“Is Master planning to sleep already?”
After finishing dinner, Xiao Jing ordered the servants to prepare the bed. Usually, he would stay in his study until midnight, but now it was still bright outside—truly unusual.
“Mm.”
Xiao Jing’s body stiffened slightly. The ends of his freshly washed hair were still damp. Perhaps the servants’ confusion was too obvious, as he raised his right fist to his lips and coughed lightly.
“I’m tired today.”
“Of course, Master works hard every day and deserves a good rest.”
The servants didn’t suspect anything. After making the bed, they withdrew, carefully closing the door behind them.
Lying in bed, Xiao Jing closed his eyes, thinking of the young girl’s appearance as he forced himself to sleep.
The flower hall in his dream was the same as in reality, except that half the room was filled with lush rosebuds, and the two of them lay amidst this sea of flowers.
Jiang Fu was on top, Xiao Jing beneath.
When Xiao Jing opened his eyes, he saw the young girl’s delicate and charming face.
“Third Master Xiao?”
Jiang Fu’s slender hand pressed against the man’s chest, her voice timid.
Before, when she didn’t know his identity, she could interact with him freely.
But now that she knew he was a living person with such a cold demeanor, she was afraid.
The young girl lay obediently and softly in his embrace, with several roses blooming behind her, making her appear even more enchanting.
Xiao Jing’s throat tightened. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
Though it was a dream, the sensation felt real. Xiao Jing could even smell the sweet fragrance on her.
A rose branch extended, and a rose fell onto her cheek. The young girl’s face was as delicate as a lotus flower, and with the rose beside her, she looked like a flower spirit.
Xiao Jing’s eyes darkened. He rubbed the rose petal with his thumb, smearing a crimson hue onto her lips.
He had wanted to do this during the day.
Her lips were so soft, even more delicate than the rose petals, tempting him to ravish them.
Jiang Fu was terrified.
Even though they had done more intimate things in dreams before, back then she didn’t know Xiao Jing’s identity, so she wasn’t afraid of him.
But now she knew he was Xiao Yuzhang’s uncle, who had given her a cold look during the day, only to enter her dreams at night to torment her.
Jiang Fu’s temper flared. She opened her mouth and bit him.
But her strength was like a kitten’s. His thumb rubbed against her teeth, not painful but tingling. Xiao Jing probed deeper, pressing against her tongue. A few drops of saliva trickled from the corner of her mouth. Jiang Fu’s eyes widened in shock, her almond-shaped eyes as panicked as a deer’s. She struggled and pushed him away.
The dream suddenly turned dark. Xiao Jing opened his eyes and raised his hand before him, staring intently into the darkness.
One moment he was holding the young girl, the next his arms were empty.
Was he really that frightening? It was one thing for her to fear him in reality, but now she was resisting him even in her dreams.
……
“Miss, should I ask Madam to find a doctor for you? This can’t go on.”
As Bai Xing entered the room, she saw Jiang Fu wrapped in a quilt, sitting listlessly on the bed.
Her once vibrant face now looked as wilted as a flower bud, weary and pale.
“Mm.”
Jiang Fu nodded her little head and finally relented.
She had actually bitten him.
It was too terrifying.
She really didn’t want to dream of Xiao Jing anymore.
The Main Household.
Yesterday, Jiang Yao and Jiang Lin had gone shopping and missed the excitement of the Xiao family breaking off the engagement. Now, the two of them nestled beside Madam Yan, looking quite regretful.
“If only we hadn’t gone out yesterday. I wonder how the Xiao family humiliated her. And it was actually Third Master Xiao who came to break off the engagement—what does Jiang Fu deserve?”
Even though it was a bad thing, Jiang Yao’s eyes were red with jealousy.
After all, that was Xiao Jing—someone rarely seen on ordinary days. Jiang Fu truly had good luck!
The Jiang family’s two branches had a total of four younger-generation members. Jiang Yao was the biological daughter of Madam Yan, the wife of the eldest branch, and ranked second, with an older brother named Jiang Qi above her.
Jiang Qi had married early, and his wife was the niece of Madam Yan’s maternal family. He served as a county magistrate in a distant region and could not return to the capital without a summons.
Jiang Yao was a year older than Jiang Fu and was already seventeen this year.
Madam Yan doted on her only daughter dearly and had begun seeking potential matches for her even before she came of age. However, the Jiang family had declined. Although Master Jiang had inherited the title, the Zhongyong Bo Manor was now just an empty shell.
He held a nominal position in the Hanlin Academy and was not even ranked for daily court attendance.
Jiang Yao’s marriage prospects were neither high nor low, and with Jiang Fu’s previous engagement looming over her, Madam Yan was determined to find a better match for her daughter.
But in the capital, aside from the princes and nobles, who could compare to the Xiao family? Thus, Jiang Yao’s prospects had been delayed.
As for Jiang Lin, she was only a few months younger than Jiang Yao and was the daughter of Master Jiang’s concubine.
Madam Yan was jealous by nature, and Master Jiang’s inner courtyard had only this one concubine, who was originally Madam Yan’s personal maid. Therefore, Jiang Lin had been Jiang Yao’s little follower since childhood, always deferring to her.
Hearing Jiang Yao’s words, Jiang Lin chimed in, “Someone like the Third Master of the Xiao family would naturally not take a liking to Jiang Fu. On the other hand, Second Sister is quite a match for him.”
“Lin’er, don’t tease me!”
Jiang Yao covered her face and shot Jiang Lin a playful glare, but upon closer inspection, her eyes held an unmistakable determination.
Jiang Lin’s words also stirred Madam Yan’s thoughts.
“Lin’er is right. If Yao’er marries Xiao Jing, our Jiang family could advance further.”
Previously, Jiang Fu had been engaged to Xiao Yuzhang, so Madam Yan hadn’t dared to entertain such thoughts. Now that the Xiao family had broken off the engagement, she no longer had any reservations.
“The Xie family just sent an invitation for a lotus-viewing banquet three days from now. The Xie family is currently favored by the emperor, so when they host a banquet, the Xiao family is sure to attend. At that time, dress beautifully and strive to catch the eye of Third Master Xiao.”
As she spoke, Madam Yan took several name cards from the matron beside her and handed them to Jiang Yao and Jiang Lin.
“Why are there three?” Both were somewhat surprised.
“The Xie family also invited Jiang Fu,” Madam Yan replied.
“Why invite her? She was just rejected in marriage, and her reputation is completely ruined. Is she going to the Xie family to make a fool of herself?”
Jiang Yao pouted, clearly displeased. She didn’t want to be dragged down by Jiang Fu.
“This lotus-viewing banquet is hosted by the eldest daughter of the Xie family. You’ve surely heard of her reputation—she’s meticulous in every way. Since she’s inviting the young ladies of the Jiang family, she naturally wouldn’t leave out Jiang Fu.
Don’t worry, my child. Jiang Fu has been rejected by the Xiao family and is no longer a threat.”
A mother knows her daughter best, and Madam Yan understood exactly what Jiang Yao was thinking.
Jiang Fu’s stunningly beautiful face could captivate anyone who saw it, which was why Madam Yan had kept her secluded for over a decade—fearing that the eldest son of the Xiao family might be smitten upon seeing her.
But now that the engagement was broken, even if the eldest son of the Xiao family wanted to reconsider, the Heir’s Wife would do everything in her power to stop him.
After all, the way the engagement was broken off was not honorable.
Jiang Fu had no one to rely on and no backing behind her. In the future, she could only become a concubine—hardly a match for her daughter’s ambitions.
Jiang Yao was convinced by Madam Yan’s words and turned from anger to delight. “Mother is right. She’s not worth my concern. It’s just as well that she attends the banquet. Jiang Fu has never gone out or met people before. Her timid, mouse-like nature is sure to be looked down upon.”
Just thinking about Jiang Fu making a fool of herself in front of everyone excited Jiang Yao immensely.
Jiang Fu must attend this banquet!
Several seamstresses arrived at the second branch to take Jiang Fu’s measurements and tailor her clothes.
“Mama Wang, what is this about?”
The second household had never seen so many visitors before, and Bai Xing was somewhat wary.
Mama Wang snorted disdainfully, “The mistress is kind-hearted and has allowed Fourth Miss to attend the Xie family’s banquet. So, she’s even arranged for new clothes to be made for Fourth Miss.”
“A banquet? My lady can go too?”
Bai Xing felt both joy and worry—joy that her lady could finally go out, and perhaps this outing would provide an opportunity to visit a pharmacy and consult a doctor about her nightmares. But she also worried that, having just been rejected by the Xiao family, outsiders might gossip about her lady. With such a gentle temperament, what if she were bullied?
Bai Xing grew anxious again.
“Do you think I’d lie to you? Brocade Emporium’s clothes aren’t cheap. If it weren’t for the Xie family’s event, Fourth Miss would never have the chance to wear such fine fabric.”
Mama Wang’s tone was mocking as she lifted her chin and looked down haughtily at the young girl reading nearby.
Fourth Miss was beautiful, yes, but her temperament was truly unfit for high society. She was destined to be nothing more than a concubine.
She curled her lip, her gaze growing increasingly contemptuous.
Jiang Fu belatedly looked up, aware that the old woman was mocking her. She didn’t feel upset—after all, their disdain and contempt couldn’t harm her.
Jiang Fu rubbed her neck and closed the book she had been reading for some time. It was a perfume manual left by her mother, which she had flipped through countless times over the years. She had memorized every formula in it, though she had never actually tried making any.
Her fingers itched to try.
Jiang Fu had no interest in the Lotus Appreciation Banquet, but she wanted to go out to buy spices.
At this thought, her heart stirred, and she said to Bai Xing, “Then let’s go.”