The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort (Chapters 1- 203)

Chapter 140 : The Xia Family in Chaos

Translated by : Shl

Edited by : Anks & Ely

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Trigger Warning: domestic violence.

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After the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet, everything seemed to return to a state of tranquility. However, on that day, Jiang Su Su did not return in Yao-shi's carriage, only saying that some noble family's son had offered her his carriage and was determined to send Jiang Su Su back to Jiang fu. For whatever reason, Jiang Su Su had agreed. Only, what people were mostly talking about was the two madams of the Xia family.

In the carriage on the way back to Jiang fu, after Yao-shi learned about the heart of the matter from Zhao Feizhou, she thanked Jiang Ruan once again. Yet, there was still a note of bafflement in her voice as she asked, "Where did those two maidservants go?"

Until the very end, neither Yu Ya's personal maidservant nor the maidservant who had turned informant could be found anywhere. To this Jiang Ruan replied, "The informant was my person. As for the personal maidservant of Second Madame Xia, she has been sent to the rural residence, and arrangements will be made to move her out of the capital within a few days."

Yao-shi nodded and felt more at peace. However, Zhao Yulong was not entirely convinced. Jiang Ruan had always done things neatly and efficiently, and would never leave any loose ends which could be used against her. To keep this maidservant of Yu Ya's alive would be too much of a lurking threat. Since Jiang Ruan was so ruthless how could she so easily keep this possible menace close by? However, her words had always consisted of half-truths and ambiguity, and Zhao Yulong did not have any proof. Thus, all he could do was to make a note to himself to consider this matter further later.

It seemed as though Jiang Quan had not yet returned by the time they reached the fu. However, all the womenfolk looked at Jiang Ruan with different eyes. An old servant who was a little more courageous than the others even pulled Lu Zhu to one side to ask, softly, "Eldest Miss Xia is really the daughter of Second Master Xia?"

Lu Zhu answered with a few perfunctory words before returning to Ruan Ju with Jiang Ruan. Once there, she closed the door firmly. Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi came forth to greet them, and Lian Qiao, in her usual straightforward manner, reported on everything at once. "Miss, the news of the scandal within the Xia family has now spread to every corner of the capital. Master also knows of it. He encountered Second Miss at the gate when she returned to the fu, and he had only spoken a few words before they started to argue. Second Miss is right now in her courtyard reflecting on her errors, and Master left the fu in a rage."

Jiang Ruan raised her eyebrows. At present, with such a big hullabaloo in the Xia family, it was inevitable that Jiang fu would also be closely watched by the common people as they were related by marriage. What's more, Jiang Su Su, for some reason as yet unknown, had returned home in a carriage belonging to the young scion of some wealthy family. Wasn't that simply handing the people additional fodder for gossip? The people would say that this propensity for ill behaviour ran deep in the bones of the Xia family. In doing this, Jiang Su Su was ensuring that Jiang fu would be tossed into the fire together with her. Moreover, although Jiang fu no longer glittered as brightly as it had in the past, how could they stand people talking about and poking fun at them? Although Jiang Quan loved Jiang Su Su dearly, his anger was an inevitable outcome.

Bai Zhi said, "Nowadays, the Xia family can be said to have blackened its name, and I'm afraid Eldest Miss Xia will have her name expunged from the list of imperial concubine candidates."