Jiang Yi put her arm around Jiang Si’s shoulders. “Fourth Sister, aren’t you afraid of people gossiping about you? You’re now a future princess consort, with countless eyes watching you.”
Jiang Si played with an empty teacup, smiling enigmatically. “Who would gossip? If the servants dare to wag their tongues, Grandmother would be the first to punish them!”
This grandmother of hers was the least worrisome. As long as it aligned with the Earl’s interests, she would be the staunchest defender of Jiang Si’s reputation, regardless of her personal feelings.
“Still, it’s unnecessary. Now that I know what kind of person Jiang Qian is, we can just keep our distance from her in the future.”
Jiang Si put down her teacup on the table, her smile turning cold. “If there’s a pile of dung in the middle of the road, should everyone walk around it? Why not just remove it?”
Jiang Yi was stunned. “Fourth Sister, do you mean—”
Jiang Si raised her chin slightly and said word by word, “I want to drive her out of the Earl’s mansion!”
Those injuries weren’t avoided because Jiang Qian stopped; it was because of her desperate efforts to save herself. Just because she wasn’t ultimately harmed, should those crimes be dismissed?
The laws of Great Zhou might calculate it that way, but her heart certainly wouldn’t!
Whether for the sake of her past self or her elder sister and niece now, she had to deal with Jiang Qian. Showing momentary softness and leaving future troubles would only lead to regret later – that would be truly foolish.
The news that Jiang Qian had come to congratulate Jiang Si but was denied entry spread quickly throughout the mansion.
The first to visit Jiang Qian’s courtyard was Afu, Old Madam Feng’s maid.
Seeing the pretty maid in a peach-red jacket, Jiang Qian propped herself up and asked with a smile, “Why has Afu come? Does Old Madam have something for me?”
Among the granddaughters, Grandmother used to dote on her the most. Although she later realized what Grandmother cared about most, surely Grandmother wouldn’t completely ignore Jiang Si humiliating her like this?
A glimmer of hope rose in Jiang Qian’s heart.
People in desperate situations tend to cling to hope easily.
Perhaps… perhaps things weren’t so bad?
Afu looked at this once-glorious Second Young Madam, a flash of pity in her eyes.
Fortunes change; such is the unpredictability of life.
Giving Jiang Qian a cursory bow, Afu said expressionlessly, “This servant comes on Old Madam’s orders to tell Second Young Madam to stay in her courtyard more, especially away from Fourth Miss. Fourth Miss is now an important person, and we shouldn’t bring her bad luck…”
Jiang Qian’s whole body shook, and she blurted out, “Did Old Madam say this?”
Afu recited Old Madam Feng’s instructions in one breath, unable to look Jiang Qian in the eye. She bowed again, “How dare this servant speak nonsense? Second Young Madam should rest. This servant must report back now.”
Long after Afu had left, Jiang Qian was still in a daze.
After a while, she burst into laughter.
“Second Young Madam—” The maid was a bit frightened.
“Good, good, this is my dear grandmother!” Jiang Qian said through gritted teeth, then grabbed the maid’s wrist. “Has no one come from Second Madam’s side?”
Just as she spoke, Old Woman Xiao walked in.
Old Woman Xiao had been coming here often lately and no longer needed to be announced.
“Second Young Madam, what’s wrong?” Old Woman Xiao quickly walked to Jiang Qian’s side, looking concerned.
“Nothing.” Jiang Qian wiped her eyes and asked, “How has Madam been lately?”
Old Woman Xiao sighed, “Second Young Madam doesn’t know? As soon as the imperial edict for the betrothal came down, Old Madam handed over the household management to Third Madam, telling Madam to rest well.”
Jiang Qian suddenly stood up, then slowly sat down, laughing coldly, “When one person rises, their dogs and chickens ascend to heaven. Those who are disliked naturally get cast into hell.”
Old Woman Xiao sighed again, “Madam has it hard too. Old Madam publicly embarrassed her, and now the Master doesn’t even enter Madam’s rooms. He either stays with the concubine or in the study…”
After that, Jiang Qian gradually learned many things from Old Woman Xiao.
For instance, the Fourth Miss’s wedding date was set for the sixth day of the sixth month, the palace had sent people to take the Fourth Miss’s measurements for clothes, and Haitang Residence received mountains of congratulatory gifts…
In contrast, the treatment on this side was getting worse by the day. Eventually, even getting a hot meal depended on the kitchen staff’s mood.
Kicking someone when they’re down is what many people do best.
Everything was stimulating Jiang Qian’s sensitive and fragile nerves.
And these nerves finally snapped when Jiang Qian discovered that even the servants in her courtyard wouldn’t obey her orders.
It was already February, with warmth and cold alternating. Early in the morning, one still needed to wear padded clothes to keep warm.
Jiang Qian wore a celadon-colored jacket that was about 80% new. This year, she hadn’t received any spring clothes from the sewing room. This jacket was made when she was still at the Chanxing Marquis’s mansion.
But none of this mattered to Jiang Qian anymore. She tucked her hands into her sleeves and walked towards the door.
The maid guarding the courtyard gate was dozing off.
Jiang Qian thought silently, “Heaven helps me,” and tiptoed past the maid, slipping out the door.
The wind was brisk outside the courtyard. Jiang Qian took a deep breath, feeling a sense of freedom as if she could fly.
She tilted her head back, letting the gentle golden light of the rising sun wash over her as she strode forward.
She once thought her days at the Chanxing Marquis’s mansion were hell, but now she realized the East Peace Earl’s mansion was no paradise either.
Whether it’s heaven or hell depends on oneself. Since she could no longer climb out of hell, she might as well drag the person she hated most down with her.
Jiang Qian hated many people, but Jiang Si topped the list.
They were sisters in the same household. She had always been the most promising one from childhood, so why had she now become dirt that Jiang Si could trample on at will?
That day when Jiang Si refused to see her without any pretense, it was deliberately pushing her towards a dead end!
The garden of the Earl’s mansion was already showing signs of green. Jiang Qian saw two women walking side by side in the distance, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
The information from Old Woman Xiao was indeed reliable. Recently, Jiang Si often took walks in the garden with Jiang Yi.
Heh, is this sisterly affection, worried about not seeing each other after the wedding?
She would soon let that bitch Jiang Si know what it truly means to never see someone again!
Jiang Qian tidied her clothes and walked towards Jiang Si and Jiang Yi with a smile.
Jiang Yi had already noticed Jiang Qian approaching and gently pulled Jiang Si’s sleeve. “Fourth Sister, Jiang Qian is coming.”
Jiang Si smiled, “Since we’ve encountered her, let’s greet her.”
Jiang Yi felt inexplicably uneasy and stopped, lowering her voice, “I heard Grandmother confined Jiang Qian and didn’t allow her to leave her courtyard. Why is she in the garden so early?”
Watching Jiang Qian draw closer, Jiang Si smiled meaningfully, “Although Grandmother told her to stay in her courtyard, it’s not like she’s in prison. After staying in such a small place for so long, it’s natural to want some fresh air. There’s nothing strange about it.”
As they spoke, Jiang Qian had reached them and greeted them first, “Elder Sister, Fourth Sister, what a coincidence.”