Chapter 219: What Intentions

Chapter 219: What Intentions

"No, no!" Nanny Sun urgently said, having given up on coaxing Madam Jiang. She turned instead to pull Jiang Qianzhu. "Young miss, let's go back."

But Jiang Qianzhu shook off her arm. "Fine. Aunt, if you can really make Luo Heng divorce his wife, I’ll take it seriously!"

Lu Lingyun: "..."

For a moment, she couldn't tell if Jiang Qianzhu was truly foolish or just pretending.

Both Nanny Sun and Madam Jiang were startled by Jiang Qianzhu's bold response.

Madam Jiang had spoken in anger.

In her fury, hurt by the niece she had poured her heart out to, only to find her ungrateful, she had suggested marrying into the Luo family out of spite. She had thought such a prospect would be seen as undesirable, but Jiang Qianzhu actually agreed.

Why would Jiang Qianzhu hesitate to agree?

She had heard about Luo Heng beating his wife, but in these times, men beating women was quite common. Who hadn't been hit by their father at home? It wasn't that serious.

Moreover, she believed that Luo Heng dared to beat his wife because her family was weak and couldn't stand up for her. If Wang Qiluo had married Luo Heng, he definitely wouldn't have dared to hit her!

And with the Wang family backing her, if she married Luo Heng, living in the Imperial City, Madam Jiang would protect her. Luo Heng would never dare to beat her!

Lastly, there was Madam Yang’s behavior. Unexpectedly, she was very accommodating, even though there was nothing Madam Yang would particularly want from her, and Madam Yang’s relationship with her aunt, Madam Jiang, was not good. The only explanation was that she simply liked her!

Otherwise, there was no reason for Madam Yang to treat her so kindly!

With all this reasoning, Jiang Qianzhu viewed this as a perfect match sent by heaven.

She could marry into a prestigious family in the Imperial City, becoming the wife of the son of a Fourth Rank official, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Justice, and enjoy the favor of her mother-in-law. Why would she refuse?

Seeing her young miss agree, Nanny Sun hurriedly pulled her. "Young miss, young miss."

"My mind is made up. If Aunt truly cares for me, she should go discuss the marriage with Madam Yang!" Jiang Qianzhu said confidently.

With that, she turned and went back into the house.

Nanny Sun quickly followed.

Seeing this, Lu Lingyun furrowed her brow. After a long while, she said, "Aunt, your niece may just be foolish."

Hearing this, Madam Jiang’s face was still filled with anger and a hint of disappointment, the kind of heartbreak one feels when something they once cherished starts to rot. "It’s not just that she’s foolish; she’s also wicked. She’s both foolish and wicked!"

Madam Jiang was utterly disheartened.

The next day, she invited Madam Yang over.

Lu Lingyun also came to see what would unfold.

Madam Yang arrived with a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "My dear sister, you finally thought of me. I thought you wouldn't bother with me anymore."

"Nonsense." Madam Jiang, returning to her former smiling self, warmly welcomed Madam Yang.

Madam Yang, seeing Lu Lingyun, greeted her as well.

Lu Lingyun maintained her smile and nodded in agreement.

They laughed and chatted, making small talk as they entered the parlor, the atmosphere just as it had been before any trouble occurred.

Once inside the parlor, Madam Yang immediately greeted Jiang Qianzhu with a smile. Jiang Qianzhu stood up at the same time and moved to stand beside Madam Yang, as if she had found her rightful place among the group.

"Aunt Yang!"

"Qianzhu! What a lovely girl you are, so pretty and charming. There are few young misses in the entire Imperial City who can compare to you!" Madam Yang opened with praise.

Jiang Qianzhu felt delighted by the compliment and humbly responded.

The two went back and forth, making it seem to the others as if they were mother and daughter.

Both Lu Lingyun and Madam Jiang watched with smiles, occasionally adding a word of agreement.

After Madam Yang had heaped praise on Jiang Qianzhu for a while, no one had mentioned the actual matter at hand. Finally, Madam Yang turned to them with a smile, "By the way, why did you invite me here today, Sister Jiang?"

Madam Jiang put down her teacup. "To be honest, Sister Yang, I have something rather embarrassing to discuss with you."

"Oh, dear sister, please don’t say such things between us," Madam Yang said with a smile.

Madam Jiang glanced at Jiang Qianzhu. "Previously, we couldn’t become in-laws, and this has been a constant source of pain for me. I never expected that my niece would develop an interest in Young Master Luo and feel a connection with you. Because of this, I feel ashamed to even bring this up. Your daughter-in-law has been married for some time but hasn’t had any children. Would your family be willing to accept my niece as a new bride?"

This statement was actually quite rude and offensive.

In these times, who would shamelessly go to a family where the son was already married and ask them to divorce his wife to marry someone else?

It was practically asking for trouble!

Any respectable family would have gotten angry and rejected such a proposal outright.

Madam Jiang hoped to snap Jiang Qianzhu out of her delusions, to make her see the truth. She wanted her to realize that Madam Yang had never truly valued her. She was just being used!

Madam Jiang was waiting for Madam Yang to reject the proposal, to crush Jiang Qianzhu’s wishful thinking.

She watched Jiang Qianzhu’s face, which was alight with anticipation and hope.

At that moment, Madam Yang spoke, "Sister Jiang, I’m glad you still trust me!"

She said emotionally, "To be honest, my daughter-in-law has been unfaithful, which is why my son hit her. We’ve been too ashamed to talk about it openly. We’ve wanted to divorce her for a long time, but no one would believe our side of the story. We’ve been suffering!"

"Qianzhu is such a wonderful girl, and I really do like her! If you’re willing to let her marry into our family, we will welcome her with a grand wedding, treating her like our own daughter!"

Madam Yang took Jiang Qianzhu’s hand.

Her words completely stunned Jiang Qianzhu.

After Madam Jiang spoke, Jiang Qianzhu had been bracing herself for humiliation, but now she was certain that she had been right all along!

Madam Yang truly favored her and had no ulterior motives.

If Madam Yang had only wanted to get close to her to uncover the Wang family’s secrets, there would have been no need to go to such great lengths, asking her son to divorce his wife and marry her!

Madam Jiang and Lu Lingyun exchanged a glance. Madam Jiang was now in a difficult position. After some thought, she said, "Since you feel this way, Sister Yang, then it truly is a joyous occasion. However, I’m only Qianzhu’s aunt and cannot make decisions for her. If you truly wish for my niece to marry into your family, you will need to discuss this with my brother in a letter."

"Very good, very good, very good!" Madam Yang said, clearly pleased, "I will go back and have my son divorce his wife immediately. Then I will contact your brother without delay and arrange a grand wedding for Qianzhu!"

"Aunt Yang..." Jiang Qianzhu coyly said.

"My dear girl, just wait at your aunt’s home for a few days. I will make sure to prepare everything properly for you!" Madam Yang said with a wide smile, immediately taking off a jade bracelet from her wrist and putting it on Jiang Qianzhu.

It was as if she feared this perfect daughter-in-law might slip away.