Chapter 32 Jiang Family: Is This Child That Zhou Congshen’s?

Chapter 32 The Jiang Family: Is This Child That Zhou Congshen's?

Jiang Yueyi left the Chengping Baron's residence that very night and returned to the Jiang family, not even having time to pack her dowry, taking only her personal belongings.

Since she still had a few more days of postpartum confinement to complete, appearing at the Jiang family gate in the middle of the night was truly startling.

The Jiang household had already gone to bed, so they hurriedly let in Jiang Yueyi and her entourage. By the time she returned to her former boudoir, Jiang Chao sent someone to inform her that it was late and they would discuss matters the next day.

After a quick wash, Jiang Yueyi immediately went to bed.

That day, she had endured slaps, braved wind and snow, and knelt for a long time. She had already been at her limit, her whole body was killing her. It hadn't felt so painful earlier, but once she lay still in bed, the pain made her want to toss and turn all over the bed, and every move sent sharp pain through her.

Concubine Gu was also roused and soon came to see Jiang Yueyi. She didn't ask what had happened, but simply ordered more charcoal, soft blankets, and hot water bottles. She personally warmed the bedding with the bottles.

Some experienced matrons around her, seeing the situation, said, "This is bad. The young lady has developed an illness from this. This is gonna cause problems down the road."

The child beside her kept crying, while Jiang Yueyi was listless and refused to speak. Concubine Gu grew increasingly anxious and said, "Maybe we should call in a doctor from outside."

Jiang Yueyi's frail hand came out from under the covers and grabbed Concubine Gu. Her nightgown sleeve slid down her arm, revealing a jade-white arm that looked like it could snap at a touch.

"No need," Jiang Yueyi said, her head spinning and her voice stuffy from a cold. "Please don't go to all that trouble, Concubine Gu."

"Seeing a doctor will help you feel better. You can't just sleep the whole night like this." Concubine Gu leaned down and gently patted Jiang Yueyi's back, like she was coaxing a fussy child.

But Jiang Yueyi wasn't a kid anymore.

She just wanted to close her eyes and sleep soundly. Though her body ached, she figured a good night's sleep might make her feel better, just like the snow outside, which would stop eventually.

If the doctor came, all the fuss would keep them up until dawn. The minute Jiang Chao woke up, he'd definitely come asking questions, and she'd get no peace.

Seeing how stubborn Jiang Yueyi was being, Concubine Gu sighed deeply, tucked the covers tightly around her, and had a fox-fur blanket brought from her own room to lay over her. She stayed quietly by Jiang Yueyi's side for a while until she was sound asleep, then called for servants to attend her and stepped out of the bed curtains.

Qing Lan was holding Tuan Tuan, quietly soothing her. Jiang Yueyi hadn't brought the wet nurse from the baron's residence, so the little child had also caught a chill and was unaccustomed to the new place. She squirmed in Qing Lan's arms, whining softly but not crying.

Concubine Gu's pent-up tears suddenly burst forth. She took the child from Qing Lan and tiptoed into the warm inner chamber. Qing Lan followed, about to say something, but Concubine Gu said to her, "I don't want to hear anything right now. Don't speak. Yueyi has a heavy heart, and the sound of our voices here will inevitably disturb her. Let her sleep peacefully. By morning, we'll know everything anyway."

Qing Lan fell silent and stood by, wiping her tears. Concubine Gu then sent for women in the household who had given birth and still had milk, summoning them that very night. By the time it reached the hour of the rooster (around 5-7 AM), the snow still hadn't stopped. Outside, the sky was still dark, but Jiang Chao had already sent someone to say he would come to see Jiang Yueyi around the beginning of the dragon hour (7-9 AM).

Concubine Gu calculated that there was still time, so she decided to let Jiang Yueyi sleep a little longer and didn't wake her. Soon, however, Jiang Yueyi woke up on her own and called for servants to help her get ready.

"Wipe away your tears. Don't let her see," Concubine Gu quietly reminded Qing Lan and the others, though her own face showed the exhaustion of a sleepless night.

Cui Mei first went to help Jiang Yueyi sit up. As soon as she touched her, she exclaimed, "The young lady's body is burning hot!"

Concubine Gu hurriedly felt Jiang Yueyi's forehead. Indeed, she had a high fever. She immediately regretted listening to Jiang Yueyi the night before and not insisting on calling a doctor.

Now that dawn had come and Jiang Chao would arrive soon, Concubine Gu finally couldn't help complaining, "The baron's household is truly inconsiderate! No matter how serious the matter, they shouldn't have sent you home in this condition. You're still in your month, and last night there was wind and snow... When your father comes, I'll have him seek justice for you!"

Jiang Yueyi lowered her head and said nothing, making people wonder if she'd nodded.

She wasn't unwilling to confide in Concubine Gu. Concubine Gu had raised her for so many years, like a mother. It wasn't that she couldn't tell her, but what use would it be? Concubine Gu was just a woman confined to the inner quarters. Telling her would only add to her worries. What was the point?

Meanwhile, Jiang Yueyi was dressing in her room, and Concubine Gu went outside to wait for Jiang Chao. But though he had said he would come at the beginning of the dragon hour, Concubine Gu waited until the end of that hour without seeing him.

What came instead was Wang Shi.

Wang Shi finally put on a concerned face, her brows showing a hint of anger of uncertain authenticity, but her steps were not hurried. She walked slowly, surrounded by her maidservants.

She was much younger than Jiang Chao, and standing next to Concubine Gu, they looked more like mother and daughter. She took Concubine Gu's hand and said, "Don't worry. The master has gone to the baron's residence to find out what happened. Where is our eldest daughter?"

Concubine Gu's heart sank. For a moment, she didn't know how to answer. Fortunately, a very soft voice came from inside: "I'm in here."

Wang Shi raised an eyebrow, released Concubine Gu, and went inside.

She saw Jiang Yueyi sitting in front of the dressing table. At a glance, she looked emaciated, wrapped in a large padded gown, as if she would be swallowed up by the clothes. She didn't look like a woman who had just given birth at all; her thinness was alarming.

Wang Shi, thinking of how Jiang Yueyi's husband had died young, felt a secret glee. She walked over and said, "Why have you come home like this? Is it that now that the baron is gone, the old lady of the baron's household has grown tired of you because you gave birth to a daughter? Oh my, even if the barony is about to fall into someone else's hands, she shouldn't treat you like this. Now that you're home, feel free to tell me any grievances you have."

At the word "mother," a flicker of mockery crossed Jiang Yueyi's face, but she quickly concealed it.

She knew perfectly well that Wang Shi had come to gloat, and she also knew that Jiang Chao had likely been sent to the baron's residence by Wang Shi. He had said he would come see her first, so why had he gone to the baron's residence instead? Without even asking for the full story, he wouldn't be able to respond properly to whatever was said.

Still, Jiang Yueyi didn't care much anymore. If Wang Shi was pleased, so be it. First, she didn't understand what Wang Shi had to compete with her for. Second, once Jiang Chao learned the whole truth, he would probably not take her side at all.

She had only returned because she had nowhere else to go.

Jiang Chao didn't return until nearly noon. During that time, no matter how Wang Shi tried to pry it out of her, Jiang Yueyi refused to reveal what had happened. Finally, Wang Shi gave up and had to wait with Concubine Gu.

Jiang Chao was red-faced with anger. Even though he had ridden the whole way back, braving the wind and snow, his fury hadn't abated.

"How could our Jiang family raise a daughter like you!" Jiang Chao said, pointing at Jiang Yueyi as he approached. "You still have the nerve to come home. You've disgraced the Jiang family!"

Seeing this, Concubine Gu immediately knelt down. Though she didn't know what had happened, she pleaded for Jiang Yueyi. Wang Shi said in a soft voice, "Master, please calm down. Can't we talk things over nicely? The eldest daughter is still weak, having lost her husband so young, and now she's given birth to a daughter. No one knows what to do!"

"Do you know what she's done?" Jiang Chao sighed deeply and recounted everything he had heard from the baron's residence. When he mentioned that Qi Hao hadn't died at all, Wang Shi cried out in shock. When he said that Jiang Yueyi had committed adultery with Qi Hao's cousin Zhou Congshen, Wang Shi's face showed a dramatic mix of emotions.

In contrast, Concubine Gu's face was ashen.

"I went to seek justice for this unfilial daughter, only to find out it was all like this!" Jiang Chao slapped the table several times in fury. "My old face is gone now. I can't go out and face people anymore!"

Wang Shi chimed in, "Oh, how could the eldest daughter do such a thing? Our Jiang family is a decent family, officials for generations. If this gets out, what will people say?" She then poured a cup of tea and fed it to Jiang Chao, coaxing him to drink. He reluctantly finished it, calmed down a little, and said to Jiang Yueyi, "Tell me yourself, what exactly did you do? The baron's household threw you out, and they didn't even want the daughter you gave birth to. Why?"

Jiang Yueyi was wearing a wide-sleeved dress today. Her bare hands were hidden in her sleeves, her face expressionless, but her hands were trembling violently. Whether from cold or pain, her teeth were chattering slightly, but Jiang Chao didn't notice. He just stared intently at her, as if afraid she might pull some trick.

Jiang Yueyi pressed her lips together and said softly, "Su Hengniang gave birth to a son. Qi Hao loves her dearly, so naturally they want us mother and child to make way for them."

"You're still not telling the truth. That child is of Qi blood. Even if they loathed you, they wouldn't abandon the child," Jiang Chao said. "Tell me, is that child Zhou Congshen's?"

Jiang Yueyi lowered her head and gave a faint smile. "No. Zhou Congshen and I have never done anything improper."

At this point, Wang Shi interjected, "Then the eldest daughter should have said that to the baron's household. Why did she come back instead? If she's innocent, how could she let them slander her like this?"

Jiang Chao, his face livid, glanced at Wang Shi. It was clear he didn't believe a word Jiang Yueyi said.

"The old lady has already suppressed the matter. If she had let their eldest son handle it himself, she wouldn't have just been sent home. I heard that yesterday Qi Hao