Chapter 10: Jiang Mubai Reveals His Ambition for the First Time

With many mouths to feed and talk to, the news of the scandal at the Prince Beichen Estate quickly reached the Chief Minister’s mansion. Such a disgraceful affair was impossible to hide, no matter how much they might have wished to cover it up.

The Chief Minister, Feng, remained relatively calm upon hearing the report. After reprimanding Jiang Mubai and his daughter, he let the matter rest. Since the deed was done, the priority was to move their wedding forward; the date was set for within the next seven days.

Chief Minister Feng held Jiang Mubai in high regard. When Jiang had passed the imperial examinations with top honors, Feng had been the chief examiner and personally reviewed all his essays. Jiang had excelled in every one of the seven subjects. His political essay, in particular, had been striking, revealing a grand and far-reaching vision that hinted at the makings of a great statesman. Feng had nurtured him as a pillar of the nation, frequently promoting him over the years. It was a pity that Jiang already had a wife, though the death of Lady Feng Sanniang was also inextricably linked to the Chief Minister—a dark secret and a transactional necessity that could never be spoken of.

While the Chief Minister was willing to move past the day’s events, the Grand Princess Lu Tingyan was not. As a royal of such high standing, she could not tolerate such a scandal, which tarnished the dignity of the Imperial family. She felt that only a severe punishment could quell the fury burning within her.

Therefore, the moment Feng Zhinian returned home, he heard a sharp "crack." His mother, the Grand Princess, had already brought her hand down heavily across Feng Yuxi’s face. A bright, swollen welt appeared on Yuxi’s fair left cheek, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, a testament to the force of the blow. Feng Yuxi clutched her face, not daring to cry out, but bit her lip to suppress her resentment as she glared at her mother.

Chief Minister Feng, sitting in his armchair, did not dare to intervene. He had always feared the Grand Princess when her temper flared, knowing the consequences would only be worse. He merely caught Jiang Mubai’s eye, signaling him to be submissive and appease her, as the Grand Princess was susceptible to such tactics.

Jiang Mubai understood. He shuffled forward on his knees and kowtowed before the Grand Princess. "Mother-in-law, please strike me instead. It was my fault for losing control. This has nothing to do with Yuxi."

The Grand Princess was consumed with shame and rage. With one hand on her hip and the other pointing a trembling finger at Jiang Mubai, she scolded, "I will deal with you after I am finished with her! You two reckless fools—the wedding was only a month away! Could you not even wait that long? You’ve even gone and gotten her pregnant! How can I ever hold my head high again?"

"Please, Mother-in-law, calm your anger!" Jiang Mubai straightened his back and said solemnly, "I promise to cherish the Lady henceforth, to love only her for the rest of my life, and I will never take a concubine. Please, for the sake of the child she carries, spare her."

Seeing that he possessed at least some loyalty, the Grand Princess’s expression softened slightly. However, she was a woman of impatient temperament, and in the heat of the moment, she was deaf to excuses. She raised her hand and struck Jiang Mubai across the face with a violent slap.

The blow was vicious. Jiang Mubai’s head snapped to the side, and the print of five fingers stood out clearly on his cheek. As a man, this was the first time he had been struck by a woman. Though she was a noble Grand Princess and his future mother-in-law, his pride burned with the humiliation of this moment, which he tallied alongside the earlier strike from Feng Zhinian. Yet, he could not retaliate; he needed the influence of the Grand Princess and the Chief Minister to climb higher, to reach that ultimate seat of power.

"Jiang Mubai, do not think I will give you face!" the Grand Princess snapped. "Wrongdoing must be punished. The wedding date will be moved forward. You must treat my daughter well. If you ever dare to take a concubine while I am alive, I will break your leg!"

Jiang Mubai endured it with gritted teeth. One day, he would trample them all underfoot. "Understood," he replied, his voice clear and calm. "I will not fail the Grand Princess’s trust."

Only then did the Grand Princess’s anger subside slightly. She rubbed her numb palm and sighed, "Get up, both of you."

"Yes," Jiang Mubai said, carefully helping Feng Yuxi to her feet.

The Grand Princess’s gaze shifted, and her brows furrowed once more as she caught sight of Feng Zhinian standing at the hall entrance. The fire she had just extinguished flared up instantly. She waved her sleeve violently and shouted, "Feng Zhinian! You actually have the gall to return!"

The others turned toward the door. Chief Minister Feng’s expression darkened. *It’s over,* he thought. *The daughter’s matter is barely settled, and the son’s is even more troublesome.* He stood up from his chair in a hurry.

Feng Zhinian knew a beating was inevitable. He bowed his head, walked forward, and knelt before the Grand Princess. "Mother, if you wish to beat or punish me, do so."

His sincerity only infuriated her more. Her hands trembled, and her eyes burned with rage. Chief Minister Feng stepped forward, gripped his wife’s arm, and pleaded, "My Princess, please calm down. Let’s talk this through."

"It is all because you spoil him, you old fool!" The Grand Princess shoved her husband aside and, without another word, lashed out with a kick to Feng Zhinian’s abdomen.

The Grand Princess was a woman of martial skill; in her youth, she had led troops into battle, easily defeating a hundred foes. Though she was older now, her prowess remained undiminished. The force of the kick sent Feng Zhinian flying a meter away. He collapsed to the ground, coughing violently in agony.

The Grand Princess stood over him, pointing her finger. "How did I give birth to such a shameless wretch? You have dragged the Feng family’s reputation through the mud! Gu Nanshu is now your uncle’s woman—she is your aunt! You had better restrain yourself and cause no more trouble, or you will live to regret it!"

She had spies in the Prince Beichen Estate and knew the situation almost as soon as it happened. She feared her son’s recklessness even more than her daughter’s scandal. She knew Lu Heng’s temperament well; he might be tolerant once, but if it happened again, he would show no mercy. Among all her siblings, she was closest to Lu Heng, and she dreaded the thought of her son provoking him into becoming an enemy.

Feng Zhinian struggled to his feet, clutching his stomach. He had no words, but he would never abandon his love and obsession for Gu Nanshu. He stood tall, bracing himself to face the consequences, refusing to surrender.

The Grand Princess approached, her face contorted with rage, ready to strike again. Seeing the situation spiraling, Chief Minister Feng rushed over to embrace her. "My dear, please! It has already come to this—don't take it out on the children. Let us think of how to appease Prince Beichen instead."

"Appease him? How?!" the Grand Princess glared at him.

"I will find a way, I will find a way," Chief Minister Feng promised, though it was merely a stalling tactic.