Chapter 43: Miscarriage – You Poisoned My Wife and Child!

No matter how others tried to imitate her cooking, her dishes remained the most authentic in flavor. Thus, many were still willing to travel great distances to this flagship store, eager to taste the most genuine delicacies.

With Lin Guilan’s encouragement, Jiang Yunxiu’s tailor shop also opened for business. Jiang Yunxiu possessed excellent craftsmanship and good taste. Although business was initially slow, she maintained a positive attitude. Coupled with her striking beauty, her shop soon became bustling and prosperous.

Jiang Zhimiao looked at his large family, a smile blossoming in his heart.

Everyone had their own endeavors, and they were all so happy. It was truly wonderful.

With his sister and wife busy with their businesses, Jiang Qingshi focused solely on his studies. A few days ago, his wife showed him the account books, and he was suddenly struck by the realization that his family had become so wealthy!

Recalling the days when they could barely afford food yet still scrimped to buy writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, Jiang Qingshi couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion…

Now he lived in a comfortable large residence with plenty of silver in his pocket—a life he had never dared to imagine before.

His wife was truly his great lucky star!

As the year-end approached, Jiang Qingshi knew that after celebrating the New Year at home, he would journey to the capital with Zhuo Zhiming for the imperial examinations. Though reluctant to part from his family, he understood that working hard was the only way to live up to his wife, sister, and Miao Ge’er.

One day, while studying at home, Jiang Qingshi felt vaguely uneasy, as if his eyelids were constantly twitching. He pushed aside distracting thoughts and concentrated on his books. Each passing day brought the exams closer, and he couldn’t afford to slack off at this critical juncture!

Nearing noon, sudden commotion erupted outside. Normally, Jiang Qingshi wouldn’t have noticed such noise, but today, already on edge, he heard the disturbance immediately. Going out to investigate, he found the courtyard gate being pounded thunderously. Upon opening it, he saw Jiang Jinyao’s face before him.

“Brother!”

No sooner had Jiang Qingshi opened the door than Jiang Jinyao slipped inside like an eel! Jiang Qingshi had severed ties with the Jiang Family, let alone with Jiang Jinyao, with whom he had always had a distant relationship. Jiang Jinyao’s visit now was undoubtedly a case of the weasel paying respects to the chicken—harboring ill intentions.

Carrying gifts and wearing a sly grin, Jiang Jinyao slickly entered. Behind him followed a heavily pregnant woman who appeared very close to childbirth. Seeing her condition and that Jiang Jinyao was already inside, Jiang Qingshi had no choice but to step aside and let the woman enter as well.

“Brother, Father and Mother sent me to check on you,” Jiang Jinyao said, his eyes roving around enviously as he took in Jiang Qingshi’s comfortable living situation.

“With the New Year approaching, you haven’t returned home. Father and Mother miss you terribly,” Jiang Jinyao feigned warmth. Though jealous, he refused to admit that Jiang Qingshi was living better than him.

“Now that Brother has become a Recommended Man and moved to the county seat for a better life, have you forgotten your own family? As the New Year nears, Father asked us to see how you’re doing.” He glanced dismissively at the interior furnishings, curling his lip. “It seems being a Recommended Man isn’t all that impressive. I thought residences in the county seat would be much grander, but this looks rather ordinary.”

Fan Xiang’e stroked her belly, still chewing on malt candy as her eyes wandered around. “Oh, is sister-in-law not home? I was hoping to see what a Recommended man’s wife looks like!”

Jiang Qingshi knew these two had ill intentions. Now that they had invited themselves in unannounced, he couldn’t even find an excuse to drive them out. He looked at them with distant eyes.

“Life in this county is hardly easy, naturally incomparable to the wealth you and your wife enjoy, fourth brother. I should invite you to stay for a meal, but I must soon depart for the capital to take the imperial examination. Time is precious, so I won’t keep you two.”

“Aiyo, we haven’t even sat down yet!” Jiang Jinyao exclaimed dramatically. “How can you drive us away, brother? I mean no harm—it’s just that Xiang’e is about to give birth. Everyone knows I have a Recommended man for a brother, how extraordinary! Xiang’e has been wanting to seek some scholarly advice from you, hoping our child might absorb some literary aura.”

Fan Xiang’e chimed in, “Yes, brother is a Recommended man. If our child could receive even a bit of your guidance in the future, it would be a great blessing.”

She hadn’t really wanted to come out, but Jiang Jinyao insisted they could absorb some literary aura by visiting Jiang Qingshi. After all, Jiang Qingshi was a Recommended man—if she could give birth to a child blessed by the God of Literature, that would be ideal. Then she could just sit back and enjoy a life of leisure.

Jiang Qingshi knew this was just their excuse. He couldn’t be bothered with Jiang Jinyao anyway; there had never been any affection between him and this younger brother. How could he let such a person waste his precious time now? Watching the couple—Jiang Jinyao casually sitting down to pour tea while Fan Xiang’e stood with her back to them, studying the patterns on the window lattice—he said coldly, “Then make yourself at home, fourth brother. I need to go study.”

“Hey, third brother!”

Jiang Jinyao stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Qingshi’s sleeve. Already disgusted by his brother, Jiang Qingshi felt even more repulsed by the physical contact.

“Let our child share in your auspicious aura!”

As Jiang Jinyao pulled him toward Fan Xiang’e, Jiang Qingshi’s revulsion intensified. He shook off Jiang Jinyao’s hand abruptly. Suddenly, Jiang Jinyao flashed a malicious grin, released Jiang Qingshi, and shoved Fan Xiang’e—who had her back to them—with great force.

A sharp cry pierced the air as Jiang Qingshi watched Fan Xiang’e collapse to the ground, her skirt already stained crimson with blood, her face pale as paper.

“Brother! How could you push Xiang’e?” Jiang Jinyao wailed dramatically. “She’s about to give birth! How could you try to kill my wife and child?”

Fan Xiang’e clutched her belly, moaning in agony.

In that moment, Jiang Qingshi understood everything.

“Go fetch a doctor! Jiang Jinyao, to harm your own wife and child like this—what a vicious heart you have!”

“Don’t talk nonsense! This is my wife and child—why would I harm them?”

Fan Xiang’e had already fainted from the pain…

Jiang Jinyao rushed out to report to the authorities that Jiang Qingshi had attempted to murder his wife and child. Though Jiang Qingshi wanted to fetch a doctor given Fan Xiang’e’s critical condition, Jiang Jinyao blocked his path, refusing to let him leave.

“You’re not going anywhere! You tried to poison my wife and child—how could I let you get away?”

Jiang Qingshi’s gaze turned icy. Even knowing Jiang Jinyao’s character, he never imagined the man could be so heartless—to frame his own brother while abandoning his wife in her moment of need.

Jiang Qingshi’s residence was not far from the county government office. In just fifteen minutes, the constables arrived at the scene. Leading the team was Head Constable Zhang. Given Jiang Qingshi’s current prominence as a highly influential figure in Jiangping County, his status was not something to be trifled with. Head Constable Zhang was visibly shocked by the situation.

“Recommended man, what is this…” Head Constable Zhang frowned as he took in the sight of blood covering the ground and Fan Xiang’e, who was barely clinging to life.

Jiang Jinyao rushed forward, weeping and pleading, “Your Honor, you must uphold justice for me! I brought my wife to visit my elder brother, but who would have thought he would resort to such cruelty today? He pushed my wife, who was in labor, causing her to miscarry! My poor unborn child!”

Head Constable Zhang looked troubled as he turned to Jiang Qingshi. “Recommended man, according to the law, we must ask you to come to the government office for questioning.”

Jiang Qingshi already knew that Jiang Jinyao had deliberately framed him. His expression remained calm as he replied, “Innocence needs no defense. I will go with you. However, my sister-in-law is in critical condition. Jiang Jinyao was only focused on reporting this to the authorities and prevented me from summoning a physician. I implore you to send for a doctor immediately to save her.”

A physician arrived quickly but shook his head with a sigh after examining her. “The child could not be saved. The mother has lost too much blood, and it is uncertain whether she will survive.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinyao broke into loud sobs, pointing at Jiang Qingshi and cursing him vehemently.

As Jiang Qingshi was escorted to the county government office, his mind was as clear as a mirror. Though he did not know whom he had offended, he understood that his prominence had made him a target, likely obstructing someone’s path. What he never expected was that Jiang Jinyao would go to such lengths, sacrificing his own flesh and blood to frame him.

Lin Guilan and Jiang Yunxiu soon heard the news and hurried over. The moment Jiang Yunxiu caught sight of Jiang Jinyao’s shifty and untrustworthy appearance, her anger flared. Her younger brother had studied diligently for years and was now on the verge of achieving his goal. How dare this despicable scoundrel stand in his way!

“Jiang Jinyao, have you no conscience? Since childhood, you’ve bullied Nian Chen. Now you’ve even disregarded the lives of your own wife and child to frame him! You are worse than a beast!”

Jiang Jinyao paid no heed to her words. The matter was of grave importance, and Magistrate Li personally came to handle it. The moment Jiang Jinyao saw the magistrate’s official robes, he scrambled over on his hands and knees.

“Your Honor, you must deliver justice for me!”

Magistrate Li had already heard the details of the case. Since it involved Jiang Qingshi, a prominent figure in Jiangping County, he dared not take it lightly. Clearing his throat at Jiang Jinyao’s display, he said, “This official will investigate the truth of the matter thoroughly. There is no need for panic.”

Despite her outburst, Jiang Yunxiu’s mind remained sharp. She immediately knelt with a thud and pleaded, “Your Honor, my brother Jiang Qingshi is soon to depart for the capital to take the Metropolitan Examination. If he becomes entangled in a lawsuit now, it will only delay his participation in the spring exams. I beg you to investigate this matter swiftly and restore my brother’s innocence!”

Magistrate Li wore a troubled expression. “Madam, it is not this official’s intention to cause delays, but investigating this matter thoroughly will require time…”

“But my brother is due to depart for the capital soon after the New Year to take the Imperial Examination,” Jiang Yunxiu said anxiously. “Magistrate Li, I’m not being unreasonable. You know how crucial this journey is for every Recommended Scholar. If he misses this opportunity, he’ll have to wait three more years. By then, his morale and ambition will be severely dampened. I know my brother’s character better than anyone. Even if you don’t trust my judgment of his integrity, you must realize that at such a critical juncture, no matter how confused he might be, he would never do such a thing. Clearly, someone is deliberately obstructing him to disrupt Nian Chen’s important affairs!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Qingshi’s thoughts drifted to another matter.

He recalled how Magistrate Li’s daughter, Li Yongshi, had been infatuated with him, to the extent that it led to the dissolution of her engagement with Wei Fengling. Now that Li Yongshi had married far away, he wondered how she was faring. Although he had met the magistrate once, he didn’t know much about the man’s character. Even if the magistrate wasn’t narrow-minded, the matter of Li Yongshi was somewhat connected to him. Given human nature, it would be hard for the magistrate not to resent him indirectly.

The schemer was truly cunning—first leveraging the fool Jiang Jinyao, then uncovering the history between Magistrate Li and himself. Combining these elements, they had laid such a trap. As his sister said, even if he were released unscathed, this Metropolitan Examination would surely be delayed. If he tried again three years later, he wouldn’t be as spirited as now; his mindset would inevitably be affected.

If the schemer were even more ruthless and pinned a false charge on him, he might never have hope for the Imperial Examination again.

Jiang Qingshi clenched his fists unconsciously. In his current humble state, he was like an ant that anyone could crush. No wonder everyone yearned for power—this feeling of being manipulated at will was truly unpleasant.

Upon hearing Jiang Yunxiu’s words, Magistrate Li pondered rapidly. Gazing at Jiang Qingshi’s handsome face, he couldn’t help but think of his daughter, Li Yongshi.

A father knows his daughter best. Seeing her despondent state, he had easily learned from the maids about her infatuation with Jiang Qingshi. The discovery filled him with both anger and heartache—anger that his daughter could be so imprudent as to fall for a married man, and heartache seeing her suffer so deeply for him.

The subsequent cancellation of the engagement by the Wei family only added insult to injury. Knowing his daughter’s state, Magistrate Li couldn’t bring himself to insist on upholding the marriage. To sever Li Yongshi’s attachment completely, he arranged for her to marry away early.

Now that Li Yongshi had married into a high-status family far away, she faced a perilous situation. This matter was somewhat linked to Jiang Qingshi. If Jiang Qingshi were to achieve greatness in the future, it would be one thing, but now, without an official position, he was right in the magistrate’s grasp… Although Jiang Qingshi, as a Recommended Man, couldn’t be easily touched, delaying him would indeed prevent him from taking the Metropolitan Examination smoothly.

Author’s Note: What choice will the magistrate make…