Chapter 71
Death

Song Wan learned that the Chen family had come to break off the engagement, causing a significant commotion, and she had no choice but to step in.

Although she didn’t want to get involved in the affairs of the Marquis Mansion, a woman being rejected by her fiancé’s family leaves no other path, especially for someone like Jiang Jing, who now carries a tarnished reputation.

She had the matchmaker and the Chen family’s representative brought into the mansion and said coldly, “Breaking off an engagement is a serious matter between two families. You are slandering the reputation of the Marquis Mansion’s young lady. Are you prepared to face the consequences?”

The matchmaker laughed, “Madam, it’s not like that. There are rumors circulating in the capital…”

“You know they are rumors. Since they are just rumors and there is no concrete evidence, how can you so hastily condemn the third young lady of the Marquis Mansion? Should I then say that Madam Chen is clumsy and that the Chen family is full of immoral people?”

“Oh dear, the Marquis Mansion is being unreasonable.” Madam Chen lowered her eyes, avoiding Song Wan’s gaze.

“Why involve the Marquis Mansion? What clumsiness? Wasn’t it Concubine Lin who said that the young lady of the Marquis Mansion is unworthy of being a wife in our Chen family?”

“It was she who first broke off the engagement. Concubine Lin herself admitted that the third young lady reads improper books. What are you arguing with me for? Does the Marquis Mansion think it can bully us because of its high status?”

“……”

Even though Song Wan prided herself on her sharp tongue, she was momentarily speechless upon hearing that Lin Jiayue had admitted to Jiang Jing reading improper books.

“Our Chen family did not break off this engagement.”

Seeing Song Wan at a loss for words, Madam Chen adjusted her hairpin and said, “Since the Marquis Mansion looks down on our Chen family, there’s no need for enmity. Let’s break off the engagement amicably; it’s better for everyone.”

Song Wan frowned, “The Marquis Mansion does not accept the Chen family’s reason for breaking off the engagement.”

Jiang Jing absolutely could not bear the reputation of being unchaste. How could a young lady with such a reputation have a future?

Song Wan glanced at Jiang Xingjian, who nodded grimly.

“The betrothal gifts have been exchanged, and the engagement is set. The Chen family is expected to come for the wedding on the fifteenth of next month. If the Chen family breaks off the engagement, the Marquis Mansion will pursue the matter to the end.”

“Madam Chen, you should…”

Before Song Wan could finish, Madam Zhou came crying from the inner courtyard, her wails heart-wrenching and startling everyone.

“Marquis, please save my Jing’er. She has thrown herself into the well…”

Jiang Xingjian immediately stood up, instructing Song Wan to wait while he called for some servants to help. Madam Zhou followed, crying all the way. Seeing this, Madam Chen said awkwardly, “I didn’t expect the third young lady of the Marquis Mansion to be so strong-willed. It seems those were just rumors.”

“Since such a serious matter has occurred, I won’t stay any longer. I’ll return to my mansion.”

Madam Chen tried to leave with the matchmaker, but Song Wan coldly ordered, “Stop them.”

“You’d better pray that the third young lady is unharmed. If anything happens to her, the Marquis Mansion will not rest until justice is served.”

A group of servants stepped forward to block Madam Chen, who shouted, “Nonsense! My husband is also a high-ranking official. How dare you treat me like this?”

Song Wan clenched her fists, her heart pounding.

In her mind, she saw the scene of Madam Zhou bringing Jiang Jing to Lan Ting Courtyard to pay respects. The young girl had smiled shyly, with dimples on her cheeks, looking playful and endearing. At that time, she was untouched by worldly matters, her round eyes full of youthful innocence.

But now…

Song Wan’s palms were sweaty, and her eyes were slightly red.

Holding back her tears, she said coldly, “If the third young lady is safe and sound, then everything can be discussed. But if Jiang Jing dies because of the Chen family’s relentless pressure, then in seven days, the Chen family can prepare for a white wedding.”

“You dare!”

“Just watch and see if I dare!” She picked up the teacup beside her, but seeing her trembling hand, she put it back down.

Soon, a wail of grief erupted from the inner courtyard, sending a shiver through her heart.

Before long, a group of servants silently carried out a bamboo stretcher covered with a thin white cloth, barely concealing a slender figure.

“Jiang…”

Choking on her words, her eyes reddened, and she stumbled, unable to believe that the lively young girl she had seen just days ago was now truly gone.

Madam Zhou was held back by the servants in Yu’an Courtyard while Jiang Jing’s body was to be taken to Jixiang Courtyard.

Jiang Xingjian’s face was as cold as frost, his expression dark and somber.

As the servants carried Jiang Jing’s body past them, the bamboo stretcher trembled slightly, and a delicate hand slipped out from under the white cloth. Clutched in her hand was a small sheepskin rattle with a white jade handle, which occasionally made a crisp sound as it bumped along.

Lin Jiayue sat slumped against the shadow wall, watching in a daze as the stretcher was carried away, looking utterly devastated.

As an unmarried girl, Jiang Jing would not have a funeral hall or be buried in the ancestral tomb. Her funeral could only be held in Jixiang Courtyard. Unable to bear seeing her end this way, Song Wan lowered her eyes and said to the servant beside her, “Find ten servants to escort Madam Chen back to her mansion. In seven days, we will hold a wedding for the third young lady and the young master of the Chen family.”

Jiang Xingjian nodded, and the servant went to find people.

Madam Chen shouted that it was Lin Jiayue who broke off the engagement and that it had nothing to do with the Chen family, but no one responded to her.

Supported by Heng Zhi and Heng Wu, Song Wan returned to Lan Ting Courtyard. Jiang Xingjian walked to the shadow wall, where Lin Jiayue was already crying.

“How can someone be so foolish as to throw themselves into a well for some meaningless reputation? How does reading a few romance novels in one’s own room count as losing chastity? Throwing oneself into a well for such a reason… how ridiculous!”

“They’re all mad, all mad…”

Lin Jiayue’s mind was filled with the image of Jiang Jing’s pale hands and the sound of the rattle.

Her face was covered in tears, her eyes hollow and empty as she leaned against the shadow wall.

Jiang Xingjian walked past her without stopping and left.

The entire Marquis Mansion was silent. Although a young lady had passed away, there was no sign of mourning, except for a nanmu coffin in Jixiang Courtyard, with a few copper basins for burning paper money. A few scattered servants occasionally threw in some yellow paper.

Song Wan sat at her desk, her eyes red but without tears.

“Find two servants and a maid to accompany Madam Zhou in Yu’an Courtyard. Also, take five hundred taels of silver from my dowry to prepare a dowry for Jiang Jing.”

“The mansion is in chaos. Find someone to guard Jiang Jing’s coffin and make sure no one opens it or disturbs the burial items.”

“Ask the Marquis how to handle the marriage between the Chen family and Jiang Jing. If the Chen family refuses, how far should the Marquis Mansion go in compromising?”

Heng Wu wiped her tears and went to find Jiang Xingjian, who replied that no matter the cost, Jiang Jing must be buried in the Chen family’s ancestral tomb. Song Wan nodded and sighed, “Not as spineless as I thought.”

“Miss, should we inform Madam and the Old Madam about the third young lady?”

“Send someone to inform Madam. Whether to tell the Old Madam or not, let her decide.”

Xiang Cao went to find a maid to deliver the message, and Jiang Xingjian also sent a servant to notify the other mansion members.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan was not in the mansion; he was discussing important matters with Xiao Jiyue at a tavern.