At this critical moment, Jiang Si brought her daughter back to the Dong Ping Earl’s manor alone, without Yu Jin accompanying them.
The Earl’s residence was naturally filled with joy, though this joy was kept low-key to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
“Ahuan, call out to your maternal grandfather,” Jiang Ancheng said, holding Ahuan’s plump, soft body and kissing her tender cheeks several times. His beard made little Ahuan cry loudly.
Jiang Ancheng panicked and quickly sought help from Jiang Si.
Jiang Si took Ahuan and comforted her for a while until she stopped sobbing. Only then did she hand the child to the wet nurse, chiding, “Father, why are you bullying Ahuan? She’s only three months old. How could she call out ‘maternal grandfather’ when she can’t even say ‘mama’ yet?”
“When will she be able to say ‘mama’ then?” Jiang Ancheng asked curiously.
Although he was the father of three children, as a man, he couldn’t remember these details, especially after so many years. Thus, looking at his granddaughter, who was like a snowball, everything seemed fresh to him.
Jiang Si was stumped by the question and guessed, “At least another four or five months, I suppose.”
Jiang Ancheng looked wistful, “So we still have to wait four or five months.”
“They say children call out ‘mama’ first. If you want to hear Ahuan call you ‘maternal grandfather’, you’ll probably have to wait even longer,” Jiang Si said with a smile.
Jiang Yi, who was standing nearby, couldn’t bear it anymore and said, “Who says Ahuan will be able to call ‘mama’ in four or five months? Generally, children start speaking after they turn one year old.”
She shook her head, “Fourth Sister, you’re a mother now. How can you still be so clueless?”
Jiang Si gave an embarrassed smile, “Well, it’s my first time raising a child. I lack experience.”
“Your Highness, the little princess is asleep,” the wet nurse said softly.
Jiang Si glanced at her daughter’s rosy cheeks and instructed the wet nurse to take Ahuan to the adjoining room to sleep.
In an instant, only the father and two daughters were left in the room.
Jiang Ancheng’s expression turned serious.
“Si’er, the royal family is too dangerous. You must be careful.”
Thinking about this, Jiang Ancheng couldn’t sleep soundly.
Not long ago, Prince Jin’s entire family had gone to guard the imperial tombs, leaving their vast residence empty. And now, after such a short time, something had happened to the Crown Prince.
The royal family was truly terrifying.
Countless times, Jiang Ancheng regretted not insisting on marrying Si’er to the Zhen family.
That Zhen boy was doing quite well, reportedly able to enter and exit the Wenyuan Pavilion now.
Of course, that wasn’t important. What mattered was that following the Zhen boy would have been stable. The top scholar who achieved the rare feat of ranking first in all three imperial examinations was considered an auspicious sign for the Great Zhou. As long as the Zhen boy didn’t make any major mistakes, who would harm such an auspicious person?
Moreover, that boy was still unmarried.
Old Brother Zhen wasn’t in a hurry about this, but once when he was drinking with Old Brother Zhen, he noticed that the corners of Old Brother Zhen’s eyes were a bit bruised, clearly from being hit by Madam Zhen…
“Father, don’t worry. Ajin and I don’t get involved in those matters.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ancheng relaxed a bit, “You should indeed stay far away from it. You’re doing very well now, living in luxury, free to come and go, with countless people respecting you…”
Vying for that position was asking for trouble. Fortunately, his son-in-law was a smart one.
Jiang Ancheng talked with Jiang Si for a while longer, then left to give the sisters some time alone, going next door to see Ahuan.
As soon as Jiang Ancheng left, Jiang Si looked at Jiang Yi.
It had been some time since they last met, and Jiang Yi had grown even thinner, her figure as delicate as paper, looking as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
Jiang Si reached out and held Jiang Yi’s hand.
Her sister’s hand was thin and slightly cold.
Jiang Si spoke, “Elder Sister, have you not been sleeping well lately?”
Nearly being violated while visiting the Treasure Pavilion would be a lingering nightmare for any woman. The only way to break free from it would be to know that the person who harmed her had received retribution.
This was also the purpose of Jiang Si’s special visit to the Earl’s manor.
Jiang Yi instinctively withdrew her hand slightly, trying her best to appear nonchalant, “No, Fourth Sister, don’t worry about me.”
With her sister living in the dragon’s den of the royal family, she had too much to worry about. If she had to worry about her elder sister as well, it would make Jiang Yi feel utterly ashamed.
Jiang Si sighed silently and said softly, “Elder Sister, the person who plotted against you is already dead.”
Jiang Yi’s expression jolted, and she blurted out, “Who was it?”
Jiang Si was silent for a moment before saying, “It was the Crown Prince.”
Jiang Yi’s hand trembled, her face turning as white as snow. She mumbled, “How… how is that possible?”
How could she, a woman living in her maiden home, have provoked the Crown Prince?
Jiang Si held Jiang Yi’s arm, saying with shame, “Elder Sister, it was my fault. The Crown Prince was a man of unbridled lust, but I wasn’t on guard. I let him catch sight of you…”
Jiang Yi’s eyelashes fluttered, “Fourth Sister, are you saying that at Ahuan’s full moon celebration, the Crown Prince—”
She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.
Jiang Si nodded.
Jiang Yi’s face flushed red with anger and indignation, “Such a person doesn’t deserve to be the heir apparent!”
It was too outrageous. She had only seen the Crown Prince that one time, if it could even be called a meeting, and yet he had done such a despicable thing.
Jiang Si smiled lightly, “That’s why he’s dead now.”
Jiang Yi was stunned for a moment, then looked around, and seeing only the two sisters in the room, she sighed slightly in relief. Her clenched fingers turned white at the knuckles, “Fourth Sister, the Crown Prince, he—”
Jiang Yi dared not continue.
Others might not know, but she and her second brother were well aware of Fourth Sister’s capabilities.
The fourth Sister was the one who had eliminated Princess Rongyang without blinking an eye to avenge their mother. Could it be that the Crown Prince’s death was also related to Fourth Sister—
Jiang Yi felt increasingly alarmed.
The Crown Prince was the current heir apparent. If Fourth Sister was involved, what if it was discovered?
Seeing Jiang Yi so frightened, Jiang Si held her hand and said calmly, “The Crown Prince committed patricide and regicide. He deserved to die. It was Heaven that took him, not anyone else.”
Jiang Yi opened her mouth, but finally nodded, “Yes, it was Heaven that took him. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
In any case, it had absolutely nothing to do with Fourth Sister, definitely not!
Jiang Yi’s heart was pounding, but her face regained its composure.
If Fourth Sister could act as if nothing had happened, she couldn’t lose her composure. If she were to harm Fourth Sister, she would never forgive herself.
“So, Elder Sister, don’t be on edge anymore. Don’t let one incident make you fearful for years to come. The wicked in this world may have their moment of triumph, but eventually, Heaven will deal with them.”
Jiang Yi nodded vigorously.
Fourth Sister was worried about her living in constant fear, even going so far as to eliminate the Crown Prince. She couldn’t be afraid anymore… But thinking about it this way made her even more afraid. What should she do?
Looking at her calm and collected sister, Jiang Yi felt both desperate and relieved.
“What are you thinking about, Elder Sister?”
Jiang Yi snapped back to reality and changed the subject, “I’ve been missing Second Brother. I haven’t received any letters from him lately. Have you received any, Fourth Sister?”
Hearing Jiang Yi mention Jiang Zhan, Jiang Si also felt a pang of longing, “I haven’t received any either. Perhaps Second Brother is busy.”
“Do you think Second Brother can come back for the New Year? It’s been almost half a year since he left.”
Jiang Si smiled helplessly, “I’m afraid not. Once in the military, one’s life is not one’s own. If everyone wanted to go home for the New Year, wouldn’t it cause chaos?”
The sisters sighed in unison, falling silent for a moment.