Chapter 6: If Not Pei Jiuru, Then There’s Someone Else

"For another example, consider the time someone at the Wanhua Pavilion accidentally pushed the young master of the Zou family off the balcony. The couple conspired together to dump the young master's body in a mass grave, and the poor Zou family still believes their son ran away from home in a fit of pique..."

"Jiang Nian!" Second Master Tang was struck with terror. Who on earth had leaked these secrets? How could she know them in such detail?

Second Mistress Tang, however, could no longer concern herself with Jiang Nian. She asked her husband in disbelief, "My husband is keeping a mistress, and there’s an illegitimate child?"

"And didn't you hide the fact that your brother was practicing usury?"

Second Mistress Tang shrieked, "That is not the same thing! Fortune favors the bold; my brother was merely daring! You, behind my back, were keeping a mistress!"

"Is this the time for such talk? If these matters were to get out, we would be finished!"

"So, you felt I didn't give you a son! I was wondering why the household funds were never enough! It turns out you were using them all to support your mistress!"

"Keep your voice down!" Second Master Tang’s head throbbed. He paused, then yanked his wife toward him. "Think of Qingwan! If these things are exposed, how will she ever be able to negotiate a marriage?"

At the mention of their own daughter, Second Mistress Tang finally regained her senses. The couple, who had been glaring at each other in rage, immediately found common ground in their shared predicament.

"Jiang Nian! Where did you learn all of this? What exactly do you want?"

"Aunt, if you don't want people to know, you shouldn't have done it. Uncle, weren't you going to call for someone? Go ahead."

Second Mistress Tang felt a wave of panic and softened her tone. "If these things spread, the entire Tang family will be humiliated. Your grandparents are advanced in years; you wouldn't want to break their hearts, would you?"

Jiang Nian smiled radiantly and simply tapped the table with the IOU.

Second Master Tang finally understood. "Fine, I will go get the silver notes right now!"

"Are you mad? Where would we find that much money in the house to pay her back?"

"Follow me to get the silver."

As the couple spoke and moved to leave, Jiang Nian spoke up, unhurriedly: "Wait, there is one more thing I forgot to tell you."

"What else could there be!"

"Before I came, I had my maid, Green Wax, wait at the entrance of the magistrate's office. If I don't go to fetch her in half an hour, she has instructions to report certain matters to the Magistrate."

Second Master Tang froze. He had indeed been harboring murderous thoughts just moments ago; he never expected her to have a contingency plan!

"Rest assured, we are going to scrape together the silver notes!" Second Master Tang gritted his teeth.

Upon hearing this, Second Mistress Tang tugged at him vigorously. "No! That is Qingwan's dowry!"

"The mistress and your brother's business are trivial! If she takes the Zou family matter to the authorities, both of us will end up in prison!"

"Then... very well..."

Watching the couple leave, reluctant and resentful, to fetch the silver, Jiang Nian finally felt a sense of satisfaction.

A moment later, four thousand taels in silver notes were in her hands.

"Uncle is truly capable; four thousand taels of silver notes provided just like that."

"The IOU!"

Jiang Nian stood up and tossed the IOU onto the table. For so many years, her parents had argued countlessly over this debt. She didn't just want the money back; she wanted them to apologize to the Jiang family!

"Uncle and Aunt must accompany me to offer an apology to my parents; only then will this matter be considered settled."

"Jiang Nian! Do not push your luck!"

"Aunt, don't try to scare me; I am not one to be easily frightened. What if I happen to go around telling more 'truths'..."

Second Master Tang held back his furious wife, gritting his teeth. "We have already parted with cold, hard cash; what do a few shreds of pride matter? We will go with you!"

"Then let us not delay, let's go." With that, Jiang Nian strode out of the Tang mansion.

She stepped directly into her carriage and shook the silver notes at the person hiding inside. Green Wax, who had been hiding for quite some time, didn't dare breathe a word, looking at her mistress with pure adoration.

Jiang Nian had long since instructed the coachman, and as the carriage began to move, she knew the Tangs must be following. She helped Green Wax up and laughed, "Tired of crouching? I'll give you a raise this month!"

"My lady is so brilliant! After more than ten years, the debt is finally collected? And they even agreed to apologize to the Master and Mistress!"

"They are greedy, but they aren't fools. Apologizing is far easier than going to prison."

Come to think of it, she had Xiao Ru to thank for this. In the original book, it had taken Xiao Ru a great deal of effort to dig up the unsavory secrets of that concubine's family.

Tang Qingwan was not at the house today; when she returned and realized her dowry was gone, the thought of her devastated expression made Jiang Nian struggle to suppress a laugh.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped at the Jiang mansion. Jiang Nian got out and led Second Master and Second Mistress Tang inside.

Holding their fatal secrets in her palm, the entire apology process went perfectly.

Her parents were not fools either; they could see that the couple was insincere, but what did it matter? The money was back, and an apology had been exacted—it was truly gratifying!

Long after the Tangs had been sent away, Green Wax returned to Jiang Nian's side.

"My lady, you guessed right! I went to inquire, and the maid from the Marquis of Yongning's estate is asking everyone about your marriage prospects!"

"I told Xiao Ru I was looking for a husband; clearly, she didn't believe me."

Green Wax did not understand why her mistress was so eager to take a husband into her home, but she had always worried about her mistress's concerns. "My lady, do not be anxious. There are so many fine young men in Bianjing; if not Master Pei, there will be others."

"True, if not Pei Jiuru, there will be others."

But all the fine young men in Bianjing had some connection to Bo Yijin and Xiao Ru. Once targeted by them, she had no retreat except to marry.

Fortunately, she had planned to take a husband into her home anyway; this was merely acting ahead of schedule.

It was a pity that Pei Jiuru had rejected her...

"My lady, why not wait for Master Qin to return? Childhood sweethearts—Master Qin is better than anyone else!"

Jiang Nian shook her head gently. She and Qin Zimo had grown up together; they were like family. They could not be married.

"Forget it. Tomorrow, have Mother find a matchmaker. I saw a young woman in the alley behind us find a husband quite easily; they married within a month."

"My lady will surely get what she wishes."

Just then, the gatekeeper’s servant came to report that Steward Liu from the manor was seeking an audience.

Jiang Nian received Steward Liu in the side hall. Hearing what he had to say, she wondered if she had misunderstood.

"Are you saying Master Pei wants to see me?"

"Yes, he said he has something to discuss with you, but coming to the Jiang residence uninvited would be presumptuous, so he entrusted me to pass on the message."

Jiang Nian did not hesitate. "No."

After a moment's thought, she asked, "Did he seem in any way unusual?"

"I couldn't tell, but after you left today, Master Pei went out for a trip and didn't return to the manor for over an hour."

"Understood. You don't need to say anything more to him; just tell him I am busy and have no time to see him. If he asks you to hand me any money, keep it for me!"

He had rejected her so clearly during the day, and she had already agreed to let him recover from his injuries; what else was there to say!

She admitted she had been attracted to his looks, but she was also someone who knew how to let go.

When it must be cut, it must be cut; why meet again!