“What does Grandmother wish to see me about?” Jiang Fei asked.
The maid who came to fetch her was from Old Madam’s courtyard and replied expressionlessly, “You’ll know when you get there, Miss.”
The maids in the residence were accustomed to flattering those in favor and disparaging those out of it. Because of the impending marriage arrangement with the Wei Family, the maids had been exceptionally warm to her just two days prior. Yet today their attitude had abruptly changed. Could something have gone wrong with the Wei Family marriage?
Jiang Fei followed the maid into the Hall of Pine and Crane where Old Madam resided. Soft murmurs came from the main room, occasionally interspersed with slightly raised voices.
When the maid announced their arrival at the doorway, the room instantly fell silent.
Jiang Fei stepped inside slowly. The room was quite crowded, with multiple gazes fixed directly upon her.
Old Madam sat upright in the seat of honor, her expression stern and solemn. Yao Shi sat nearby, also looking displeased. Besides Jiang Rulin, several other women were seated in the room—likely aunts from the other family branches.
The atmosphere was frigidly solemn, almost like a courtroom trial.
Jiang Fei performed the proper greetings respectfully: “Your granddaughter pays respects to Grandmother. Greetings to Mother and all my aunts.”
Old Madam didn’t invite her to rise, merely scrutinizing her coldly before finally speaking after a long pause: “I’m old and haven’t previously concerned myself with your marriage matters. Today my spirits are somewhat better, so I called you here to ask: how did your meeting with Wei Sanlang go that day?”
Jiang Fei answered respectfully: “Third Master Wei was quite amiable. The meeting went very smoothly.”
As she finished speaking, she heard a faint derisive snort.
Jiang Fei turned her head and saw Jiang Rulin seated below Yao Shi, looking at her with triumphant satisfaction.
Having suffered a setback at Jiang Fei’s hands a few days earlier, whatever could make Jiang Rulin so smug must surely relate to Wei Sanlang.
As Jiang Fei frowned in suspicion, Old Madam suddenly demanded sternly: “Fei girl, do you admit your wrongdoing?”
Alarm bells rang in Jiang Fei’s mind. “This granddaughter doesn’t know what wrong she has committed.”
“Don’t know?” Old Madam slammed the table heavily. “I originally thought you were merely willful by nature, but I never imagined you could be so shameless! The Wei Family sent word saying your moral character is deficient, and that the marriage with the Jiang Family needs further discussion.”
Jiang Fei’s heart jumped. Prominent families placed extreme importance on face—to directly declare someone morally deficient was equivalent to slapping them in public.
But that day by the lake, Wei Mingzhen had clearly agreed to everything. Where could things have gone wrong?
“Cat got your tongue?” Yao Shi fumed. “You even lied to me, claiming your conversation with Wei Sanlang went smoothly! The only reason they haven’t sent a formal letter breaking the engagement to the Jiang residence is out of consideration for our families’ friendship.”
Jiang Fei took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and looked directly at Old Madam. “Grandmother, I truly don’t know where I acted improperly. That day by the lake with Third Master Wei, we indeed conversed quite pleasantly, and he personally consented to the marriage. If the Wei Family suddenly wishes to renege, I’m willing to confront Third Master Wei directly.”
Before Old Madam could speak, her brows tightly furrowed, Jiang Rulin eagerly interjected: “Second Sister, how can you still quibble at this point? The Wei Family already sent someone to say they witnessed you engaging in improper physical contact with a man by the lakeside—seen with Third Master Wei’s own eyes!”
“What?” Jiang Fei’s heart shook.
Could it be that Wei Mingzhen had seen Pei Jing coming to speak with her later? Was the man really that petty? They had merely exchanged words without even touching fingertips—how could that constitute “improper physical contact”?
“What do you have to say for yourself now?” Old Madam demanded.
Jiang Fei pondered momentarily. If she didn’t marry Wei Mingzhen, how would she complete the mission the system had given her?
Thinking of this, Jiang Fei turned to Old Madam and clasped her hands respectfully. “Your granddaughter boldly requests Grandmother’s permission…”
Old Madam looked at her clasped hands, then at Jiang Fei’s face, her expression somewhat bewildered.
Oh, this wasn’t a martial arts drama. Jiang Fei instantly switched back, quickly lowering her hands. “Please allow your granddaughter to personally go and explain things clearly to him.”
The room immediately erupted in murmurs.
Yao Shi slammed the table and stood up. “Preposterous! What unmarried young lady would personally go to argue her case? Are you trying to disgrace the entire Jiang family?”
The aunt from the third branch also shrilled, “Exactly! If this gets out, people will think our Jiang family’s daughters are desperate to marry!”
Jiang Fei remained neither humble nor pushy. “I’m not going to cause trouble. I just feel that since the Wei Family has misunderstandings about me, I should be the one to explain. If we don’t clarify things, the Wei Family might think our family discipline is lax.”
Hearing this, the other branches fell silent. If Jiang Rufei’s matter spread, it might affect all the unmarried girls in the Jiang family.
Old Madam pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, “Who was that man speaking with you that day?”
Jiang Fei thought quickly and answered truthfully, “It was Pei Jing.”
The room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Old Madam’s teacup fell to the ground with a sharp “crack,” porcelain shards scattering everywhere. Yao Shi’s face turned deathly pale, while the third branch’s aunt covered her mouth directly.
“You… who did you say?” Old Madam’s voice trembled.
Jiang Fei replied, “Prince Zhaoning Pei Jing.”
“How could you…” Old Madam said in shock, “How could you be involved with him?”
“I was just asking for directions,” Jiang Fei explained. “Grandmother, think about it – how could Pei Jing and I possibly be involved? Someone like him, I would definitely avoid like the plague. Third Master Wei must have misunderstood.”
Old Madam seemed to consider her words and after a long pause, believed about seventy percent of it. “That Prince Zhaoning – the farther you stay from him, the better. Never have any involvement with him.”
Jiang Fei’s gaze swept over the others in the room.
There were so many people in the Jiang family. If Pei Jing wanted to kill her entire family, how much bloodshed would that cause?
“Did you hear me?!”
Jiang Fei had been lost in thought and was startled back to reality by Old Madam’s sharp cry. “I heard. Then… about Wei Sanlang, should I go explain?”
“What is there to explain?” Jiang Rulin suddenly interjected. “Wei Sanlang saying it that way was already saving your face.”
“Grandmother hasn’t spoken yet. Who gave you the right to speak?” Jiang Fei shot her a glance.
“You…”
“Enough!” Old Madam interrupted. “It’s truly inappropriate for an unmarried girl to handle this matter. I have my own considerations. Fei girl, you may leave now.”
Jiang Fei withdrew from the main room. Not far away, she could already hear voices rising again.
Everything was kept from her, clearly treating her as an outsider.
It seemed the original host indeed had a difficult life in the Jiang family, otherwise she wouldn’t have treated a maid like a lifeline, being led around by Yun Xiang all the time.
After a while, the ladies from various branches gradually emerged from Old Madam’s room, with Yao Shi and Jiang Rulin walking last.
Only when everyone had dispersed did Yao Shi say, “Control your expressions better in the future. Your schemes are practically written all over your face. Do you think your grandmother is easily fooled?”
Jiang Rulin was already discontent, and being lectured by Yao Shi made her even more resentful.
“Your daughter just can’t accept it. The engagement with the Wei Family was for the Jiang family’s second daughter – that should have been mine.”
Yao Shi abruptly halted her steps, warily scanning her surroundings. Fortunately, aside from her personal maid, there was no one else nearby.
She lowered her voice and said, “Do not mention this matter again. Be careful, for walls have ears.”
“But…”
“There are no buts.” Yao Shi interrupted her, taking Jiang Rulin’s hand to comfort her. “Rulin, you should understand that gains always come with losses. Since you’ve received something from her, you must give her something in return to maintain balance. Moreover, marrying Wei Sanlang may not necessarily be a good thing.”
No sooner had the two left than a figure emerged from around the corner of the corridor.