A Whole Family of Wretches, All Together

Jiang Liuli: ...

Jiang Shuyue was delighted to see her thwarted.

Jiang Shuyue: [You little brat. Tried to trip me up and fell flat yourself, didn't you?]

System: [Host, show a little restraint. She is your sister in name, at least.]

Jiang Shuyue: [What sister? Didn't you see the way she looked at the main villain? She might as well have written "man-stealer" across her face!]

Jiang Mother's brows drew tightly together.

Originally, Liuli had been the one meant to marry Zhou Yunshen, but she had wept and wailed that she refused to be a stepmother. She had also said Zhou Yunshen had a terrible temper and that she feared she would die at his hands.

Only then had the family sent Jiang Shuyue to marry him in her place.

And now, after just a few days, she wanted to steal Yue'er's husband?

She truly was a brothel woman's spawn!

Jiang Mother snapped harshly, "Liuli, what are you standing around for? Leave!"

Jiang Liuli bit her lower lip and shot Jiang Shuyue a resentful glare. After rising and leaving, a flash of venom crossed her eyes.

Damn Jiang Shuyue! She dared to humiliate me. I'll never let that little bitch off!

Jiang Shuyue happily gnawed on a chicken wing: [The pest is finally gone. Even the food tastes better!]

System: [Says who? Another pest is about to arrive.]

"Madam."

Li Momo hurried over and glanced at Zhou Yunshen.

Jiang Mother said, "We're all family here. Speak freely."

"Madam, the master has returned and brought someone with him. They're in the old madam's courtyard."

Jiang Mother frowned slightly.

She was entertaining guests in the main hall. Why had Jiang An gone straight to the rear courtyard instead of coming to the front hall when he returned?

System: [System alert: there's some juicy gossip in the rear courtyard. Host, hurry over and dig in!]

Jiang Shuyue immediately put down her chopsticks. "Mother, I was so busy eating that I forgot to take my husband to see Grandmother. She cares so much about etiquette. Will she blame me?"

Jiang Mother said, "Well..."

She clearly just wanted to feast on gossip, yet she made it sound so high-minded.

Who on earth did she take after?

Jiang Mother also felt a faint unease. She set down her chopsticks and took Zhou Yunshen and Jiang Shuyue to the old madam's courtyard.

Jiang Shuyue: [Last time I came here, that old hag actually made me kneel in the ancestral hall for three days. Who knows what trouble she'll stir up this time?]

Zhou Yunshen surveyed the courtyard, filing away the wrong she had suffered.

"Oh, Qing'er has suffered so much all these years. Why didn't you come to your aunt sooner?"

"I've had an unfortunate life. I feared disturbing you, Aunt, so I didn't dare impose."

"Aunt, what are you saying? You're Father's cousin and Grandmother's niece. We're all family. From now on, stay here without a worry, and tell me if you need anything. Our whole family should be together."

Jiang Mother had only just reached the courtyard gate, and the servants had yet to announce her arrival, when she heard Jiang Liuli's voice.

Family? All together?

System: [Here we go! This woman is Jiang An's mistress and Jiang Liuli's birth mother. They've been secretly seeing each other all these years, while that old hag covered for them.]

[That old hag pretends to be a good mother-in-law, but behind your mother's back, she criticizes her everywhere and ruins her reputation. It's all to pave the way for swallowing up the Jiang Family later.]

[Bringing this woman back was her idea, too. They're getting ready to go after your eldest brother!]

Jiang Mother felt as though she had been struck by lightning and dug her fingers hard into her thigh.

For twenty-three years, she had served her mother-in-law, raised her children, and devoted all her energy to the Jiang Family.

She had never imagined they would not only join forces with an outsider to covet the Jiang Family's wealth, but also plot against her son.

Both her sons were her lifeblood. Losing either one would be the death of her.

Jiang An was actually this ruthless!

Jiang Mother drew a deep breath, put on a smile, and entered the room. "I heard my husband brought a relative home. Why haven't you introduced her to me?"

Jiang An exchanged a glance with Qin Wanru, who immediately rose and bowed with utmost respect.

"Greetings, Sister. My cousin has long told me that you are a lady of distinguished breeding and extraordinary bearing. Now that I've met you, I can see he was right."

"Oh? You just said you didn't dare impose. When, then, did you hear about me from him?"

Qin Wanru froze. She had only meant to offer a few polite compliments and had not expected Mother Jiang to seize on them.

Seeing this, Jiang An hurriedly laughed it off. "I happened to run into my cousin a couple of days ago and told her about you. Lanniang, my cousin is all alone, with no one to rely on. I'd like to settle her here in the residence. What do you think?"

Jiang Mother stared at Jiang An's face, her gaze sharp enough to gouge two bloody holes into it.

Jiang Shuyue hid outside the door: [System, look at my father's acting. Tsk, tsk. It would be an injustice not to give him a little golden Oscar statuette!]

Zhou Yunshen: A little golden Oscar statuette? What was that?

He rubbed his chin, and Jiang Shuyue's voice came again.

Jiang Shuyue: [I remember the later plot. After Qin Wanru arrived, she showered my mother with kindness until they became like sisters. Then she secretly drugged her, trying to turn her into a madwoman and confine her at home.]

[Should I give her a warning?]

Jiang Shuyue thought for a moment, then shook her head: [Forget it. I shouldn't meddle in someone else's karma. Mother will just have to pray for her own good fortune.]

Jiang Mother truly wanted to smack her on the forehead a few times.

You heartless little thing! Even if I was blinded and treated you unfairly, I still carried Jiang Shuyue for ten months and gave birth to her!

Is this how you treat your own mother?

Jiang Mother looked at Qin Wanru and smiled faintly. "Since she's your cousin, she can stay in the South Courtyard."

"The South Courtyard?"

Jiang Liuli frowned. "Mother, the South Courtyard is for guests. How can you make a family member stay there?"

"Oh, you think the South Courtyard is beneath her? Shall I vacate my Begonia Courtyard and let her have it instead?"

"Mother, that's not what I meant."

Jiang Liuli panicked a little. She kept feeling that Jiang Mother had changed.

Jiang Mother took her hand with a warm smile. "I know that's not what you meant. I was only making an offhand remark."

"When Yue'er first returned, you suggested putting her in the South Courtyard. I was thinking, surely this cousin isn't closer to us than Yue'er? If Yue'er could stay there, why can't she?"

"Besides, the food, clothing, and other provisions in our minister's residence are far better than anything outside. She certainly won't be suffering."

"I didn't expect such a strong reaction from you, Liuli. It seems you and my husband's cousin really hit it off."

Jiang Liuli awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth and cast Jiang An a pleading look.

Jiang An said, "Wife, I was thinking that although Yue'er is married now, this is still her childhood home. If she returns and sees someone else occupying her courtyard, she's bound to feel hurt."

"She won't. I intend to give Yue'er the Eastern Fence Courtyard."

"What?"

Jiang Liuli cried out in shock, "Mother, the Eastern Fence Courtyard is where I live! If she moves in, where am I supposed to stay?"