Yao Shi pretended to be uncomfortable, rubbing her shoulders. Jiang Rulin helped her sit down and considerately massaged her neck.
Yao Shi smiled and patted Jiang Rulin’s hand, “You’re the one who’s truly filial.”
Jiang Rulin replied with a smile, “Mother, what are you saying? Isn’t it a daughter’s duty to be filial to her parents?”
After speaking, she glanced pointedly at Jiang Rufei.
Jiang Rufei pretended not to understand their implicit criticism. “With a daughter like Third Sister, Mother, why worry about neck pain?”
She then examined each of the gifts one by one before beckoning Jiu Tao to come in.
“Well then, Mother, I’ll take the gifts from the princess and return to my quarters now.”
Yao Shi’s expression stiffened, and she responded with a displeased “Hmm.”
If a child was willing to give, that was filial piety. If not, she couldn’t just snatch it openly—what would people say if word got out?
After Jiang Rufei had gone, Yao Shi couldn’t help but spit out, “That ungrateful wretch!”
“Now you see, Mother,” Jiang Rulin said, dropping her act as she plopped down beside Yao Shi. “Someone like Jiang Rufei—even if she marries into the Dingyuan Marquis Manor, she won’t lift a finger to help her family in the future.”
Yao Shi’s lips moved, but she didn’t refute the statement.
Jiang Rulin said irritably, “Then it really will be like ‘a married daughter is like spilled water.’ She’s so lucky, just stumbling into becoming the Third Madam for nothing.”
Yao Shi looked at her. “Do you think I don’t know what you’re scheming?”
“I do have my own motives,” Jiang Rulin admitted. “But if I were the one marrying into the Dingyuan Marquis Manor, wouldn’t that be better for the Jiang Family? My mother and brother are still here—wouldn’t I help them? And Fifth Brother, he’s still so young.”
Yao Shi’s greatest weakness was her youngest son. Jiang Cheng Lang was still so young—who would support him when she grew old?
She mulled it over in her heart. Rulin wasn’t wrong. If Jiang Rufei married into the Dingyuan Marquis Manor, not only would she be of no help to the family, but Yao Shi might even have to defer to Jiang Rufei in the future.
“But the Marquis Manor has betrothed the Jiang Family’s second daughter,” Yao Shi said hesitantly.
Seeing her waver, Jiang Rulin quickly added, “Wei Sanlang isn’t satisfied with her, is he? Why not take this opportunity to bring it up? Otherwise, if the Wei Family really calls off the engagement, it won’t have anything to do with our family anymore.”
Yao Shi seemed convinced by Jiang Rulin’s words and said gravely, “Let me think it over a bit more.”
…
Meanwhile, Jiang Fei packed away her things, leaving only the jade pillow out of the cabinet.
She had already made up her mind: she couldn’t enjoy the luxuries of ancient people. She didn’t understand why they liked sleeping on such high, hard pillows—this jade pillow would give her forward head posture and cervical spondylosis.
She couldn’t exactly sell something bestowed by the princess, and Jiang Fei could tell that Yao Shi liked the jade pillow very much.
But the more Yao Shi wanted it, the less she was willing to give it. Rather than risk it falling into Yao Shi’s hands someday, it was better to offer it to the Old Madam and earn some goodwill.
Jiang Fei immediately took the jade pillow to the Old Madam’s Hall of Pine and Crane.
Old Madam Jiang had just woken from her nap and had her maid invite Jiang Rufei in.
The Old Madam was sitting on the couch, being served mouth rinse by an old maidservant. Seeing Jiang Rufei enter, she waved her hand. “Sit. At my age, my mouth always tastes bitter after waking. What brings you here today?”
Jiang Fei briefly recounted the events of the past two days and presented the jade pillow.
“Grandmother’s health has been unwell, and there is little else your granddaughter can do. I only hope Grandmother can sleep well—that would be my greatest blessing.”
The matron brought the jade pillow closer for the Old Madam to see.
The Old Madam ran her fingertips over it for a moment, then smiled. “You child, you’ve become much more clever than before.”
Jiang Fei smiled. “Your granddaughter was immature in the past, but now I’ve come to understand things better. It was my fault for worrying Grandmother before.”
She had thought it through clearly: whether she could marry Wei Mingzhen was still uncertain, and if she wanted to live comfortably in the manor, she needed someone to rely on.
She couldn’t let herself become a drowning dog that everyone kicks—surviving in the cracks would be too difficult, and constantly fighting different people would exhaust all her energy.
After careful consideration, the Old Madam was the most suitable choice.
Between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there were always some frictions, and they were more easily provoked. Moreover, given her status, the Old Madam could keep Yao Shi in check.
She had handled this matter skillfully, and her words were pleasing to the ear.
The Old Madam felt gratified and beckoned Jiang Fei over, taking her hand and patting it gently. “Good child, I am very touched by your thoughtfulness.”
Jiang Fei said, “Your granddaughter has one more presumptuous request.”
The Old Madam’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly she felt somewhat displeased. She had just received a gift, and now a request was being made so soon.
So young, so impatient.
“What is this presumptuous request of yours?”
“It’s like this,” Jiang Fei feigned hesitation. “Mother took a liking to this jade pillow, but I thought that since Grandmother has been unwell for a long time, matters should be prioritized. I attended to Grandmother first, which means I may have been unfilial toward Mother. If she gets angry, I beg Grandmother to put in a good word for me. Right now, she won’t listen to anything I say.”
So that was the matter—it seemed she had misunderstood her.
The Old Madam nodded in understanding. “Don’t worry about this. As a mother, how could she hold such a thing against you?”
She knew Yao Shi was excessively biased, but after all…
Ah, she could only turn a blind eye to it.
After returning, Jiang Rufei carefully reviewed the contents of the book. She had read it several years ago, and over time, some parts of the plot had become blurry.
The book mentioned that after the flower appreciation banquet would be the Empress’s birthday, after which the Wei Family would formally come to propose marriage.
However, Jiang Fei now felt uncertain. After all, there had been too many unexpected changes—the one set to marry Wei Mingzhen had become her, and between her and Wei Mingzhen lay a staggering negative favorability of over three thousand.
As long as Wei Mingzhen was in his right mind, he probably wouldn’t marry someone he disliked so much.
Unexpectedly, two days later, a eunuch from the palace arrived, inviting Jiang Rufei to attend the Empress’s birthday banquet in the palace.
When Jiang Fei heard the news, she was momentarily stunned.
How had things changed again!
In the book, the Empress disliked lavish celebrations, and only nobles, high-ranking officials, or titled relatives were invited. Even Old Madam Jiang was not qualified to attend, let alone an unmarried young lady like her.
This completely defied the expected plot—how was she supposed to follow the storyline?
But upon second thought, this might be an opportunity given to her by fate.
After all, the Dingyuan Marquis Manor was a noble household, and Wei Mingzhen might attend such an occasion. Even if he didn’t, the Madam of the Marquis would surely be there.
As long as she could win over the Madam of the Marquis, Wei Mingzhen would have to marry her, whether he wanted to or not.
The entire Jiang household was filled with joy and celebration. Old Madam personally summoned Jiang Fei to the Hall of Pine and Crane, where the wives and young ladies from the main branch and other branches had also gathered, filling the hall with a room full of people.
Old Madam pulled Jiang Fei to sit beside her—a privilege reserved only for the most favored in the family, a gesture meant to be seen by both the other masters and the servants.
Jiang Fei, however, did not believe that a mere jade pillow could make Old Madam so fond of her. It was undoubtedly due to the Empress’s influence.