"No! Mmm…"
Just a few words escaped before being swallowed by heavier, ragged breaths.
It seemed determined to compete with the storm raging outside the window!
Jiang Shiyao felt herself being thrown repeatedly to the gates of the underworld, only to be pulled back each time.
Her pale hands clung to his solid arms, slender fingers digging into his back.
As if protesting his brutality.
But this only invited more tempestuous assault.
Until she completely lost consciousness.
Jiang Shiyao slept fitfully through the night.
Her entire body felt as if it had been dismantled and hastily reassembled.
"Niangzi! Something's wrong – the young miss has a fever!"
Shuangjiang's anxious voice came from outside the room.
Jiang Shiyao immediately sat up, her body's weakness nearly making her collapse back down.
Without bothering with propriety, she grabbed her garments and wrapped them around herself.
Before she could leave the bed, a hand pulled her back from behind.
He still hadn't left?
"Young… Young Lord?" Jiang Shiyao froze in surprise.
Zhou Congxian's eyes darkened as he noticed the marks beneath her collar, then he pulled the quilt and wrapped her in it.
"Don't scare the child looking like this. I'll go check on her."
Scare her?
When Jiang Shiyao dragged her sore body to look in the mirror, she indeed frightened herself.
What ghost is this!
"How is Fu'er?"
When Jiang Shiyao entered the western chamber, the doctor had just left. He Mama held the small child, heartbroken tears streaming down her face.
"The doctor said it's high fever caused by indigestion! What if the young miss gets permanently harmed by such high fever at her tender age!"
Fu'er had been raised by her, and had always been such a thoughtful little girl.
Now the child's cheeks were flushed red, murmuring repeatedly in her discomfort, "Mama, it hurts."
Jiang Shiyao leaned over to feel her daughter's forehead. "Fu'er is still young and tends to overeat. Don't worry, Mama, she'll be better in a couple of days."
Zhou Congxian had never seen his daughter like this – every time he visited, she was always smiling happily.
If he hadn't indulged her yesterday, she wouldn't have developed such severe indigestion.
He touched his daughter's small hand, his eyes filled with self-reproach. "I should have listened to you yesterday. I always thought one snack wouldn't matter."
Jiang Shiyao initially wanted to comfort him, to say that children were like this – young, with digestive systems not as strong as adults', and prone to indigestion from overeating. It wasn't a serious problem.
But when she looked up and saw his expression, her opened mouth silently closed again.
The man's guilt was fleeting – let him worry a little longer.
Fu'er's fever broke after half a day.
But Zhou Congxian stayed in the small courtyard for five consecutive days!
The suffering fell on Jiang Shiyao – that contraceptive brew wasn't exactly pleasant to drink!
Gao Mama watched her drain the contraceptive brew in one gulp, her expression displeased. "Niangzi Jiang, the master already expends much energy outside. For you to still cling to him like this is truly improper."
Jiang Shiyao frowned, pausing at Gao Mama's words before gently setting the bowl on the table.
"Thank you for your trouble in personally delivering the medicine every day, Mama. But when you say this humble one clings to him daily, you overestimate my capabilities."
"This humble one is of low status and light words – how could I possibly have such heaven-defying ability to influence the Young Lord's actions?"
Gao Mama suffered a rebuff, taking the bowl and leaving in a huff.
As she exited, she saw Shuangjiang cheerfully feeding the puppy without a care in the world, and let out a cold snort.
Shuangjiang turned around puzzled, only seeing Gao Mama's furious retreating back.
The smile at the corner of Jiang Shiyao's mouth slowly faded.
He Mama entered carrying a vegetable basket, a flicker of heartache in her eyes.
"The contraceptive decoction is no good thing. She's already taken it for several days straight, yet the Young Lord shows no care for Niangzi."
Jiang Shiyao didn't know if it was because Zhou Congxian hadn't shared her bed for months, but these past few days he seemed to have developed a taste for it, subtly showing signs of wanting to linger in her quarters.
This wouldn't do.
With Zhou Congxian around, she hadn't dared to have He Mama deliver the account books for several days, fearing she might expose their scheme.
Her relationship with He Dayou was purely transactional—if she didn't keep constant watch, she wouldn't even know if he secretly absconded with the money!
She needed to find a way to drive Zhou Congxian out of her courtyard!
"He Mama, later go prepare some of your specialty dishes and deliver them to Gao Mama. Say that I was immature and misunderstood Gao Mama's guidance, and ask for her leniency."
He Mama went to do as instructed.
But the delivered items were all thrown out, witnessed by the manor's young maidservants.
This left He Mama thoroughly humiliated.
After comforting He Mama, Jiang Shiyao had her secretly take a silver bracelet to Gao Mama.
Gao Mama had served by Old Madam's side for many years—everyone treated her with respect.
Today, she'd been slighted by a mere concubine, who thought she could win her back with two dishes? Pure wishful thinking.
Thus, when He Mama came again, she drove both her and the bracelet out.
With the official wife soon to enter the household, a concubine who only bore one daughter causing such trouble deserved no further courtesy.
The matter spread quickly through the manor.
By the time Zhou Congxian returned, it had morphed into: Niangzi Jiang, arrogant from favor, monopolizing the Young Lord and even disrespecting Old Madam's Gao Mama.
When Zhou Congxian turned toward the small courtyard, it was eerily quiet—not only were the doors and windows tightly shut, but even the dog wasn't barking.
"What's going on?"
Wei Xun cleared his throat. "I heard that Niangzi Jiang is leveraging your authority to bully others, showing no regard for Gao Mama…"
Zhou Congxian glanced at the pitch-dark courtyard, then at Wei Xun.
"And she wants to leverage my influence like this?"
Wei Xun replied, "Whether Niangzi Jiang leveraged your influence, I don't know. But with such a serious accusation hanging over her, she probably won't let you through the door anytime soon."
Zhou Congxian's face darkened for a moment. His foot, poised to enter the courtyard, ultimately turned away as he flicked his sleeve and headed toward his own quarters, which had been "neglected" for days.
Watching the Young Lord's retreating figure, Wei Xun rubbed his nose and followed, offering advice.
"Young Lord, return early tomorrow and enter before Niangzi Jiang closes her door!"
The next day.
Jiang Shiyao woke up refreshed and opened her eyes to see a chubby little face by her bedside.
"Mother!" Fu'er grinned, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
She scooped up her daughter, hugging her soft little body and planting several kisses on her cheeks!
"Where did this sweet treasure come from? Mother is getting hungry!"
"Giggle—Mother, that tickles!"
Fu'er loved climbing onto her mother's bed early in the morning, but for several days, He Mama hadn't allowed it.
Today, she took advantage of He Mama's inattention and sneaked in!
Shuangjiang entered with an invitation. "Niangzi, an invitation."
"An invitation?" Jiang Shiyao was taken aback.
Who would send an invitation to a mere concubine?
The invitation was indeed for her—a summons to a banquet at Purple Forest Garden.
She heard that Purple Forest Garden housed the largest lotus pond in the entire capital, breathtakingly beautiful when in full bloom.
Every year at this time, the Lotus Appreciation Banquet would be held.
Jiang Shiyao flipped through the invitation, convinced it was yet another trap.
She naturally knew of Purple Forest Garden, but its owner was the Eldest Princess—how could someone like her possibly merit an invitation from the Eldest Princess?
At this thought, she scoffed, "It's just another one of Song Jiyun's tricks."
Did they think she would forget who she was at the sight of an invitation?
They could forget about luring her out again!
Shuangjiang had accompanied the Old Madam to Purple Forest Garden once last year.
Trembling, she pointed at the invitation and said, "Niangzi, surely Miss Song wouldn't dare to forge it, would she?"
Jiang Shiyao looked up and smiled, "Then do you think the Eldest Princess would know a mere concubine? And deem her worthy of a personal invitation?"
Shuangjiang straightened up immediately—without a second thought, that was impossible.
"Miss Song is truly bold, daring to forge even the Eldest Princess's invitation!"
Jiang Shiyao replied, "She dared to kidnap someone in broad daylight—what wouldn't she do?"
"As long as it's thoroughly destroyed, who would know she forged an invitation?"
Shuangjiang added, "But now the forged invitation is in our hands. Let the Old Madam seek justice for you!"
Jiang Shiyao sighed and patted her hand, "Miss Shuangjiang, if you ever leave the Duke's residence someday, never go into business."
Shuangjiang blinked in confusion.
What did that have to do with her future business endeavors?
Still, if she left the residence someday, running a small business to support the family wouldn't be bad—after all, Zhang Lang needed peace of mind for his studies.
While they were still adamant that it was a fake invitation, Xiang Mama arrived.
"The gatekeepers said Niangzi Jiang also received an invitation to Purple Forest Garden?"
Xiang Mama spotted the invitation carelessly placed on the table.
It was indeed identical to the one the Duchess had received.
Jiang Shiyao shifted her gaze from the invitation to Xiang Mama.
"This humble one has no idea who sent it."
Xiang Mama said, "The Duchess has declared that since the Eldest Princess issued the invitation, we must not disgrace the Duke's residence. She instructs Niangzi Jiang to prepare properly."
As she spoke, she glanced dismissively at Jiang Shiyao's shabby clothing.
"Niangzi should consider getting new clothes."
An inconspicuous carriage.
A young servant emerged from the alley beside the Duke of Ying's Residence and stood respectfully by the carriage, reporting, "Master, the invitation has been delivered."
The person inside opened their eyes. "Let's go."
The carriage slowly started and departed from the vicinity of the Duke of Ying's Residence.
It had come silently and now left just as quietly.
Jiang Shiyao found it all rather amusing.
Aside from getting two new outfits each season, when had she ever had new clothes at other times?
Fu'er loved going out.
Along the way, she chattered incessantly, like a little sparrow.
"Mother, I want chestnut cakes!"
She hugged her daughter and kissed her. "Alright! Chestnut cakes!"
Shuangjiang joined in the fun, "Niangzi, you mustn't favor one over the other—I want sugar cakes too!"
Fu'er looked at Sister Shuangjiang and grinned, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "Yes, we all want some!"
Jiang Shiyao tapped her daughter's little nose. "You greedy thing!"
When the carriage arrived at the embroidery shop, the shopkeeper's wife immediately came out with a beaming smile!
"Niangzi Jiang, please come inside."
Jiang Shiyao was acquainted with the shopkeeper's wife—she bought almost all her silk threads here.
"I'm not here for silk threads today. I need to get some new clothes made."
Thinking of her now plump money bag, she smiled and said, "Let's get outfits for all of us."
Not only Fu'er was included.
Even Shuangjiang and He Mama received a share.
With Zhao Shi managing the household frugally, servants in the Duke's residence rarely got new clothes.
"Thank you, young mistress!" He Mama and Shuangjiang also bowed with beaming smiles.
After Jiang Shiyao selected the fabric and style, Shuangjiang and He Mama held Fu'er's hands and followed the shopkeeper's wife to carefully choose materials.
Since they intended to wear these clothes for several years, they naturally needed to look more carefully.
She smiled knowingly at their delighted expressions, then casually glanced outside.
She froze instantly.
Her face turned deathly pale.