Cao Xingyu, the heir of Marquis Changxing, stood not far away, a faint smile on his lips and a distant look in his eyes.
The peonies were in full bloom, their fragrance rich and intoxicating. Jiang Si stood among them, feeling a chill rise from the depths of her heart.
Almost instinctively, Jiang Qiao stepped forward to shield Jiang Si behind her. “Oh, it’s Brother-in-law. Fourth Sister and I were just admiring the flowers.”
Cao Xingyu chuckled lightly, his eyes sparkling like gold flecks in the sunlight, appearing exceptionally kind. “Indeed, these peonies are blooming more beautifully than elsewhere. Please, sisters, take your time enjoying them.”
He approached step by step.
The copper hairpin in his sleeve was hard and cold against the young girl’s soft skin.
Jiang Si tightened her grip on the hairpin, watching Cao Xingyu coldly as he drew near.
Cao Xingyu was rather thin, his moon-white robe giving him a delicate beauty that could evoke sympathy.
Who would have thought such a person could commit such an unforgivable act?
“A beast in human clothing,” Jiang Si suddenly thought. The uncontrollable fear stemming from her past life’s trauma instantly vanished, leaving only determination.
She was resolved to strip this beast of his facade and prevent him from harming any more innocent women!
Cao Xingyu came closer but didn’t approach the two directly. He changed direction while still some distance from the peony bushes.
There was nothing improper about it, just a seemingly ordinary chance encounter.
Cao Xingyu gradually moved away without looking back.
Jiang Qiao watched the moon-white figure recede for a moment, then turned to Jiang Si with a pout. “Why did you grab the hairpin just now?”
Jiang Si’s expression had already returned to normal. She smiled and said, “The Young Master’s sudden appearance startled me, and I instinctively threw the hairpin away.”
“You threw it away?” Jiang Qiao scanned the area. “Where did it go?”
Jiang Si casually pointed. “I think it went over there.”
She indicated a clump of bushes. Jiang Qiao looked and lost interest. “Forget it. Even if it were a gold or silver hairpin instead of copper, we shouldn’t take something we just found lying around.”
Cao Xingyu’s sudden appearance had dampened Jiang Qiao’s enthusiasm for flower viewing. “Let’s go find Second Sister and the others at the pavilion on the rockery.”
“Alright.” At this point, Jiang Si couldn’t possibly dig up the soil under the peonies to investigate, so she suppressed her urge to explore further and nodded.
Jiang Qiao took two steps forward before pausing, as if talking to herself: “How strange that a copper hairpin would fall right next to these peonies.”
Jiang Si, following behind, couldn’t help but laugh silently.
Jiang Qiao, though seemingly simple, was indeed no fool.
The Eight Tones Pavilion atop the rockery had stone tables and benches, making it an excellent spot for enjoying the cool summer air. Its elevated position offered a panoramic view of the Marquis’s garden.
The earlier encounter between Cao Xingyu and the two Jiang sisters in the flower garden had been fully visible from this vantage point.
Jiang Qian didn’t even raise an eyebrow at the scene, calmly sipping her clear tea.
Jiang Pei, eager to please Jiang Qian, rested one hand on the railing and said pointedly, “Fourth Sister is truly beautiful. Standing among the peonies, she’s more lovely than the flowers themselves.”
She thought to herself, “Second Brother-in-law is refined and gentle, and he’s the noble heir of Marquis Changxing. He’s quite a catch. I don’t believe Second Sister isn’t worried.”
After all, with Jiang Si’s looks, not only men but even women couldn’t help but steal glances at her.
Jiang Qian set her teacup down on the stone table and, instead of looking at Jiang Si in the flower garden below, fixed her gaze on Jiang Pei.
Jiang Pei gradually became uncomfortable, unsure of what she had said wrong.
Suddenly, Jiang Qian smiled. “Indeed, not just among us sisters, but even in all of the capital, it would be hard to find someone whose beauty surpasses Fourth Sister’s.”
She cast a fleeting glance at Jiang Si, who was now walking towards them. “Having such a sister whose beauty rivals that of the Goddess Luoshen is truly an honor for us elder sisters.”
She had nothing to feel guilty about. Cao Xingyu had always been a pervert who wouldn’t rest until he got his hands on any woman he set his sights on. If anyone was to blame, it was Jiang Si for being born too attractive, especially now that she had lost the protection of her engagement to the An Guo Duke’s household.
As Jiang Si and Jiang Qiao approached the pavilion, Jiang Pei gave an awkward smile, not daring to speak further. Her resentment towards Jiang Qian grew even more.
The second Sister came from a good background and married well. She could afford to be so nonchalant.
Everyone appreciates beauty. Jiang Pei didn’t believe that the Second Brother-in-law would be moved after frequent contact with Jiang Si. She looked forward to seeing Second Sister’s tears when that time came.
Jiang Pei’s thoughts were not without malice, as if she could already see events unfolding, giving her a sense of satisfaction.
“Why didn’t you two sisters stay out longer?” Jiang Qian asked.
Jiang Qiao entered first, casually sitting on a stone bench and enjoying the cool breeze. “The peonies are beautiful, but their strong fragrance becomes overwhelming after a while. We came up here for some fresh air.”
Jiang Qian glanced at the lush peony bushes in the distance, a meaningful smile on her face. “Indeed, even the most beautiful scenery becomes ordinary if you see it too often. But those peonies are truly worth admiring.”
After sitting in the Eight Tones Pavilion for a while, Jiang Qian led the group back to their living quarters and arranged for maids to show Jiang Si and her sisters to their rooms.
“The east and west side courtyards of the Young Master’s residence have been empty. I had both courtyards prepared before you arrived. Third Sister and Fourth Sister will stay in the east courtyard, while Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister will stay in the west courtyard. Is this arrangement acceptable to everyone?”
Before anyone else could speak, Jiang Pei quickly said, “We’ll follow Second Sister’s arrangements. Second Sister is truly blessed; you’ve been married to Brother-in-law for years, and he hasn’t taken a single concubine.”
Jiang Qian gave Jiang Pei a look, simply smiled, and instructed the maids to lead the four sisters to their rooms to rest.
Jiang Pei felt embarrassed and increasingly uncomfortable. It was strange; her sweet talk had earned her many favors from her stepmother, but why did she keep hitting walls with Second Sister?
Everything she said should have been a source of pride for a woman.
Jiang Si observed Jiang Pei’s frustration and almost laughed out loud.
Poor Jiang Pei, unaware of the true situation, kept praising Jiang Qian and the Young Master of Changxing’s loving relationship, not realizing that every word was like a slap to Jiang Qian’s face.
The east side courtyard of the Young Master’s residence wasn’t large, but it was quiet and elegant. A crabapple tree in the corner of the courtyard had already passed its flowering season and was now bearing small green fruits.
“The bedding and curtains in both the east and west rooms have been replaced with new ones,” the blue-clad maid who led them asked with a smile. “Which young lady would like the east room, and which the west?”
“Which room would Third Sister prefer?” For Jiang Si, there was no difference between the east and west rooms.
Jiang Qiao’s response, however, surprised Jiang Si: “Why bother? I’ll just sleep with Fourth Sister.”
The blue-clad maid was also taken aback and looked towards Jiang Si.
“I’m used to sleeping alone…” Jiang Si began.
Jiang Qiao linked arms with Jiang Si, looking pitifully at her. “I’m not used to new places and can only sleep well with someone familiar nearby. Fourth Sister, please let me sleep with you.”
Jiang Si, remembering Jiang Qiao’s subtle protection in the garden earlier, almost nodded. But then she thought of Jiang Qian and her husband, and her heart suddenly hardened. She shook her head and said, “I still prefer to sleep alone.”
“In that case, I’ll take the east room.”
The day passed uneventfully, and soon it was time to light the lamps. Jiang Si, having finished washing up and dressing for the night, was reclining on her bed reading a book when she heard footsteps approaching, finally stopping outside her door curtain.