Chapter 142: Shameless

Chapter 142: Shameless

Jiang Shu was sitting facing the incoming visitor and spotted them from afar, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Greetings, Elder Princess." Mother Shen bowed to pay her respects to Yu Lan.

Yu Lan lightly waved her fan and said in a solemn tone, "What does the Elder Madam Shen want with me?"

This question left Mother Shen at a loss for words, rendering her speechless.

In the past, when Jiang Shu was still at the Jing'an Marquis Residence, there had been some interactions with the Pingxi General's Mansion. However, ever since Jiang Shu left the Marquis Residence and the incident where Yan Yang injured Zhuang Yun occurred, the two families had harbored grudges against each other.

Mother Shen had come to see Jiang Shu merely out of obligation to pay respects due to the difference in status. But since Yu Lan had asked, she couldn't not answer.

"My wayward grandson injured Young Master Zhuang Yun, and I feel deeply apologetic. I wonder how he is faring now? Has he fully recovered?" Mother Shen struggled to find the right words and finally said.

Yu Lan, of course, knew that Mother Shen hadn't come for her; she was doing this on purpose.

Both Jiang Shu and Sun Yijun understood this as well and sat leisurely, watching the scene unfold.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder Madam Shen. My son has fortunately recovered. However, I heard that during the Lantern Festival, Young Master Zhuang Yun went out for a stroll. The Jing'an Marquis Residence is truly formidable."

Yu Lan's light remark caused cold sweat to break out on Mother Shen's forehead.

"I humbly ask for the Elder Princess's forgiveness; I was unaware of this matter and have already scolded him severely afterward." Mother Shen trembled as she bowed to apologize, fearing that Yu Lan would pursue the matter further.

Although the incident had passed, if Yu Lan chose to investigate, no one could stop her.

Moreover, leaving the residence without permission could be seen as childish indiscretion and parental leniency at best, but at worst, it could be construed as arrogance born from past favors, showing disrespect to the emperor's authority, with severe consequences.

"An accident once is forgivable, but a repeat is intentional. Elder Madam Shen, you must keep a tight rein on your family. Should there be a next time, it won't be resolved with just twenty lashes for Marquis Shen." Yu Lan warned with a stern expression.

Mother Shen hurriedly agreed and gave her assurances.

Yu Lan put down her fan and drank her tea. Seeing that Mother Shen had not left, she frowned and said, "Does Elder Madam Shen have something else to say?"

Mother Shen looked at Jiang Shu and forced a smile, saying, "I would like to speak with Miss Jiang for a few words."

"Oh? Then please speak quickly; we have other matters to attend to." Yu Lan urged.

Mother Shen thought that by speaking in front of everyone, she could force the issue into the open, leaving Jiang Shu with no other option.

"Shu'er, since you left the Marquis Residence, the old madam has been bedridden, constantly talking about you. Changze often sits alone at the Listen Bamboo House, filled with regret and longing..."

Mother Shen went on and on, causing Jiang Shu to frown.

"What exactly does Elder Madam Shen want to say?" Jiang Shu cut her off, her impatience clear.

Mother Shen sat down beside Jiang Shu and took her hand, saying, "Shu'er, we all miss you, and Changze longs for you too."

'They say new clothes are better than old, and a day's kindness in marriage lasts a hundred days. Can you forgive Changze and allow him to propose again?'

"Rest assured, we will not judge you for your decision to dress as a man or for your public appearances, nor will we restrict your business affairs. If you return to the Marquis Residence, you can do as you please."

Jiang Shu's frown deepened, clearly annoyed, and she pulled her hand away, saying, "Elder Madam Shen, perhaps you should reconsider."

Mother Shen was taken aback, not understanding her meaning.

Jiang Shu's pretty face turned cold as she said, "A good horse doesn't eat from the same trough twice. There is no possibility between me and Marquis Shen. If the Marquis Residence still values its dignity, it should stop bothering me."

It was expected that Jiang Shu would refuse, so Elder Madam Shen, clutching her hands, raised her voice.

"Shu'er, as a woman, you taking charge of a merchant house as a female owner and dressing as a man to conduct business goes against the norms. No other prestigious family would tolerate such behavior. But not only do we not despise you, we also don't constrain you. This is already great leniency. There is no other family in Shang Jing that would be as tolerant."

The young misses and other ladies who loved watching drama had already perked up their ears when they saw Elder Madam Shen approach Jiang Shu.

When they heard that Jiang Shu had taken over Jiangji and become the owner, they were shocked.

Jiangji was one of the top five merchant houses in Shang Jing. If Jiang Shu took over Jiangji, it would mean she controlled the entire Jiang family's wealth.

This news stunned the various ladies, who immediately began to calculate in their minds.

Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, Elder Madam Shen was secretly pleased, thinking her words had an effect.

As long as Jiang Shu was rejected by the prominent families in Shang Jing, she would have no choice but to marry back into the Jing'an Marquis Residence.

Jiang Shu’s body trembled with anger, her face as cold as ice, and she said in a cold voice, "Even if no one dares to marry me, I will never marry back into the Jing'an Marquis Residence!"

It wasn’t the revelation itself that upset her, but Elder Madam Shen’s shameless tactics that infuriated her. To use such underhanded means to pressure her was truly detestable.

Yu Lan and Sun Yijun were shocked that the esteemed Elder Madam of the Marquis Mansion would stoop to such shameless tactics.

"Elder Madam Shen, today is my birthday. If you've come to celebrate, then please observe the etiquette of a guest. If you've come to cause trouble, then please leave."

Sun Yijun’s words were brutally honest, leaving no one unaffected.

Originally, she didn't want to send an invitation to the Jing'an Marquis Residence, but her parents said it was inappropriate to openly target them, so she reluctantly sent an invitation.

Being rebuked by a younger woman, Elder Madam Shen's face turned red and white, and she wished she could sink into the floor from embarrassment.

She clutched her hands and turned to Madam Sun and the others for support, but no one came to her defense.

Finally, the Crown Prince’s wife stepped in.

"Yijun, today is your birthday, don't be angry." She first smiled to calm Sun Yijun, then said to Elder Madam Shen, "If Elder Madam Shen is unwell, she should go back and rest. Madam Sun won't be upset."

This was a subtle warning: if Elder Madam Shen backed down, the Sun family would overlook the incident. But if she persisted, they would not intervene.

Elder Madam Shen looked at Jiang Shu, who was visibly angry, hesitated for a moment, then got up with an embarrassed expression and left.

She didn't understand how things had turned out this way, so different from what she had expected. Where had it all gone wrong?

Since last year's birthday banquet, the Jing'an Marquis Residence had become increasingly unwelcome. The Crown Prince’s wife had only extended a courtesy at the Crown Prince’s request.

Once Elder Madam Shen left, the other ladies crowded around Jiang Shu and began to chat.

"Do you know why Elder Madam Shen came to the banquet alone?"

Jiang Shu and the others were indeed curious. Why hadn't Cheng Jinchu shown up at such an important networking event?

"Why?" Sun Yijun, itching with curiosity, asked.

"I heard that there was internal strife in the Jing'an Marquis Residence, and Marquis Shen's wife had a bloody fight with a concubine."

"That Concubine Xu, although a concubine, was a legitimate official's daughter and deeply cherished by Lord Xu. When he learned that she had been mistreated almost to death in the Marquis Residence, the Xu family went to the Marquis Residence to demand justice."

"I also heard about this. Marquis Shen's wife was consequently put under house arrest, and Marquis Shen promised to give half of the family estate to the concubine's son. The Xu family agreed to reconcile and didn't make a big issue out of it."

"What exactly did Marquis Shen's wife do?" Sun Yijun, always curious, couldn't rest until she understood.

Someone in the know said, "Last year, Marquis Shen's wife accidentally miscarried and could no longer conceive, which twisted her mind. During Concubine Xu's childbirth in March this year, she bribed the midwife to tamper with the delivery, making it impossible for Concubine Xu to conceive again."

"Such despicable actions were extremely dangerous. Concubine Xu nearly lost her life."

Jiang Shu and the others were shocked to hear about such incidents in the Jing'an Marquis Residence.