The general kneels on the washboard again

Chapter 135 Jiang Yunsheng's Promotion

Midsummer is already here, and in the past few months, the second house has finally become quieter.

The sun shines on Yue Niang and Jiang Yunxiao's courtyard, but it cannot warm Yue Niang's heart.

Whenever she had free time, she would sit alone in the house, holding the hairpin that Jiang Yunxiao gave her in her hand, her eyes full of longing and worry.

Fortunately, Dong Zhu found various ways to make her happy, and Qin Wanwan often came to accompany her.

That day, Yu Jian came in from outside, his face twisted with anger: "Master, Jiang Yunxiao from the second house has been promoted."

Yue Niang was not surprised. Jiang Yunxiao had won so many military merits on the frontier, and the second branch had done a lot of things in the capital under the name of the Duke's Mansion.

The emperor wanted them to understand that when one prospers, all prosper, and when one suffers, all suffer.

However, the second house might let the emperor down.

At this time, in the second house.

Sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting a dappled light onto the ground. In the courtyard of the second house, Xie sat smugly on a carved pearwood chair, playing with a string of jade beads in her hand.

"Yihuan, come here!" Xie's voice was sharp, revealing an irresistible majesty.

Zhao walked over timidly, head lowered, not daring to meet Xie's gaze. She was petite, with a haggard face, and her clothes, though neat, looked a little worn.

"Hmph, look at you, such a loser!" Xie glanced at Zhao with disdain in her eyes, "I have something for you to do today."

Zhao asked with a slightly trembling voice, "Mother, what's going on?"

Xie sneered, picked up a note from the table beside her, and casually threw it on the ground: "Go, deliver this note to Yue Niang from the first house. Remember, humiliate her and let her know that our second house is not to be trifled with."

Zhao's heart tightened. She knew very well that Yue Niang was also a pitiful person. Her husband was fighting outside, and she was alone in the mansion.

Zhao bent down to pick up the note, feeling a little frightened, but not daring to disobey, so she could only reply, "Yes, mother."

Zhao, carrying the invitation, nervously made her way to the residence of the eldest wife, Yue Niang. Her heartbeat was already accelerating before she even entered the house.

Knocked on the door gently.

Yue Niang's voice came from inside: "Come in."

Zhao took a deep breath and pushed the door open. She saw Yue Niang sitting by the window, embroidering a handkerchief in her hand.

When Yue Niang saw Zhao come in, she put down her needlework.

"Sister-in-law, why are you here?" Yue Niang frowned slightly when she saw Zhao.

Zhao Shi didn't dare to look up. She trembled as she handed over the card and said, "Yue Niang, this... this is what my mother asked me to give you."

Yue Niang took the invitation without even glancing at it. She stared straight at Zhao and said, "Sister-in-law, what's this trick of the second house?"

Zhao Shi felt uneasy under Yue Niang's gaze and stammered, "I... I don't know. Mother asked me to give it to you, and... and asked me to..."

"What do you want me to do?" Yue Niang raised her voice, her voice full of majesty.

Zhao shuddered and almost cried: "Let me humiliate you."

Yue Niang sneered, "Humph, Mrs. Xie is truly vicious. Sister-in-law, are you willing to be ordered around by her like this?"

Zhao couldn't help sobbing, "Yue Niang, I have no choice. I have no say in the Second House."

Yue Niang looked at Zhao's pitiful appearance, and the anger in her heart subsided a little. Her tone softened a little: "Sister-in-law, I know you have suffered a lot of grievances in the second house."

Zhao nodded quickly: "Yue Niang, I really dare not disobey my mother's orders."

Yue Niang folded her arms over her chest and said, "Sister-in-law, I won't make things difficult for you, but you go back and tell Xie that she won't succeed. I, Fu Yue Niang, am not someone you can easily bully!"

Zhao bit her lip: "Yue Niang, I..."

Yue Niang looked at Zhao's embarrassment and didn't force her any further. "Forget it. Tell her I will go. If she asks you if I'm mad at you, just say I'm so mad I can't even speak."

There's no need to even look at that post; it's definitely for Jiang Yunsheng's promotion.

Zhao hurriedly left Yue Niang's room, feeling anxious. She knew another storm might be waiting for her.

Back in the second room, Xie couldn't wait to ask, "How is it? Is Yue Niang mad?"

Zhao lowered her head and whispered, "Mother, I did as you instructed. Yue Niang was so angry that her face turned pale and she couldn't say a word."

Mrs. Xie smiled with satisfaction: "Humph, let her know how powerful we are."

Zhao silently stepped aside, her heart filled with guilt towards Yue Niang and helplessness about her own fate.

At the banquet, Jiang Yunsheng was wearing a brand new official uniform and looked very energetic.

His mother, Mrs. Xie, stood by with a smug smile on her face.

Yue Niang sat in the corner, looking calm and indifferent.

Jiang Yunsheng picked up the wine glass and said loudly: "Today's banquet is thanks to the grace of the emperor. It has brought glory to my Jiang family."

Xie immediately echoed, "That's right. My son is now very successful in his career. This is all due to his ability. Unlike some people who work so hard on the frontier but don't even have an official position."

As she spoke, she glanced at Yue Niang.

Yue Niang clutched the handkerchief in her hand, drank her tea slowly, and suppressed the anger in her heart.

Jiang Yunsheng added, "From now on, our Jiang family will have to rely on my son to win glory for the family in the court."

Xie smiled sweetly and said, "My son is right. What's the point of the eldest wife being exposed to the wind and sun in the frontier? She has no talent. My son has talent and is living comfortably in the capital."

At this point, Yue Niang could no longer bear it and said, "My husband has served the country on the frontier, defending our homeland for the glory of Dacheng. The value he has created is no less than that of a civil servant."

Xie snorted coldly, "Oh, Yue Niang, you still dare to talk back? Even if your Jiang Yunxiao has made a contribution, so what? It's still a bargain for our Second Branch. Now the emperor values our Yunsheng."

After all, it involved the royal family, so Jiang Yunsheng quickly pulled Xie aside and said hypocritically, "Mother, don't say that. After all, we are all family."

Xie Shi was relentless, "A family? How can their eldest wife compare to us? Now that my son has been promoted, the Duke's Mansion will have to obey us from now on."

Yue Niang's eyes were teasing. "Really? Then why haven't you got the title yet? Could it be that your promotion is also due to my husband's merits?"

At this time, a maid from the main room accidentally spilled wine on Xie's clothes.

Xie was immediately furious: "You lowly servant, don't you have eyes?"

The maid was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and begged for mercy: "Madam, please spare my life, Madam, please spare my life."

Seeing Xie's expression, she was shaking with anger. Yue Niang hurriedly said, "Second aunt, I will take this slave girl back and teach her a lesson."

Xie glared at Yue Niang and said, "You may be kind-hearted, but the rules of this mansion cannot be broken. Come, drag this slave away and give her twenty lashes of the cane."

Yue Niang stood up and said, "Aunt, please forgive others when you can."

Jiang Yunsheng said, "Sister-in-law, this is the rule of the mansion, please don't interfere."

Yue Niang looked at their sarcastic faces, her heart filled with helplessness and anger.

He said sternly, "This is a maid from our mansion. You, the Second House, have no right to deal with her. Yu Jian, take her away."

The servant dressed as Yu Jian took the maid away.

Xie wanted to continue, but Jiang Yunsheng stopped her and whispered, "Mother, there are so many people watching."

The incident ended when Xie went to change her clothes.

As the banquet continued, Xie deliberately showed off to the ladies around her, "Look at my new jewelry, it's the style of the palace."

The ladies echoed the praise.

Xie looked at Yue Niang again and said, "Yue Niang, look at you. You don't even know how to dress up. You don't look like the young lady of the Duke's Mansion."

Yue Niang bit her lip and said nothing.

Jiang Yunsheng said at this time: "I have made many friends with powerful people in the court. Our Jiang family's status will be even higher in the future."

Xie said proudly, "That's natural. Unlike the eldest wife, who only knows how to fight wars, what future can she have."

Yue Niang finally couldn't help herself: "Don't go too far! Your husband risked his life for the country on the frontier, and yet you're here enjoying the glory he earned with his life, and you're even belittling him like this. Where's your conscience?"

Xie sneered, "Conscience? In this Duke's Mansion, strength is the most important thing. With your Jiang Yunxiao away, our second branch has the final say in this mansion."

Yue Niang's eyes were filled with mockery and contempt, but not the grievance and fear they wanted to see. "Is that so? Things may not change, but they will. You've truly failed me. When my husband returns, covered in glory, don't regret it!"

Jiang Yunsheng frowned: "Fu Yueniang, are you threatening us?"

Yue Niang straightened her back and said, "I'm just stating the facts."

After saying that, Yue Niang turned around and left the banquet without looking back.

We really can’t keep this bunch of clowns from the second house.