Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Calculations Full of Heart_1 @@novelbin@@

Mrs. Jiang hit a snag this time. Had she not heard from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage that the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen Mansion was doomed, she wouldn’t have dared to act so arrogantly and handle Bai Jinxiu so carelessly.

She was still impulsive. If she wanted to deal with Bai Jinxiu, she could have waited until the news of the deaths of the Duke of Zhen and the Bai men reached Dadu before making a move. Besides, the Bai family had an Eldest Princess behind them. She had been suppressed by Mrs. Dong for so many years and felt that her time to rise had finally come, so she did not curb her arrogance.

Nanny Wu’s eyes rolled. She poured a cup of tea for Mrs. Jiang and leaned in to speak, “Madam, Second Lady, let’s not rush! This old servant thinks even if the Eldest Princess knew about this, it wouldn’t blow up beyond control. At most, it would scare you and the two young ladies of our mansion. Just think, as long as Bai Jinxiu is now part of the Qin family, things won’t go well for her even if the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion is not good. She is the daughter-in-law of the Qin family and has to live under your thumb. Your virtue alone is enough to control Bai Jinxiu tightly! The Eldest Princess can’t be ignorant of this!”

Mrs. Jiang listened to Nanny Wu’s words and nodded, quickly calming down. Thinking that the news from Nanjiang would come soon, her panicked mind gradually settled.

Seeing that Mrs. Jiang’s complexion had improved significantly, Nanny Wu continued, “Moreover! Didn’t the Bai family’s Miss Bai claim that Bai Jinxiu’s martial arts skills and swimming abilities surpassed those of most men in Dadu City? She could get up after being stabbed on the front line, so how could she not survive a slight knock against a stone in our Marquis Mansion? She was almost dead during the day in our mansion but awoke as soon as she returned to the Duke of Zhen Mansion? This was merely an accident where the two young ladies played with her and she accidentally fell into the water. Yet she makes a fuss clearly to leverage this to control you as her mother-in-law. She has no virtue as a wife!”

Thinking of how Miss Bai had her tied up and humiliated in the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion today, Nanny Wu was infuriated! She was the most favored nanny of the Marchioness of Loyalty and Courage. If she couldn’t deal with Miss Bai, couldn’t she at least torment Bai Jinxiu? She had to vent this anger.

Mrs. Jiang’s chest heaved with anger. “The Duke of Zhen’s Mansion is indeed full of schemers! I knew she had this intention! She is dreaming!”

“Madam, don’t be angry! This old servant suggests that madam endure for a while. When Bai Jinxiu returns to our mansion, you, as her mother-in-law, can impose rules on her. Even the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion can’t find fault!” Nanny Wu soothed Mrs. Jiang’s back and spoke in a low voice.

Mrs. Jiang let out a long breath, straightened her back, and said, “You are right! However, we must show a humble and lowly attitude to others! Nanny Wu, prepare a lavish gift. Tomorrow after we leave the palace, we will visit the Eldest Princess and then bring Bai Jinxiu back to the mansion. You go to the storeroom and select the best millennial ginseng. “The more precious, the better!”

“Madam is large-hearted. As a mother-in-law, you condescend to visit your daughter-in-law. There’s no other mother-in-law like you in all of Dadu City! This old servant will go prepare now!” Nanny Wu quickly went out to have someone open the storeroom.

Mrs. Jiang picked up the tea cup and took a sip, hoping to hear soon the news of the deaths of the Bai men in Nanjiang. Only when she saw Mrs. Dong of the Duke of Zhen Mansion crying would her heart be truly satisfied.

When she was a girl, Mrs. Dong’s family background and talents overshadowed Mrs. Jiang’s in every aspect. Mrs. Jiang, due to the decline of her family, was forced to bow to Mrs. Dong, always hoping for a day to overturn her fate. Later, she married into the prestigious Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion. Even as a second wife, she finally managed to outweigh Mrs. Dong. But she didn’t know which incense Mrs. Dong burned correctly. Within a few years, Mrs. Dong married the heir of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, whose title was higher than her own family’s.

She had been infertile for two years after entering the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion, but as soon as Mrs. Dong entered the Duke of Zhen Mansion, she got pregnant. Ten months later, Mrs. Dong gave birth to a daughter. Mrs. Jiang finally sighed in relief. But who knew the Duke of Zhen and the Eldest Princess doted on the girl child like a treasure, loving her even more than the boys in the mansion! Mrs. Jiang was enraged.

All these years she held her breath, not wanting to fall too far behind Mrs. Dong, hoping her son Qin Lang would err so that her own son could become the Princely Heir of the Marquis. But heaven did not comply with her wishes!

Now, heaven had finally opened its eyes. Mrs. Dong’s husband and son died in Nanjiang, and the entire line of men of the Duke of Zhen Mansion was destroyed. In the future, Dadu City would no longer have a place for the Bai family. She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking of Mrs. Dong’s future misery, Mrs. Jiang felt a bit relieved, deciding that for now, she should endure a bit longer and allow the Duke of Zhen Mansion a few more days of arrogance.

Mrs. Jiang’s plans were meticulous, but before she could send her card to the palace, the Emperor approved Qin Lang’s request to become the Princely Heir and sent an eunuch with lavish rewards.

“The son of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Lang, does not wish to rely on ancestral grace and idly end his life. Full of loyalty and courage, he seeks to earn merits and serve the Emperor. He should be a model for the sons of noble families. Grant 100 taels of gold, a house, and hope Qin Lang studies diligently. Next year at the imperial examination, I… eagerly await.”

Kneeling at the forefront of the people in the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion, Qin Lang’s eyes immediately filled with tears. He solemnly kowtowed and received the decree gratefully.

The eunuch, smiling broadly, looked at the standing Qin Lang with red-rimmed eyes and said, “Young Master’s resolute spirit is admirable! The Empress Dowager asked me to convey to you that His Majesty regards you highly. Do not disappoint His Majesty’s expectations, and be the exemplary son of nobility. Moving to a new house and walking a new path, your future is bright.”

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, Qin Lang immediately knelt down and solemnly kowtowed again. “Thank you, Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, for your concern! Qin Lang… will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty and Empress Dowager. I will work diligently and stand on my own!”

The face of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage turned livid. Although the Emperor personally awarded Qin Lang, Qin Lang had sought the position of Princely Heir without consulting him as his father but instead asked the Eldest Princess for help. Moreover, bestowing a house and the Empress Dowager’s instruction for Qin Lang to move in and start anew clearly highlighted the discord within the Marquis Mansion, which would make him a laughingstock among the city’s nobles the next day.

The marquis turned around, his fierce gaze glaring at Mrs. Jiang, whose face instantly turned ashen, trembling like a leaf.

Mrs. Jiang knew that this time, not only had she brought shame to her husband, the marquis, but her reputation was also utterly ruined. She had hoped for years that Qin Lang would make a mistake, and the position of Princely Heir would fall to her own son! But now that Qin Lang willingly relinquished the heir title, this position turned into a hot potato. She felt humiliated at the thought of her own son taking it.

Qin Lang placed the imperial decree on the incense table and was about to return to his courtyard when the marquis called him. With a wave of his hand, the marquis slapped Qin Lang so hard that half of his face went numb.