Chapter 280

Chapter 280: Sister, I’m Sorry

The Jiang clan had never split into separate households, so they usually ate together. The Martial Alliance was no small sect either; three meals a day were standard.

Early the next morning, Jiang Liu Bin strode into the dining hall with a sour face. Seeing that Second Uncle’s family had not arrived yet, he snorted and said: “They aren’t so great, but they sure like to act important.”

Thinking of what happened last night still made him upset. That woman had actually ruined the relationship between the Martial Alliance and the Fang family. The Fang family wasn’t a big sect or noble clan, but he and Young Master Fang were the same age and had grown up as playmates. He had thought Young Master Fang went too far last night, but after hearing Sister Xin Yue’s explanation, he realized Young Master Fang never meant to hurt anyone. And that wild girl wasn’t injured or shamed at all, so he thought: [Why won’t she just let it go?] He felt a sudden urge to stand up for his friend. But even though he came early to pick a fight, the person he wanted to target still hadn’t shown up.

Alliance Leader Jiang had business and left at dawn without eating breakfast. Lin Jing Xuan frowned at her foolish son and said: “She’s your second sister. Be polite to her.”

Jiang Liu Bin curled his lip and said: “Second sister? I don’t accept that.”

He added with scorn, saying: “I don’t want some frail, weak sister. She humiliates the Martial Alliance.”

Jiang Si Ying sat with her brows knit, clearly not in a good mood. Still, when she heard her foolish brother talking like that, she lifted her head and warned him, saying: “Second Uncle finally found his daughter. You need to stop.”

Jiang Liu Bin stared at his sister in disbelief and said: “Sis, are you out of your mind? That wild girl bullied you, and you’re still speaking up for her?”

Jiang Si Ying looked confused and asked: “How did she bully me?”

Jiang Liu Bin gave a cold little laugh and said: “That wild girl dared to flirt with Young Lord Li and even called Commandery Governor Song over to back her up. If she wasn’t trying to steal your spotlight, then what was it?”

He pressed on with a huff and said: “You’re the Jiang clan’s treasured daughter, the eldest young miss. Even you don’t put on airs like that. She shows up and causes a huge scene from the start. Isn’t she trying to put you beneath her?”

Jiang Si Ying pressed her lips together. She was upset for that very reason. Li Chang Huai and Jiang Liu Yi were known across the martial world as “Yi of the South and Huai of the North,” the dream of many young girls. Jiang Liu Yi was her second brother; she couldn’t think of him that way. But Li Chang Huai had no blood ties with her. Tianyu Manor had been rising fast in recent years and could almost stand shoulder to shoulder with the Martial Alliance. She and Li Chang Huai could be called a perfect match. Yet this man who might very well become her future husband had stood up for her cousin who had just returned, and had even chased after her in public. This made Jiang Si Ying feel very uncomfortable.

Lin Jing Xuan gave her foolish son a cool glance and asked: “Who told you all this?”

“Ah?” Jiang Liu Bin blinked, not understanding why his mother cared about that. He thought: [Can’t it be my own idea?]

Lin Jing Xuan let out a short laugh and said: “With your brain? You’d never come up with that yourself. Someone fed it to you, didn’t they?”

Jiang Liu Bin remembered his promise and, out of loyalty, kept quiet about who it was.

Anger flashed in Lin Jing Xuan’s eyes as she said: “Even if you don’t say it, I know who ran over to whisper nonsense to you. How did I give birth to such a fool!”

Jiang Liu Bin bristled and said: “Why am I a fool? I know Young Master Fang threw the first punch, but that wild girl wasn’t hurt. Since she’s fine, shouldn’t we settle things peacefully? She even encouraged Second Aunt to hit people, and then she used Commandery Governor Song’s power to force Father to break with the Fang family. Don’t you think she went too far?!”

Just then a servant came to report, saying: “Madam, Branch Master Chen says she isn’t feeling well today. Miss Chen will stay to care for her, so they won’t come to breakfast.”

Lin Jing Xuan gave a cold little laugh and said: “What perfect timing to feel unwell.”

Jiang Liu Bin frowned and said: “Mother, why are you always so hostile to Aunt Chen? She’s sick and you still have to be sarcastic? The real troublemaker is that wild girl. She just got back and already stirred up all this mess. She’s wrecking our home! If you won’t blame her, at least don’t make life hard for our own people.”

A voice arrived before the person did, ringing through the hall as Jiang Liu Yun entered and said: “Jiang Liu Bin, who are you calling a home-wrecker?!”

Jiang Liu Bin sneered and said: “As if you don’t know.”

His arrogant look froze the moment Jiang Yu Chuan walked into the dining hall. He gave a weak smile and said: “Se… Second Uncle.”

Jiang Yu Chuan looked at Jiang Liu Bin with a cold face and said: “So Bin’er really cannot stand Jin’er. In that case, our family won’t stay here and offend your eyes. That way you won’t lose your appetite.”

Jiang Liu Bin opened his mouth, about to speak, but a pleasant female voice drifted in from the doorway, saying: “I’ve been muddle-headed for over ten years. I didn’t expect that in my own home, not only are there two new juniors, but one of them doesn’t welcome me at all.”

Not only Jiang Liu Bin, but Lin Jing Xuan and her two sons and one daughter were all stunned. After a beat, delight flashed across Lin Jing Xuan’s face as she hurried toward the door and said: “Sister-in-law, you… you’re better?”

Xiao Qing Xuan looked at her elder sister-in-law, who had clearly aged more than ten years, with a complex expression. She nodded, the corners of her lips lifting in a light smile, and said: “Yes. Thanks to Jin’er, I woke up.”

Jiang Liu Bin felt as if a heavy slap had landed on his cheek; it burned. He had just called her a troublemaker, and the moment she came back, the second aunt who had been addled for many years got better. She wasn’t a troublemaker at all. She was a lucky star.

Even though Xiao Qing Xuan had already been unwell before he was born and he felt little affection for this second aunt, he couldn’t say anything nasty now.

Lin Jing Xuan shot Jiang Liu Bin a fierce look and said: “Unfilial boy, apologize to your sister!”

Jiang Liu Bin’s face twisted with reluctance. Jiang Liu Yi, who was usually gentle, let his expression turn cold and said: “Fourth Brother, do you truly refuse to accept my sister?”

A chill ran through Jiang Liu Bin. Among the entire Martial Alliance, no, among the whole martial world’s younger generation, the one he feared most wasn’t his own brothers and sister who suppressed him by bloodline, but this cousin. Don’t be fooled by the easy smile and mild manners. If you crossed him, his methods… [I still remember the way he “taught me a lesson” before.] He shivered at the memory and said: “Second Brother, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Jiang Liu Yi’s smile returned as he said: “Oh? Really? I don’t believe you.”

Jiang Liu Bin fell silent. He clenched his jaw, looked at Yu Zhi Yi, and muttered, his pride wounded, saying: “Sorry, sister.”

His voice was low as a mosquito. Yu Zhi Yi acted as if she hadn’t heard and spoke to Xiao Qing Xuan instead, saying: “Mother’s body just recovered. These next few days she shouldn’t do too much. It’s best if she stays in bed and rests.”

Xiao Qing Xuan gazed at her recovered daughter with deep love and said: “Alright, I’ll do whatever Jin’er says.”

Humiliated, Jiang Liu Bin clenched his teeth. Not only Jiang Liu Yi, but Jiang Yu Chuan and Jiang Liu Yun were also watching him like wolves and tigers. He was certain that if Yu Zhi Yi didn’t accept his apology, his days ahead would be miserable. Rage boiled in his chest, but he forced it down, shut his eyes, and shouted, saying: “Sister, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have targeted you! I shouldn’t have bad-mouthed you behind your back!”