Chapter 3
Under her husband’s stern gaze, Madam Pan shrank back slightly and shook her head.
She had given birth to six children, but only three survived. In those difficult years, she had been too busy trying to survive to remember the birth dates and fortune details of the children who died young.
He Fangting had expected this already. Covering her lips with a smile, she said,
“Elder Brother has neither a name nor a birth record. He was never even given a proper place in the family order, yet Father still wishes for him to marry and leave descendants. Such a loving fatherly heart is truly one of a kind in the entire Great Zhao Dynasty.”
Jiang Chengzong’s old face flushed red from the mockery, and his dissatisfaction toward He Fangting deepened another layer.
This daughter-in-law, relying on her noble birth, had always looked down on the Jiang family from the bottom of her heart. On the surface she acted filial, but in truth she never took them seriously.
Furious, he snapped,
“He family girl, no matter what you think, the Xie girl will enter this household! She is not Zhixiu’s concubine, but the lawful wife Zhixiu is marrying on behalf of his elder brother. Your approval is unnecessary! Her mother and I can decide this ourselves!”
He Fangting’s smile never faded.
“Is that so? If that’s the case, then simply let her enter the family. Why call me here at all?”
Jiang Chengzong was instantly speechless.
Though he spoke harshly, he knew very well that if He Fangting refused, Xie Meiying would never be able to marry into the Jiang family.
He and Zhixiu had already analyzed the situation. The Emperor, resentful by association, indeed held little affection for his niece He Fangting and was even somewhat irritated by her. But the Emperor cared deeply about appearances. He feared criticism for being heartless toward his own blood relatives. If He Fangting truly made a public scene, he could not simply ignore it.
Jiang Furong quickly stepped forward.
“Big Sister-in-law, Father didn’t mean it that way.”
He Fangting turned to look at her.
“Then you explain it. What exactly did Father mean?”
Jiang Furong hesitated before smiling.
“As a married daughter, I really shouldn’t interfere in my natal family’s affairs. But, Big Sister-in-law, Xie entering the family doesn’t harm you in any way. Elder Brother already said that Xie Meiying doesn’t understand household management, so you’ll still be the one in charge! You’ll remain the unquestioned mistress of the Jiang household!”
A sister-in-law could be anyone, but an elder brother was her real elder brother. She knew perfectly well who was close and who was distant.
Whether her brother wanted Xie Meiying or some Miss Li, she would support him all the same.
He Fangting stared at her in silence.
The Jiang family had always valued sons over daughters. Madam Pan spent her days revolving around her husband and sons, neglecting her daughters. When He Fangting first married into the Jiang family, Jiang Furong had been a skinny, sallow little girl who cowered timidly in corners like a mouse.
He Fangting had spent enormous effort and resources raising her into a graceful and dignified young lady. She had even found her an excellent marriage. Now Jiang Furong had both son and daughter, living happily and harmoniously.
And yet today, this was how Jiang Furong repaid her.
Could everyone in the Jiang family truly be so cold-hearted?
The moment He Fangting entered Songrong Hall earlier and saw Jiang Furong’s expression, she had already known Furong would stand on Jiang Zhixiu’s side. Even so, her heart still ached.
Under her gaze, Jiang Furong became uncomfortable and forced a smile.
“Big Sister-in-law, why are you looking at me like that?”
He Fangting replied calmly,
“Since you know you shouldn’t meddle, then keep your mouth shut.”
Jiang Furong had grown used to He Fangting’s gentle words and never expected such bluntness. Unable to save face, she retorted sharply,
“A woman should plan for her husband’s family and put the family’s interests first. That was what Big Sister-in-law taught me before I got married. Why are your actions now inconsistent with your own teachings? Xie Meiying is someone whose name has even reached the Emperor. The disaster victims of Huainan call her Fairy Plum Immortal, and her reputation is excellent. If she marries into the Jiang family, she’ll bring glory to us. Yu’er and Ying’er will benefit as well!”
He Fangting almost laughed from disbelief.
She had taught Jiang Furong to “put her husband’s family first” so Furong could integrate quickly into her marital household and secure her standing there.
In noble families, any mother who truly cared for her daughter would likely give similar advice.
But Madam Pan’s shallow understanding only extended to obedience to one’s husband and treating the husband as heaven itself. Unable to bear listening to such nonsense, He Fangting had personally taken Jiang Furong aside to educate her properly.
Yet now Jiang Furong was using those teachings against her—“using one’s own spear against one’s own shield.” It was absurd.
Taking a sip of tea, He Fangting smiled lightly.
“So according to you, the Jiang family’s glory depends on marrying Xie Meiying? Furong, your brother spent ten bitter years studying and eighteen years struggling in officialdom, yet in your eyes all of that amounts to nothing.”
And Yu’er and Ying’er benefiting? How could she even say such a thing?
Their father was casually taking responsibility for two family branches and marrying two wives at once. What respectable family would still dare marry their daughter to Jiayu in the future? Once he entered officialdom, he would also face endless gossip and ridicule.
Jiaying, too, would become the target of public whispers.
Jiang Furong stared blankly.
“I—I didn’t mean that!”
Jiang Chengzong barked angrily,
“You disgraceful thing! If you don’t know how to speak, then shut up!”
This daughter of his was truly stupid. Marrying Xie Meiying indeed had benefits, but some things should only be understood privately. Saying them out loud so openly only made the family seem vulgar and calculating.
It lowered their dignity.
Jiang Furong had not been scolded so harshly by her father in a long time. Childhood memories suddenly surfaced in her mind. She froze for a moment before sitting down at the side, covering her face as she cried.
Madam Pan hurried over nervously and whispered,
“Stop crying quickly! A married daughter crying in her maiden home ruins the family’s feng shui! Your father will get angry!”
Jiang Furong felt even more wronged. She had been the one scolded, yet her mother only cared about Father’s feelings.
Still, she did not dare continue crying.
In the past, whenever moments like this happened, He Fangting would certainly have stepped in to support her. But now, He Fangting only felt Jiang Chengzong hadn’t scolded her harshly enough.
“Father, Mother, is there anything else? If not, I’ll be leaving.”
Jiang Chengzong’s tone stiffened.
“There’s only one matter: marrying Xie Meiying.”
He Fangting’s answer was crisp and direct.
“Not negotiable.”
Jiang Furong feared him, but He Fangting never had. She had never feared him.
Jiang Chengzong said stiffly,
“A matriarch of the household should possess tolerance and generosity.”
He Fangting smiled faintly.
“Certainly. I’ll allow her to enter as a concubine.”
