Ink Burns

Chapter 232 The Bat (Part 2)

"Linniang—Linniang—" Jing'an noticed that his eldest daughter was lost in thought, and frowned unhappily as he called out Fu Mingjiang's childhood name.

Fu Mingjiang seemed to wake from a dream, her senses returning to normal.

Jing'an, exasperated, said, "I'm explaining the affairs of the court to you! The political landscape is treacherous and ever-changing; you must concentrate and devise flawless strategies to succeed—"

Fu Mingjiang pursed her lips, cutting off her mother's words: "If you ask me, Mother's heart ailment is caused by overworking yourself every day. Doctor Liu told you to rest and recuperate, and not to worry too much, but you wouldn't listen. You want to control everything yourself. If you're not tired, who is?"

Jing'an paused, looking slightly taken aback.

Fu Mingjiang lowered her head and tugged at the wide sleeves of her robe, which were covered in a continuous pattern of bats, to avoid her mother's gaze.

Jing An narrowed his eyes slightly: "You mean, you worry too much about your mother, control too much, and make yourself disliked?"

Fu Mingjiang turned her head to the side, revealing her smooth, rounded profile, as bright as the moon, and pouted her full red lips: "Daughter is just concerned about you."

"Concern? Or blame?" Jing An raised his chin slightly, understanding dawning on him: "Today, the Cui family sent you here as a mediator?"

"No--"

Although she denied it, Fu Mingjiang turned her head, frowned, and said with great confusion, "I just can't understand it. The Chang family is not doing well. Chang Lin is stubborn and self-willed, and not hardworking enough. He only knows how to drink, fight, and play with women all day long. He has accomplished nothing in the Xishan Camp for many years! You also taught me that if a person is in a position and does not achieve anything, it is a fault. Do you want to protect him to the end? — It would be better to replace the Chang family and transfer Yulang from the Ministry of Works to the Xishan Camp. You know your son-in-law's abilities. He is down-to-earth, has an excellent reputation, and everyone in the Six Ministries admires and praises him."

Fu Mingjiang spoke quickly, one sentence after another, and only at the end did she realize that Jing An had been quietly watching her all along.

"Let Cui Yulang replace Chang Lin, and then what?" Jing An's voice was low and his tone gentle, as if he were holding a silken rope, leading his eldest daughter into the poor alley.

"After that?" Fu Mingjiang asked in confusion, then said after a moment, "After that, I will tell him to do a good job and not disgrace your reputation."

Jing An shook his head: "What I mean is, what will happen to 'Qing Feng' after that?"

Fu Mingjiang laughed: "'Qingfeng' has many and tedious tasks, so it's time to let the younger generation hone and refine it. You take the helm, Yulang, and row the boat. If the direction is right, we will always be able to reach the shore."

Jing An lowered his eyes, his lips were deathly pale, and the deep lines at the corners of his eyes and lips resembled the marks on the deep roots of an old tree.

Behind Jing'an, Madam Fu frowned and shook her head desperately at Fu Mingjiang.

Fu Mingjiang and Jing An were always so close that they could talk about anything.

She completely ignored Madam Fu's reminder, instead shifting her posture and affectionately taking Jing'an's arm, acting coquettishly as usual: "Mother, you should rest too. Your health isn't what it used to be. Madam said you were coughing up blood last night. You've worked hard for most of your life, and now that I'm pregnant, you'll have your first grandchild. Then you can enjoy the company of your grandchild and the bliss of family life—why not? Let me tell you—"

Fu Mingjiang smiled, her small dimples deepening, and whispered sweetly to her mother, "I won't let the child grow up in the Marquis of Wuding's mansion. I'll send him back to the Princess's mansion, and I'll make sure he's only close to you!"

Fu Mingjiang ignored Madam Fu's warning and, naturally, also ignored her mother's increasingly stiff arms.

"You mean, 'Qingfeng' is handed over to the Cui family for control, while I stay home to raise the children?"

Jing'an finally raised her eyes. Her gaze was like that of a mother wolf, cold and oppressive. It seemed that if Fu Mingjiang said another word, she would pounce on her and bite the back of her eldest daughter's neck to teach the cub a lesson.

Fu Mingjiang finally sensed Jing'an's coldness, her straight back gradually softened, and her voice slowly became gentle: "Mother, Mother...I...I...I didn't mean that...I, I just thought...it would be very suitable for Yulang to go to the Xishan camp."

Neither the mother nor the daughter spoke in the side room.

It was eerily quiet.

Fu Mingjiang subtly curled her lips, revealing her resentment.

This small action became the final straw that completely enraged Jing'an.

"Snap—Quenching!"

Jing'an waved his sleeves.

The medicine bowl shattered on the ground!

Porcelain shards flew everywhere, nearly landing at Fu Mingjiang's feet.

"Mother!" Fu Mingjiang was pulled by the suddenly raised arm and almost fell to the ground. She was startled and quickly covered her stomach.

"Fool! Fu Mingjiang, you really are a fool who could be hung on the city wall!"

Jing An's voice was deep, but his volume was extremely high: "I have worked so hard to build up this business so that I can pass on the power of 'Qing Feng' to you!"

"If I pass away, you must inherit your father's mantle and take it upon yourself to revive the gentry of Jiangnan, working diligently and conscientiously to cultivate the land!"

"It's not about supporting some son-in-law or anything!"

Jing'an flew into a rage and roared.

Fu Mingjiang's face flushed red, and only now did he turn his gaze to Madam Fu behind Jing An.

Madam Fu pointed to her belly.

Fu Mingjiang looked away, her eyes immediately reddening as she burst into tears: "Mother... I... my stomach hurts."

Jing'an was about to get angry again, but those words stopped the anger that was rushing into his head.

Tears welled in the eldest daughter's eyes, the beauty mark at the corner of her eye making her look pitiful. Her features, so similar to her ex-husband's, struck a chord deep within her like a Buddhist bell. Jing'an immediately softened, took a deep breath, and patiently spoke to his eldest daughter: "The Cui family wants me to exterminate Chang Lin. What are they planning? Linniang, you should think about it carefully. Cui Bainian is stationed in the northern frontier army. What will happen once Cui Yulang takes control of the Xishan camp?"

"Putting aside our long-standing relationship with the Chang family, with Yuan Wenying in the 'Qingfeng' cabinet, the military general Guanbei Hou in the capital, and the Cui family outside, we are able to stand out from the crowd and strategize effectively!"

Jing'an patiently said, "I teach you the art of diplomacy and strategy every day, but I've never been this patient and attentive even to your younger brother—"

Fu Mingjiang lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye with her fingertip.

Yes.

Yes.

When she was little, she and her brother would often argue, and her mother would always side with her.

there are many reasons.

She was her mother's first child and inherited the Fu family's refined and beautiful features. Even her mother personally taught her to write. At the "Qingfeng" brothel, which her mother had painstakingly built up over her entire life, her mother brought her along to the performances, not her brother; and when she associated with Chang Lin and Yuan Wenying, it was always with her mother who attended, not her brother.
Even her childhood nickname was Linniang, Lin being the character for Qilin (麒麟).
The younger brother's nickname is Xiang Ge, which means "to assist".

It's clear who's in charge and who's supporting.

The mother bat, though she only gives birth to one offspring, does her best to lift it up, regardless of whether the offspring is male or female.

My mother once said, "If I were a man, what use would I be to Zhaode?"

My mother has always had great ambitions.

But all she wanted was to stay by Cui Yulang's side and be his loving wife. She didn't have the ambition to "command the wind and rain," "do whatever she wanted," or "strategize."
That's a man's business, why does she have to live such a hard life?

Fu Mingjiang felt wronged but dared not say anything. She lowered her head, tears streaming down her face and falling onto the back of her hand.

How could a mother and daughter hold a grudge overnight?
Seeing his daughter's state, Jing'an's heart softened. His voice was hoarse but soft as he spoke: "Cui Yulang is a useful man, and I will use him myself, but you must never let him surpass you. He doesn't love you, and his feelings for you are not genuine. He only married you because of the Princess's Mansion and the power of 'Qingfeng.' As long as you have power and influence, he will respect and pamper you. If you hand over all your power to him, it's no different than putting your head under his guillotine."

Fu Mingjiang looked up in disbelief.

What is Mother saying?
What do you mean, Yulang doesn't love her? He's not sincere towards her?

What gives my mother the right to say that?

For her sake, Yulang took the initiative to drive Lin Shi, whom he had favored for many years, out of the mansion. Not to mention, those few nights when their bodies were in sync and their hearts were in perfect harmony!

Jing'an reached out to touch her daughter's head and sighed, "You said you wanted to marry Cui Yu, that you truly loved him, and that you only wanted him regardless of his thoughts. Your mother will naturally help you fulfill your wish. But Linniang, men are like that; you shouldn't revolve around them, and you shouldn't give up your chance to sit at the table for them."

Before Jing'an could finish speaking, Fu Mingjiang suddenly stood up, slapped away Jing'an's outstretched hand, and said in a sharp voice, "You have no idea how good he is! You don't know our current situation either! Why do you say that!"

Why do you say Cui Yulang doesn't love her?

Cui Yulang loves her!
I love her!

I love her!

Besides her, who else could Cui Yulang love!
Everyone loves her, and Cui Yulang must love her too!
This is their Achilles' heel!

This is the bottom line!
She always puts Cui Yulang first because Cui Yulang loves her too!
Fu Mingjiang's eyes widened as she stared directly at Jing'an: "Me, revolving around men? Haven't you been revolving around men too?!—First my father, then Zhou Xingyun, and now He Qingshu! You, a princess, shamelessly use men to climb the social ladder. Not once, not twice! If you can do it, why can't I!"

"Do all these men really love you?! You're ten years older than He Qingshu! A whole ten years! Do they really love you?!"

"Snapped!"

The sound was crisp and clear!

This sound is definitely not from broken porcelain!

Jing An stood up abruptly, his body slightly hunched, but he slapped her with all his might!

A bright red, clear handprint immediately appeared on Fu Mingjiang's porcelain-white cheek!
"You hit me!" Fu Mingjiang roared in disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes. "You hit me for He Qingshu!"

Jing'an was teetering on the brink of collapse; her magnificent twelve-panel horse-face skirt hung like a skeletal frame, and the slap seemed to have exhausted all her strength.

Madam Fu hurriedly stepped forward to support her master.

Jing'an reached out with difficulty to embrace his eldest daughter.

Fu Mingjiang, however, was crying. She turned around and rushed out the door. Just as she crossed the veranda, she bumped into Zhou Fangniang, who had come to pay her respects.

"Princess, what's wrong?" Zhou Fangniang asked, peeking out with a half-smile.

Standing beside Zhou Fangniang was Liu Shanyue, the vixen-like woman from the Xue family.

Liu Shanyue stood quietly beside him, her head slightly bowed, her long, upturned eyelashes making her look like a quiet and graceful lady in a painting.

Fu Mingjiang's anger was provoked to its peak by Shan Yue's presence. She strode over to Zhou Fangniang's side, supporting her pregnant belly, and slapped Zhou Fangniang across the face. With her face flushed red, she gritted her teeth and cursed, "You filthy bitch, you think you're worthy to watch my show?!"

(End of this chapter)