Jiang Si managed to delay the steward with a single sentence as she strode into the manor.
The steward hurriedly instructed the doorkeeper to prepare tea and refreshments for the woman before rushing to catch up.
Jiang Zhan placed a hand on the steward’s shoulder. “Why such haste?”
The steward, who had previously thought little of this unremarkable Second Young Master, was now more cautious due to how Jiang Si had recently disciplined Old Woman Liu from the kitchen. “Second Master gave orders to send Divine Lady Liu away, but Fourth Miss just detained her. I need to report this to Second Master.”
Jiang Zhan glared at the steward in warning: “Mind your words!”
Not long after Jiang Si walked inside, she encountered Divine Lady Liu being escorted by a matron, with a young maid carrying a small bundle behind them.
“Divine Lady, are you leaving?”
“Fourth Miss, I am departing from the Earl’s manor.” Divine Lady Liu maintained a formal demeanor in front of others.
Jiang Si frowned. “If I remember correctly, Grandmother instructed Second Madam to host Divine Lady for three days. It’s only the second day—why are you leaving so soon?”
“Fourth Miss might not know, but this Divine Lady has a murder case against her. How dare our manor harbor such a person? Second Master said—”
“I was speaking with Divine Lady. Why does Matron Xiao need to interject?”
Matron Xiao’s face flushed with embarrassment, but she argued, “These are Second Master’s orders.”
Jiang Si gave her a cool look. “Is Matron Xiao suggesting that Second Uncle now rules this manor?”
“Well—” Matron Xiao fell silent, though internally she sneered.
Everyone knew the Earl’s manor would lose its title when it passed to the Second Young Master’s generation. With the Elder Young Master being so accomplished and the Second Master paving the way at court, the Jiang family would surely fall under the Second Branch’s control.
“Heh, if I can’t make decisions, does Si’er think she can?” A neutral voice rang out as Second Master Jiang suddenly appeared before Jiang Si.
The steward stood behind Second Master Jiang, having reported to him while Jiang Si was speaking with Divine Lady Liu.
Jiang Si curtsied slightly to Second Master Jiang. “Second Uncle jests. I merely meant that regarding Grandmother’s eye condition, such an important matter should be decided by Grandmother herself.”
Second Master Jiang’s expression remained unreadable. “Your Grandmother has already approved Divine Lady Liu’s departure.”
Jiang Si immediately showed distress. “So Grandmother agreed? Then I was too hasty in detaining Divine Lady Liu—I was just concerned when I saw her leaving early.”
“You didn’t know before, so it’s fine. In the future, just play with Li’er and the others, and don’t meddle in adult matters.” Second Master Jiang glanced at Matron Xiao. “Take her away now!”
Jiang Si stepped forward to block Matron Xiao’s path. “Divine Lady still cannot leave now.”
“Si’er, don’t be willful!”
Jiang Si smiled. “How dare I be willful before Second Uncle? It’s just that I’ve already promised the neighbors to keep Divine Lady until tomorrow. If we send her away now, won’t it make our Earl’s manor appear fickle?”
Second Master Jiang’s expression darkened.
Pretending not to notice, Jiang Si continued, “Moreover, if we yield so easily to a common woman’s demands, others will think our Earl’s manor is easily bullied, leading to more trouble in the future…”
“Well said!” Jiang Ancheng strode over. “Second Brother, since Si’er has already retained her, what’s one more day?”
Second Master Jiang’s face turned black. “Elder Brother, you agreed to let Divine Lady Liu leave at Compassionate Heart Hall!”
“Times change, Brother. I think Si’er makes excellent points.”
“Elder Brother!” Second Master Jiang looked shocked.
How could he say something so shameless?
Jiang Ancheng showed impatience. “It’s such a minor matter. Si’er has already spoken—would you embarrass her in front of outsiders? Young ladies aren’t like rough boys; they’re sensitive. Besides, inviting Divine Lady was your idea, and now dismissing her is also your idea. What are you playing at?”
Second Master Jiang’s mouth twitched violently.
Inviting a spirit medium was certainly not his idea—it was all that foolish woman’s doing!
“Fine, let her stay. She can go wherever she wants after tomorrow. I’ll inform Mother right away.”
“Father, I’ll come with you,” Jiang Si said with a smile as she caught up.
Jiang Zhan winked at Jiang Si and whispered, “Shouldn’t you thank Second Brother for bringing reinforcements in time?”
“I’ll make him an embroidered pouch later,” Jiang Si replied, clearly in high spirits.
Second Master Jiang coldly watched the First Branch family walking happily toward Compassionate Heart Hall. After instructing the matron to escort Divine Lady Liu back to the guest room, he hurried to catch up.
“These are my family’s secret eye-restoration pills. The Old Madam should take one in the morning and evening for seven days, and her eye condition should improve,” said a middle-aged man with a goatee as he produced a small white porcelain jar barely larger than a palm.
The head maid Afu took the jar.
“Old Madam, please don’t worry. Doctor Zhang is quite renowned for treating eye conditions in the area. If your daughter-in-law had known earlier, I would have invited him sooner instead of being fooled by that spirit medium,” Second Madam Xiao said apologetically.
Old Madam Feng nodded sternly.
Since Divine Lady Liu’s talismanic water had allegedly caused deaths, whether true or false, she absolutely couldn’t drink it anymore. As for this eye specialist physician, they might as well try.
“Afu, fetch some water and help Old Madam take her medicine,” Madam Xiao instructed.
“Wait.” Jiang Si walked in.
Madam Xiao frowned instinctively upon seeing Jiang Si.
Why was this troublesome girl interfering again?
Once Old Madam took the eye-restoration pills, the Divine Lady Liu matter would be settled completely.
If Old Madam’s eyes improved, they’d credit the pills. If not, it wouldn’t matter—after all, restoring sight to blind eyes was extremely difficult.
Jiang Si approached Old Madam Feng. “Grandmother, you can’t take these pills now.”
“Oh?” Old Madam Feng had transformed from her initial volatility to suppressed calm after losing sight in one eye.
“Divine Lady Liu said your eyes would recover within three days. If you take these pills now and there’s any conflict, what if it affects your recovery?”
“Fourth Miss, Divine Lady Liu is a fraud. We can’t delay Old Madam’s treatment because of her words.”
Jiang Si suddenly smiled. “Second Aunt, you invited Divine Lady Liu.”
Madam Xiao faltered, then continued despite her embarrassment, “At the time, we’d only heard of her reputation. We didn’t know about the deaths she’d caused.”
“Then can Second Aunt guarantee Doctor Zhang has no similar incidents?”
“This is outrageous! If the young lady insists on such accusations, I shall take my leave!”
“Doctor Zhang, please stay.” Madam Xiao hurriedly detained him, then coldly addressed Jiang Si, “Fourth Miss, Doctor Zhang is a renowned physician in the area.”
Jiang Si responded unflinchingly, “And Divine Lady Liu was a renowned spirit medium.”
“Enough! If you want to argue, all of you get out!” Old Madam snapped.
Jiang Si immediately resumed her docile manner. “Grandmother, both Divine Lady Liu and Doctor Zhang were invited by Second Aunt. Although someone came seeking justice against Divine Lady Liu, your granddaughter believes that given their reputations, both Divine Lady Liu and Doctor Zhang must have special abilities. To be safe, please wait just one more day. If Divine Lady Liu’s ritual proves ineffective, taking Doctor Zhang’s pills then won’t cause any delay.”
Old Madam Feng fell silent for a moment before nodding quietly.
She could wait one more day.
Madam Xiao’s lips quivered with suppressed anger.
Since when had Jiang Si become so persuasive, even convincing Old Madam to change her mind? But according to what she’d learned from her sister-in-law, Divine Lady Liu was just a fraudster—she didn’t believe a miracle could happen in one more day.
The next day arrived swiftly. After news spread about Divine Lady Liu’s alleged involvement in deaths, the betting houses had set odds of ten to one against Old Madam’s eyes recovering.
After much consideration, Afei secretly bet a few copper strings that Old Madam wouldn’t recover.
This was his marriage savings accumulated over the years. Though he wouldn’t earn much this way, it was better than that girl losing everything.
As the sun moved westward toward sunset, countless eyes waited expectantly outside East Peace Earl’s manor.
With darkness approaching, surely it was time for the result to be revealed.