She knew that at least in this life, she and he had no chance. She had heard of that Miss Li, a capable woman at managing accounts and household affairs. The reason she hadn't married yet was because she wanted to raise her younger brother to adulthood. Now that her brother could stand on his own, it was time for her to find a husband. She had also heard that she had let it be known that she was interested in the Prefect. This time her husband was coming to visit, wouldn't he be bringing it up? The thought alone made her heart ache.
"This time it's not up to you. You have to choose between being filial to your mother or being divorced. It's up to you," Kong Jialiang, who had just returned from outside, overheard her words. He said coldly, his face expressionless.
"My aunt asked me to come with you to propagate the Kong family. You can't treat me like this," Jiang Yin said, looking at him steadily, unwilling to back down.
"Fine. At worst, I'll quit my official post and sue you in the yamen. We'll be buried with Zhou Shaoqiu together, or I'll just divorce you. The thought of spending the rest of my life with a venomous woman like you keeps me up at night." To be honest, Kong Jialiang really had this impulse, but he couldn't make up his mind. Of course, if Jiang Yin pushed him too far, neither of them would have a good life. Su Dan Novel Network.
Jiang Yin wanted to say something more, but the old woman who had accompanied her quickly grabbed her hand. She had watched her master grow up and could tell from his expression that he was serious this time. Although her master looked gentle, she hadn't forgotten that he also had a temper, and if he was pushed to his limit, he would stop at nothing to destroy everything.
"Why are you pulling me? I don't believe he would really dare to do this. My aunt will definitely not spare him," Jiang Yin said loudly as she unconsciously stepped back.
The old woman pulled her into the room and quickly closed the door. She said indignantly, "Madam, I am a capable old woman from the matriarch's side. How could I harm you? You don't think so because you don't understand our master yet. If this one gets reckless, things will truly get out of hand."
"Out of hand? I'd like to see how it gets out of hand. Back then, he was determined to marry Zhou Shaoqiu, and I merely expressed my feelings for him to my aunt. My aunt then ordered him to marry me, and he didn't resist much. You're overreacting." Jiang Yin didn't quite agree with the old woman's words. He hadn't resisted much in a major matter like marriage, let alone this. He would surely consider Kong family's future.
The old woman shook her head. She wasn't so optimistic. What Madam didn't know was that the master hadn't fought much back then probably because everyone in the mansion opposed this marriage. He thought that if he forcibly married Zhou Shaoqiu, she wouldn't have a good life either. Letting her leave, with her family background, she could find a suitable match and live a happy life.
Now that the person was about to die, didn't he see the young master's eyes were red?
In the end, Jiang Yin couldn't win against Kong Jialiang and the old woman and had to reluctantly pack her things and return to the capital.
It was raining heavily on the day Zhou Shaoqiu was executed. Kong Jialiang stood in the crowd, letting the rain wash over his face, not knowing if it was tears or water. After everything was over, he walked forward recklessly, hugged her tightly, and handled her funeral.
In the end, he did as he promised Zhou Shaoqiu, bringing his son to his mansion from time to time to personally teach him. If it were only this, Zhou Shaoqiu wouldn't have harbored such resentment, for Kong Jialiang had done his best.
But what she found most unacceptable was that her son, at the age of fourteen, had just won the top scholar award. While playing with young masters in the capital, he had accidentally fallen into a lake and drowned.
Kong Jialiang immediately launched an investigation and discovered that he was with the young master of the Jiang family when he fell into the water. Unfortunately, as soon as he fell in, the young master of the Jiang family shouted for help. By the time people rushed over, he had already sunk to the bottom of the lake and died. Although Kong Jialiang questioned him many times, the other party never admitted it.
Coupled with the obstruction from the old matriarch and Jiang Yin, it was eventually left unresolved. When the news reached the Meng family, Old Madam Meng vomited blood and died. The Meng family was truly finished this time.
Her thoughts were pulled back to reality. In a few more days, Meng Changqing would fall ill. To be honest, looking at the original owner's memories, she always felt that his illness was somewhat strange and his death too swift. Of course, when Wu Caiwei arrived, she would investigate the matter.
"Are they arguing again over there?" Old Madam Meng asked her personal maidservant with certainty.
"Yes, the Prefect came again to give our madam gifts, and the master was very angry when he saw them," the maidservant replied truthfully, a little timidly.
"The reason he came to propose to her was because he knew she was once a daughter of an official family. Her character and appearance were top-notch. He thought that by marrying her into our family, he would bring blessings for three generations. I never expected to marry a calamity." Speaking of this, Old Madam Meng was filled with regret.
The maidservant quickly lowered her head. It was not for a mere maidservant like her to comment on her mistress's affairs. The old madam could speak, but she could only listen quietly without adding a word.
Sitting idly by was not Wu Caiwei's style at all. She returned to her room, dressed herself up properly, and put on that set of rubies. Although there was poison in them, it was a small matter to her and couldn't harm her at all.
Today, Madam Li was hosting a gathering, and she hadn't intended to go, but now she naturally had to join the fun.
Madam Li looked at her with some surprise. "You said you weren't coming?"
Their relationship had always been good. Knowing that the other person was just casually asking, she said helplessly, "You know, I really don't like attending such gatherings. But after much thought, I felt that since this was your first invitation, I had to come and show my support. So, here I am."
"You are still the best to me," Madam Li said, enthusiastically taking her arm. Of course, she knew her friend's personality and wasn't surprised at all when she refused her initially, as she had never attended any banquet other than those hosted by the Prefect's wife for so many years.
When women get together, they always discuss clothes and jewelry. Although the ruby jewelry wasn't particularly precious, it sparkled under the sunlight, making her especially fair-skinned. The gazes of the other ladies were all drawn to her. Someone couldn't help but ask, "Madam Meng, this set of jewelry is quite unique. I wonder where you had it made. I want to order a set."
Although the other madams seemed to be looking elsewhere, they all pricked up their ears to inquire, as no woman disliked beauty.
"This was a gift from the Prefect and the Prefect's wife. When they were in the capital, the Prefect's wife sent her personal maidservant and the Kong family's steward to give me this set of jewelry under the Prefect's name. I kept it in my cabinet and couldn't bear to wear it. Today is the first time it's being shown to everyone. I'll ask them for the details another day."
"So Madam Meng and the Prefect are old acquaintances?" someone couldn't help but exclaim. Some of the more shrewd madams were already considering their relationship with Madam Meng and whether they could ask her to act as a matchmaker to establish a good relationship with the Prefect.