Chapter Thirty-Six: Don't Be Afraid

“Jiang Si, you always prided yourself on being aloof and cold, but look at you now—so vulgar, secretly meeting a man here!”
“Jiang Si, you’re silent—does that mean you’re admitting it?”
“Fang Yi, move aside!”
It was her sister’s voice! Jiang Lan listened closely; she knew her sister must be angry now, otherwise she wouldn’t have uttered more than a single word. Clearly, that woman called Fang Yi must have said something inappropriate earlier.

Just thinking about it made Jiang Lan’s blood boil. She pushed through the crowd of onlookers, but a robust matron barred her from entering.

“Sir, there are ladies inside. It’s hardly appropriate for you to go in.”

Jiang Lan couldn’t care less; she could hear even little Jiang Ruoming defending her sister, but these matrons stubbornly blocked her path. Judging by their allegiance to Fang Yi, Jiang Lan dared not reveal her name too soon, lest she be denied entry altogether.

Seeing everyone’s attention fixed inside, she pulled a yellow talisman from her sleeve and affixed it to her golden fan.

With power came confidence.

“Move aside for me!” Jiang Lan said, her voice tinged with anger. “If you don’t, don’t blame me for striking women!”

The matrons were startled by her force, but still stood firm.

“Where did this scoundrel come from? Inside is the Imperial Tutor—”

Before the head matron could finish, Jiang Lan swept her aside, sending her stumbling several steps before regaining her balance.

The others were too frightened to approach, and Jiang Lan strode straight in.

“Who let this lecher in—”

Jiang Lan flicked her fan at the maid who dared speak. “Did I give you permission to talk?”

The maid covered her face, pointing at Jiang Lan. “You!”

Jiang Lan ignored her, marching directly to Jiang Si’s side.

“Are you all right?” she asked. Aside from her slightly disheveled hair, Jiang Si looked composed, though the red scratch on her hand stood out.

Jiang Ruoming stood in front of Jiang Si, even worse off—his clothes torn and scratched.

Jiang Lan forced herself to restrain the violence churning within her; she must not kill anyone!

The screens in the room lay toppled, the maids and matrons who had guarded Jiang Si now subdued, the scene chaotic.

In a corner, a man lay sprawled, his round face and broad forehead hinting at prosperity—likely the wealthy merchant her sister was meant to meet.

“Little Uncle~”

Jiang Lan tucked the little radish-head into her arms, stroking his hair. “Ruoming, you’re so brave, protecting people. Help your aunt to a seat and let her rest.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Lan then looked at the proud young woman, whose beauty was as sharp as her arrogance.

“Let them go.”

“And who are you? You dared strike my maid, and now you’re ordering me? Ha—Jiang Si, is this your secret lover?”

Such venomous words—Jiang Lan eyed the arrogant woman and sneered. “What family manners are these? I protect my own sister, and you resort to lies and filth! Where were you raised?”

“You!” Fang Yi fumed. So what if he was a noble? Her father was Imperial Tutor, grandfather a senior official for three reigns, aunt a Dowager Princess, and her elder sister destined to marry the emperor—who was this wild noble to lecture her? She didn’t even recognize him, so he must be some unloved son, never seen in Jiankang.

Jiang Si, daughter of the Duke of Wei, had plenty of noble cousins. Probably another admirer of that little wretch Jiang Si. Fang Yi glared at Jiang Si, who sat quietly, fixing a child’s clothes, hating her all the more: always pretending, vile girl!

She turned to Jiang Lan, “I am the Imperial Tutor’s daughter. Be smart and get out of my way.”

“Tsk tsk,” Jiang Lan mocked, “So this is how the Imperial Tutor’s family behaves—breaking into the fragrance chamber, dragging matrons in to shout and slander, ruining reputations at will. Such fine upbringing!”

Fang Yi glared at the man who even applauded as he spoke. “Since you refuse to give up, I won’t be polite. I’ll expose your precious beauty’s dirty secrets right before you.”

Fang Yi pointed at the man being restrained. “Look, it’s this man who’s been meeting your fair lady in secret~”

Jiang Lan laughed, opening her folding fan. The pure gold flashed, dazzling onlookers.

“My sister does business outside. She must meet people, accompanied by maids and matrons for protection. Even the elders praise her, and our aunt the Empress Dowager calls her gentle and wise. Do you have any objection?”

Though today’s society imposed strict constraints on women, it didn’t forbid them from managing businesses or household affairs—especially those already married. Even unmarried girls of noble families often managed shops, an unspoken norm. In the Duke of Wei’s household, only Jiang Lan and Jiang Si could handle such matters; the original host had never cared for business, yet never lacked for money.

Naturally, these duties fell to Jiang Si, and she truly had a talent for commerce. Even her gambling-loving father and wastrel uncle invested in the shops she managed.

However, Jiang Si always minded her reputation and never engaged in large ventures.

Now, confronted by this aggressive woman who sought to restrain her sister and ruin her reputation, Jiang Lan could no longer endure—even if her own injury worsened.

“If you don’t let them go, be careful not to break your arm.”

Fang Yi shrank back from Jiang Lan’s predatory gaze, but, “Empress Dowager’s niece? You’re Jiang Lan, the Duke’s heir? The sickly, feeble brother of Jiang Si?”

Jiang Lan closed her fan, tapping it against her hand.

“Weakling?”

“Sickly?”

Fang Yi retreated, frightened by the advancing man; was it her imagination, or did his smile curl like a demon rising from the abyss?

The maids and matrons rushed to protect their mistress, abandoning their hold on Jiang Si’s people.

In millions of years, she’d never suffered such humiliation!

Jiang Lan ignored the pain in her arm, flicking his fan and tossing them aside one by one. Mortal flesh, he used only a fraction of his talisman’s power—enough that they wouldn’t get up for a while.

Now, only the imperious young lady remained before him.

“You… what do you want?” Fang Yi sat on the floor, her hair disheveled, jewelry askew; gone was her commanding presence, replaced by utter disgrace. “My father is Imperial Tutor, grandfather a veteran of three dynasties, aunt a Dowager Princess, my sister will marry the emperor… you can’t touch me!”

“Heh,” Jiang Lan scoffed, sweeping his arms in two grand circles. “While I, Jiang Lan, stand in this world, no one dares bully a Jiang!”

His bloodshot eyes fixed on Fang Yi, each word deliberate. “And I, Jiang Lan, bear grudges very well!”

Jiang Si’s hand paused on Ruoming’s cheek; she looked up at the figure standing tall before her, protecting her—a brother no longer needing secret gifts after punishment.

Ruoming was stunned too, feeling a fire ignite and burn hotter within.

“So, what do you want?”

Fang Yi looked up at the imposing man, shrieking with desperation, “Do you mean to strike back?”

Jiang Lan flicked his sleeve; immediately, Jiang Si’s maids hurried to prepare a soft stool. Jiang Lan sat, adjusting his sleeves.

Fang Yi, slumped on the ground, felt as if the man’s gaze was poison, seeping into her bone and flesh, a pain that came and went, piercing her heart.

Outside, the crowd grew larger. Taibai Residence was famed for luxury, and its guests were all prominent people.

Jiang Lan was unconcerned by their gaze, speaking as if nothing had happened. “If a gentleman cannot protect his family, then I’ll gladly be a villain—a villain who can even put women in their place!”

Fang Yi stared in terror at the composed man before her, suddenly bursting out, “You’re a devil! A devil from hell! Devil…”

She tried to flee, but Jiang Lan would not let her go.

No sooner had Fang Yi reached the door than West Pond’s people, matrons and servants, blocked her way.

“You can’t touch me, I’m the Second Miss of the Fang family, I—”

Jiang Lan found her noisy and ordered West Pond to gag her. The rest of the maids and thugs were bound by West Pond’s people.

“Master,” West Pond glanced at the bound crowd. “How should we deal with them?”

Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow. “Where is disorder handled in Jiankang?”

“Master, the Prefecture Magistrate.”

Jiang Lan pursed his lips in mild displeasure, pointing lightly. “That one, throw her in the carriage and dump her at the Prefecture gate; the others can be escorted along the way.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Wait.”

West Pond turned back and bowed. “Master, what else?”

Jiang Lan patted his coin pouch, regretful. “Remember to burn the carriage when you return. I have a cleanliness obsession—I can’t touch anything sullied by such vile minds.”

“And, since she’s the Imperial Tutor’s daughter, send someone to their mansion to notify them.”

“Be sure to send someone sensible and eloquent, recount everything carefully, ask the Imperial Tutor about family manners, and request compensation for the carriage.” He added, “And be sure not to swindle them,” then stood and straightened his clothes. “We’re respectable people, no need for such tricks.”

His voice was just loud enough for the onlookers to hear!

Some said the Duke of Wei’s heir was arrogant, debauched, utterly disrespectful…

Others praised his childlike heart, fierce protection of his sister, the makings of a great general…

Jiang Lan cared nothing for their chatter. He walked to Jiang Si, patted Ruoming’s soft hair, and looked gently at Jiang Si. “Were the negotiations successful? If not, your brother will accompany you.”

Jiang Si was slightly stunned, gazing at the fair, slender hand reaching out to her—like its owner, not so grand, but forcefully holding up a sky.

Afraid Jiang Si might be frightened by what had just transpired—she was still a young girl—Jiang Lan softened his tone even more.

“Don’t be afraid; your brother will take care of everything.”