The dappled tree shadows cast a pallor over the moonlight.
Jiang Yitang returned to Song'an Yuan under the cover of night.
Qing Su had been waiting for her all along. Seeing her return, she suddenly let out a sigh of relief. The complaints that had been building up in her heart were swallowed back when she noticed the weariness in her mistress's eyes. She muttered quietly:
"This servant will fetch hot water for you to wash up."
Having seen Xie Yuzhao again after five years, Jiang Yitang tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. It was only later that she realized what Xie Yuzhao had been asking at the time.
He was asking, weren't the marks on his body frightening?
Jiang Yitang had witnessed the scene when Concubine Song was fished out of the water—her body swollen and ghastly pale, unrecognizable from its original form. Having seen that, the marks on Xie Yuzhao's body naturally didn't seem frightening to her.
In her previous life, Xie Yuzhao had never asked her this question. It was only now that Jiang Yitang realized Xie Yuzhao also cared about such things in his heart.
Jiang Yitang felt a complex mix of emotions, but as drowsiness set in and she had to care for Xie Yuzhao again the next day, she stopped letting her thoughts wander and gradually drifted off to sleep.
The next day, the faint morning light filtered through the Ying Window into the room. Jiang Yitang rose early. After carefully washing her face before the bronze mirror, she sat down quietly to eat breakfast.
Seeing this, Qing Su knew her mistress would not change her mind. She lowered her head dejectedly:
"Please return early today, Mistress. Tomorrow, you must go to pay respects to the Elder Madame."
On the fifteenth of every month, the younger generation of the household must go to Rongfen Courtyard to pay their respects—a longstanding rule of Shangshu Fu.
Jiang Yitang responded softly with an "Mm."
Qing Su fell silent. Her mistress had always been timid, so how could she dare to approach the noble one in Songrong Courtyard?
Qing Su glanced around the room. Only she and her mistress were present, so she couldn't help but ask:
"Mistress, what exactly are you thinking?"
Jiang Yitang turned her gaze westward.
Qing Su followed her line of sight and abruptly fell silent.
In noble households, concubines are considered only half-masters, while daughters, regardless of whose womb they come from, are true masters of the household.
Concubines cannot reside in the same courtyard as their daughters.
Laoye had few children: only one legitimate son, one illegitimate son, two legitimate daughters, and two illegitimate daughters. Apart from the three legitimate children, the many concubines had borne only three offspring.
In these times, many children are considered a blessing, but the scarcity of illegitimate offspring had gradually driven Laoye and his wife apart—this was likely one of the reasons.
Thus, even though the Madame disliked Jiang Yitang, she was still able to have a quiet courtyard within the household.
After all, finding a dilapidated courtyard in Shangshu Fu was no easy task.
If a daughter of the prestigious Shangshu Fu lived in shabby conditions or dressed in an unseemly manner, it would tarnish the household's reputation.
Jiang Yitang still received two sets of new clothes each year.
The direction her mistress was looking was where Concubine Song had once lived.
There were six concubines in the household. When Concubine Song was alive, Laoye would visit her for two or three days each month. That was why, when Concubine Song was later buried wrapped in a straw mat, it appeared all the more shocking.
Qing Su guessed her mistress's thoughts and said no more.
After all, he was the Crown Prince. Once he recovered from his injuries and illness, her mistress's current risks would be worth it.
Qing Su whispered, "This servant will go with you today, Mistress, to fetch the food box and reheat it early."
She knew that when the servants below were handling matters, if their superiors had no time to manage them recently, they would act out of fear. Even if that person was as noble as the Crown Prince, they wouldn’t pay much attention.
Jiang Yitang instinctively wanted to refuse, but Qing Su interrupted her:
“This servant will not go inside, so please don’t worry about me, Miss.”
Jiang Yitang had no choice but to fall silent. She had to admit that taking care of Xie Yuzhao alone might be more than she could handle.
After the two finished their breakfast, they hurried to Songrong Courtyard.
Sure enough, the food box was left untouched under the eaves.
Qing Su picked up the food box and left, saying worriedly, “Take care of yourself, Miss.”
Jiang Yitang nodded. Before entering, she carefully covered her mouth and nose with gauze, then tiptoed inside. Standing behind the screen, she called out softly:
“Xie Yuzhao, are you awake?”
A faint tapping sound came from inside, like fingers lightly knocking on the edge of the bed.
He was awake.
Jiang Yitang breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out from behind the screen. She approached the bed curtains directly and saw Xie Yuzhao’s condition. It couldn’t be described as good or bad, but he looked much cleaner than the day before.
He was very quiet. Jiang Yitang rarely spoke much in daily life, but she couldn’t help asking him:
“How did you feel yesterday?”
Xie Yuzhao shook his head slightly.
Jiang Yitang felt a little disappointed but quickly regained her composure. She fetched warm water and carefully cleaned Xie Yuzhao’s face, eyes, mouth, and nose. Then she poured a cup of water, helped Xie Yuzhao sit up, and said softly:
“Rinse your mouth.”
There wasn’t much Jiang Yitang could actually do. She could only try her best to keep Xie Yuzhao clean.
Shangshu Fu didn’t dare withhold the Crown Prince’s medicine. At noon, someone would deliver the medication.
By the time Jiang Yitang finished these tasks, a knock sounded outside the door. Xie Yuzhao’s brows furrowed imperceptibly, but Jiang Yitang breathed a sigh of relief and explained to him:
“It’s my maid.”
Jiang Yitang turned and went outside. Sure enough, Qing Su was at the door. She took the food box and told Qing Su to return early.
Inside the food box were porridge and some easily digestible foods.
After feeding Xie Yuzhao, Jiang Yitang found herself at a loss for what to do next. Xie Yuzhao’s gaze remained fixed on her.
Jiang Yitang felt a bit uneasy and somewhat puzzled. Was Xie Yuzhao this quiet in her previous life?
Not daring to meet his gaze, she lowered her head and whispered:
“In two more days, the household will decide who will be sent to take care of you.”
The Old Madam would never allow Jiang Anyu to come. Jiang Zemin could only yield to the Old Madam, but these matters were not for Shangshu Fu to decide.
Xie Yuzhao was not truly neglected.
Jiang Yitang remembered that in her previous life, she had only taken care of Xie Yuzhao for two days before news from the household reached Sheng Shang’s ears. Immediately, palace eunuchs arrived at Shangshu Fu and bluntly warned the Old Madam.
They said Shangshu Fu actually dared to defy the imperial decree. Later, Jiang Anyu was given ten strokes of the cane.
This was only because Jiang Anyu was supposed to take care of the Crown Prince, so the punishment was lenient.
After that, Songrong Courtyard was surrounded by the Imperial Guard. Jiang Anyu moved into a side room, and he was not allowed to leave until Xie Yuzhao fully recovered.
The only person allowed to enter and leave Songrong Courtyard was Jiang Yitang.
Worried about her youngest son, the Old Madam, knowing that the Crown Prince allowed Jiang Yitang into the courtyard, summoned Jiang Yitang to Rongfen Courtyard.
The underlying message was for Jiang Yitang to take on the responsibility of going to Songrong Courtyard to care for the Crown Prince.
Even if Jiang Anyu couldn’t leave Songrong Courtyard, at the very least, he shouldn’t have to personally attend to the Crown Prince.
When the old lady said these words, she did not consider at all how a young woman who had not yet reached Jiji would be perceived for taking care of an unrelated man day and night without rest, nor did she consider the risk of her contracting the illness.
Gambling on her own was one thing, but being pushed into it was another.
Jiang Yitang lowered her head, a self-mocking smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Xie Yuzhao understood all of this clearly. He suddenly raised his hand and pressed it against the woman's wrist, his voice hoarse and calm:
"Do you like osmanthus?"
Jiang Yitang was momentarily stunned, unsure how the topic had shifted here, but she answered honestly, "Yes."
She liked many flowers, but osmanthus was her favorite.
Not because of its beauty or its fragrance, but because when she was young, Concubine would often gather osmanthus flowers, dry them, and make osmanthus cakes for her.
Xie Yuzhao said softly:
"In the palace, there is an osmanthus tree nearly a hundred years old. When it blooms, the ground is covered in golden petals. Sheng Shang specially built a palace for it, named Guiyuan."
"On the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will take you to see it."
Jiang Yitang's starry eyes brightened slightly. She knew about the osmanthus tree in the palace. In her past life, Xie Yuzhao would take her into the palace every time the osmanthus bloomed.
But unfortunately, she had only seen it twice.
Later, when Xie Yuzhao was placed under house arrest, she never entered the palace again.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yitang suddenly looked up at Xie Yuzhao, her lips pursed.
If only in this life, Xie Yuzhao would not rebel.
Seeing that she still wasn’t happy, a flicker of confusion passed through Xie Yuzhao’s eyes. In their past life, whenever he mentioned taking her to see the osmanthus, she would always break into a bright smile. The usually timid girl, who spoke in a whisper, would suddenly lean close to him, tug at his sleeve, and ask in a soft, sweet voice for confirmation again and again. Once reassured, she would be as delighted as if she had drunk honey.
Easy to please, and easy to deceive.
Xie Yuzhao asked, "Don’t you want to go see it?"
Jiang Yitang puffed her cheeks, hesitating and stumbling over her words:
"You’re not fully recovered yet…"
Although Xie Yuzhao had indeed recovered in her past life, he didn’t know that now. How could he so confidently promise to take her to see the osmanthus?
Jiang Yitang stole a glance at Xie Yuzhao. Sure enough, he was a liar even at this time.
Xie Yuzhao understood the implication behind her words and fell silent abruptly.
Seeing this, Jiang Yitang grew uneasy. She said cautiously:
"I spoke out of turn. You will definitely recover."
"I know."
As soon as Jiang Yitang finished speaking, someone affirmed her words. Jiang Yitang was suddenly stunned, stammering and unsure how to respond.
Fortunately, Xie Yuzhao seemed tired. He closed his eyes as if he had fallen asleep.
Jiang Yitang stayed in Songrong Courtyard until noon when she heard some commotion outside. She stood up and looked through the window. Qiuhua set down a food box and quickly ran out of the courtyard, afraid to stay even a moment longer.
Seeing this, Jiang Yitang couldn’t help but turn to look at Xie Yuzhao.
Xie Yuzhao had opened his eyes at some point, his gaze clear and devoid of sleepiness, resting quietly on her.
He must have heard the commotion outside, but he lay in bed calmly, his emotions undisturbed. Even though everyone was too afraid to approach him, he showed no sign of emotional fluctuation—neither sorrow nor joy, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Jiang Yitang suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
In their past life, when he was placed under house arrest, was it like this too?
Everyone feared being implicated and dared not approach him. The closer the relationship, the more fiercely they would kick him while he was down, wishing to execute him on the spot as if doing so would allow them to sever all ties with him.
Jiang Yitang had no right to blame anyone.
Because she, too, was among those who dared not approach the Crown Prince's Residence.
Jiang Yitang went out and brought in the food box. The dishes inside were still warm, and there was also a bowl of medicine.
She fed Xie Yuzhao his meal and then gave him the medicine to drink.
The medicine was bitter, but Xie Yuzhao drank it all without changing his expression, as if he had long grown accustomed to it.
Jiang Yitang suddenly felt an impulse and blurted out:
"Xie Yuzhao, do you feel hurt?"
Abandoned by everyone, do you feel hurt?
Xie Yuzhao's movements suddenly paused. He looked up and met Jiang Yitang's gaze calmly. After a long moment, he said:
"Yes."
Jiang Yitang, he does feel hurt.