Haitang Residence soon received mountains of congratulatory gifts.

There were various presents from her maternal grandfather’s family, the Yining Marquis’s household. The gift list was long, and Jiang Si even noticed that her aunt, Madam You, had sent a pair of gold bracelets.

“Aman, find the items sent by Madam You.”

Aman searched for a while and brought out a small box. Opening it revealed a pair of heavy gold bracelets, weighty in the hand.

Jiang Si glanced at them and said, “You and Aqiao can each have one.”

Aqiao, who was calculating accounts on an abacus, looked up in confusion.

Aman happily put one gold bracelet on her wrist, raising her arm to let it slide down. “Miss, it looks quite nice!”

Aqiao gave Aman a reproachful look and hesitated, “Miss, this is from Madam You. It’s not appropriate for us servants to have it…”

Jiang Si, eyes fixed on the gift list, said casually, “It’s precisely because she sent it that it’s appropriate.”

Did Madam You think she could be forgiven just because Jiang Si had escaped unscathed from her schemes?

Sorry, but she was a grudge-holding person.

Not just Madam You, but also Jiang Qian. She hoped these black-hearted, rotten people would face more misfortune.

Although the imperial edict for the betrothal had been issued, the specific wedding date still needed to be set by the Imperial Astronomer’s Office. According to custom, royal weddings usually took place within the year, meaning Jiang Si wouldn’t stay at the East Peace Earl’s mansion until the next year.

Before leaving her maiden home, she was very worried about Jiang Qian.

In the eyes of the world, Jiang Qian was an unfortunate victim, but Jiang Si knew well that Jiang Qian was an accomplice!

With such a person remaining in the Earl’s mansion, her father and brother might be fine, but what if her eldest sister was schemed against without realizing it?

“Miss, the First Young Madam is here.”

Just as Jiang Si was thinking of going to her elder sister, Jiang Yi had arrived. She hurried out to welcome her.

Jiang Yi entered, leading Yanyan.

“Aunt, what’s this? It’s so beautiful!” Yanyan pointed at a three-foot-tall coral tree.

“This is a coral tree. If Yanyan likes it, would you like Aunt to give it to you?”

Yanyan looked at Jiang Yi and shook her head. “Mother says good girls shouldn’t casually accept things from others.”

Jiang Si pinched her little niece’s cheek, pretending to be hurt. “Am I an outsider to Yanyan?”

“Aunt isn’t an outsider. Aunt is Yanyan’s favorite aunt, but—” The little girl was momentarily confused and looked to her mother for help.

Jiang Yi shook her head. “Stop teasing Yanyan. Children indeed shouldn’t develop the habit of asking for things.”

“Alright, I understand. Elder Sister, you’ve come at the right time. I was just about to look for you.”

Aqiao and Aman took Yanyan to play outside, leaving the two sisters to talk.

Jiang Yi quietly looked at Jiang Si.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Elder Sister?”

Jiang Yi raised her hand to stroke Jiang Si’s hair, sighing, “Elder Sister never imagined Fourth Sister would marry into the royal family.”

Jiang Si leaned closer, sitting next to Jiang Yi.

The warmth from her sister made her feel incredibly at ease.

In this life, her siblings were all safe and sound. It was wonderful.

“Fourth Sister, although I shouldn’t say this, Elder Sister is a bit afraid… That’s the royal family. Won’t you have to be on edge with every word you say after marrying in?”

Jiang Si poured a cup of tea and handed it to Jiang Yi, her expression calm. “Elder Sister, don’t worry about me. Your sister has a tough, stubborn, and unyielding personality. If others can live well in the royal family, why can’t I? But Elder Sister, there’s someone you should keep your distance from. Don’t let her scheme against you.”

“Who?”

“Jiang Qian.”

Jiang Yi was stunned. “Your Second Sister?”

Seeing Jiang Si nod, Jiang Yi became more confused. “What’s wrong with your Second Sister?”

“Elder Sister, do you know about the Chanxing Marquis’s heir assaulting and killing multiple young women?”

Jiang Yi nodded.

The Chanxing Marquis’s heir had already been punished. This matter was known to everyone in the capital, even women and children.

“Before the Chanxing Marquis’s heir’s crimes were exposed, Jiang Qian repeatedly invited me to stay at the Marquis’s mansion. No matter how I refused or showed a cold face, she remained enthusiastically persistent. What do you think this means, Elder Sister?”

Jiang Yi furrowed her brows, suddenly looking at Jiang Si, having guessed something.

“She… she knew?” In extreme shock, Jiang Yi’s voice trembled, her face turning pale.

Jiang Si said slowly and clearly, “Elder Sister, she not only knew, but she was also an accomplice.”

Beads of sweat immediately formed on Jiang Yi’s forehead. She reached out and gripped Jiang Si’s hand tightly, saying with fear, “Fourth Sister, why… why didn’t you say something earlier!”

Heavens, while she had been immersed in the pain of misplaced affection, never imagined that Fourth Sister had encountered such a terrifying situation.

Jiang Si smiled, “I didn’t want to trouble Elder Sister more. But I’m about to leave home, and leaving Jiang Qian, such a troublemaker, in the same household with you makes me uneasy…”

These days, she had coldly observed Elder Sister and Jiang Qian becoming closer but didn’t immediately intervene.

While her future was uncertain, as long as she remained in the Earl’s mansion, she wouldn’t let Jiang Qian cause any trouble. With Elder Sister and Jiang Qian becoming closer, hearing such terrifying news would make her more fearful.

Jiang Si’s prediction was correct. Jiang Yi was now filled with fear, her face pale as she murmured, “I thought we shared similar misfortunes. Seeing her invitation, I started associating with her. I never imagined she could be so black-hearted…”

Even if they didn’t share the same parents, they were still cousins. How could Jiang Qian scheme against Fourth Sister like this?

Anger and fear filled Jiang Yi’s heart.

Aman’s voice came from the doorway, “Miss, Second Young Madam is here.”

“Fourth Sister!” Jiang Yi was startled, instinctively gripping Jiang Si’s hand tighter.

Jiang Si thought for a moment and calmly instructed Aman, “Tell her I don’t want to see her.”

“Fourth Sister, isn’t that too direct?” In Jiang Yi’s view, now that they knew what kind of person Jiang Qian was, they should just keep their distance. Making things too ugly between sisters in the household would lead to rumors that Fourth Sister had become arrogant after her rise in status, damaging her reputation.

Jiang Si smiled, “Being direct is better.”

Rather than constantly worrying about Jiang Qian’s schemes, it was better to take the initiative and resolve this trouble early.

Aman went out, smiling brightly, “Second Young Madam, I’m sorry, but our Miss doesn’t want to see you.”

When it came to conveying her mistress’s intentions, she was the most accurate.

Jiang Qian, supported by her maid, was so thin she seemed about to waste away. Standing in the sunlight, her skin was almost transparent.

She could hardly believe what she had heard.

“Doesn’t want to see me?”

Aman smiled even more brightly, “That’s right, she doesn’t want to see you.”

Jiang Qian clutched her handkerchief tightly, her body shaking violently like a withered leaf hanging from a branch.

Knowing that Jiang Si had become a prince’s consort, heaven knows how much effort it took to control her emotions and come here. Yet Jiang Si so plainly said she didn’t want to see her.

This left her without a shred of face!

A taste of blood rose in her throat as if it had rusted.

Jiang Qian forced a smile, “I came to congratulate your Miss.”

Aman rolled her eyes, “There are plenty of people coming to congratulate our Miss. Second Young Madam, didn’t you understand? Our Miss doesn’t want to see you. She doesn’t want to see you! Can’t you understand human speech?”

“Fine, fine.” Jiang Qian bit her lip and left.

“Fourth Sister, wasn’t Aman too—” Jiang Yi couldn’t bring herself to finish.

Jiang Si smiled, “Too overbearing?”