To Marry the Elder Brother of One's Late Husband - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Little Sister-in-Law’s Clever Schemes

A medicinal pot hung over a small red-clay stove, the rising steam scattering and turning the room into a sweltering steamer.

Jiang Shu said to Lu Changyi with a smile, “This medicinal fumigation recipe was prescribed by Head Physician Wen of the Imperial Palace; he said it is beneficial for the body. Please do not despise the smell of the decoction, Heir. As long as you can regain your health, any bitterness endured is worthwhile.”

Lu Changyi nodded listlessly. He wasn’t particularly happy about it, but ultimately did not rebuff Jiang Shu’s kindness. He reached out to pull her closer and whispered, “I am exhausted. Stay by my side.”

Lu Changyi had given Jiang Shu status, dignity, and wealth; the only thing she could offer him in return was her companionship. Even though the room was stifling and humid, she would not refuse his request. She took his hand back and said softly, “Just close your eyes and rest your mind, Heir. I will keep track of the time for you.”

Reassured by her words, Lu Changyi lay back despondently by the small stove, allowing the medicinal steam to envelop him and seep into his skin inch by inch.

Lu Changyi had a cold constitution, so he did not find it unbearable to be near the stove. Jiang Shu, however, was drenched in sweat. After just half an hour, it felt as though several years had passed, and her clothes were wet enough to wring out half a bowl of water.

Taking advantage of the moment when Changshun was wiping Lu Changyi down, she turned and went to the washroom to bathe. The tub was filled with warm water infused with rose essence. Jiang Shu soaked comfortably, and soon her body was filled with the fragrance of roses.

Lu Changyi had an impatient temperament; if he lost sight of Jiang Shu for too long, he would throw a tantrum. Jiang Shu changed into summer clothes and, without waiting for her hair to dry, wiped the water droplets from her locks as she headed back to the bedroom.

Rounding the screen, she saw Changshun guarding the bedroom door. Spotting Jiang Shu, he placed a finger to his lips in a “shush” gesture, indicating that Lu Changyi had already fallen asleep.

Jiang Shu breathed a sigh of relief and called for a sedan chair to take her to the Little Cool Pavilion. The pavilion sat on higher ground and featured water displays; when the windows were opened, the breeze would blow moisture into the room. While such a place was too cold in winter, it was a perfect summer retreat.

Jiang Shu was sensitive to heat, so whenever she had free time, she would come here for a nap. Entering the room, she opened all the windows and lay back comfortably on a chaise longue. She picked up an iced mulberry and put it in her mouth; the cold, sweet juice burst across her palate, making her feel instantly refreshed.

She picked up another mulberry, but before it reached her lips, the door was pushed open. Zhu’er rushed in, looking flustered.

Zhu’er stood with her hands on her hips, panting for a while before catching her breath. She leaned in close to Jiang Shu and said indignantly, “Fourth Madam, I’ve finally found you! You’ll never guess what I saw this morning.”

She was someone who couldn’t keep a secret, so without waiting for Jiang Shu to ask, she spilled everything she had seen and heard.

“Today is my little nephew’s birthday. I specifically bought longevity peaches and red eggs to go home and celebrate. My home is far from the Xinyang Marquis Mansion, so I thought I’d take a shortcut through Chuanli Street.”

Zhu’er had a cheerful disposition. Even though she hated her brother and sister-in-law for selling her to a human trafficker, she didn’t take it out on her niece and nephew. On holidays or birthdays, she would always go home to check on them.

Chuanli Street was a famous slum in Bianjing, inhabited mostly by drunks and vagrants; rarely did respectable families settle there. If not for the shortcut, even Zhu’er wouldn’t have set foot there.

Zhu’er wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and continued, “Guess who I saw on Chuanli Street? I saw Qingyu, the senior maid beside Lady Yang. She was wearing a veiled hat and acting very suspiciously. Seeing she was up to no good, I quietly followed her.”

“And following her certainly paid off. I saw her enter a gambling den and toss two silver ingots to some thugs. She told them to sneak into the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s villa in five days… to have them… have them commit an act of violation against you, to destroy your reputation and purity.”

As Zhu’er spoke, her face grew darker. Even the steady Jiang Shu instinctively tightened her grip on her embroidery hoop. She squeezed so hard that her knuckles turned white.

A woman’s purity was more important than life itself. If it were lost, how could one continue to live? It would be better to end it all with a rope.

Lady Yang was narrow-minded and vengeful. After losing face at the birthday banquet, Jiang Shu knew she would seek retaliation. Withholding her mother’s monthly allowance or scolding Jiang Shu were things she had expected; she just never imagined Lady Yang would be this cruel.

Jiang Shu took a deep breath, her fingers tightening further. The dark purple mulberry juice stained her palm—cold and greasy.

Since Lady Yang wanted her life, she could not be blamed for showing no mercy.

Jiang Shu looked at Zhu’er and asked, “Did Qingyu specify the time for the deed?”

Zhu’er nodded. “She told those ruffians to strike at the Goldenrain tree grove in the villa at the fifth quarter of the Wei hour (approx. 2:15 PM).”

Zhu’er had always thought she was unlucky in life, but at least her brother hadn’t tried to kill her. Compared to Jiang Shu, she felt like the fortunate one. Her heart was in a knot, and feeling the injustice for Jiang Shu, she said righteously, “Miss, you must tell the Master quickly. He is your biological father; surely he will seek justice for you.”

Jiang Shu shook her head. Not only did she lack evidence, but even if she presented it to Jiang Wenhuan, he would at most reprimand the mother and daughter and place them under house arrest. Such punishments could never balance the scales against their murderous intent.

Only “an eye for an eye” could soothe the hatred in her heart.

Jiang Shu looked at Zhu’er: “Do you remember which gambling den Qingyu entered and which thugs she spoke to?”

Though Zhu’er was clumsy, her memory was excellent. Not just the gambling den, she remembered the faces of the three thugs clearly. She nodded and replied, “I remember. I remember it all.”

Jiang Shu took off her red-gold twisted bracelet and pressed it into Zhu’er’s hand. “Go and buy an outfit exactly like Qingyu’s. Wear a veiled hat, disguise yourself as her, and go to that gambling den to find those three thugs.”

“Tell them the location has changed to the Crepe Myrtle grove, and the time is moved up to the first quarter of the Wei hour (approx. 1:15 PM). Tell them that the Second Madam of the Xinyang Marquis Mansion will be wearing a pale purple jacket and walking in the woods. They must ensure she is disgraced and her reputation ruined.”

Zhu’er thought for a long while before finally understanding Jiang Shu’s plan, but she still had one confusion. She whispered, “Madam, why are you so certain the Second Miss (Jiang Ran) will wear a pale purple jacket?”

Jiang Shu curled her lips into a faint smile. “Jiang Ran dreams of marrying my brother-in-law. As long as someone leaks the information that he likes pale purple and that he will be attending the banquet at the Commissioner’s residence, she will definitely wear that color to the event.”

Though she was simply paying them back in their own coin, Jiang Shu still felt a trace of panic. This was her first time plotting to harm someone; her heart felt as if it were stuffed with cotton—uneasy and unable to find peace.

Jiang Shu let out a heavy sigh. She lay back on the chaise longue and raised her hand to gently massage her aching temples.

The sunlight was like crushed gold, spilling from the window into the room. Even with her eyes closed, Jiang Shu could feel its brilliance. She opened her eyes and looked out the window.

The sunlight hit the green bamboo outside, shimmering like floating gold—a scene as beautiful as a painting. But the painting was not a simple still life.

Under the bamboo grove sat a small tea table. Lu Changji sat idly by the table, his posture relaxed, but his gaze was as sharp as a blade. He stared at Jiang Shu and said in a low voice:

“Little Sister-in-law, what clever schemes you have!”