Second Madam Xiao hurriedly came from Yaxin Garden with confusion, immediately spotting Jiang Si.

The sky hadn’t completely darkened yet. Although lamps were lit in the room, the light wasn’t very bright.

The young lady turned her gaze, slightly curling her lips upward, instantly illuminating the entire room.

Madam Xiao’s heart began to sour.

Her husband held the official position of Deputy Director of the Imperial Stables, a genuine fourth-rank official in the capital. This was far better than those noble sons who only received salaries without real power. It was also the reason her daughter could marry into a Marquis’s family.

The Marquis Changxing’s family had never cared about her daughter’s identity as a lady from an Earl’s household, but rather about her husband’s abilities and future potential.

However, Madam Xiao still felt some regret.

Two years ago, when Prince Lu, the current Emperor’s fifth son, was selecting a consort, the final candidate for the princess consort didn’t come from a prominent family but had outstanding beauty.

At that time, Qian had also participated in that consort selection banquet. If Qian had Jiang Si’s appearance, she might have become Prince Lu’s consort.

As good as the Marquis Changxing’s family was, it was worlds apart from the position of a prince’s consort.

Of course, Madam Xiao only dared to think about this in her heart.

Qian’s marriage was considered a proud achievement. If outsiders knew she felt regret about her daughter marrying into the Marquis Changxing’s family, she would surely face a barrage of mockery.

“Old Madam hasn’t rested yet?” Madam Xiao smiled and greeted Old Madam Feng.

Jiang Si stood up and curtsied slightly to Madam Xiao: “Second Aunt.”

“Fourth Miss came to pay respects to the Old Madam?” Madam Xiao put on a kind appearance. “Li’er and Pei’er should learn from Fourth Miss. Those two girls have been spoiled by me and don’t understand proper behavior.”

A fleeting mocking smile flashed across Jiang Si’s lips.

The “Li’er” and “Pei’er” Madam Xiao mentioned were the Fifth Miss Jiang Li and Sixth Miss Jiang Pei.

Both Jiang Li and Jiang Pei were daughters of the second branch, but they were born to concubines. Naturally, Madam Xiao could casually criticize them, while also showing the love of a principal wife towards daughters born to concubines.

Old Madam Feng coughed lightly and glanced at the dishes on the table.

Madam Xiao was startled and suppressed her surprise, smiling, “This is—”

She had just hinted to Mrs. Liu, who managed the kitchen, this morning, and Jiang Si had already come to complain to the Old Madam in the evening.

Madam Xiao couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Si.

The young lady’s face was calm, with a slight curl of her lips.

Madam Xiao couldn’t believe it.

She had always managed the household, and Jiang Si was just a little girl who had lost her mother’s protection and had recently broken off her engagement. How dare she act like this!

Under normal circumstances, shouldn’t a little girl like her keep a low profile?

After eating some bitterness for a few days and realizing her place, she would naturally hint to Mrs. Liu to stop meddling.

Jiang Si was pleased by Madam Xiao’s reaction, and the curve of her lips became more pronounced.

In her previous life, she had been competitive and cared a lot about her reputation. If Madam Xiao had done this then, she wouldn’t have wanted to seek help from her father or brothers, nor would she have wanted her grandmother to think less of her. She would have endured it temporarily and thought of a more appropriate way to resolve it.

But now, if reputation couldn’t make her live more comfortably, it was bullshit. No one could make her unhappy.

“Let Second Aunt know, these are the lunch and dinner sent to Begonia Residence,” Jiang Si said coldly.

“What’s wrong with this food?” Madam Xiao pretended to be confused.

“It’s inedible,” Jiang Si said directly. “A-Fu and A-Xi have both tasted it. If Second Aunt doesn’t believe me, you can try it yourself.”

Madam Xiao’s expression changed: “Fourth Miss’s words make your aunt uncomfortable. If Fourth Miss didn’t eat well, you could have just told your aunt. I would certainly have given the cook a good lesson to vent Fourth Miss’s anger.”

“How does Second Aunt plan to teach the cook a lesson?” Jiang Si smiled gracefully. “I remember the one managing the kitchen is Mrs. Liu, right?”

Madam Xiao’s earlier change of expression was just for show, but now she truly changed color. Maintaining a friendly smile, she asked in return, “How does Fourth Miss want your aunt to punish the cook?”

She, as an elder, had already lowered her stance so much. If Jiang Si were to push too hard, she wouldn’t gain any favor with the Old Madam. If word got out, the servants in the mansion would also think the Fourth Miss was harsh and difficult with the servants.

Jiang Si pointed at the table full of dishes and sneered: “If one dish was poorly made, it could be a mistake. But all four dishes and the soup are inedible. If one meal was poorly made, it could be that the cook wasn’t fully awake. But both meals are like this.”

Jiang Si looked at Madam Xiao with a half-smile: “If someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong heard about this, they might think Second Aunt had said something to the kitchen manager, causing the kitchen to use such food to make things difficult for your niece.”

Madam Xiao could no longer maintain her composure: “Fourth Miss, saying such things hurts your aunt’s heart. I’ve been managing the household for more than a year or two. Am I that kind of person?”

“Why is Second Aunt so anxious? Didn’t I say only those who can’t distinguish right from wrong would have such misunderstandings? Could it be that Second Aunt thinks your niece is someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong?”

“Of course not…” Madam Xiao forced out a smile.

Jiang Si threw out one question after another, direct and undisguised, making Madam Xiao, who was used to speaking indirectly, feel overwhelmed.

Jiang Si’s expression turned serious: “Since Second Aunt was unaware of the kitchen’s actions, then it must be Mrs. Liu deceiving her superiors and bullying her inferiors, wanting to taste the flavor of a servant bullying her master on someone like me who lost her mother at a young age. How does Second Aunt think such a servant should be punished to serve as a warning to other servants?”

“This—” Madam Xiao hesitated for a moment, “Since Mrs. Liu has failed in her duties, let her step down from the kitchen and work in the sewing room.”

Mrs. Liu had acted on her instructions, and moving to the sewing room was a significant demotion compared to managing the kitchen. If the punishment were any heavier, it would discourage those who worked for her.

“A servant who bullied her master, and Second Aunt only sends her to the sewing room. The second Aunt is truly kind-hearted. I wonder, if Mrs. Liu had bullied Second Sister, how would Second Aunt handle it?” Jiang Si asked bluntly.

Madam Xiao never expected Jiang Si to speak so directly, and struggled to maintain composure: “Mrs. Liu has worked in the main kitchen for many years and has always been very proper. Even if your Second Sister encountered this situation, we couldn’t leave an old servant with no way out. That would discourage people.”

Hmph, anyway, Qian had already married and left, so she would never encounter such a situation.

Jiang Si frowned: “Second Aunt is right. How could someone who has managed the kitchen properly for many years suddenly become so confused? It seems this isn’t as simple as a servant bullying her master.”

Hearing this, Madam Xiao’s expression worsened.

It would be better if it were just a servant bullying her master. Otherwise, wouldn’t it imply that she had instructed it?

As Madam Xiao’s expression fluctuated, Jiang Si curtsied to Old Madam Feng: “Grandmother, you are the wisest. Could you enlighten your granddaughter on why Mrs. Liu suddenly acted this way?”

“What else could it be? That old servant must have been blinded by greed!” Madam Xiao hurriedly interjected, deciding to sacrifice Mrs. Liu as a pawn. “Fourth Miss is right, we can’t tolerate servants who bully their masters. Let her whole family go to the suburban estate to till the land. What does Fourth Miss think?”

Jiang Si reluctantly nodded: “Since Second Aunt says so, I won’t pursue this further. After all, Mrs. Liu still has a family to support.”

Madam Xiao could only laugh bitterly to herself.

Wasn’t it you who didn’t leave them a way out, you sharp-tongued little girl!

Jiang Si gracefully bowed to Old Madam Feng: “Grandmother, I won’t disturb your rest any longer.”

She nodded slightly, and A-Man and A-Qiao immediately cleared away all the dishes from the table.

Seeing that Jiang Si no longer mentioned claiming her dowry, Old Madam Feng was eager for her to leave and quickly nodded: “Go then.”

Jiang Si walked lightly to the door, then seemed to remember something and turned back with a smile: “I heard Second Sister came back today but didn’t visit Second Aunt. Second Aunt, don’t be upset. Maybe Second Sister will come again in a day or two.”

After saying this, she left with a spring in her step.

Old Madam Feng coldly glanced at Madam Xiao with an unfriendly expression.

Madam Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.

That damned girl Jiang Si had dug a pit for her just before leaving!