Who the hell do you think you are? You have no right to interfere in my business.
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Just as the servant’s hand touched Jiang Shuwan’s, a shrill voice rang out from nearby.
“The imperial edict has arrived!”
The Jiang family’s expressions changed dramatically, and they hurried into the courtyard.
Jiang Shuwan looked up and saw a man wearing a dark purple, round-collared robe and a cap, an imperial edict of yellow silk held in his hands.
Jiang Xunian stepped forward ingratiatingly. “Eunuch Su, has His Majesty issued some decree?”
Thinking of how diligently he had worked during this period, and of how he had secured a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Pingning’s household, Jiang Xunian wondered whether the Marquis had spoken highly of him before the Emperor. Perhaps His Majesty intended to reward him.
At that thought, the smile on Jiang Xunian’s face grew even broader.
Eunuch Su ignored him and called out in a clear voice, “Jiang Shuwan, come forward to receive the decree.”
Jiang Shuwan froze. She had not expected the imperial edict to be meant for her.
The smile at the corners of Jiang Xunian’s mouth stiffened. Seeing the young servants holding Jiang Shuwan, he panicked and shouted at them, “Who told you to hold the eldest young lady? Let her go at once!”
The servants hurriedly released her.
The Jiang family and Jiang Shuwan promptly knelt.
The moment she knelt, her wounds were jarred. Pain made sweat bead across Jiang Shuwan’s forehead, but she dared not cry out. She could only endure it silently and respectfully await the decree.
Eunuch Su’s gaze rested on Jiang Shuwan for several seconds before he unfurled the imperial edict.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Jiang Shuwan, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Earl of Yong’s household, is gentle, virtuous, and dutiful, with a heart devoted to the greater good. She has generously donated provisions and rescued disaster victims from suffering. This has greatly comforted Our heart. We hereby bestow upon her one thousand taels of gold as a reward. Thus is it decreed!”
Jiang Shuwan raised her head in disbelief.
Only she and Du Qing knew where she had stored the provisions. Why was the decree saying that she had generously donated them? Could it be that Du Qing had taken the supplies out without her permission?
Suppressing the doubts in her heart, Jiang Shuwan said nothing.
Eunuch Su smiled warmly. “Miss Jiang, accept the decree.”
Jiang Shuwan extended both hands and said respectfully, “Your servant, Jiang Shuwan, accepts the decree.”
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Eunuch Su placed the imperial edict before Jiang Shuwan, then stepped back and waved to the people behind him.
“Bring the gifts over.”
Several guards dressed in dark blue carried three large wooden chests forward and set them down.
Eunuch Su pointed at the chests. “Miss Jiang, these are the gold and jewels His Majesty has bestowed upon you. Do enjoy them as you please.”
“Thank His Majesty.”
Jiang Shuwan lowered her head slightly.
When Jiang Xunian saw the chests, his eyes gleamed. He looked at Eunuch Su obsequiously and asked, “Eunuch Su, may I ask why His Majesty has rewarded Shuwan?”
Eunuch Su regarded him strangely. “Does the Earl not know? Flooding has struck the southern regions, and corpses lie everywhere from starvation. Just as His Majesty was worrying over the lack of grain, Miss Jiang presented a million measures of provisions to relieve the disaster. That is true righteousness.”
So that was the reason.
Jiang Xunian had known nothing about it. He had originally assumed that Jiang Shuwan was hoarding the grain for herself. He had never expected that, by some strange twist of fate, she would earn such tremendous merit.
He quickly said, “Oh, that matter. Of course I knew about it. I even gave Shuwan some money at the time so she could purchase grain for disaster relief.”
Eunuch Su praised him. “The Earl is truly righteous and has raised his daughter well. I still have business to attend to and must return to the palace to report. I shall not linger.”
“We respectfully see you off, Eunuch,” the Jiang family said.
After Eunuch Su departed, the Old Madam Jiang stepped forward and placed a hand on Jiang Shuwan’s. With a smile, she said, “Wan’er, Grandmother always knew you were a good child. But how did you learn of the disaster and think to stockpile grain in advance?”
Looking at the hypocritical face before her, Jiang Shuwan felt disgusted by the hand touching hers. She took a step back and replied coolly, “I merely heard it from Master Compassionate Grace. He said that the southern regions had been suffering continuous rain for a long time and that there might be flooding, so I stored a great deal of grain in advance in case it was needed. But since nothing was certain, I did not dare spread the word.”
Old Madam Jiang had been somewhat annoyed by Jiang Shuwan’s earlier aloofness, but after hearing this, her anger immediately dissipated.
“Wan’er is right,” Old Madam Jiang echoed.
Jiang Xunian’s face blossomed with delight. He said smugly, “It does not matter how she learned of it. The important thing is that our Jiang family has gained great honor before His Majesty this time. Shuwan, you deserve the greatest credit.”
Jiang Shuwan said quietly, “Unfortunately, I am about to leave for the estate to recuperate. Aside from Second Sister, the only other daughter in the Jiang family will be Cousin.”
As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Lin Rou.
Lin Rou glared at her viciously.
That wretched woman was trying to harm her.
Lin Rou hurriedly stepped forward and looked at Jiang Xunian. “Father, I—”
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Before she could finish, Jiang Xunian cut her off sharply.
“Silence! Who is your father?”
Then he turned toward Jiang Shuwan with a beaming smile.
“Who says my Jiang family has only one legitimate eldest daughter?”
Madam Li’s expression changed as well, but she forced herself to endure it and approached Jiang Shuwan.
“Wan’er, do not be angry with your father. The honor bestowed by His Majesty belongs both to you and to the Jiang family. Fortunately, you handled this matter quietly. If you had entrusted it to the Marquis, I am afraid the credit would have gone to him instead.”
After Madam Li’s insinuation, Jiang Xunian finally understood.
Jiang Shuwan had not told him about the matter. Could it be that she had intended to claim the reward for herself?
His gaze toward her grew several shades darker.
Jiang Shuwan looked coldly at Madam Li, who was attempting to sow discord, yet a smile played at the corners of her lips.
“Second Mother, you are worrying needlessly. I was simply focused on aiding the disaster victims. Unlike you, I lack your foresight. You actually sold the Zhou Family Grain Shop under your control to me at once so that I could use it for disaster relief. Truly, you seek neither fame nor profit and have devoted yourself to the cause.”
Jiang Xunian’s brows drew tightly together as he pointed at her.
“What is the meaning of this, Liniang? The Zhou Family Grain Shop belongs to you?”
A flicker of panic crossed Madam Li’s eyes, and she hurriedly explained, “My lord, that is not how it is. The Zhou Family Grain Shop belongs to someone from my hometown. I merely borrowed some money from him to open a few shops. I know nothing about anything else.”
Old Madam Jiang interrupted their quarrel.
“That is enough, both of you. Can you not see that Shuwan is still injured? Why have you not called the family physician to examine her?”
Seeing the blood covering Jiang Shuwan’s back, and remembering that she had just been praised by His Majesty, Jiang Xunian quickly ordered, “What are you waiting for? Go and fetch him!”
Madam Li watched Jiang Shuwan escape yet another crisis, her hatred gnawing at her.
Seeing Madam Li’s expression change, Lin Rou mocked her. “Second Aunt, I never imagined you would fall into Jiang Shuwan’s hands. That is truly a rare sight.”
Madam Li looked at the woman before her—a woman whom Jiang Xunian and Old Madam Jiang had treated better than their own daughter for all these years—and slapped her hard across the face.
“What are you, to meddle in my affairs?”
Lin Rou had not expected Madam Li to strike her. Covering her cheek, she stared at her in disbelief.
“You hit me?”
Madam Li looked down at her imperiously.
“So what if I did? You are nothing but the lowborn daughter of a maidservant. What right do you have to speak to me like that?”