Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 587 - 589: Divorce (Part 1)

Xiqiu changed her clothes and greeted the Grand Dowager, then left the house with Bihuai, Biwu, and Nanny Qiu.

Inside the side door, the Tong Mansion’s carriage was waiting at the side. Nanny Qiu supported Xiqiu and said, "First Young Madam is waiting for you inside."

Xiqiu nodded, stepped onto the footstool, and boarded the carriage. Inside, Madam Jiang was indeed sitting there, wearing a crimson silk overcoat with double golden borders, wide and large. After becoming pregnant, she hadn’t gained weight but seemed a bit thinner than before. Sitting at the back of the carriage, besides her round belly, she could hardly be seen.

"Sixth Lady." Madam Jiang reached out to help Xiqiu sit beside her, a little embarrassed, and said, "Always troubling you."

Xiqiu knew that there was really no one at home to help her, and if her body were better, it wouldn’t be a problem, but now she was also pregnant, feeling somewhat powerless.

"How is Fourth Sister?" Xiqiu didn’t say much, directly asking Madam Jiang, "Nanny Qiu said the old illness relapsed. How could it relapse? Why did Old Madam Jiang punish Fourth Sister to kneel in the ancestral hall?"

Madam Jiang sighed, her face full of worry, and explained what Nanny Qiu hadn’t made clear. Xiqiu finally understood the whole situation. In Tong Xiyan’s household, a concubine, Madam He, had just been found pregnant and was always demanding this and that. Last night, when Tong Xiyan returned from the Tong Mansion, she demanded bird’s nest soup. Tong Xiyan ordered the kitchen to prepare it and send it over. Right after eating, Madam He started complaining of stomach pain, and within moments, she began bleeding.

Old Madam Jiang, eagerly hoping for a grandson, finally got a "grandson," only to lose it again. How could she remain calm? She ordered a search of Tong Xiyan’s room and found a packet of saffron under the pillow of her personal maid.

Caught red-handed, Old Madam Jiang, in a fury, punished Tong Xiyan to kneel all night in the ancestral hall, making her plead guilty in front of the ancestors!

Tong Xiyan’s room had only one concubine. The little junior sister hadn’t yet been officially welcomed, so naturally, suspicion fell on Tong Xiyan.

Hearing this, Xiqiu frowned. Could it be that after she left, Lady gave Tong Xiyan this trick? But if that’s the case, it’s too obvious...

Intuitively, she felt it wasn’t like that, as Tong Xiyan’s character wasn’t one to do such things.

Even if Tong Xiyan did do it, upon reflection, Old Madam Jiang is truly something special—allowing a concubine to get pregnant when the wife had only been childless for a year. In the Great Zhou, the roles and statuses of wife and concubine are clear. Generally, as long as the wife has hope, a concubine wouldn’t be allowed to give birth first. The offspring of concubines might have equal rights to the estate, but in terms of authority, such as family rituals or inheriting titles, only if there is no legitimate heir would a concubine’s child take charge.

This kind of improper behavior, Old Madam Jiang not only justified but punished the legitimate wife in front of the concubine without discerning right from wrong...

"What about Brother-in-law Jiang? Didn’t he stop it?" Xiqiu asked.

Madam Jiang shook her head, replying, "He said he pleaded, but Old Madam Jiang scolded him too, calling him unfilial." Madam Jiang appeared helpless, "Fourth Brother-in-law is straightforward but famously filial. When First Master Jiang passed away, it was somewhat related to him, so perhaps he feels guilty and now listens to Old Madam Jiang’s every word..."

It’s surprising that Jiang Shilin is quite blindly filial.

Xiqiu also sighed. Having not seen Tong Xiyan, they only heard about the situation, which perhaps wasn’t as bad as they thought...

However, even without meeting, Xiqiu could imagine the kind of person Old Madam Jiang was. It seemed this visit might not be easy to handle.

Madam Jiang leaned back on a pillow and sighed, looking a bit haggard. Xiqiu looked at her with pity and softly said, "Sister-in-law, if the household affairs are really too much, let Nanny Qiu handle them. Now that you’re pregnant, even if the house is chaotic for a few months, it’s fine. The child is most important."

Madam Jiang nodded, replying, "I think the same. These days, the bigger my stomach gets, the more exhausted I feel. My legs are also swollen, and I often get cramps at night, crying out in pain without caring..." Saying this, she seemed to remember something amusing, her eyes showing a smile, "I let your big brother massage my legs."

Xiqiu thought of Tong Shenzhi holding Madam Jiang’s legs, finding it amusing, and couldn’t help but smile along.

The carriage rattled along as Xiqiu and Madam Jiang conversed softly for about half an hour before it finally stopped. Outside, Nanny Qiu called through the curtain, "First Young Madam, Sixth Lady, we’ve arrived." Xiqiu got off the carriage first, and the big maid beside Madam Jiang helped her out. At the side door, a group of matrons came to welcome them.

"Young Madam, Sixth Lady," five or six people came forward to greet them. Xiqiu nodded to them, observing the matrons. The one leading wore the most elegant clothes and spoke loudly; possibly she was the housekeeper beside Old Madam Jiang.

As Xiqiu thought this, she and Madam Jiang were already escorted by the maids and matrons inside. Beyond the screen wall was the Jiang Mansion’s garden. Scattered here and there were some plantains and wintergreen, with only a few beauty grass and orchids planted under the wintergreen tree. It looked rather delicate but smaller than she had imagined.

This was the first time Xiqiu visited the Jiang Mansion. She had heard that it had three courtyards in a row, but the distance between these courtyards was much more compact compared to the equally three-courtyarded Second Master Tong’s residence.

A woman unfamiliar to her smiled welcomingly, with a round, plump face, wearing a red purple floral overcoat, the fabric made of Snow Fine Gauze. The style was the new wide-collared design from Brocade Pavilion, seemingly newly worn, with a complete set of golden headpieces weighing about five to six liang, showing off wealth and grandeur. Xiqiu discreetly raised an eyebrow; although Jiang Shilin held a high position, the Jiang family’s wealth wasn’t considered abundant. If they were merely relying on Jiang Shilin’s salary to support the family, they would be pinched, but judging by this woman’s attire... it seemed the Jiang family wasn’t as financially strained as she had imagined.

Madam Jiang turned her head and exchanged a glance with Xiqiu, indeed showing a look of surprise in her eyes.

"Mother-in-law, Sixth Lady." She approached with a smile to introduce herself to Madam Jiang and Xiqiu, "I am the sister-in-law of the Second Younger Brother from my maternal family, surnamed Wang." After speaking, she bowed slightly to Xiqiu, the gold and jade jewelry on her clothes jingling.

So it was Jiang Shilin’s sister-in-law; Xiqiu couldn’t help but feel curious about Jiang Shilin’s older brother...

Xiqiu returned the courtesy with a half bow and smiled, "So it’s Madam Jiang." Madam Jiang also smiled, "I’ve often heard Fourth Sister-in-law mention you but never had the chance to meet. Finally, today I’ve met you. You really are young."

Mrs. Wang laughed, covering her mouth, tiny crow’s feet appearing at the corners of her eyes, and Xiqiu couldn’t help but admire how well Madam Jiang could compliment someone.

"Please come in, mother-in-law and Sixth Lady, my mother is waiting for you." With that, Mrs. Wang stepped aside to gesture them in, "Why didn’t Third Young Madam come with you?"