She Is Such A Jerk, And Yet She’s The One Crying! - Chapter 42

As night passed and dawn arrived once more, Lin Dongruan had still not received any word from the Governor, Jiang Weilan. A faint sense of unease began to stir within her heart. “Why should you worry, Sister? If the medicine has taken effect, Jiang Weilan would be far too overjoyed to find the time to send word,” Qiang Ning said. “Conversely, if the medicine were useless, only then would he be rushing to our door in a desperate search for a physician.”

“A-Ning, do you not know—when madness reaches its final end, there is often a ‘lucid interval’ where the patient becomes exceptionally clear-headed.” Lin Dongruan had seen many patients suffering from insanity and could not help but consider this possibility. She continued, “After so many years of mental affliction, even if the antidote is taken, there will be many signs of discomfort. It is impossible for things to remain so calm and tranquil throughout the entire night.”

“Whatever the reason may be, we shall know once we go to see for ourselves. Sister, you are simply too kind-hearted; Jiang Weilan isn’t even anxious yet, but you are already worrying for them…” Qiang Ning said as she tidied her clothes. “Though Jiang Weilan is not exactly a clean or upright official, he was a devoted lover back in the day. After his wife died, he never remarried, and all his thoughts have centered around his one son and two daughters. It is a pity that Zhang Lihan contracted this madness, causing Jiang Weilan to show such a weary and overworked appearance at his age.”

Lin Dongruan had heard of this matter. The late Emperor had been lecherous and, during his lifetime, had intended to take the daughter of the Duke of Xi into his harem. It was Jiang Weilan, the Governor of Sanqi Commandery, who had boldly petitioned to marry her when he sensed the shifting winds, forcing the late Emperor to let go. At that time, the daughter of the Duke of Xi was ranked first among the “Noble Ladies” and naturally looked down upon Jiang Weilan, who was several years her senior. Even after marrying into Sanqi Commandery, she never gave him much of a pleasant countenance.

Lin Dongruan remarked, “Though it was not a mutual affection at first, I wonder why, after only a few short years, the two of them became so deeply devoted to one another.”

“Actually, I can’t figure it out either.” Qiang Ning knew her subordinates better than anyone. “Although Jiang Weilan is the Governor of Sanqi, he spent those years as a ‘vegetarian official’ one who holds a post without doing work. He occupied land privately, colluded with merchants, and oppressed the commoners—he did plenty of that. I don’t know why such a benevolent and righteous lady would accept him.”

Lin Dongruan had not originally known much about these affairs, but after Qiang Ning’s words, she suddenly remembered that the Duke of Xi had not only sired a daughter but also a son who campaigned abroad year-round. The pair of siblings were named Jiang Nianci and Jiang Nianyang… the latter of whom was now the Great General Protector of the State. Calculating the dates, the time when this General’s fame began to soar was exactly when the late Emperor wanted to bring his sister into the harem.

This was certainly no “coincidence.” Likely, the late Emperor’s paranoia had flared up again; to consolidate his hold over the people and the military, he chose to keep the Jiang family tightly gripped within his hand. Had Jiang Weilan not suddenly intervened and disrupted the scheme, Jiang Nianci would likely have been snatched into the harem by the late Emperor, who already had one foot in the grave.

Lin Dongruan said, “Governor Jiang is a man of profound sentiment and righteousness.”

Soon, Qiang Ning also understood Lin Dongruan’s meaning and realized, “No wonder the couple eventually reached a conclusion of ‘zither and lute in harmony’ (marital bliss).”

As Jiang Nianyang became a general of immense merit and won the hearts of the people, he inevitably drew the Emperor’s suspicion and jealousy. To control the entire Duke of Xi’s manor and Jiang Nianyang, the late Emperor prepared to marry Jiang Nianci. When Jiang Weilan sensed something was wrong, he risked everything to marry her. Simultaneously, after the wedding, he deliberately put on the facade of a corrupt and useless official. He did not perform a single good deed, continuously eroding the public sentiment of Sanqi Commandery while gradually dispelling the late Emperor’s suspicions.

As the governor of a strategic pass married to the sister of a general with illustrious military achievements, he could not afford to appear just and upright. Otherwise, the combined influence of the family would pose a significant threat to imperial power.

But… no matter how much Jiang Weilan calculated, he still underestimated the depth of the late Emperor’s suspicion. Several years after his wife’s death, he took his only son to the capital without any defenses. When they returned, his son had already fallen into madness.

As she unraveled these long-buried secrets, Qiang Ning suddenly gave Lin Dongruan an uneasy look. She thought to herself—My father was so suspicious; why would he trust Lin Dongruan with the world and the heir to the throne? Could it simply be because Lin Dongruan is an Imperial Preceptor with ‘clean sleeves’ (uncorrupted)?

That shouldn’t be right.

Qiang Ning suddenly grabbed Lin Dongruan’s hand and asked, “Sister, have you ever been threatened by my father?”

“How could that be?” Lin Dongruan gave a gentle and soft smile. Her expression was the same as always, showing no cracks. “The late Emperor entrusted me with the heavy responsibility of being a guardian; he must have trusted me. How could he do something like ‘crossing the river and then tearing down the bridge’?”

Qiang Ning stared at her with serious focus: “Is that true?”

Lin Dongruan’s eyes softened as she opened her arms for her to see. “It has been so many years. Look, A-Ning, I am still here, safe and sound.”

But… Qiang Ning remembered that Zhang Lihan’s madness only manifested after a period of time. Since her father could set such bizarre secret techniques, perhaps he also possessed some sinister methods that would only trigger after many years.

Seeing that she was still unconvinced, Lin Dongruan explained further, “A-Ning, I am well-versed in medicine and the laws of fate. Even if I had fallen victim to a scheme, how could I not know it myself?”

Qiang Ning did not trust others, but she did trust Lin Dongruan. She was well aware of the medicine of the person before her, so she let out a sigh of relief. “That is good then. Sister, if you have any difficulties, you must tell me. I will face them with you and find a solution together.”

“Alright.” Lin Dongruan lightly stroked her hair and smiled. “A-Ning is very good.”