The probing gazes were almost tangible.
Wei Zhilan’s face burned with embarrassment. She had bragged that Wei Zhao would give her the Flowing Light Brocade, but her lie had just been exposed on the spot.
Madam Heng quickly smoothed things over.
“Lan’er and I aren’t lacking in such things. Xiguang simply gave all of it to her.”
Her sister-in-law, Madam Lin, laughed.
“Not only does Xiguang dote on her—I like her too. If there’s anything good, of course it should go to her first.”
Jiang Yihuan nodded seriously.
“Wei Zhao really does like me the most. I’m sleepy now. Wei Zhao said I need to eat more, sleep more, and put on some weight so he’ll cherish me even more.”
Everyone wore indescribable expressions.
Could it be… this was actually Wei Zhao’s type?
Jiang Yihuan turned and walked back into her room, collapsing onto the bed.
“Zhu Xian, this bed is so big. Even if Wei Zhao sleeps with me, there’ll still be plenty of room.”
Zhu Xian’s mouth twitched.
“Miss Jiang, the Old Madam doesn’t like you. Don’t be so naïve.”
“I know. She’s fierce and not kind at all.”
“Then why did you…”
“She’s the family matriarch. I have to obey her, don’t I? Otherwise, what if she scolds me?”
Zhu Xian froze.
“…Don’t be afraid, Miss. The Old Madam wouldn’t dare scold you. She needs a favor from the Young Master.”
“What favor?”
“Someone from her maiden family offended the Crown Prince and has been imprisoned. The Old Madam wants Master to plead for leniency.”
Jiang Yihuan burrowed deeper under the blanket.
“It won’t work. Begging him is useless.”
If Wei Zhao didn’t kick someone while they were already down, the Old Madam ought to count herself lucky.
Zhu Xian’s eyes widened.
Miss Jiang understood her master surprisingly well.
After Jiang Yihuan fell asleep, Zhu Xian entertained herself by playing cards with her own left and right hands, imagining she was in a gambling house winning every round.
In her fantasy, she struck it rich.
Even Wei Zhao respected her, kneeling before her to borrow money…
The daydream delighted her so much that she burst into loud cackling laughter.
She never heard Jiang Yihuan’s pained whimpers.
By the time night had completely fallen, Zhu Xian finally put away the cards and ended her fantasy.
“Miss Jiang, wake up. It’s time for dinner.”
Jiang Yihuan didn’t move.
Nor did she respond.
Zhu Xian pulled back the blanket—
Only to find a large stain of blood soaking through the bedding.
Jiang Yihuan’s breathing was barely detectable.
With a terrified scream, Zhu Xian stumbled and crawled all the way to report it to Madam Heng.
Madam Heng was frightened out of her wits. Grabbing Wei Zhilan by the shoulders, she trembled as she asked,
“Lan’er… were you jealous of Jiang Yihuan? Did you poison her?”
Wei Zhilan stared in shock.
“Mother! Brother protects her so fiercely. How would I dare hurt her?”
Madam Heng’s vision darkened as panic overtook her. She immediately summoned a physician.
After taking Jiang Yihuan’s pulse, the physician frowned.
“Miss Jiang is extremely frail. Her qi and blood are severely depleted, and her monthly cycle has come far too heavily. Madam, you must nourish her properly. Otherwise, something like this will happen again.”
It was obvious she had suffered from long-term malnutrition.
Her constant anxiety had only made matters worse.
Madam Heng’s heart ached.
She immediately ordered nourishing soups and tonics to be prepared and stayed by Jiang Yihuan’s bedside without leaving.
If anything happened to the little girl…
She didn’t dare imagine the expression on her son’s face.
Only at dawn did Jiang Yihuan finally wake.
Her face was pale.
“Huh? Madam… why are you here? And why is it already dark?”
Madam Heng hugged her tightly.
“My little ancestor, you nearly scared me to death.”
After three or four days of rich soups and careful nursing, Jiang Yihuan’s complexion finally improved.
She tugged on Zhu Xian’s sleeve.
“When will Wei Zhao come back?”
“Soon. Probably within a day or two.”
“Big Sister, can I go out and have some fun? The moment I arrived in the capital, Wei Zhao captured me. I really want to look around.”
Zhu Xian thought it over.
The order forbidding her from leaving only applied to Wei Zhao’s private residence.
Now that they were staying at the Wei Manor… it should be fine, right?
Seeing her hesitation soften into agreement, Jiang Yihuan nearly jumped with joy.
Madam Heng allowed her to go out but instructed her daughter,
“You two go together. You’ll be able to look after each other.”
Wei Zhilan didn’t want to go in the slightest.
But remembering her brother’s icy expression, she could only reluctantly agree.
Since she knew the capital’s shops well, she led Jiang Yihuan from one store to another.
Jiang Yihuan’s eyes sparkled as she spun around excitedly.
“Wow! That emerald is so beautiful! It’s even greener than a cuckold’s hat!”
“Wow! These clothes are outrageously expensive! They’re worth more than I am! Why don’t these people just rob someone instead?”
Wei Zhilan’s lips trembled.
Going out with Jiang Yihuan was simply too humiliating.
Soon, Jiang Yihuan stared longingly at a restaurant.
“Sister Zhu Xian… I want…”
Zhu Xian looked awkward.
“Miss Jiang, I’ve gambled away all my money. I still owe Liang Jian quite a bit. I’m just waiting for my salary.”
Jiang Yihuan tugged on Wei Zhilan’s sleeve.
“Zhilan, let’s eat at the restaurant. You pay first, and later I’ll ask Wei Zhao to reimburse you.”
“In your dreams! My brother isn’t your personal purse!”
Just then, Pei Nianfang stepped out of a shop across the street, followed by maids carrying her purchases.
She lit up when she spotted them.
“Zhilan! You’re here too?”
“Nianfang!”
Wei Zhilan greeted her happily before her face fell.
“My mother told me to take her around.”
Pei Nianfang glared at Jiang Yihuan.
“You little country bumpkin from Wuzhou! Last time, you got Zhilan scolded! Your brother’s a criminal, and you’re nothing but a little vixen. All you know how to do is seduce General Wei into standing up for you!”
Jiang Yihuan immediately hid behind Zhu Xian.
“That’s not true! You were the ones who mocked me first! You locked me upstairs and even pinched me! My arm hurt so much!”
She looked as though she was about to cry.
“…Sister Zhu Xian, I’m scared. Let’s run away. I’m really good at escaping.”
Zhu Xian sneered.
“Why run when I’m here?”
Jiang Yihuan blinked uncertainly.
“Then… could you hold her down for me so I can pinch her back?”
Zhu Xian: “…”
Huh?
That escalated quickly.
Pei Nianfang exploded.
“You little fox! Just try laying a finger on me! My brother is an Assistant Minister of Justice!”
Jiang Yihuan puffed up her cheeks.
“So what if he is? Any one of Wei Zhao’s official positions outranks your brother! Wei Zhao said what’s his is mine! We’re family!”
“Zhu Xian, hold her down! I’ll give you another half bolt of Flowing Light Brocade! Every time I see her, I remember how she bullied me before. I’m going to suffocate if I don’t get even!”
Zhu Xian efficiently pinned Pei Nianfang’s arms.
Forget it.
If this made Miss Jiang happy, then so be it.
Being Wei Zhao’s “prisoner” wasn’t easy.
Suppressing the smile tugging at her lips, Jiang Yihuan pinched Pei Nianfang’s arm hard.
“Miss Pei, now we’re even… No, wait! Last time you locked me upstairs too. I have to lock you up once as well!”
She looked around before pointing toward the tallest building nearby.
“Zhu Xian! Let’s lock her in there!”
Zhu Xian turned pale.
“Don’t be ridiculous! That’s the Tower of Longing built by the late Emperor for Crown Prince Zhangde. Unauthorized entry is punishable by death!”
Pei Nianfang was furious.
“You pinched me, and now you want to imprison me in imperial restricted grounds? I’ll have all of you thrown into the Ministry of Justice’s prison!”
A cold voice suddenly sounded behind her.
“And just who are you planning to throw into the Ministry of Justice’s prison?”
Wei Zhao stood behind them in a dark blue robe that accentuated his tall, lean figure.
His sharp eyes flashed like lightning.
Pei Nianfang: “…”
Zhu Xian: “…”
Jiang Yihuan bounced twice before rushing over to throw herself into his arms.
“Wei Zhao! It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other! Not a single day has passed without me thinking about you. Hurry and look—haven’t I become even prettier?”
The corner of Wei Zhao’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
He pulled her back down onto the ground.
“So you’ve gotten into another quarrel?”
“You didn’t suffer any losses, did you?”
“No, no! I didn’t! Wei Zhao, you’re the best! Sister Zhu Xian is wonderful too! But Miss Pei wanted to throw me into prison!”