Jiang Qiao awoke to the gentle chirping of insects.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes, when suddenly her expression froze.
After what happened last night, how could she have slept so deeply?
“Fourth Sister—” Jiang Qiao hurriedly looked beside her, and upon seeing Jiang Si still asleep, she let out a big sigh of relief. After a moment’s thought, she reached out to nudge Jiang Si. “Fourth Sister, wake up.”
Jiang Si slowly opened her eyes, her gaze fluid: “Third Sister?”
“Looking at the sky, it’s not early. Let’s get up.”
Jiang Si rose, tidying her clothes as she spoke: “I only dozed off in the early hours of the morning, that’s why I woke up late.”
Hearing this, Jiang Qiao felt somewhat embarrassed: “I don’t know why, but I slept like a log…”
“It’s not unusual. After a great shock, some people can’t sleep, while others, due to mental exhaustion, sleep even more deeply.”
Is that so?
Jiang Qiao felt she wasn’t usually such a carefree person. Even now, thinking of last night’s events, a shadow still loomed in her heart, refusing to dissipate. “Fourth Sister, are we going to continue staying here?”
“No, we’re leaving today.”
“But last night, didn’t you say—”
“Times change.” Jiang Si leaned close to Jiang Qiao, whispering in her ear, “I’ve found a way to deal with that beast. We don’t need to stay in the Marquis’s mansion anymore.”
Jiang Qiao’s eyes lit up. She wanted to say something, but catching sight of the doorway from the corner of her eye, she swallowed her words. Instead, she squeezed Jiang Si’s hand firmly: “That’s good. When we see Jiang Qian later, let’s bid her farewell!”
Jiang Si immediately noticed the subtle change in Jiang Qiao’s attitude towards Jiang Qian.
Previously, although Jiang Qiao wasn’t close to Jiang Qian, she wouldn’t have addressed her so directly by name as she did now.
“Don’t worry, leave this to me. If she dares to stop us, I’ll throw a tantrum.” Jiang Qiao winked at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si smiled gently: “Alright.”
As the sisters were whispering, the embroidered peony curtain was suddenly lifted, and two maids in green attire hurriedly entered, carrying soft towels and washbasins. They bowed in unison: “Young ladies, please forgive us for being late.”
After a moment, Jiang Si spoke calmly: “It’s fine. Please help us freshen up.”
After spending some time grooming, one of the maids said: “Young ladies, please follow me to have breakfast with the Young Mistress.”
Jiang Si and Jiang Qiao exchanged a glance before following the maid hand in hand to Jiang Qian’s quarters.
The Fifth Young Lady Jiang Li and Sixth Young Lady Jiang Pei had already arrived earlier.
As soon as she saw the two enter side by side, Jiang Pei said: “Second and Third Sisters are so late, I was about to go look for you.”
After being harshly rebuked by Jiang Si yesterday, Jiang Pei had become more restrained.
Jiang Qiao curved her lips into a smile: “Second Sister arranged such comfortable lodgings for us, we didn’t want to get up.”
Jiang Pei couldn’t help but pursed her lips.
Third Sister was thick-skinned, actually making an oversleeping sound so righteous.
Jiang Qian, however, chuckled lightly: “I’m glad you sisters found your stay comfortable. It’s rare for you to visit, so you must stay with Second Sister for a few more days this time.”
“Of course, Second Sister rarely comes home, so now that we’re here, it’s the perfect opportunity to keep her company,” Jiang Pei said ingratiatingly.
Jiang Qian’s eyes didn’t even glance toward Jiang Pei, seemingly casually looking toward Jiang Si instead.
Jiang Qiao was about to speak when Jiang Si lightly touched her hand.
Jiang Qiao pressed her lips together, temporarily abandoning her intention to speak.
“Second Sister, shouldn’t we pay our respects to the Marchioness today?” Jiang Si asked.
Hearing Jiang Si say this, Jiang Qiao chimed in: “Yes, yesterday we had just arrived so it was understandable, but if we don’t show our faces this morning, the Marchioness might think the young ladies from the Earl’s mansion don’t know proper etiquette.”
Seeing both Jiang Si and Jiang Qiao speak thus, Jiang Qian smiled: “I was waiting for you all to arrive so we could go together.”
“Oh my, aren’t we late then?” Jiang Qiao frowned.
Fifth Young Lady Jiang Li glanced at Jiang Qian, looking somewhat uneasy.
“We’re not late. The Marchioness is lenient, and it’s always been the custom in the Marquis’s mansion to go after each household has finished breakfast.”
“That’s good.” Jiang Qiao appeared to breathe a sigh of relief.
Jiang Qian surveyed the four of them and smiled: “Let’s eat.”
Soon, maids filed in and set out breakfast.
Silver thread buns, shrimp porridge, xiaolongbao, drunken silverfish, vinegar-dressed wood ear mushrooms, and other delicacies filled the table. Though the portions of each dish were small, they were exquisitely prepared.
The sisters ate breakfast in silence, after which Jiang Qian led Jiang Si and the others to the Marchioness Chang-xing’s quarters.
By this time, the Marchioness Chang-xing had just finished her breakfast. Upon hearing the maid’s report, she invited them in.
Jiang Qian respectfully paid her respects: “Yesterday, the sisters had just arrived, so we didn’t dare disturb Mother-in-law’s peace. This morning, I’ve brought them along as I come to pay my respects.”
A gentle voice replied: “I’ve always said there’s no need for such formalities, just be at ease.”
Jiang Pei couldn’t help but steal a glance.
The Marchioness Chang-xing was a beautiful woman in her forties. At her age, living in luxury, many noble ladies would have become plump, but the Marchioness still maintained a slender, oval face and a svelte figure like a young girl. Her gentle demeanor gave an impression of fragility.
Jiang Pei lowered her eyes, feeling quite envious.
The Marchioness Chang-xing looked to be of a good temperament. With such a mother-in-law, and the Heir of Marquis Chang-xing as a husband, Second Sister truly had good fortune.
Recalling Jiang Qian’s dismissive attitude towards her, Jiang Pei’s envy turned to jealousy. She thought to herself: It’s just a matter of being born into the right family. If she had been born to the principal wife, with her status as a young lady from the Earl’s mansion and her father being a fourth-rank official in the capital, she might have married even better than Jiang Qian.
The Marchioness Chang-xing indeed appeared to be a very kind woman. Her gaze swept over Jiang Si and her sisters as she smiled: “Indeed, you’re all like blossoming flowers, a joy to behold.”
Next, the Marchioness Chang-xing gently inquired about the names and ages of the four sisters. Finally, her gaze settled on Jiang Si: “I’ve long heard that the Fourth Young Lady Jiang is a rare beauty, but now that I see her, I realize the rumors don’t do her justice.”
Jiang Si smiled graciously: “The Marchioness flatters me. One’s appearance is a gift from one’s parents and has nothing to do with personal effort. I find it hardly worth mentioning.”
The Marchioness Chang-xing was taken aback, then smiled: “I didn’t expect the Fourth Young Lady Jiang to be so insightful at such a young age. I truly like you from the bottom of my heart.”
Jiang Qian raised her eyebrows slightly, then quickly said with a smile: “Mother-in-law, if you don’t mind the girls disturbing your peace, why not let them keep you company for a few days?”
The Marchioness Chang-xing smiled: “That would be wonderful. I wonder if your children are comfortable with your accommodations?”
“Second Sister cares for us the most, and you, Madam, are so kind. I feel even more at ease here than at home,” Jiang Pei said with a covered smile.
Jiang Li, who had always been reluctant to stand out, remained obediently silent in such situations.
Jiang Qiao, however, suddenly said: “It’s our good fortune that you like us, Madam, but I’m afraid we can’t stay at your esteemed mansion.”
With these words, the room suddenly fell silent.
The Marchioness Chang-xing, who had been focusing most of her attention on Jiang Si, looked at Jiang Qiao in surprise, while Jiang Qian’s eyes held a warning.
Jiang Qiao seemed to feel no pressure at all as she lightly pulled up her sleeve.