Chapter 37: The Lone Star of Misfortune? She Is Unaware

Several days passed. When Xia Jiujiang returned to the Xia residence, she wore a plain, understated white silk gown. Her face was free of makeup, and her long, ink-black hair was casually gathered into a cloud-like bun with a white jade plum blossom hairpin. Her fair face was accentuated by lively, doe-like eyes. She had come to pay her respects for Chun’er’s funeral.

The Prime Minister’s mansion no longer echoed with the lively joy of the birthday banquet; from a distance, one could hear mournful music drifting through the air. For the funeral, Xia Wentao had invited musicians from the Music Pavilion to play sorrowful melodies, filling the atmosphere with grief; everyone’s faces were weighed down with gloom.

Xia Jiujiang had not expected that upon returning to the Prime Minister’s residence, the entire environment would have transformed from heaven to earth. Where once there had been bustling crowds and laughter, now there was desolation and decline. As she prepared to step down from the carriage, the old matron of the Xia family appeared at the gates, charging forth with hostility. Her eyes, sharp as an eagle’s, glared fiercely at Xia Jiujiang.

The old lady spoke with displeasure, “What is the Princess of Jin doing at the Prime Minister’s mansion?”

Xia Jiujiang had not anticipated that the person waiting for her at the gate would be the matron herself.

With utmost respect, Xia Jiujiang replied, “Grandmother, Chun’er has passed; I have come especially to—”

Before she could finish, the old matron interrupted viciously, “Why have you come? Haven’t you brought enough calamity upon the Prime Minister’s residence? Every time you come, something happens! My birthday banquet was ruined, then there was trouble with the prescriptions, and now someone is dead. You, this harbinger of disaster—get out!”

Xia Jiujiang’s gaze turned cold as she looked at the crowd gathering, drawn by the noisy insults and curses. She sighed—why was every return to the Xia family so troublesome?

Rumors had recently plagued Xia Wentao’s household; even his official position had been affected. To quell the gossip, the best strategy was to use new rumors to counter the old ones.

Now the old matron deliberately called Xia Jiujiang a harbinger of disaster, shifting all blame for the family’s misfortunes onto her, cloaking her in superstition and misfortune, so that everyone would believe all troubles in the Prime Minister’s residence were somehow connected to Xia Jiujiang.

With deep anguish, the old matron pleaded, “Consider it my plea to you—you are doomed to loneliness and bring misfortune. Your father knew you were at odds with the Prime Minister’s residence but still kept you here. If you can’t show gratitude, at least don’t bring disaster upon us. I beg you, don’t come again.”

Xia Jiujiang narrowed her eyes; not only did they wish to dispel the rumors, but they sought to establish Xia Wentao as a good father—protecting Xia Jiujiang even if she was fated for misfortune, letting her live in the Xia residence. How shameless.

Around them, people began whispering after hearing the old matron’s words, “Could what she says be true?”

“No wonder the Prime Minister’s household has had such a string of accidents lately—Xia Jiujiang always seems to be present when things happen!”

“Could it be Xia Jiujiang who brings misfortune to the Prime Minister’s residence?”

“If that’s the case, we’d better keep our distance—lest the bad luck spread.”

“Poor Prime Minister Xia, the whole city is talking about his family’s troubles. Who would have thought the disaster was brought by Xia Jiujiang?”

Green Luo was furious—what doomed star, what ill fate! None of it was true. How could the old matron smear the Princess’s name in front of so many people?

Green Luo defended Xia Jiujiang angrily, “Old Matron, how could the Princess bring disaster?”

Aunt Xiu slapped Green Luo across the face, relying on her status as the matron’s attendant. “When the mistress speaks, it’s not your place to interrupt!”

That slap, in front of so many people, was a clear display: it was nothing to strike a Princess’s maid.

Even to beat a dog, one must consider its master. Xia Jiujiang’s eyes flashed with anger, and she raised her hand, delivering a slap to Aunt Xiu’s face—a resounding blow that sent her tumbling to the ground.

The old matron was furious, “Xia Jiujiang, what are you doing? To dare strike even my attendant! You are truly lawless!”

Xia Jiujiang looked at Aunt Xiu with contempt. “When the Princess speaks, it is not for a dog to bark.”

Xia Jiujiang was clearly defending Green Luo, and by calling Aunt Xiu a dog, she slapped the old matron’s dignity as well.

Aunt Xiu glanced at Xia Jiujiang, and the natural authority in Xia Jiujiang’s expression made her suddenly afraid.

The old matron trembled, “You doomed star, leave at once! The Xia residence does not welcome you!”

Xia Jiujiang responded, “Has Grandmother been listening to some mad gossip? How can you make such a scene at the gates of the Prime Minister’s residence?”

The old matron raged, “Do I need to listen? Everyone isn’t blind! On your wedding day, the Prince of Jin fell gravely ill. When you returned to the Xia residence, within days, Xia Chan was sent to a nunnery, Concubine Wei was thrown out, and now a more serious tragedy—Chun’er’s death. All because you are a doomed star, cursed to bring misfortune. That’s why the Prime Minister’s residence has suffered so much!”

The old matron, perhaps under someone’s instigation, foolishly aired these matters in public, utterly lacking in sense.

Xia Jiujiang firmly interrupted, “Grandmother, how can you confuse cause and effect? The disgrace at your birthday banquet was Xia Chan’s own shamelessness and lack of propriety. She was at fault. Concubine Wei was expelled because she conspired with Xia Chan to frame the Princess with a false prescription—an order given directly by the Prince of Jin.”

At this moment, Xia Mingxuan, lurking nearby, observed Xia Jiujiang’s easy retorts, his eyes narrowing in appraisal. Such eloquence, indeed, was impressive.

Xia Yue’er whispered to Xia Mingxuan, “Brother, I told you—Xia Jiujiang is extremely sharp-tongued now. Provoking Grandmother to attack her at the gates has no effect.”

Xia Mingxuan glanced at Xia Yue’er, “You understand nothing. Today is just a prelude. Though few may believe it, not many know the true story of the Xia family. Most people simply enjoy the spectacle. As long as today’s rumors spread, it will suffice…”

If another death occurred in the Xia residence, it would hardly be noticed; after all, the death of one doomed star was inconsequential.

At the gates, Xia Jiujiang continued, “As for Chun’er’s death, blaming me is even more ludicrous. The real murderer was Haitang, who dealt a cruel blow to Chun’er. How can Grandmother shift the blame onto me? No matter how unlucky I may be, I cannot control so many people to commit wrongdoing.”

The old matron muttered, “You… you… I have consulted your birth chart…”

Xia Jiujiang pressed her, “My birth chart was matched with the Prince of Jin at our marriage, and sent to the Great Li Temple in the Li Kingdom for calculation. The abbot, Master Dehe, never declared me a doomed star or cursed. If I were so unworthy, how could the royal family allow the Prince of Jin to marry me? Or is Grandmother questioning the imperial decree, suspecting that His Majesty deliberately bestowed a doomed star upon the Prince of Jin?”

Xia Jiujiang looked at the old matron with disdain, her raised brows cold and mocking, relishing the matron’s speechless expression.