Chapter 88: Jackals

Chapter 88: Jackals

Jiang Yun's teeth chattered from the cold, and she could barely endure it anymore. Realizing there were still two more nights ahead, she gritted her teeth, pulled out another gold hairpin from her head with reluctance, and handed it out.

"Get a thicker blanket."

The jailer snatched the hairpin, tucking it happily into his chest pocket.

A moment later, he returned with a damp and filthy quilt, opened the cell door, and threw it at Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun caught it with delight, but a pungent stench hit her nose, causing her to wrinkle her brow.

"Why is it so dirty and smelly? Get me a clean one."

"Tsk, do you think you're staying at an inn? This is a prison," the jailer spat, locking the door and leaving.

Jiang Yun returned to Jiang Lishi's side, clutching the quilt obtained with two gold hairpins, seething with resentment. The mother and daughter draped the quilt over themselves, wrapping it tightly around.

When people are freezing to death, they can't afford to worry about dirt or stench.

Seeing this, others also rummaged for valuable items and called the jailer to exchange for a tattered quilt to keep warm.

That night, several jailers were overjoyed. They had been working in the prison for many years and had never encountered such a generous benefactor.

Finally, after enduring three days, Jiang Yun urgently shouted for the jailer to let them out.

"What's all the fuss about? The master said not a minute less. Wait, there's still half an hour to go."

The jailer waved his whip impatiently, ordering them to behave.

That half hour was the longest half hour for the Jiang family. Time seemed to stand still, making every minute feel like an hour.

Having enjoyed the protection and luxury provided by Jiang Father for many years, they were accustomed to a life of ease. Suddenly facing such a disaster felt like being in hell.

In just three days, they had all lost a significant amount of weight.

When the prison door finally opened, they staggered out of the prison gate, feeling alive again.

"This cursed place, even if I die, I'm never coming back!" Jiang Yun, disheveled and looking like a madwoman, her eyes full of hatred, exclaimed.

The uneducated Jiang Yun did not know that there was a phrase in this world called "fateful words."

After the prison ordeal, the Jiang family dared not cause trouble at Jiang Residence again. After washing up and having a meal at home, they only sent a servant to inquire about the news.

However, the Jiang Residence's doors were tightly closed, making it impossible to even get in, let alone gather information.

After a night's rest, Jiang Shaohé felt they could not remain idle. He discussed with Jiang Shaohua that they should go to Jiang Residence in person.

"We are, after all, elders and the direct brothers of the second son. It's only right to visit and there's no reason they should stop us."

"Alright, let's go. We won't feel at ease until we get to the bottom of this."

The two agreed and casually brought some tonics as they headed to Jiang Residence.

Located near a busy street, the Jiang Residence had constant pedestrian traffic passing by.

The brothers were determined that if Jiang Shu refused to let them in, they would slander her outside, damaging her reputation and making it impossible for her to hold her ground.

As long as they didn't cause trouble inside or lay a hand on anything, no one could do anything to them for just shouting outside. Even the emperor himself couldn't do anything.

They knocked hard on the door and shouted.

To their surprise, the tightly closed door opened, and the steward welcomed them in.

"Eldest Master, Third Master, please follow me."

The two exchanged glances, feeling puzzled.

This wasn't how they had imagined it.

The steward led them directly to Jiang Father's courtyard and stood at the open door. "Eldest Master, Third Master, please."

"This..." The two hesitated, warily asking, "Did Jiang Shu and Jiang Ning allow us to visit?"

Everything was going too smoothly, and they dared not enter the room rashly, fearing some trap awaited them inside.

The steward nodded. "The young miss instructed before leaving that if the Eldest Master and Third Master came, they could visit."

Jiang Shaohé caught the key point and asked in surprise, "Is Jiang Shu not home?"

"The young miss went out early to manage the shops. Madam and Young Master are taking care of the master at home," the steward replied truthfully.

"Is the second brother awake?"

"Eldest Master, go in and see for yourself."

"Older brother, you go first." Jiang Shaohé gestured politely.

Jiang Shaohua glared at him. "We'll go together."

There was no way he was jumping into a trap alone.

The two entered the room warily, their eyes scanning cautiously. Everything seemed in order.

Jiang Shaohé grew bolder and stepped towards the inner room.

Jiang Mother and Jiang Ning supported Jiang Father. Chief Physician Chen was administering acupuncture, with Physician Fang assisting.

"Second Brother?" Jiang Shaohé called out tentatively.

Father Jiang remained tightly shut-eyed, without any response.

Jiang Shaohua was slightly surprised. "Has the second brother not woken up yet?"

It's been so many days; can he still wake up?

Chief Physician Chen glanced back at them, his expression serious and his tone displeased. "Don't make a sound and disturb my acupuncture."

The two immediately fell silent, watching from a distance without making a single sound.

The last time they questioned this imperial physician, they angered a noble and brought disaster upon themselves, landing in prison.

Chief Physician Chen needled and removed needles for almost half an hour, and the two stood motionless in the room for nearly half an hour. When they left, their legs were numb, and their thighs trembled.

Mother Jiang followed them out of the room and spoke in the courtyard.

"Second sister-in-law, has my second brother not woken up yet?" Jiang Shaohé asked in a low voice.

Mother Jiang shook her head with a look of deep sorrow, and tears flowed before she could even speak.

Jiang Shaohua pretended to comfort her for a few words and asked, "What did the imperial physician say?"

Mother Jiang wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said sadly, "The imperial physician said that if he doesn't wake up within ten days, he will never wake up again."

Ten days.

A glint of sharpness flashed in the eyes of the two, and their minds began to turn.

"Second sister-in-law, don't worry too much. Second brother is a blessed person and will definitely wake up."

"Yes, with the imperial physician from the palace here, the second brother will definitely be fine."

The two offered insincere words of comfort and then took their leave.

As they walked away, Mother Jiang looked at their backs and snorted coldly. "Two jackals."

Everything today was pre-arranged by Jiang Shu.

Jiang Shu knew they wouldn't give up unless they saw for themselves, so she deliberately let them in to check. To stabilize them and expose their wolfish ambitions, she made sure to tell them that Father Jiang's condition was not optimistic.

In fact, Chief Physician Chen said that Father Jiang would wake up in a day or two.

In the evening, Jiang Shu returned to the Jiang residence and heard about the day's events from Mother Jiang.

With a stern face, Jiang Shu said confidently, "They will definitely make a move."

"I will be very busy in the next few days, so Mother and younger brother must take good care of Father. Except for Chief Physician Chen and Physician Fang, no one else should be allowed near him. Even if Father wakes up, don't make it public."

"I understand. You take care out there too." Mother Jiang was very worried about her.

As a young woman, it was already very difficult for her to take charge of the Jiang family's business. On top of that, she had to deal with a den of jackals. She had it hard.

"Mother, don't worry. I will be careful." Jiang Shu's almond eyes were resolute, ready for the battle ahead.

The Jiang family's business was built by her father, and it must not fall into the hands of others.

Jiang Ning was still young and didn't understand business, so she had to take over.

When Jiang Ning grew up in the future, she would gradually hand it over to him.

To take over the Jiang family's business, Jiang Shu worked from dawn till dusk, thoroughly understanding every shop and keeping them under control.

The second evening when Jiang Shu returned to the residence, she went as usual to see Father Jiang.

The three of them sat by Father Jiang's bedside and talked. As Jiang Shu fed the medicine to Father Jiang, she noticed his brows seemed to furrow slightly.

Jiang Shu was excited and afraid she might have seen wrong, so she quickly called Mother Jiang and Jiang Ning to look.

The three stared at Father Jiang's face for a long time, but there was no movement.

Could it be that she was too tired and hallucinating?

Disappointed, Jiang Shu took a deep breath and continued feeding the medicine to Father Jiang.

With another spoonful of medicine, Father Jiang's brows furrowed again.