Chapter 52
Taking joy in others’ calamities

Lin Jiayue’s actions were too abrupt, startling everyone in the room.

When Madam Zhou finally reacted, she subtly covered her mouth. Realizing she wasn’t the only victim of that troublemaker, Madam Zhou’s pain inexplicably eased a bit.

After the old Marquis passed away, Madam Zheng and Madam Zhou both led reclusive lives. Now, being suddenly treated like this by Lin Jiayue, Madam Zheng was momentarily stunned, blinking dryly.

“What are you doing?” The first to speak was the little maid with a silver hairpin.

The little maid frowned, glaring with her big round eyes, puzzled at Lin Jiayue: “Why are you tearing up my engagement card?”

“I’m saving you. Are you stupid?” Lin Jiayue threw the engagement card to the ground, angrily scolding Song Wan: “What are you thinking? Is it fun to harm young girls? She’s only in her teens. Why should she be a concubine for a ten-year-old boy?”

“Her life hasn’t even started, and you want to ruin it. Are you even human?”

Song Wan raised an eyebrow, not knowing why Lin Jiayue was acting crazy again.

“Get out of the way.” Lin Jiayue felt someone gripping her shoulder tightly and suddenly pushed her aside.

Holding her shaky hairpin, Madam Zheng snarled: “What does it have to do with you if I take a concubine for the fourth young master? Besides, Xiang Mei is my maid. Why are you going crazy here? Do you think your itchy bones want to serve the fourth young master too? Pah, you lowly thing, our fourth young master wouldn’t even look at you!”

Madam Zhou, who had been teary-eyed earlier, saw Madam Zheng scolding her just as harshly as when she was young, and the last bit of resentment in her heart disappeared. If the timing were right, she would have clapped her hands in approval, letting Madam Zheng continue her scolding.

“You want to stop the Third Miss’s marriage, and now you want to stop the Fourth Young Master from taking a concubine. Do you even know your place? How dare you interfere with me, Zheng Rujian? Do you think you have the right to boss around in the Chengyang Marquis’s residence and the eldest young madam’s Lan Ting Courtyard?”

After saying this, Madam Zheng pulled out the silver hairpin from her head and stabbed it towards Lin Jiayue’s arm.

Lin Jiayue cried out in pain, her eyes turning red.

“Enough! Do you think this is a place for your nonsense?”

Nanny Zhao shouted, and Madam Zheng fell to the ground, clutching her chest and looking tearfully at Song Wan.

Since Jiang Xingjian returned to the mansion, Song Wan’s head had been aching constantly. She glanced silently at Madam Zheng, her ears burning. In all her years, it was the first time she had seen someone scold so harshly and roll around so skillfully.

It was truly… bewildering.

After a moment of silence, Song Wan asked the little maid who was equally at a loss, “Are you willing to be taken in by the Fourth Young Master as a concubine?”

The little maid knelt on the ground and loudly replied, “Yes, Eldest Young Madam.”

For a servant, being taken in by the master was the best outcome. It meant transforming from a servant to a semi-master, and if she bore a child in the future, her life would be complete. Even when she met her parents, she would be praised. Only a fool would refuse. Moreover, the sooner she became a concubine, the sooner she could receive a monthly allowance.

Xiang Mei’s response was loud and clear, showing not only no reluctance but also an eagerness to solidify her status as a concubine immediately.

Lin Jiayue was furious at her lack of ambition and shouted, “I don’t agree.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you agree or not. You don’t make the decisions here.” Madam Zheng spat and turned to look at Song Wan, once again appearing weak and sickly, clutching her chest.

Song Wan held her forehead, using her hand to block Madam Zheng’s view. “Since both Madam Zheng and Xiang Mei are willing, this matter is settled. You may leave now.”

“Don’t leave.” Lin Jiayue stretched out her arm, blocking everyone: “No one is allowed to leave today. I can’t just watch you commit such heinous acts.”

Blood seeped from the wound on her arm caused by the silver hairpin. It was summer, and she was dressed lightly, so the blood dripped onto the ground. Seeing the blood, Song Wan signaled Xiang Cao to help bandage her up.

“In any case, we must wait for the Marquis to return. I want to ask him if he agrees with you making a young girl a concubine for the Fourth Young Master!”

Lin Jiayue pushed away Xiang Cao, who had brought the medicine, and stood firmly in front of everyone.

Song Wan, her forehead throbbing with anger, found herself helpless. She was not good at dealing with such unreasonable and unruly people.

“Fine, if she wants to wait, then let her wait for the Marquis to return.” Returning to her desk, Song Wan picked up a book, but she couldn’t calm down no matter how hard she tried. The silence in the room only added to her frustration.

Madam Zheng sat on an embroidered stool with Xiang Mei while Lin Jiayue leaned against the door with her arms crossed. With unknown thoughts, Madam Zhou refused to leave despite Jiang Jing’s repeated signals.

The standoff continued until Jiang Xingjian returned from his duties at Shanglin Garden. As soon as he got off the sedan chair, the maid urged him to go to Lan Ting Courtyard.

“What happened?”

Upon entering, Jiang Xingjian saw Song Wan looking relieved. Before he could savor her anticipation of his arrival, Lin Jiayue rushed over.

“You’re back just in time. I have something to tell you.”

Hearing Lin Jiayue’s voice, Jiang Xingjian’s brow furrowed slightly.

“They’re all crazy, making a teenage girl a concubine for a ten-year-old boy. Don’t you think this is absurd?”

Jiang Xingjian pressed his brow: “What’s the problem?”

“What’s the problem? It’s a huge problem!”

Lin Jiayue alternated between accusing Song Wan of aiding and abetting evil, scolding Madam Zheng for mistreating servants, and berating Xiang Mei for being blinded by greed. She even started to accuse Jiang Ang of being lustful and indulgent at such a young age.

As soon as she finished speaking, Song Wan stood up, Madam Zheng lunged forward to tear at Lin Jiayue’s mouth, and Jiang Xingjian slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang.

The sudden noise made Lin Jiayue fall silent, looking at him in utter confusion.

“If word gets out today, Jiang Ang will be labeled as lustful for life. Your reckless words could ruin his future. Can you think before you speak?”

The severity of his voice startled everyone.

Song Wan had never seen Jiang Xingjian so furious, with veins bulging and eyes red. The Jiang Xingjian she knew was always gentle and courteous, never losing his composure like this.

Song Wan lowered her eyes, feeling a pang of bitterness. Perhaps she and Jiang Xingjian had never truly known each other.

Lin Jiayue continued to argue, accusing the Marquis’s residence of mistreating servants, causing everyone in Lan Ting Courtyard to look at her with disdain.

Jiang Xingjian’s head throbbed with pain.

The reputation of the Chengyang Marquis’s residence was already in tatters, and if Lin Jiayue continued to cause trouble, it would soon become a hellish place of lawlessness.

“Wan’er, explain to her why Jiang Ang needs a concubine.”

Jiang Xingjian, defeated, turned to Song Wan for help.

Song Wan lowered her eyes to hide her annoyance, feeling completely disillusioned with Jiang Xingjian and the entire Chengyang Marquis’s residence.