Jiang Xun also disliked Granny Yu. “That old woman meddles too much—she thinks she can govern heaven and earth, and even dares to control me. Two years ago, I already approached The Eldest Uncle’s wife to bring Granny Qin back, but she didn’t agree.”
Jiang Yixi said, “Granny Yu’s elder brother is The Eldest Uncle’s personal attendant. How could The Eldest Uncle’s wife possibly agree to replace her? It’s fine—we’ll find an opportunity eventually.”
In the afternoon, Jiang Yixi and Mama Wu continued packing. Not knowing how long they would stay at the estate, they needed to bring clothes and shoes for all four seasons, thick and thin bedding, and some daily necessities. Several servants were short on bedding, so Jiang Yixi said she would take people to buy some tomorrow. Buying bedding was, of course, an excuse—she intended to purchase medicine for her eyes.
Today was the twenty-ninth of March, and Third Master Jiang would return home in the evening.
On the nights Third Master Jiang was due home, dinner was always delayed. The whole family would gather at the Hall of Auspiciousness to wait for him, and Old Madam’s face would be especially radiant with joy.
Jiang Yixi informed Old Madam and First Madam that she wanted to go shopping on the street tomorrow.
Old Madam nodded and said, “Go ahead, take Xun with you. Having a young man along is always better.”
Jiang Xun was overjoyed. He started to grin and rub his hands together excitedly, but then remembered the demeanor expected of a general. He closed his mouth, stood up straight, and only wiggled his eyebrows at his sister.
Jiang Yixi gave him an encouraging smile.
Fearing that Jiang Yixi might be short on money, Old Madam gave her the fifty taels of silver she had previously promised.
Jiang Yirou also wanted to go shopping, but thinking of her father, whom she hadn’t seen in days, she dismissed the idea.
Finally, Third Master Jiang returned. Skillful in handling people, he greeted every elder and junior, and especially delighted Old Madam.
The next morning, Jiang Yixi, her brother Jiang Xun, and Shui Xiang rode a carriage out of the estate.
They alighted at the entrance of West Market Street.
On this street was the largest pharmacy in the capital—Embrace Benevolence Pharmacy. Jiang Yixi went straight in.
Jiang Xun asked in confusion, “Sister, aren’t you here to buy silk and embroidery thread? Why are you buying medicine?”
“For the countryside, it’s best to prepare some common medicines.”
Jiang Yixi handed a slip of paper to the shop assistant, on which were densely written names of medicines. These included common remedies, as well as medicines to reduce swellings and treat eye conditions—some for internal use, others for external application.
The old pharmacist prepared the medicines, wrapping over twenty packages and writing the names on the paper. The accountant finished calculating on the abacus and said, “Young lady, five of these are precious ingredients, costing ninety-nine taels. The rest amount to two taels and three mace. The total is one hundred and one taels and three mace.”
Jiang Yixi handed him a silver note and supplemented it with one tael of silver and three strings of copper coins.
Shui Xiang took out a large cloth, wrapped the medicine packages, and tied them into a bundle.
Once outside, Jiang Xun asked, “What medicine is so expensive? Even a ginseng root of modest age only costs a few dozen taels.”
Jiang Yixi didn’t want to explain much. “Do you really need to ask about medicine for women?”
Jiang Xun blushed and fell silent.
Afterward, they bought some food, Wu Cotton Fabric, cloth, thread, and other items. As there were too many things, Shui Xiang went to the street entrance to have the coachman bring the carriage over.
The reason Jiang Yixi hadn’t let the coachman follow them the whole time was to avoid others knowing she had bought so much medicine.
By the time they finished shopping, it was already late afternoon. They bought a basket of steamed buns for the coachman, who stayed outside to watch the carriage and eat. Jiang Yixi, her brother, and Shui Xiang went to Harmony and Abundance Restaurant for a meal.
After the meal, they rode the carriage away from West Market Street and detoured to Cassia Pastry Garden, the capital’s best pastry shop, to buy some treats.
The Cassia Pastry Garden was quite spacious. On the right, three young ladies were crowded together examining pastries, followed by several maids. Jiang Yixi pulled Jiang Xun to the left side to look around instead.
While they were selecting items, they overheard the young ladies’ conversation.
“Did Second Miss Jiang really reject the marriage proposal from Duke Chengguo Estate?”
“It’s been spreading everywhere, of course it’s true.”
“How strange. If Second Miss Jiang had no such intentions, why did she pull Third Young Master Meng into the water together? Wasn’t she scheming to entrap Third Young Master Meng?”
“I’ve said it before—Second Miss Jiang pulling Third Young Master Meng was unintentional.” The voice lowered further. “I saw Third Miss Luo push Second Miss Su, who then crashed into Second Miss Jiang. After hitting her, those few ran off as if it were deliberate.”
“Why would they want to hit Second Miss Jiang?”
“All because several young masters remarked that Second Miss Jiang is quite beautiful, not inferior to the ‘Four Beauties’ of the capital. Some weren’t pleased, saying an orphan from a minor official’s family shouldn’t show off there…”
As they spoke, they walked out of the shop, and the rest of their words became inaudible.
Jiang Yixi’s face flushed with anger. When had she ever shown off? She hadn’t even spoken more than a few words. For such an unreasonable excuse, she had been inexplicably harmed by people she didn’t even recognize. These so-called noble young ladies could be as wicked as demons when they chose to be.
Jiang Xun was also seething with rage. “Sister, I’ve remembered—they mentioned Third Miss Luo and Second Miss Su. When I make something of myself, I’ll help you get revenge.”
Jiang Yixi had glanced back earlier and found one of the young ladies somewhat familiar. That day, the girl had smiled at her, but she didn’t know who she was.
After leaving the shop, Shui Xiang whispered, “Miss, I also remember the young lady who said you were beautiful. I heard someone call her Eldest Miss Zheng, and I saw her addressing Madam Zheng as aunt.”
The consort of the Grand Princess of Yichang bore the surname Zheng, but the Grand Princess only had one grandson and no granddaughters. Perhaps Eldest Miss Zheng was a grandniece of the old Consort Zheng.
Jiang Yixi thought to herself that when she returned to the capital, she would still need to socialize as appropriate. She couldn’t allow herself to be harmed without even knowing who was responsible.
On the afternoon of the first day of the fourth month, Jiang Yixi was reading medical texts when Shui Xiang and Shuiling returned with the freshly fluffed quilts.
Shui Xiang said, “Second Miss, I saw Granny Yu leaving the estate with a small bundle. I once heard Xiao Chan say that whenever Second Young Master is in class, Granny Yu often returns to her own home.”
Xiao Chan was Jiang Xun’s maid.
Jiang Yixi had long wanted to see Jiang Xun’s courtyard, and Granny Yu’s absence made it more convenient. She brought Shui Xiang and Shuiling to the outer court.
In the Jiang residence, boys moved to the outer court at age ten and only returned to the inner court after marriage. Since Jiang Xun had moved to the outer court, Jiang Yixi had never visited his quarters.
The small courtyard gate wasn’t fully closed, leaving a slight gap. The courtyard was about the same size as Blazing Courtyard, filled with imitation weapons like wooden clubs, broadswords, and swords, as well as wooden stakes for practicing martial arts.
It looked somewhat messy.
The maid Xiao Chan was leaning back in a chair, half-asleep and basking in the sun.
Shui Xiang sneered, “Young Miss Xiao Chan is certainly living leisurely.”
Xiao Chan, startled to see Second Miss suddenly standing before her, jolted awake and knelt to beg for forgiveness. “This servant deserves punishment, I won’t dare to be lazy again.”
Jiang Yixi said with a cold expression, “Did Granny Yu not tell you that you mustn’t sleep while on duty? And you have the nerve to sleep so brazenly in the courtyard.”
Xiao Chan shook her head. Matron Yu often went home during her shifts and had no idea whether she had slept or not. Yet she dared not say it outright.
Jiang Yixi stepped into the room, where both the table and chairs were piled with belongings.
Xiao Chan hurriedly tidied up, murmuring, “Please forgive me, Miss.”
Jiang Yixi sneered, “So you do know that leaving the room in such a state makes a servant guilty.”