The crying inside the room was faint, so faint it felt oppressive.
Aqiao was uneasy, alternating between listening at the door and waiting for Aman under the corridor. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally spotted Aman and hurried to meet her.
“Aman, why didn’t you return with Miss?”
“Miss sent me to deliver a message to the Master.”
Aqiao pulled Aman by the wrist to a corner and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong with Miss?”
“Miss?” Aman said proudly. “Miss was amazing today. She greatly helped the investigating official—”
Aqiao interrupted, “I think something’s off with Miss.” She pointed discreetly inside, “Listen, Miss is crying.”
Aman quickly pressed her ear to the door and indeed heard soft weeping.
“What exactly happened to Miss?”
Aman looked confused, “Miss is crying so sadly… Oh right, Marquis Yongchang is gone.”
Aqiao hadn’t heard this news and was startled, “What do you mean Marquis Yongchang is gone?”
“He died,” Aman explained the whole situation.
Aqiao listened in shock, murmuring, “Is Miss upset for Miss Xie?”
Aman nodded, “Yes, losing both parents in one day is unbearable for anyone. I remember Madam Yongchang was quite fond of our Miss. It’s normal for Miss to feel sad.”
Aqiao felt slightly relieved.
From inside came Jiang Si’s voice, “Aqiao, bring me a basin of water.”
“Yes,” Aqiao responded, then gestured to Aman.
Aman went to the door, “Miss, this servant has delivered the message.”
“Come in.”
Aman entered to find Jiang Si sitting composed at the table. Her face showed no trace of tears, only her eyes were red.
“Miss—” Aman called out cautiously.
Jiang Si forced a smile, “It’s nothing. I’m just sad thinking about how the Marquis and his wife treated me like a niece.”
Those feelings of guilt and self-reproach would have to be buried deep in her heart along with the secret of her rebirth, never to be shared with anyone.
“Have Father and the others gone over?”
“The Master, Third Master, and Third Madam went together.”
Second Master Jiang had gone to court, Second Madam Xiao was managing household affairs, and Jiang Zhan and the others had gone to school early and hadn’t returned yet.
Jiang Si thought for a moment and said, “Aman, go send a message to the Second Young Master, and tell him about the situation at the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion.”
Jiang Zhan and Xie Yinlou were childhood playmates. Although their personalities diverged as they grew up, they remained close. At a time like this, he naturally couldn’t stay uninvolved.
Aman accepted the order and left.
Jiang Si had Aqiao help her wash her face and apply some powder until she looked normal again, then headed to the Hall of Compassion.
She was worried about Xie Qing’ao and planned to stay with her for a few days, so she naturally needed to inform Old Madam Feng.
Second Madam Xiao was reporting household matters to Old Madam Feng.
Ever since Jiang Qian had broken ties with the Long Xing Marquis’s heir and returned home, Old Madam Feng had become increasingly dissatisfied with Madam Xiao and her daughter. Although she still let Madam Xiao manage the household, she frequently required her to report on the family’s situation, clearly doubting her management abilities.
Madam Xiao was furious but helpless.
What could she do when her daughter had gotten into such a situation? For now, there was nothing to do but endure this momentary grievance.
Just wait, she thought. Although Qian had fallen on hard times, she still had two sons. Especially the eldest, who would take the provincial examinations in autumn. Once he achieved a high rank, she could hold her head high again.
Madam Xiao understood clearly that as long as her two sons did well, her daughter would have brothers to support her and wouldn’t fare too badly in the future.
As for this old hag—heh, with one foot in the grave already, the day would come when she could truly run the household.
Thinking of this, Madam Xiao felt stifled.
At least for the next few years, she’d have to serve this old woman well. The Master couldn’t go into mourning for his mother’s death, or it would greatly hinder his career.
Jiang Si waited for a while before being led in by Afu.
After she explained her intention, Old Madam Feng raised an eyebrow, “You want to stay at the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion?”
“Yes, Qing’ao has lost both parents in one day. I’m afraid she won’t be able to bear it.”
Madam Xiao guessed Old Madam Feng’s thoughts and spoke up, “With such a big event at their mansion, clan members and in-laws will arrive soon. There will be plenty of sisters to accompany Miss Xie. Fourth Miss, they’re in mourning, you shouldn’t go and add to the chaos.”
Jiang Si raised an eyebrow and gave a wry smile, “Second Aunt calls comforting a friend in distress ‘adding to the chaos’? It’s fortunate that when Second Sister returned home, I didn’t dare approach her, or I might have been accused of causing trouble.”
She was in a bad mood and didn’t hesitate to counter Madam Xiao’s intentional difficulty.
Madam Xiao’s face changed abruptly at Jiang Si’s retort, “Fourth Miss, what are you saying? You and Qian are family. Of course, she’d be happy for you to visit her. But Miss Xie is different. She has countless cousins, and if you go, someone will have to host you. Isn’t that adding to the chaos?”
Just mentioning this made her angry. When Qian returned home, not one of the family’s sisters showed their face. She had to scold Jiang Li and Jiang Pei to make them go see her, while Jiang Si and Jiang Qiao still hadn’t visited Qian once.
Those servants were good at reading the situation. With Qian falling on hard times, she naturally hoped the family members would show goodwill towards Qian to set her mind at ease.
To be so cold to a sister of the same family, yet care so much for a neighbor’s daughter—she wouldn’t let this little minx have her way!
“Old Madam, Qian’s fate is unfortunate. Fourth Miss has also broken off an engagement. Now there are many rumors outside about our family’s young ladies. In my opinion, the young ladies should stay home and behave properly.”
Madam Xiao’s words aligned perfectly with Old Madam Feng’s thoughts, “Your Second Aunt is right. Your father and Third Uncle have gone to help. There’s no need for you, a young lady, to go.”
Jiang Si lowered her eyes and smiled, “What if the Yongchang Marquis’s household sends someone to invite your granddaughter? If we refuse, outsiders might think we’ve abandoned them now that trouble has come.”
Old Madam Feng cared most about reputation. Hearing this, she immediately said, “If they invite you, of course you must go.”
Right now, the Yongchang Marquis’s household only had two young ones left, busy with their grief and unable to remember to send someone to invite Fourth Miss.
In her view, Fourth Miss was just restless, always running about outside without any sense of propriety.
Thinking of this, Old Madam Feng became increasingly dissatisfied with Jiang Si.
Or rather, after Jiang Qian’s incident, she was dissatisfied with all her granddaughters.
Of these useless girls, not one of them was promising. They only knew how to cause trouble.
“Fourth Miss, you may go now. I still have matters to report to the Old Madam,” Madam Xiao said, lifting the corner of her mouth triumphantly.
What good was a clever tongue? Without a mother to protect her, she’d just have to endure any grievances!
Jiang Si smiled, curtsied, and took her leave.
Shortly after Jiang Si left, a maid came to report, “Old Madam, the head steward from the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion is requesting an audience.”