Chapter 64: Paying the Price

Chapter 64: Paying the Price

Shen Changze glared at Jiang Shu with fierce eyes and gritted his teeth, "Don't push it too far."

"If His Excellency finds it too much, you don't have to force yourself," Jiang Shu replied calmly, showing no fear or retreat.

Shen Changze had never seen such a resolute Jiang Shu before, and he was somewhat taken aback.

After a moment of stalemate, seeing that Jiang Shu would not back down, Shen Changze conceded, "I can give you the divorce papers first, but Snowball is just a dog and understands nothing. Can you spare its life?"

Jiang Shu sneered, "I haven't demanded that Shen Qingrong pay with her life; I am already being reasonable."

Though Snowball wasn't the primary culprit, it had indeed killed Bubai. If it continued to be pampered by Mother Shen, it would surely become a vicious dog.

Therefore, Jiang Shu planned to find it another owner for proper training. Of course, her insistence on keeping Snowball was mainly to teach the Marquis' household a lesson and to vent her and Bubai's grievances.

As for Shen Qingrong, Jiang Shu understood that making her pay with her life for a rabbit was an impossible and absurd demand, so she gave Shen Qingrong a different form of punishment.

"Compared to the heir of the Marquis' household, which is more important, a dog or the eldest legitimate son? Does His Excellency still need to think about it?" Jiang Shu said coldly, mocking him.

Shen Changze glanced at Jiang Shu with a deep gaze, then turned and left.

When Mother Shen learned that Jiang Shu insisted on taking Snowball, she clung to the dog, unwilling to let go.

Snowball was indeed just a dog, but it had been with Mother Shen for many years, like a child or a close relative, making it hard for her to part with it.

"Mother, this is the only chance to save Yan Yang," Shen Changze frowned, trying to persuade her.

Mother Shen, red-eyed and angry, said, "Why does she insist on Snowball's life? Even if Snowball dies, her rabbit won't come back to life."

Shen Changze remained silent.

At first, he didn't understand why Jiang Shu insisted on Snowball's death, but after seeing Mother Shen's reluctance to part with the dog, he understood.

Because he understood, he knew there was no room for negotiation.

Snowball must die.

"Jinchu has been injured and may never bear children again. Yan Yang is the only legitimate son of the Marquis' household," Shen Changze appealed to her emotions and reason.

After hearing this, Mother Shen finally released Snowball, stroking its fur and saying, "Let it die quickly, without suffering."

Snowball, understanding nothing, stretched out its tongue and happily licked Mother Shen's hand.

Mother Shen choked back tears and took one last look at Snowball before forcing herself to go inside and close the door.

Snowball tried to chase after her, scratching at the door, but Shen Changze killed it with a single sword thrust.

It died instantly, without pain.

Shen Changze stepped forward, picked up Snowball's body, and headed to Listen Bamboo House.

Jiang Shu had already changed into fresh clothes and was drinking tea, waiting patiently.

Soon, Shen Changze arrived with Snowball's body.

Jiang Shu glanced at it, her face changing in shock, "You killed Snowball?"

Snowball's head hung lifelessly, its limbs limp, and its white fur stained with fresh blood, clearly dead.

Shen Changze, thinking Jiang Shu was dissatisfied, frowned and said, "It's just a dog."

Jiang Shu realized he had misunderstood, but since Snowball was already dead, any explanation now would seem insincere, so she didn't bother and instead asked, "Where is the divorce paper?"

Shen Changze took a thin piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Shu to review.

Jiang Shu read it carefully, not missing a word.

Finally, seeing that Shen Changze had signed and sealed it, Jiang Shu smiled in satisfaction.

"Chuyu, prepare the carriage for a visit to the Pingxi General's Mansion."

Jiang Shu spoke as she carefully folded the divorce paper and put it away.

Shen Changze, worried, said, "Now that you have the divorce paper, what if you fail to get Lady Zhuang to withdraw the charges?"

If that happened, he would truly lose both his wife and his son.

Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow, unconcerned, "Since I promised, I will do my best, but Lady Zhuang and I have no relation. I can only do my best and leave the rest to fate."

Jiang Shu's words were reasonable, and Shen Changze could not argue, so he could only wait anxiously.

The carriage was prepared, and Chuyu, holding the gift box Jiang Shu had prepared earlier, accompanied her to the Pingxi General's Mansion.

Since this matter involved Lady Zhuang, Jiang Shu naturally prepared a generous gift for her. She heard that Lady Zhuang was devoted to Guanyin, and fortunately, Jiang Shu had a fine jade Guanyin statue.

For Yu Lan, Jiang Shu changed the gift to a pair of Dongzhu earrings, which Yu Lan loved immensely when she saw them.

"You didn't have to give such a grand gift," Yu Lan said, though she put the earrings away.

Despite being a princess and having seen many fine things, even she found it hard not to love such exquisite Dongzhu earrings.

Jiang Shu smiled but said nothing, looking at the brocade box Chuyu held, "I would like to pay my respects to Lady Zhuang."

"It's only right. She has done a lot for this matter and is still in the dark," Yu Lan laughed nervously.

Jiang Shu's eyes widened in surprise at Yu Lan's audacity.

Jiang Shu dared not imagine how Lady Zhuang would react upon learning the truth.

Seeing her worry, Yu Lan reassured her, "It’s fine, he’ll just scold me a bit, nothing serious."

Jiang Shu was anxious all the way, but Yu Lan seemed completely at ease, as if this wasn’t the first time she had done something like this.

The matriarch of the Zhuang family had enshrined a statue of Guanyin in the mansion and was reciting the Guanyin Sutra before it at that moment.

Upon hearing the report from a servant, she rose from before the statue and walked steadily to the main hall.

"Pay your respects to the matriarch," Jiang Shu curtsied respectfully.

The matriarch glanced at her and said, "Sit down."

Jiang Shu and Yu Lan sat down properly.

"Why have you come to see this old woman?" the matriarch asked, though she already knew the answer.

Jiang Shu stood up, looking at the matriarch who sat above with a stern face, and said, "I beg the matriarch to withdraw the charges and spare Yan Yang."

The matriarch snorted coldly, "Spare him? My son of the Pingxi General's Mansion, is he someone to be beaten at will?"

"If he has done wrong, he must pay the price. There is no room for negotiation."

"Mother," Yu Lan stood up and said, "In fact, Yun only has superficial injuries; his head wasn’t hurt, and it won’t affect his studies."

The matriarch, upon hearing this, slammed the table in anger, "You are Yun’s mother, yet you lie to help an outsider. How can you live with yourself!"

Yu Lan looked embarrassed but steeled herself, "I am not lying, Yun really only has superficial injuries. If you don’t believe me, you can see for yourself."

The matriarch naturally did not believe her.

Concerning Zhuang Yun, the matriarch could not afford to be careless and insisted on verifying it personally.

So the three of them went to Zhuang Yun’s courtyard together.

"Yun." The matriarch stepped into the room and saw Zhuang Yun sitting on the bed playing with a nine-ring puzzle.

It was a gift from Jiang Shu, and Zhuang Yun found it very intriguing.

Doctor Chen was organizing medicines nearby, preparing to change Zhuang Yun’s bandages.

"Grandmother," Zhuang Yun called out brightly, full of energy.

The matriarch went over to him and asked, "Does your head feel dizzy or hurt?"

Zhuang Yun shook his head, "Not dizzy, and it doesn’t hurt much anymore."

Still unconvinced, the matriarch turned to Doctor Chen for confirmation.

Doctor Chen glanced at Yu Lan, and seeing her nod, spoke truthfully.

"The young master only has a superficial wound, not deep and not affecting his head. There will be no impact, matriarch, rest assured."

It happened to be time for a dressing change, so Doctor Chen decided to remove the cotton bandage from Zhuang Yun’s head, allowing the matriarch to check for herself.

Zhuang Yun indeed only had a superficial injury, and Doctor Chen had used the best medicine from the palace, which had already formed a scab after two days.

From the size of the scab, it was clear that the wound was neither deep nor long and would heal completely in no time.

The matriarch felt relieved but still angrily questioned Yu Lan about why she had lied to her, causing her worry and pain, and even filing a complaint with the palace.

Yu Lan cleared her throat, "Mother, let Doctor Chen change Yun’s bandages, we can talk elsewhere."

"Humph!" The matriarch flung her sleeve and walked ahead, returning to her courtyard.

Yu Lan and Jiang Shu hurried to follow.