Chapter 21: How Could She Just Stand By and Watch Her Mistake Wild Vegetables for Medicinal Herbs?

Madam Song (the second wife) didn’t know those were just wild vegetables. She crushed them and applied them directly onto Song Lao’er and Song Chen.

Coincidentally, Ren Bang came by on patrol, and upon seeing this scene—oh boy—he almost burst out laughing.

He struggled immensely to hold back his laughter and quickened his pace to the front of the group, afraid he’d laugh himself to death if he lingered any longer.

Using wild vegetables as medicinal herbs? That was truly a first! It nearly killed him with laughter!

Hahahahahaha!!

The people involved, however, were completely unaware. Madam Song earnestly applied the poultice. “I saw Jiang Wan use it like this. Just endure it a bit.”

“Hiss—Mother, it really hurts!”

Song Chen grimaced and gasped in pain, seriously doubting whether this was really medicine.

But Madam Song, feeling sorry for him, consoled him, “This was carefully picked by your wife. You better remember her kindness in the future.”

As she spoke, she shot a sharp glance at Song Chen’s pitiful little concubine, Aunt Duan, clearly trying to elevate Shen Qian’s position.

Though Song Chen felt a little uncomfortable, he still acknowledged Shen Qian’s effort and said, “I know, Mother.”

Nearby, Jiang Wan almost couldn’t help laughing when she saw the scene—pfft haha…

“What are you laughing at?”

Shen Qian was confused. At that moment, she was gathering “herbs” alongside Jiang Wan and had a gut feeling Jiang Wan was laughing at her.

“Nothing.”

Jiang Wan stood up and stopped picking, but Song Jiuli still obediently gathered some, then caught up with the group.

The whole way, Jiang Wan seemed very cheerful, the corners of her lips slightly raised, even humming a tune.

Song Jiuchi carried Song Jiuyuan on his back and walked beside her. Seeing her in such a good mood, Song Jiuyuan opened his eyes and softly asked:

“You look very happy?”

“Yeah. How can I not be when I see fools doing dumb things?”

Jiang Wan walked with a spring in her step. Song Jiuyuan didn’t understand her meaning—until noon, when everyone finally realized what she was so delighted about.

Jiang Wan said to Song Jiuli, “Go wash these.”

“Oh, alright.”

Song Jiuli, like a busy little bee, hurried to do it, afraid her mother and brother would get mad. She followed Jiang Wan’s instructions without question.

Shen Qian, on the other hand, froze. She stared blankly at the “herbs” in her hands and wondered—Wait, these need to be washed?

Her question was soon answered. Jiang Wan took the “herbs” Song Jiuli had washed and tossed them straight into a pot.

Wait… these “herbs” are for internal use?

While Shen Qian stood there utterly confused, Song Jiuli eagerly returned with everyone’s porridge, earning Jiang Wan’s first approving look.

“Here, today’s wild vegetables include your share!”

Jiang Wan deliberately emphasized the words wild vegetables, as if striking Shen Qian with a bolt of lightning.

“These are wild vegetables?!!”

Shen Qian’s voice rose in pitch, eyes wide in shock, clearly stunned!

Song Jiuli gave her a puzzled look, not understanding why she was so upset. She had been so focused on pleasing Jiang Wan that she hadn’t noticed the “stupid thing” Shen Qian had done.

“Yeah, they taste great.”

It was her first time eating wild vegetables prepared personally by her sister-in-law. They were way better than her own cooking!

Jiang Wan gave Shen Qian a meaningful smile. “Don’t you have some too? Go try it yourself.”

Pfft.
Song Jiuchi couldn’t help laughing out loud. Even Song Jiuyuan’s lips curled up slightly—it was obvious he was in a great mood.

Madam Song (the first wife) felt immensely satisfied and thought the wild vegetables tasted like heaven’s delicacy.

Shen Qian’s eyes turned red with anger. Besides her, the rest of the Song family was practically fuming with rage. Madam Song (the second wife) threw down the wild vegetables in her hands and glared at Jiang Wan with fury.

“Jiang Wan, how could you be so malicious? My husband and Chen’er are still part of the Song family!”

How could she just stand by and let her mistake wild vegetables for medicinal herbs?

Song Chen and Song Lao’er’s faces turned ashen. Thinking about how wild vegetables had just been applied to their wounds, they felt thoroughly uncomfortable, as if the injuries were starting to sting again.

Others who overheard the conversation—whether officials or fellow exiles—nearly burst into laughter.

The Song family had never been so humiliated before. The way everyone looked at them made them want to dig a hole and hide in it.

Everyone was laughing at them—all thanks to Jiang Wan!

“How am I malicious?”

Jiang Wan blinked innocently. “I never said they were medicinal herbs, did I? Who knew you were so dumb you couldn’t even tell wild vegetables from herbs.”

So what if she did it on purpose to watch the show?

It’s not her fault they were that dumb.

Jiang Wan’s words were like a slap across Madam Song’s face. After all, she had been the one to personally apply the “herbs” to her husband and son.

Furious, she turned and slapped Shen Qian across the face.

“You idiot! Can’t even tell herbs from wild vegetables!”

Clearly, she was taking her frustration out on someone. Shen Qian’s head buzzed from the slap, and when she looked up, she saw Jiang Wan’s smug expression.

“Jiang Wan, you did it on purpose! You did it on purpose, you bitch!”

Shen Qian was about to go mad. She lunged forward, wanting to scratch that smug smile off Jiang Wan’s face.

But as soon as she raised her hand, Jiang Wan quickly slapped it away and, in one swift motion, slapped her face.

The strike was shockingly fast. Shen Qian’s face instantly swelled—symmetrically, too.

“Ahhh!!!”

Shen Qian screamed in rage, throwing her image to the wind. She practically went berserk and charged at Jiang Wan.

Just as she got close, Jiang Wan kicked her away. Shen Qian hit the ground miserably.

The commotion was loud enough to draw Ren Bang over, his face stern, muttering curses as he walked.

“What’s all this ruckus? Looking for a beating?!”

“Officer, it was her! She hit me! You must punish her!”

Shen Qian sat on the ground, clutching her swollen face and glaring at Jiang Wan. She was sure Jiang Wan had done it on purpose—set her up and humiliated her.

“I was just defending myself. She hit me first—what was I supposed to do? Stand there and let her hit me?”

Jiang Wan looked completely innocent and even shrugged. Ren Bang glanced at her and said coldly:

“No one is allowed to incite disturbances again—or don’t blame me for being harsh!”

When he put on that cold face, it was terrifying—especially with a whip in his hand, which he kept flicking.

“I… I didn’t start anything. It was Jiang Wan! She hit me!”

Shen Qian’s tone weakened. Inside, she burned with resentment, hoping Ren Bang would severely punish Jiang Wan.

But Ren Bang only gave Jiang Wan a cursory glance and said lightly, “Even if it’s self-defense, be more careful next time.”

“Mm, okay.”

Jiang Wan responded with a bright smile. Everyone could tell—Ren Bang was clearly favoring her. Now, no one dared to mess with her.

Shen Qian didn’t dare say anything more, but her eyes were filled with hatred as she looked at Jiang Wan. Her fingers dug into her palms, and she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, barely keeping her anger in check.

Once everyone had quieted down, Ren Bang tucked the whip into his belt and walked away.

Shen Qian slowly got up, wanting to complain about Ren Bang’s favoritism—but she didn’t dare say a word. She was terrified that whip would strike her instead.

What was worse, because of her foolish mistake, the Song family now wanted nothing to do with her.

She didn’t even get to eat lunch.