Chapter 165: Hurt By A Loved One

Zheng Bao escorted Jiang Xuening out. 

His face betrayed no emotion, as though the two hours they’d just spent discussing matters weren’t about something earth-shattering—something that, if exposed, could cost lives. 

Standing at the doorway, he merely said, “On the day of the political marriage, security will be tight. The time available for the young lady to act will be short. What Zheng Bao can do ends here. The rest is up to Miss Jiang to plan carefully.”

Jiang Xuening stared blankly at him.

Her steps were already heavy when she arrived, and even heavier when she left. She opened her mouth several times but couldn’t speak.

Zheng Bao, his calm and tranquil eyes seeming to see through the guilt and unease surging within her, offered her a reassuring smile and said, “The Eldest Princess is a good person. I owe her my gratitude. Moreover, based on Miss Jiang’s plan, even if something happens, it will most likely be dismissed as an oversight. Since you’ve already made up your mind, please do not hesitate any further.”

In her previous life, Zheng Bao had been saved by Shen Jie. After Shen Jie ascended the throne, Zheng Bao loyally served him for years, always by his side, meticulous and thorough in his work. 

However, he was such an unassuming figure that Jiang Xuening never paid much attention to him. It wasn’t until Xie Wei and Yan Lin rebelled and Zheng Bao quietly drew his sword to die in loyalty to his master that others realized this palace housed such a man of unyielding integrity and heroism.

She remained silent for a long time.

Yet, if she were to express any guilt, she had no right or position to do so—it was she herself who had asked for his “repayment.” All she could do was bow respectfully to him before leaving, acknowledging this person she had overlooked in her past life.

Since the matter was highly confidential, she had come alone today. On her way back, she strolled leisurely through the streets.

The sounds of city life surrounded her.

Yet Jiang Xuening felt somewhat distracted. 

By the time she reached the area near the Liuli Factory, she stopped by to visit Zhou Yinzhi. Zhou Yinzhi had betrayed her in her past life, so she dared not trust him completely. She only instructed him to handle a few tasks without revealing her entire plan. After he agreed, she returned to the Jiang household.

By then, the sun was already setting.

Prince Linzi, Shen Jie, had chosen a consort today. If it were the same as her previous life, the results should already be out by now. 

Without her interference this time, and with Jiang Xuehui bringing an embroidered handkerchief, everything should have gone smoothly in this life.

Sure enough, as she stepped into the household, she saw the maids chatting and laughing.

Passing through the main hall, she noticed some rewards sent from the palace displayed inside.

Jiang Xuening pondered. In her past life, her reputation wasn’t great, and that old witch in the palace strongly opposed her. Yet Shen Jie had directly chosen her, the one holding the embroidered handkerchief with red ginger blossoms. 

In this life, Jiang Xuehui’s reputation had similarly been dragged down by her, and there was likely some criticism and resistance in the palace as well. Yet Shen Jie still chose Jiang Xuehui without much suspense.

On the surface, it seemed indifferent, but deep down, he was quite sentimental, wasn’t he?

Meng Shi’s and Jiang Xuehui’s courtyards were both on the eastern side. Imagining them celebrating happily, Jiang Xuening didn’t want to dampen their spirits and decided to avoid them. She turned and headed toward the western side, intending to return to her courtyard via the covered walkway and flower gate.

Unexpectedly, before she had gone far, a commotion arose from the other side.

The voice sounded like Jiang Xuehui’s.

“Mother! What’s the point of this? Please don’t go!”

“Let go of me, don’t stop me! It was originally a perfectly arranged marriage, a sure thing. If it weren’t for her ruining her reputation and interfering, how could it have been snatched away halfway? She’s of age now, about to be married, yet she’s still running around outside and acting recklessly! Where is the upbringing we paid for all those years? If this gets out, how will it look? I have to see for myself when she plans to come back!”

“Mother—”

Meng Shi was boiling with anger, her face taut, walking briskly ahead.

The maids dared not stop her, and Jiang Xuehui could not stop her either.

Jiang Xuening felt a vague sense that the tension seemed to be directed toward her. The moment her steps faltered, she turned around and found herself facing Meng Shi, who had just come out from the other side.

Meng Shi was usually a cultured and noble lady, but her face was now more unpleasant than ever. As soon as she saw Jiang Xuening, she immediately snapped, “Perfect timing. Don’t you dare move!”

Jiang Xuening frowned, not understanding what was happening.

She glanced sideways at Jiang Xuehui and then noticed her slightly pale face. Though her expression remained calm, it was clear that there was a subtle sadness in the corners of her eyes, a look that suggested something was amiss.

Wasn’t the position of Princess Consort of Linzi already secured?

What was there to be dissatisfied with?

Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but let out a cold, silent laugh in her heart. Her tone grew impatient as she addressed Meng Shi, “What is it, Mother?”

“What is it? Can’t you tell what it is? My Jiang family, and Hui’er, are about to become the laughingstock of the entire capital!” Meng Shi’s voice grew louder with righteous indignation. “If it weren’t for you ruining our family’s reputation, causing trouble and mischief everywhere, would these things have happened?”

Jiang Xuening immediately picked up on the underlying issue.

She raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised, “Could it be that the Princess Consort position was not selected?”

This time, her surprise was completely genuine, with no hint of feigned emotion.

But to Meng Shi, it felt like a sharp slap.

No matter how it was said, it sounded like provocation, like mockery!

Jiang Xuening’s gaze shifted from Meng Shi to Jiang Xuehui, feeling that this whole situation was hard to believe. First, in her past life, Shen Jie had chosen her without considering anyone’s opinions. Second, when she had returned, she clearly saw gifts from the palace for a joyous occasion in the hall.

If she hadn’t been selected, why would they have received those gifts?

Could it be…

A thought emerged in her mind, but it seemed a bit far-fetched. She shook her head, muttering to herself, “This is really too strange.”

Meng Shi could no longer hold back.

When she had left Jiang Xuehui’s courtyard, there had already been many maids and servants following her. Halfway through, she saw Jiang Xuening returning from outside. How many noble ladies in the capital acted like her?

She had once been involved with Yan Lin, and now she was mingling with Xiao Dingfei!

She was about to bring disgrace to the entire inner court of the Jiang family!

Meng Shi’s face darkened like frost as she coldly said, “In the past, you were misled by those with ulterior motives, but you could always find someone to protect you. Even your father couldn’t control you, and we had no words to say. But the matter of the Princess Consort selection concerns your sister’s future, and because of your bad reputation, the position of primary wife was missed. Now, even if she gets a secondary wife position, there will still be gossip! You are already past nineteen; you’re no longer at the age to be causing trouble. If we don’t start controlling you now, who knows what greater disasters you’ll cause in the future!”

Jiang Xuening was stunned for a moment: So it really was a secondary wife?

She looked at Jiang Xuehui.

Jiang Xuehui, recalling the awkwardness she had faced during the selection of the princess consort, remembered how Wen Zhaoyi had spoken up for her, how Xiao Shu’s sarcastic remarks had stung, and the derisive glances from others. She still felt a rare sense of discomfort.

Meng Shi waved her hand and called two burly maids over, saying, “Go and bring the second young miss back. Starting today, she is to be confined to the residence and must copy the Nu Jie (Book of Etiquette for Women) a hundred or eighty times! No one is to allow her to leave the house without my permission!”

The maids received the order and immediately approached Jiang Xuening.

As the head of the household, Meng Shi had authority, and while the maids knew Jiang Xuening was not an easy person to deal with, this time she had caused trouble for the eldest daughter’s chances of becoming Princess Consort of Linzi. 

Even if the master of the house came back, he probably wouldn’t give her a good face. Therefore, they gritted their teeth, hardened their hearts, and decided to be harsh the moment Jiang Xuening showed any sign of resistance.

The turn of events was entirely unexpected for Jiang Xuening. She had never anticipated that Jiang Xuehui would not be chosen as the primary wife of the Prince of Linzi. 

First, she was surprised, but then she couldn’t help but feel a bit of gloating amusement.

She had never been particularly fond of Jiang Xuehui.

How strange.

In this lifetime, she hadn’t interfered, so it seemed that perhaps these two lovebirds had no real destiny together after all.

But when Meng Shi blamed her for this, it evoked a deep sense of resentment in her. Seeing the two maids closing in on her, her temper flared. 

Frowning, she grabbed a nearby wooden stick from a flower rack and began swinging it wildly!

With a surge of anger, her strikes were unforgiving.

The stick landed solidly on the maids’ heads and bodies, causing real pain. Before the maids even managed to get close to her, they were already yelling out in pain.

Meng Shi, who knew Jiang Xuening’s unruly nature, had never expected her to not only resist but also to strike back, nearly causing her to faint from anger. 

She scolded, “Rebellious! This is outrageous!”

The commotion in the corridor was loud enough to attract attention.

Jiang Boyou had just returned from the yamen and, with Xie Wei, was heading to his study. As they passed by, they saw Jiang Xuening with a stick in hand, angrily striking the maids. 

His brows immediately furrowed as he shouted, “What is going on here? Put that down at once!”

With a “thud,” Jiang Xuening heard the sound of another wooden stick hitting the back of one maid, causing the woman to fall to the ground in pain. 

Jiang Xuening glanced at her, threw the stick to the ground, and clapped her hands.

Meng Shi, trembling with fury, pointed at her and said, “Master, look at her! Now she’s completely out of control. It’s clear we can’t manage her anymore!”

Jiang Boyou sighed inwardly and asked, “What happened?”

Jiang Xuening stood still, a cold smile curling at the corners of her lips, but she didn’t answer.

Xie Wei, standing beside Jiang Boyou, also stopped.

Having come directly from the Cabinet, Xie Wei was wearing a dark black, cross-collared robe that cascaded down to just below his neck, exposing his prominent Adam’s apple. 

Over it, his official robes had been removed, and he wore a rare deep blue crane cloak embroidered with silver cloud and lightning patterns.

His body was like a sword atop a mountain, and his eyes were like two handfuls of snow at the foot of a cliff.

Compared to the hermit-like robe he usually wore, today, though still as ethereal as the wind and moon, there was an additional aura of noble and chilling dignity, as if towering high above.

The situation in the Jiang household was well within his understanding, despite his seemingly outsider position. His gaze fell on Jiang Xuening, then swept across Meng Shi, Jiang Xuehui, and the wooden stick lying on the ground. A faint smile on his lips softened slightly.

Meng Shi said, “She’s always out causing trouble, wasting her time. I’ve tried to discipline her, but she’s so wild and rebellious, she doesn’t just refuse to listen—she even takes a stick and beats the servants! If this goes on, she’ll ruin the family’s reputation entirely!”

Jiang Boyou was genuinely a bit troubled.

No one wanted their family’s secrets to be exposed, especially when there were guests present. 

A quick glance revealed that the key issue lay with Jiang Xuening, so he said, “The rumors around the capital have indeed spread far, Ning, your mother’s concerns, though a bit exaggerated, do have some merit. You’re of marriageable age and should start thinking about settling down. For your own good, it would be best to show some restraint. We won’t discuss it further today, you can all go back for now.”

Though his words appeared to be directed at Jiang Xuening, they carried the tone of taking something up seriously only to let it go lightly. 

Meng Shi, already filled with resentment, couldn’t help but show some dissatisfaction, saying, “But my lord, if it weren’t for her ruining our family’s reputation, dragging down Xuehui, how could Xuehui have been mocked today, only earning a secondary consort position?!”

Jiang Boyou’s expression changed immediately.

Jiang Xuehui, realizing that Meng Shi’s words were quite inappropriate at this moment, tugged at her sleeve, hoping to stop her and make her leave.

However, unexpectedly, Xie Wei, who had been standing silently at the side, suddenly smiled.

His appearance was one of a banished immortal, and his smile was quite charming.

But his voice, though soft, caused a vague sense of unease, as he turned to Meng Shi and said, “Is the side consort position of His Royal Highness the Prince of Linzi still not enough for you, Madam?”

Meng Shi was taken aback.

She had met Xie Wei before; his manner was gentle and elegant, like an ancient sage, and his words were always soothing. Yet now, his remark gave her an inexplicable sense of dread.

She was at a loss for how to respond.

Xie Wei didn’t even glance at Jiang Boyou. 

Instead, he turned his gaze to Jiang Xuening, who appeared stunned at hearing him speak. His heart suddenly grew heavy with a layer of gloom.

However, his face remained calm and aloof, his demeanor untouched by any hint of emotion.

He merely waved at her and said, “Ning’er, come here.”

Jiang Xuening was confused but, after the events in Tongzhou were resolved, her relationship with this gentleman had been amicable. She thought he must need something, so she didn’t think much of it and walked toward him.

She was still quite shorter than him when she reached his side.

Xie Wei had been holding a white embroidered handkerchief, and after sizing her up, he furrowed his brows slightly. 

Then, without raising his head, he handed her the handkerchief and said softly, “The matter in Tongzhou was beyond your control. Madam’s criticism of a child who was nearly caught in such a dangerous situation is rather unfair.”

Only then did Meng Shi realize the comment was directed at her, and that it was a direct accusation of her unfairness!

Her face turned pale with a mixture of blue and white.

Though Xie Wei was the imperial tutor and a close friend of Jiang Boyou, his words clearly defended Jiang Xuening, which made Meng Shi feel a twinge of displeasure. Yet, given his high status, even Jiang Boyou wouldn’t dare offend him. She forced a smile and said, “It’s not that I’m being unfair, but the matters of the inner courtyard of the Jiang family are not for public discussion. Master Xie, you may not be fully aware.”

Jiang Xuening wasn’t particularly concerned about the events happening behind her. After receiving the handkerchief, she was more puzzled.

Was there something on her face?

She picked it up and wiped her face with the handkerchief, but it was perfectly clean, with not a single stain.

Xie Wei lowered his eyelids and glanced at her, calmly reminding, “Wipe your hands.”

Jiang Xuening looked down and noticed that both her hands were covered in grayish mud.

It must have been from when she picked up the wooden stick to strike the servant earlier.

She gave a small “oh” sound, thanked him with “Thank you, Master,” and began wiping her hands.

Xie Wei studied her, unable to discern any clear emotion from her face. The brief flash of sadness and sarcasm from earlier, when she threw the stick away, seemed to have never existed. It was as if the people standing behind her weren’t her closest kin. 

In that moment, he recalled that, on the way back to the capital from Tongzhou, when she had been sitting in his carriage reading the letter from Jiang Boyou, she had seemed to wear the same numb expression.

Sometimes, the closer one is to someone, the more they hurt you.

At that moment, he almost reached out to pat Jiang Xuening’s head, telling her not to be sad, but he restrained himself. Watching her wipe the snow-white handkerchief to a dirty state, he smiled faintly, then turned his gaze toward Meng Shi: “The inner matters of your household are indeed unknown to outsiders. The side consort of the Jiang family, though her past is long over, raised under your care and passing as legitimate, should be fine. It’s just that if others pry into her background and uncover something like deceiving the emperor, it would be difficult to cover up. Ning’er, though mischievous, is respectful to her teacher. She’s a little restless, hard to tame. I, Xie, humbly ask for her to be shown some leniency, madam, and for your kind understanding.”

His voice, without the slightest sharpness, landed like thunder in the ears of those present.

Meng Shi was deeply shocked.

She looked up and met Xie Wei’s gaze, which was gentle, serene, and as warm as a spring mountain.

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