Xue Xingyue woke up to astonishing news: Duke Ning, Meng Lian, had been caught by the Jiang family in Jiang Xiuyi's bed.
Madam Jiang looked at Jiang Xiuyi, who was kneeling on the floor. Even with her high-necked clothing, the marks on her neck were undeniable. Madam Jiang felt a wave of nausea, utterly disgusted.
Jiang Xiuyi was weeping, her frail body kneeling, looking pitiable.
Duke Ning, Meng Lian, now neatly dressed, entered. Seeing the pitiable Jiang Xiuyi kneeling on the ground, he felt a pang of sympathy.
He walked over and sat beside Madam Jiang, saying in a low voice, "Madam, it is all my fault. Let Xiuyi rise!"
Madam Jiang turned and stared fixedly at Meng Lian. He was startled by the coldness in her eyes. "Madam, you..."
"Xiuyi is my niece. Naturally, I will handle this matter. Does the Duke have any objections?" Madam Jiang turned back, her voice cold.
Meng Lian wanted to say something, but he felt he had wronged Madam Jiang. He stood up and said, "Very well, Madam. It is as you decide."
Watching Meng Lian leave, Madam Jiang felt a suffocating pain in her heart, still finding it hard to believe it wasn't a dream.
But seeing Jiang Xiuyi kneeling there reminded her that this was no dream; it was reality.
Her fingers clenched, nails digging into her flesh, but she felt no pain.
Seeing Madam Jiang's continued silence, Jiang Xiuyi slowly raised her head and said pitiably, "Aunt..."
"Do not utter those words. I fear they would defile our aunt-niece relationship," Madam Jiang said coldly.
Jiang Xiuyi bit her lower lip and said, "Aunt, I know I have wronged you."
Madam Jiang scoffed, "You know you've wronged me? If you know that, how could you do something so shameless? Jiang Xiuyi, I truly underestimated you. Unable to win over Jiang Ming, you've moved on to the Duke of Ning? Serving a father and son, do you find that honorable?" Madam Jiang said angrily.
Suddenly, Jiang Xiuyi chuckled softly, her laughter filled with mockery. Madam Jiang frowned, her face flushed with anger. "What are you laughing at?"
Jiang Xiuyi looked up at Madam Jiang and said faintly, "Aren't I just following your example?"
"Insolence!" Madam Jiang retorted.
Jiang Xiuyi said, "Didn't Aunt serve Father, and then..."
"You shut your mouth!" Madam Jiang exclaimed in shock and anger.
Jiang Xiuyi sneered, "After doing such a thing, you still expect no one to know? Aunt, when it comes to shamelessness and disgust, I am merely pointing out your own hypocrisy."
"You..." Madam Jiang trembled with rage.
"Is that not true?"
"You... what exactly do you want?" Madam Jiang gritted out each word.
"Aunt, what I want is simple. Since Cousin doesn't want me, I'll trouble Uncle to take me in," Jiang Xiuyi said.
"You wish!" Madam Jiang retorted angrily.
Jiang Xiuyi smiled at this, "Aunt, you'd best agree to my terms, or do you think your little secrets won't be revealed to Duke Ning?"
"Jiang Xiuyi, you are utterly despicable and shameless."
Jiang Xiuyi sneered, her gaze icy, "Speaking of shamelessness, I may still not be as good as you, Aunt."
Madam Jiang hurled the teacup fiercely at Jiang Xiuyi. "Do not push your luck."
"I have stated my demands. If you do not comply, I cannot guarantee what Duke Ning will know later," Jiang Xiuyi said with a cold smile.
Madam Jiang gritted her teeth. "You... you mustn't overstep."
"You disagree? Then I'll have to tell Duke Ning everything that happened in the Jiang family. Aunt, what if Duke Ning finds out that his wife is actually a..."
"I agree," Madam Jiang said, gritting her teeth, word by word.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiuyi rose. "That's more like it, Aunt."
Madam Jiang stood up and walked towards Jiang Xiuyi, saying coldly, "You'd best keep that secret. Otherwise, you know that just as I can allow you to exist in Duke Ning's mansion, I can also make you disappear from it. This time, I was caught off guard, but it won't happen again."
At this moment, Madam Jiang's eyes were unusually cold, like sharp swords, poised to strike.
Jiang Xiuyi shivered and said, "Aunt, rest assured. Since you've agreed to my terms, I will not break my promise."
Madam Jiang let out a cold laugh. "It's best if you do."
"Are we done discussing?" Duke Ning entered. Seeing that Jiang Xiuyi was unharmed, he breathed a subtle sigh of relief.
Madam Jiang noticed this. She said to Jiang Xiuyi, "You may leave. I need to speak with the Duke."
Jiang Xiuyi walked out.
Duke Ning looked at Madam Jiang and asked, "Madam, what is it you wish to tell me?"
For some reason, Duke Ning felt a sense of guilt looking at Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang raised her eyes, gazing into the distance, and said faintly, "I agree to you taking Jiang Xiuyi as a concubine."
Duke Ning trembled all over. He truly hadn't expected Madam Jiang to agree.
He had no concubines; not only because he wasn't inclined to women, but more importantly, Madam Jiang was very strict.
Now, hearing Madam Jiang agree, he was truly taken aback.
"Madam, you truly agree?" Duke Ning asked, incredulous.
Madam Jiang nodded. "Yes."
"Madam, you are so understanding. I am truly fortunate to have married you."
Looking at Duke Ning, whose joy was evident in his eyes, Madam Jiang felt an overwhelming discomfort in her heart.
"You may leave. I am tired and wish to rest!" Madam Jiang said.
Duke Ning, not sensing anything amiss with Madam Jiang, said, "Then Madam, please rest well!"
After Duke Ning left the room, Madam Jiang couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood.
She looked at the bloodstains on her handkerchief, and tears streamed down her face.
"Madam, the驸马 (Fu Ma – son-in-law of the Emperor) wishes to see you," Shaoyao reported as she entered.
Madam Jiang put away the bloodstained handkerchief and said to Shaoyao, "I am tired. Please tell the Fu Ma to go back. We can discuss anything tomorrow!"
"Yes, Madam."
Shaoyao walked out, and Meng Jiangming anxiously asked, "How is it? Does Mother wish to see me?"
Shaoyao replied, "Fu Ma, Madam is resting. If you have matters to discuss, please come back tomorrow!"