A Good Country Wife
Chapter 433 - 427 - _1

Chapter 433: 427 Chapter_1

"This palace knows all of these things; however, I cannot let that peasant woman off the hook. The Zhang Family was not easily won over by my royal brother and, though they are now in decline and pale in comparison to the Jiang Family, they are still of significant use to my brother. This is their first request since their allegiance, and it’s merely for me to get rid of a minor peasant woman. If I can’t fulfill such a small matter, how could they be expected to serve my brother with unswerving loyalty? Therefore, this matter must be accomplished, even if the peasant woman has the protection of the Third Princess, it will not stop me."

The Fourth Princess massaged her temples and said, if not for the Zhang Family needing a favor, she, a princess of Dazhou Country, would not have lowered herself to trouble a peasant woman. It was only in such dire circumstances that a family as small as Zhang could compel her to act. Once her royal brother’s plans come to fruition, she swore she’d thoroughly vent the resentment festering in her heart.

In the main hall of the Zhang Family estate, the Zhang Family Head and several senior uncles with authority all looked sternly at Zhang Peilan, expecting her to explain such an unwise action: using the family’s name to request a princess to dispose of a simple peasant woman.

"Peilan, you are a legitimate daughter of our Zhang Family. We have high hopes for you, which is why you were granted such power. It was meant for you to leverage your position to strengthen relationships within and beyond the palace, to expand our network, not to pursue personal vendettas. Look at what you’ve done; out of personal spite against that peasant woman, you’ve involved the Fourth Princess. Do you understand the loss this means for our Zhang Family? Such a favor wasted on something so frivolous has truly disappointed us."

"That’s right, Peilan, you acted too impulsively. If that peasant woman offended you and you can’t handle it yourself, you could have sought help from us, your uncles. Who wouldn’t stand up for you and set things right? But instead, you went over our heads and pulled strings within the palace, and even involved the Fourth Princess! I used to think you were sensible. It seems I’ve overestimated you. In the end, you’re just a shortsighted girl who hasn’t lived up to our expectations."

Everyone shared a common sentiment towards Zhang Peilan’s decision to contact the princess without the family’s consent—a unanimous frustration and disapproval. Their every word was a rebuke, leaving no room for Zhang Peilan to argue, and there were even calls to strip her of the powers she currently wielded.

Zhang Peilan had anticipated this scene from the moment she sent the message to the palace and was naturally prepared. She stood silently, not displaying panic as her relatives scolded her, waiting for them to exhaust their anger before she started to give her prepared explanation.

"Elders, Grandfather, Great Uncles, Uncles, Peilan knows that what she did was impulsive, and she should not have taken such action without your consent. However, my actions were not driven by personal grudge. You may not fully understand the identity of that peasant woman—her ties with the Jiang Family are extraordinary. Even the Jiang Family Head, Jiang Ziqi, favors her and has used the Ministry of Household’s influence to help her purchase a large residence. Do you know who previously lived in the house that the peasant woman now occupies?" Zhang Peilan said, scanning the room with her gaze, about to reveal a significant piece of information.

"Stop beating around the bush. Who lived there before doesn’t matter. It’s just a house. It’s unnecessary for you to be so coy," said Zhang Family’s third eldest with disdain.

"My daughter, tell us, who has lived there?" Zhang Peilan’s father still trusted his daughter more than the others. He promptly asked, eager to hear the answer, and shot a glare at the third eldest.

"It was none other than the XX General, who was recently raided and executed for plotting treason. The location of the house is prime, and I heard even the Assistant Minister of Rites tried to buy it but failed. It’s because the Jiang Family Head had his eyes set on that property. Yet, in the end, it went to that peasant woman. The nature of her association with Jiang Ziqi doesn’t need elaborating. Our Zhang Family’s relationship with the Jiang Family is one of irreconcilable enemies. If I manage to eliminate that peasant woman, it will certainly deal a blow to Jiang Ziqi," said Zhang Peilan, her claims a mix of truth and fabrication.

"Even so, you could have informed us. We would naturally have dealt with that peasant woman. Why didn’t you breathe a word beforehand? Your excuses now sound like mere sophistry. And if we were to make a move against that woman, there’s no need to alarm the princess; our Zhang Family’s own influence and connections would suffice," interjected the fourth eldest of the Zhang Family, expressing his rare opinion with an undertone of dissatisfaction.

"Exactly, old number four. I see you’re still young and if you’ve made a mistake, admit it frankly. We won’t be too hard on you, after all, you are a legitimate daughter of the Zhang Family. There’s no need for this sly rhetoric," chimed in the head uncle.

Hearing this, Zhang Peilan clenched her fists, "Uncle Number Three, we all belong to the Zhang Family; we share the glory and the losses. Why must you doubt my intentions? If getting rid of that peasant woman were so simple, I would have succeeded long ago. I didn’t inform you in advance because there was no time to spare; we needed to act before the peasant woman could enter Yongle Palace. I sought the Fourth Princess’s help to take the initiative and eliminate her before that could happen, for it would be more difficult once she entered Yongle."

"Enough, third brother. Peilan has already done what she did; blaming her now won’t change anything. We can only wait for the outcome from the palace. If eliminating that peasant woman really cuts deep at Jiang Ziqi, then it wouldn’t be such a loss. Ever since Jiang Ziqi took over as the Jiang Family Head, his methods have been even more vicious and ruthless than his father’s. We’ve been on the losing end against him with no chance to gain the upper hand, which is very frustrating. If we could strike at Jiang Ziqi by removing this peasant woman, even at some cost, it would still be worth it," said the eldest of the Zhang Family, grinning. Despite his senior title, he was known to be spineless and incompetent, always playing mediator between the second and third brothers.

"Who knows? She’s just a peasant woman. Even if Jiang Ziqi really has such poor taste as to fancy her, at most he would just grieve her loss. Could a man really be shaken by a woman? We’re all men here; we understand these matters, don’t we?"

"Third brother, what are you saying! How can you speak such crass words in front of your niece?" The second eldest of the Zhang Family, seeing the third continually giving his daughter a difficult time, now uttering such remarks, became angry.

"Second brother, why so angry? I’m speaking the truth. Our niece is simply too naive to think she can harm Jiang Ziqi with just a peasant woman. She doesn’t understand men well enough," the third eldest of the Zhang Family retorted, slightly resentful of his second brother’s family. He too was a legitimate son of the Zhang Family, with a wife who bore him a legitimate daughter. Why should Zhang Peilan receive all the family’s attention while his own daughter was always in her shadow? In what way was his daughter inferior to this niece?