Lin Mama watched the lights go out in Jiang Changyang and Mudan’s room but dared not lie down yet, waiting for the couple to fall asleep before resting herself. Suddenly, she heard a soft knock at the courtyard gate. The gatekeeper’s wife stood in the corridor and whispered cautiously, “Mama, someone from the Madam’s quarters is here.”
Lin Mama frowned. What business could there be in the dead of night? Nevertheless, she dared not be negligent and went out to greet the visitor. A young girl of about ten stood at the doorway, holding a lantern and shivering from the cold. “Mama, I’ve come to fetch Sister Baixiang,” she said.
Lin Mama was taken aback. “Didn’t Baixiang return long ago?” she asked.
The young girl gasped, “No, she hasn’t been seen since coming here.”
“Perhaps she went somewhere else. Why don’t you check other places?” Lin Mama replied, growing irritated. How could a grown woman disappear? Was the Guogong Mansion so large that Yingxue Hall was the only place to look?
The girl pleaded pitifully, “Mama, please understand. We didn’t dare disturb the Young Master and his wife here. We thought she might have gone elsewhere, but no one had seen her. We thought she might be here, chatting with the sisters and losing track of time. If she’s not here… well, never mind then.” She tried to peek inside as she spoke, her tone suggesting she was certain Baixiang was there.
Lin Mama stepped aside to let her see, saying with a forced smile, “Even if she wanted to stay, our Young Mistress wouldn’t dare keep her. Everyone knows she’s the Madam’s most capable servant, needed at any moment. If you really can’t find her, report to the steward and search every room. You’ll find her quickly that way.”
“But where could she have gone?” The girl stood dazed for a moment before remembering her manners. “I’m sorry to trouble you, Mama.”
Lin Mama ordered the gatekeeper’s wife to close the door and returned to her room to sit down.
Shu’er and Kuan’er, having overheard everything, exclaimed, “How strange! A grown person vanishing into thin air. Could this be deliberate troublemaking? Should we inform the Mistress?” The disappearance of the Madam’s head maid was no small matter.
Lin Mama glanced at Mudan and Jiang Changyang’s room and whispered, “Whatever trouble they’re stirring up is none of our business. How could it involve her? Why wake them for this? We can deal with it in the morning.”
Shu’er and Kuan’er agreed and went to bed without further discussion.
The next morning, before Jiang Changyi left to fetch his bride, he had to perform the ancestral worship ritual. Mudan and Jiang Changyang rose early, and Lin Mama finally told them about the previous night’s events. Mudan didn’t take it seriously, thinking a grown person couldn’t simply vanish and must have been found by now. However, just as they finished grooming, a steward’s wife arrived, asking Kuan’er and Shu’er if they had seen Baixiang the night before.
This was a pointed inquiry. After repeated questioning, Kuan’er and Shu’er realized the situation was unusual and informed Mudan. After brief consideration, Mudan called the woman in to report.
The steward’s wife appeared extremely anxious, “We searched half the night without finding her. Since Yingxue Hall was the last place she was seen, we had to come back and ask again.” She repeatedly emphasized that they were questioning all areas, not just Yingxue Hall, as it was indeed strange for a person to vanish suddenly. Her manner suggested she was simply following orders, not intentionally causing trouble.
Mudan thought it odd that they would search a master’s room for a missing maid. If Baixiang had run away, they should look outside; if not, she couldn’t be hiding here. It was an attempt to make her uncomfortable. Mudan decided to play along, “In that case, please feel free to look around this room.”
The woman glanced nervously at the expressionless Jiang Changyang and smiled apologetically, “How could I dare? If the Young Mistress says she’s not here, then she’s not here.”
Mudan smiled slightly, “This isn’t my room; I’m just staying here temporarily. I don’t know all its nooks and crannies, so let’s look together. It’ll put everyone’s mind at ease.”
The steward’s wife didn’t dare to search thoroughly. She merely glanced around before hurriedly excusing herself, not wanting to delay the couple further.
After she left, Mudan asked Jiang Changyang, “It seems the person is truly missing. What do you think this is about?” She recalled Baixiang’s insistence on meeting her the night before and felt uneasy.
Jiang Changyang replied indifferently, “What does it matter what they’re up to? Let’s wait and see. Now, let’s eat.”
After breakfast, they went to pay respects to the Old Madam. They found Jiang Changyi standing by the door in new clothes, looking somewhat distracted.
Inside, the Old Madam was berating Madam Du, “How ridiculous for this to happen now! A grown person disappearing without a trace—it’s absurd. If she had vanished during the busy daytime, it might be understandable, but in the dead of night? Truly laughable. Bring in the gatekeepers for thorough questioning.” She repeated “laughable” twice, her eyes sharp as knives. She wasn’t concerned about Baixiang; in fact, she had long wished to get rid of her. But she couldn’t tolerate such an incident occurring at this critical time. In her mind, she had already decided that Madam Du and her servants were behind it.
Madam Du lowered her head and responded, “Yes, Madam.” She added sorrowfully, “She was fine yesterday. I’ve treated her well; why would she run away?” Seeing Mudan and Jiang Changyang enter, she turned to ask, “Danhiang, did you notice anything unusual about Baixiang yesterday when you saw her?”
Mudan replied coolly, “I didn’t see her. I only learned later that she had been here. Lin Mama received her. This morning, I asked and was told she only delivered something and left, staying in Yingxue Hall for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Madam, you can ask Lin Mama later for details.”
A steward’s wife hovered outside. Hong’er went out briefly and returned to report quietly, “They found a burned lantern on the rockery in the garden. Someone said they saw Baixiang enter the garden after leaving Yingxue Hall last night. But apart from the lantern, there’s no trace of her in the garden.”
Everyone exchanged worried glances. Jiang Zhong made a quick decision, “She couldn’t have grown wings and flown away. We’ll discuss this later. Now, let’s proceed with the ancestral worship. The important matters must come first.”
As everyone filed out, Mudan noticed Hong’er quickly whisper something in the Old Madam’s ear when no one was looking. The Old Madam glanced at Mudan, who met her gaze with a calm smile. The Old Madam then lowered her eyes.
The subsequent events—ancestral worship, the marriage ceremony, the arrival of the new bride, and the formal bows—all proceeded smoothly. As Xiao Xuewei was being introduced to the family, a guest arrived with a box of gifts and a letter from Jiang Changzhong for Jiang Zhong.
Jiang Zhong, preoccupied with guests, didn’t have time to examine Jiang Changzhong’s wedding gifts for Jiang Changyi or read the letter. He was busy entertaining visitors, who were more numerous than expected. Although many were Jiang Changyang’s friends, at least there wasn’t the awkward silence he had feared.
Madam Du, however, hastily excused herself from the female guests and tore open the letter. Upon reading it, her face lit up with joy, and she couldn’t suppress a laugh. Her obvious reaction piqued the curiosity of those around her, who eagerly inquired about the good news.
Madam Du merely smiled, biting her lip, and had the letter taken to Jiang Zhong. Her secrecy only increased everyone’s curiosity. Finally, she reluctantly divulged, “Changzhong has achieved a small merit.” But her demeanor suggested it was far from small. She refrained from saying more, insisting, “Let’s focus on the main event. We can discuss this another day.” Her implication was clear: this was Jiang Changyi’s special day, and she didn’t want to steal the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhong read the letter, his face beaming with pride. He felt vindicated in his decision to send Jiang Changzhong to the military camp. It seemed the Jiang family’s men were indeed suited for such a life. In just over a year, Changzhong had distinguished himself again, improved his behavior significantly, and earned his superiors’ recognition. He had been appointed as a Cloud Rider Lieutenant—a modest rank, but impressive given his young age. If he continued on this path, his prospects and the family’s reputation would undoubtedly flourish. Jiang Zhong subtly showed the letter to some guests, and soon people congratulated the family on their “triple happiness.”
Throughout the day, Jiang Changyi seemed distracted, and Xiao Xuewei showed little joy. Both moved like puppets, following the ceremonial master’s instructions to bow, greet, greet, and bow again. Xiao Xuewei, in particular, was filled with resentment. Her heart still stung from having to pay respects to Jiang Changyang and Mudan earlier, witnessing their obvious affection. As she looked at the curious Jiang family members she had to greet, her heart filled with contempt and disdain. How unfair the heavens had been to her!
Suddenly, the guests’ attention shifted away from her. Many were quietly inquiring about Jiang Changzhong, and the congratulations were no longer for her and Jiang Changyi, but for someone else. This was her wedding, not some celebration of the Jiang family’s other achievements! Xiao Xuewei glared at Jiang Changyi, only to see her husband’s face full of ingratiating smiles as he bowed earnestly to the relatives, never missing a chance to praise his two elder brothers when asked.
Looking at Madam Du’s smug expression and Mudan’s sweet smile, Xiao Xuewei felt overwhelmed with sorrow. Of course—what was Jiang Changyi but a concubine’s son? He was nothing in this family. What could he do but curry favor with these people? And she was now the wife of this insignificant son. How cruelly fate had treated her! How had she ended up with this grey rabbit?
As Jiang Changyi was paying respects to a highly respected elder of the clan, he noticed Xiao Xuewei’s lack of greeting. Turning to look at his new bride, he was met with a gaze full of contempt, anger, and heartbreak. The small joy he had felt instantly vanished, replaced by a cold hardness in his heart.