The gazes falling upon Jiang Shiyao all shifted in nuance.
Back in the day, she too had relied on climbing into bed and conceiving a child to eventually be elevated to a concubine.
Zhou Wanqing still wanted to say something but was forcibly pulled away by Zhou Wanhui.
"Good sister, hurry and leave! What good does it do you to get involved!"
Both of them were daughters of concubines. Third Sister defending Song Jiyun had already displeased the legal wife, and now she was meddling in Mingyu’s punishment.
Let’s not forget—their marriages were still in the hands of the legal wife!
Zhou Congxian also frowned deeply as he watched the woman behind the crowd.
Jiang Shiyao stepped forward slowly and raised her hand to slap Mingyu across the face.
Her expression was filled with sorrow. "I treated you like a sister, always thinking of you in everything. How could you do such a thing! How could you betray me and Fu’er, who adored you!"
Mingyu clutched her stinging cheek, unable to believe this was the same timid and fearful Niangzi Jiang.
Jiang Shiyao knelt and turned to plead with Zhou Congxian, "Mingyu was wrong. I beg the Young Lord, for the sake of her three or four years of service to me, to spare her life!"
The fury in Zhou Congxian’s eyes seemed to intensify. "You want me to spare her?"
"Yes." Jiang Shiyao met his gaze.
But moments later, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mingyu was specially chosen by the Madam. Serving me was already a grievance for her…"
These words struck Mingyu like a blow to the heart.
She sprang up and shoved Jiang Shiyao to the ground. "I don’t need your hypocrisy!"
Jiang Shiyao looked shocked, her eyes seemingly filled with disbelief.
Mingyu gritted her teeth, venom seeping from her gaze. "What are you, anyway? Just a maid from the laundry room— Ah!—"
Before she could finish, Zhou Congxian kicked her away.
In that instant, Jiang Shiyao nearly forgot to cry.
Zhou Congxian was known for his aloof demeanor—when had anyone ever seen him so enraged?
"Where are the attendants?"
"Here, here!" The steward hurried over with several servants, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Mingyu was gagged and dragged away.
Zhou Congxian bent down and scooped Jiang Shiyao into his arms.
Jiang Shiyao gasped softly.
Her elbow was scraped and bleeding.
She was gently placed on the daybed, where an open book lay on the small table beside it.
"Endure it a little."
Zhou Congxian glanced at her, pushing up his sleeve to reveal snow-white skin marked with a glaring red abrasion.
Having faced life and death, such minor injuries meant little to Jiang Shiyao.
But she needed to appear in pain.
Biting her lower lip, she timidly twitched her arm. "I—I can go back and apply medicine myself…"
"Don’t move."
Zhou Congxian held her arm firmly with one hand while reaching across her chest with the other to pull out a small drawer from under the low table.
Inside, small medicine bottles were neatly arranged.
As the commander of the Yan Guard Camp, injuries on the training grounds were commonplace, and medicinal supplies were always kept on hand in his room.
A quiet atmosphere settled between them.
Jiang Shiyao’s uninjured hand gripped the edge of the daybed.
The room’s furnishings remained unchanged, just as they had been since she moved to a separate courtyard and never returned.
It was always Zhou Congxian who visited her small residence.
Mingyu was not wrong—after entering the estate, Jiang Shiyao had done hard labor in the laundry room.
It was only after learning embroidery from Matron Chang that she began working in the sewing room.
She was not of a status to casually meet the Young Lord.
If not for that day when she delivered newly made garments and the Young Lord, drunk, lost his composure…
Mingyu felt indignant—a maid serving closely in the Young Lord's courtyard had been overtaken by a laundry maid.
No matter how many grievances she harbored, she should not have harmed her daughter for her own selfish desires!
White powder was sprinkled on the wound.
A slight sting brought her back to her senses.
Jiang Shiyao let out a soft, belated "hiss."
"Now you feel the pain? When you were meddling in others' affairs, why didn't you know to dodge?"
Zhou Congxian released her hand with a cold expression.
For some reason, Jiang Shiyao had the illusion that he was angry because she was hurt.
Jiang Shiyao smiled gently. "Young Lord, Mingyu has accompanied me and Fu'er for several years. I couldn't bear to abandon her."
His tense jaw relaxed slightly. "You are indeed kind-hearted."
"As Fu'er's mother, I have no wealth or skills to teach her—only a good and kind heart."
Zhou Congxian relaxed completely, ending with a soft sigh.
"Being too kind may not always be a good thing. Fu'er is my daughter, and the family she marries into will not be an ordinary one."
Jiang Shiyao tilted her head slightly. "But she has her father, doesn't she? Her father will surely protect her and ensure she lives a carefree life!"
Zhou Congxian looked at the petite woman whose eyes were fixed on him, then pulled her into his embrace.
"Yes, I will protect her and ensure she lives without worries—and I will do the same for you."
Jiang Shiyao rested her face against his shoulder, and in a place he couldn't see, a flash of hatred crossed her eyes.
In her past life, Fu'er had lived in Zhou Congxian's courtyard with Song Jiyun, who faced a frail child every day yet showed no concern.
Was this what he called protection?
Suddenly, the hand at her waist began to wander upward. Startled, Jiang Shiyao sprang up from the couch!
"Ouch!—"
Zhou Congxian clutched his chin, nearly doubling over.
Jiang Shiyao held the top of her head, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
The next moment, she recollected herself. "I—I have my monthly courses!"
Zhou Congxian stood up, his face dark. "If you're unwell, rest early. Don't wander around at night!"
The man flicked his sleeves and headed to the side room.
In good spirits, Jiang Shiyao turned and walked toward the inner chamber.
Did he still expect her to serve him? Not a chance.
Tomorrow, rumors would spread throughout the manor: the Young Lord, enraged for his beauty, had sold off the maid who dared to covet his favor.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Song Jiyun, in her past life, she had been too docile and obedient. This time, let's see if you can remain composed.
Shuangjiang saw Niangzi Jiang being carried back by the Young Lord and turned to return to her own small courtyard.
The show was over, and she had seen clearly that Niangzi Jiang held a place in the Young Lord's heart.
But in the future, there would be a main wife, and perhaps other concubines.
She had no desire to be one of them.
Though Zhang Lang was poor, he was not only talented but also understanding and charming.
Weighing the options, she would rather be the wife of a poor family than a concubine in a wealthy household!
The next day, Jiang Shiyao deliberately slept in.
When she returned to her small courtyard, Fu'er was sitting on the railing under the eaves, chin in hand, lost in thought, mumbling something under her breath.
The little girl's eyes lit up the moment she saw her mother.
"Mother!"
The child shot toward her mother like a cannonball.
"Oh, my dear—" Jiang Shiyao opened her arms to catch her daughter.
"Mother, Fu'er missed you so much! I thought of you day and night!"
Jiang Shiyao's eyes curved into smiles. "Oh, what a sweet little mouth! Let Mother give you a kiss!"
"Eh? You even know 'thought of you day and night'?"
Fu'er wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, lifting her little face proudly. "Sister Shuangjiang told me."
After speaking, she seemed to remember something and covered her small mouth. "Sister Shuangjiang told me not to say."
Jiang Shiyao looked at her daughter's adorable face and poked her protruding little belly. "Alright then, Mother will forget what Fu'er just said."
Hearing the voices, Shuangjiang emerged from the side room. "Niangzi, Gao Mama came by earlier. She said Old Madam requests your presence."
After delivering the message, she opened her mouth as if to say more but hesitated.
Jiang Shiyao set her daughter down, pretending not to notice Shuangjiang's hesitation. "I'll go right away. I happen to have finished embroidering the auspicious beast's head and need to show it to her."
Shuangjiang watched as Niangzi Jiang took the embroidery from the frame. Just as she reached the doorway, Shuangjiang finally couldn't resist calling out to stop her.
"Niangzi."
Jiang Shiyao turned back to look at her. "Hmm?"
"I… I heard that Young Lady Song has arrived. She…" Shuangjiang bit her lip, then seemed to resolve herself and continued, "I once heard servants from the Song family say that Young Lady Song holds grudges over the smallest matters. You should be careful…"
Jiang Shiyao smiled. "I understand."
Finally, she added, "Thank you, Shuangjiang."
In her previous life, she hadn't interacted much with Shuangjiang. It was only after Song Jiyun married into the household and Shuangjiang was elevated to concubine status that they had lived together for about ten days.
Back then, Shuangjiang had been perpetually melancholy and rarely spoke.
On the day Shuangjiang died, she had heard it was because she was beaten to death for meeting with an outside man.
Shuangjiang's promotion to concubine had been Old Madam's decision. The Young Lord had never even visited her chambers, yet she lost her life due to Song Jiyun's jealousy.
The newly built pond in Old Madam's courtyard contained several koi fish.
Whenever someone passed by, they would swim over.
The main hall was spacious, adjacent to the small Buddhist chapel.
At this moment, chanting could be heard from the small chapel – Song Jiyun was accompanying Old Madam Zhou in reciting scriptures.
Approaching the doorway, Jiang Shiyao saw Old Madam Zhou chanting before the jade Guanyin, while Song Jiyun hiding behind her was yawning.
When Gao Mama went in to announce her arrival, Old Madam Zhou didn't stop chanting. Gao Mama understood that Old Madam intended to dampen Niangzi Jiang's spirits.
She felt that Niangzi Jiang remained as composed as always, while Young Lady Song's aggressive demeanor was more pronounced.
Not even married into the family yet, but already trying to control the Young Lord's household affairs – Gao Mama feared Niangzi Jiang would have difficult days ahead.
Jiang Shiyao stood at the doorway with another maid, her expression serene.
Gao Mama couldn't help feeling that Niangzi Jiang seemed different from before.
Although she was the Young Lord's only concubine, she made her presence scarcely felt, usually difficult to remember as existing at all.
But now, while seemingly unchanged from before, it was as if she was glowing in her own corner.
After an unknown length of time.
The wooden fish in Old Madam Zhou's hands finally stilled.
"Invite her in. Surely she doesn't really intend to become the lotus child guardian at my doorway."
Jiang Shiyao entered holding the embroidery, performing a respectful bow. "This concubine pays respects to Old Madam."
"This is what this concubine has been embroidering these past days…"
Old Madam Zhou interrupted, "Take it back and redo it."
Jiang Shiyao looked up in surprise. "Why…"
Song Jiyun lifted her chin slightly, casting a disdainful look at the embroidery in Jiang Shiyao's hands.
"Aunt Grandmother, Yun'er already said that the embroiderers from outside workshops are all respectable young women. Any one of them would be suitable for creating such sacred birthday gifts!"
Jiang Shiyao frowned. "What does Young Lady Song mean by this? How is the Duke's household not respectable?"
“When did I ever say the Duke’s residence isn’t an honorable family!” Song Jiyun nearly shrieked.
“I was talking about you, Niangzi Jiang!”
Jiang Shiyao feigned ignorance. “Me?”
In her previous life, she had originally embroidered the Longevity Chart, but while it was enshrined in the small Buddhist hall, Song Jiyun’s maid Zisu accidentally spilled incense ashes on it. The scorching ashes ruined the embroidered surface.
Seizing the opportunity, Song Jiyun presented a more intricate Auspicious Beast Offering Peaches Pattern.
It forced her to work day and night without rest for seven full days, finally completing it just one day before the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
In this life, she had merely stayed overnight in Zhou Congxian’s room, and Song Jiyun couldn’t sit still any longer, jumping out first.
Song Jiyun stood up. “While preparing a birthday gift for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, Niangzi Jiang fails to purify her mind and maintain purity, instead defiling the gift.”
“Aunt Grandmother, Yun’er has something even better to show you. This is something Yun’er painstakingly conceived and drew just yesterday.”
She cast a disdainful glance at the embroidery in Jiang Shiyao’s hands—a design she had spent a fortune to acquire from Brocade Embroidery Manor!
Her original plan was to let Jiang Shiyao finish the embroidery, then ruin her work and use this design to make things difficult for her.
When the situation reached a deadlock, she would produce the auspicious beast pattern bought from the embroidery shop to save the day.
If it weren’t for this wretched woman seducing…
Since she had too much free time, she’d give her some trouble to see if she’d still have time to seduce Congxian gege!
“Yun’er, how did you get Niangzi Jiang’s design?”
Old Madam Zhou frowned.
“Wh-what?” Song Jiyun almost thought she had misheard.
Jiang Shiyao also unfolded her own embroidery. “Although I don’t know where Miss Song obtained this humble one’s design.”
“Still, to have earned Miss Song’s favor brings me immense joy.”
Her smiling gaze met Song Jiyun’s shocked eyes directly.