In Yuquan Palace, Worthy Consort was suffering from unbearable headaches. Meanwhile, as Jiang Si left the palace, she felt a rare relief from the frustration of recent days, exhaling a deep breath into the azure sky.
If Worthy Consort wanted to feign illness, Jiang Si would oblige her.
Originally, Jiang Si had been cautious about using her supernatural abilities. Having displayed various special skills before the Emperor and Empress, using such powers on palace inhabitants could easily backfire. She had anticipated this trade-off.
Unexpectedly, Worthy Consort insisted on feigning illness and even bribed the Imperial Physician to cover for her. This meant Jiang Si no longer needed to be cautious. Since Worthy Consort claimed to have a fever and headache, she would indeed experience them, tasting the fruits of her actions.
The most delightful part was that she needn’t worry about the Emperor and Empress suspecting her, as she had only visited after Worthy Consort had fallen ill.
With these thoughts, Jiang Si’s lips curled into a slight smile, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
The fever and headache were merely a small lesson for Worthy Consort. The matter of her death in the previous life was far from settled!
The Prince Qi’s wife, walking ahead, turned back and asked in surprise, “Seventh Sister-in-law, why have you stopped?”
Jiang Si resumed her expressionless face and gave Prince Qi’s wife a cool look.
Feeling uncomfortable under that gaze, Prince Qi’s wife laughed awkwardly, “Seventh Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”
Jiang Si smiled gently, “I just think Fourth Sister-in-law has such a good temper, not minding anything I say.”
The Prince Qi’s wife’s expression suddenly became awkward.
The Prince Yan’s wife was going too far, mocking her for trying to curry favor despite being coldly received.
Thinking of two days later, Prince Qi’s wife suppressed her feelings and forced a laugh, “Seventh Sister-in-law is still young, of course, I won’t take offense.”
Jiang Si nodded and sighed, “Fourth Sister-in-law is truly magnanimous. I’ve heard that Fourth Brother has dozens of concubines and chambermaids, so many that Prince Qi’s mansion can barely house them all. This must be thanks to the Fourth Sister-in-law’s efforts, right?”
Prince Qi’s wife’s face froze, and she had to clench her fists tightly to resist the urge to curse out loud.
This despicable Jiang Si was stabbing her in the heart.
What woman doesn’t want to be the only one for her husband? Jiang Si was arrogant because of Prince Yan’s favor, and now she dared to mock her. It was infuriating.
Jiang Si didn’t care how angry Prince Qi’s wife was. Two days later would be, but for now, she wanted to collect some interest to feel satisfied.
Indeed, when someone she disliked was upset, she felt content.
Seeing Jiang Si’s calm smile, clearly not speaking unintentionally, Prince Qi’s wife gritted her teeth and said, “Men are different from us women. When they’re young and newly married, they’re devoted to their wives, fearing any intrusion in their relationship. But once the novelty wears off, it’s different. Even if their wife at home is as beautiful as a celestial maiden, they’ll still want to glance at pretty commoner girls on the street… Hehe, my Fourth Sister-in-law is still young. After a few years of experience, you’ll understand…”
Aman, following behind Jiang Si, silently rolled her eyes.
This Prince Qi’s wife was truly detestable, saying that a wife as beautiful as a celestial maiden was less attractive than a commoner girl on the street. Wasn’t she referring to their mistress?
Hmph, just because her husband was unfaithful, she couldn’t stand seeing her mistress and the Prince being affectionate. How shameless.
At this moment, the little maid had completely forgotten that her mistress had provoked the other party first.
What? Her mistress started it?
Bah, her kind-hearted mistress would never start trouble first. This only showed how intolerable the other party had become. Should they just swallow their anger when faced with such a person?
The little maid righteously rolled her eyes. If it weren’t for the fact that they had just left the palace gates with many people watching, she would have rolled her eyes directly at Prince Qi’s wife’s face.
After finishing her pointed remarks, Prince Qi’s wife eagerly anticipated seeing the other’s face change, inwardly sneering.
She didn’t believe Prince Yan’s wife could remain unperturbed after hearing this. The waning of passion with age was a common problem for men and a vexing issue most women would experience.
To her surprise, Jiang Si didn’t even blink, instead smiling and asking, “By the way, I’ve also heard that to support so many concubines and chamber maids, Fourth Brother’s annual salary isn’t enough. Doesn’t the Fourth Sister-in-law have to supplement with her dowry money?”
When attacking an opponent, one must be relentless. Prince Qi’s wife was naive to think she would change the subject. Of course not. Today, she was determined to infuriate her.
As for Prince Qi’s annual salary being insufficient to support concubines and chamber maids, requiring Prince Qi’s wife’s dowry to supplement, Jiang Si was just making an educated guess.
After all, A Jin only had her as a wife, and currently, the prince’s mansion expenses still needed to be supplemented by Er Niu and A Huan’s annual salaries. How could Prince Qi’s meager salary be enough to support a harem of women?
Prince Qi’s daughters hadn’t been granted the title of princess, so they didn’t receive a princess’s annual allowance, and no Big Dog was receiving an annual salary either. If not using Prince Qi’s wife’s dowry money, what else could they use?
Jiang Si’s straightforward deduction hit Prince Qi’s wife’s heart like an arrow.
Prince Qi’s wife’s face changed, her nails digging into her soft palms, drawing blood.
The expenses of the prince’s mansion were indeed high, and the prince’s annual salary and income from the estates were truly insufficient. A portion did come from her dowry money, but how did Prince Yan’s wife know about this?
Using dowry money to support her husband’s concubines and chamber maids, many might praise her as virtuous and magnanimous, but only she knew how humiliating it was.
If it weren’t for the prince to have a son soon and for the prince’s great cause, why would she subject herself to such indignity?
Seeing Prince Qi’s wife’s reaction, Jiang Si raised an eyebrow.
She had guessed correctly!
Since she had guessed right, she would be even less polite.
Jiang Si blinked, putting on a sympathetic and sighing expression, exclaiming in surprise, “So the rumors were true? Fourth Sister-in-law uses her own dowry money to support Fourth Brother’s women?”
“Where did Seventh Sister-in-law hear this?” the Prince Qi’s wife asked, suppressing her embarrassment.
Jiang Si smiled, “Does it matter where I heard it? The Fourth Sister-in-law is truly magnanimous. But I have some advice for you, Fourth Sister-in-law. When making sacrifices for others, one must consider if it’s worthwhile. Some people will remember others’ sacrifices, like our Prince. But some people become accustomed to others’ daily, yearly sacrifices, remembering not the difficulty of those sacrifices, but the convenience they bring. In the future, if that convenience disappears, they might not only fail to be grateful but even blame the other party for not continuing to sacrifice.”
The Prince Qi’s wife was stunned.
Jiang Si’s smile deepened, “People’s habits are the most terrifying thing. Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t you agree?”
Without waiting for Prince Qi’s wife to respond, Jiang Si smiled and strode forward.
Aman followed closely behind. After walking a dozen steps, she turned back to look and saw Prince Qi’s wife still standing there, her expression very complex.
“Aman, why are you still standing there?” Jiang Si said lightly.
Aman immediately caught up. Once they were in the carriage, she covered her mouth and laughed, “Mistress, you’re truly formidable. Look how you’ve left Prince Qi’s wife speechless with anger.”
She had worried that her mistress might be at a disadvantage, almost wanting to rush in and help, but she had forgotten that her mistress was a woman who dared to use scissors on a man’s vital parts in the middle of the night.
“I was just speaking the truth,” Jiang Si said calmly.