Jiang Si sent A-Fei to keep an eye on the activities at the Shuntian Prefecture. Soon, he returned with news: Master Chi had come to beat the drum and appeal for justice.
The next day, A-Fei reported again, “Official Zhen has gone to the mansion of Marquis Changxing.”
Jiang Si was surprised. From their encounter at Lingwu Temple, it was clear that Official Zhen was not a reckless man. Why would he risk alerting his quarry by visiting so boldly?
No, Official Zhen must have a legitimate reason for this visit.
Jiang Si furrowed her brow in thought, unconsciously rotating the teacup in her hand. A-Fei dared not disturb her and stood quietly to the side. Having worked for Jiang Si a few times, he increasingly found this young lady, several years his junior, to be mysterious and inscrutable. In her presence, he instinctively suppressed his usual frivolous demeanor.
“Is there anything unusual happening at the Shuntian Prefecture?” Jiang Si asked casually, unable to fathom Zhen Shicheng’s intentions.
“Nothing unusual. It’s quite lively there, everyone’s busy with the ‘Imperial Uncle Yang’ case,” A-Fei replied offhandedly.
Jiang Si suddenly had a realization. She understood now that Official Zhen must be using the pretext of investigating the sudden death of “Imperial Uncle Yang” for his visit to the Marquis’s mansion.
At this point, Jiang Si couldn’t help but admire Official Zhen. Having two cases coincide could be a headache, but he cleverly used one case as a cover to investigate the other!
Official Zhen was indeed skillful.
Back at Haitang Residence, Jiang Si took out the invitation. It was sent by Jiang Qian on the second day of their return to the capital, announcing that the Marquis Changxing’s mansion would host a flower-viewing banquet today.
After planning for so long, Jiang Si naturally wanted to oversee things personally. If Official Zhen hadn’t noticed anything amiss, she could find a way to give him a hint.
The invitation was also extended to the Third Miss Jiang Qiao, Fifth Miss Jiang Li, and Sixth Miss Jiang Pei.
Jiang Pei, excited, dressed up for the occasion. Upon seeing Jiang Si, she sneered, “I thought Fourth Sister wouldn’t want to come.”
Hmph, acting so high and mighty, yet here she is, rushing over.
Jiang Qiao appeared shortly after, displeased. “Sixth Sister, why are your words always so barbed? Don’t you know about respecting your elders?”
“Why do you all always take her side?” Jiang Pei fumed with anger.
Third Sister isn’t any better. She had sent a maid to say she wouldn’t come, yet here she is, siding with Fourth Sister. It’s infuriating.
With this thought, she glared at Jiang Li. Even Fifth Sister, who’s from the same branch of the family as her, was just standing there like a silent gourd, trying to be the good one.
Although Jiang Si didn’t take Jiang Pei, a mere child, seriously, the constant chirping of this little sparrow was irritating. She asked coolly, “Have I offended Sixth Sister in some way?”
Jiang Pei faltered. She and Jiang Si weren’t close, so there was no real offense. But Jiang Si had offended the Second Madam.
She knew clearly that the Second Madam, being the elder, couldn’t openly quarrel with her niece but would harbor resentment. By confronting Jiang Si, she could curry favor with Second Madam.
Thinking of Second Madam’s recent smiles and the increasingly lavish dowry, Jiang Pei no longer cared what Jiang Si thought.
Seeing Jiang Pei’s silence, Jiang Si smiled coldly. “I suppose not?” She suddenly reached out, her delicate finger lifting Jiang Pei’s chin. “Though I haven’t offended you, I have offended Second Aunt. By antagonizing me, you naturally win Second Aunt’s favor. Am I right?”
Jiang Pei was shocked that Jiang Si would state it so directly. She turned away angrily, “Fourth Sister, how can you speak of my mother like that? Do you think my mother is so petty as to hold grudges against her juniors? Everyone here has heard you!”
The four sisters were gathered in a pavilion, surrounded by maids and passersby. With Jiang Pei’s outburst, all eyes turned to Jiang Si.
Jiang Si, however, remained calm and indifferent. “I say this because Sixth Sister’s words and actions give me that impression. You’re from the second branch, and the Second Aunt, as the principal wife, has the responsibility to educate you. I can’t believe you’ve eaten rice for so many years without learning basic respect. So—”
Jiang Si glanced at the servants who were eavesdropping on the gossip. Her gaze swept over them, and they all lowered their heads.
“So, if you continue to be so impertinent, I can only assume that Second Aunt is deliberately indulging you, being petty and holding grudges against her junior!”
The young lady’s voice was loud but not harsh due to her naturally melodious tone, instead sounding crisp like pearls falling on jade.
Jiang Pei was dumbfounded. How dare she be so domineering in front of so many people? Wasn’t she afraid of gaining a bad reputation?
Jiang Si patted Jiang Pei’s cheek, with a mix of disdain and warning. “Remember, if you upset me again, I’ll take you to Second Aunt and have a little chat. We’ll see then if Second Aunt is willing to stand up for you.”
Jiang Pei was suddenly silenced. If Jiang Si went to the Second Madam and made her lose face, a concubine-born daughter like her would have no good outcome.
For the rest of the journey, Jiang Si enjoyed a rare moment of peace. As they were getting off the carriage, Jiang Qiao pulled her aside and whispered, “Fourth Sister, I originally thought you wouldn’t come. What’s going on? You know the heir of Marquis Changxing has ill intentions, yet you’re walking into his trap?”
Jiang Si felt a warmth in her heart. Jiang Qiao had initially not wanted to come but followed after hearing of her attendance.
She squeezed Jiang Qiao’s hand firmly and said softly, “Don’t worry, Third Sister. The key is who set the trap in the first place.”
Jiang Qiao seemed to understand but not quite. Seeing more people around, she fell silent.
The weather had turned warm, and the flower-viewing banquet was set in the mansion’s garden. When Jiang Si and her sisters arrived, many noble ladies were already gathered in small groups, admiring the flowers.
They were, of course, admiring the patch of peonies.
The peony season had passed, and peonies elsewhere had long withered. Yet the peonies in the Marquis Changxing’s mansion were still in full bloom as if gathering all their strength to display one last burst of brilliance.
Jiang Si stood rooted to the spot, feeling a chill rise from her feet. She didn’t even respond to Jiang Qian’s warm greeting.
The peony patch had been moved!
She remembered clearly that the original peony patch was about ten feet east of its current location, and now that area was filled with other flowers and plants.
This ten-foot difference was crucial. If Official Zhen were to dig at the current location, he wouldn’t find the corpse.
What alarmed Jiang Si more was the reason for the sudden relocation of the peonies—could it be that the heir of Marquis Changxing had realized she knew the truth?
Jiang Si’s mind raced, quickly dismissing this speculation.
It seemed unlikely. If the Marquis’s heir believed she knew the truth, no matter how brazen he was, he shouldn’t have hosted this flower-viewing banquet to lure her to the mansion at this time.
Of course, the flower-viewing banquet!
Jiang Si suddenly understood.
The most famous feature of the mansion’s garden was this peony patch, and with the banquet, all the noble ladies would flock here.
Guilty conscience at work, the Marquis’s heir, fearing that with so many people around, something might be discovered and cause a big incident had secretly moved the location of the peonies.
This won’t do. She must find a way to inform Official Zhen!
At this moment, Marquis Changxing was entertaining Zhen Shicheng in the front hall.