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Despite her inner reluctance, the Princess had to reluctantly nod in agreement as things had reached this point. She let out a long sigh, her back slightly stooped.
The old Marquis’ greatest fear had materialized – his illegitimate grandson’s dominance. With so many legitimate sons and grandsons, none could control him, hence the decision to separate him early. Hong had dared to overstep, plotting schemes.
In the future, she would need to find a way to keep this grandson in check, a potential asset for the main branch.
Pointing at Marquis Jiang, the second and third sons, the heir, and Jiang Zhanwei, she stated, “The rest of you can leave, only you few stay.” Then, addressing Madam Hong, she continued, “I just received a letter from your maternal family stating that your eldest sister-in-law is unwell. Although she is your sister-in-law, she has nurtured you like a mother. Go and attend to her illness.”
The Princess publicly reprimanded Madam Hong, not only for her repeated disobedience and involvement with outsiders against Lu Man but also for Jiang Zhanwei’s separation issue being linked back to her.
Blushing, Madam Hong’s body swayed, needing assistance from a maid to prevent her from falling to the ground. She tearfully protested, “Mother-in-law, why are you doing this? Today’s events were primarily caused by Song Xian, and although Haobai was there, he was not heavily involved. Besides, he is just a cousin from my maternal family, you cannot hold me accountable for their mistakes.”
Princess Changting coldly retorted, “You are not innocent in today’s events, you attracted that nuisance. Furthermore, why did the servants dare mistreat Zhanwei’s wife? If not for the misconceptions you instilled in them, they wouldn’t have dared to act so recklessly.”
Madam Hong, wide-eyed, dared not speak further, realizing the Princes’s sternness. She had been certain that the Princess, even with her status related to Empress Wang and ties to the royal family, wouldn’t dare go this far in reprimanding her, perhaps just confining her. As long as she could drive out Lu Man, she was willing to accept confinement.
Unexpectedly, the Princess not only protected Lu Man but also directed her anger towards her.
Adding to her frustration, Jiang Zhanwei’s proposal for separation further fueled the Princess’s anger, leaving no room for sentiment as she coldly sent her back to her maternal home.
Madam Hong, feeling a mix of shame and anger, noticed her husband’s indifference, realizing he was also upset with her, and quickly knelt down, pleading, “Mother-in-law, I have served you for over twenty years. Please, grant me some dignity.”
Ignoring her pleas, the Princess waved her hand, and the Third Madam and eldest Young Madam helped the tearful Madam Hong out of the room.
Marquis Jiang also resented Madam Hong for her two-faced behavior, siding with outsiders and disregarding his advice, focusing only on Empress Wang and the Wang family. He felt it was time to properly discipline her.
The heir was frustrated with his mother’s confusion but didn’t dare plead publicly, planning to address it privately when the opportunity arose. He subtly signaled his wife to comfort his mother.
Before leaving, Second Madam whispered a few words to the Second Master, indicating that he should work towards securing benefits for Jiang Zhanwei and his siblings. The Second Master was surprised, his elegant and aloof wife was now concerned about Zhanwei’s and the siblings?
Noticing the bewildered look from her husband, the Second Madam’s expression darkened. The Second Master quickly nodded in agreement, quietly saying, “Alright, I’ll follow your lead, dear.”
Leading Jiang Zhankui, Jiang Jiu, and Qichang out of the Crane Hall, Lu Man left with the old Marquis who was still in a playful mood.
At the gate, Madam Lin remarked to Lu Man, “Actually, it’s good to be separated. You can be independent, live life as you wish without fear of deceit. Although life may not be as luxurious as in the estate, it’s far better than many smaller households. In this household, if not for the Princess’s authority, with the family rules and guards overseeing many matters, your previous days wouldn’t have been as comfortable. Rest assured, the Princess will not let you suffer injustices, and the Second Master will help secure benefits for you and the siblings. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just let us know, we will assist where we can.”
Lu Man expressed her gratitude with a bow.
As she watched their fading figures in the night, Lu Man felt grateful. Women in ancient times who possessed conscience, gratitude, avoided bullying the weak, and remained true to themselves were rare within the grand estates. Amidst the intricate web of family interests, most women lived in a world of calculation and pretense, much like Madam Hong, perhaps even Young Madam Han…
As the night darkened, the sky filled with countless cold stars, a half-moon hung amidst the stars. Despite their hunger, they were excited – they all wanted to start anew.
Jiang Zhankui, concerned about Lu Man’s feelings, reassured her, “Sister-in-law, my third brother’s words about you were just an excuse for the separation. Don’t be upset with him.”
Lu Man smiled in response without saying a word.
Separating was a positive development, especially as it was triggered by Madam Hong and welcomed by Marquis Jiang. Jiang Zhanwei had tactfully given face to the main branch without explicitly stating it, using her cluelessness and his devotion as a pretext. The Princess and Marquis Jiang would not only feel remorseful but also ensure they weren’t disadvantaged.
Thinking about his “confession” and all the arrangements he had made for her future, Lu Man felt genuine gratitude towards Jiang Zhanwei. If they separated, her life would indeed be much better – no longer fearing being expelled from the estate, no longer worried about hidden threats, even planning for her well-being after his passing. Perhaps he had truly changed his mind, maybe he wasn’t as bad as she had thought…
Feeling warm in her heart, Lu Man didn’t feel the cold of the winter night.
Mama Wang and Liu Ya had heard about Lu Man’s incident on the street, though they were unsure of the details, causing them great distress. Seeing them return so late without having eaten, Jiang Jiu kept complaining of hunger, while Jiang Zhankui excitedly talked about separation, causing further panic.
Mama Wang asked Lu Man, “Third Young Madam, what happened? What does separation mean?”
Lu Man briefly explained the situation and concluded, “Thanks to Dawang for protecting me, he was injured defending me.”
Mama Wang was moved to tears, exclaiming, “Those two despicable individuals, they are the young masters of the respectable households, how could they act so wickedly? And those servants, how could they not wholeheartedly protect their masters when in trouble? Isn’t there any sense of justice…”
Jiang Zhankui reassured, “My grandmother said she would seek justice, appealing to the Emperor to punish those two villains for harming Third Sister-in-law. The eldest Madam has been sent back to her maternal home, the guards and servants will be severely punished and dismissed. Additionally, because of this incident, my third brother proposed separation, and my grandmother and father agreed.”
Mama Wang was still hesitant about the separation, expressing her concerns, “If the He family has offended someone, and Third Young Master is going to the border for battle, unable to tend to matters at home, with the Princess’s protection, Third Young Madam’s days could be much better.”