The Chief Steward reported his findings to Jiang Wenrui. "Master, there is a wound about the width of a finger on the horse's be...
The Chief Steward reported his findings to Jiang Wenrui. "Master, there is a wound about the width of a finger on the horse's belly. It was inflicted by a sharp weapon. Master, that drunkard deliberately bumped into Chang'an, but he was actually targeting the horse."
Jiang Wenrui's expression turned exceedingly grim. "Investigate it. We must catch the murderer." If he failed to find this person, he swore he would not be worthy of being human.
The Chief Steward acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Another of Jiang Wenrui's advisers, Mr Wen, asked, "Daren, just who did the Second Master offend in Luoyang? For matters to have reached the point where they will not end until one side dies?" Apart from the fact that Jiang Hongjin could no longer function as a man1, Mr Wen knew everything else.
This was precisely what puzzled Jiang Wenrui as well. If someone bore a grudge against the Jiang family, they should have come after him, not Hongjin. Therefore, this person could not have been an enemy of the Jiang family; it must have been a personal grudge formed against Hongjin.
Jiang Wenrui responded, "For now, we can only hope to find some clue that can lead us to the murderer." He had also been careless, thinking that Hongjin would be safe once he returned to the capital. He had never expected the person behind everything to be so determined to see it through to the end.
Having lived in the capital for so many years, Jiang Wenrui possessed considerable influence. As a result, the suspect was apprehended by midnight. The suspect's surname was Chao and his given name was Yang. He was an escort from the Xinglong Escort Agency. Some time ago, his wife ran away with another man, and ever since then he had been using alcohol to drown his sorrows ever since. When the constables arrested him, he was still drunk.
During the interrogation, Chao Yang kept crying that he had been wronged, insisting that although he had been drunk, he had absolutely not k!lled anyone and that he had been framed. Despite two witnesses testifying that he had returned home very late that night, Chao Yang continued to deny it. The Prefect did not dare use torture to force him to sign a confession. After all, this was an unusual case, so the investigation suddenly hit a deadlock.
As soon as Jiang Wenrui received the news, he knew that this man called Chao Yang had been schemed against and set up. The real murderer had most likely disguised himself as Chao Yang before committing the crime. After all, it was already dark at the time. The witnesses could only make out the person's general appearance and could not see him clearly.
An incident as serious as Jiang Hongjin being attacked naturally could not have escaped the well-informed Yan Wushuang. He knew about it that very night.
Uncle Tang asked somewhat doubtfully, "Wangye, Jiang Hongjin was disfigured while he was in Luoyang, and now someone has tried to assassinate him. Just whom could he have offended?"
Yan Wushuang had little interest in the matter. "Perhaps he did something that incurred Heaven's wrath and the people's resentment2 while he was in Luoyang, and someone is now taking revenge on him." Yuxi had never dealt with Jiang Hongjin directly, so Yan Wushuang naturally had no reason to connect the matter to her.
Seeing that Yan Wushuang was uninterested, Uncle Tang put the matter aside as well.
Jiang Hongjin remained unconscious for three days and three nights without waking. Jiang Wenrui even petitioned the Emperor to send an Imperial Physician to treat Jiang Hongjin. Unfortunately, it made little difference.
Yu Shi looked at Jiang Wenrui and sobbed, "Master, you must save our son! You must save him." Over the past few days, Yu Shi's eyes had become swollen and red from crying, and even her tears seemed almost drained dry.
Jiang Wenrui snapped, "He is my son. Naturally, I will exhaust every ounce of my strength to save him." However, there was one thing Jiang Wenrui had not told Yu Shi. The Imperial Physician had said that even if Jiang Hongjin woke up, he would be permanently disabled. His spine was injured too, meaning that even if he regained consciousness, he would be bedbound for the rest of his life.
By the time Yuchen learnt of the matter, Jiang Hongjin had already been unconscious for four days. Since Yuchen now spent all her time in the inner residence, news reached her very slowly. Her expression changed as she asked, "Biaosao3, are you saying that my Wu Meifu4 was attacked and is still unconscious?"
Zhao Shi nodded. "Yes, everyone is discussing it now. Just who did the Second Master Jiang make an enemy of for that person to pursue him all the way from Luoyang to the capital?"
Yuchen dug her fingernails into her flesh to keep herself from losing her composure. "For someone to strike him with such severity, he must have done something that offended Heaven and violated all reason5, I suppose?"
Zhao Shi was rather surprised to hear this. Anyone who did not know better might have thought Yuchen bore a grudge against Jiang Hongjin. "Speaking of which, shouldn't the Jiang family be bringing your younger sister back soon?" Since the eldest branch had been expelled from the Han clan, the family rankings had been rearranged. Yuchen was now the Duke Residence's Da Gunainai6, while Yurong was the Er Gunainai7.
Yuchen shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure. But Jiang Hongjin is already incapacitated, and that child is his only flesh and blood. They should bring the child back to the capital soon."
Zhao Shi nodded, then brought up matters concerning the Duke Residence. "I heard that Wen Shi has been fighting with her daughter-in-law over control of the household, which has made the Lord Duke ill with anger."
Yuchen genuinely cared little about matters concerning her natal family. Yet appearing completely unconcerned would make her seem cold-hearted. "Giving Wen Shi control of the household—isn't that going to make the Duke Residence into the laughing stock of the entire capital?" When Wen Shi had first married into the Duke Residence, she couldn't even manage the internal affairs of the third branch properly. Yet, now she actually wanted to manage the entire residence.
Zhao Shi sighed. "Exactly."
Yuchen did not want to discuss the Han family, so she quickly changed the subject. "Is Jiujiu8's health any better now?" Ever since the Old Marquis Chiang had sustained severe injuries in Liaodong, his health had been poor, and he had relied on medicine to sustain him.
Zhao Shi nodded. "Much better." Although Old Marquis Chiang was in poor health, as long as he remained alive, the Chiang family's spirit and vitality would not scatter9. If he were gone, Marquis Chiang might not be able to hold everything up10 under the present circumstances.
After chatting for a while, Zhao Shi left. Meanwhile, Yuchen used tiredness as an excuse to stay alone in her room. If her suspicions were correct, Yuxi was most likely responsible for Jiang Hongjin's recent injury. Yuxi was seeking revenge for what had happened in her previous life.
In a voice so quiet only she could hear, Yuchen muttered, "Jiang Hongjin should be just the beginning." Given Yuxi's tendency to repay even the slightest glare, none of those who had bullied and humiliated her back then would be spared. And Yuchen herself might even be among them.
At this thought, Yuchen shook her head again. If Yuxi had truly resented her, the two of them would not have got along so harmoniously as children. Therefore, no matter what happened, Yuxi would not seek revenge against her. As for her father, however, that was hard to say.
Momo Gui thought Yuchen had fallen asleep and quietly walked over to tuck the covers around her. But as she drew closer, she saw Yuchen's eyes were open. Momo Gui smiled. "I thought Niangniang11 had fallen asleep." Because Yuchen always had matters weighing on her mind, she had never slept particularly well.
Yuchen shook her head. "I was just resting for a while. I couldn't sleep." She did not tell Momo Gui what had been on her mind. There was nothing she could do to stop this, and any attempt to interfere would easily arouse Yan Wushuang's suspicions.
Momo Gui said with concern, "Niangniang, whatever happens, you must look forward." Being gloomy and unhappy all the time wasn't good for one's health.
Yuchen smiled faintly, but said nothing more.
Jiang Hongjin was unconscious for seven days and seven nights, kept barely alive by being force-fed ginseng. Seeing his complexion worsen and his breathing gradually weaken, Jiang Wenrui felt as though his heart were being sliced apart by a knife. Meanwhile, Yu Shi seemed to have aged twenty years over these past few days. If it were not for her unwavering belief that her son would survive, she would have collapsed long ago.
Imperial Physician Zhang came to examine Jiang Hongjin again. Faced with Jiang Wenrui's pleading, he shook his head. "This old man is also powerless to do anything."
Jiang Wenrui begged Imperial Physician Zhang to administer tiger-and-wolf medicine12 to Jiang Hongjin, hoping it might make him regain consciousness, even if only briefly. At the very least, he could learn whether his son had any unfinished wishes. More precisely, Jiang Wenrui wanted to speak to Jiang Hongjin one last time.
After pondering for a moment, Imperial Physician Zhang reminded him, "Jiang Daren, this is extremely dangerous. I cannot even say there is a fifty per cent chance." If they used such fiercely potent medicine, Jiang Hongjin might not even regain consciousness, but he would certainly die. Without such drastic medicine, there might still be a single thread of hope.
Jiang Wenrui was not one to waver over a decision. He said gravely, "Zhang Daren, use it." Even if Jiang Hongjin survived, he would spend the rest of his life bedridden. It would be better for him to die than to live on in agony, as he would at least be spared some suffering.
Jiang Hongjin's health had already deteriorated following the two incidents in Luoyang. Now, with his body having suffered another devastating injury, it could not withstand the additional strain of the tiger-and-wolf medicine12. Fifteen minutes after the medicine was forced down his throat, Jiang Hongjin stopped breathing.
Jiang Wenrui stroked Jiang Hongjin's face and murmured, "Son, rest assured. I will avenge you." The murder of his son had filled Jiang Wenrui with such intense hatred that he could not bear to live under the same sky as the murderer. He was determined to find the person responsible for all this.
When Yu Shi heard that her son had died, she could no longer hold herself together and collapsed. Thus, Jiang Wenrui had to take charge of Jiang Hongjin's funeral arrangements himself.
While the Chief Steward could decide some matters on his own, others required Jiang Wenrui's decision. "Master, none of the young masters are in the capital. Who will carry the Second Master's spirit tablet?" Jiang Hongfu's two sons were in Jiangnan. If they had been in the capital, they could have helped to carry the spirit tablet and smash the mourning basin.
Jiang Wenrui said, "Let Lil Boy Xing carry Hongjin's spirit tablet." Lil Boy Xing was Jiang Qi's eldest son. When Jiang Qi was eighteen, she married the Liu family's legitimate third son, whose father had been Jiang Wenrui's classmate. The following year, she gave birth to her son, Liu Xing.
The Chief Steward spoke up worriedly, "Master, I'm afraid Madam Liu may not agree." Madam Liu and Yu Shi appeared cordial in public but secretly disliked each other. When this marriage had first been arranged, Yu Shi had nearly caused a scene. Jiang Qi also looked down on Third Master Liu, whom Madam Liu had spoiled beyond measure. However, Jiang Wenrui ruled the entire household. Once he had made a decision, no one could change it.
After Jiang Qi married into the Liu family, Madam Liu began imposing strict rules on her. However, Jiang Qi was not a soft steamed bun that anyone could knead round or flatten at a whim13. For the first half-month, no matter how many difficulties Madam Liu put her through, Jiang Qi said nothing. After enduring them for half a month, she collapsed in front of Liu Daren, Third Master Liu, and the others. When the physician arrived, he diagnosed that Jiang Qi had fainted because she had neither been eating nor sleeping properly, resulting in her becoming weak.
Afterwards, Liu Daren flew into a violent rage, and even Third Master Liu complained bitterly about his mother. Madam Liu was extremely angry and hated Jiang Qi to death. While Jiang Qi was pregnant, Madam Liu pushed two beauties as beautiful as flowers upon her son. However, Jiang Qi did not curse at or drive the two beauties away, as Madam Liu had hoped. Instead, she immediately 'opened' their faces14 and allowed the two women to serve Third Master Liu. Of course, Jiang Qi had one condition of her own: until the legitimate eldest son was born, the concubines had to take contraceptive medicine.
Jiang Qi behaved with such generosity and virtue that not only did Third Master Liu believe he had married a good wife, but even Liu Daren felt the daughter-in-law he had chosen was an excellent one. Only Madam Liu was so hateful inside that she could have ground an entire mouthful of pearly teeth to pieces15. There was hardly a woman who would not feel jealous unless she had never put her husband in her heart at all16. From Jiang Qi's conduct, it was obvious she did not treat Madam Liu's son as something that truly mattered. Thus, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law became increasingly strained. Jiang Qi's belly also strove to make her proud17: in the very year she married into the family, she gave birth to a big, healthy boy and thereby establishing a secure position in the Liu household.
Jiang Wenrui instructed, "Speak directly to Liu Daren." Whether Madam Liu agreed or not was unimportant. As long as Liu Daren agreed, the matter was settled.
Footnotes Full List
- 不能人道 (bù néng réndào) — unable to perform the human way; a euphemism for being unable to engage in sexual intercourse, i.e. impotence
- 天怒人怨 (tiān nù rén yuàn) — Heaven is angered, and people resent it; describes an act so wicked that both Heaven and the people would condemn it
- 表嫂 (biǎosǎo) — The wife of one's older male cousin (from the maternal side or paternal aunts)
- 五 (wǔ) — five/fifth, 妹夫 (mèi fū) — younger sister's husband; brother-in-law
- 伤天害理 (shāng tiān hài lǐ) — harm Heaven and injure reason; to commit acts that violate morality, justice, and natural principles
- 大 (dà) — eldest, 姑奶奶 (gū nǎi nǎi) — (respectful form of address for a married woman used by members of her parents' family) married daughter
- 二 (èr) — two/second, 姑奶奶 (gū nǎi nǎi) — (respectful form of address for a married woman used by members of her parents' family) married daughter
- 舅舅 (jiùjiu) — mother's brother/maternal uncle
- 精神气就不会散 (jīngshénqì jiù bú huì sàn) — the family's spirit and vitality will not disperse; his presence holds the family's morale and cohesion together
- 撑得住 (chēng de zhù) — be able to prop or hold something up; to withstand pressure and keep a difficult situation under control
- 娘娘 (niáng niáng) — A respectful form of address used for empresses and imperial consorts in the palace.
- 虎狼之药 (hǔ láng zhī yào) — medicine of tigers and wolves; extremely potent, drastic medicine that may produce powerful effects but carries serious risks
- (任人搓圆捏扁的包子 (rèn rén cuō yuán niē biǎn de bāozi) — a bun that lets anyone knead it round or pinch it flat; a vivid colloquial metaphor for someone meek and easily bullied or manipulated
- 开了脸 (kāi le liǎn) — opened their faces; an old household expression referring here to formally acknowledging women as bedroom companions or concubines
- (咬碎了一口银牙 (yǎo suì le yì kǒu yínyá) — bite a mouthful of silver-white teeth to pieces; a literary image describing extreme suppressed anger or hatred
- (没放在心上 (méi fàng zài xīn shàng) — not put someone in one's heart; not to care deeply about or attach importance to someone
- 肚子也很争气 (dùzi yě hěn zhēngqì) — her belly also strove to do her proud; a colloquial personification meaning she quickly became pregnant and successfully produced the desired child
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