Chapter 45: People Not Acting for Themselves Invite Heavenly Punishment and Earthly Extermination

"This……" Grand Madam's face flushed a little; seeing her own third young lady like this, how could she not be anxious?

The family originally only wanted to send a child over, but after seeing the two well‑educated children in the Wang Fu, they developed other thoughts.

But there is a Life‑Death Contract, a pair of twins hanging from a tree.

……

It's hard not to let her back out, after all she is their mother.

"Yun chu older sister, please take me in—I will definitely study hard."

Kang Ziwei's gaze is very firm; just the look she casts, Jiang Yunchu knows she is a person of firm resolve, her eyes full of hope and longing.

In this era, few young ladies bear such a gaze.

"If your parents agree, I naturally have no objection." Jiang Yunchu waved her hand.

She likes such young ladies, who know what they want, have clear goals and aspirations.

But……

She is merely an older sister, not a blood‑related older sister, so she naturally cannot bear responsibility for her future.

"Zi Wei ah, young ladies are not like little monkeys!" Grand Madam stood up, pulled her own third young lady, and whispered.

The anxious expression on her face could not be concealed.

However, Kang Ziwei glanced at the two hesitant people, then directly knelt on the ground.

"Father, Mother, let the daughter be willful just once."

"The daughter has seen too many instances of men marrying when grown and women marrying when grown; she has also seen the futures of her older sisters—when they reach marriageable age they marry and bear children."

"When a woman marries she follows her husband; when her husband dies she follows her son."

"But the daughter wants to follow herself—are young ladies not people then? Do they have no thoughts? From birth they follow this and that, all the way to death."

"Such a path, the daughter has seen enough of, yet she also does not want to walk it."

Kang Ziwei lowered her head, big drops of tears rolling from her eyes; she dared not lift her head—from childhood to adulthood, this is the first time she has defied her parents.

But she wants to be willful for herself just once, even if only this once, not obeying anyone but only her own heart.

And she also knows that this opportunity is unique; if she gives it up, she will spend her life just like her older sisters.

Clap clap clap!

A round of applause sounded from the side.

Kang's great uncle and great aunt looked toward the side; their hearts were shaken, the daughter's words forming a shock against the culture they had received.

Compared to other mansions, the Kang Fu is already quite a free household.

These young ladies have their own right to choose; even in the future they will look at people, rather than enter blind marriages.

But……

Kang Ziwei suddenly lifted her head, saw the sister smiling; she was a bit dazed, tears hanging on her face, glittering translucent in the sunlight.

"Well said." Jiang Yunchu never spares praise, nor does she spares commendation.

She looked at Kang Ziwei, a merely twelve‑year‑old young lady, able in this era to utter such world‑shaking words—how difficult that is!

"Yun chu." Kang Lian called out, but then did not know what to say next.

Jiang Yunchu rose, walked over, helped Kang Ziwei up from the ground, then looked toward the great uncle and great aunt.

"Do you two think Zi Wei spoke wrongly?"

In a sense, it is wrong according to their cognition.

But……

In their hearts there is also a voice, as if telling them that Zi Wei is right.

Two cognitions are undergoing a violent clash.

Even the great aunt was somewhat dazed; in her cognition, Zi Wei is obedient and sensible, smarter than several young ladies, quick to pick up anything, but……

"I… actually don't think she's wrong." Jiang Yunchu slowly returned to her seat and then sat down without ceremony.

Everyone's gaze turned to her, waiting for something.

"People not acting for themselves invite heavenly punishment and earthly extermination!"

……

For a moment, Kang Ziwei's eyes brightened.

But Kang Lian's brows furrowed; the Kang Clan has always managed the household with tolerance and magnanimity—this theory, let alone having it, even just thinking about it is unacceptable.

People not acting for themselves?

Heavenly punishment and earthly extermination!

If everyone acts for themselves, how terrible would this world become?

"Men build achievements and careers, yet need women to silently contribute; if they win, the humble wife is cast out; if they lose, they may end up sharing a grave."

Hehe~

Jiang Yunchu gave a cold snort; the person's arrogance was unhidden, bearing an overbearing attitude.

"How can one have such a thick face?"

Her words fell, and the entire Lotus Garden fell into silence.

"The status of our Kang Clan naturally will not allow the young ladies to go out and suffer injustice." Kang Lian said.

Jiang Yunchu smiled; the calm on her face, no one knew her thoughts, as if everything just now were her drunken ramblings.

"The young ladies of the Kang Clan."

"Yes!"

Jiang Yunchu smiled, lowered her head to play with her plump fingertips, without any rouge, pink and tender, clean and lovely.

"After all, my surname is Jiang."

……

The coldness in that voice, without lifting his head.

Her words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Kang Lian's heart, even his breath paused for a moment.

"Yun chu, it's not like that."

Kang Lian's hurried words, in the hearts of everyone in the Kang clan, Yun chu is a Kang clan member—she is the daughter of his most beloved younger sister, she is Kang Ying's child; how could he not love her?

But……

The Kang clan also has its own helplessness.

"I'll sign."

At that moment, the Grand Madam kept staring at her own daughter, then turned to look at Jiang Yunchu.

Actually, at times Yun chu and Kang Ying are exactly alike, especially in this stubbornness.

Jiang Yunchu smiled, her gaze straight at the Grand Madam: "Sign? Too late."

"See the guest out!"

She rose to her feet, still holding Yue Yue in her arms; the little girl clung to her neck, using her soft, white little hand to gently touch her face.

Just like a kitten, continually soothing her heart.

"Yun chu sis, please, take me in." But at this moment……

A voice made Jiang Yunchu stop her steps; the anger that had just risen in her heart suddenly dissipated a little.

Kang Ziwei stood there, a pleading expression on her face, gazing at that back.

"Yun chu, it's the great uncle who was wrong."

Kang Lian sighed, then said, "Your and Zi Wei's ideas conflict with what I know."

"You need to give the great uncle some time to react."

That person, light as jade in the wind, now gazes at a back, slightly lost in thought.

When Kang Ying bade farewell, what she left everyone was also such a back.

That upright spine, like an unbreakable proud bone that no one can press down.

Jiang Yunchu did not turn, her hand holding Yue Yue, she slightly drew it in.

"Jiang Yunchu, go rest."

"I'll handle this side properly."

It was a childish voice coming from behind; Jiang Yunchu's previously widened eyes suddenly blinked, then opened again.

"Good!"

One word, full of weariness.