Chapter 12: The Third Concubine’s Complaint

Jiang Wei truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “So you forgave him?”

“Mhm. I got in the way of your father and Second Concubine. It’s normal he resents me.”

“Pah! Bullshit!” Jiang Wei really wanted to kick this unfilial mother. “He married you for money and status. He switched your son and tore your family apart. He caused Grandfather’s death and stole his fortune—and you forgive that scumbag in the name of so-called love?! Aren’t you afraid Grandfather won’t rest in peace down in the afterlife?!”

Shen Peirong trembled at the mention of her strict father. “I believe your grandfather can understand my difficulties. And don’t keep speaking ill of your father. He is your father after all.”

She had her reasons. Why didn’t anyone understand her?

“Whatever. I’m tired. Go back and be lovey-dovey with that scumbag dad of yours.” Jiang Wei shoved Shen Peirong out the door. One more second and she really might have kicked her.

Shen Peirong looked nervously at the shabby room with only a broken bed. “Xiaowei, this room’s in such poor shape. Does Mother need to get you some furniture?”

Didn’t she and Jiang Yan arrange this rundown room?

Late-arriving motherly love was something the original host never got to enjoy—and Jiang Wei didn’t care for it anyway.

“Forget the furniture,” Jiang Wei said. “I’m only staying here a few more days. If you really want to do something for me, give me more money. I don’t want to go back to the countryside and eat dirt again.”

“I promise I’ll prepare a grand dowry for you,” Shen Peirong said, ready to give her ten gold bars.

“Ah!” Inside, Jiang Wei wildly punched the air. Rotten dad, rotten mom—may they be locked in a loveless marriage forever.

Outside the room, the maid was gleeful. The Third Young Miss had been driven crazy by the doctor.

In the main hall—

Second Concubine and Jiang Yan had already left with some excuse.

The once-spacious hall was now left with only Jiang Dahai and the gentle, refined Third Concubine.

Clutching his chest in pain, Jiang Dahai rubbed his brow. “Why are you still standing here? Go back and take care of the child.”

Third Concubine, warm and obedient, began massaging his legs. “Master, I feel so bad for you.”

Jiang Dahai was a little flattered.

Third Concubine, Chen Yiyi, was Second Concubine Chen Xiaolian’s younger half-sister.

Twenty years ago, after being diagnosed as infertile, Chen Xiaolian had sent her half-sister to Jiang Dahai’s bed to bear children for the Jiang family.

Chen Yiyi had a dull and boring personality. Whenever she saw him, she trembled like a mouse before a cat. When they lay in bed, it was like there was a river between them.

Over time, he grew bored of her.

But now, unexpectedly, she said she cared about him and even massaged his legs.

Lust stirred in Jiang Dahai. He grabbed her hand. “It’s fine. I’m strong. That unfilial girl will be out of the house in a few days. And we haven’t been intimate in a while… Don’t you want to…?”

“Master~” Chen Yiyi gently pulled her hand away. “Master, I’m just worried that you’ve been deceived by Steward Zhao.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are some things I shouldn’t say, but I really can’t stand watching them go behind your back like this.”

“Who’s going behind my back?”

“It’s Steward Zhao. Everything the Third Young Miss said was true. He’s always fancied my sister. But she insisted on marrying you even if it meant being a concubine. Steward Zhao couldn’t let go, so he followed her into the residence. Not only did he harass her, but when you weren’t home, he forced her to call him ‘Master.’ And if she didn’t… if she didn’t—”

“If she didn’t what?” Jiang Dahai was about to explode.

“He’d steal from the household and threatened to expose the baby swap to the first wife. Oh, Master, where are you going—?”

Watching his furious back, Chen Yiyi picked up the food tray and went to find Jiang Wei.

“Third Miss, thank you for giving me the chance to get revenge on Chen Xiaolian and Steward Zhao.”

“You’re the smart one, Third Aunt. I didn’t do anything.” Jiang Wei focused on gnawing her pigeon leg.

“Back then, Chen Xiaolian lured me into the house with claims of being sick. Steward Zhao drugged me, and the two of them sent me to Jiang Dahai’s bed—even though he’s older than my father…”

Poor Brother Zhuang came looking for me and got beaten half to death by Steward Zhao’s men. That fake, pretentious eldest miss used his treatment as an excuse to blackmail me into doing bad things.

If it weren’t for you warning me the medicine was suspicious, I’d still be dancing in the palm of their hands. Third Miss, I beg you, save me. I don’t want anything else—I just want to take Little Tian and leave this man-eating Jiang family.”

Chen Yiyi was only twenty—an age when a woman should be at her most beautiful—yet she already looked haggard and hunched.

“You brainless idiot,” Jiang Wei scolded her. “Why would you want nothing? You want that scummy old man to use you for free?”

Third Aunt blushed. “Third Miss, you’re so crude.”

“I’m from the countryside. Crude is my signature trait.” Jiang Wei rolled onto the bed.

“The government’s going to push monogamy soon. Instead of thinking about escaping the Jiang family, you’d be better off squeezing as much money out of them as you can before you leave.”

“Really?” Third Aunt wanted to ask more, but Jiang Wei had already pulled the blanket over her head and begun snoring.

Third Aunt quietly closed the door. “Thank you, Third Miss.”

Jiang Wei opened her eyes. She remembered how things ended for the third concubine in the novel—it was tragic.

After they moved to Hong Kong, Second Concubine was afraid she’d lose her standing. So she exposed Jiang Tian’s identity. Enraged, Jiang Dahai beat Jiang Tian to death, then sent Chen Yiyi to an old pervert with local power as a literal human commodity.

When Chen Yiyi’s body was found, it was in pieces.

Jiang Wei hadn’t signed in today. She opened the system app.

[Weiwei Qingcheng] has joined the group chat.

[I Gave Birth to Eight Cubs in the Beast World]: Help! I just like reading beastmen romances, I never wanted to transmigrate into one—let alone run around naked! Can any pretty sister buy me some clothes? Reward: Disguise Pill ×1

[Weiwei Qingcheng]: I got you.

Jiang Wei accepted the mission, picked out some comfortable clothes and shoes, and flash-mailed them to [I Gave Birth to Eight Cubs in the Beast World].

Ding!
Host has received mission reward: Disguise Pill ×1

[I Gave Birth to Eight Cubs in the Beast World]: The clothes fit great! Love you, muah muah~

[I Slept with a Handsome Man in Ancient Times]: Popping in~ Sis, that Disguise Pill lets you change your appearance into someone else’s.

[Weiwei Qingcheng]: Thanks for the info, Bro. She also flash-mailed him a pre-drawn sketchbook.

[I Slept with a Handsome Man in Ancient Times]: Thanks, Weiwei Sis! This spiritual food is everything.

Ding!
[I Slept with a Handsome Man in Ancient Times] has gifted Host a Beauty Pill ×1.

Jiang Wei then sent two more boys’ love sketchbooks to [The Overlord at the End Keeps Staring at My Hook] and [The Deskmate Who Bullies Me When the Lights Go Off].

Ding!
[The Overlord at the End Keeps Staring at My Hook] has gifted Host Dream-Stealing Space ×1
Ding!
[The Deskmate Who Bullies Me When the Lights Go Off] has gifted Host Strength Pill ×1

[Weiwei Qingcheng]: Thanks for the gifts, Boss and Deskmate! I really just wanted to share with you all.
She didn’t want them to think she was fishing for gifts.

No reply. Jiang Wei sweatdropped. Did they misunderstand after all?

[I Slept with a Handsome Man in Ancient Times]: The Little Zombie and Deskmate both seem hurt.

[Weiwei Qingcheng]: Is it serious?

[I Slept with a Handsome Man in Ancient Times]: Pretty bad, I think. They said they’re on bed rest and fasting for a few days.

That sounded serious. Jiang Wei rummaged through her scumbag father’s stash and flash-mailed them each a box of wound medicine.

She exited the League group chat and swallowed the Disguise Pill. Looking into the mirror, she saw a bloated figure, then opened the door.

“Young Miss, the master said— Wait, Master?! What are you doing in the Young Miss’s room?” The maid squinted. Was she seeing things? But this hideous man was definitely the master.

“Idiot. Do you even know what time I entered the room?”

“M-Master, I was wrong!” she stammered. She swore she’d only dozed for a moment.