The Red Mansion

Chapter 149 Humiliating Sister Feng
That day, Jiang Nian captured the men of the Wang family and interrogated Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng at Rongguo Mansion, leaving Madam Wang shocked, angry and furious.

However, Madam Wang realized that very night that now, she should not hold a grudge against Jiang Nian, but instead try to please her, as this would be beneficial to the Wang family.

A strong autumn wind blew overnight.

The next morning, Lady Wang sent Jia Lian to the eastern suburbs to invite Yuan Chun to the Rongguo Mansion that day. She wanted Yuan Chun to persuade Jiang Nian to be more lenient with the Wang family, considering their kinship.

Yuan Chun informed her that Jiang Nian had not returned home last night and would only return home at dusk today, so she would postpone her visit to the Rongguo Mansion until tomorrow.

Upon learning this, Lady Wang was extremely anxious. How could she wait until tomorrow? So she decided to take Wang Xifeng to the Jiang family in the eastern suburbs today, together with Yuan Chun, to plead with Jiang Nian in person.

At the hour of Shen (3-5 PM) that day, a light rain began to fall again. Amidst the autumn wind and rain, Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng each rode in a carriage, winding their way from the Rongguo Mansion to the Jiang family in the eastern suburbs.

Upon receiving the news, Yuan-chun, accompanied by Xue Bao-chai, went to greet them.

Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng waited at the Jiang family's house for nearly half an hour. It wasn't until 5:45 PM that Jiang Nian returned, bringing Jing Qing with her.

In the rain, Jiang Nian led Jing Qing through the hanging flower gate. Jing Qing wore a veil, her face covered with silk gauze, her eyes completely obscured.

Yuan Chun, Xue Baochai, Wang Xifeng, and a group of maids and servants standing under the eaves of the main house were all stunned. They all wondered why Jiang Nian had suddenly returned with a young woman. Although the woman was wearing a veil, it was still possible to vaguely tell from her figure and eyes that she was a beauty.

Jing Qing looked up and saw a group of beauties standing under the eaves of the main house, including Yuan Chun, Xue Baochai, Wang Xifeng, and Ping'er. Yuan Chun and Wang Xifeng were dressed in luxurious clothes, and even though Xue Baochai's clothes were simple, they were not the attire of an ordinary woman. Even Ping'er was covered in silk and satin, adorned with gold and silver, and had a beautiful face. Jing Qing subconsciously assumed that these four were most likely Jiang Nian's wives and concubines.

Jing Qing couldn't help but feel a little nervous, but when she reached the steps, she took the initiative to give a curtsy to Yuan Chun and the others. However, she didn't know how to address them, so she could only say softly, "Greetings to all the sisters."

Before Yuan Chun could ask, Wang Xifeng burst out laughing, waving her handkerchief and saying, "Oh my, Mr. Jiang, where did you bring this lovely young lady from? Even though she's wearing a veil, she looks like a celestial being!"

Jiang Nian didn't even lift her eyelids, deliberately ignoring Wang Xifeng, and only said to Yuan Chun, "Let's go inside and talk."

Yuan Chun said softly, "Sir, my mother has arrived and is waiting in the main room."

Her voice was as clear as a nightingale's song, which startled Jing Qing. She thought to herself, "With such a demeanor, she must be Master Jiang's legal wife."

Jiang Nian nodded and stepped into the main room.

Yuan Chun and Xue Baochai followed closely behind.

Jing Qing was at a loss when Xiang Ling stepped forward and pulled her in, saying, "Please go inside, Miss."

Jing Qing immediately felt a sense of familiarity with Xiang Ling, but wondered to herself – who is this person?

After Jingqing and Lüyi entered the main room, Wang Xifeng and Ping'er were still standing at the door.

Wang Xifeng's face darkened as she realized that Jiang Nian was ignoring her because she had thrown a tantrum in front of him during his interrogation the previous day.

Ping'er knew Wang Xifeng all too well, and whispered, "Grandma, we're here today to plead with Master Jiang, so please bear with it."

Wang Xifeng snorted and then stepped into the main room, flicking her handkerchief.

Madam Wang, mindful of her status, did not go outside to greet Jiang Nian. However, since she had come to plead with Jiang Nian today, she knew she shouldn't put on airs.

She was sitting upright in the main room when she heard Jiang Nian come to the outside. She leaned forward slightly, but forced herself to remain still. Only after Jiang Nian stepped across the threshold did she slowly stand up, a smile spreading across her face.

Jiang Nian stepped forward and bowed: "I was unaware of my mother-in-law's arrival. I was preoccupied with official duties and failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

These polite words put Madam Wang at ease, and she secretly thought that her son-in-law still remembered their kinship. Madam Wang smiled and waved her hand: "My dear son-in-law works hard for the country, how could I blame him?"

Jiang Nian asked Madam Wang to sit down again, and then sat down herself. She also asked Yuan Chun to sit down, but deliberately did not ask Wang Xifeng to sit down.

Wang Xifeng stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay. She had never been treated with such coldness before. Her phoenix eyes practically spit fire. Ping'er secretly tugged at her sleeve from behind, but was easily shaken off.

Jing Qing glanced at everyone and saw that Wang Xifeng, with her phoenix eyes, had her face flushed red.

Yuan Chun had already realized that Jiang Nian was deliberately humiliating Wang Xifeng, but she didn't know why. In any case, Wang Xifeng was, after all, her sister-in-law, and she was a guest at their home today, with Madam Wang present. So Yuan Chun deliberately smiled and said to the embarrassed Wang Xifeng, "Second sister-in-law, please have a seat."

Wang Xifeng then stepped down the stairs, sat down at an angle, and twisted her handkerchief tightly in her hand.

At this moment, Madam Wang coughed lightly and stared at Jing Qing: "Who is this veiled young lady?"

Jiang Nian said to Jing Qing, "Take off your veil."

Upon hearing this, Jing Qing gently lifted her slender fingers and slowly removed her veil. The silk gauze slid down like flowing water, first revealing her delicate nose, then her crimson lips, and her entire beautiful face was fully revealed—her eyebrows were naturally green without makeup, her lips were naturally red without rouge, and her natural beauty was enhanced by the absence of powder and rouge. Her pair of autumn-water eyes held a hint of timidity, adding to her charming and pitiful appearance.

Yeah!

In an instant, all the women in the room were amazed—my goodness, this girl is so beautiful!
Lady Wang's expression froze, Yuan Chun and Xue Baochai both widened their eyes, and even Wang Xifeng, who was in a fit of anger, opened her mouth.

After Xue Baochai realized what was happening, she immediately had a bad feeling—had the master brought back another concubine for her? And yet, she was so beautiful even without makeup!

Madam Wang quickly recovered and forced a smile: "What a beautiful young lady! May I ask which family's daughter you are?"

Jiang Nian said, "She is Jing Qing."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun, Xue Baochai, Lady Wang, and Wang Xifeng were all stunned.

They all knew that Lai Shangrong had taken eight hundred taels of gold from the looted Xue family and used it to buy a courtesan in Jiangning. This courtesan was named Jing Qing.

Yuan Chun had been puzzled by this, wondering what kind of courtesan could be worth eight hundred taels of gold. But now, seeing Jing Qing's appearance, Yuan Chun felt that even selling this woman for eight hundred taels of gold wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Madam Wang came to her senses and asked in surprise, "Is it the courtesan that Lai Shangrong bought from Jiangning?"

Although Jing Qing had indeed worked as a courtesan, she was now to become Jiang Nian's concubine. Today, when she went home with Jiang Nian, an elder mentioned her as a courtesan to her face, which made her feel embarrassed and ashamed.

Jing Qing stole a glance at Jiang Nian, afraid that Jiang Nian would dislike her because of this.

Jiang Nian did not answer immediately, but instead ordered all the maids and servants to leave, leaving only him, Yuan Chun, Xue Baochai, Jing Qing, Madam Wang, Wang Xifeng, and even Ping'er.

After everyone had left, Jiang Nianfang said to Yuanchun, "She is no longer the courtesan she once was. I brought her back this time to take her as a concubine."

The main room suddenly became eerily quiet.

The old man actually... actually wants to take a woman who used to be a courtesan as a concubine?
Wang Xifeng, still seething with anger from Jiang Nian's repeated humiliations, seized the opportunity to mock him: "What a fine son-in-law Jiang! To actually take a courtesan as a concubine? Has he lost his mind?"

Unexpectedly, Jiang Nian smiled faintly and said to Wang Xifeng, "I want to take her as a concubine. This is His Majesty's decree. Are you perhaps insulting His Majesty?"

Wang Xifeng: "..."

(End of this chapter)