In the following days, Jiang Fu stayed in the second household, reading books.
She had almost finished reading the incense manuals and had now started on medical texts.
These books were all left to her by her mother. Jiang Fu did not know her mother’s identity, nor had she ever seen an outside physician, so she naturally had no idea how precious these medical books were.
Ever since she learned to read, she had been flipping through these books. Although she had never practiced their contents, she could recite them from memory.
However, a physician cannot heal themselves. Even after reading an entire chest of medical books, she could not find the reason for her dreams.
Perhaps she was just being audacious and delusional, coveting Xiao Jing’s beauty, which was why she fantasized about him night after night in her dreams.
Thinking of this, Jiang Fu’s face grew warm.
“Miss, miss, someone from the Xu family is here!”
Bai Xing hurried in from outside, holding an invitation in her hand, her face unable to conceal her joy.
“Miss Xu has invited you to visit.”
“Sister Yun?”
Jiang Fu, forgetting the warmth in her cheeks, widened her apricot-shaped eyes and asked.
Bai Xing nodded repeatedly. “It’s Miss Xu Yun.”
Jiang Fu was slightly lost in thought. It was true that Xu Yun had mentioned inviting her to visit during their time at the Xie family, but after everything that had happened that day and her reputation worsening, Jiang Fu had assumed Xu Yun would keep her distance.
“What did Aunt say?”
She needed Madam Yan’s permission to go out.
Hearing this, Bai Xing snorted lightly with pride. “Miss, do you know who the Xu family sent? It was the stewardess from Madam Xu’s side. The First Madam wouldn’t dare to stop you. You can go out and have fun without worry.”
Bai Xing’s steps were light and cheerful, looking even happier than Jiang Fu herself.
Last time, when her young mistress had been wronged, the First Madam had confined her without distinguishing right from wrong. The resentment Bai Xing had been holding in her heart was finally released today.
Although the eldest master of the Xu family was only a Vice Minister of Works, his sister was formidable. The aunt of Miss Xu was the Empress of the court and had given birth to the Emperor’s only child. As the maternal uncle of the Crown Prince, few in the capital dared to slight the Xu family.
Even if Madam Yan was unwilling, she would not dare to confine Jiang Fu.
With her young mistress able to go out, Bai Xing was already happily selecting clothes and jewelry.
In the main household, Madam Yan was so angry that she smashed a teacup.
“When did that little wretch become friends with Miss Xu? And now the Xu family has come to invite her personally?”
Madam Yan could not understand. In what way was her own Yao’er not better than Jiang Fu, an orphan? Why would Xu Yun not befriend her but instead invite Jiang Fu?
Jiang Yao’s expression was also unpleasant, her words tinged with jealousy.
“Xu Yun couldn’t possibly sincerely invite Jiang Fu. She must be doing it to provoke Lin Xueyan. The more she does this, the more Lin Xueyan will target Jiang Fu.”
“Yao’er is right.”
As long as Xu Yun was not genuinely favoring Jiang Fu, Madam Yan felt relieved.
…
Since it was an invitation from a young lady of the same generation, Bai Xing did not choose overly elaborate attire for her. Jiang Fu let her dress her up, and within a quarter of an hour, she was ready.
The young lady wore a goose-yellow pleated skirt with a white jade pendant fastened at her waist. This jade had been left to her by the Second Master of the Jiang family. It was warm in winter and cool in summer, carved in the shape of a little rabbit, which Jiang Fu adored.
Her hair was styled in a simple double-bun, tied with two light green ribbons. She wore earrings of the same color, and as she walked, the two small beads swayed gently.
She wore no makeup today. Bai Xing only painted a vermilion dot on her forehead, making Jiang Fu look as sweet and adorable as a child beneath the Bodhisattva’s seat.
“When the Second Master named you Ah Fu, he was absolutely right!”
Bai Xing watched her young mistress with a series of sighs. If only the Second Master and his wife were still alive, her young mistress would have someone to dote on her.
Unlike now, where not even a childhood nickname was ever used for her, and she was constantly bullied by the First Mistress and the others.
Jiang Fu pursed her lips. She missed her parents too.
But she had also promised them she would live well.
“Let’s go.”
The Xu family’s carriage was waiting outside. As the most capable housekeeper under Madam Xu, Mama Cao naturally possessed a sharp eye.
Jiang Fu’s reputation in the capital was already tarnished. Xu Yun had pestered Madam Xu to invite her, which not only left Madam Xu bewildered but even Mama Cao found it strange.
Both of them wondered if this Fourth Miss Jiang was a cunning schemer who had bewitched Xu Yun.
But upon seeing her, Mama Cao realized she had guessed wrong.
This Fourth Miss Jiang was exceptionally beautiful, even more so than the eldest young lady in their household who had entered the palace.
Yet, beyond her beauty, she was more characterized by a naive innocence and simplicity, unable to hide her thoughts. Her own young mistress, accustomed to the filth of the inner household, finding favor with Fourth Miss Jiang was perfectly natural.
Even Mama Cao herself couldn’t help but feel a fondness for Fourth Miss Jiang upon meeting her.
Mama Cao’s smile grew a few shades warmer as she personally stepped down to assist her. “Fourth Miss, please come up quickly. My young mistress has been talking about you these past few days. We’ve finally managed to invite you.”
Jiang Fu rarely interacted with others. Faced with Mama Cao’s enthusiasm, she thanked her in a soft voice, “Mm.”
Her obedient and endearing demeanor only made Mama Cao like her more.
Xu Yun was already waiting at the entrance. As soon as Jiang Fu stepped down from the carriage, she took her arm and led her toward her own courtyard.
“I know you like pastries, so I specifically had the chef prepare a variety. Later, you can see which ones you like.”
“Thank you, Sister Yun.”
Jiang Fu’s hand was held by Xu Yun, whose appearance was blessed and plump, her hands similarly fleshy and comfortable to touch.
Although this dynasty favored slenderness as beauty, there was no rule that women must have waists as slender as silk or figures like drooping willows. There were quite a few noble young ladies with similarly plump features like Xu Yun, all of them cherished daughters from their families.
Xu Yun’s courtyard was the largest in the Xu family aside from the main courtyard of the First Master and Madam Xu, and it was decorated with exquisite opulence.
“Look, these are all things I had prepared. This is the plum blossom pastry, which my family’s chef excels at. The plum blossoms were picked in winter, preserved in sugar, and sealed in jars. They make for a very sweet and fragrant pastry. Try it, Sister Fu.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Fu used a handkerchief to cushion her palm as she picked up a piece. The plum blossom pastry had a crispy outer layer, and the filling inside was indeed as sweet and delicious as Xu Yun had described.
She took a bite, and the filling nearly oozed out. Puffing her cheeks, she ate carefully to prevent it from dripping.
Her eyes sparkled, looking utterly adorable.
“It’s delicious!”
Xu Yun watched her, resembling a little hamster, and smiled with her eyes crinkling.
“If Sister Fu likes it, have more. These are all for you.”
She had finally found someone who loved pastries as much as she did.
“Mhm, mhm.”
Jiang Fu nodded with her cheeks puffed, looking even more like a little hamster.
Inspired by her, Xu Yun also felt that today’s plum blossom pastries were sweeter and more fragrant than usual. The two of them happily nibbled on the pastries, not finding them cloying in the slightest.
Although this was only their second meeting, they could talk endlessly about pastries alone.
Mama Cao watched for a while, realizing that her young mistress genuinely liked Jiang Fu, and this Fourth Miss Jiang was truly adorable. There was no need to worry about her leading her young mistress astray, so she quietly withdrew to report to Madam Xu.
But just as she reached the outer courtyard gate, she saw all the servants in the mansion heading out.
Nanny Cao casually grabbed a young servant and asked, “What’s going on?”
Could something have happened in the mansion?
The servant, who had been given a task by his master, was in a hurry, but he dared not ignore Nanny Cao’s question.
“It’s the Third Master Xiao who suddenly came to the mansion. The mistress ordered us to go and serve at the front.”
Nanny Cao’s expression stiffened. “What is Third Master Xiao here for? Our master hasn’t done anything wrong, has he?”
This Third Master Xiao was an Imperial Guard. He wouldn’t come without a reason, and if he did, it surely meant someone in the household had committed a crime.
Nanny Cao’s legs went weak, and she could no longer care about Jiang Fu, rushing straight toward the main courtyard.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jing was absentmindedly chatting with Minister Xu. Upon hearing that the young lady had come to the Xu residence, he couldn’t control his own feet.