Jiang Heng returned to the City Guard Battalion in the afternoon, having shared lunch with Zhao Xian at noon.
Before leaving, he even managed to coax five hundred taels of silver from Zhao Xian, pitifully claiming how heartbroken and miserable he had been these past few days without her attention.
Even though it was he who had returned to quarrel with her, he ended up acting as if he were the aggrieved one.
“What a loss.”
Zhao Xian belatedly realized that if Jiang Heng truly uncovered the truth, that promise…
Nanny He said with a smile, “It seems the second young master and Madam have reconciled.”
“Not at all.” Zhao Xian simply didn’t want to argue with him. As someone in her twenties, could she really bicker with a high schooler? Of course not.
But getting married right after high school was too early. Better to wait a bit longer, heh.
Jiang Wei and Cui Tingyue had been away for several days. Zhao Xian went through the motions, sending people to urge them repeatedly, but she didn’t mention that the item had already been found.
Since it was already hidden, revealing it now would be hard to explain.
Besides, how could she tell them that the item was found in Li Lianniang’s room? What would be the point of hiding it then?
She also wanted to see if Jiang Wei would slap himself upon discovering the item in his own study.
Four or five days passed in the blink of an eye, but Zhao Xian and Li Lianniang were far from idle.
Although the date for the Manyue Jiu had not yet been set, the invitations for the guests had to be prepared in advance. The invitations for nobles and high-ranking officials differed from those for ordinary officials.
Zhao Xian intended for Li Lianniang to take over the household management after her postpartum recovery, so she involved her in these matters.
Moreover, she didn’t want to see Li Lianniang wallowing in self-pity over Jiang Wei. It was better to keep her busy, occupying her mind so she wouldn’t have time to think about men.
Money and power—weren’t they far more appealing than men?
Shaoyao entered the room and reported, “Madam, Young Madam, Miss Cui has returned.”
Zhao Xian glanced at Li Lianniang, who was diligently checking the account books without even looking up.
“What about the eldest young master?”
Shaoyao replied, “According to Miss Cui, there’s business at Dali Si, so the eldest young master went directly there.”
Zhao Xian nibbled on some pastries. With someone sharing the burden of household chores, she felt much more relaxed.
As for Jiang Wei, she had actually wondered about him before. Wasn’t he supposed to be on duty at Dali Si? How could he just skip work like that? Truly the male lead, doing as he pleased without facing any consequences.
“Madam, Miss Cui is still waiting outside to pay her respects to you.”
Zhao Xian set down the pastry, picked up an embroidered handkerchief to wipe her hands, and said, “Let her in.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Shaoyao’s eyes. She had thought Madam wouldn’t see Miss Cui. “Yes.”
Cui Tingyue entered, her hands clasped in front of her, fingertips pinching an embroidered handkerchief. Dressed in plain white clothes, her face pale, and wearing a white flower in her hair, she drifted in like a ghost.
“Tingyue pays her respects to Madam and Sister-in-law.” Her voice was as faint as a wisp of breath, as if she might collapse at any moment.
Zhao Xian leaned back tightly against her chair. Had Jiang Wei mistreated her? That shouldn’t be the case.
Li Lianniang looked up at the sound and nodded at her.
Zhao Xian was afraid she might faint. “Sit, sit down and talk.”
Shaoyao brought a stool and placed it behind Cui Tingyue, who sat down gracefully.
“Well, did you find the keepsake?”
Cui Tingyue, her face pale, shook her head weakly.
Zhao Xian knew it wouldn’t be found, but she still had to go through the motions. “Did you search everywhere?”
“We searched along the road several times and even looked in Guluo Temple, but we couldn’t find it. Brother Wei has already ordered someone to post a reward notice, hoping whoever picked it up will return it.”
Zhao Xian carefully observed Cui Tingyue, who appeared utterly heartbroken, completely immersed in her own sorrow.
After entering the room, aside from noticing Li Lianniang was also present and greeting her out of courtesy, she never once glanced in her direction again.
Nor did she take a look around the room—she probably didn’t even notice the furnishings had been changed.
If she had arranged for that string of bells to be placed in Li Lianniang’s room, her eyes should have scanned the room upon entering. Yet, she didn’t even lift her eyelids, let alone look at the gauze curtains on the pillars.
Her behavior could either mean she was exceptionally composed, or… she truly didn’t know the item had ended up in Li Lianniang’s room.
As for which it was, Zhao Xian couldn’t say.
“In that case, you should set your mind at ease. It’s bound to be found.”
Cui Tingyue was not comforted by these words. She had heard them many times, but with the item still missing, she could do nothing but blame herself.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Xian felt it inappropriate to say more. To be honest, if Cui Tingyue had orchestrated this herself, her acting skills were simply too good—far surpassing those of the artists in her own household.
“You’ve been searching for several days now. Your body must be exhausted. Go back and rest. It wasn’t intentional, and I’m sure your late father, if he knew, wouldn’t blame you.”
Something in those words struck a chord. Tears instantly welled up in Cui Tingyue’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
A beauty in tears—heart-wrenchingly beautiful and pitiable.
“Oh, don’t… don’t cry.” Zhao Xian hurriedly handed her a handkerchief.
After much coaxing and persuasion, she finally managed to stop her tears.
Cui Tingyue’s grief seemed entirely genuine, as if she truly didn’t know where the keepsake had been lost.
Zhao Xian had Shaoyao escort her back, lest she collapse on the way.
After Cui Tingyue left, Zhao Xian glanced sideways and met Li Lianniang’s gaze. The latter handed over an account book: “Mother, everything has been sorted. Please take a look.”
Zhao Xian took it and flipped through it. “Our Lianniang is truly capable—even better than I am at organizing.”
“It’s because Mother taught me well.”
“So modest.” Zhao Xian closed the account book.
Her heart ached with pity, for Cui Tingyue’s tears were truly heartrending and pitiable.
But looking at Li Lianniang’s face, Zhao Xian quickly regained her composure.
Fortunately, when changing the room’s furnishings, she had specifically instructed Nanny He to be discreet.
Li Lianniang was unaware that the keepsake had been discovered in her room.
Already skeptical of the events in the book, Zhao Xian didn’t want Li Lianniang to find out and cause unnecessary complications.
Although Jiang Wei had returned, he hadn’t come home, only sending a servant to fetch a change of clothes, saying he was busy with matters at Dali Si.
By the time he found time to return home, Li Lianniang had already completed her postpartum confinement, and Zhao Xian had moved back to Haitang Ju.
During the confinement period, she couldn’t be exposed to drafts, so Zhao Xian had been the one visiting Li Lianniang’s room.
After moving back to Haitang Ju, it was Li Lianniang who brought the child to Haitang Ju instead.
Li Lianniang helped manage household affairs while Zhao Xian idled nearby, amusing herself with the child.
“Madam, the eldest young master has returned and is on his way to Haitang Ju.”
Before Jiang Wei even reached Haitang Ju, the servants had already informed Zhao Xian of his movements.
Not long after, Jiang Wei entered the room and greeted her respectfully: “Your son pays his respects to Mother.”
Zhao Xian, playing with Jiang Shuxiu, glanced up and gave a faint “Hmm.”
Li Lianniang stood up, poured a cup of tea for Jiang Wei, handed it to him, then sat back down and resumed reviewing the account book.
The room fell silent, with no one paying Jiang Wei any attention.
Jiang Wei’s expression was already impassive, and he wasn’t one to talk much. He stepped forward to look at his daughter, but as soon as he reached out to pick her up, Jiang Shuxiu burst into tears.
Twice, he had abandoned her twice. She wanted nothing to do with this father’s embrace.
His daughter’s rejection finally caused a slight shift in his expression.
He calmly placed the child back into the cradle.
As soon as she was set down, Jiang Shuxiu stopped crying. A trace of embarrassment flickered across Jiang Wei’s impassive face.
Settling into his seat, he lifted a hand to his lips and cleared his throat softly. “Ahem… Mother, which day was set for Xiu Jie’er’s Manyue Jiu? My colleagues have asked about it, saying they wish to come and share in the celebration.”
Had it not been for his colleagues jokingly bringing it up, he would not have realized that Lianniang was nearly done with her postpartum confinement.
Truly, between searching for items for Cui Tingyue and handling affairs at the Dali Si, he had been overwhelmed.
Li Lianniang looked up, lips parting as she was about to speak.
But she saw her mother-in-law giving her a meaningful glance before addressing her husband: “Manyue Jiu? It cannot be held.”
Jiang Wei was taken aback. “Why can it not be held?”
Zhao Xian dangled two pouches in front of Jiang Shuxiu. The flat pouch held no interest for Jiang Shuxiu—she did not even glance at it. But the plump one was different; her eyes followed it intently.
If the pouches contained only ordinary pastries or candies, she would have been disdainful, but gold and silver jewelry was another matter.
What a little miser.
Zhao Xian glanced at Jiang Wei. “That is a question you, as her father, should answer.”
“The Manyue Jiu requires hosting guests. With your father not at home, you, as the eldest son, are duty-bound to handle the reception in the front courtyard. But I fear we might not find you when the Manyue Jiu takes place.” Zhao Xian took out a small gold bracelet from the pouch. Seeing Jiang Shuxiu’s eyes widen slightly, she put it on her wrist.
While amusing Xiu Jie’er, Zhao Xian’s performance remained unaffected.
She continued, “The guests invited will be your father’s colleagues from court or your own colleagues. Without the master of the house to receive them, what would they think of our Jiang Jia? I do not wish to lose face like that, nor tarnish your father’s reputation at court.”
Jiang Wei thought of the incident when he took Cui Tingyue out of the residence. Although Zhao Xian did not explicitly say it or harshly reprimand him, her words carried that implication.
His face flushed with discomfort, alternating between pale and red.
After a long pause, he spoke, “The situation was urgent at the time. That keepsake is very important to Tingyue.”
Zhao Xian remained calm, nodding slightly. “As your mother, I understand. I am not blaming you for it. However, such matters are of little consequence within the family—just keep the servants’ mouths shut. But if outsiders were to witness it, leaving guests unattended, would they not think you disrespectful? Would they still entrust important matters to you in the future?”
Jiang Wei looked startled, yet a hint of displeasure lingered between his brows, as if resisting Zhao Xian’s lack of trust in him. “Mother’s concerns are excessive. Your son would not be so unaware of priorities.”
Zhao Xian said nothing, only offering him a faint smile.
Her lack of trust was evident in her expression.
Recalling the incident of taking Cui Tingyue out of the residence, Jiang Wei acknowledged that his impulsiveness had been the issue this time. Without further argument, he spoke earnestly, “This time, your son acted hastily. I admit my fault and promise you, Mother, that it will not happen again.”
Zhao Xian did not know whether his remorse was genuine or feigned, but the phrase “it will not happen again” was undoubtedly false.
Because such incidents were frequent in the book.
It was as if he had been bewitched. Before Jiang Wei and Li Lianniang divorced, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to every matter concerning Cui Tingyue, leaving at her slightest call.
The meaning of “suffering for the sake of suffering” was being elevated to new heights.
“By the way, there’s something I need to inform you.” Zhao Xian picked up her teacup and took a sip. “From now on, the household funds will no longer cover Miss Cui’s medicine expenses. They will be deducted from your allowance.”
Jiang Wei instinctively wanted to agree, feeling that since she was the daughter of his benefactor, it was only right for him to pay for her medicine.
But the moment the words were about to leave his mouth, he suddenly realized something was off. “Why? Didn’t Mother plan to adopt Tingyue as her goddaughter?”
Zhao Xian put on a troubled expression and sighed. “Forget I ever said that.”
Author’s note: