A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 58

The Stepfather’s Exit

Shen Hetang’s Departure

As Jiang Chenyu stared blankly at County Princess Qingyang with a sour ache in her chest, she was startled by the princess’s sudden remark and quickly bent her knees to bow.

            

While she maintained a respectful facade, her heart was full of stubborn resentment. She had never met any high-ranking nobles before and did not know how to curtsy properly. If this bow isn’t good enough, then they can just take me to the chopping block. What trash of a County Princess is she anyway, trying to steal my Ah Tang? How utterly detestable.

Shen Hetang’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, concealing the sharp, dangerous glint in her gaze. She stepped forward, subtly shielding Jiang Chenyu, and met the princess’s arrogant, amused stare. “Your Highness is of royal blood and surely would not stoop to the level of this humble commoner. If you like fabric dolls, this Shen will find several more for you once we return.”

County Princess Qingyang raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a beaming smile, but said nothing.

            

“I am deeply grateful for the Empress Dowager’s affection,” Shen Hetang continued. “However, during my recovery, this Shen merely resided here for over a year under the guise of Miss Jiang’s husband. Now that I have received the Empress Dowager’s favor and Your Highness’s affection, I will naturally sever all ties with this woman. After all, a firefly cannot compete with the bright moon’s brilliance.”

Shen Hetang wanted to distance herself from Jiang Chenyu to protect her, but this County Princess refused to play by the rules and behaved like an absolute lunatic. It was a true dilemma.

Since the princess had tracked her down to this very spot, she must have already investigated the relationship between her and Jiang Chenyu. At this moment, her only option was to draw a sharp line between them. Yet the princess had threatened to pluck out Jiang Chenyu’s eyes the second she arrived. Observing her, Shen Hetang realized that her own past playboy antics were laughably naive—not even a tenth of this woman’s sheer madness.

            

“I never would have expected General Shen to be so… heh… hehehe… appreciative of fine things.” County Princess Qingyang let out a cold, sharp laugh that made her teeth ache.

Hmph. He looks decent enough on the outside, but who would have thought he is just another fickle man who abandons his old love the moment something better comes along? But no matter. It doesn’t matter what kind of person he is, as long as we get married, all will be well.

“Your Highness flatters me,” Shen Hetang said, maintaining an air of impatience. “Once this Shen settles accounts with Miss Jiang, I will depart with Your Highness. It would be best if we head back to the capital today.”

            

Behind Shen Hetang, tears welled up in Jiang Chenyu’s eyes. Her entire body trembled with anger, and her hands and feet went numb, refusing to obey her.

“Jiang shi, why are you still standing there?” Shen Hetang barked, clasping her hands behind her back. Her tone was laced with irritation, though in reality, she was sweating buckets. “Being husband and wife with this general for a year was already the greatest blessing of your life. Get in here and take your divorce papers!”

Jiang Chenyu’s ears rang, rendering her almost unable to hear what Shen Hetang was saying, and her tear-filled eyes blurred her vision of her.

            

“I must ask Your Highness to please wait in the side parlor for some tea,” Shen Hetang said. “Once I finish resolving matters here, I shall set off with Your Highness.” With that, she grabbed Jiang Chenyu by the sleeve and dragged her into the bedroom.

County Princess Qingyang paced around the courtyard with little interest before sitting down on a stone bench. She observed the layout of the small yard. Admittedly, every corner exuded charm, reflecting the owner’s ingenious design. What a pity she had met the wrong man. Men were probably all the same—fickle creatures who fell for every new face they saw. Even if he had a face as beautiful as a flower, he was still nothing special.

Cuiwan, quick-witted as ever, served tea to the princess. Meanwhile, Cuidie was desperately restraining Chuntao, pinning her arms and covering her mouth to prevent her from doing anything reckless that might bring disaster down upon them.

            

The moment Shen Hetang dragged Jiang Chenyu inside, she shut the door tight. In the next instant, she pressed Jiang Chenyu against the door and kissed her gently. She was met with a face slick with tears. She hurriedly wiped them away with her fingers, but the tears kept flowing faster and faster, as if they cost nothing.

“Don’t cry anymore, your eyes are already swollen,” Shen Hetang murmured, her heart aching as she watched Jiang Chenyu weep silently, her tears pouring down. “The things I said were just to fool that Black Widow¹. Her mind is unstable, and I was terrified she would target you.”

Jiang Chenyu still ignored her. Once she caught her breath, she choked out, “Where are the divorce papers? Give them to me.”

            

She knew Ah Tang was likely just using a stall tactic, but hearing those words with her own ears was still too much to bear. Hmph. She hasn’t even left yet, and she’s already talking about divorcing me. I’m going to cry!

“What divorce papers? Don’t talk such nonsense. I only dragged you in here to kiss you,” Shen Hetang said, cupping Jiang Chenyu’s chin with her curved index finger while using her other hand to gently dab away her tears. “I have to leave now, so please don’t make me worry. I promise I’ll deal with her as quickly as possible. Stay safe at home and wait for me. Be good.”

Jiang Chenyu lifted her face. The skin around her eyes was flushed a soft peach-pink, and her bright, alluring black eyes were as clear as if they had been washed clean. She stared straight at her.

            

Then, she wrapped her arms sweetly around Shen Hetang’s neck and initiated a deep kiss. If she didn’t kiss her now, she wouldn’t have another chance.

With lips so moist, soft, and sweet, Shen Hetang wished she could shrink her partner down, slip her into her pocket, and carry her away.

As the two lingered in their tender embrace inside, the princess drinking tea outside was fast losing her patience. Just as she was about to go and urge them to hurry, she saw General Shen approach, carrying a small pack and leading a spirited Black Horse.

            

“Since General Shen has finished packing, let us depart,” the princess said. She stood up, swept her wide sleeves, and stepped into her sedan chair.

She didn’t actually harbor any romantic affection for General Shen, nor had she intended to cut off his romantic pursuits right off the bat. However, the speed with which General Shen discarded his wife of humble days was truly remarkable. Of course, a wife from such an ordinary, low-born household would never be recognized as General Shen’s lawful spouse in the eyes of the Dowager Empress anyway. Even if she reported this to the Dowager Empress, wouldn’t the outcome be exactly the same? Or perhaps, knowing the Dowager Empress’s tastes, she would have simply bestowed three feet of white silk to hang herself.

Men were not easy to replace, so the latter scenario was far more likely. Forget it. She detested white silk and could not stand to hear those words. She might as well do her good deed for the day.

            

The princess had no idea that her loose tongue had earned her the moniker of Black Widow in Shen Hetang’s mind. Clearly, Shen Hetang held a grudge.

The two, reluctant to part, stole one last glance at each other—one leaning against the window inside the house, the other atop her horse outside the gates. With that final look, they parted, unsure of when they would ever meet again.

Jiang Chenyu watched until Ah Tang’s silhouette vanished in an instant. She slid down into a nearby chair, burying her face on the table where they had so often shared their meals.

            

She could not allow herself to drown in sorrow. In the days while Ah Tang was away, she had to be even stronger. She could not simply stand still and wait.

The commotion at the gates of the Jiang family estate naturally caused a stir among the neighbors. However, they only peered out from their own doorways or over their walls. As for what was said inside, they naturally could not hear a thing, nor did they dare to let their curiosity get the better of them. After all, the soldiers stationed at the gate were enough to keep any commoner at a distance.

Yet gossip was human nature. The neighbors tacitly conjured up a grand drama in their minds: a wealthy young master had run away from home and kept a mistress on the side. The arrogant, richly dressed woman who had appeared today was surely the legitimate wife of that young Master Shen. Why else would he meekly follow her back, leaving that girl, Jiang Chenyu, behind?

            

In a small place like this, such a turn of events would keep everyone talking for a month.

Meanwhile, Wu Daoyuan, who had been secretly keeping watch from afar, was happier than if it were New Year’s when he saw Shen Hetang being escorted away. He prepared to draft his words to force a showdown with Jiang Chenyu. Over the past couple of days, he had been observing her shops and noticed that business was as steady as ever, suggesting she must have quite a tidy sum of money in her hands.

What did a young woman need with so much silver? It would be far more practical in his hands. Now that she had lost her husband, she would have no choice but to rely on him.

            

As Jiang Chenyu gathered her emotions, she also pondered Jiang Ning’s words. Previously, she had believed that living a quiet life in the inner courtyard was enough. But reality had now taught her a harsh lesson: if she did not want to be at the mercy of others, she had to possess her own strength.

Though she remained minuscule in the face of absolute power, a single chopstick was easily snapped, whereas a whole bundle would make anyone think twice.

A few days later, Jiang Chenyu finally pulled herself out of her depression and arranged to meet Jiang Ning at the jewelry shop.

            

The two round-faced young maids stood on her left and right like defensive iron shields. This made Chuntao intensely jealous, and she wore a sour expression as if they had stolen her monthly allowance.

It was only after Jiang Chenyu gifted her an agate bracelet that Chuntao, like a child, finally cracked a smile.

With these two maids, traveling about had indeed become much more convenient. Today, she even took them to her clothing shop to have the tailor measure them for several new outfits. The young maids by her side deserved to look beautiful as well.

            

When the “bowl-and-dish” sisters saw the beautiful, matching outfits, their faces lit up with joy. What young girl did not love beauty? In the past, because they performed heavy labor, the clothes issued to them were always a drab grey or earthy blue, hideously ugly.

Up in the second-floor loft of the shop, Jiang Ning looked at the two young bodyguards standing outside the door with great amusement. Generously, she offered them a greeting gift, telling them to pick out anything they liked and she would foot the bill.

Though the sisters were not usually bashful, this was the first time anyone had offered them a gift, making them feel quite shy and hesitant to move.

            

“Go ahead and choose. It is fine,” Jiang Chenyu said gently. “Just let Boss Jiang pay.” Since these two sisters were a parting gift from Ah Tang, she naturally treated them with extra warmth.

Suddenly remembering that Jiang Ning had never given Ah Tang anything when they first met, Jiang Chenyu added with mock dissatisfaction, “Since you are so generous with greeting gifts, why didn’t you ever give one to my Ah Tang back then?”

“He is a grown man. Does he need me to coddle him?” Jiang Ning scoffed, her attitude toward Shen Hetang as prickly as ever. “Besides, he stole my best friend away. Why on earth would I give him any of my treasures? It is already a mercy that I did not demand compensation from him.”

            

“I suppose that makes some sense,” Jiang Chenyu agreed with a smile.

Shifting the topic, Jiang Chenyu’s expression turned serious. “Tell me your plans. I know you do not wish to remain here long.”

“Indeed,” Jiang Ning said, her brow furrowing. “It is not just that I want to leave, but there are no profitable ventures left for me here. Those shameless old codgers block my path every single day. If they go a single day without causing trouble for me, they cannot rest easy.”

            

“I had no idea your situation was so difficult,” Jiang Chenyu inquired in detail. “How did it come to this?”

“They simply see me as someone with no backing who suddenly struck it rich, and the fact that I am not a man doesn’t help,” Jiang Ning replied, sipping her tea nonchalantly.

“If it were just normal business competition, I could endure it. But the worst part is that they keep sending matchmakers to propose marriage. It is truly like a toad jumping on one’s foot—it doesn’t bite, but it disgusts people². Do I not know my own worth? Who are they to tell me what to do? Talk about eating salty radishes and worrying needlessly³!” As Jiang Ning grew more agitated, she gestured toward the window, clearly exasperated to no end.

            

“So what do you plan to do next?” Jiang Chenyu knew more than half of the men Jiang Ning was referring to. They were indeed local thugs and power-brokers. If Jiang Ning had not cut her teeth on the streets and possessed a band of loyal, daredevil brothers, her business would have been torn to pieces long ago.

“I am going to the capital,” Jiang Ning said. “I already have someone waiting to receive me there—an older brother I met during our voyages. My only regret is that you are not coming with me. Only with you managing the home front can I truly spread my wings.”

Jiang Chenyu merely looked at her with a quiet smile, saying nothing.

            

Seeing her genuine regret, Jiang Chenyu finally spoke after a long pause. “Perhaps I can accompany you to the capital.”

“Really?” Jiang Ning’s eyes lit up. Reinvigorated, she sprang up from her chair.

Jiang Chenyu waved her hand to signal her to sit down. “Yes, it is true.”

            

“But weren’t you determined to live in domestic harmony with Shen Hetang in your inner courtyard?” Jiang Ning asked, coming to her senses.

“Alas, my husband was taken away by that Black Widow,” Jiang Chenyu sighed. Although she did not fully understand what a Black Widow was, calling that princess by that name felt incredibly satisfying.

“Let us not speak of that. Ah Tang has returned to the capital, and we cannot be together for the time being. But I can focus on my own endeavors first,” Jiang Chenyu said, her voice drifting as her gaze wandered out the window.

            

“That scoundrel left you here all alone? What is he thinking? Do you want me to find some men to throw a sack over his head and beat him to a pulp?” Jiang Ning’s voice rose.

“Haha, there is no need. If he truly deserves a lesson, I shall extract it myself. Do not act rashly.” Having a friend she could rely on made her feel significantly better.

“So your trip to the capital this time… is it to find him?”

            

“Though I may not look very tough, I still have my pride,” Jiang Chenyu replied. “How could I possibly chase after him the moment he leaves? Of course I am going to do business with you. I, too, want to see what lies in the world beyond. Will you welcome me?”

“Of course, I could not ask for anything more. It would be my utmost honor.”

“Very well, then it is settled. We shall calculate our capital, clear out our inventory, and set off once we are ready.” Jiang Chenyu’s eyes sparkled. She refused to remain cooped up in a tiny backyard any longer. She wanted to venture out and see the world, just like Jiang Ning.

            

“Excellent. It is a deal.”

When she stepped out of the shop after their meeting, the sky outside seemed exceptionally blue and the air tasted sweet.

But when she reached the gates of her home, her eyelids twitched at the sight of Wu Daoyuan waiting for her.

            

“I wonder what business Father has with me?” She only called him “Father” now because she had no other form of address she could use.

Wu Daoyuan’s greasy gaze roved over Jiang Chenyu, as if searching for the difference between a maiden and a married woman. Recently, his eye sockets had sunken deeply, his skin had withered, and he was aging at a terrifying rate, making him look both ghastly and repulsive. Yet, his eyes still gleamed with calculating intent. In the past, he had at least known how to conceal his motives, but now, he did not care to hide them in the slightest.

“Your father indeed has an important matter regarding your husband to discuss,” he said, his greasy expression making Jiang Chenyu want to flee as far as possible. “But I wonder if it is convenient for you, Ah Yu?”

            

Observing his demeanor, Jiang Chenyu felt an ominous premonition.

“Then please come inside, Father,” she replied. She had no desire to let him in, but it was still better than going to his estate.

Jiang Chenyu led him to the stone table beneath the tree and stopped.

            

Wu Daoyuan looked left and right, then grumbled in dissatisfaction, “What, am I not even worth a cup of tea to you now?”

“Ah Yu did not mean that. It is just that meeting with Father alone like this is highly improper,” Jiang Chenyu explained. She wanted nothing more than to send him away quickly, yet she feared he truly held some crucial piece of information.

“Well, if you aren’t afraid of others finding out, your father certainly isn’t,” Wu Daoyuan replied with a shrug, behaving as if his conscience were entirely clear.

            

“What is it? Speak quickly right here!” Jiang Chenyu snapped, having lost all desire to play along. Her patience with him had run completely dry.

“How is that husband of yours? Do the two of you share a bed like a normal husband and wife at night?” Wu Daoyuan whispered, noting the lack of onlookers.

“What are you trying to say?” Jiang Chenyu’s face flushed slightly, her heart hammering with a mounting dread.

            

“Two days ago, I saw that fellow Shen wearing women’s clothing with my own eyes.” Wu Daoyuan’s cloudy eyes stared maliciously at her pale, startled face.

“What are you talking about? Ah Yu does not understand.” Although her fingers had gone icy with fear, she flatly denied it.

“There is no need to deny it to the death. That Shen person had so many people escort her away that day; she is clearly no ordinary figure. Tell me, why would she disguise herself as a man? Do the people who took her know she is a woman? Or does the county yamen know?” Wu Daoyuan gloated, his face twisted in a smug grin of victory as he held a tight grip on Jiang Chenyu.

            

“He is already gone. What is the point of saying all this? Who would believe you anyway?” Jiang Chenyu countered stubbornly, her face deathly pale.

Wu Daoyuan was adept at reading her. Seeing her obvious anxiety, his suspicion was thoroughly confirmed—that Shen person’s identity indeed could not withstand the light of day. He grew even more arrogant.

“Whether they believe me is their business; whether I speak is mine. If you do not agree to my demands, I will follow her to the capital and shout from the streets that Shen Hetang is a woman! Let us see who panics first, you or me.” Wu Daoyuan bared his shameless teeth. Now that Jiang Chenyu had no one to rely on, he could extort her without a single worry.

            

“Speak, then. What do you want?” Cold determination welled up in Jiang Chenyu’s watery peach-blossom eyes, but she quickly hid her desperate resolve, ensuring he would not suspect a thing.

“Since we are father and daughter, your father does not ask for much,” Wu Daoyuan said, raising his chin triumphantly. “Ten thousand taels of silver. You must deliver it to me in person, and you cannot bring those two maids of yours. Otherwise, if anything happens to me, the secret will be leaked anyway.”

“Fine, I agree,” Jiang Chenyu replied readily after a moment of deliberation. “But I must know: has Father told anyone else about this?”

            

“Naturally, I told my most trusted confidant. You have no need to know,” Wu Daoyuan sneered, thoroughly enjoying his leverage.

“I do not have that much money on me right now. Give me a few days, and I will deliver it to you,” Jiang Chenyu murmured, bowing her head with an air of frantic distress.

Wu Daoyuan considered that ten thousand taels was indeed an enormous sum, so it was only reasonable to grant her a few days to gather it.

            

“Very well, I will give you six days. I shall wait for you by the Qingyuan River, where I have rented a small boat. You must come alone.” As Wu Daoyuan spoke, he reached out to stroke her arm.

Jiang Chenyu felt as if a hundred needles had pierced her, every hair on her body standing on end. Yet, she forced herself to maintain a frightened expression to keep Wu Daoyuan from suspecting anything.

The maids stood a short distance away, not daring to approach without her command.

            

Once she finally rid herself of Wu Daoyuan, Jiang Chenyu immediately went to bathe and change her clothes. Breathing the same air as him made her feel physically sick. What wretched small boat? She saw it as the burial ground he had chosen for himself!

The fact that Wu Daoyuan knew Ah Tang’s secret identity sat terribly with her. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. Ah Tang had only worn women’s clothing near the side wall that day. Could there be something wrong with that spot?

Sure enough, after inspecting the wall, she found a small hole. The discovery made her temples throb with fury.

            

But then she calmed down. Perhaps this was heaven’s will. He had crossed her boundaries time and time again, and now there was truly no room left for retreat.

She had six days to engineer a trap for Wu Daoyuan from which he would never return…

Six days later, Wu Daoyuan was lounging lazily on the deserted small boat, surrounded by fine wine and delicious food. He had even prepared a sheer gauze robe.

            

It had been a very long time since he had felt this jolly. He had chosen this location precisely because the river offered absolute privacy.

Furthermore, Nanny Wu had been taking care of him lately and had begun acting as though she ruled the household. He did not want her to interrupt him mid-rendezvous—that would be a terrible mood killer, and he would even waste the expensive Vigor Pill he had purchased.

This spot was exceptionally quiet, and the boat was stocked with enough food for three days. Once the boat rowed into the middle of the river, there would be no help from heaven or earth, no matter how much one cried out.

            

However, after waiting by the edge of the boat for what felt like ages, Jiang Chenyu was still a no-show. Instead, he saw a female ghost with disheveled hair drifting toward him from the river. Once he realized it was a floating female corpse, he recoiled in sheer terror, tumbling backward onto the deck.

“T-this… What on earth is that?! A ghost! Help! Help! There’s a ghost here!” Wu Daoyuan’s voice cracked in a shriek, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

At that moment, the sounds of a chaotic crowd echoed from the nearby woods. A group of about ten men emerged.

            

“Chief, over there! Look! That paramour has pushed the young mistress into the water and drowned her!” a tall, burly man shouted, pointing directly at Wu Daoyuan’s small boat.

Hearing his cry, the fierce-looking thugs charged onto Wu Daoyuan’s boat and hauled him up. Just then, one of the younger lackeys found the sheer gauze robe and the silk pouch containing the Vigor Pill, further cementing the evidence of an illicit affair.

“Who are you people? What nonsense are you spouting? This female ghost has nothing to do with me! She… she just floated over!” Wu Daoyuan babbled, his legs too weak to support his weight.

            

“You’ve got some nerve, trying to steal Lin Sanbiao’s woman. I think you’ve lived long enough!” Lin Sanbiao growled, looking as if he wanted to tear Wu Daoyuan apart upon seeing the woman’s gruesome corpse. “Moreover, if you wanted to have an affair, so be it, but why did you have to murder her?!”

“Chief, he must have poisoned her for her money! Chief, you must avenge the young mistress!” With that, the burly thug raised a wooden club and struck Wu Daoyuan twice, inciting his companions by shouting that this man had cuckolded their boss and deserved to be beaten to death.

Lin Sanbiao’s thugs spent their days collecting high-interest loans, chasing gambling debts, and trafficking girls. They were seasoned in violence and grew ecstatic at the prospect of a beating. Five or six burly men immediately converged on Wu Daoyuan, raining blows down upon him.

            

Lin Sanbiao gazed at his concubine’s corpse, which had been fished out of the water, and offered no word to stop his men. Today, he had set out to catch the adulterers in the act, only to be met with her cold body.

In that moment, his resentment toward the concubine vanished, but all his anger was redirected onto her paramour.

His brothers were merely venting this grievance on his behalf out of respect for him as their leader.

            

How could Wu Daoyuan survive such a merciless beating? Before long, he was drawing more breath out than in. To make matters worse, someone maliciously struck his head with a club as thick as a rice bowl.

By the time Lin Sanbiao called a halt, Wu Daoyuan had already drawn his last breath. He had barely managed a few whimpers before slipping away silently amidst the barrage of fists and boots.

“Chief, this paramour is dead,” one of the lackeys reported calmly.

            

“Pah!” Lin Sanbiao spat. “Bury them both in the woods. Remember to set up a wooden marker for them. Since Yingying liked him so much, I’ll do them a favor and let them be a pair of ghostly mandarin ducks in the underworld.” He spoke with complete indifference. He had blood on his hands before. After all, often walking by the river, how can one’s shoes not get wet?

“We’ll do as Chief says!” the lackeys quickly replied. Five of them remained behind to bury the paramour and his □□ mistress and erect a marker, while the rest filed out of the woods.

“Bury them with the items on the boat as well!” Lin Sanbiao commanded before departing.

            

Two hours later, the woods returned to their usual tranquility, with no sound except for the occasional chirp of a passing bird.

Only the small boat drifting far away on the river still rocked aimlessly toward parts unknown…!

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