Pei Anqing remained silent, but the look of disdain and disgust in his eyes did not escape Jiang Wanru’s notice.
After completing his examination, Physician Qian packed his medical kit. Concubine Liu asked anxiously, “Doctor, how is Ru’er’s face?”
“These wasps are venomous but not lethal. However, if one isn’t careful, it can easily lead to disfigurement. She simply needs to apply the prescription I will write on time. The swelling should subside in three days, but a full recovery will take over a month. During this time, her diet must be strictly monitored.”
“Please, Physician Qian, tell us more. What specifically should we watch out for?” Jiang Wanning asked with deep concern.
“Mainly light meals—low oil and low salt.”
Jiang Wanning nodded and turned to give Shao Yao serious instructions. “From now on, Second Sister’s diet must be light. Father, I am somewhat uneasy about the young maids in Bihe Courtyard. Since I am now managing the household and Second Sister has ended up like this, it is partially my responsibility. Why don’t I take charge of her meals from now on? It would make me feel more at ease.”
Jiang Zheng looked at Jiang Wanning with pride and affection; his Wanning was always so sensible. His second daughter and the Heir had committed such a scandalous act—though he believed the Heir had seduced her, he wasn’t blind to Ru’er’s own ambitions.
“Very well. You shall oversee your sister’s diet from now on. Ru’er, hurry and thank your elder sister.”
Jiang Wanru suppressed her internal fury, putting on a show of gratitude. “Thank you for your hard work, Big Sister.”
Jiang Wanning stepped forward and took her hand. “You are my sister; there’s no need for thanks. Not just for this small matter—even if you wanted my heart or my liver, I would cut them out and give them to you without hesitation.”
Jiang Wanru looked moved on the surface, but inwardly cursed: What a fool.
“But Sister,” Jiang Wanning’s tone shifted. “You know Father’s punishment was merely for show. If you wanted to go out, you could have sent someone to find me, and I would have pleaded with Father and Mother. How could you dress up as a maid and sneak out the back door in the middle of the night? I didn’t recognize you, and you didn’t even speak up. It’s lucky you ran into me; if it had been someone else, they might have thought you were sneaking out for a secret tryst in that state.”
Jiang Wanru snapped her head up, her eyes red as she bit her lip and shook her head. “Sister, I didn’t…”
If Jiang Wanru’s face hadn’t been stung into the shape of a pig’s head, her fragile and pitiful appearance might have stirred some sympathy. But staring at that swollen, comical face, the scene was nothing short of ridiculous. Sensing the maids around her struggling to hold back their laughter, Jiang Wanru felt her skin burn with embarrassment. She wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
“Marquis,” Pei Yanchuan interjected coldly, “Even if she is only to be a concubine in my manor, she should still understand propriety and shame. One shouldn’t use the same tricks on different people.”
Hearing this from the Prince of Langya, Jiang Zheng’s face darkened instantly. He glared at Jiang Wanru. “It was the middle of the night. What were you doing?”
“Master,” Concubine Liu spoke up first. “I told you already. Ru’er felt guilty and wanted to pray for her sister’s blessing. She felt it would be too conspicuous during the day, so she chose the night. Master, this was my lack of foresight. I am but a former singing girl; I don’t handle things well. I only wished for the sisters to be harmonious and for our entire household to be at peace. It is my fault.”
Jiang Wanning sneered inwardly. These two, mother and daughter, were truly cut from the same cloth. Anyone else would want to bury their past as a singing girl, but Concubine Liu brought it up constantly to remind Jiang Zheng that she only came to the Marquis’s Manor because of her pregnancy. It made him feel indebted to her. Even if he didn’t love her, he was always generous with them.
Sure enough, as soon as Concubine Liu finished, Jiang Zheng’s expression softened.
“Your Highness…”
“Father,” Jiang Wanning interrupted. “I believe Concubine Liu’s intentions were good. However, I must say—Auntie, you have been in this manor for over ten years. Even if you were once a singing girl, you have spent these years learning to manage the household. Surely you should understand the ways of the world by now? If Auntie continues like this, Father’s reputation will be dragged through the mud outside the capital.”
True. Learning to manage a household is complex, and if Concubine Liu could master that, how could a former singing girl be ignorant of social propriety? For the first time, a seed of doubt regarding Concubine Liu’s intentions was planted in Jiang Zheng’s heart.
Seeing she had achieved her goal, Jiang Wanning said no more. She needed to plant these seeds of doubt one by one; stripping away Concubine Liu’s “sheep’s clothing” would only be effective if it was done slowly.
“Father, it is late.”
Reminded of the time, Jiang Zheng rose and addressed Pei Yanchuan. “I shall see Your Highness out.”
Pei Yanchuan glanced at Jiang Wanning and slowly stood up. Before leaving, Pei Anqing searched Jiang Wanning’s eyes, hoping to see a trace of reluctance or sadness. Instead, he saw her eyes fixed entirely on Pei Yanchuan, not paying him the slightest bit of attention.
“Father, I have other matters to attend to, so I will not return with you,” Pei Anqing said to the Prince once they were outside the manor.
Pei Yanchuan looked at him indifferently and stepped straight into his carriage.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wanning whispered a few instructions to the late-arriving Hai Tang. Hai Tang bowed her head. “Since the Second Miss is fine, I will see Dr. Sun back first.”
“Go on,” Jiang Wanning replied.
Jiang Zheng glanced at Hai Tang and Dr. Sun, who was carrying a medical kit. Dr. Sun was over seventy years old. Both of them looked as though they had hurried, with a faint scent of sweat and beads of perspiration on their foreheads.
Hai Tang led Dr. Sun to a carriage at the corner and paid him. “Thank you for your hard work today.”
“Regarding today’s matter…” Dr. Sun began. Having seen plenty of intrigue within noble families, he was a shrewd old man. He accepted the heavy bag of silver. “Rest assured, young lady. Today, I have been traveling all night with you. I am old, and my legs are failing me; I think I shall close my practice and rest for a few days.”
Hai Tang was satisfied and quietly told the coachman to see Dr. Sun home safely. She then turned and walked in the direction Pei Anqing had gone.
Back inside the manor, the Liu mother and daughter were still in the front hall. Concubine Liu knelt in the courtyard. When she saw Jiang Zheng return, she cried out, “Master, it is all my fault. I am willing to be punished by kneeling here.”
Concubine Liu was naturally frail. As the night wind blew, she looked as though she might collapse.
Jiang Zheng said coldly, “Since you know your mistake and requested this yourself, then kneel here and reflect. Do not get up until breakfast tomorrow.”
Concubine Liu, who had been preparing to be “persuaded” to stand up, froze. She looked at Jiang Zheng in shock. “Master…”
“Is there something else, Auntie?”
Concubine Liu lowered her head and spoke no more.
Jiang Wanru stepped forward and knelt beside Jiang Zheng. “Father, Auntie is weak. How can she survive kneeling here all night? It’s all my fault. If you want to punish someone, punish me. Cough, cough…“