The Eldest Young Master’s Gentle Wife (15)
Jiang Zhe returned to his courtyard and habitually headed to the study.
He sat on the chair, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyebrows.
Suddenly, there was a knock on door.
Jiang Zhe wore his glasses again: “Come in.”
Li Cai Wei walked in with a bowl of soup, “I heard the servants saying that you're back. I imagine you've been busy these days. I was afraid that you couldn't hold on, so I stewed some ginseng bamboo chicken stew early this morning to boost your energy and help you sleep at night."
While talking, Li Cai Wei scooped him a small bowl, “Drink a little.”
Jiang Zhe eyes turned warm, holding the bowl with one hand, drinking it with big gulps.
Li Cai Wei scooped him another bowl. Drinking the two bowls of soup, Jiang Zhe’s empty stomach was filled, and even the cold air around his body dispersed.
Li Cai Wei: “I'll give you a forehead massage, you can take a short nap.”
Jiang Zhe didn't respond.
His forehead was gently and slowly massaged by a pair of cool fingers, greatly relieving fatigue.
After a while, Jiang Zhe began to feel drowsy.
Li Cai Wei’s hands kept moving, until she determined shortly that the man had fallen asleep, before taking a blanket from the inner room and draped it over him. Inadvertently, she caught a glimpse of the eyebags under his eyes, and thought that he probably did not have a good rest for several days.
Li Cai Wei looked lonely. She stretched out her fingers in front of the man's face, her fingers tracing his features in the air, whispering: “Jiang Zhe, what exactly are you doing?”
Jiang Zhe slept very well. When he woke up, it was already around four in the afternoon.
He took off the blanket on his body, folding and placing it back into the room and walked out of the study.
Shui Gen was standing guard outside the door, saw him and quickly greeted him.
Jiang Zhe looked at the scratches on his face, his brows were slightly wrinkled, “Concubine Shu scratched you?”
Shui Gen stammered, not saying yes, but also not saying no.
Jiang Zhe: “Is she still causing trouble?”
Shui Gen nodded.
Shui Gen: “Halfway, Concubine Shu brought Second Young Master and the Eldest Miss over a few times, but you were sleeping, so I blocked them.”
Jiang Zhe growled, killing intent filling his words: “Concubine Shu didn't even put me in her eyes, yet she listened to you.”
Shui Gen: “Cough…”
Shui Gen scratched his head, “Alright, I can't hide anything from Eldest Young Master indeed.”
Shui Gen: “Old Madam's side Zhang Ma came.”
Jiang Zhe: "Did Mother send any message along?”
Shui Gen wondered: “No, she didn't. Zhang Ma only came to drive Concubine Shu away."
Jiang Zhe looked towards Mother Jiang's courtyard, his eyes darkened. This was really too strange.
After more than half a year of interaction, Jiang Zhe did not doubt the deep love Mother Jiang had for her son, but now that he was being "bullied", Mother Jiang only let people chase the culprits away.
This was really abnormal.
There was also Father Jiang's attitude. Rather than saying Father Jiang dotes on Concubine Shu, it was more like raising a person out of boredom. He gave her the appropriate wealth and glory, but no love or affection.
And Concubine Shu's life was even more intriguing.
She was only a concubine, yet she dared to mock him, the eldest son, in front of Father Jiang's face. Facing Mother Jiang, not to mention the many times she didn't pay respects to her, she would even bad-mouth her behind her back, everything done as long as Concubine Shu felt great.
This Jiang family seemed to have something he was unaware of.
Jiang Zhe rubbed the jade thumb ring on his hand, carefully recalling the various contradictions in his past interactions.
Forget it, once Father Jiang comes back, he will definitely clarify the situation.
He didn't want to be doing things at the frontline while someone behind desperately drags on his leg.
In the days that followed, Jiang Zhe deeply realized what it means to be “A tree without a bark will undoubtedly die; a man without shame is undefeatable under the heavens.”
Jiang Zhe also realised for the first time that when Concubine Shu flared up, others couldn't get close to her.
Father Jiang went out, Jiang Zhe had to deal with the shop matters, Mother Jiang was weak and unexpectedly undisciplined, Li Cai Wei didn't wield any power, there was really no one in this family that could control her.
Therefore, Concubine Shu's behaviour only intensified, making a fuss during every meal, occasionally still attending some "dim sum" "afternoon tea" whatnots.
Because Jiang Zhe had a weak personality, he was also pestered by her to no end. In order to protect the innocent Li Cai Wei from this disaster, Jiang Zhe would always send her to Li Ming to stay for a short while under the guise of visiting her younger brother.
Concubine Shu saw all his actions, but she only thought that Jiang Zhe had given up, and was afraid of her, making her kick up a bigger fuss every day.
Jiang Zhe listened coldly to the servant's complaints, and then had them withdraw.
He asked Shui Gen: “What were the Second Young Master and Eldest Miss's reactions?”
Shui Gen: “Second Young Master and Eldest Miss also have no way to deal with Concubine Shu. They hide in the house every day, avoiding people.”
Jiang Zhe: “Is that so?”
Shui Gen: “Yes.”
Jiang Zhe quirked his lips up, the meaning of his smile unknown, but the smile didn't reach the bottom of his eyes.
Jiang Zhe: “If she wants to make trouble, then let her. Wait till Father comes back to settle everything.”
Shui Gen: “Yes.”
One and a half months later, Father Jiang finally came back, but his state wasn't very good. His beard was unkempt and his eyes were bloodshot.
Jiang Zhe could also guess why. The business scene was like a battlefield, it really wasn't a joke. Father Jiang had to deal with so many shops all over the place, with time being so tight, he probably didn't have any proper rest.
Jiang Zhe understood him, originally wanting to let him rest for a night before talking about Concubine Shu's matters.
But while he could wait, someone couldn't.
When Concubine Shu got the news, she ran over fiercely. “Old Master, this time you must give me an explanation.”
Father Jiang frowned. “If there's anything, let's talk tomorrow.”
Concubine Shu said: “No, Old Master must give me an explanation today.”
Mother Jiang and Jiang Zhe, who rushed over after hearing the news, couldn’t maintain their faces.
Jiang Zhe helped Mother Jiang in, his entire face cold. Then, in front of everyone, he said to Shui Gen: “Go invite Eldest Missy and Second Young Master over. Also, invite the Young Mistress back. Concubine Shu is right, we should have an explanation today.”
Father Jiang's wanted to speak, but didn't. Concubine Shu was proud of herself.
Half an hour later, everyone had gathered.
Jiang Zhe opened his mouth: “Father, this son has something he's unclear about. I want to ask you today.”
Father Jiang: “Go ahead.”
Jiang Zhe: “This son wants to ask you if you have owed Concubine Shu anything, or maybe she has something on you, for her to be a tyrant so out of her place in the Jiang family, not putting anyone in her eyes, extremely domineering.”
Concubine Shu's face suddenly changed, and was about to start scolding again. Jiang Zhe looked coldly at her, “I'm currently asking my dad right now, since when was it appropriate for a concubine to interrupt.”
Concubine Shu: “Jiang Zhe, no matter how you look at it, I am your elder. Is this the attitude you have towards your elders?”
Jiang Zhe: “I don’t have such an elder who has no dignity.”
Concubine Shu: “You…”
Father Jiang slammed the table suddenly and angered: “Enough.” Pointing at Concubine Shu, he shot out: “You, shut up.”
Concubine Shu was still unwilling, but remained silent in the end.
Jiang Zhe: “Dad, please tell me.”
Mother Jiang’s hand holding onto the armrest trembled slightly. Father Jiang closed his eyes in silence. After a long while, he sighed. “It’s all a debt.”
Concubine Shu's body shook, her face turning ugly.
Father Jiang: “I don’t have any weaknesses in Concubine Shu's hands, but I do owe her. Because"
Father Jiang: “Her parents died because of me.”
Mother Jiang sighed, and Concubine Shu also bowed her head.
Li Cai Wei, on the other hand, had other thoughts.
Jiang Zhe's hand rubbing his jade thumb ring paused. He never imagined that this would be the reason.
With this, it was explainable why Concubine Shu was so wild, but Father and Mother Jiang could tolerate it.
Jiang Zhe said in a low voice: “Can dad tell the whole story?”
Father Jiang: “Dad started this family from scratch. The so called "of a million things, the starting is the hardest", with no one to support dad, dad could only run the business by himself. Single-handedly going up the mountain to gather the raw materials, single-handedly fumbling to dye cloth, and single-handedly went to sell the cloth. After I met your mother, she didn't despise that I was poor, and suffered with me. Fortunately, the heavens don't punish hardworking people. Dad's business finally improved. Unfortunately, fortune doesn't come in pairs, and misfortunes don't come alone. While dad was delivering the goods to a customer, I met bandits. My life was on the line, but dad was saved. The people who saved me were Concubine Shu's parents.”
Recalling the past, Father Jiang had momentarily lost himself in the moment: “Dad is grateful to them, and promised to repay them with silver money afterwards. However, that night, the bandits found us. In order to protect me, they lost their lives under the bandit's knife. With the death of my benefactor, dad could only repay the kindness with Concubine Shu."
Jiang Zhe’s eyes flashed and asked: “And then?”
Father Jiang: “Then, Concubine Shu was homeless, so dad took her in. Dad originally wanted to acknowledge her as my sworn sister, and take care of her. After she married, dad prepared a rich dowry for her to stand firm in her husband's house. If she had any grievances after marriage, dad was willing to stick up for her, taking over the responsibility of the Shu family's parents."
Jiang Zhe coldly rebutted: "But now, she has become your concubine."
Father Jiang's face was a bit complex, and said at a loss: “Yes. Initially, I had already discussed with the groom's side and confirmed a day. However, in my happiness, I got drunk, and… and did something wrong.”
Jiang Zhe: ……………
Jiang Zhe: “If I could be bold enough to ask, that wine was brought by Concubine Shu, and also Concubine Shu who encouraged dad to drink it? Let me think. The excuse was that she was going to marry out, and cannot often meet in the future, so she wanted to drink or something similar, as a farewell. Or maybe she brought up her deceased parents, dad must have felt too ashamed to refuse, right.”
Father Jiang, Mother Jiang, and Concubine Shu's faces changed dramatically.
Concubine Shu couldn’t supress her anger: “Jiang Zhe, what rubbish are you talking about?”
Jiang Zhe pretended not to hear her, continuing, “But I have one thing I don't understand. At that time, dad and mom should be living together right? Why was Concubine Shu, a single lady, going to find dad in the middle of the night to drink, yet mom wasn't there?"
Mother Jiang twisted her eyebrows and thought about it, "It seems like that night, I was very tired, and fell asleep early."
Jiang Zhe's lens flashed, covering the light in his eyes, “Oh, such a coincidence. Concubine Shu missed dad, looked for dad to drink, and dad got drunk. Mom was just nice tired, and went to sleep early. The next day, dad woke up and found out that he had done something wrong.”
Jiang Zhe's voice was dull, as if he was talking about a matter unrelated to him, even like it was a boring story. However, Concubine Shu who was listening was thunderstruck, her whole body freezing cold.
On the other hand, Mother Jiang's body tremble, her eyes turning fiercely red, shedding two lines of clear tears, but she could only choke. Li Cai Wei quickly comforted her, lest her mother-in-law fell ill from crying.
Father Jiang looked at Concubine Shu in disbelief, staring at her until the other was soaked in sweat, stuttering: “Old, Old Master, listen to me, that's not what happened?”
Jiang Zhe: “Then, why don't you tell us what happened?” ”
Concubine Shu: “I, I, I…”
Concubine Shu “I” for half a day, but couldn't say anything.
Facing Father Jiang's disappointed eyes, she suddenly screamed, seemingly crazy, she pointed to Father Jiang, saying: “This is what you owe me. If it wasn't for you, my father and mother would not have died.”
Jiang Zhe adjusted his glasses frame: “Towards the Shu family's esteemed parents, I feel very sorry, but you know, this is not my dad's fault, he is also a victim.”
Concubine Shu: “What do you know? If it wasn't for Jiang Zheng Hua, if my parents didn't meet him, they wouldn't have saved him and attracted the revenge of the bandits. My parents wouldn't have died, this entire situation is his fault, he killed my parents.”
Jiang Zhe: “So you hate my dad, is that right?”
Concubine Shu: “Yes, I hate him.”
Jiang Zhe: “If so, then why don’t you just kill him? After he brought you home, you had many opportunities, didn't you?"
Father Jiang/Mother Jiang: "Zhe'er……"
Li Cai Wei: "Jiang Zhe………"
Others looked at him strangely.
Jiang Zhe: “If you hate him so much, why did you hatch a plan to give yourself to him? To sleep with a man you hate, don't you feel disgusted?”
Jiang Zhe: “Even so, you couldn't even be his wife, only a concubine. Don't you feel wronged?"
Jiang Zhe: “You have such a big hatred in your heart, why are you still willing to give birth to children for him, and feel aggrieved because your children can't enter his line of sight? Because he doesn’t love you, doesn’t care about you, to lose control of your emotions and fly into a rage?”
Jiang Zhe asked three continuous questions, forcing Concubine Shu to retreat.
At the end, he sighed: “Actually, you know in your heart that the death of your parents cannot be pinned on my dad. But he does have some responsibility, so he will compensate you as much as possible. If you successfully married out back then, he would definitely treat you as his own sister. With his support, you could secure a happy life in your husband's house. More importantly, you will be a proper wife. But you gave it up, and chose another path, a path full of ups and downs."
Jiang Zhe: "Why? Because you fell in love with this man? Or did your discerning eye see through this man's enormous potential? Or maybe it was both. Can you tell me, Concubine Shu, I am really curious.”
Concubine Shu dazedly looked at pure, compelling youth opposite her, suddenly feeling a sense of strange familiarity.
Once upon a time, she also saw this confident look on another man’s body, but that man’s eyes didn't see her.
There was pindrop silence in the hall. The people present all bowed their heads and tried to reduce their presence.
Jiang Chen, Jiang Yu, however, was wide-eyed, looking at their mother incredulously.
Father Jiang's face drooped, his entire person wilting.
Li Cai Wei was busy comforting Mother Jiang, who was crying nonstop.
Jiang Zhe was the calmest, sitting on a chair. He even had the mood to drink a cup of tea, wetting his throat.
Under such calm eyes, Concubine Shu only felt that she was stripped of all her clothes walking on the street, utterly humiliating, but hatefully, she couldn't refute.
Jiang Zhe put down the teacup and looked at her: “Concubine Shu, your parents died because of my dad, this is what my dad owes you. Even if you killed him, and there is nothing to blame. But” Jiang Zhe's face sank fiercely “Killing someone isn't a big deal. At the most, one could be a good man 18 years later. But you! Because of your calculations, you deeply buried an unmovable thorn between my dad and my mom, one touch would cause even the hardest heart to hurt, causing my mother to suffer from depression and its symptoms. Under many years of suffering such pain, she is already physically and mentally exhausted. Over the years, you have been taking advantage of this chip, enjoying the fortunes and power in the Jiang family, causing my dad and mom unspeakable pain.”
Jiang Zhe: “Concubine Shu, how bad can a person be, to do such a disgusting deed.”
Jiang Zhe: “You ask yourself honestly, do you my dad for dragging your parents down, or do you use this as an excuse, to let my dad and mom give in step by step, and then satisfy your own personal desires.”
Concubine Shu, Concubine Shu had already turned speechless under the interrogation.
Having hidden it for some many years, the day had come, for someone to heartlessly tear down her cover. It was not only painful, but also hard to bear.
Jiang Zhe waited for a while, and suddenly said: “Get a divorce.”
The moment this statement came out, the whole hall was silent.
Jiang Zhe: “Two people’s lives. Concubine Shu, you plotted against my dad in front of my mother, torturing my mother's heart for many years before and after, this can be considered as repaying you a life. Today’s divorce, I will give in. The existing family's asset, I will only take half. The rest will be given to Jiang Chen, this can be considered as repaying you another life, what do you think?”
Father Jiang, Mother Jiang was shocked: “Zhe'er…”
Jiang Zhe looked directly at Concubine Shu: “You are right, the amount I 'wasted' should be borne by me. Today, I only have half. According to the original amount of the family's assets, Jiang Chen should also be able to get half. Doing as such, are you satisfied?"
Concubine Shu: "You…"
Jiang Zhe: "Shui Gen, bring a pen and paper."
Shui Gen was flustered and looked towards Father Jiang for help. Father Jiang, however, smiled relieved, "Listen to Zhe'er, go."
——————–
TN: Longest chapter ever. Well, that's over now. THAT PLOT TWIST THOUGH and now maybe we feel a bit more for Concubine Shu? I still don’t like her though. To me, loving someone isn’t a good reason for wrecking the family of the man you love and causing him unhappiness.