Chapter 13: When the Crane and Clam Fight, Jiang Wei Profits

“Forget it. Just keep a close watch on Second Miss. Don’t let her leave the house, and no one else is allowed to visit her. If she dares defy me, I’ll deal with her myself.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll watch Second Miss closely. Not even a mosquito will get in or out of her room.”

Seeing Xiao Lu cast a bashful glance at her scumbag dad’s face, Jiang Wei instantly spotted the spark and playfully curled her lips, patting the callused hand. “You’re a clever girl. I quite like you too.”

“Unfortunately, Second Concubine won’t allow me to take you as my Fourth Concubine. But if you can get some dirt on her… eh, never mind. Just be a good maid for now.”

After saying that, Jiang Wei sighed regretfully and left.

Left standing there, Xiao Lu’s eyes filled with ambition. “Second Madam, I’ve been loyal to you, but you blocked my path to becoming a concubine. Since you’re treating me like this, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

As she passed by Second Concubine’s room, the woman was crying inside.

“What are you crying for?” Jiang Wei pushed open the door and saw that the once-beautiful Chen Xiaolian’s face was now covered in pimples and pockmarks. She recoiled. “What happened to your face?”

“Master~” Chen Xiaolian sobbed even harder. “It was Second Miss. There was poison in her tea. My face turned out like this after I drank it.”

Jiang Wei stepped back in disgust. “Serves you right. You dared to drink tea brought by the young miss? Look at you—your face’s swollen like a pig’s head. Who knows if it’ll ever heal.”

“Wuuu~” Chen Xiaolian cried even harder.

“Enough crying. I came to discuss serious business.”

Second Concubine quickly wiped her tears. “Is it about going to Hong Kong? Has there been any progress?”

As expected, that scumbag dad of hers was already planning their move to Hong Kong.

Jiang Wei nodded. “Yeah. The Hong Kong side wants to see our sincerity. I’ve already locked down all of the Jiang family’s assets. Hand me all the money you have on hand—I need it urgently.”

“B-but…” At the mention of money, Second Concubine hesitated.

Jiang Wei glared. “What? You’re unwilling? Don’t tell me what Second Girl said about you and Steward Zhao is true? That you two partnered up to empty out the First Miss’s room?”

“No! Absolutely not! I just…” didn’t want to give it.

“Then what’s the problem? Hong Kong is urging us. Hand over the money, or I’ll have to go to the First Madam. If she finds out we’re going to Hong Kong, she’ll definitely follow us. Do you really want to be beneath her forever?”

“No way!” Chen Xiaolian had had enough of being a concubine—she wanted to be the main wife. She immediately emptied her jewelry cabinet, stuffing the money and ornaments into Jiang Wei’s hands. “Master~ this is everything I have.”

“Good. Also, get all the property deeds and land contracts you won’t be able to take. I’ll sell them off and convert them into cash. Oh, and don’t mention me asking for money tonight to anyone, not even the First Miss. If she gets soft-hearted and tells Shen-shi, we’ll be done for.”

“Of course, Master. Then tonight…” Chen Xiaolian reached out, trying to sneak a kiss.

Jiang Wei quickly dodged. “I have work to do tonight. I’ve found out where Steward Zhao hid the stuff. I’m going to clean him out.”

Huh?! Chen Xiaolian hurriedly tidied up and rushed out to find Steward Zhao.

Even if she was innocent, she had secretly stashed a lot of money with Steward Zhao. She couldn’t let Jiang Dahai find it and confiscate it.

Just as she left, the real Jiang Dahai barged in furiously. “Chen Xiaolian! How dare you hide your affair with Steward Zhao from me? If it weren’t for—huh? Where is she?”

Xiao Lu rushed in. “Master, I just saw Second Madam rushing out of the mansion in a hurry. Do you think she’s going to see Steward Zhao?”

“She’s gone too far!” Jiang Dahai immediately summoned the house guards. “Everyone, follow me to Steward Zhao’s house in the city! Bring back everything he took from this household. Anyone who catches him will be handsomely rewarded!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes!”

A group of people stormed toward Steward Zhao’s city house with tools in hand.

Over the past few years, Steward Zhao had made a lot of money following Jiang Dahai. His house in the city was grand and spacious.

Jiang Dahai’s eyes burned with jealousy. “Charge! Today we’re clearing out every last thing in that house!”

“Yes, sir!” The group rushed in—only to freeze in shock. “Master, there’s nothing in here. Not even the door frames are left!”

“Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! Smash it all! Smash it to pieces!”

Before long, Steward Zhao’s house was reduced to rubble. Still unsatisfied, Jiang Dahai ordered the house set on fire.

By the time Steward Zhao heard from Second Concubine that Jiang Dahai was after him, he rushed back only to see his home reduced to ash.

“AAAAHHHH!! Damn you, Jiang Dahai! We are enemies for life!”

After wallowing in anguish for a few minutes, Steward Zhao pulled himself together and headed for his secret stash.

Fortunately, he had prepared ahead of time. Looking at the neatly stacked metal boxes before him, he ground his teeth. “Jiang Dahai, since you destroyed my house, I’ll take your treasures in return. Don’t forget, I was the one who helped you find your secret hiding place.”

After confirming everything was safe, Steward Zhao left the warehouse.

Then, Jiang Wei appeared, light on her feet and grinning. “Hehe!” She swiftly cleaned out the warehouse, and before leaving, she even threw the doors and lock into her system storage.

“Wench! Why did you go to Steward Zhao?! Were you going to warn him I was after him?!” Jiang Dahai, having gained nothing, stormed back home and slapped Second Concubine across the face the moment he saw her.

“You hit me?!” Chen Xiaolian stared at him in disbelief. “Jiang Dahai, I’ve been married to you for nearly 20 years! You’ve never even touched a finger of mine—now you’re hitting me?!”

She immediately switched to her pitiful look.

In the past, no matter how furious Jiang Dahai was, the moment she looked aggrieved, he’d start coaxing her.

But she’d forgotten—her face now looked like a swollen pig’s head, more vulgar than pitiful.

The sight only infuriated Jiang Dahai more. “You have the nerve to talk?! You took advantage of my affection, confident I wouldn’t scold or hit you—so you went behind my back and stole a man?!”

“I didn’t steal any man!” Chen Xiaolian yelled back. “I just found out you were going to raid his stash, so I went to get back what I left with him. Look—this is it!”

Jiang Dahai finally noticed the two metal boxes on the ground. “These are yours?”

“Mhm. All things you gave me in the past. I kept them safe, planning to give them to the First Girl as a dowry.”

“I misunderstood you.” Jiang Dahai bowed his head. He reached out to touch her face—only to see nothing but blotchy pimples and dark spots. He had no idea where to even place his hand. He retracted it. “I’m sorry. I misunderstood. Did it hurt?”

Hurt? More like disfigured.

He thought his old age made him weak—but turns out, he still had strength when it came to hitting. That one slap had practically disfigured her.

“It hurts—not just my face, but my heart too. Don’t believe me? Touch it.” She reached out again. She knew his weakness: no matter how angry he was, sleeping with her would always calm him down.

“N-no, it’s too late. I’m heading to Shen-shi’s place. She already found out we swapped the babies. For the First Girl’s future, I have to go smooth things over.”

“…Fine then.” Chen Xiaolian looked disappointed.

After he left, she frowned. Who told the master I left the mansion?

“Master~”

Outside was Xiao Lu’s coquettish voice.

“You little tramp! It was that slut Xiao Lu!” Chen Xiaolian’s mind flashed with Xiao Lu’s soft, fair face. Then she looked at her own pig-like reflection in the mirror, clenching her teeth. “Scheming wench. Trying to climb into his bed again? Not giving up, huh?”