Chapter 326

Chapter 326: It Shattered Her Expectations

Jiang Yu Wei stared at Yu Zhi Yi in a tangle of pride and duty. From the heart, it was hard for him to apologize to a junior, but this junior’s identity was clearly unusual. He gritted his teeth and finally lowered his head: “Jin’er, it was all my fault. I accused you without understanding the situation.”

Lin Jing Xuan added with a sigh: “I was wrong too. I didn’t think you would ever do such a thing, yet I still let my habits mislead me.”

Yu Zhi Yi nodded, neither warm nor cold: “What’s past is past. I hope Uncle and Aunt will check the facts next time before deciding. That way you don’t wrong a good person.”

Not everyone can ignore rumors the way she can. And not everyone can use the identity of a high-ranking Official to wash off mud that others throw.

Being lectured in public by a junior made Jiang Yu Wei’s face burn, but he had to nod: “Jin’er is right. I’ll remember. From now on I won’t listen to only one side.”

The always-forceful Martial Alliance Leader bowing to a junior in front of everyone looked almost funny.

Chen Xin Yue’s eyes nearly split with rage. Everything today shattered her expectations. She couldn’t figure it out. For years on Mount Ming, she had carefully pleased everyone, yet people only barely accepted her. Her treatment was only a little better than that of a head maid. Facing members of the Jiang Clan, she had to walk on eggshells, afraid a single misstep would make them hate her and kick her out. But that little wretch actually made Commandery Governor Song and his wife bow their heads to her, and even forced the Martial Alliance Leader Jiang Yu Wei to apologize in public. Why?!

Her emotions surged so hard that her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Yu Zhi Yi was speechless: [With a mindset this fragile, why try house politics? She can win but can’t take a loss.]

Jiang Yu Wei had already cursed Chen Xin Yue a dozen times in his heart. Seeing her pass out, he felt no pity-only disgust: “Someone take Miss Chen back. When she wakes up, tell her to rest and stop wandering around.”

That was basically putting Chen Xin Yue under house arrest.

When Chen Ruo Lan saw her daughter tossed roughly onto the bed, she was stunned: “What happened to Yue’er?”

The servants were under a gag order. After all, whether it was Jiang Yu Wei and his wife wrongly assuming Yu Zhi Yi had an affair with Commandery Governor Song, or them apologizing to a junior-none of it was glorious. They couldn’t say what happened, so a servant only muttered, “Miss Chen made a mistake. The Alliance Leader ordered that once she wakes, she must not go out. After the Earthly Ranking Assembly ends, her behavior will decide if she regains her freedom.”

Chen Ruo Lan’s brows lifted in confusion, but her face showed the right mix of worry and sorrow. She sent the servant away with a firm look.

As soon as the room held only mother and daughter, her expression flipped cold. She stared at Chen Xin Yue on the bed and spat one word: “Useless.”

…

Commandery Governor Song and his wife personally came to ask about last night’s missed appointment. Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t explain the details, so she could only offer a vague apology: “Something urgent came up last night and I forgot my promise to Madam Song. I was planning to visit today, but I didn’t expect you both to come here.”

Commandery Governor Song wouldn’t dare let her come apologize at his door. He chuckled and waved it off: “Second Miss Jiang, you are too polite. If something happens, just send a message. How could we trouble you to come in person?”

On the side, Jiang Yu Wei and his wife were so embarrassed their toes could dig a hole through the floor. They were the ones who had suggested coming to apologize in person. At the same time, their curiosity about Yu Zhi Yi’s identity only grew. But neither the Song couple nor Yu Zhi Yi intended to clear up their doubts.

At noon, Jiang Yu Wei ordered a fine table of food and wine and invited several young masters and young misses to join-everyone except Chen Xin Yue. Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow. Her uncle seemed a bit too warm toward Commandery Governor Song.

Seeing her doubt, Jiang Yu Chuan explained: “In recent years the Martial World has declined. Most places are fine, but the Martial Alliance sits right under Tian’an Commandery’s nose. Many things are hard to do.”

He lowered his voice: “If your uncle wants to revive the Martial Alliance and bring back the glory from a hundred years ago, he must keep good ties with the Imperial Court.”

A hundred years ago, with Eldest Princess Jia Luo-Protector of the Realm-behind them, the Alliance was unmatched. Even high ministers of the Imperial Court gave face to the Martial Alliance Leader back then. Now? Forget a fourth-rank commandery governor-even a seventh-rank minor official can’t be slighted. Being Alliance Leader these days feels suffocating.

Yu Zhi Yi understood.

During the meal, Jiang Yu Wei glanced at his daughter with a hint of regret. It was a pity the Song family’s two young masters hadn’t come. Otherwise, he could have introduced them to his girl. If it worked out…

Just as he sighed, the steward entered to report: “My lord, Master, the two Young Masters from the Song family have arrived.”

Jiang Yu Wei brightened. Speak of the devil!

Commandery Governor Song laughed: “Let them in.”

He turned to Yu Zhi Yi with a kindly smile: “Second Miss Jiang, my sons are about your age. You may have more to talk about with them than with us old folks.”

Soon two tall, well-bred young men walked into the hall. The elder looked about eighteen or nineteen, with dimples when he smiled. The younger seemed sixteen or seventeen, slighter than his brother, gentle and scholarly.

They stepped in and at once spotted Yu Zhi Yi beside Madam Song. They hurried to bow: “Song Kang Lin and Song Yu Fei pay respects to Second Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Yu Wei and his wife froze. Normally, when visiting guests skip the host to greet the host’s junior, it’s terribly rude. But even the Song couple treated their little niece with such respect that the fire in Jiang Yu Wei’s chest had nowhere to go.

Jiang Liu Shuang and Jiang Liu Bin, Jiang Liu Yi and Jiang Liu Yun-two pairs of brothers-didn’t think much of it; they only felt their sister was amazing. Eldest young master Jiang Liu Ting caught his father’s dark face under a forced bright smile, then glanced at his two foolish brothers beaming with pride. His head hurt.

He looked toward the poised girl. She was actually a few years younger than him and had grown up outside, yet she showed no fear facing big shots. She sat steady and open, calm and unhurried, with none of the arrogance that comes when the powerful flatter you.

[Who is this sister, really? In what kind of place did she grow up?] He felt in her a steadiness even his father lacked-and a spark of hope for reviving the Martial Alliance.