Chapter 114 : The Pure-Hearted Xiao Shao (Part II)
The next day, before Jiang Ruan could leave for the palace, a harried Lu Zhu came rushing in exclaiming in surprise, “Miss, there is a big commotion outside. They are saying that Furen had an extramarital affair, suffered a misscarriage, and then schemed to falsely accuse Miss of causing it. The commoners are having a field day spreading the news like wildfire, saying Master….. is quite bold and audacious to not divorce his wife even though he has been made to wear a green hat.”
Lu Zhu was probably filtering her words- most likely the chatter must have been much more offensive to the ears. Jiang Ruan quietly pondered over this as she had yet to leak the news out, so wondered how had the news spread out to everyone? Naturally, the Xia family and the Jiang family would not speak of such matters, and Xuan Li would definitely not go find trouble for himself. She then asked, “Who did you hear this from?”
“The rumor started with that physician,” Lu Zhu covered her mouth, guffawing, “he was at a tavern drinking, and in his stupor he retold the incident as a laughable tale so it became the talk of the town.”
Jiang Ruan’s brows arched. Without any rhyme or reason, for that man, who had already received many benefits, to gossip about the situation on his own had to be under the instruction of someone else. An image of a person surfaced in her mind- wasn’t Xiao Shao being too meddlesome? However, leaving him to orchestrate this matter was one less bothersome matter for her to deal with.
“Is the carriage ready?” Jiang Ruan asked as she didn’t want to delay attending to the matters in the palace any longer.
“It’s ready, just waiting by the front door,” Bai Zhi replied.
Just as she arrived at the front door, she happened to chance upon Jiang Quan. Jiang Quan’s countenance was extremely gloomy. The gossip had already spread by morning, quickly causing him to lose all face and prestige. He had come rushing home straight after the court session was dismissed, as if everyone on the streets was looking at him with ridicule. Therefore, because of this incident, it seemed as though he would have to spend the rest of his life being criticised and ridiculed behind his back. The rage within his heart was bottled up to the point that he wished that he could strangle Xia Yan, the original perpetrator, to death right at this very moment. However, when he noticed Jiang Ruan planning to leave the fu, he stopped to ask, “Where are you going?”
Jiang Ruan looked back at him with a slight smile, “The Empress Dowager has invited me into the palace for a visit. Is anything the matter, Father?”
Jiang Quan was immediately speechless. Ever since Jiang Ruan had been conferred as a junzhu, her relationship with the Empress Dowager had gradually become closer. And as a father, he felt that she did not give him the same amount of face that was given to the Empress Dowager, and so upon reflection his heart was full of indignation. But then his gaze landed on Jiang Ruan’s face. Taken aback he asked, “What is this?”
On her face were five distinct finger marks that seemed to be blatantly prosecuting the person who had heavy handedly put them there. It had already been quite a number of days, yet the inflamed site had still not cleared. It was almost as if her face had been struck again the day before, as the redness and swelling had not abated in the slightest. On her jade-like fair face, it was all the more glaring
Jiang Ruan jeered, “What is this? Father doesn’t know?”
Jiang Quan flew into a rage in humiliation, “How can you enter the palace to meet with the imperial family looking like this; it would be disrespectful towards the Empress Dowager. Go back inside and cover it up.”
“Junzhu,” Tian Zhu timely spoke up, “you need to board the carriage now, otherwise if we are delayed in our arrival, the Empress Dowager would be unhappy and lay blame on you.”
Jiang Ruan smiled, “So true.” She looked towards Jiang Quan, “Father, I’ll take my leave now.”
Seeing Jiang Ruan’s utter disregard for his words, Jiang Quan almost burst his lungs with rage, as he angrily bellowed, “JIANG RUAN!”
“Father, the Empress Dowager treats me like her own flesh and blood, hence she will not take offense over a small lapse in etiquette such as slight disfigurement,” Jiang Ruan words carried a hint of sarcasm, as she smiled in reply, “Since Father is adamant about such, after I’ve returned from the palace, I’ll come and beg for Father’s forgiveness.” Having spoken, she instructed Tian Zhu to open the door. When the Jiang fu’s door was opened, immediately the many commoners who were out to catch some more action gathered round. Jiang Quan did not want to linger any longer, even though his heart was ready to explode in fury. Without any option, he gritted his teeth, shot daggers at her and grounded out, “Unfilial child!” before storming off in a fury.
Tian Zhu cast a scornful look at Jiang Quan before she carefully assisted Jiang Ruan into the carriage. The people outside were sharp eyed and so they easily noticed the mark on Jiang Ruan’s face. They were also able to make connections with all the hearsay concerning Xia Yan’s miscarriage and Jiang Quan unhesistantly giving Jiang Ruan a slap without any explanation. One by one they began to discuss, “Hong’an Junzhu is such a charming and delicate person, and yet Minister Jiang could still lay hands on her. Just looking at those red marks is enough to break one’s heart.”
Another person added, “Don’t you know anything? Minister Jiang has always favored that talented and capable woman(XY) and her two children over his eldest son and daughter. Back then, when the previous Jiang Furen had only just passed away, he immediately sent Hong’an Junzhu to the rural residence. So tell me, what kind of father could actually do such a thing?”
One woman spat out, “Pei! What talented, capable woman. It’s obvious she is a slut. Who even knows if that Second Jiang Miss and Second Young Master Jiang are even Minister Jiang’s children; perhaps they belong to that male adulterer.”
The masses suddenly seemed to comprehend the situation at hand, and began to comment and discuss the matter with even greater relish. This time, they even began to doubt and discuss Jiang Su Su and Jiang Chao’s identity.
Lu Zhu had raised a corner of the carriage curtains so that the myriad of discussions from the passersby could be heard. Lu Zhu stated, “These people can really make some guesses. If Second Miss and Second Young Master were to hear of this, they would surely be overwrought to the point that they would not step out of the front door.”
Jiang Ruan smiled. In this world, the only thing that can’t be stopped is the mouths of the masses. And with a gentle prodding, the spread of these rumors could indeed raise a tremendous clamor, sufficient enough to strangle a person to death. Wasn’t her past life a perfect example, how step by step those rumors had slowly resulted in that final ending? Since she was given a second chance, then she should let the self-proclaimed ‘fairy’ Jiang Su Su and the proud and arrogant Jiang Chao have a taste of the power of rumors. As for Jiang Quan, how much he had once loved Xia Yan was how much he now hated her.
* * *
Sure enough, as soon as Jiang Ruan entered the palace and saw the Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Yi De took one look at Jiang Ruan’s face and immediately frowned, “How did it become like that?”
Yang gugu, who was standing to the side, also noticed Jiang Ruan’s face and recalled the rumors going round. Empress Dowager Yi De lived within the inner courts and hardly paid attention to what was happening beyond the palace, so it was obvious that she wasn’t aware of the incident related to Xia Yan.
“Jiang Ruan smiled in reply, “It’s nothing.”
Empress Dowager Yi De shot her a look before turning to Tian Zhu, “You tell me.”
For someone who had long been used to issuing orders, there was a natural air of authority and oppression. Tian Zhu immediately knelt down in response, “To answer the Empress Dowager, Miss was injured by Master. It was because Furen had a miscarriage and falsely accused our Miss, then in a fit of anger Master gave Miss a slap. Furthermore, at that time, His Highness Eighth Prince was also present.”
Inwardly, Jiang Ruan laughed in spite of herself because Tian Zhu had gone so far as to drag Xuan Li right into the water[1].
[1] 拉下水 (la xia shui) – lit. to pull somebody into the water. Fig. to involve somebody in a messy business.
At once, Empress Dowager Yi De was able to grasp the heart of the matter and in a rage harrumphed, “Trying to revolt[2]? What audacity to lay hands on my people! Hong’an, what was Old Eight doing at your fu?”
[2] 反了天了不成 (tiān liǎo bùchéng) – turning the skies upside down.
Jiang Ruan pondered before shaking her head, “Ruan niang does not know, although he had probably come together with Old Marquis Xia to discuss political matters with Father.”
Not only was Empress Dowager Yi De well versed in the inner machinations of the harem, in her heyday, she had also engaged in politics, assisting the ascension of the new Emperor. So naturally, she was able to pick up the nuances from that single statement. Considering that currently Eighth Prince’s ambitions had become more and more apparent, Empress Dowager Yi De’s eyebrows puckered. Upon looking again at the hand mark on Jiang Ruan’s face, she at once flew into a towering rage declaring, “That Jiang fu is not even worth a thing, you will stay with me for the next few days. I can’t believe that your father would dare to show such audacity!” Pausing, she continued, “How is that Xia Yan now?”
Yang gugu chuckled, “Empress Dowager, please calm down. I do know quite a bit regarding this matter, so why not let Junzhu have a seat and have some refreshment while I update you on the situation.”
