Old Madam Feng quickly masked her unease and said with displeasure, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Last night, she had indeed had a strange dream. She dreamt that a pair of golden pheasants suddenly flew at her. As she hurriedly tried to dodge them, one of the pheasants still managed to claw out her eye…

Old Madam Feng suppressed her discomfort and looked at Jiang-si with increasing disfavor.

She didn’t like this granddaughter at all!

Her eldest daughter-in-law, née Su, had already lost her good reputation before marriage. Yet she possessed an alluring appearance that made her eldest son insist on marrying her.

Considering Su-shi’s background from the hereditary Marquis Yining’s family, she had grudgingly accepted it. However, after giving birth to her eldest granddaughter Jiang-yi, Su-shi became like a hen that stopped laying eggs. When she tried to arrange for two concubines for her eldest son, he was instigated by that woman to argue with her.

She took a step back, thinking that even if they wouldn’t accept concubines, surely they could take in two serving girls to continue the family line. But Su-shi wouldn’t allow even that.

Despite her good intentions, those years saw her gradually growing apart from her eldest son, only improving slightly after Su-shi gave birth to Jiang-zhan.

How pitiful that the old Earl had only been gone for a few years when her son treated her this way!

Fortunately, heaven opened its eyes. Su-shi died of illness less than a year after giving birth to Jiang-si, allowing her to get her revenge.

Because of this, she had an inexplicable fondness for her young fourth granddaughter that she couldn’t express to others. Who knew that as the fourth granddaughter grew older, she increasingly resembled the short-lived Su-shi? Day by day, looking at that face, her affection faded.

Of course, she knew clearly in her heart that her granddaughter was different from her daughter-in-law. With her top-tier beauty, the fourth granddaughter might have an extraordinary future. There was no need to lose a good card over old grudges.

It was just a pity that the daughter of that short-lived ghost was ultimately ill-fated, unable to keep such a good marriage prospect.

Jiang-si had caught Old Madam Feng’s fleeting loss of composure. She said with a smile, “I noticed Grandmother’s eyes looked tired. I thought perhaps Grandmother, like your granddaughter, didn’t sleep well last night. Last night, I had a terrifying dream. I dreamt of two golden pheasants stretching out their claws to scratch my eyes…”

Old Madam Feng’s expression changed slightly, her hand hidden in her large sleeve suddenly trembling.

Jiang-si had also dreamed of golden pheasants. Could there be such a coincidence?

A sense of foreboding suddenly rose in Old Madam Feng’s heart.

“Grandmother didn’t sleep well last night?” Jiang-qian asked with concern.

Old Madam Feng was a person who cared about face. She certainly wouldn’t admit it in front of her grandchildren. Her expression returned to normal as she said, “At my age, sleeping restlessly is common.”

Although she said this, the good mood brought on by her favorite granddaughter’s return home had quietly disappeared, leaving only anxiety and irritation.

Jiang-si laughed inwardly.

In the Earl’s mansion, the Second Uncle might rank second in the Grandmother’s heart, the eldest cousin brother third, and the second cousin sister might rank fourth, but the one who ranked first was still the Grandmother herself. No one could take that place.

Grandmother was just such a selfish and cold-hearted person. She had learned this when, after Ji Chong-yi’s death, she had found an opportunity to cry to Grandmother about still being a virgin.

She had no mother and didn’t know who else to confide in about such matters except Grandmother.

But Grandmother had immediately slapped her, sternly warning her to keep this matter buried in her stomach forever.

There was no comfort, no protection, let alone standing up for her.

Grandmother had sneered and asked, “Do you think it sounds good to spread rumors that a man never touched you until his death? Do you want the Earl’s mansion to never be able to hold its head up again?”

Now that she had diverted Grandmother’s attention with the words “nightmare,” Grandmother was naturally impatient with Jiang-Qian still standing there.

Sure enough, as Jiang-si had expected, Old Madam Feng soon raised her hand to her forehead and said, “I’m getting old indeed. I’m tired after just this short while. Qian-er, you rarely come back. Go chat with Third Girl, Fifth Girl, and the others. Grandmother wants to rest for a bit.”

Jiang-qian’s lips quivered.

Was this Grandmother’s way of dismissing her?

Today was truly strange. First, she was repeatedly provoked by Jiang-si’s words, and now Grandmother was sending her away. She hadn’t done anything wrong!

“Then Grandmother should rest well. There are many matters to attend to at the Marquis’s mansion. Your granddaughter will return first and chat with my sisters another day.”

“That’s fine. Go back and attend to your business. After all, a married woman is not as free as young ladies.”

Jiang-qian felt disappointed, but her face only showed three parts of it for Old Madam Feng to see and pity, while the remaining seven parts were quietly concealed.

She understood the principle of moderation very well.

“Fourth Sister, please see me out,” Jiang-qian said with a smile to Jiang-si, seemingly not upset by what had just happened.

This time, Jiang-si nodded readily, “Alright.”

Jiang-qian secretly sighed in relief.

If this small request had been refused, although it would have made Jiang-si seem impolite, it wouldn’t have benefited her either.

She had come back to her maiden home this time with a “task,” and it wouldn’t do to leave just like this.

The two walked along the familiar path towards the exit, with maids and servants following at a distance.

As they were about to reach the gate, Jiang-qian slowed her steps and said softly, “We haven’t seen each other for some time. Why do I feel that Fourth Sister has become distant from me?”

Jiang-si didn’t even raise her eyelids and said expressionlessly, “Second Sister must be imagining things.”

“That’s good then.” Jiang-qian held Jiang-si’s hand and said, “It’s good that Fourth Sister hasn’t become distant from me. I know Fourth Sister has been in low spirits lately. How about this: I’ll send you an invitation later, and you can come stay at my place for a couple of days. How does that sound?”

Jiang-si looked at Jiang-qian, her gaze meaningful.

“Why is Fourth Sister looking at me like this? Is there something on my face?” Jiang-qian couldn’t help but raise her hand to touch her cheek, causing her sleeve embroidered with delicate flowers and grass to slide down to her elbow, revealing a small section of her fair arm.

Jiang-qian quickly lowered her hand.

Jiang-si’s sharp eyes saw a purple bruise on the inner part of Jiang-qian’s arm.

“Alright.”

“What did Fourth Sister say?” Jiang-qian seemed not to have reacted.

“I said it’s fine, but I’m afraid I’ll be troubling Second Sister.”

Jiang-qian hadn’t expected Jiang-si to agree so readily. She hurriedly said, “It’s no trouble at all. Second Sister is more than happy that Fourth Sister is willing to come.”

As if she had put down a worry, Jiang-qian’s steps became lighter.

Jiang-si stopped and said, “Second Sister, take care on your way.”

She looked at Jiang-qian with a calm expression and said word by word, “I’ll wait for Second Sister’s invitation.”

That place, more terrifying than a nightmare, she didn’t mind venturing into even if it was a dragon’s pool or a tiger’s den.

This time, let her see how evil people ultimately receive their just deserts.

Standing on the steps, Jiang-si coldly watched Jiang-qian get into the carriage before turning to walk back inside.

The carriage slowly started moving. Jiang-qian lifted the curtain and looked back, her gaze complex as she stared at the young woman’s graceful figure.

The young woman suddenly turned back, her face as beautiful as a painting in the bright sunlight, breathtakingly gorgeous.

Jiang-qian’s hand trembled, and the fine sky-blue gauze curtain quickly fell back down as the carriage sped away.

Jiang-si smiled, picked up her skirt, and walked gracefully back inside. From afar, she saw A-fu, the head maid from Ci-xin Hall, walking quickly towards her.

A-fu arrived and curtsied to Jiang-si, “Fourth Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence.”

Jiang-si nodded and followed A-fu back to Ci-xin Hall.

Old Madam Feng dismissed the serving maids, keeping only her confidante Madam Feng, and asked eagerly, “Fourth Girl, what exactly did you dream about last night?”