13. Conspiring to Harm Jiang Shuwan

“Why do you say that?” Jiang Xunian looked at the Old Madam Jiang in confusion.

“The Marquis of Pingning died serving the court. The Emperor will not neglect them; he may confer a noble title upon his widow. If your sister is granted such a title, our household will surely come under the Emperor’s notice. Then, His Majesty will regard you with even greater favor.”

Jiang Xunian pondered carefully and found her reasoning quite sound.

Originally, he had arranged for Jiang Shuwan to marry Gu Xin because of Gu’s noble lineage. He believed that once the Marquis of Pingning’s household was led by Gu Xin, he, as Gu Xin’s father-in-law, would gain many benefits.

But unexpectedly, before the marriage could take place, Gu Xin had already grown intimate with Lin Rou.

Though Lin Rou was also someone he valued, she was different from Jiang Shuwan, who could be better managed.

Madam Li was stunned; the thought of Jiang Shuwan becoming a titled noble and having to pay respects to her made her deeply uneasy.

Her eyes flickered with displeasure as her brows knitted tightly. “Elder Lord, do you remember when the master once read your daughter’s fortune? She is a born calamity star; only the heir Gu Xin’s fate can suppress it. If she marries Gu Yunting, it will surely affect the marquisate’s fortune. If the household finds out we concealed her fate, our family estate will suffer dire consequences.”

Upon hearing Madam Li’s words, Old Madam Jiang’s face darkened with regret, reconsidering her earlier agreement to let Jiang Shuwan marry Gu Yunting.

Jiang Xunian also recalled the old matter and looked displeased.

This had all happened a year before Jiang Shuwan’s mother passed away. During a visit to Ci’en Temple for blessings, a master had foretold that Jiang Shuwan was a calamity star who would bring misfortune to her mother and disrupt the household’s fortune. Only a fate that could suppress hers could turn misfortune into fortune.

Not long after, the Marquis of Pingning’s household had come with a sudden marriage proposal. They showed the master the heir’s birth chart, which perfectly countered Jiang Shuwan’s fate. Overjoyed, they accepted the match without hesitation.

Old Madam Jiang said resolutely, “It seems the only way is to marry her to the heir. Even if she refuses, we must bind her to this marriage.”

“But Madam Gu already promised her to Gu Yunting,” Madam Li reminded with knitted brows.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Jiang Xueyu smiled softly. “Father, Mother, Grandmother, don’t worry. I have a solution.”

“What solution?” Jiang Xunian looked at Jiang Xueyu with hopeful eyes, as if grasping a lifeboat in an endless sea.

A cold smile curled at Jiang Xueyu’s lips.

“If my sister accompanies Gu Yunting in death, a dead calamity star will no longer affect our marquisate’s fortune. I just received news from Princess Linglong. The Emperor has confirmed Gu Yunting’s death and has decreed a funeral for the Marquis of Pingning’s household, which will take place two days after the mourning.”

Everyone suddenly understood why the Pingning household had been so eager to arrange the engagement today.

Their family was in decline and sought to strengthen ties with the Pingning household. While Gu Yunting was alive, they had urged Gu Xin and Jiang Shuwan to marry sooner, but Pingning’s household had never agreed.

They had been puzzled yesterday at why the Pingning household was so desperate to set the wedding date. It was because once the Pingning household held a funeral, no joyous events could be held there for three years, which would delay Gu Xin’s marriage.

Old Madam Jiang smiled at Jiang Xueyu. “Xueyu, how reliable is your information?”

Jiang Xueyu looked earnestly at Old Madam Jiang. “Grandmother, Princess Linglong told me herself.”

“Heaven assists us, heaven assists us,” Jiang Xunian laughed heartily, his face brightening. “Everything will be done as Xueyu says. Let Jiang Shuwan accompany Gu Yunting in death.”

Old Madam Jiang’s previously furrowed brow relaxed. “Very well, so be it.”

Suddenly, a young servant burst in, shouting, “Bad news! Bad news!”

Jiang Xunian’s joy was interrupted. He stood up, scolding, “Speak properly. What is the meaning of such clamor?”

The servant stammered, “Yulan Garden’s servants… for some reason, they’ve started a commotion.”

“What? What exactly happened?” Jiang Xunian asked.

“They say the eldest miss is unfair to them. She only raised the wages for some servants, not all. They want the eldest miss to make things right. But she left early this morning, and now they are all heading to you, Old Madam, to seek justice.”

“Have these people gone mad, daring to disturb Mother’s peace?” Jiang Xunian snapped.

“Let them in. I want to see what’s going on,” Old Madam Jiang said calmly, sipping her tea.

“Yes, madam,” replied the servant.

Shortly after, six or seven servants stormed in, each with a furious expression.

They knelt down in unison.

“Old Madam, please help us!”

“What’s the matter? Tell me clearly,” Old Madam Jiang demanded sternly.

An old servant woman with a pointed face and a mole at the corner of her eye spoke first.

“Old Madam, I’ve served this household for over ten years, faithfully attending to the masters. In the past few years serving the eldest miss, I’ve done my utmost. But yesterday, the eldest miss suddenly raised the monthly wages for three lazy servants. Our wages not only didn’t increase—they were cut to just fifty copper coins a month. It’s like she wants us dead.”

In the capital, a single steamed bun cost one copper coin. With only fifty copper coins a month, they couldn’t even afford one bun a day.

“That’s right, we don’t expect wage increases either, but she can’t starve us like this. That’s why we came to you, Old Madam, to seek justice,” another servant woman added.

The others nodded in agreement.

“This is outrageous! Wages are set uniformly by the household and distributed together. If word gets out that wages are being cut for the servants, how will our Yongbo Marquisate continue to thrive in the capital?” Old Madam Jiang said angrily.

Madam Li chimed in, “Indeed, the eldest miss has gone a bit too far this time.”

Old Madam Jiang instructed the attendant beside her, “Li Nanny, wait outside. If Jiang Shuwan returns, send her directly to me.”

“Yes.”

“No need,” a cold voice rang out from outside the door just as Li Nanny turned around.

Soon Jiang Shuwan appeared at the entrance.

She glanced at the kneeling servants, then withdrew her gaze and approached Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Xunian to bow.

“Grandmother, Father, Second Madam.”