He Mama and Shuangjiang remained in the small carriage.
Jiang Shiyao carried Fu'er as she boarded Zhou Congxian's carriage.
This carriage was at least twice the size of the small one she had taken when going out.
It was spacious enough for both her and Fu'er to roll around in!
Zhou Congxian rolled up his sleeve and discovered the skin around the edge of the bandage was turning black.
"Their blades were poisoned."
Wei Xun's voice came from outside, "Young Lord, someone is following us."
Jiang Shiyao frowned and glanced outside, "Turn back."
"We can't turn back." Sweat beaded on Zhou Congxian's temple, "If I return now, they'll have an excuse to search the residence."
A search?
Jiang Shiyao instinctively thought of the marks in the bamboo grove.
There were likely still some silver coins in the bamboo grove that He Dayou hadn't found, and they definitely couldn't withstand a search.
Whether trouble came or not, she couldn't escape it.
Her gaze fell on Zhou Congxian's wound again. If this continued, he would surely die.
Zhou Congxian couldn't die now. If he died, it would be even harder for her to leave!
"To the medical clinic!"
Jiang Shiyao made a quick decision, turned around, and reached her fingers down her throat.
"Gag!—"
She nearly vomited what she had just eaten.
Zhou Congxian immediately understood, "To Huilin Medical Clinic!"
The carriage made a sharp turn at the intersection, nearly losing the people following behind.
As soon as Jiang Shiyao got off the carriage, she leaned against the carriage wheel and vomited all the food she had eaten at Huaiyue Tower!
While wiping tears from the corner of her eyes, she silently cursed.
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have gone out today!
In her previous life, when she hadn't appeared, hadn't he survived anyway!
He Mama, who had come down from the following carriage, was overjoyed at the sight.
"Madam, could you be with child?!"
Zhou Congxian subtly glanced at the people who had followed them.
Gritting his teeth, he used his injured hand to pick up his daughter. Fu'er's skirt happened to cover his torn sleeve.
"Let's go in and have the physician take a look."
The two people standing across the street from the medical clinic exchanged glances.
"It's not him?"
"Let's return and report to our master first."
Across from the medical clinic was a cosmetics shop, with the second-floor window wide open.
Song Jiyun, standing by the window, was currently watching the entrance of Huilin Medical Clinic with fire in her eyes.
Was one illegitimate daughter not enough? Did she want to bear an illegitimate son before me as well!
Song Jiyun had come today for her wedding makeup consultation, never expecting to witness such a scene.
She had no mind to look at cosmetics now.
She just wanted to strangle that slut and the bastard in her womb!
"Zisu, doesn't Congxian gege have more happy news? Shouldn't we go take a look?"
On the third floor of Huilin Medical Clinic.
The crude bandage on Zhou Congxian's hand was removed, and blackish blood immediately flowed out.
"Any later, and you would have lost this arm."
The white-bearded old man quickly inserted several needles into his arm, and the bleeding gradually stopped.
The medical clinic's central courtyard was arranged with some dried medicinal herbs.
Fu'er was like a little puppy, curious about everything she saw.
When she smelled sweet and fragrant herbs, she even wanted to taste them, frightening Jiang Shiyao into pulling her back by the collar.
"Zhou Jiafu, weren't you full just now?!"
He Mama stood under the corridor watching the playful mother and daughter, somewhat disappointed, "I thought Madam was with child."
Shuangjiang, however, was more pragmatic, "At a time like this, it wouldn't be a good thing for Madam to be with child."
He Mama, "How is it not a good thing? Offspring are important. If she carries a male child, that would be a protective talisman!"
"More like a death warrant…"
"I won't argue with you. What does an unmarried young girl like you know?"
Shuangjiang snorted and turned her head, only to see Song Jiyun walking in with a darkened expression.
She quickly pulled He Mama aside to hide by the door.
The medicine racks in the courtyard provided cover—unless Song Jiyun came this way, she wouldn’t discover Niangzi Jiang.
Shuangjiang hadn’t interacted much with Song Jiyun. It was only after Song Jiyun moved to the capital with her father last year that she began visiting the Duke’s residence frequently.
While serving in Old Madam’s courtyard, Shuangjiang had witnessed Song Jiyun’s two-faced nature.
One moment, she could appear dignified and aloof, and the next, she would coldly order Zisu to return and receive a whipping!
It was best to steer clear of someone like that.
“Mama! Look at this leaf—it looks just like a little puppy!”
The little girl’s voice was crisp and clear.
Song Jiyun, who had been about to ascend the stairs, paused and turned her gaze toward the courtyard.
Rows of medicine-drying racks stood neatly arranged.
Through the gaps between the racks, faint silhouettes of people could be glimpsed.
Changing direction, she strode straight into the courtyard.
Jiang Shiyao, worried that Fu’er might bump into the racks, led her out from behind them.
Just then, her eyes met Song Jiyun’s.
A flicker passed through Jiang Shiyao’s gaze, and she instinctively glanced toward the staircase.
“What brings Miss Song to the medical clinic?”
Song Jiyun, interpreting her reaction as guilt, replied with a thin, insincere smile, “Is Niangzi Jiang unwell?”
Jiang Shiyao immediately understood that she must have been seen vomiting at the entrance earlier.
Instinctively avoiding confrontation, she replied, “I am fine, it’s just…”
“Just trying to hurry ahead and bear a bastard eldest son, is that it?!”
Interrupted, Jiang Shiyao met the hostility in Song Jiyun’s eyes and recalled her words a few days prior at White Horse Temple.
Suddenly, Jiang Shiyao smiled.
This misunderstanding had pricked Song Jiyun’s paranoid and sensitive heart.
She had already experienced Song Jiyun’s cruelty in her previous life.
In both her past and present life, she had been avoiding her.
But no matter where she went, as long as she remained Zhou Congxian’s concubine, she could never truly escape.
Since the outcome would be the same regardless, why should she keep hiding? Why not use the current situation to vent the grievances she and Fu’er had suffered in her past life!
“What does Miss Song mean? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Her seemingly innocent smile stung Song Jiyun’s eyes, who nearly gritted her teeth to dust.
Song Jiyun hadn’t yet entered the household—she couldn’t openly confront her.
Jiang Shiyao’s hand inadvertently brushed her lower abdomen. “Shuangjiang, I suddenly have a craving for sour apricots from Fuxiang Zhai. Remember to buy some on our way back.”
She couldn’t take Song Jiyun’s life, but she could certainly infuriate her!
After all, by the time Song Jiyun entered the household, she would have long since fled!
At this thought, the smile on Jiang Shiyao’s face deepened.
Fu’er cupped her little face with both hands, scrunching it up like a tiny bun.
“Mama, so sour, so sour! Fu’er doesn’t want to eat that!”
Jiang Shiyao bent down and kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Then how about some chestnut cake for Fu’er instead?”
Song Jiyun bit her lip, nearly tearing her handkerchief to shreds. For the first time, she was so enraged she felt smoke rising from her seven orifices, yet she had no choice but to endure it.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and a flicker of murderous intent passed through her eyes.
“So you’re hungry. Why don’t I treat Niangzi Jiang to some tea? The teahouse just ahead, Jufang Teahouse, serves pastries no less delicious than those at Fuxiang Zhai.”
Jiang Shiyao stood up. “The Young Lord promised Fu’er he would take her kite-flying today. I’m afraid we won’t have time.”
“Perhaps another day. Another day, I’ll invite Miss Song for tea and pastries.”
Her audacious shift to a host-like demeanor left Shuangjiang and He Mama utterly stunned.
"What kind of thing do you think you are, Jiang Shiyao!" Song Jiyun trembled as she pointed at her, "Do you really think having two children makes you something special?!"
Jiang Shiyao blinked, looking rather innocent as she said, "What does the young lady mean by this? This concubine truly has no time today."
As long as Song Jiyun dared to lay hands on her in public, even if Zhao Shi wouldn't openly support her, she would certainly be more than willing to stir up trouble behind the scenes!
"Young lady!"
Seeing the situation getting out of control, Zisu hurried in.
Her heart pounding like a drum, wiping sweat from her forehead, she had finally managed to bring Xu Mama in time.
Song Jiyun turned around to see Xu Mama walking in with steady steps.
Xu Mama's upturned eyes swept over Jiang Shiyao before she performed a proper bow.
"You must be Niangzi Jiang. Greetings, madam. This old servant's husband's family name is Xu, and I serve as the steward mama for the young lady."
The moment Jiang Shiyao saw Xu Mama, she shielded her daughter behind her like a mother hen.
In her previous life, it was this old witch's idea to take Fu'er away to be raised by Song Jiyun!
And she probably had a hand in framing her for adultery too!
Letting a concubine's daughter die, executing a concubine.
What did such a filthy-handed woman like Xu Mama amount to!
Though puzzled by the wariness in Jiang Shiyao's eyes, Xu Mama still nodded with a faint smile.
Then she turned to her young lady, "Young lady, it's getting late. Time to return to the residence."
When Song Jiyun tried to say more, Xu Mama firmly pulled her back to the carriage.
Frowning slightly, Xu Mama said, "Young lady, have you forgotten the madam's words?"
"She's merely a concubine. Lowering yourself to argue with her is beneath your status!"
Finally breaking down in tears before Xu Mama, Song Jiyun sobbed.
"Mama, you didn't see how she treated me! That lowly concubine doesn't show me the slightest respect!"
"And! She's pregnant again! I tolerated the concubine-born daughter, but now I'm about to enter the household, and she's rushing to have a concubine-born son before me!"
Xu Mama held her and patted her back, "Young lady, the madam never agreed to you entering the Zhou family in the first place."
"Taking concubines doesn't matter – what man doesn't have three wives and four concubines?"
"But allowing a concubine to bear children first shows disrespect to the future wife's family."
Song Jiyun sniffled, "The ones mother chose are no different either, full of bedmaids. At least Congxian gege only has one…"
Xu Mama interrupted her, "Having only one is even more dangerous!"
"With many bedmaids, you can dismiss them if they displease you. But with just this one, how would you dismiss her?"
Song Jiyun looked up, "Why couldn't I dismiss her? Like mother does – just find any excuse to summon the human trafficker."
"Would he really make things difficult for me over a lowly concubine!"
Xu Mama sighed, "Young lady, don't forget who nearly caused the madam to die with her unborn child back then!"
A man's affection is so light, yet so heavy.
Light enough to casually discard one after another brought into his chamber, yet heavy enough to disregard his official wife and let her be bullied.
"Young lady, since you fancy Young Lord Zhou, if you want to capture his heart, you must be a tolerant and generous official wife."
"There are some things you need not do yourself. Leave the rest to this old servant."
Xu Mama's mind flashed with Jiang Shiyao's face from earlier, her eyes flickering slightly.
If she were content with her position, that would be one thing.
But someone who can't see her proper place…
Keeping her around too long would only lead to complications.