Chapter 48 Jiang Lingyao Deserves a Lesson!

Jiang Xiushu's dissatisfaction with Jiang Lingyao was now completely beyond his ability to conceal, yet when it came to truly taking matters into his own hands and teaching her a lesson, he still felt a tremor of timidity in his heart.

For reasons unknown, he had always held a vague and inexplicable dread toward Jiang Lingyao. Over the past few days, he kept recalling the cold expression she wore when wielding her whip, her eyes fierce and ruthless, staring at him as though he were a mortal enemy.

"Third Brother has always been so good to her," Song Lian'er suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence as she tugged at Jiang Xiushu's sleeve. "Jiang Lingyao has harmed you to this extent, yet you actually don't resent her?"

As she spoke, tears gradually welled up in the corners of her eyes. "Lian'er truly envies her. Both Eldest Brother and you value her the most; no matter what she does to either of you, she is never blamed."

The shred of reason Jiang Xiushu had managed to muster vanished instantly. Gritting his teeth, he spat out, "Bah! What is there to envy? Jiang Lingyao is nothing compared to you; she is not even half as good as you! She has no idea how to respect her elder brothers, no kindness, and no sense of gratitude!"

"She is a cold-hearted, ungrateful wretch, utterly unworthy of being the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Manor!"

As he spoke, his expression grew increasingly frigid. Finally, raising his eyes, he looked straight at Song Lian'er and said solemnly, "You are right, Lian'er. I really ought to teach her a lesson!"

Jiang Lingyao had simply been spoiled rotten, and relying on their grandmother to back her up, she had actually dared to strike him this time!

He was Jiang Lingyao's older brother, and since she had grown up to be like this, it was high time he found a way to properly curb her temper.

He was only doing it for her own good!

***

Overnight, Jiang Xiushuai's illness struck with ferocious intensity, terrifying everyone in the Duke's Manor with pale faces.

Jiang Lingyao remained peacefully by her grandmother's side. Hearing the maidservant come in to report on Jiang Xiushuai's condition, she couldn't help pausing slightly, a trace of worry flickering in her eyes as she looked toward her grandmother.

Jiang Xiushuai was also her grandmother's biological grandson; seeing him fall this ill, her grandmother certainly could not feel at ease.

Sensing something, the Old Madam turned her head, met the concern in Jiang Lingyao's eyes, and smiled slightly. "Worried that I'll be upset?"

Jiang Lingyao bit her lip and nodded.

The smile on the Old Madam's face faded slightly, complex thoughts stirring in her heart, yet she still spoke to her gently, "He is my grandson, and in the future, he is to be the heir of the Duke's Manor. But his temperament is truly incapable of bearing heavy responsibilities. This punishment is not undeserved. If it can grind down his sharp edges, it will be an exceedingly good thing."

Jiang Lingyao's heart settled somewhat.

Unexpectedly, a moment later, a maidservant knocked on the door and said in a troubled tone, "Old Madam, Young Miss, the Eldest Young Master's fever has left him delirious. He cannot keep any food or water down, and he keeps muttering the Young Miss's name, insisting on seeing her."

The smile vanished entirely from the Old Madam's face. "Who sent you?"

The maidservant froze, lowering her voice even further. "It was the Madam."

So it was her mother who had sent her.

Jiang Lingyao felt a numbness settle in her heart, and she could not suppress a bitter twitch at the corner of her mouth.

This was the difference: the moment Jiang Xiushuai fell ill, Madam Jiang was frantic with worry; yet when she returned covered in injuries, all she heard was Madam Jiang demanding that she yield her marriage alliance to Song Lian'er.

Jiang Lingyao was already well aware of Madam Jiang's indifference, but at this moment, she still felt a brief spell of distraction, a sharp, sour ache piercing her heart.

She quickly suppressed this fleeting emotion and spoke toward the door, "I am not going. Tell her I will not go. I am not a physician; what use is it to look for me when he is ill? Tell her to hurry and summon the imperial physician."

The maidservant was on the verge of tears as she pleaded, "Young Miss, the Madam said that if this servant fails to bring you over, I am to remain kneeling here in the Old Madam's quarters. Whatever time you decide to go is the only time this servant will be allowed to leave with you."

Jiang Lingyao was stunned, a surge of anger spreading outward from her chest through all her limbs and bones.

What on earth was her mother trying to achieve? Knowing full well that she refused to go and cared nothing for Jiang Xiushuai, she was actually resorting to blackmailing her through her grandmother?

To deliberately send this little maidservant to disturb her grandmother's peace—was this not forcing her into a corner?

Jiang Lingyao's complexion grew increasingly dark, her breathing heavy, the edges of her eyes flushed red with boiling anger.

Her grandmother's health was poor; in recent days, she was awake far less often than she was asleep. Right now, a faint trace of fatigue was already visible on her grandmother's face. If this little maidservant were to kneel here and keep causing a scene, her grandmother would never be able to rest.

Gritting her teeth, she stood up and said to the Old Madam, "Please wait a moment, Grandmother. I will go take a look and return immediately."

"Mingzhu."

The Old Madam reached out and caught her hand. "If you don't want to go, then don't go. She's merely a servant; we can just have the attendants throw her out. After all, I am still the Old Madam of this estate; surely I can manage even that much."

Jiang Lingyao shook her head. "No, Grandmother. It is not just for the sake of this matter alone; I must make things clear with her once and for all."

Thinking of Madam Jiang's threats against her, a profound sense of exhaustion rose within her. "I refuse to let her continue to suppress me like this."

The Old Madam said nothing further, merely instructing Mother Li, who attended her side, to accompany Jiang Lingyao.

Upon arriving at Jiang Xiushuai's quarters, the moment Jiang Lingyao stepped through the threshold, she was struck by a thick, heavy medicinal odor, mingled with an indescribable, cloying sweetness.

As she drew closer, two young maidservants were there, crying tears of anxiety.

"Young Miss, how on earth is that lung-soothing soup supposed to be brewed? Didn't Wenlu bring back the prescription last time? Why can't we brew the exact same flavor no matter how closely we follow it?"

"This is already the fifth bowl the Eldest Young Master has thrown out. The Madam is furious. If he smashes another bowl, we are certain to be punished, wuu wuu wuu..."

A cold sneer crossed Jiang Lingyao's heart, filled with profound irony.