Chapter 42: The Debt of Birth is Paid in Full, Entanglements Should Cease

Jiang Lingyao clenched her fists, staring intently at Madam Jiang with a bitter ache tearing through her heart.

She knew full well it was impossible, yet she still could not stop a sharp pang of pain.

The woman before her was her mother—the mother who had carried her in her womb for ten months, the mother connected to her by blood!

They should have been the closest women in this world.

Yet it was precisely this woman who could harden her heart enough to speak such words to her, turning a blind eye to her suffering.

Such a mother was one she no longer wanted, nor dared to want ever again.

"Mingzhu!"

Madam Jiang froze in place, staring at her through falling tears. "Who has been filling your head with such nonsense?"

With tears suddenly streaming down, she stepped forward and pulled Jiang Lingyao tightly into her embrace, her voice trembling. "How could I possibly not be your mother? Are you still holding a grudge against me because of what happened at Qingshan Temple?"

A patch of dampness spread across the back of Jiang Lingyao's neck. Madam Jiang's tears were scalding, but as the spring breeze swept over them upon falling, they chilled Jiang Lingyao, causing her to shiver slightly in reflex.

"No, I no longer blame you."

*But I will never forgive you either.*

Jiang Lingyao said softly in her heart.

In truth, another incident had occurred years ago. The Duke of Zhenguo had suddenly become infatuated with a woman, to the extent that he even took her as an equal wife.

Little did they know that the woman's ultimate target was the position of the legitimate mistress of the Duke's estate. She usually feigned gentleness and harmlessness, but in the end, she seized a moment when everyone let their guard down to poison Madam Jiang.

At the time, Jiang Lingyao happened to be studying under a physician for the sake of Jiang Xiuyuan, and upon returning to the estate, she sensed something was amiss and thus saved Madam Jiang's life.

Therefore, this incident, combined with the disappointment and suffering of all these years, was more than enough to repay the debt of Madam Jiang giving her life.

At this thought, the trace of bitterness in Jiang Lingyao's heart gradually faded.

She paused, softening her tone. "Please get up, Mother. I still have to attend to my grandmother, and I must not be delayed."

Madam Jiang abruptly stood up, looking at her in disbelief as her tears fell like a torrential downpour.

Had it been before, if Jiang Lingyao had seen her cry like this, she would have certainly stepped forward to comfort her. The coldness in her eyes at this moment suddenly filled Madam Jiang with a panic, an unease as though she were losing something precious.

Wiping away her tears, she wailed, "Mingzhu, what on earth is wrong with you? Why are you being so cold to your mother? Everything I do is for your own good. How could I possibly harm you?"

"You are headstrong and rebellious; how can you ever make a qualified chief mistress? The Pei family's rules are exceptionally strict. If you remain like this, you will eventually be spurned. Rather than that, it would be better to let Lian'er marry into the family with you so she can be your reliance."

One was weeping while the other stood coldly in place, looking at each other like total strangers.

Wenqiu could no longer bear it. Gritting her teeth, she stepped forward and said, "Her Ladyship keeps claiming everything is for the Young Miss's sake, but where were you when the Young Miss was suffering at Qingshan Temple? Furthermore, you always say the Young Miss has a headstrong temper, yet everyone who knows her says her character is exceptionally fine—wise, gentle, measured, and capable of handling major affairs, truly worthy of being the pearl of the Duke's estate."

"My Lady! Why can't you look closely at the Young Miss? Why can't you truly care for your own biological daughter? When the Young Miss is wronged by your repeated excuses of 'it's for your own good,' doesn't she feel aggrieved? Doesn't her heart break?"

Wenqiu's nose stung as she spoke. Remembering the old scars covering Jiang Lingyao's body, hot tears suddenly spilled from her eyes. "If you truly had the Young Miss's best interests at heart, you should listen to what she actually wants, and stand up to support her yourself!"

Jiang Lingyao no longer felt much emotion toward Madam Jiang, but hearing Wenqiu's fierce defense warmed her heart, stirring an unexpected impulse to shed tears.

She stepped forward to pull Wenqiu behind her, saying with a stern expression, "Mother, Wenqiu is young and ignorant; I will take her back first."

Though she brushed off Wenqiu as ignorant with her words, her tone was dripping with protectiveness, forming a stark contrast to her earlier indifference toward Madam Jiang.

Madam Jiang collapsed in tears into the arms of her maidservants. Hearing the maids' startled cries, Jiang Lingyao paused in her tracks, but she did not turn back.

All the love and hatred in this world are born from desire. Since she no longer expected anything from Madam Jiang, she naturally held neither love nor hatred for her anymore.

In less than two and a half months, she would leave far away.

Jiang Lingyao raised her head. Golden twilight was blooming across the horizon, casting its glow upon the tiled roofs and eaves, breeding a profound desolation. Yet, she walked steadily toward her grandmother's quarters.

"Oh my, it's getting dark. Quickly bring the evening meal in, and do not let my Mingzhu go hungry."

As soon as the Old Lady saw Jiang Lingyao enter, she immediately instructed the maids to serve dinner, a radiant smile on her face.

Jiang Lingyao could not help quickening her pace, pressing her lips together with a smile. "Grandmother, I am indeed very hungry."

The Old Lady loved nothing more than hearing her say she was hungry, and upon hearing this, she urged eagerly, "Hurry up with the food!"

She pulled Jiang Lingyao's hand. "Eat more, just look at you, how thin you've become."

Jiang Lingyao smiled and nodded, and the gloom brought by Madam Jiang instantly vanished.

"Oh, that's right." The Old Lady smiled, asking with a trace of anticipation, "If possible, I will entrust someone to send a post to the Chancellor's estate in the next few days, asking Madam Xie to bridge the gap and finalize your marriage with Pei Xingzhi's boy sooner."

Jiang Lingyao paused. Under the Old Lady's expectant gaze, she pressed her lips together and instinctively looked away.