The sudden loss of sight in her eye made Old Madam Feng more irritable with each passing day. Especially after the imperial physician’s treatment proved ineffective, Old Madam Feng’s reason began to lose control over her temper.
For someone with such a strong desire for control to suddenly lose sight in one eye, the fear of falling into complete darkness in the future was indescribable. She had to do something to prove her unwavering authority.
Faced with Old Madam Feng’s sudden outburst, Jiang Si remained calm and composed.
With her father’s warning today and countless verifications from her previous life, she was confident in her understanding of her grandmother’s mind, at least more so than others around her, especially her Sixth Sister, Jiang Pei.
Jiang Si’s meaningful gaze made Jiang Pei very uncomfortable. She lowered her voice and put on a sympathetic face: “Fourth Sister, Grandmother isn’t feeling well. You should listen to her and leave quickly.”
Jiang Si curved her lips in a half-smile and gracefully curtsied to Old Madam Feng: “Granddaughter pays her respects to Grandmother. Granddaughter will take her leave.”
As she spoke, she retreated towards the door without a sideways glance. Jiang Pei’s lips had already begun to curl up.
“Sixth girl, are you deaf?” Old Madam Feng’s impatient voice rang out.
“Pff-” Third Miss Jiang Qiao, who had arrived a step earlier with Third Madam Guo to pay respects, was standing behind Madam Guo. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Old Madam Feng’s cold gaze swept over, and Jiang Qiao immediately lowered her eyes, not daring to make another sound.
Jiang Pei was completely stunned.
What was Grandmother saying? Had she misheard?
Seeing Jiang Pei’s lack of reaction, Jiang Li kindly pulled her: “Sixth Sister, Grandmother is talking to you.”
Jiang Pei blinked, the color draining from her face, then suddenly flushing red as if oil had been poured on nearly extinguished embers.
For Jiang Pei, who was used to flattering her elders, being publicly rebuked by Old Madam Feng today left her mortified.
What was even more frustrating was that she didn’t even know the reason!
“Granddaughter takes her leave.” Jiang Pei hastily curtsied to Old Madam Feng and ran out, covering her face.
Jiang Si felt a whirlwind pass by her side, and Jiang Pei’s figure quickly disappeared.
She just smiled and walked out calmly.
Several people were approaching from the front, led by Second Madam Xiao and Jiang Qian. Madam Xiao was talking to someone beside her as they walked.
Jiang Si’s eyes twinkled with amusement.
The person Madam Xiao and her daughter had personally brought was none other than Fairy Liu.
Of course, Jiang Si wanted to laugh.
What could be more interesting than this play? She believed that when the curtain fell, her Second Aunt and Second Cousin would never forget it.
“Fourth Sister, you’ve come to pay respects to Grandmother?” As they drew closer, Jiang Qian spoke first.
Madam Xiao cast a surprised glance at Jiang Qian.
Jiang Qian knew about this dead girl’s disrespect, and she had suffered quite a bit from this girl’s attitude. Why was Qian being so polite to her now?
Jiang Qian seemed not to notice Madam Xiao’s look, maintaining a gentle smile.
Jiang Si curtsied slightly in greeting, giving Jiang Qian a meaningful look: “Second Sister has been coming back so frequently lately. Didn’t Grandmother say you should stay at the Marquis’s manor to serve your in-laws?”
Jiang Qian unconsciously bit her lip, her hands clenched inside her sleeves.
How could she not hear the sarcasm in Jiang Si’s words? She still didn’t know what had provoked Jiang Si, who now took every opportunity to needle her. If it weren’t for the fact that she couldn’t openly confront her yet, with her status as the wife of the Marquis of Changxing’s heir, why would she need to smile at a cousin whose engagement had been broken off?
“Grandmother said that out of concern for me, but as granddaughters, we can’t just think of ourselves. I’ve been worried sick about Grandmother’s persistent eye condition. When I heard Mother had personally invited Fairy Liu, I couldn’t help but come over,” Jiang Qian explained in a gentle tone.
How could she miss such a good show? She wanted to personally witness the misfortune of the First Branch to vent the frustration Jiang Si had caused her.
On one side was the gentle and modest Jiang Qian, on the other the sharp-edged Jiang Si. The maids and servants following behind Madam Xiao couldn’t help but feel indignant on Jiang Qian’s behalf.
However, no one dared to show such thoughts at the moment. The consequences of angering Fourth Miss were still fresh in their memories.
“Second Aunt, is this Fairy Liu?” Jiang Si looked at Fairy Liu, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Fairy Liu’s lips twitched slightly.
This little girl is a demon!
“Mm.” Madam Xiao responded indifferently, then turned to Fairy Liu politely, “Fairy Liu, please enter. Our Old Madam has been waiting for a long time.”
Fairy Liu nodded slightly and walked in with composed steps, her demeanor somewhat reminiscent of an immortal.
Jiang Si turned back and paused for a moment, just in time to see Third Madam Guo walking out with Jiang Qiao, followed by Jiang Qian and Jiang Li.
Old Madam Feng had dismissed everyone, keeping only Madam Xiao and Fairy Liu to discuss matters.
The courtyard of Cixin Hall was very spacious. Everyone tacitly gathered in the yard, even Sixth Miss Jiang Pei, who had just run away embarrassed, quietly returned.
Everyone was curious to see if the fairy invited by Second Madam could cure Old Madam’s eye condition.
Jiang Si naturally stayed as well.
After about half an hour, Afu came out of Cixin Hall and instructed a small maid to go to the front courtyard to relay a message. Jiang Qian took the opportunity to inquire about the situation.
Afu said, “Old Madam has ordered all three masters and young masters to be called back. The fairy needs all the family’s main members present to perform the ritual.”
Hearing this, Jiang Qian couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Si, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes.
This was perfect. Burning Jiang Zhan in front of everyone would ensure that the First Branch wouldn’t be able to hold their heads up for a long time, and Grandmother’s grudge against her would be resolved.
As for Jiang Zhan, although he was the eldest grandson of the main branch, he was already incompetent. If he completely lost Grandmother’s favor, how could he compare to her elder brother’s promising future?
At this time, Second Master Jiang was in the yamen, while Jiang Ancheng and Third Master Jiang had gone out together to manage the family’s external businesses. Jiang Zhan and the other grandchildren were studying in different schools. Everyone gradually returned to the manor upon receiving the message.
By the time Jiang Ancheng and Third Master Jiang arrived at Cixin Hall together, an incense table had already been set up in the courtyard, with an incense burner and clear tea placed on it.
“What’s all this?” Jiang Ancheng’s head began to ache at the sight.
“A ritual,” Old Madam Feng glanced at her eldest son. “Fairy Liu said that the sudden loss of sight in my left eye wasn’t due to illness, but because I was struck by an evil spirit. Only by dispelling the evil spirit can my eye recover.”
“Mother, how can you believe this—”
Old Madam Feng’s face darkened slightly: “Then can you find a doctor to cure my eye?”
She had been half-skeptical about the fairy her second daughter-in-law had invited, but this fairy’s words matched her dream exactly. She couldn’t help but believe it.
In her heart, Old Madam Feng was willing to believe, because this way, there was hope for her eye to recover.
Jiang Ancheng was at a loss for words, and after a while, he managed to say, “As long as Mother is happy.”
Let this witch perform her ritual quickly, so this farce can end sooner.
At this moment, Fairy Liu spoke up: “Old Madam, are all the family members present?”
Old Madam Feng looked towards Afu.
Afu immediately said, “The Second Young Master hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Where is he?”
“Second Brother skipped class again. The messenger couldn’t find him,” Third Young Master Jiang Yuan interjected.
Fairy Liu looked solemn: “If we miss today’s auspicious time, the next ritual will have to wait for seven days.”
“That unfilial child!”
Old Madam Feng cursed angrily, just as the “unfilial child” ran in.
“Huh? It’s not the day to make offerings to the ancestors, is it? And this isn’t the right place either,” Jiang Zhan said puzzledly, looking at the incense table set up in the courtyard.
Everyone: “…”