was better to make a clean break now and settle this matter once and for all.

Jiang Yunxiu understood her younger brother well. Though she appeared to be the one handling major affairs, it was actually Jiang Qingshi who was more rational and detached, constantly weighing pros and cons, caring only about what mattered to him. If not for his need to continue participating in the Imperial Examination, he would probably have severed all ties with the Jiang Family completely, even considering removing himself from the household registry. Jiang Qingshi needed to take the Autumn Examination and Metropolitan Examination, both of which required household registration verification. Being removed from the Jiang family genealogy at this stage would indeed create complications later.

However, considering the Jiang Family’s current circumstances, once Nian Chen was named on the golden list, given time and proper incentives, they wouldn’t have to worry about the Jiang Family not complying.

Noting Old Master Jiang and Feng Shi’s expressions, Jiang Qingshi added: “I heard Fourth Brother recently married. If we sign this family separation agreement, I’ll give him two taels of silver as a wedding gift.”

Feng Shi’s eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this. She nudged Old Master Jiang with her elbow, urging him to agree. Old Master Jiang, obsessed with saving face, remained unmoved. Growing anxious, Feng Shi said: “Husband, look how poor our family has become! We can barely put food on the table soon anyway. Since Jiang Laosan has already separated from the family, writing a separation agreement is just a matter of wielding the brush – we won’t lose anything.”

Seizing the opportunity, Feng Shi demanded: “Laosan, your wife is making big money now! Two taels of silver is nowhere near enough. Give us five taels, and I’ll have the Old Master write the separation agreement immediately!”

Jiang Yunxiu snorted coldly. This Feng Shi certainly had the audacity to ask for the moon! Even if her sister-in-law was earning good money, that was her brother’s family’s wealth – what did it have to do with the Jiang Family!

“Three taels at most, not a coin more.” Jiang Qingshi shook his head. “Father, being expelled from the Jiang Family is hardly an honorable matter. How come you’re extorting me instead?”

“Fine, three taels it is!” Feng Shi decided immediately, unwilling to let this gleaming silver slip through her fingers. “From now on, we won’t interfere with you two anymore!”

“That won’t do!” Wei Kun couldn’t understand how things had come to this. He had originally asked his father-in-law to help him bring Jiang Yunxiu home, but somehow the situation had escalated until Jiang Yunxiu no longer belonged to the Jiang Family! The siblings were about to sever ties with the Jiang Family entirely! In desperation, Wei Kun grabbed Old Master Jiang’s sleeve.

“Father, you can’t abandon me! Jiang Yunxiu has grown wild-hearted, are you going to indulge her too? Once she leaves me, she’ll be nothing but used goods that no one will want! Please make her come home with me!”

Seeing that Wei Kun was about to ruin everything, Feng Shi roughly pulled his hand away.

“Son-in-law, look at these two siblings – they’ve become so successful and stubborn now, there’s nothing we can do about them! You’d better seek help elsewhere!”

Feng Shi had been harboring resentment anyway. Although Wei Kun’s family was well-off, they hadn’t given the Jiang Family a single coin all these years. Now he still wanted to order them around? Such good fortune didn’t exist in this world!

“I see Xiu Jie’er is quite determined. Why don’t you just let her and the children go?” Feng Shi had always been one to tell people what they wanted to hear. “Your affair with that prostitute is rather disgraceful after all. Your Wei Family has reputation to consider – this matter would look quite ugly if it got out.”

“No!” Wei Kun looked at his breathtakingly beautiful wife, unwilling to give up so easily. “Yunxiu is the only one in my heart! I won’t marry that woman!”

Wei Fengling grew irritated listening to this and twisted Wei Kun’s arm, making him howl in pain.

“How can there be such a shameless man like you? Divorce Miss Jiang immediately! If you refuse, this young master will have to resort to other methods!”

This trip to the Jiang Family had proven worthwhile after all. Through all the chaos, things had unexpectedly gone according to Jiang Qingshi’s wishes. Jiang Qingshi successfully made them write the family separation agreement, and under Wei Fengling’s threats, Wei Kun also wrote the divorce papers. But Jiang Yunxiu understood clearly that Wei Kun had been forced into this. Her troublesome mother-in-law would likely come make trouble later.

But when soldiers approach, deploy generals to block them; when floodwaters come, use earth to stem them. Constant worrying served no purpose – she would think of ways to deal with situations as they arose.