Chapter 2: Framing

At the Minister's residence, Xiang Junzheng was always dressed in a grey-blue long gown; with his tall stature, thick brows, and large eyes, he appeared refined and elegant. Anyone who saw him would likely praise him in their heart as a truly scholarly man.

Today was a day off, and he arrived early at the bedside of the Old Madam to keep her company and chat.

In the 6th year of Tianqi, war broke out at the borders, and Xiang Junzheng's father, Xiang Zhongxian, led troops to quell the rebellion, achieving a great victory.

Xiang Zhongxian was highly valued by the young Emperor and spent years leading troops to guard the borders, often unable to return home for months or even half a year, sleeping in the open without complaint or regret.

For a time, a ballad circulated throughout Tianqi: "With Zhongxian in Tianqi, the borders face no danger."

The Old Madam raised her young son alone in Jingcheng, but during a battle in the 15th year of Tianqi, Xiang Zhongxian was betrayed by rebel forces; he fought bloodily for a day and a night, refusing to yield or retreat, and ultimately sacrificed his life for the country.

That year, the Old Madam was 26, and her only son, Xiang Junzheng, was 7. The Emperor, mindful of General Xiang's loyal service and the fact that the Old Madam had been widowed at such a young age, specially bestowed upon her the title of First-Rank Lady.

Xiang Junzheng was an only son and henceforth followed the path of a civil official, allowing the Xiang family to preserve its only bloodline.

The Old Madam was a resilient woman of noble character, well-respected by all, yet she seemed to have failed somewhat in raising her son.

Xiang Junzheng had no major flaws and was considered a filial son, but he was easily swayed and his private life was a chaotic mess.

"Zhengming, the second girl has been at the manor for six years now. I don't know if she has grown accustomed to it; it truly breaks my heart. The journey is long, and as an old woman bedridden for so long, I can only send people to deliver some food and clothing."

The Old Madam tremblingly extended her wrinkled hand to grasp her son Xiang Junzheng's large palm, her clouded eyes brimming with tears as she spoke with effort in a slightly aged voice.

"That wretch caused such a huge disaster back then. Xiuqin is kind-hearted and does not hold it against her. With Liu Ma looking after her at the manor, I imagine she hasn't suffered much. Mother, please don't worry about it." Xiang Junzheng sounded somewhat impatient.

"It has been so many years; whatever mistakes were made should be in the past."

The Old Madam paused, then added:

"The second girl is 14 now; she will reach her coming-of-age ceremony next year. She should start learning the rules of the household. I am thinking you should send someone to bring her back; don't let the child grow cold-hearted."

In that era, a young lady reached her coming-of-age ceremony at 15, when she would bind her hair.

The significance of the coming-of-age ceremony was solemn; it carried not only a family's responsibility and regard for the young lady, but also the young lady's responsibility toward her life and her role in society—it was a major milestone in a young lady's life.

Xiang Junzheng heard the Old Madam mention the second girl again, but the face of this daughter seemed extremely blurred in his mind.

It was not that he had never loved this daughter, but he did not know why she had become so degenerate after her mother died.

Timid and cowardly, unlearned and unskilled, she was vicious at such a young age, even capable of laying a cruel hand on her own legitimate elder sister.

He grew increasingly disappointed and displeased with this daughter.

Xiang Junzheng frowned, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes.

Past events surfaced in his mind: this wretch had once pushed her sister, Xiang Yiyi, into the lake.

When her mother, Wu Xiuqin, went to mediate, she actually struck her mother, despite the fact that the First Lady had pitied her for being motherless and had usually taken good care of her.

Fortunately, Yiyi was discovered and rescued in time; her life was saved, but Yiyi spoke nonsense day and night, showing she had been severely frightened.

Yet Xiang Zijin denied it to the death, kneeling in the ancestral hall for a day and a night without any sign of repentance.

Extremely disappointed, he had sent this wretch to a remote manor to fend for herself.

Xiang Junzheng was silent for a moment, then pulled his hand back from the Old Madam's grasp and said dismissively:

"If she is willing to repent, then let her come back for now."

The expectant light in the Old Madam's eyes dimmed; her lips parted slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.

Her son was usually filial, but his expression would darken whenever the second girl was mentioned.

The Old Madam understood that her son's displeasure, or even hatred, toward the second girl had everything to do with the Wu woman.

In the Old Madam's heart, the second girl had always been well-behaved, but her mother died early, and her stepmother was a woman of means—kind on the surface but sinister at heart. She saw it clearly, yet her son trusted this second wife implicitly.

However, it was not convenient for her to interfere too much in her son's private affairs, so she could only try her best to look after the second girl in her daily life, hoping she would be less hindered by her scheming stepmother.

Deep down, the Old Madam never believed the second girl was as they described—striking her mother and committing violence.

But when that incident occurred, she was already bedridden and powerless, watching as the second girl was sent to such a remote manor.

The two were lost in their own thoughts, and neither noticed that one of the maids outside the door was missing.

"Mother, please rest more. I still have official business to attend to."

Xiang Junzheng stood up, smoothed his robes, and left after dropping those words.