Jiang Yucheng, with his eyes closed, urged, "We are husband and wife, what is there that can't be said? Speak freely!"
Chu Lianxin sighed: "Actually, it's nothing. It's just that this matter is related to Luo Xue. I'm worried that if I, as her stepmother, say it, it might be suspected of sowing discord between father and daughter. That's why I find it difficult to say."
Jiang Yucheng frowned immediately upon hearing it's about his eldest daughter.
"Madam, you need not worry so much. Although you are her stepmother, you are also her mother, and you naturally have the right to discipline her."
"Besides, I know exactly what kind of person you are, and what kind of person that wretched girl is."
"Just tell me straight, what trouble has she gotten into this time!"
Chu Lianxin was waiting for this attitude, so she quickly embellished the story of Jiang Luoxue returning home after a day's absence and selling servants.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yucheng flew into a rage and slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups on it to shake twice.
"This wretched girl has really gone too far. I'll teach her a lesson this time and make her remember it."
"Someone, bring the young lady to the Repentance Hall." After saying that, he stood up and stormed out.
Chu Lianxin followed behind, a smug smile playing on her lips. She was happy to see Jiang Luoxue in trouble.
Wensiyuan Courtyard.
Jiang Luoxue had just finished her dinner, washed up, and was about to rest.
Chunhe came in anxiously and said, "Miss, something bad has happened. Master has asked you to go to the Repentance Hall again."
Qiuju, who was making the bed, panicked when she heard the master tell her mistress to go to the Repentance Hall.
"Miss, what should we do? Why don't you pretend to be sick?"
It's no wonder the two maids were nervous. Jiang Luoxue already knew from her memories that every time Jiang Yucheng summoned the original owner to the Repentance Hall, nothing good ever happened. He would either beat her or lock her up in the ancestral hall.
It seems that because of what happened before, Chu Lianxin has once again tried to sow discord between Jiang Yucheng and her.
There's no way to avoid it, and besides, running away from trouble isn't in her nature.
Jiang Luoxue casually instructed the maid, "Chunhe, help me change my clothes!"
"Miss!" the two maids called out, looking at her with concern.
Jiang Luoxue smiled and comforted them, "Don't worry, your young lady will be fine. Hurry up and help me change, lest we be late and Father will be even angrier."
Worried that the master would be even angrier and the young lady would suffer more, Chunhe and Qiuju quickly helped their mistress get dressed.
The three of them, master and servants, arrived at the Hall of Repentance and had just entered the main hall.
With a "bang," a Chenghua porcelain cup was smashed in front of Jiang Luoxue. Chunhe and Qiuju were so frightened that they quickly pulled their mistress back two steps, their faces showing fear.
The cup almost hit them.
Jiang Yucheng glared angrily at his troublesome eldest daughter and roared, "You wretched girl, kneel down!"
Jiang Luoxue raised her head and first glanced at Chu Lianxin, who was hiding behind the man, her eyes flashing with schadenfreude, but her face showing feigned concern.
Then she turned to look at her scumbag father in this era. He was about forty years old and looked decent enough, but unfortunately, he was a good-for-nothing scoundrel.
He married the original owner's mother, used her money to bribe officials, and finally climbed to a high position. Later, he complained that his wife, who had shared his hardships, came from a merchant family.
While the original mother of this body was pregnant, he secretly had an affair with Chu Lianxin and gave birth to Jiang Ruzhu, who was raised outside the home.
After his first wife died during her second pregnancy, he couldn't wait to bring his mistress and her daughter back to the mansion and marry Chu Lianxin as his second wife.
Poor Liu, she worked so hard to elevate her husband to a high position, only to have him benefit someone else.
Damn it!
This guy is a complete scumbag.
Jiang Yucheng raised his voice in anger when he saw that his daughter hadn't reacted for a long time.
"You wicked daughter, I'm telling you to kneel down! Do you hear me?!"
Chu Lianxin's lips curled into a gloating smile, but she pretended to act as a peacemaker.
"My lord, Xue'er must have had too much fun going out today and her mind hasn't come back yet."
"Speak to her properly, speaking so loudly will scare her."
Her words only made Jiang Yucheng angrier.
"What kind of behavior is it for a young lady not to stay at home and do needlework instead of running around outside all day!"
"Guards, give her a good beating so she'll learn her lesson!"
"Yes—!" Immediately, two maids came over with boards in their hands, intending to beat Jiang Luoxue.
It seems that if she doesn't take action today, things won't end well.
Jiang Luoxue's face turned cold, a sharp glint flashing in her beautiful eyes. She grabbed the paddle from the servant's hand with her five fingers like claws and quickly slapped each of them several times on the face.
Slap! Slap! The two were beaten black and blue, unable to even speak.
Just now, when these two were about to hit her, Jiang Luoxue did not miss the look that Chu Lianxin gave them.
If the punishment were to fall on her, she feared her body wouldn't be able to withstand it.
Faced with the choice between being attacked by others or attacking others, Jiang Luoxue simply chose the latter.
These few slaps were a way of retaliating against them.
After hitting the two maids, in full view of everyone, she skillfully broke the board in two, then threw it heavily to the ground with a thud.
Jiang Yucheng never expected that his usually timid eldest daughter would dare to hit someone in front of him today, and even break the board.
Enraged, he stood up, pointed ahead, glared at Jiang Luoxue, and roared angrily, "You...you rebellious daughter, what are you trying to do!"
Jiang Luoxue stood in the middle of the hall, glaring back defiantly, and asked in a tone that showed no fear whatsoever, "I'd like to ask Father what you're up to?"
"What did I do wrong that made you want to hit me without even asking?"
Seeing that she still dared to talk back, Jiang Yucheng became even angrier.
"You still have the nerve to ask? You were out of the manor all day night, and when you came back you beat and scolded the servants for no reason. Your audacity is outrageous, so I will naturally punish you properly."
"Not only do you not repent, but you also dare to be so arrogant in front of your father. This shows how arrogant and domineering you are."
Jiang Luoxue sneered sarcastically, "Ha! I think you're just getting old and your brain isn't working properly anymore!"
"Treat others' words as gospel, and treat your own brain as mere decoration."
"I really don't know how you got to the position of Minister. Did you bribe your way in?"
Jiang Luoxue's words after the snowfall were like a resounding slap in the face to Jiang Yucheng.
Because his official position was indeed obtained by spending money.
That's why the thing he hated most in his life was that people said he made his fortune by marrying Liu.
People only see that he married Liu and that Liu used money to make him successful, but they don't see his hard work.
This was something he, who prided himself on his exceptional talent and was extremely aloof, could not tolerate.
Therefore, he hated Liu Shi and also loathed the daughter she gave birth to.
Their existence allowed him to see his humble past.
Now this daughter he despises dares to stab him in the heart.
How could he not be furious!
Jiang Yucheng was so angry that his eyes were bloodshot, and his hand pointing at Jiang Luoxue was trembling violently.
"You...you wretched child, I'm going to beat you to death today."
"Men, give her a good beating!"
Jiang Luoxue used her martial arts skills to knock down the servants who rushed forward, and looked at Jiang Yucheng with icy eyes, threatening him.
"Father, my maternal grandfather is about to come to the capital. If you hit me now, I won't be able to keep my mouth shut in front of him."
Are you sure you still want to hit me?