Jiang Jingshu’s chest heaved with agitation after hearing her sister’s words, clearly angered by Jiang Sihe.
“Since Sister is so obstinate, I will say no more. I only hope you won’t regret this in the future…”
Jiang Jingshu flicked her sleeves and hurried away, sneering at her sister’s lack of backbone as she went. How could she be so spineless, acknowledging another woman as her mother for the sake of wealth and status? It was… utterly contemptible…
Danfeng and Xiuyue entered to find Jiang Sihe sitting quietly on the soft couch. They wanted to offer words of comfort but didn’t know how to begin.
“Danfeng, go see if she’s heading back to the separate estate. If so… prepare a carriage for her.”
Danfeng nodded hastily. “Yes, Second Miss!”
Xiuyue noticed Jiang Sihe’s brows slightly furrowed and knew the Second Miss was feeling troubled, so she remained silent.
When Jiang Jingshu reached the gate, a servant boy came forward to bow to her.
“Fourth Miss, a carriage has been prepared to take you back to the separate estate!”
Jiang Jingshu was taken aback. She knew the First Madame disliked her and her mother and would never think to arrange a carriage for her.
Just as she was about to ask who had prepared it, the gatekeeper’s wife asked the servant boy, “Has the Master just returned?”
“Yes, the Master just came through the gate!”
Jiang Jingshu immediately understood—her father must have learned of her return and ordered a carriage for her.
Her father still thought of her and her mother.
…
That evening at dinner, the First Madame deliberately summoned Jiang Sihe to join them.
Jiang Zongyuan paused for a moment when he saw this daughter, then a faint smile crossed his face. “Have the injuries on Sihe’s body healed?”
“To answer Father, they are much better now.”
Jiang Sihe had barely seen the man before her in either of her two lives combined, let alone spoken with him in such a genial manner.
Jiang Zongyuan had been staying at Chunhua Ge for the past ten-odd days and naturally knew his wife had taken this eldest daughter into her courtyard, but he hadn’t paid it much mind.
“My lord, now that Sihe’s health has greatly improved, once she is adopted into my name, she will be the di-daughter of our main branch. I was thinking we should hold a recognition banquet, inviting the other branches to come and meet her, so that matters may proceed more smoothly in the future…”
A daughter—dispensable at best. Having her adopted under the First Madame’s name made no difference. As long as it pleased his wife, and she would put in a good word for him when she visited her natal family at the Minister’s residence, it would benefit his official career. Why wouldn’t he agree?
“Excellent. You may also invite friends and relatives from the Minister’s residence to join the celebration. This is a happy occasion for you as well, so it should naturally be done on a grand scale!”
Hearing her father’s ready approval, Jiang Sihe understood just how important having a powerful maternal family was.
The First Madame had been childless for many years, yet even so, no one in the Jiang family dared to question the matriarch to her face.
“My lord, there is one more matter…”
Jiang Zongyuan walked to the side, lifted his robes, and sat down. “What else? Speak freely, my lady.”
“I have adopted Concubine Ruan’s daughter, so I thought I should compensate her somewhat. What does my lord think…”
Jiang Zongyuan furrowed his brow in thought at this. A mere concubine—her daughter being adopted under the First Madame’s name should be a cause for joy. Did she need compensation?
He looked up and saw Jiang Sihe standing obediently below. “Sihe, what do you think should be given to your birth mother as compensation?”
Jiang Sihe was caught off guard by the question. Why was this being tossed to her? But it was perfect—she could give her birth mother and sister a pleasant surprise.
The First Madame hadn’t expected Jiang Zongyuan to throw the question to Jiang Sihe either, but she recovered and said with a smile:
“True. Sihe would certainly know better what Concubine Ruan likes. Better to let her speak…”
Jiang Sihe composed herself and spoke in a clear, crisp voice: “Father, Mother, my birth mother and sister have tranquil dispositions. If given farmland or shops, they wouldn’t know how to manage them. So I think it would be better to convert everything into silver, giving my birth mother some money to rely on…”
Jiang Sihe’s words were so direct that both Jiang Zongyuan and the First Madame were momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
“My birth mother is as serene as a chrysanthemum—she never contends or fights for anything. So I thought to plan ahead for her future. Money is the most practical. If I’ve spoken wrongly, Father will naturally have a more suitable consideration…”
With that, Jiang Sihe lowered her head, looking like a child who had said something wrong…
Seeing this, the First Madame felt a pang of sympathy and quickly came to her defense: “I think Sihe is right. Without money, one can’t take a single step. Cold, hard cash is the most practical…”
Jiang Zongyuan had no desire to meddle further in inner quarters affairs, so he nodded along. “Then my lady may arrange it as she sees fit…”
The First Madame nodded. “I will not mistreat Concubine Ruan…”
At these words, Jiang Zongyuan’s brow furrowed deeply. He recalled that when he had first brought the First Madame through the gates, Concubine Ruan had turned cold, requesting to move to the separate estate—saddling the new First Madame with the reputation of a jealous wife and making him the laughingstock of his colleagues.
But at this birthday banquet, Concubine Ruan in her plain white dress, with that aloof, solitary air, had made his heart skip a beat that day. Later, Concubine Wei’s clinging had driven it from his mind, but seeing this eldest daughter today brought those memories back…
“I recall Concubine Ruan has been living at the separate estate for over ten years now, hasn’t she?”
First Madame’s expression stiffened at his words, already sensing where this was going.
“Mm, it has been over ten years now…”
“In that case, let’s bring the mother and daughter back to live here as well!”
Jiang Zongyuan said this lightly, but First Madame’s brows knitted together.
Jiang Sihe naturally understood her father’s intention. She hadn’t expected that because of her, things in this life had changed, and that it would cause her father to remember her birth mother?
Throughout the evening meal, all three of them harbored their own thoughts.
Finally, Jiang Sihe took her leave, and First Madame followed her out. The two spoke in the corridor.
“Sihe, Concubine Ruan is your birth mother. Today you asked for some allowance money for her, which shows you still have some feelings for her. If you wish to grow closer to her in the future, I would not be opposed…”
Hearing this, Jiang Sihe gently bowed to First Madame. “Mother, actually… there are some words from my heart that I wish to share with you…”
Seeing Jiang Sihe’s downcast expression, First Madame softened her tone.
“Whatever you wish to say, just say it freely. No need to be so restrained…”
Jiang Sihe choked up for a moment before speaking.
“My birth mother… she doesn’t like me. My temperament has never pleased her. In the separate residence, it was always my younger sister who stayed by her side. I never knew what it felt like to be cherished, until this injury—when I saw how worried you were for my health, how you cared for me in every way—only then did I realize that I, too, could be loved and protected like this…”
There was genuine sincerity in Jiang Sihe’s words. First Madame had indeed taken excellent care of her over these past ten-plus days.
Hearing this, First Madame understood well enough—this child clearly did not share a deep bond with her birth mother.
“So today, when I asked for money for my birth mother, it was also to repay her for the grace of giving me life…”
First Madame gently drew her into an embrace. This child was loyal and righteous—had she been adopted into her own lineage and shown no regard at all for her birth mother and younger sister, she would have found her too cold-hearted.
But seeing her like this now, she knew that even if this child had been wronged, she still considered her birth mother’s welfare. She was a good child.
Now, watching her little face nestled against her chest, maternal love welled up within First Madame. She wished she could give her the best and most precious things from now on, spoiling her into the most pampered young lady in the capital.
“Good child, tomorrow I will have someone bring your birth mother and younger sister back, so you can personally give the allowance money to your birth mother and put her mind at ease!”
Jiang Sihe nodded obediently, but a glint flashed in her eyes.
She suddenly found herself looking forward to tomorrow—when she held out the silver to her birth mother, what expression would she wear then…