Chapter 598

Jiang Shisan Niang said, and she became thoroughly pleased, hands on her hips, wishing she could laugh out loud to the heavens a few more times.

Maid: "Miss, our bitter days are finally coming to an end."

"Fortunately you made a deal with the eldest master; from now on, the wicked person who harmed the lady won't have any good days either!"

"I never expected that the eldest master would actually agree to run around for this marriage for you."

Jiang Shisan Niang: "Uncle, you're not that stubborn after all."

"So when I mentioned to him that I'd be willing to go to Prince Yue's manor as a concubine, he immediately agreed."

"These days in Nan'an City, Prince Yue is the foremost up-and-coming noble, and moreover a top favorite in the emperor's presence."

"Only after I marry into that family can I possibly help the Jiang household; only then can our Jiang family return to its former glory."

"So this is naturally a win‑win; he will surely agree."

Maid: "I've heard that many young ladies are now rushing to get into Prince Yue's manor."

"Fortunately the eldest master has some connections with Eunuch Ji at the emperor's side; all we need is for Eunuch Ji to mention your name before the emperor, and when the emperor grants Prince Yue a marriage, you'll surely be on the list!"

Jiang Shisan Niang: "Uncle said that the Prince Yue's consort… well, that merchant's wife Nangong Qingluo—she's simply too low‑born to be seen in society, yet she's taken the title of Prince Yue's consort."

"So even if it's embarrassing, a wife of hardship cannot be abandoned; Prince Yue, being loyal and righteous, would never do such a thing as divorce his wife."

"And now that the emperor values Prince Yue so highly, how could he bear to let Prince Yue have only such a despicable wife's family behind him?"

"I've heard that the emperor recently has ordered the Ministry of Rites to arrange Prince Yue's marriage."

"Isn't that just to find him a young lady of prestigious lineage?"

"It's not just the uncles; all the noble families that have heard the news are speculating about this."

"What does it matter how clever Nangong Qingluo's money‑making methods are?"

"Once we noble ladies enter the manor, she won't be able to bully us at all."

"Besides, a mother's status rises through her son."

"She's been married to Prince Yue for so long, yet her belly shows no sign; if a woman can't even bear a child, what good is she?"

"Sooner or later she'll be cast aside by Your Highness!"

"If she could just depart early, depressed and alone, making way for us truly high‑born ladies, wouldn't that be our day to rise?"

The mistress and her maid were happily enjoying their future good days.

I'm afraid Jiang Shisan Niang has already figured out how, upon entering the manor, she'll fight to the death with Li Qingluo, the mistress.

But just then, Li Qingluo's voice suddenly sounded from nearby.

"There's no need to wait for however I might later depart, depressed and alone."

"Rather, I'll make room for you right now."

"You can take the position of Prince Yue's consort."

"What do you think?"

Li Qingluo's appearance startled Jiang Shisan Niang into a cry.

"Ah—"

Que'er flashed forward and punched the maid beside Jiang Shisan Niang unconscious.

Then she clenched her fists and walked toward Jiang Shisan Niang.

"I advise you best not to keep screaming."

"Otherwise I'll knock you out, strip your clothes, and toss you into the street."

"Let everyone come see what kind of lady the Jiang family's eldest daughter really is!"

"You're coveting someone else's husband and even someone else's principal wife's position—what a thick‑skinned face you have!"

Jiang Shisan Niang's face turned as white as paper.

No matter how she thought, she couldn't fathom how Nangong Qingluo and her maid had appeared in her own room!

However, she indeed dared not scream any further.

Watching Que'er kick her personal maid aside, she could only hold back her tears and shrink humbly into the corner of the bed.

"You… what exactly do you intend to do?"

"Nangong Qingluo, I advise you not to bully people too much!"

"Hurry up and leave; I can still pretend nothing happened."

"Otherwise I'll charge you with breaking into the Jiang household and, out of jealousy and malice, harming the future consort of Prince Yue's manor—"

She just couldn't get that word out.

Already sitting calmly opposite her, sipping tea, Li Qingluo finished the sentence for her: "What 'side'? A side consort?"

She couldn't help laughing.

"Those rushing to become someone else's concubine—you're the second person I've ever seen in my life."

"The first one already died because of that foolish idea, leaving no trace."

"Do you also want to try meeting the same fate?"

Jiang Shisan Niang, tears in her eyes, seemed not at all intimidated by her bluster.

"Do you really think you can keep Prince Yue for your whole life?"

"Peace in the inner court and the continuation of the lineage are what you, as the mistress, ought to plan for the prince!"

"You yourself can't bear children, so why not allow His Highness to have a few more lovely companions to help the prince's manor carry on its incense?"

"Besides, as a merchant's wife you have nothing but money to offer His Highness. Letting you occupy the principal wife's position is already his grace; you should be more generous and let us noble ladies help support the gatebeam of Prince Yue's manor—"

Li Qingluo: "A slap."

Hearing that, Que'er immediately excitedly stepped forward, pressed down Jiang Shisan Niang, and slapped her across the face.

"Ah—" Jiang Shisan Niang let out a miserable scream.

If it weren't because she wanted to say those triumphant words with her personal maid in the room, she wouldn't have driven away everyone near her courtyard.

And it wouldn't be that, even now, no one would hear her wail.

She had even reached a desperate situation where heaven would not answer her cries and the earth would not respond.

Que'er delivered three consecutive slaps.

She struck Jiang Shisan Niang so hard that blood welled from the corner of her mouth and her teeth loosened.

Jiang Shisan Niang still tried to resist.

But Que'er's force pressed her down so she could not rise at all.

"Still want to become a concubine of Your Highness?"

"Just because of you?"

"You damn self‑proclaimed genteel lady, spit on you, you shameless thing!"

"Our Your Highness could take a liking to you?"

"Just because of you, you still want to suppress our lady?"

"Can't you look in a mirror and see what a face you have!"

"Our lady's beauty alone would fling you far into the clouds!"

"You still disdain our lady's way of making money. Now, Your Highness, our entire Nan Gong Fu is sustained by our lady!"

"Oh no, it's our princess."

"Let me tell you, our princess not only makes money, but also wields swords, draws bows and hunts."

"Anyone who dares approach her, she will slash—"

Que'er, with a fierce expression, slashed across Jiang Shisan Niang's neck.

Jiang Shisan Niang shivered.

A wave of warmth instantly spread over her body.

Que'er rolled her eyes.

"A few words scared you into wetting yourself? Just because of you, you still want to seize the princess's position?"

"I'm telling you, stop dreaming!"

"You are nothing."

Que'er patted Jiang Shisan Niang's face, disdainfully rose and returned to Li Qingluo's side.

"Miss, your hand hurts from the beating."

Li Qingluo: "I'll give you a blow later."

Que'er then smiled joyfully and triumphantly.

Li Qingluo looked at Jiang Shisan Niang and slowly rose to walk over.

"A piece of advice for you."

"My people from Nan Gong Fu, unless they develop different intentions themselves, no one would dare to covet…"

The unfinished words were already enough for Jiang Shisan Niang to imagine.

Yet, how could she be willing?

She had finally managed to seize the opportunity.

It had been hard-won planning on her part!

So even though she trembled with fear, she still stammered, "Y‑you, could you possibly prevent any other woman from ever appearing by his side for a lifetime?"

"Could you still defy the decree, disregard the Emperor's edict?"

"You only threaten a lonely girl like me… If you have the skill, kill me!"

"Otherwise, you will never block my path to the Yue King's residence!"

Li Qingluo: "You're just attracted to Your Highness's face, aren't you?"

"Your Wu Lang is still waiting for you?"

When Li Qingluo finished speaking, genuine terror flashed in Jiang Shisan Niang's eyes.

"Y‑you—"

Li Qingluo: "How could I know about your Wu Lang?"

Li Qingluo let out a light hum.

"The day your father went mad, you were already exposed."

"You don't care how your own father is, but when my husband appears, your eyes shine like a starving wolf."

"I naturally investigated you long ago."

"Because you lost your mother in childhood, you stayed at your maternal grandparents' home for a while."

"Then you spent a year with your aunt at the manor."

"It was at that manor that a young master surnamed Wu, a strikingly handsome and elegant gentleman, appeared."

"After a few meetings, even after you returned to the Jiang family, you two still kept contact."

"First love, deep affection—these are common human feelings."

"No matter how covert the affair, the truth will eventually blaze."

"Your leverage fell into the hands of the stepmother who killed your mother and was later reinstated by your father. To get out, you plotted to have Wu Lang killed yourself."

"Truth or falsehood, Jiang Shisan Niang?"

"Just as you colluded inside and out with the rebel sect leader Zong Zheng Wu Xie to poison your father's courtyard, causing him to go mad and murder on your grandmother's birthday banquet—"

"Jiang Shisan Niang, your methods are indeed ruthless; even I feel a degree of admiration."

"If you do not covet my husband, I will continue to turn a blind eye and will not interfere in your life."

But now, you—you shouldn't have provoked me.

Bring him in!

As soon as Li Qingluo finished speaking, the Sha San who had been crouching outside immediately seized a hooded figure and walked in.

When the black cloth was flung open, Jiang Shisan Niang saw the familiar face that filled her with dread.

Wu Lang——?

No, it must be fake!

Wu Lang is dead; I saw his corpse with my own eyes.

This person, this person is definitely not Wu Lang!

But he is also not the Prince of Yue.

Because he's still a head short.

But he looks exactly like Wu Lang!

Whether it's his stature or the mole on his side profile.

And that Wu Lang gazed wistfully at Jiang Shisan Niang, calling, "Shisan Niang..."

It's me.

Do you really think I'm dead?

I've come back to find you.

Shisan Niang, if it weren't for me protecting you back then, you would have been shoved into the river by your own cousin and drowned.

Later I even took the punishment for you.

How many times have I saved your life? How could you bring yourself to kill me?

Shisan Niang...

Wu Lang staggered toward Shisan Niang.

Jiang Shisan Niang, terrified, covered her head and started screaming.

This time, her scream was finally heard by the rest of the Jiang family.

When they rushed in, the room held only Jiang Shisan Niang and her maid, who had collapsed beside the bed.

And in broad daylight, Jiang Shisan Niang somehow saw something, and a puddle of urine formed beneath her.

It reeked so badly that everyone pinched their noses.

All that could be heard was Jiang Shisan Niang constantly murmuring, "It's my fault..."

I really was wrong...

Spare me, spare me...