Chapter 108: Intimidation, Retribution Has Arrived! (Second Update)

Lady Li had not even considered such a possibility. Even as she watched Wu Qingyu walk toward her from the crowd, her subconscious was telling her only one thing: he must be here to find Wu Tan!

However, once Wu Qingyu had finished speaking his piece with such sincerity and gravity, Lady Li was left feeling utterly bewildered. She stood there, her expression caught between a dozen different emotions, unable to react.

Meanwhile, the crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacle began to stir:

"Aren't the Marquis of Dingyuan’s estate and the Lin Prime Minister’s estate already connected by marriage? This would be a marriage of two families already close—congratulations, congratulations!"

"I saw the young lady of the Lin family return earlier. When she arrived, I saw her standing with the young master of the Wu family. They are truly a perfect match in every sense."

"The Marquis of Dingyuan is a towering hero, and his son shows more character than those soft, pampered noble heirs. I think this match is wonderful."

As the crowd buzzed with gossip, the carriage of Lady Jiang Li, though blocked behind the crowd and unable to see the specifics, could not help but overhear the general consensus of the onlookers.

They spoke of how the Jiang family had acted with cold-hearted cruelty by coming to call off the engagement, while the Wu family had shown immense honor and loyalty by arriving to propose at such a time.

Mother Huang, no longer daring to poke her head out for fear of being scolded again, muttered indignantly: "Are the people of the Marquis of Dingyuan’s estate mad? Coming to propose at a time like this? My Lady, do you think it’s because the Lin family hasn't treated them well over the years, and they’re just sacrificing a son’s marriage to curry favor?"

Everyone knew that Grand Secretary Lin held a deep grudge against Wu Xun following the untimely death of Lin Wan-niang and had long since cut ties with the Wu family. Although Lady Li knew the truth, it was a family scandal, and as a daughter-in-law of the Lin family, she had never revealed the details to Lady Jiang Li.

Lady Jiang Li found Mother Huang’s words logical. It was likely that the Wu and Lin families had colluded, with the Wu family offering up a son to help the Lin family save face. No wonder that when she had come to call off the engagement, Lady Li had been so arrogant and had agreed so readily without leaving any room for negotiation—it turned out she had already secured a backup plan!

Thinking that she might have simply handed herself over to be insulted by Lady Li, a wave of resentment surged within her. She said coldly, "The people of the Wu family must be insane. They’re really willing to sacrifice everything!"

What had happened to Lin Yanyao would be a lifelong stain; she would surely be pointed at and whispered about for years to come. Aristocratic families always valued reputation above all else. To marry a woman with a tainted name—wouldn't they be inviting mockery?

She paused, then suddenly asked, "Did that boy from the Wu family come alone? Without any elders?"

"Yes!" Mother Huang thought for a moment, certain she had seen no elders. She suddenly chuckled, "I knew the Wu family couldn't be that desperate for face. I suspect that girl [Wu Tan] is behind this, dragging a young, hot-headed boy here as a ruse. They are truly ignorant. Once this blows up, the elders of the Wu family will certainly not agree—I tell you, this Miss Yanyao is going to be stuck in the hands of the Lin family."

Lady Jiang Li shot her a glare, and she promptly shut her mouth.

In front of the Lin residence, Lady Li was indeed feeling troubled and indecisive. Wu Qingyu signaled to Wu Tan, who quietly tugged at Lady Li’s sleeve and whispered, "Second Aunt, I think we should let Grandfather and Second Uncle make the final decision on this!"

Lady Li did not know Wu Qingyu well. Although her impression of him was favorable because he had just saved Lin Yanyao, marriage was not something to be decided so rashly. Furthermore—this Wu Qingyu was the son of Wu Xun and Lady Meng. At the thought of the old Marquis, she felt a headache coming on.

When Wu Tan spoke, Lady Li immediately shared the same suspicion as Mother Huang. Her heart rose into her throat. She pulled Wu Tan aside and asked, "Did you arrange this?"

Wu Tan denied it: "No! Besides, this is a major life event, not a game. Even if I wanted to arrange it, my Second Brother wouldn't listen to me."

Lady Li believed this. Wu Qingyu was eighteen, a grown man, and not a fool. If this weren't truly his own desire, Wu Tan could not have coerced him into it.

Still, she dared not agree to this lightly. Seeing Wu Qingyu smiling obediently as he waited for her reply, she could not leave him standing there. She walked back to him and said, "I must consult with the young lady’s grandfather and father before I can give you an answer. However, you are a guest; please come inside and have a cup of tea first."

"Yes!" Wu Qingyu did not press her, bowing respectfully. "Thank you, Second Aunt, for your hospitality!"

Harried and anxious, Lady Li sighed inwardly, turned to lead him inside, and immediately sent someone to the Hanlin Academy to bring Lin Xiucheng home.

Wu Qingyu instructed Changtai to stay outside to oversee the clearing of the entrance and the placement of the betrothal gifts. He cast one glance at Wu Tan and then followed Lady Li into the estate, full of high spirits.

Hu Tianming, who had been standing at the gate for some time, looked at him with a newfound sense of respect, though he did not intervene and simply followed them inside.

At the entrance, thanks to the help of some eager onlookers, the area was cleared quickly. Within less than two quarters of an hour, the Jiang family's gifts had been swept away. The crowd tactfully stepped back to make room, and Changtai began directing the men to display the Wu family's gifts box by box.

The Jiang family’s carriage, which had been stuck for a long time, was finally able to move. Lady Jiang Li, feeling utterly disgusted, wanted to leave immediately and urged the coachman to drive on.

As the carriage reversed from the alley, it had to pass the front of the Lin residence. Mother Huang, who had been peeking through a corner of the curtain, finally noticed Jiang Yuzhi and Wu Tan standing in the open space.

"My Lady! Young Miss!" Mother Huang exclaimed.

Lady Jiang Li, who had been massaging her temples in an attempt to calm her headache, suddenly opened her eyes and remembered her daughter. She shouted impatiently out the window, "Yuzhi, let’s go!"

Jiang Yuzhi had been driven by a desire to watch the spectacle and make comparisons—she wanted to see how many gifts the Wu family would offer for a woman who had been rejected once and had her reputation ruined. But halfway through, she realized that the scale of the Wu family’s gifts was far more lavish than those of their own noble Duke’s estate...

Both were second sons with no hope of inheriting their titles, yet their Duke’s estate had lost to a mere Marquis’s estate? Jiang Yuzhi, already bitter from Lady Li’s attitude toward them, felt even more sour. Hearing her mother call, she had no heart left to watch.

"What is there to be so proud of?" she said, walking toward the carriage. As she passed Wu Tan, she glared viciously. "Whatever the Wu family picks up is just what our Jiang family didn't want!"

The remark was not only excessive but malicious. Jiang Yuzhi sneered and turned to leave.

Wu Tan, however, grabbed her wrist, dragged her a few steps, and shoved her behind a stone lion at the entrance, blocking the view from the street.

Jiang Yuzhi’s back hit the stone, and just as she was about to curse, Wu Tan slapped her across the face.

*Smack.*

Jiang Yuzhi felt her head rattle. She covered her face and looked up at Wu Tan in disbelief.

Lady Jiang Li, seeing her daughter being dragged away, instinctively feared she would be harmed and scrambled out of the carriage. She witnessed the entire scene.

"Wu Tan! Is this the upbringing of the Marquis of Dingyuan’s estate? What status do you hold to dare lay a hand on my daughter?" she shrieked, rushing forward to retaliate.

Wu Tan snatched a hairpin from Jiang Yuzhi’s hair and, while the girl was still stunned, pressed the sharp end against her cheek.

Jiang Yuzhi froze, chilled to the bone.

Wu Tan arched an eyebrow at Lady Jiang Li, who also shivered, panic rising in her voice: "Are you mad? What are you trying to do?"

Wu Tan ignored her, fixing her gaze on the pale-faced Jiang Yuzhi. She said coldly, "Miss Jiang, let me advise you: a person's intelligence is innate. You were born stupid, which isn't your fault, but since you are a human being, you should at least have a conscience! Don't think I am being unreasonable or bullying you. This slap was on behalf of my cousin, Miss Lin. She has been your friend for years; search your heart and ask yourself, has she ever treated you poorly? Now that she is at her lowest point, you offer no comfort, and I would have ignored that, but to spout such vile filth to insult her? Were you born without a conscience, or did a dog eat it?"

Though she was scolding Jiang Yuzhi, the words were double-edged, hitting Lady Jiang Li as well.

Lady Jiang Li felt as if she had endured a lifetime’s worth of indignity in these last two days. Her husband, Jiang Weixian, had been lording over her, and she had been rebuked by Lady Li twice today. Now, even a mere slip of a girl like Wu Tan dared to insult her?

Lady Jiang Li’s chest heaved. She wanted to scream back, but realized it would be beneath her dignity and, more importantly, she knew this arrogant girl didn't respect her as an elder. If she tried to pull rank, she would only suffer further humiliation. With her daughter held hostage, she could only grit her teeth and glare at Wu Tan with eyes that seemed ready to draw blood.

Jiang Yuzhi, terrified that the mad girl might actually slash her face, dared not move. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she remained silent, biting her lip.

Seeing her unrepentant, Wu Tan continued, "And what did you just say? That the Wu family picked up what the Jiang family didn't want?"

Jiang Yuzhi remained silent, her teeth clenched.

Lady Jiang Li had heard her daughter say something vicious from the carriage, but she hadn't expected her to say it to her face. She felt a mix of anger and disappointment.

Jiang Yuzhi, terrified and aggrieved, sobbed, "Mother..."

But with the hairpin pressed against her cheek, Lady Jiang Li dared not act.

Wu Tan continued: "Since your entire family is so ungrateful, let’s stop playing games. Jiang Yuzhi, you are right—in this matter regarding my cousin, the Wu family did indeed pick up what you didn't want. But do you not know why she ended up in this situation? And you, Lady Jiang, dare you put your hand on your heart and say you didn't know Jiang Pingzhi was already seeing someone else?"

Both mother and daughter had suspected this. Exposed to their faces, they were filled with guilt. Lady Jiang Li looked away, while Jiang Yuzhi tried to argue, "I don't know what you're talking about! The marriage between my cousin and my brother was agreed upon by our parents long ago. Don't be so unreasonable."

"Agreed upon?" Wu Tan sneered. "So, did your family also decide yesterday to have your servants lie and trick my cousin into leaving the house, only to hire thugs to abduct her and destroy her reputation?"

Jiang Weixian had suspected Jiang Pingzhi’s involvement, but Lady Jiang Li and her daughter had been kept in the dark.

Lady Jiang Li grew furious: "Stop spouting nonsense..." Her son, a scholar of the classics, could never be such a man!

"Whether I am spouting nonsense, go home and ask Jiang Pingzhi!" Wu Tan cut her off coldly. "He knows what he has done! Do you know who the woman he is seeing is, Lady Jiang? It is Princess Changping! The daughter of the Grand Princess Qingyang! To climb the social ladder, he couldn't possibly honor his marriage to the Lin family. Yet you, in your foolishness, came to the Lin family to force the engagement. Because of your family’s selfish schemes, he went insane and attacked my cousin yesterday. Do you understand now?"

Lady Jiang Li recoiled, and Jiang Yuzhi gasped, "That’s impossible!"

"Why is it impossible?" Wu Tan retorted sharply. "Two days ago at the Zhuque Tower, the seemingly innocent and dim-witted Miss Jiang could conspire with Li Xun'er and Zhou Changyin to murder my cousin. Why couldn't your dear brother conspire with Li Xun'er?"

Jiang Yuzhi was terrified that the truth would come out, never expecting Wu Tan to expose it in front of her mother.

"You're lying!" she shrieked, collapsing to the ground in tears, forgetting the hairpin still pressed against her cheek.

Wu Tan tossed the hairpin aside, clapped her hands, and looked at Lady Jiang Li. Lady Jiang Li stood stunned, staring at her trembling daughter, her mind reeling. She knew her daughter too well; the reaction confirmed that Wu Tan was telling the truth.

How could her daughter be so stupid? If this reached the palace—if it reached Empress Jiang or Xiao Yun—her marriage would be ruined!

Lady Jiang Li’s face turned ashen. She had lost all the bravado she had arrived with.

Wu Tan looked at her, a malicious smile on her face. "Does the Lady still feel that your Jiang family is innocent and in the right?"

Lady Jiang Li bit her lip, silent.

Wu Tan stepped closer. Though she was short, her aura was imposing. Lady Jiang Li felt a sudden, inexplicable chill.

Wu Tan’s lips curled into a smile. "Shall I tell you one more thing?"

Lady Jiang Li felt the sunny day turn bitingly cold. She frowned, "What other nonsense do you want to invent?"

She wanted to run, fearing that Wu Tan would drive her mad, but her feet felt rooted to the spot. Subconsciously, she believed that Wu Tan held even greater leverage over the Jiang family.

Seeing the fear in her eyes, Wu Tan leaned in and whispered, "The two murder cases at the Zhuque Tower two days ago—Jiang Yuzhi’s participation in the attempt on my cousin is one, and the murder of the top scholars and several innocent people—that was the joint work of Jiang Pingzhi and Li Xun'er!"

"Ah—" Lady Jiang Li gasped, stumbling back.

"My Lady!" Mother Huang caught her. Jiang Yuzhi stopped crying and rushed to help.

Lady Jiang Li felt her legs give way, barely able to stand. She glared at Wu Tan.

Wu Tan continued: "So now you understand? Your children’s hands are stained with blood. Jiang Pingzhi has just passed his exams, and Jiang Yuzhi is betrothed..."

"Enough!" Lady Jiang Li, unable to bear the threats against her children's future, shrieked, "Stop fear-mongering! If what you say is true, bring the evidence and let’s go to court!"

She realized that if Wu Tan had real evidence, she wouldn't be standing here talking.

Wu Tan shrugged, admitting it readily: "True! It’s precisely because I lack concrete evidence that you are still standing here. But Lady Jiang, you should understand why I am telling you this privately. Your business with the Lin family ends here. Keep your children under control and keep your family’s mouths shut. If there is any more trouble—even without evidence, if I say everything I know—"

She paused, looking at Jiang Yuzhi, and smiled sweetly. "My cousin’s engagement was called off, but it doesn't stop her from marrying into our Wu family. But Miss Jiang, if you lose your position as the Crown Princess—then truly, no one will dare to 'pick you up'!"

The truth was harsh, but undeniable. Jiang Yuzhi was betrothed to the Crown Prince; if that were ruined, her only path would be to enter a nunnery.

Jiang Yuzhi was furious at Wu Tan’s arrogance, but trembling with fear, she dared not utter a word. Lady Jiang Li, meanwhile, was a broken woman, unable to protect even herself.

Having delivered the warning, Wu Tan turned to leave. Jiang Yuzhi, unwilling to back down, stood her ground and glared.

Wu Tan looked at her, leaning in with a mocking expression. "Did you see the scene where the scholars were crushed? It was miserable. So much blood... some of their heads were split open... I wonder, since the officials can't solve the case, will their vengeful ghosts seek out Jiang Pingzhi and Li Xun'er? You should be careful sleeping at night. Your estate is so large, what if a lost ghost wanders into your room..."

"Ah—" Jiang Yuzhi finally screamed and buried herself in her mother’s arms.

Having scared her away, Wu Tan walked back into the Lin estate.

Lady Jiang Li was a fool, and Jiang Yuzhi was even worse; they didn't even know what their own children were capable of. Such people truly didn't know how they would meet their end.

Wu Tan admitted to a bit of malicious pleasure in scaring Jiang Yuzhi.

Outside, the Marquis of Dingyuan’s butler, who had been trailing the procession, was stuck in the crowd, and the servant sent by the Old Madam to find Wu Tan arrived as well. The three of them exchanged glances; they couldn't get in, so they decided to return to report.

Lady Meng had been pacing in anxiety. When she heard that her son had gone to the Lin estate to propose, her only thought was: *The retribution has arrived!*