“Yes, I’ll find clothes for you right away, Miss!”
Feicui’s eyes lit up as she quickly turned around, her heart racing with excitement.
Excellent, the young lady has finally come to her senses. Although Madam has grown distant from the Empress Dowager, and the young lady even more so, over the years the Empress Dowager has never stopped sending gifts to the Jiang family.
In her view, the Empress Dowager’s affection for Shen Shi far exceeded what everyone imagined. It was just unclear why Shen Shi had always been somewhat resistant to rekindling closeness with the Empress Dowager.
Now, if Jiang Chaohua was willing to take the initiative, given Shen Shi’s fondness for her, the relationship with the Empress Dowager could surely be repaired quickly.
With the Empress Dowager’s support, even the Old Madam wouldn’t be able to treat Shen Shi harshly.
Jiang Chaohua, dressed in white undergarments, turned her head to gaze at the sky outside, lost in thought, her eyes growing increasingly shadowed.
Although Shen Shi had a soft temperament, it wasn’t enough to explain why she had been avoiding the Empress Dowager’s kindness for so many years. There was only one reason—it was because of Jiang He.
It must be that Jiang He had said something to Shen Shi, causing the relationship between Shen Shi and the Empress Dowager to become increasingly strained.
“Jiang He.”
Jiang Chaohua’s red lips moved slightly, her eyes growing even more cold and striking.
Feicui acted quickly, immediately finding a simple yet elegant outfit for Jiang Chaohua.
“Change it for another set.”
Looking at the clothes, which clearly didn’t match her appearance or personality, Jiang Chaohua spoke in a faint tone.
“But, Miss…”
Feicui grew even more confused.
Hadn’t the young lady said that Cousin Wanxin looked good in such clothes and that she would look even better in them?
Why didn’t she like them now?
“Find me a bright red outfit. Remember, the redder, the better. Understood?”
Jiang Chaohua let out a low laugh.
Didn’t everyone outside say she was a wicked girl? If she didn’t dress flamboyantly, how could she live up to that title?
Moreover, a wicked girl ought to do wicked deeds—wicked deeds that make villains suffer retribution.
Jiang Chaohua’s expression was unreadable. Seeing her smile, Feicui broke out in goosebumps.
In the past, Jiang Chaohua had loved wearing brightly colored clothes. But later, because Lu Mingchuan favored Jiang Wanxin, and the young men of Chang’an City greatly admired Jiang Wanxin’s personality and appearance, Jiang Chaohua had changed her style of dressing.
Now that she no longer needed to, she naturally had to return to being herself.
The crimson waist-cinching dress was embroidered with camellias outlined in gold thread.
The camellias were as red as if weeping blood, winding along the waistline and climbing upward, creating an aura of profound mystery.
Jiang Chaohua had a slender figure and an exceptionally narrow waist. Combined with her strikingly beautiful features, the bright red dress gave her a stunning, cold beauty that was almost too dazzling to behold.
Her jet-black hair was loosely tied with a red silk ribbon, her red lips enchanting and her brows delicately arched. Standing before the mirror, Jiang Chaohua looked at her attire and smiled with satisfaction.
It was this very smile that made her even more fitting of the image of a wicked girl.
“Miss…”
Feicui was both amazed and fearful.
Amazed by Jiang Chaohua’s breathtaking beauty, yet fearful that she would revert to her old ways—losing her temper and abusing the servants at the slightest provocation.
“Feicui, let’s go.”
Jiang Chaohua narrowed her eyes slightly and turned to walk out.
Since she was entering the palace, she naturally had to dress extravagantly, so the Old Madam wouldn’t realize she was going to lodge a complaint.
Moreover, her visit to the palace at this time would reassure the Old Madam and Jiang He—reassure them that she was indeed a heartless wicked girl who didn’t even care about her own birth mother.
Jiang Chaohua walked gracefully out of the courtyard with her hands clasped before her chest, accompanied by Feicui, heading toward the imperial palace.
Jiang Family, Study.
The cool fragrance of tea permeated the room. Jiang Wanxin stood anxiously before the desk, clutching her handkerchief tightly. Seeing Jiang He’s inscrutable expression, she bit her lip and spoke:
“Father.”
“What did you call me?”
As soon as Jiang Wanxin spoke, Jiang He’s expression darkened.
“Uncle.”
Jiang Wanxin stiffened, her eyes instantly reddening as she immediately corrected herself.
Dressed in white robes, her pale face slightly lowered, she looked on the verge of tears.
Seeing her like this, Jiang He was suddenly reminded of Jiang Wanxin’s birth mother – that woman he had kept hidden away, waiting twenty years for him in the shadows. His expression softened, and his tone relaxed:
“You were too hasty today. Jiang Wanyi has become feeble-minded. Even if he said something, no one would believe him.”
Though he said this, recalling how Jiang Wanyi had publicly accused him earlier, a trace of ruthlessness still flashed in Jiang He’s eyes.
Even if it was his own son, born from Shen Shi’s womb – if he stood in his way, he would still eliminate him!
“But Uncle, last time when we were talking, he overheard us. If Jiang Chaohua hadn’t suddenly returned today, by now…”
Jiang Wanxin gritted her teeth.
If Jiang Chaohua hadn’t ruined things, her plan would have succeeded by now.
She wouldn’t be in such a difficult position. What frightened her more was that Fei Yun had been taken to the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office. If he were to expose them, all their plans would be ruined.
Years of scheming would come to nothing.
“Don’t worry about that. What you should do now is care for Shen Shi, accompany Shen Shi. Only this way can you become her adopted daughter.”
Jiang He looked weary, rubbing his temples, feeling greatly troubled.
The way Shen Shi had looked at him earlier was something he hadn’t seen in all these years. Not only did Jiang Wanxin need to accompany and care for Shen Shi – he needed to as well.
All these years, he and the Old Madam had played good cop, bad cop. Whenever the Old Madam punished Shen Shi, he would plead for mercy, making Shen Shi all the more devoted to him and the entire Jiang family.
Even after today’s incident, he remained confident he could continue controlling Shen Shi.
“Yes.”
Jiang Wanxin nodded, raised her tearful eyes, turned, and slowly walked to the bookcase-filled shelves. Reaching out, she gently turned a large vase beside it.
“Creak, creak.”
As the vase turned, the bookcase immediately split open to both sides. Jiang Wanxin stepped through into the passage.
This was a secret passage leading to the garden. Every time Jiang He summoned her, she would come through this tunnel.
The reason she wanted to kill Jiang Wanyi was because she wasn’t sure whether he had seen her entering through the secret passage to meet Jiang He.
“Your brother will soon complete his studies at the Imperial Academy. When the time comes, I’ll bring him into the Jiang family under the guise of being my student. Wanxin, you must become Shen Shi’s adopted daughter so your brother’s matter can proceed smoothly.”
As Jiang Wanxin stepped into the secret room, Jiang He’s voice followed her.
Overjoyed, Jiang Wanxin nodded repeatedly, straightened her back, and disappeared into the secret room.
Her brother was clever. If he could enter the Jiang family, he would surely help her from within.
Although Shen Shi had conflicts with the Zhongyi Marquis Estate, her influence and connections in Luoyang City remained intact.
Becoming Shen Shi’s adopted daughter would allow her to leverage Shen Shi’s influence, so she had to succeed.
After Jiang Wanxin left, Jiang He sat in his chair with darkened eyes, his expression filled entirely with gloom and indifference.
After stepping out, Jiang Wanxin straightened her dress slightly and headed toward the Ancestral Hall.
Shen Shi had been punished with kneeling, and she intended to go comfort her, stay by her side, and move Shen Shi with her devotion.
Jiang Family, Ancestral Hall.
Outside the Ancestral Hall, two young servants stood guard.
When they saw Jiang Wanxin approaching, their attitudes turned exceedingly respectful.
Jiang Wanxin enjoyed the Old Madam’s favor, and the Jiang family’s servants treated her well as a result.
“Open the door.”
Jiang Wanxin gathered her emotions and spoke.
“This…” The two servants exchanged glances, somewhat hesitant. “Young Miss, the Old Madam said Madam must kneel in the Ancestral Hall for a full twelve hours. We cannot let her out until then.”
“Step aside. Madam’s health is frail—how could she kneel for so long? I will take responsibility with the Old Madam. I am willing to kneel in her place.”
Jiang Wanxin wore an expression of righteous determination, her resolve unwavering, which startled the two servants and left them momentarily unsure.
The Old Madam doted so much on the young miss; if she pleaded, it might indeed work. If they barred her entry, wouldn’t they offend both the madam and the young miss?
As the servants hesitated, Jiang Wanxin curled her lips slightly, lifted the hem of her dress, and knelt directly outside the door:
“Wanxin is willing to kneel alongside Madam until the Old Madam releases her. It is all because of Wanxin that Madam has been put in such a difficult position. Wanxin would never dare to presume upon Madam’s favor—please believe me.”
Jiang Wanxin’s face was full of genuine emotion, her words so moving that the two servants were deeply touched.
Inside the Ancestral Hall, Shen Shi knelt with red-rimmed eyes, recalling how respectful Jiang Wanxin had been to her lately and how much she had come to like her.
Yet Jiang He’s attitude toward Jiang Wanxin just now made it impossible for her not to harbor doubts.
Perhaps she really ought to find a concubine for Jiang He—but why did it have to be Jiang Wanxin?
The more Shen Shi thought about it, the more distressed she became. Unbeknownst to Jiang Wanxin and Jiang He, Shen Shi still believed that Jiang He had taken a fancy to Jiang Wanxin and wanted to take her as a concubine.
And because of this, she felt such aversion—even disgust—toward the idea of adopting Jiang Wanxin as her daughter.