A Good Country Wife
Chapter 404 - 398_1

Chapter 404: Chapter 398_1

After learning the whole story from the Hidden Guard, Jiang Ziqi was preparing to summon all the concubines and Xiaofang he had taken in, when a servant came to report that Concubine Chen sought an audience. Jiang Ziqi ordered Concubine Chen to be brought in.

"You wanted to see me?" Jiang Ziqi eyed Concubine Chen with a cold gaze that terrified her. The certainty and courage she had felt beforehand vanished, and she regretted acting impulsively in coming here. But since she had already come, there was no turning back. Despite being a woman, Concubine Chen still possessed some decisiveness and boldness.

"I am guilty and have come to request punishment from the Family Head. Please deal with me as you see fit," said Concubine Chen as she knelt down with a thud, kneeling so forcefully on the stone-paved floor that her knees hurt terribly.

Upon hearing her, Jiang Ziqi knew the purpose of Concubine Chen’s visit. The woman did have some smarts, but she had erred in joining those fools to make things difficult for Xiaoyue. His expression turned grimmer, and his gaze colder as he looked at Concubine Chen, "Oh, tell me what crime you have committed?"

Seeing the Family Head’s reaction, Concubine Chen knew that he must be fully aware of what had happened in the garden today. She was internally relieved about her decision, though she wasn’t sure if it would spare her from punishment, it would at least lessen the severity. As for those fools, they’d have to fend for themselves; the Family Head seemed truly angry about the incident.

"I should not have been persuaded by the other concubines and conspired with them to bribe Xiaofang, the maid serving at Qiwu Courtyard, making things difficult for Madam Lin in the back garden. I was momentarily bewitched and ask the Family Head to punish me!" Although Concubine Chen tried to stay calm, she still sounded anxious as she spoke these words.

Jiang Ziqi glanced at Concubine Chen, "You think this will spare you from punishment? You’ve made the wrong assumption if so."

"I wouldn’t dare believe that. I am simply troubled at heart, fearing that Madam Lin might grow distant from the Family Head because of today’s incident, which is why I’ve come forward to admit my wrongdoing. I have no intention to evade my punishment."

"Then would you be willing to identify the other concubines and Xiaofang?" Jiang Ziqi, as the Jiang Family Head, needed no reason to penalize the concubines and maid in his residence; his questioning was merely to see Concubine Chen’s sincerity.

The other women, although punishable, had been sent by influential families allied with the Jiang Family, carrying a different significance and serving as a testament to those alliances. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reluctantly taken them in. It was not permissible to harm them over such a trivial matter, so since Concubine Chen had the courage and scheming for this, he would let them fight among themselves.

Upon hearing Jiang Ziqi’s words, Concubine Chen’s face lit up with joy. She knew if she handled this well, the Family Head wouldn’t punish her severely. As for his intentions, she neither dared nor wished to speculate too much. Being able to serve the Family Head was her good fortune; maybe this was her opportunity. If she seized the chance, she might be able to firmly suppress the other women in the household from now on. She readily agreed.

"As the Family Head commands, I would not dare to disobey. I am willing to accuse the concubines and the maid Xiaofang and I am thankful for the opportunity to make amends," she said.

"Hmph, at least you know what’s good for you. Stand aside for now; I will deal with you later. Come, summon the other concubines from my residence and Xiaofang, who was assigned to Qiwu Courtyard, immediately!"

The concubines were still basking in the glory of having driven out Madam Lin, the rustic woman, from the Jiang Residence and thought they had eliminated a future problem. They hadn’t noticed Concubine Chen’s strange behavior. When the people from the Family Head’s side came calling, they became anxious. The Family Head rarely saw them at all, and to summon them now, could it be that the country bumpkin had complained about them to the Family Head? It came as a surprise that a girl from the countryside could be so sly. However, as there were only a few people present at the time, with no witnesses, they could simply deny everything.

They thought it would be easy, and it was the courage that came from their collusion, thinking that since many offend, the law forgives; assuming Jiang Ziqi would not punish several people at once. They comforted each other until they reached the main courtyard, but when they saw Auntie Chen and Xiaofang already kneeling there, they started feeling uneasy. Could it be that these two had confessed to everything?

"This servant pays respect to the Family Head." The women approached Jiang Ziqi carefully and performed their greetings.

"Kneel down!" Jiang Ziqi commanded with a cold shout, his voice filled with fury, frightening several aunties so much that they all clutched their chests and fell to the ground, forgetting the plan they had previously agreed upon, leaving only fear behind.

"Family Head, please calm your anger."

"Do you have anything you wish to say?"

"This servant, this servant doesn’t know what to say. Did the Family Head summon us because there’s something we should report?" Auntie Zhang, slightly bolder, responded in a soft voice.

Jiang Ziqi, seeing the situation before him, sneered coldly as these women were still pretending to be ignorant, "Well, have you forgotten what happened in the back garden today, or do you need me to refresh your memory?"

"Family Head, this servant would not dare deceive you. Nothing happened in the back garden today; we simply encountered Lady Lin while admiring the flowers and had a brief chat. The Family Head wouldn’t have been misled by someone’s baseless accusations and misunderstand this servant. This servant is truly wronged," Auntie Zhang pleaded with a sense of injustice.

Auntie Chen was somewhat impressed by Auntie Zhang’s naive boldness but could see the Family Head’s countenance growing darker. With the truth of the matter now clear, prevaricating before the Family Head was futile. If they confessed honestly, they might have received a lighter punishment. Being so stubborn and trying to challenge the authority of the Family Head would only spell their doom.

And as expected, as soon as Auntie Zhang finished speaking, Jiang Ziqi, enraged, grabbed a cup filled with hot tea from the table and hurled it at Auntie Zhang’s forehead. Instantly, her forehead was marked with red, and tea trickled down, a sight most pitiful. Caught off-guard, Auntie Zhang screamed, only then realizing she had provoked the Family Head.

"Who gave you the audacity to deceive me? Auntie Chen has already confessed to me, and Xiaofang has admitted to everything. And yet, you dare to argue? Do you take me for a false Family Head, to be so presumptuous!" Jiang Ziqi’s voice was stern and severe.

"Family Head, spare me, spare me, this servant was wrong, this servant won’t dare again. Please spare this servant this one time," Auntie Zhang, terrified by Jiang Ziqi, begged bitterly, crying as she confessed her wrongdoings. In her heart, she harbored resentment: first towards Auntie Chen for betraying them, and second towards the other aunties for their lack of solidarity. They had agreed to face the consequences together before coming, yet not one of them spoke up for her now, all standing aside, watching her make a fool of herself—utterly detestable.

"And what do you three have to say for yourselves? Do you wish to argue like Auntie Zhang, or would you confess honestly?" Jiang Ziqi’s gaze swept over the other aunties who had come along with Auntie Zhang, thinking they were the worst of the bunch.