Chapter 4: Red Lotus knocked her head against the floor with a thud, weeping bitterly.

Red Lotus’s face had gone pale, pressed tightly against the wall, overwhelmed with terror.

Jiang Nian continued, “She deliberately had Young Master Guo block me, using the chance to cause a scene. While ruining my reputation, the marriage between Second Sister and the Guo family would also be ruined. Am I not right?”

Red Lotus’s face was ashen, almost paper-white. “Miss... you... you know everything...”

Qing’er was skilled at reading the situation and stepped forward at just the right moment. With a fierce glare, she slapped Red Lotus across the face and sternly commanded, “Enough nonsense! The miss has spared you out of our long-standing relationship. Now, explain everything from start to finish!”

Red Lotus seemed to be awakened by the slap, scrambling and crawling to kneel before Jiang Nian.

“Miss! Miss, please spare me! I was threatened by Second Madam, but I never intended to harm you!”

“Second Madam...” Jiang Nian sneered, her eyes sharp as she looked at Red Lotus. “Continue.”

Red Lotus bowed her head repeatedly, tears streaming down her face.

“A few days before the Old Madam’s birthday banquet, Second Madam threatened me with my brother’s life, forcing me to create an opportunity for Young Master Guo to block Third Miss. I refused, wanting to tell you the truth and beg you to save my brother.”

“But then Granny Li suddenly came to me, asking if I had something on my mind. I have only one brother and am closest to Granny Li besides that. She knew I was going to find you and stopped me.”

Jiang Nian narrowed her eyes. “Granny Li stopped you to make you agree to Second Madam’s demands?”

Red Lotus’s face darkened. “Yes... she said if you found out, you would never trust me again and would dismiss me without a future. My brother would be doomed!”

“I was frightened by her words and wavered. Then Granny Li said Second Madam was just trying to break off the marriage with the Guo family, and you would have the chance to clear your name later, so your reputation wouldn’t be harmed and there’d be no other losses.”

“She also said that Second Madam had taken advantage of the Old Madam’s favoritism for years and often caused trouble like this—it was just a small quarrel.”

Red Lotus’s voice grew lower, filled with regret. She shouldn’t have trusted Granny Li!

“I heeded Granny Li’s advice and agreed to lead you to the rock garden for Second Madam, but I never expected Second Madam to cause such a scene at the banquet. The entire city is gossiping about you! I was terrified, afraid the masters would find out I was involved.”

“And then?”

Jiang Nian asked coldly.

“Then...” Red Lotus swallowed hard and hesitated before speaking, “Second Madam made me choose...”

“Choose?”

Red Lotus’s voice trembled. “Second Madam gave me a pouch of elephant grass powder, telling me to spook the horses on the way to the capital to create the illusion of your accidental death. Then I could take the silver and fake my death to escape... or she would kill me.”

Jiang Nian squinted; her suspicions were confirmed—Second Madam was behind the plan.

But who was directing Second Madam?

Could it be Father’s concubine, Qiao, whom Second Madam had always courted?

Hmph... that didn’t matter. She would settle accounts with Qiao when she returned.

Before going to the capital, she would send Second Madam on her way!

Seeing Jiang Nian silent, Red Lotus thought she didn’t believe her and hurriedly said, “Miss, I’m telling the truth! You can bring Granny Li here for a confrontation!”

Jiang Nian stared coldly at Red Lotus. “If you dare confront, your words should be true. But Granny Li is already dead—are you sure you want to find her?”

Red Lotus gasped sharply, too frightened to speak. “Make sure she’s well guarded.”

Jiang Nian commanded and then turned away, leaving the servant’s quarters.

...

Second Sister Jiang Li was still under house arrest after causing a scene at the birthday banquet.

Second Madam entered with her face covered, startling her. “Mother, your face?”

“Your eldest uncle actually indulged that little wretch Jiang Nian, forcing me to apologize to the Chen family!”

She had never suffered such a loss at the Old Madam’s hands before!

But today, Qing’er had slapped her hard four times.

“Jiang Nian?” Jiang Li cursed angrily and quickly ordered a maid to fetch an ice pack. “I heard someone poisoned the Chen family?”

Second Madam’s eyes flickered. “Yes, there was poison, but that little wretch Jiang Nian stopped it. Usually, no one would expect Jiang Nian to have such ability. She caught Granny Li right on the spot and timed it perfectly so we could catch her red-handed!”

Jiang Li frowned. “What a pity. If the Chen family had died, how many troubles would have been avoided? Eldest uncle values the Chen mother and daughter so much, why bring them back?”

Eldest uncle’s concubine in the capital, Qiao, would surely be displeased.

Second Madam sneered. “Hmph, leaving aside the Chen family, your eldest uncle wouldn’t have much affection for Jiang Nian, who grew up outside the family. Bringing her to the capital must serve some other purpose.”

Jiang Li, jealous of Jiang Nian’s face and the rumored usefulness she had for the Jiang family, frowned in displeasure. “What purpose?”

Second Madam’s brows knitted deeper; she did not want to say more. “I don’t know, but Qiao certainly won’t like it.”

“So if the Chen family goes to the capital, could Qiao really be subordinated to them?”

Second Madam lowered her voice but couldn’t hide her schadenfreude. “Your grandmother once said that as long as Qiao bore a legitimate son, she would be promoted to the principal wife, and the Chen family reduced to concubines. But Qiao has been married into the Jiang family for years and only has two daughters.”

“Your grandmother was deeply disappointed, and the matter was dropped. Later, she made her niece a concubine for her son, but she only bore daughters as well. The Jiang family must have some curse, unable to produce sons.”

The Old Madam herself gave birth to two sons, but neither daughter-in-law bore sons. Even the concubines only had daughters. Second Madam had once suspected the problem lay with the Jiang men.

Jiang Li proudly said, “Mother gave birth to a son, didn’t she?”

Second Madam’s expression flickered with unease for a moment. “Of course. Your brother is now the only grandson of the Jiang family. Your grandmother treasures him like a treasure. Otherwise, why would she agree to let the second branch go to the capital this time?”

Jiang Li muttered, “Everyone says the youngest son is favored, but grandmother dislikes father the most.”

Second Madam’s gaze turned cold. “Yes, if it weren’t for the large dowry I brought, which gave your grandmother a good life, we might not be better off than the Chen family.”

But the Old Madam always held a grudge against Second Madam’s lowly merchant background, only truly proud of her two years ago when she finally gave birth to a son.

Yet thinking of her son’s appearance, a trace of irritation flashed in Second Madam’s eyes.

The next morning, Jiang Nian heard that her little sister had fallen ill again.

She hurried over to find her mother holding the fainted little sister, Jiang Xin, crying uncontrollably.

“Mother!”