The delicately beautiful little girl, with eyes like black grapes, reached out to Yu Jin innocently, unaware of the impact the word “big brother” had on him.
She called Jiang Si “Auntie,” but addressed him as “big brother”?
The generational difference wasn’t right!
Yu Jin put on a serious face and said sternly, “You should call me Uncle!”
“Big brother,” the child insisted.
“Call me Uncle.”
“Big brother.”
“Call me Uncle!”
“Waaah—”
Holding her wailing niece, Jiang Si’s face darkened. “Do you need to argue with a three-year-old?”
She suddenly remembered a morning from her previous life after marrying him.
They were lazily lying in bed, discussing pregnancy and childbirth because her period was a few days late.
At that time, he had caressed her belly and said seriously, “If we really must have a child, let’s have a daughter. If it’s a son, I can’t help but want to hit him when I think about how he’ll spend more time with you than I do…”
Well, now she was certain that even with a daughter, this jerk didn’t have much patience.
Wait, why was she thinking so far ahead?
Jiang Si’s face warmed slightly as she pulled back from her thoughts.
“I’ll carry her,” Jiang Zhan took Yan’yan and walked out of the Zhu mansion, helping Jiang Si and Yan’yan into the carriage.
The carriage slowly made its way towards the East Peace Earl’s mansion, with Yu Jin and Jiang Zhan riding horses in front.
After turning a corner, Jiang Zhan reminded, “Brother Yu, the Shuntian Prefecture is in that direction.”
Yu Jin sat composed on his horse: “Lord Zhen instructed me to assist the Earl’s household in bringing the niece home, so, of course, I’m escorting them all the way.”
“Brother Yu is truly dutiful,” Jiang Zhan praised, but soon after let out a sigh.
“Does Second Brother Jiang have something on his mind?” Yu Jin asked.
Jiang Zhan looked at Yu Jin, his eyes filled with regret.
Yu Jin frowned, “If Second Brother Jiang has encountered any difficulties, please tell me. If there’s anything I can help with, I’ll do my best.”
Jiang Zhan felt even more regretful.
Look at what a good person Brother Yu is, yet Fourth Sister made that bet with Grandmother…
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Zhan finally said nothing.
Never mind, a person can’t change their birth, so why bring it up and trouble Brother Yu?
Yu Jin glanced back at the carriage.
Could it be related to Si’er?
Well, if Jiang Zhan won’t say, he could always ask Si’er later.
With this thought, a smile appeared on Yu Jin’s lips.
At least he had a legitimate reason to climb over the wall again.
Inside the carriage, Yan’yan had fallen asleep under Jiang Si’s soothing, leaving only the monotonous creaking of the wheels.
Jiang Si lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and peeked out.
In front were two straightbacks riding side by side, both familiar to her.
One was her brother, the other the man she loved.
Since she had made her decision, it was time to find an opportunity to tell him…
Suddenly, the person in front turned his head, and their gazes briefly met in the air.
Jiang Si instinctively curved her lips in a smile.
Yu Jin hurriedly turned his head back, his heart pounding. It took him a while to regain his composure.
Si’er wasn’t flustered, so why should he be?
It’s not like he was afraid of his future father-in-law and brother-in-law being nearby.
“Xiao Yu—”
Yu Jin’s body swayed, nearly falling off his horse. He quickly snapped out of his reverie: “Does Uncle have something to say?”
Having successfully divorced and brought back his granddaughter, Jiang Ancheng was in high spirits. He smiled, “Since we’re here, why don’t you come in for a cup of tea? I’d like to have a chat with you.”
“Then this nephew will shamelessly accept a cup of tea,” Yu Jin replied.
Entering the East Peace Earl’s mansion, Jiang Ancheng instructed Jiang Zhan to keep Yu Jin company for a while, while he took Jiang Si and Yan’yan to pay respects to Old Madam Feng in the Hall of Kindness.
“Old Madam, the First Master and Fourth Miss have arrived,” a servant announced.
Old Madam Feng opened her eyes: “Has the child been brought back?”
“Yes, Fourth Miss is holding her, waiting outside.”
Old Madam Feng had no particular feelings for Yan’yan. Seeing her only brought annoyance. She said indifferently, “Just tell the First Master to come in.”
As Ah Fu was about to leave to relay the message, Old Madam Feng called out: “Wait.”
Ah Fu stopped, waiting for Old Madam Feng’s instructions.
“Tell the First Master and Fourth Miss to come in together.”
Ah Fu went outside to relay the message: “The Old Madam requests the First Master and Fourth Miss to enter.”
Seeing Jiang Si carrying Yan’yan walk in, Ah Fu quickly said, “The Old Madam instructed this servant to take Miss Yan’yan to the First Young Madam first.”
Hearing this, Jiang Si’s face darkened slightly.
Grandmother couldn’t even be bothered to see Yan’yan once. It seemed her elder sister and Yan’yan would have a difficult time in the Earl’s mansion.
The true head of the household was Old Madam Feng, and the attitude of the matriarch towards her elder sister and niece would undoubtedly influence the entire household’s treatment of them.
“Yan’yan is shy with strangers. I’ll take her to my elder sister myself,” Jiang Si said, ignoring Ah Fu’s expression as she carried Yan’yan back to the Begonia Courtyard.
If Grandmother didn’t welcome Yan’yan, she had to make her stance clear and let those fawning servants understand that anyone who dared to slight her elder sister and niece in the future would face her wrath.
Seeing only Jiang Ancheng enter, Old Madam Feng asked, “Where’s the fourth girl?”
“She took Yan’yan back to the Begonia Courtyard first.”
“Does this girl have any respect for me as her grandmother?” Old Madam Feng’s temper flared, and she struck her cane heavily on the ground.
“Mother, please don’t be angry. Yan’yan is still young and might be shy with strangers.”
“Go and invite Fourth Miss over here for me!” Old Madam Feng emphasized the word “invite.”
The Begonia Courtyard looked somewhat desolate in winter. Yan’yan peeked out from her bright red cloak, curiously observing the unfamiliar courtyard.
Jiang Yi hadn’t returned to her maiden home many times since her marriage, and three-year-old Yan’yan had no memory of this place.
“Auntie, is this where you live?” she asked.
“Yes, this is where Auntie lives. Do you see that tree, Yan’yan? It’s a begonia tree. When spring and summer come, it will be full of beautiful blossoms…”
“Where’s my mother?” The beautiful scenery Jiang Si described was far less attractive to the little girl than seeing her mother.
“First Young Madam, please be careful—” a servant called out.
Jiang Yi came stumbling out from the doorway.
“Mother—” Yan’yan struggled in Jiang Si’s arms.
Jiang Yi rushed over and embraced Yan’yan, holding her like a lost treasure regained.
Jiang Si stood to the side, smiling as she watched.
After a while, Jiang Yi wiped away her tears and looked down at her daughter in her arms. She asked Jiang Si, “Did… did Zhu Ziyu agree to divorce me?”
Years of marriage, and now they were strangers—it seemed so simple.
Jiang Yi dared not recall how Zhu Ziyu had begged his parents and her father to let him go that day. The mere thought pierced her heart like a thousand arrows.
Jiang Si was silent for a moment before speaking directly: “It’s not a divorce, it’s a complete severance of ties. The authorities have ruled that Yan’yan is to be raised by you, Elder Sister. From now on, she has no connection to the Zhu family.”
“Complete severance?” Jiang Yi exclaimed, her face full of disbelief.
Jiang Si reached out to embrace her: “Elder Sister, let’s go inside and talk.”
After hearing Jiang Si’s explanation, Jiang Yi remained silent for a long time.
“Elder Sister—”
Jiang Yi smiled faintly, wiping her tears with a handkerchief, but they kept flowing.
“Elder Sister—”
“The severance is good, it’s good…”
She had caused so much trouble for her family, yet she could still raise her daughter. What more could she ask for?
As for Zhu Ziyu, the man who had given her both beautiful dreams and nightmares, it was best to forget him.