Seeing Jiang Ancheng’s reaction, Jiang Si’s heart raced.
Could it be that she had guessed correctly, causing her father to react so strongly?
She pretended to be nonchalant as she handed him a handkerchief, saying softly, “Don’t be nervous, Father. I was just asking casually—”
Before she could finish, a large hand landed on her forehead.
“No fever…” Jiang Ancheng’s face was serious, genuinely concerned, “Si’er, you haven’t become confused from spending all day chanting to a clay Buddha statue without seeing anyone for so long, have you?”
If his perfectly good daughter had become confused, he’d have to hang that good-for-nothing son up and give him a beating.
Jiang Si didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Father, where are you getting these ideas? I’m not confused.”
“Then why would you ask such a strange question?”
Jiang Si had anticipated this question from Jiang Ancheng. After a slight hesitation, she said, “Didn’t Ajin go south for a while? He happened to meet a young lady who looks very similar to me…”
Jiang Ancheng immediately became interested, “Really? She looks like you?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Ancheng waved his hand dismissively, “Impossible. Do you think it’s so easy to be as beautiful as you? The Prince must have seen wrong.”
Jiang Si felt increasingly helpless. Only after repeatedly assuring him that Yujin hadn’t made a mistake did Jiang Ancheng finally believe her.
“It’s just a coincidence. I was right outside when your mother gave birth to you. She only had you, where would a twin come from?”
If he had two daughters like Si’er, wouldn’t he be overjoyed? How could he not know if he was missing a daughter?
Seeing Jiang Ancheng’s reaction, Jiang Si believed him.
She knew very well her father’s love for her; since she had asked, there was no reason for him to hide anything. Moreover, the truth about her mother’s death had been revealed, and the culprits had been punished. It was unlikely there were any hidden circumstances.
Jiang Si couldn’t tell if she felt disappointed or relieved.
Earlier, when the Grand Elder mentioned that Asang had Zhou blood, she wondered if Asang might have been adopted and if her birth parents might be the same as Jiang Si’s.
The thought of Asang being her twin sister made her feelings too complicated.
“Is it possible… that the midwife secretly hid a child?” Although she felt the possibility was one in ten thousand, Jiang Si couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Ancheng looked at Jiang Si with a strange expression, “Si’er, you gave birth to Ahuan, right?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Ancheng sighed deeply, “Since you did, whether you gave birth to one or two, wouldn’t you, as the mother, know?”
Jiang Si was immediately speechless, her face flushing slightly.
In her eagerness to eliminate all possibilities with her father, she had forgotten that after ten months of pregnancy and childbirth, how could a mother not know how many children she had given birth to?
From her elder sister, she already knew that her mother had truly fallen in love with her father after marrying him. It was unlikely that she would have deceived her beloved in such a crucial matter as childbirth.
Seeing his daughter’s embarrassment, Jiang Ancheng said solemnly, “Stop overthinking. And from now on, no more chanting sutras or worshipping Buddha.”
To think his brilliantly clever daughter was making him worry like this… Well, he’d just beat his son later to ease his mind.
Under her father’s stern gaze, Jiang Si could only sheepishly agree.
With plenty of time before nightfall, Jiang Ancheng urged Jiang Zhan to visit the Yining Marquis Mansion.
During Jiang Zhan’s recent trouble, the Yining Marquis family had shown genuine concern. Although Jiang Ancheng harbored a deep hatred for Madam You, who had caused his wife’s death, he was a man of integrity. Knowing that the two elderly grandparents were truly worried about their grandson, now that his son had returned safely, it was only natural to visit his maternal grandparents.
No matter where maternal relatives were always considered the closest.
Jiang Si, who hadn’t left yet, heard Jiang Ancheng say this and offered, “I’ll accompany Second Brother.”
Jiang Zhan nodded happily, “It would be great if Fourth Sister came along.”
Yujin quickly said, “I’ll come too.”
Jiang Si ruthlessly rejected her husband’s unreasonable request, “At this hour, your sudden visit would cause a commotion at the Marquis Mansion. Today, I’ll go with Second Brother first. Another day, after the Prince’s Mansion sends an invitation to the Marquis Mansion, we can go together.”
With Ajin being a noble prince, if he went to the Marquis Mansion, everyone would likely revolve around him, making it inconvenient for her to probe her grandmother for information.
Indeed, Jiang Si was eager to visit the Yining Marquis Mansion. Having gained no information from Jiang Ancheng, she held onto a slim hope of exploring the matter with the Old Madam of Yining Marquis.
Her resemblance to Asang, and their deep connection across past and present lives – could they be strangers with no relation?
Seeing Yujin’s reluctance, Jiang Si consoled him, “Ahuan barely recognizes you now. Hurry home and spend time with our daughter.”
Hearing this, Yujin finally relented, parting ways with Jiang Si and her brother after leaving.
When the siblings arrived at the Yining Marquis Mansion, they received an extremely warm welcome.
The old Marquis couple was genuinely delighted, looking at their lively grandson and composed granddaughter with joy.
Uncle Su was equally pleased.
Surviving a great calamity often leads to future blessings. His nephew’s brush with death had caught the Emperor’s eye, promising a limitless future. He was now the undisputed heir, not to mention having his sister as a princess to support him.
While Uncle Su wouldn’t have turned away a down-on-his-luck nephew, it was certainly a good thing that his nephew had become successful.
“Grandmother, let Second Brother chat with Grandfather and the uncles. Why don’t I accompany you to the warm room for a bit?”
The Old Madam of Yining Marquis naturally agreed. Supported by Jiang Si, she entered the warm room and settled comfortably on the bed, sighing, “Child, now that your Second Brother is safe, your grandmother can rest easy. When I eventually meet your mother in the afterlife, I’ll have good news to share—”
Jiang Si quickly interjected, “We’re still in the New Year period, Grandmother. Please don’t speak of such things.”
It was customary that the new year wasn’t truly over until after the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The Old Madam laughed, “What’s wrong with that? No one can live forever; that would be supernatural.”
Seeing the atmosphere become more relaxed, Jiang Si bit her lip and tentatively asked, “Grandmother, why did you only have my mother as a daughter?”
The Old Madam’s smile froze.
Jiang Si gently massaged her grandmother’s legs, sighing, “If I had an aunt, she could keep you company in my mother’s place.”
The Old Madam’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Realizing her probe wasn’t strong enough, Jiang Si said directly, “During the Prince’s recent southern journey, he found a woman who looks very similar to me. But my mother couldn’t have had twins. Grandmother, is it possible that my mother had a sister who was lost somewhere—”
“What nonsense!” the Old Madam exclaimed.
Jiang Si watched the Old Madam’s reaction intently.
The Old Madam had already regained her composure. She reached out to stroke Jiang Si’s thick hair, chiding gently, “You silly girl, aren’t you usually so level-headed? Why are you suddenly having such wild ideas?”
Jiang Si gazed at her grandmother with bright eyes, a slight smile on her lips, “I just thought it was too much of a coincidence. Grandmother, aren’t you curious about where this woman who resembles your granddaughter is from?”
The Old Madam averted her gaze, smiling, “Truth is often stranger than fiction. You shouldn’t let your imagination run wild, child.”