Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 594 - 596: It’s Love (2)

Nanny Fang was taken aback and immediately fell silent.

After all, the saying goes that it’s better to tear down a temple than break up a marriage, and everyone understood that, especially since Fourth Lady seemed clearly not over Jiang Shilin yet.

"It’s getting late, you should head back early, there are still children waiting at home." The First Master turned to Fourth Master Xiao and said.

Fourth Master Xiao nodded and stood up: "Then we’ll be going now. If there’s anything you need from us, just send someone to the mansion." After saying this, he glanced at Xiqiu: "Lord Jiang has always handled matters thoroughly, I believe he knows what to do!"

Xiqiu also stood up with Fourth Master Xiao, and saluted the First Master, Tong Shen Zhi, and Madam Jiang: "Then we will be leaving first."

"Sixth Sister, let me see you out." Tong Quanzi followed Xiqiu in standing and winked at her, to which Xiqiu smiled and nodded: "Much obliged, Third Brother."

Tong Quanzi chuckled, and the group escorted Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao to the door before heading back. Tong Quanzi and Xiqiu walked behind, and he whispered: "Sixth Sister, how about I find someone to teach Fourth Brother-in-law a good lesson?"

Xiqiu paused, then quickly stopped him: "You absolutely mustn’t do that. It’s not just about breaking the law, if it’s found out to be your doing, how would you expect your Fourth Sister and Fourth Brother-in-law to get along in the future?"

Tong Quanzi wilted again and sneakily glanced at Fourth Master Xiao: "I’ll go discuss with the Great Governor, Sixth Sister’s perspective is just a woman’s opinion."

Xiqiu was both amused and helpless!

Tong Quanzi indeed ran to catch up with Fourth Master Xiao, and after a while of hushed conversation, Xiqiu deliberately quickened her pace, overhearing Fourth Master Xiao say: "...if solving problems were just about using force, then if you truly become a general commanding thousands of troops one day, wouldn’t that lead to disastrous consequences!"

Tong Quanzi was stunned. He had always thought he and Fourth Master Xiao were the same kind of people, that if words failed, they’d fight until things became clear. Fourth Master Xiao’s words completely upended his usual logic, and he stood there, muttering: "If not by force, then by what?"

Fourth Master Xiao gazed deeply at him, a slight smile playing at his lips: "Ask your Sixth Sister!"

Xiqiu nearly burst out laughing—she was sure Fourth Master Xiao had heard Tong Quanzi’s earlier remark about her "woman’s opinion," which is why he told Tong Quanzi to ask her!

Sure enough, Tong Quanzi looked at Xiqiu puzzled, and she smiled, walked over, tapped his forehead, and said: "Your Fourth Brother-in-law means that force isn’t almighty. Many times, we have to rely on this instead!"

Then she cheerfully followed in Fourth Master Xiao’s footsteps and walked out the second gate.

Leaving Tong Quanzi standing in a confused daze in the distance.

Once in the carriage, Xiqiu found a spot to lean against, thinking of Tong Xiyan’s tear-streaked, sobbing face, and sighed long and hard.

"What’s the matter? Still troubled by the Jiang Family’s issues?" Fourth Master Xiao gently brushed the stray hair by Xiqiu’s ear and asked softly.

Xiqiu nodded and recounted the events at the Jiang Family’s house to Fourth Master Xiao, with a hint of anger: "Old Madam Jiang didn’t even investigate and had Fourth Sister kneel in the ancestral hall all night. She got a fever early in the morning, and Daijuan returned to the Tong Family. When she came back, Fourth Sister’s old illness relapsed. Surely someone took advantage of her being in a daze to do something..." After a pause, she continued: "The Jiang Family’s courtyard is filled with people, yet all the internal affairs are managed by Fourth Sister. When Nanny Qiu and Daijuan counted the trousseau chests, several were missing... Fourth Sister has only been married a year."

Clearly, Tong Xiyan often used her dowry to cover the Jiang Family’s expenses.

She couldn’t help but think of Madam Jiang’s five or six taels weight of head ornaments. Master Jiang had no income, and a family of several living there had to rely on what Jiang Shilin earned. Even with some land and external academy supplements, it wasn’t enough, yet Madam Jiang wore Snow Fine Gauze... Lady once received a length of it and couldn’t bear to use it, keeping it stored in a chest.

Thinking of how Tong Xiyan grew thinner day by day...

Her eyes reddened as she leaned on Fourth Master Xiao’s shoulder, sighing: "What if Brother-in-law Jiang doesn’t agree to the family division?"

"How could he disagree?" Fourth Master Xiao frowned: "With such a commotion in the inner residence, his reputation would suffer, and the Imperial Censor side would not stay quiet. Family division is the best solution now." Xiqiu also believed so, as did everyone. Yet, they overlooked the most crucial person involved: Old Madam Jiang...

The Jiang Family was also a scholarly family. How did they come to marry women like Old Madam Jiang and Madam Jiang?

The next day, as Xiqiu expected, after Tong Shen Zhi conveyed the Tong Family’s intentions to Jiang Shilin, Jiang Shilin immediately stated he would return to discuss with Old Madam Jiang, causing an uproar in the Jiang Family.

Old Madam Jiang furiously pointed at Jiang Shilin: "You unfilial son! How dare you neglect your mother for a mere wife!" She stormed up to Jiang Shilin: "I should have drowned you in the latrine the day you were born for all the trouble I endured giving birth to you!"

Jiang Shilin frowned, as Master Jiang couldn’t stand it anymore and went up to pull his mother: "Mother, why are you saying this at a time like this!"

Old Madam Jiang twisted her neck and retorted: "Why can’t I say it? I raised you all with such difficulty while your father only knew about studying. How could we survive on the little monthly stipends? If not for your uncle supporting you, sending rice money and fabrics from our shop every month, you’d all be starving! Now your wings have hardened, you deny your uncle, and even disregard your own mother! Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning."

Old Madam Jiang’s voice was so loud, Jiang Shilin felt his scalp tingling.

Fearing Old Madam Jiang would say something even more unpleasant, Master Jiang quickly grabbed her: "Mother, calm down!" He and Jiang Shilin looked very much alike but neither resembled Old Madam Jiang.

"Mother, don’t just blame Second Brother for this. Let’s be fair—this is also our fault. Although Second Sister-in-law sometimes speaks harshly, she’s not deceitful. Even I find it hard to believe she’d harm anyone... How could she not retort, not stand up to you? Besides, there’s something odd about her relapse. The Tong Family insists she was harmed, and we don’t have evidence to dispute it. Their request is reasonable."

"What did you say?" As if adding fuel to the fire, Old Madam Jiang grew even angrier: "She has no deceit? If she had none, how did she charm your Second Brother so completely? Do not forget, it was Lady of the Tong Family who drove your Second Brother out of the Tong Mansion, saying what? Saying your Second Brother was incompetent, and that he should return to marry her daughter only after he was titled a marquis or appointed minister! And what happened? Your Second Brother left for Fujian in a huff and almost never returned. How could you forget! Let me tell you, there’s not a single good person among the Tong Family." She paused before continuing: "Even the Sixth Lady who came yesterday, as well as the First Young Madam, are no better. The way they spoke, as if we were clinging to them, as if we should worship the Tong Family! Humph!"