Benefits and risks always coexist. When the risks far outweigh the potential benefits, giving up becomes inevitable.
“I’ll return the money I received and won’t interfere with your household’s affairs,” Liu Xianggu tempered her attitude and made a promise to the young lady before her.
If this little miss wasn’t from a noble family, she could have easily stolen her livelihood. Liu Xianggu knew she couldn’t afford to offend her.
Jiang Si shook her head.
If it was just this, why would she have wasted so much breath on this person?
“What do you mean, Miss—”
The exquisitely featured young lady smiled brightly at Liu Xianggu: “Has Xianggu forgotten? You accepted my tea money.”
Liu Xianggu was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly took out the neatly folded banknote from her bosom and offered it back.
Jiang Si shook her head again: “Xianggu might not understand me. I never take back what I’ve given away.”
Liu Xianggu’s hand holding the banknote tightened.
“Of course, this money is what I’ve saved bit by bit from my monthly allowance. If I give it away and don’t hear anything in return, I’d feel quite upset,” the young lady sighed.
Jiang Si wasn’t lying. Her mother’s dowry was still in her grandmother’s possession, and her father’s annual salary went into the public account. Her savings indeed came mainly from her monthly allowance.
She had given away these fifty taels decisively, much to the distress of her two maids.
“What does Miss want to do?” Liu Xianggu suddenly had an ominous premonition.
“It’s simple. Xianggu doesn’t need to return the money my second aunt gave you. Just come to the Earl’s mansion to perform the ritual as planned,” Jiang Si said, then her expression turned serious, “However, the blame that was meant for my second brother, I want someone else to bear it!”
“That’s impossible!” Liu Xianggu flatly refused, “That would ruin my reputation!”
Jiang Si didn’t even raise her eyelids, calmly reminding her: “Grave robbing, spreading gossip!”
Liu Xianggu’s lips trembled.
This was a threat, an outright threat!
Jiang Si gave Liu Xianggu a cool glance, then refilled her teacup with hot tea and took a small sip.
The tea’s fragrance was refreshing.
She enjoyed threatening others and seeing them helpless.
“Why is Xianggu so conflicted? Does Xianggu think that in my second aunt’s eyes, you’re just a charlatan?”
Whether it was reverse psychology or not, Jiang Si’s words still riled Liu Xianggu: “Of course not! I’ve been in this business for years, relying on real skills!”
Jiang Si smiled slightly.
She believed these words.
Someone who could fool many noble ladies must have some real ability.
“That’s it then. Since Xianggu is seen as a highly-skilled spiritual person in my second aunt’s eyes, if the results of your ritual are a bit off, she can’t eat you alive, can she?”
Faced with the young lady’s meaningful smile, Liu Xianggu felt a headache coming on.
How did she end up tangled with this troublemaker?
“In any case, I believe Xianggu can come out of this unscathed. Xianggu should believe in herself too,” Jiang Si said earnestly.
Liu Xianggu opened and closed her mouth.
What else could she say? She could only believe in herself!
Jiang Si pushed a teacup towards her and raised her own: “Then let’s use tea instead of wine to celebrate our cooperation.”
Liu Xianggu remained silent for a moment, then picked up the teacup in front of her and gently clinked it with the young lady’s cup.
The news of Old Madam Dongping’s eye ailment quickly spread among acquainted families, thanks to the efforts of Second Madam Xiao of Earl Dongping’s household.
In just a few days, Madam Xiao had invited renowned physicians far and wide for Old Madam Feng, even summoning two or three imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Such a commotion naturally caught the attention of families acquainted with the Earl’s household.
Now, when people mentioned Earl Dongping’s household, they would praise the filial piety of Old Madam Dongping’s second daughter-in-law.
Early that morning, Jiang Si dressed neatly to pay her respects to Old Madam Feng at the Hall of Kindness. Just as she stepped out of Begonia Residence, she encountered Jiang Ancheng.
“Father hasn’t gone out today?” Jiang Si curtsied gracefully.
“I just came from your grandmother’s. I was about to leave,” Jiang Ancheng said while observing his daughter.
Today, Jiang Si wore a short white jacket with scattered red flowers and a scarlet silk skirt underneath, looking like a blooming begonia, bright and captivating.
Jiang Ancheng breathed a slight sigh of relief and praised, “Seems very spirited today.”
Jiang Si’s mouth twitched slightly.
Did her father know how to speak? What was wrong with complimenting his daughter for looking beautiful?
Feeling his words were abrupt, Jiang Ancheng paused and said, “Your grandmother is in a bad mood today. Wearing something bright looks more festive.”
He had worn a plain-colored belt today and had already been severely scolded by his mother. He couldn’t let his daughter be scolded for no reason.
“Thank you for the advice, Father,” Jiang Si smiled charmingly.
Jiang Ancheng awkwardly rubbed his nose, pretending to be nonchalant: “Well then, hurry to the Hall of Kindness to pay your respects. I’m heading out.”
Jiang Si watched the tall, straight figure hurrying away, feeling a warmth flow through her heart.
Her father, a grown man, had come all this way just to ensure she wouldn’t dress inappropriately and incur her grandmother’s wrath…
Jiang Si tilted her head back, just in time to see the morning sun emerging from behind the clouds, painting the surrounding sky a vibrant orange-red, matching her current mood perfectly.
“What is Fourth Sister looking at?” A voice with an indescribable tone came from nearby.
Jiang Si turned towards the sound.
Two young ladies were walking one after another on the stone path. The one in front was Sixth Miss Jiang Pei, followed by Fifth Miss Jiang Li.
Although both Jiang Pei and Jiang Li were born to concubines, Jiang Pei’s birth mother was Second Madam Xiao’s dowry maid, while Jiang Li’s birth mother was a chambermaid who had served Second Master Jiang in his youth. Thus, Jiang Pei had more face in front of the principal wife than Jiang Li.
The one who had just spoken was Sixth Miss Jiang Pei.
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Pei and Jiang Li arrived in front of Jiang Si.
Jiang Pei looked Jiang Si up and down and smiled, “Fourth Sister is dressed so brightly today.”
“Young and beautiful, of course, one should dress brightly,” Jiang Si replied coolly.
After the title had fallen to the second branch, Jiang Pei, who was adept at pleasing Madam Xiao, had secured a good marriage. Their comfortable life was gained at the expense of the main branch. Naturally, Jiang Si wasn’t in a good mood seeing these people.
Hearing this, Jiang Pei’s face instantly flushed with anger.
She was two years younger than Jiang Si. Thinking that it wouldn’t be appropriate to dress too flashily when grandmother’s eyes were bad, she had specially changed into a plain-colored dress to pay her respects. Wasn’t Jiang Si’s comment mocking her for being ugly?
“Grandmother is ill, yet Fourth Sister still has the heart to dress up. I wonder where Fourth Sister’s filial piety lies?”
“Where my filial piety lies is not for Sixth Sister to worry about. Rather, Sixth Sister speaking to her elder sister in such a manner, where are your manners?”
“You—” Jiang Pei was so choked up she couldn’t speak, almost dropping the box in her hands.
Jiang Si turned and left.
Jiang Pei spat in a low voice: “Now you know about manners, how come you quarreled with Mother the other day?”
Jiang Li tugged at Jiang Pei’s sleeve: “Sixth Sister, you should say less.”
“No need for your nagging!” Jiang Pei glared at Jiang Li, then hurried towards the Hall of Kindness.
The Hall of Kindness was filled with a strong medicinal smell. Afu announced, “Old Madam, Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, and Sixth Miss have come.”
“Let them in.”
The three sisters entered in a line.
Old Madam Feng’s left eye could no longer see, and her remaining eye struggled to open. She immediately noticed Jiang Pei in her plain-colored clothes.
“Get out!” Old Madam Feng’s seeing eye seemed to be stabbed by a needle as she shouted fiercely.
Jiang Pei shot a smug glance at Jiang Si.
She knew Jiang Si would be in trouble for dressing up like a butterfly!