Chapter 45: Unwilling to Accept

Concubine Zhao came from a humble background, and her marriage into the Jiang family as a concubine was a matter of necessity. However, Jiang Wanqing was the second daughter of the Jiang family, and finding a suitable match with a young master from an ordinary family would not have been too difficult.

She believed that everything Jiang Wanqing had done at the Guogong Residence was out of fear—fear of being abandoned, of losing favor.

She thought that as long as Jiang Wanqing married someone else as the principal wife, even if she were not particularly loved, she would at least receive respect.

Even if she never bore children in her lifetime, she would still be the principal wife, in charge of the household’s internal affairs and expenditures, with the authority to manage the inner household.

Although Concubine Zhao’s intentions were good, Jiang Wanqing did not want such a life. Otherwise, she would not have insisted on marrying into the Guogong Residence as a concubine to Wei Shuli in the first place.

“Mother,” Jiang Wanqing buried herself in Concubine Zhao’s embrace, crying as she spoke, “Qing’er is unwilling to accept this. Qing’er has done nothing wrong. Why did the Heir divorce me? Why?”

As she spoke, her sobs grew louder, as if she were the one who had suffered countless grievances.

But Concubine Zhao knew the truth. Before going to pick up Jiang Wanqing, Minister Jiang had already had someone inform her of everything.

At first, she did not believe it, but after seeing the divorce letter from the Guogong Residence, she finally accepted that it was all true.

Otherwise, given the Heir’s affection for Jiang Wanqing, even if the Duke and the Duchess of the Guogong Residence wanted to cast her out, it would have been extremely difficult.

But now, this divorce letter was the best proof!

This divorce letter had also spared the Jiang family’s dignity.

After all, Jiang Wanqing was not a wife. To divorce her, they could simply have driven her out without the need to specially send a divorce letter.

Although she understood this, seeing Jiang Wanqing in such distress made Concubine Zhao feel terrible as well.

She had lived her life without contention, and her days had passed just like that.

But Jiang Wanqing was different. She was truly afraid that this incident would leave an indelible mark on Jiang Wanqing.

Thus, Concubine Zhao patted Jiang Wanqing’s back, comforting her repeatedly, “Qing’er, let’s not think about him anymore, alright? There are plenty of good men in the world. I will beg the mistress to arrange a good marriage for you in the future. Don’t cry anymore. The more you cry, the more it hurts me!”

Hearing about the Cui clan, Jiang Wanqing was filled with hatred.

If the Cui clan had not refused to step forward back then to secure her the position of principal wife, she would not have fallen to this state.

At that time, she would have been Wei Shuli’s principal wife. Even if she had accidentally harmed those people, the Guogong Residence would not have been able to divorce her so easily.

Although she hated her, she would never show it in front of Concubine Zhao.

Her mother was good in every way, except that she was a bit too soft-hearted.

As a result, she had been suppressed by the Cui clan over the years, and in recent times, she had become increasingly invisible in the Jiang family.

If she dared to say a single bad word about the Cui clan in front of her, she feared that before the Cui clan could even reprimand her, her mother would scold her first.

“Mother, Qing’er only has you now,” Jiang Wanqing lifted her head, biting her lip with a despondent look in her eyes.

Seeing this, Concubine Zhao could not help but shed tears as well.

She took out her handkerchief, wiped Jiang Wanqing’s tears, and then cupped her face, saying, “Good child, don’t cry anymore. There are still many days ahead, and we will take them slowly.”

Following her mother’s words, Jiang Wanqing nodded in agreement.

Seeing her like this, Auntie Zhao finally felt somewhat relieved.

However, just as she was about to say something to Jiang Wanqing, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside, seeming quite urgent.

Immediately after came a series of tense knocks on the door.

“Auntie, Second Miss, Old Madam is asking for you.”

The voice outside was urgent, suggesting that Old Madam must have something important to discuss with them this time.

“Alright, wait outside for a moment.” After saying this, Auntie Zhao pulled Jiang Wanqing to change her clothes.

What she was wearing now was still the same outfit from several days ago; since returning from the prison, she hadn’t had a chance to change.

Auntie Zhao would never look down on her daughter for this, but Old Madam was different.

To Old Madam, Jiang Wanqing was merely one of her many grandchildren, her presence or absence making little difference.

Moreover, Jiang Wanqing’s future marriage would still rely on the Cui clan and Old Madam.

Even if the Cui clan were willing to help, they wouldn’t compare to Old Madam.

Although Jiang Wanqing was not among the favored grandchildren, she was still bound to Old Madam by blood ties.

No matter what, whether for the sake of the Jiang family’s reputation or for the sake of family ties, Old Madam would be more dedicated than the Cui clan.

Jiang Wanqing quickly changed her clothes. Unlike her usual bright and vibrant attire, today she dressed elegantly and simply, her dark hair tied up with only two jade hairpins.

She looked as if she had been reborn.

But only she herself knew that this wasn’t the case! All of this was merely a compromise to appease Old Madam.

…

As soon as she arrived at Shou’an Hall, Jiang Wanqing saw Jiang Jin.

At that moment, Jiang Jin was just leaving Shou’an Hall, escorted out by Old Madam’s attendant, Mother Feng.

Jiang Jin bid farewell to Mother Feng, ignoring Jiang Wanqing’s gaze as she walked back on her own.

Jiang Wanqing, meanwhile, frowned and tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand.

Still the same, still that arrogant demeanor.

Apart from her background, Jiang Wanqing didn’t think she was much inferior to Jiang Jin.

But in this lifetime, aside from Wei Shuli and her own mother, no one had ever treated her sincerely.

Everyone in this household favored Jiang Jin.

Even before she was married, people often compared her to Jiang Jin.

Even after marrying Wei Shuli and returning to the Jiang family, there were still those who pointed fingers at her.

As if marrying Wei Shuli as a concubine had somehow offended everyone.

But she was only pursuing her own happiness. Why did everyone look down on her and point at her?

Jiang Wanqing stared at Jiang Jin’s retreating figure for a long time until Mother Feng’s voice brought her back to her senses. She then followed Mother Feng into Shou’an Hall.

As soon as she entered, before she could even take a seat, she heard Old Madam’s angry shout: “Kneel!”

Auntie Zhao was startled by Old Madam’s tone and quickly tried to pull Jiang Wanqing down to kneel.

But Jiang Wanqing held her hand, forcing her not to kneel.

Seeing Jiang Wanqing like this, Old Madam couldn’t help but slam her hand on the small table beside her.

The sound was sharp and loud.

To Auntie Zhao, it felt like a death sentence.

But to Jiang Wanqing, it was nothing more than an insignificant noise.

What of Old Madam?

She never treated Jiang Wanqing as her own granddaughter, so why should Jiang Wanqing truly respect her from the bottom of her heart?

“You’ve truly grown your wings now, haven’t you!” Old Madam sneered coldly, then instructed Mother Feng to guide Auntie Zhao to sit down in a chair, leaving Jiang Wanqing standing alone.

Since Jiang Wanqing was the one who had done these things, it was enough to punish her alone—there was no need to drag others into it.

Auntie Zhao had kept quiet all these years; it was unlikely she had taught such things to Jiang Wanqing.