Chapter 121: The Disappearance of Lady Jiang

Page 1 of 3

Some people caught sight of Young Master Liang and the others looking disheveled and short of breath. Their faces were as though they had seen a ghost, and one of them asked curiously, “Hey, where have you been? What took you so long?”

“Weren’t you going to liven up the bridal chamber?”

“Liven up the bridal chamber? We just came from there, and we didn’t see you.”

“We took the wrong road. Ah, it’s getting late, so we’ll take our leave first.”

“Yes, yes, we’ll be going. Let’s get together again another day.”

……

The group hurriedly bade their farewells. Having witnessed such a disgraceful scandal at the Marquis’s residence, naturally they could not leave quickly enough.

Although the others also noticed that something seemed amiss with their expressions, it was indeed late, so they dispersed as well, each returning to his own home.

Shi Shaohua knew that Shen Zhifeng had come to see Madam Jiang today. To avoid him, he had not gone to the front courtyard for the wedding feast, but had instead enjoyed a small cup of wine alone in his own courtyard.

Jiang Miaodan had not seen him all day and, feeling curious, took advantage of the fact that men and women were not being strictly kept apart today to come over and have a look.

“Young Master Shi, today is my brother’s wedding day. Why didn’t you go join in the festivities?”

“Ah, so it is Miss Jiang.”

Shi Shaohua was greatly surprised that Jiang Miaodan had come to seek him out, but he quickly composed himself. He immediately put on a tender, lingering gaze, then lowered his head with a bitter smile, as though afraid of offending the beauty before him.

“The imperial examinations are fast approaching. I spent the entire day studying. I envy Brother Jiang for being able to marry the woman he loves, yet I do not know whether I shall ever be so fortunate. I was lost in thought and came here alone…… I have made a spectacle of myself before you, Miss Jiang.”

His words seemed merely an expression of self-pity, yet for some reason, when they came from his lips, they sounded as though he were hinting that Jiang Miaodan herself was the woman he loved.

Thinking this, Jiang Miaodan shyly asked, “Then what sort of woman would Young Master Shi like?”

Shi Shaohua stared blankly at Jiang Miaodan for a moment before raising an incomparably gentle smile.

“If I could marry a woman like you, Miss Miaodan, it would be the blessing of three lifetimes. I shall do my utmost.”

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

That was rather too direct. For a moment, Jiang Miaodan did not know how to respond and could only say, “Then I wish you success in achieving your heart’s desire.”

With that, she ran back to her boudoir.

The man she had spent the most time with throughout her life was her elder brother, Jiang Lin. In the future, she too wished to find a husband as gentle and refined, as graceful and distinguished, as her brother. Yet her appearance was ordinary, and with the Marquis’s household already in decline, she had never encountered a man who showed her any favor.

Shi Shaohua happened to be a refined young gentleman as well. He was handsome and tall, and even her mother often praised his good nature. Such a man had actually developed feelings for her in secret.

Jiang Miaodan sighed, unable to suppress the regret in her heart. She murmured to herself, “If only his family background were a little better.”

A poor scholar from a humble family was, in the end, still unworthy of the legitimate daughter of a marquis.

If Shi Shaohua could place first in the imperial examinations and become the top scholar, Jiang Miaodan decided, she would give him a chance to pursue her.

What she did not know was that she would never live to see that day.

Had Madam Jiang known that Jiang Miaodan had conceived such thoughts, she would surely have regretted bringing Shi Shaohua into the household. But at that moment, her mind was in utter turmoil, and she could not spare any thought for anything else.

“What are we to do, my lord? If word of this spreads everywhere, I fear I can do nothing but hang myself in this room with a strip of white silk.” Madam Jiang wept as she spoke, her heart filled with regret and hatred.

Shen Zhifeng drew ragged breaths and irritably tightened his grip around the teacup in his hand. He wanted to take a sip to calm himself, but in the next instant, he crushed the cup to pieces.

The sound of the cup shattering made Madam Jiang tremble all over. She stared blankly at Shen Zhifeng’s bleeding palm, and her sobs gradually ceased.

Shen Zhifeng’s expression darkened. “They reeked strongly of wine. When the time comes, we’ll say they were drunk and mistook what they saw.”

“But……” Madam Jiang blamed Shen Zhifeng in her heart, yet seeing him in such a state, she did not dare reveal it. “There were five or six of them. I fear the news will spread everywhere within the next few days.”

Her voice still carried a faint sob as she spoke.

How had she become so bewitched that she had insisted on meeting Shen Zhifeng today? If they had merely met, there would at least have been an explanation. But the two of them had kissed and embraced one another, and guests had seen them.

Of course, she did not know that Hanyu had scattered medicinal powder inside the room. That was why she and Shen Zhifeng had been unable to restrain themselves.

“This courtyard is so remote. Judging by their appearance, they were clearly all trying to find Jiang Lin and Sisi. How did they end up here?” Shen Zhifeng forced himself to calm down and asked the question.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

Madam Jiang’s face was deathly pale. She mocked herself weakly. “This place lies in the same direction as the bridal chamber where Lin’er and Sisi are staying. They must have been so drunk that they took a wrong turn. What use is there in thinking about it now? It is not as though we can go and ask them.”

“We do not even know how much they heard. It probably was not much. Otherwise, they would not have stumbled in while calling out Jiang Lin’s name.” Shen Zhifeng was somewhat dispirited as well. Though he tried to comfort himself, he found it utterly futile.

“The only thing we can do now is have the child aborted.” Madam Jiang caressed her belly reluctantly.

“No!” Shen Zhifeng sprang to his feet. “It was so difficult for us to have this child. He may be my only son. I will not allow you to get rid of him!”

“A son! A son! What if it is a daughter? Have you ever spared even half a thought for me? If people discover that I am pregnant, whether the child is yours or not, I am finished! If you want a son, have your concubine bear one for you!”

Madam Jiang broke down and screamed.

Shen Zhifeng wanted to lose his temper, but forced himself to endure it. He embraced Madam Jiang.

“Weiwei, that is not what I meant. It is because this is our child that I want to keep it. Do not become agitated. I will think of a solution.”

Madam Jiang clung to Shen Zhifeng and burst into tears.

“It is all your fault. You insisted on meeting me and kept saying nothing would happen. What am I supposed to do now? I can only cut off my hair and become a nun. No—if Lin’er finds out, even death would not be enough to atone for my crime.”

A trace of impatience flashed through Shen Zhifeng’s eyes. He patted Madam Jiang’s back soothingly until her sobs subsided, then finally spoke.

“How about I arrange for you to leave? Once everything has died down, you can return.”

“What?”

……

Back in the bridal chamber, Jiang Lin and Shen Sisi still had no idea what had happened. Immersed in the bliss of their new marriage, they called for water three times that night before finally sinking into deep sleep.

When they awoke the next morning, they intended to pay their respects and offer tea to Madam Jiang.

Unexpectedly, when they pushed open the door, Madam Jiang was nowhere to be seen.

The maidservant wept as she said, “Heir, we cannot find Madam anywhere.”