Volume One, Chapter 20: A Malicious Heart

Facing those eyes, Jiang felt a sharp sting in her heart. “Do you know why I punished her yesterday?”

“No matter the reason, you cannot be this cruel! How was I ever blind to your true nature—a woman with such a ruthless heart!” Xia Huai’an, still burning with anger, vented everything on his mind.

Jiang opened her mouth to speak but ultimately chose silence.

“Yes, it was I who ordered Nurse Zhang to do it.”

Xia Huai’an hadn’t expected her to admit it so openly. It seemed Qi’er’s worries were not unfounded.

Jiang’s methods were brutal—she gouged out someone’s eyes just for saying the wrong thing.

If it had been jealousy toward Yangyang, surely she would have targeted Yangyang.

“My son, Nurse Li has been by my side for eighteen years; she is like a sister. No matter what, today we must demand an explanation!” Old Madam Xia gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Jiang.

“Even if she recovers, she won’t live long in this condition,” Xia Ziyi leaned on Old Madam Xia and added fuel to the fire.

Old Madam Xia’s eyes reddened. “What happened to Nurse Li—you must make it right!”

“How many lashes did you order? Today, I’ll have you whipped the same number of times!”

Jiang cast a glance at them all.

Old Madam Xia glared at her with venom, Xia Ziyi hid behind her, watching with a cruel delight.

Meanwhile, Shen Qi’er hung her head, quietly sobbing, as if she were the one about to be punished.

The entire family treated her like an enemy.

Yet, it was by her efforts that the Xiahou family had achieved their status.

Her eyes turned icily cold. “Huai’an, aren’t you going to say something?”

Meeting her gaze, Xia Huai’an felt an uneasy knot in his heart.

He knew Jiang to be gentle and kind, never capable of such cruelty as gouging out eyes.

Could there be a reason behind her actions?

At that moment, Shen Qi’er’s sobs grew louder, breaking his train of thought.

Reason or not, that didn’t justify such a vicious act against Nurse Li!

Grinding his teeth, he said, “Nurse Li is Mother’s trusted servant. Even if she erred, it’s not your place to discipline her!”

“Go ahead and punish her, consider it family discipline.”

Jiang felt as if her heart was bleeding. She clearly knew how this would end yet still held onto hope—it was her own folly.

Nurse Yun’s throat tightened. “Madam just gave birth; her body is weak and cannot withstand even one lash.”

Xia Huai’an glanced at Jiang and noticed her pale complexion and noticeably thinner frame, yet her posture remained straight as ever, as if she felt no remorse.

Indeed, she might not endure a single lash, but without punishment, how would she realize her mistake?

Clenching his fists, he hesitated.

Shen Qi’er sensed his hesitation and bit her lip in frustration.

Even though she had given birth to a lucky star, in Master’s eyes, Jiang remained the most important.

“Master, please, let it go. Sister just wanted to vent her anger.”

“You can’t punish the mistress over a servant. It doesn’t seem right...” Tears welled in her eyes as she looked worriedly at Nurse Li lying on the ground.

Some word must have struck a nerve with Xia Ziyi, who suddenly flared up, eyes blazing. “Everyone is equal! How can she take a life just because she’s the mistress? Does a servant’s life mean nothing?”

“How dare you! Equate Princess Anjing with a lowly servant?” Nurse Zhang raised her eyebrows and scolded loudly.

Xia Ziyi instinctively wanted to retort but seeing Nurse Zhang was from the Empress’s entourage, she swallowed her words.

Xia Huai’an was displeased with an outsider reprimanding his son but, mindful of Nurse Zhang’s status and fearing she might report to the Emperor, dared not speak further.

They all respected Nurse Zhang’s position, but Old Madam Xia did not.

Having spent years working the fields, she didn’t understand these subtle social intricacies.

Though Nurse Zhang was with the Empress, she was still just a servant, a lowly life, far less important than her treasured grandson.

Slamming her hand on the table, she stood up. “You wretched woman! Who gave you the audacity to speak to your mistress like that?”

“Someone, give her twenty slaps!”

But after a long wait, no one stepped forward.

“Are you deaf?!” Old Madam Xia grew angrier. On closer inspection, she noticed these maids were strangers, and recalled what Qi’er had said.

“You, Jiang! You’ve secretly replaced all the household maids with your own!”

“This is outright rebellion—no respect or filial piety shown to me, Old Madam! Huai’an, look at the daughter-in-law you brought home!”

After uttering the last word, she clutched her side and collapsed back into her seat. “Oh, my liver aches.”

“Old Madam, what’s wrong?” Shen Qi’er asked anxiously.

“It’s this wretched woman who made me sick!” Old Madam Xia pointed trembling fingers at Jiang.

Xia Huai’an’s face darkened with disgust. “Jiang Wanning! Look at the mess you’ve caused!”

Jiang felt a suffocating pressure in her chest but refused to bow her back.

She knew that if she bent once more, there would be no place for her or her child to survive in the Marquis’s mansion.

Seeing her stubborn defiance, Xia Huai’an grew even more infuriated. “Fine! If you maids won’t obey, I’ll do it myself!”

Qi’er’s eyes flickered with unease as she anxiously handed over the whip. “Master, please, Sister’s body can’t take it.”

“I know you’re kind-hearted, but she went too far this time! If we don’t teach her a lesson, won’t the whip fall on Yangyang next time?”

“Don’t interfere!”

With that, he raised the whip and struck toward Jiang.

She cradled Shaoshao in her arms.

Yet he struck recklessly, whipping them both.

Just as the whip was about to land, a maid behind Xia Huai’an kicked his wrist.

“Ah!” A cry of pain escaped as the whip flew from his hand, but it swung uncontrollably and landed across Jiang’s back.

Her eyes reddened; half her body went numb.

It was proof of just how much force Xia Huai’an had used.

She dared not imagine if the whip had struck fragile Shaoshao—what a brutal scene that would have been!

Xia Huai’an cared nothing for such things, only feeling humiliated that a maid had struck him.

Panting heavily, he said, “Jiang! Your maid actually dared to lay hands on me!”

“Master, if I hadn’t acted, the whip might have hit the young lady. She’s only days old; one lash could be fatal.” The maid bowed slightly but showed no respect in her eyes.

Such a bloodthirsty creature was unworthy of their respect.

Xia Huai’an’s heart skipped a beat as he inspected Jiang, noting the redness across her back and her paler complexion.

He gasped—was this from his own strike?

If the whip had really fallen on Shaoshao, as the maid said, it would have been a death sentence.

Had he then killed his own flesh and blood with his own hands?

“Huai’an, are you trying to murder your own child?!” Jiang trembled uncontrollably, unsure if it was from pain or rage.

Xia Huai’an avoided her eyes but soon his expression shifted to anger.

“I was angry and didn’t control my strength. But you saw it coming. Why didn’t you dodge?”

“Was it just to make me feel guilty so I’d forgive you?”

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s all because of you!”

“You used to be gentle and understanding. How did you become like this? If you were even half as obedient as Qi’er, none of this would have happened!”