Chapter Eleven: Beast! Worse Than a Beast!
Chen Shi listened with a chill running down her spine, staring at Madame Jiang in disbelief.
The old lady’s greatest wish was to have a grandson!
But could she really be so heartless and cruel as to go this far?
Jiang Nian’s voice was soft yet pointed. “Mother, do you remember when Xin’er’s illness first began?”
Some truths become clear once the veil is lifted.
Xin’er’s first episode happened after she spent a night sleeping in the old lady’s room.
Chen Shi looked at Madame Jiang, her face growing terrifyingly grim. “How could you... do such a thing?”
Such a frail child, refusing food and drink during her episodes, eyes bulging from pain, her small body curled up in helpless misery...
Chen Shi broke down, crying out, “Monster! Worse than a beast!”
“Enough!” Madame Jiang’s forehead bulged with veins, her entire being like a piece of smoldering coal. “If you dare say another word...”
Jiang Nian cut her off. “When one’s heart aches as if it might shatter, losing reason is inevitable. Xin’er is so young, she can’t control herself, which is why she screams and lashes out. This isn’t a heart disease! Grandmother only wanted to use dark arts, offering Xin’er in the temple as a sacred child to pray for offspring!”
Madame Jiang choked on her own saliva.
Jiang Ping quickly steadied her. “Nian’er, don’t say any more! How could your grandmother do such a thing?”
“Jiang Ping!” Chen Shi shouted.
After all these years of marriage, she had suffered her share of grievances.
When she first married in, she had been diligent and respectful, never daring to relax, but over time she realized that maintaining respect for Madame Jiang was nearly impossible.
The old woman’s grip on her son was fiercely controlling, and she treated her daughter-in-law as less than human.
“Jiang Ping, you’re like a deformed child in her hands, so you must be crazy! You and your mother are both mad!”
Jiang Ping’s face turned pale and blue from her words.
Madame Jiang pointed at Chen Shi, cursing, “You unworthy woman! You and your daughter slander my name without proof!”
“Whether my reputation is slandered or not, let Master Yingjue come and examine Xin’er, and everything will be clear! Father, what do you say?” Jiang Nian did not want to argue further with Madame Jiang, who was stubborn and never admitted fault, always convinced others were wrong, never herself.
Jiang Ping glanced at the sullen Wei Lanzhou and gritted his teeth. “Bring Master Yingjue in.”
---
Madam Wei and Master Yingjue had been waiting outside for some time. Upon being called in, they exchanged puzzled looks at those present.
Madam Wei looked at her husband; Wei Lanzhou shook his head slightly.
Chen Shi’s foremost concern was her daughter’s health. She no longer glanced at Jiang Ping or Madame Jiang, instead stepping forward to greet Master Yingjue. “My youngest daughter recently suffered an episode and is too exhausted to move. Please, Master Yingjue, come with me.”
“Yueyue!” Jiang Ping stepped forward, trying to stop Chen Shi, but she dodged him like avoiding a plague.
“If you want to stop me, you’ll have to kill me first. Otherwise, I won’t listen to you!” Chen Shi’s voice was cold, granting Jiang Ping no chance, and she strode away with Master Yingjue.
Naturally, Jiang Nian followed.
She exchanged a glance with Madam Wei, who nodded.
The couple sat motionless in the council chamber, clearly waiting for the outcome.
---
Xin’er’s episode this time had exhausted her to the point of unconsciousness.
Jiang Nian explained the matter of the silver needle to Master Yingjue, who quickly located the needle lodged near Xin’er’s heart.
Chen Shi covered her mouth in despair as Master Yingjue withdrew the needle. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
She could hardly imagine the suffering and torment her daughter had endured all these years.
Master Yingjue, a revered monk, found the situation difficult to describe and sighed deeply.
“It seems the old lady is quite experienced. The silver needle was inserted into an acupuncture point, not fatal, and could be removed at any time to avoid detection when necessary.”
Chen Shi’s face turned pale, pondering how Madame Jiang could be so ‘experienced’ when a loud banging came at the door.
Nanny Lin hurried in. “Madam, the old lady... she’s instructed Master Jiang to write a divorce letter—she wants to send you away...”
Upon hearing this, Master Yingjue rose to leave. “Miss Jiang, the needle has been removed. Take good care of her; her body will recover naturally. I will go to the council chamber to speak with Lord Wei.”
“Thank you, Master Yingjue, for saving my daughter.”
“Amitabha, may the blessings be with you.”
Once Master Yingjue had left, Nanny Lin anxiously asked, “Madam, what shall we do now?”
Chen Shi, unusually calm, had already made up her mind. “I never wanted to stay in the Jiang household anyway. If they let me go, that would be best. My only worry is for Nian’er and Xin’er.”
They were the Jiang family’s daughters. If Chen Shi was cast aside, she could not take her two daughters with her.
---
Not to mention her dowry and bridal gifts — she wouldn’t be able to take those either.
Jiang Nian said, “Let’s put aside the sisters for now. Mother is indeed leaving the Jiang family, but not because she was divorced.”
Chen Shi looked up. “You mean a separation?”
“With Lord Wei and Madam Wei present, does grandmother still have the power to control you?”
“You deliberately kept Lord Wei and Madam Wei here?” Chen Shi realized belatedly that if not for this, how else could an outsider like Lord Wei linger in someone else’s home to overhear such scandals?
“Mother insists on a separation and will take my younger sister with her. Otherwise, she’ll go to the capital to file a complaint. Father will have no choice but to agree.”
“And what about you?”
“I’m staying in the Jiang family.”
The vendetta was not yet avenged; how could she leave?
“I’ve arranged with Madam Wei. They will soon head to the capital. Mother and younger sister will go with the Wei family, and we will meet in the capital.”
“You’ll stay with them alone? Nian’er, I don’t feel at ease.”
Jiang Nian whispered, “I heard from Second Aunt that Father plans to send me into the palace.”
She could only blame Second Madam for the knowledge she had from a past life — no proof, no argument.
Chen Shi was shocked, then enraged. “No wonder he said he’d take us back to the capital. So that’s his plan!”
“Mother, listen to me. If Father has such intentions, he will never let me leave the Jiang family. You take the little one back to the Chen home; I’ll find another way.”
Chen Shi bit her lip. “It can only be this way.”
Just as mother and daughter finished speaking, a noise came from outside.
They looked toward the door to see Jiang Ping standing there, frowning so deeply it seemed he could crush a fly, his voice heavy with frustration and helplessness as he called, “Yueyue.”
Chen Shi bristled like a hedgehog on guard. “What do you want?!”
Seeing her stance, Jiang Ping’s expression darkened. “Yueyue, let’s talk.”
Chen Shi’s heart was filled with disgust, yet she knew some things must be clarified to prevent further entanglement.
She rose and followed Jiang Ping out, entering the adjacent room.