Chapter 16: Don't Get Too Arrogant!

“Jiang Sheng, how does it feel to be cherished?”

Without a word from the old master, Jiang Sheng remained kneeling on the cold floor of the ancestral hall. He had been accompanied by Jiang Cheng and Li Baizhen, but upon hearing that he was to be sent to a branch office, Jiang Cheng fainted on the spot and was likely lying in a hospital bed now.

Li Baizhen, who had always doted on the youngest son, could no longer bear to face Jiang Sheng after witnessing the earth-shattering, shameful scene yesterday. She, too, had gone to the hospital with Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Ming and Jiang Man were simply there to witness the spectacle. Seeing Jiang Sheng in such a pitiful, beaten state brought them a sense of satisfaction.

Before Jiang Ming could speak, Jiang Man stepped forward, looking down at him with contempt. “When you were molesting me, did you ever imagine this day would come? When you tried to frame Jiang Ming, did you ever think that all this would one day backfire on you?”

Last night, lying in bed, Jiang Man had thought long and hard. Had she been too weak all along? She had been brainwashed by Li Baizhen and Jiang Cheng’s constant warnings: as a girl, you must speak softly and endure hardships quietly; just go along with it; don’t make a fuss; what belongs to you will be yours, and what doesn’t, no matter how hard you try, won’t be yours...

Under such influence, Jiang Man had gradually changed from a spirited and competitive child who refused to suffer injustices into a silent, submissive girl who endured everything. She had never thought to resist Jiang Sheng’s bullying over all these years.

If not for Jiang Ming’s return, she might have followed Li Baizhen’s plan to marry that hopeless man from the Li family once she reached the legal age, giving up her education to support her husband and raise children, living a life devoted entirely to others for Jiang Sheng’s career.

Jiang Sheng, hunched over and kneeling, was so famished after a day without food that he no longer had the strength to lift his head.

“Jiang Ming, Jiang Man, when I rise again, I swear I will make your lives miserable beyond measure!”

The words barely escaped his clenched teeth. Even starving like this, he still couldn’t forget to threaten them.

“Anytime,” Jiang Ming replied confidently. He wasn’t afraid of his threats. Unaware that he was soon to be sent abroad, he still imagined Jiang Sheng as the once proud only son of the Jiang family, capable of calling the shots. He thought that with time, the old master would forget about yesterday’s events, and Jiang Sheng would still remain the family’s hope.

One must admit, Jiang Cheng and Li Baizhen were skilled manipulators; they had managed to convince a modern man to act like a relic of feudal times. Alas, Jiang Sheng was just a eunuch newly appointed after the fall of the Qing dynasty—no longer able to stir up any trouble.

“Don’t get too arrogant...” Jiang Sheng could not bear Jiang Ming’s fearless demeanor. Attempting to stand and deal with her, he found his lower body completely immobile.

Recalling what Li Qiyi had done to him yesterday, a wave of nausea surged through him, as if insects crawled all over his body.

The ancestral hall was cold and gloomy. Jiang Ming and Jiang Man did not linger after witnessing Jiang Sheng’s humiliation. They planned to find the old master to announce an important matter.

As they stepped out, they collided face-to-face with Jiang Shi and Steward Ye.

---

“What are you two doing here?” Jiang Shi was clearly surprised to see them. He found Jiang Sheng so repulsive that even a glance was unbearable—let alone Jiang Ming and Jiang Man.

“We came to check on our brother, to see how he’s doing,” Jiang Ming declared boldly, never bothering with pretense, speaking loudly enough for the kneeling Jiang Sheng inside to hear.

Jiang Man remained silent, standing behind Jiang Ming, avoiding eye contact with the man opposite her.

“Good sisters, then,” Jiang Shi said, amused.

Throughout, Jiang Man kept avoiding Jiang Sheng’s gaze. Was she still angry? Jiang Shi didn’t understand. The girl seemed delicate and gentle but clearly had a fiery temper.

“Well, you two listen up. This is the old master’s warning to every member of the Jiang family.”

Jiang Shi was more than happy to cooperate with Jiang Ming. He detested Jiang Cheng and the others, and naturally had no intention of sparing Jiang Sheng’s fragile dignity.

“Jiang Sheng, the old master, for your sake as his grandson, permits you to study abroad. When everyone has forgotten that shameful incident, then you may return.”

“Your life abroad will be funded according to the local minimum standard, sent to you on time. We hope you can reform and recognize your mistakes.”

“Before you leave, there will be a medical examination, to ensure you don’t carry any diseases that could ruin your life.”

Each sentence struck colder than the last, grinding what little pride Jiang Sheng had into the dust.

“No, it’s impossible. Grandpa would never treat me like this. I’m the only male heir of the Jiang family, it can’t be...”

Hope for leniency vanished the next moment. Overcome with rage, Jiang Sheng’s vision darkened, his body went limp, and he collapsed forward, hitting his head hard against the table leg.

“Quick, send him to the hospital. Don’t forget the medical exam,” Steward Ye ordered, immediately calling for help.

Jiang Shi and the others then left the premises.

---

“Man, are you still mad at your little uncle?”

The three walked side by side. Jiang Ming was sandwiched between Jiang Shi and Jiang Man, unaware of what Jiang Shi was referring to.

“Huh? No,” Jiang Man replied nervously when suddenly addressed, turning toward Jiang Shi to explain, “I’m just a little tired…”

Meaning, she wasn’t deliberately avoiding him, just too exhausted to engage.

In truth, Jiang Man didn’t know how to face him. His lingering warmth from last night seemed to hover around her, especially the heat from his palm pressing against her waist, as if it could burn right through.

“Oh, good, then you’re not angry.”

Jiang Shi, inexperienced with women, had thought she was deliberately avoiding him, but it was just his imagination.

Yet intuition rarely lies; Jiang Shi simply lacked insight.

“Are you hiding something from me?”

Jiang Ming glanced at the blushing figure beside her. The evasive look confirmed her suspicion.

There was definitely something going on—and it was serious.

“No, it’s nothing. Last night I accidentally bumped into Man and nearly knocked her down. I thought she was mad,” Jiang Shi said.

Jiang Man’s eyes dimmed visibly, and the flush on her cheeks faded.

So, the heart-fluttering encounter she had was just a trivial matter to him. But, after all, they were uncle and niece—how could she entertain such unseemly thoughts? That would be no different from the beast Jiang Sheng.

She resolved to slowly forget her feelings for him. No matter what, there could be no future between them. Besides, Jiang Shi had no such intentions.