Jiang Xun glanced at Jiang Yixi first, just as she happened to look at him. Her gaze held a smile, as gentle as the spring sunshine outside the window.
Jiang Xun knew he was disliked by everyone in the family, including his own sister. Seeing Jiang Yixi’s expression, he felt both surprised and moved, with an urge to cry. Distracted, he stumbled and fell flat on his face. His left shoe came off, revealing a sock that had yellowed with wear and had a hole in it. He scrambled to his feet, put his shoe back on, and gave Jiang Yixi an embarrassed smile.
That sock tugged at Jiang Yixi’s heartstrings. This was the life of a child with no parents and no one to care for him—even with a house full of servants, he still suffered. In her past life, she had been foolish, but in this life, she would protect him well.
Jiang Yixi asked, “Did you hurt yourself?”
Jiang Xun replied nonchalantly, “No, it’s nothing.” He then exaggeratedly bent over to look at the ground and quipped self-deprecatingly, “Tripping on a cloudy day—no shadow to blame. Heh heh.”
A few light chuckles echoed in the room.
Old Madam Jiang frowned and said, “You’re already thirteen, yet you’re still so careless.”
Inwardly, she thought, This is what happens to a child without a mother’s guidance—no proper posture when standing or sitting, and even tripping while walking. He’ll never amount to much. If Yixi hadn’t offended the Duke Chengguo Estate, they might have helped Jiang Xun out of respect for his late father. But now… Ah, forget about him achieving anything—just hope he doesn’t cause trouble.
Jiang Xun didn’t dare to joke around anymore. He followed his brothers in paying respects to the elders and took his seat.
As soon as they sat down, a loud clap of thunder roared outside, followed by a torrential downpour.
Old Madam Jiang, First Madam Jiang, Third Madam Jiang, and Eldest Granddaughter-in-law Jiang all turned to look at Jiang Yixi, their faces filled with astonishment.
Jiang Yixi remained perfectly calm, her eyes lowered as she gazed at her slender jade-like fingers resting on her knees—pale and delicate, with ten nails adorned in vibrant nail polish.
Apart from the sound of rain and the occasional clink of teacups, the room was utterly silent. Old Madam Jiang’s expression was stern and inscrutable, and she glanced at Jiang Yixi from time to time. Even the usually boisterous Jiang Xun didn’t dare make a sound, let alone anyone else.
The rain continued to pour. As darkness fully descended, a servant hurried in to report that the Earl had slipped while getting out of his carriage, spraining his ankle, and had been carried directly back to the main courtyard.
Upon hearing this, First Madam Jiang shot a fearful glance at Jiang Yixi and said to Old Madam Jiang, “Mother, I must go check on the Earl.”
Old Madam Jiang stared blankly at Jiang Yixi, not even looking at First Madam Jiang as she waved her off.
First Madam Jiang hurried out, followed by Jiang Jin and others from the main branch, who rose and rushed after her.
A moment later, Old Madam Jiang’s eyes finally shifted, brimming with delight. She said, “Yixi, stay. The rest of you may go have your meal.”
Normally, the family ate breakfast and lunch separately but gathered for dinner.
Everyone stood and took their leave.
As Jiang Xun left, he glanced worriedly at Jiang Yixi. His second sister had just caused trouble, and being kept behind by their grandmother alone couldn’t mean anything good.
Jiang Yixi smiled and shook her head at him, signaling that she was fine.
Old Madam Jiang removed the Buddhist beads from her wrist, dismissed the servants, and the large room was left with only her and Jiang Yixi.
Old Madam Jiang was overjoyed but forced herself to remain composed. If Yixi’s dream truly came to pass, and the Duke and Duchess of Chengguo came to propose marriage tomorrow, their family would become in-laws with the Duke Chengguo Estate. What worries would they have about their descendants’ futures?
Taking a deep breath, Old Madam Jiang asked, “Yixi, what else did you dream about?”Jiang Yixi rose and approached the old madam, speaking softly, “Actually, it was my father who came to me in a dream visit.”
The old madam’s pupils contracted sharply.
Jiang Yixi continued, “My father was wearing his war robe, stained with blood, and there seemed to be tears in his eyes. He said our Jiang family has reached a critical juncture of life and death, compelling him to deliver this warning through a dream, hoping our family could avert this calamity.”
Since Old Madam Jiang had never held Jiang Chen in high regard, Jiang Yixi would have preferred to claim the dream visit came from the deceased former master. But the old master had been a born wastrel who in life only cared about cockfighting, bird-watching, and patronizing opera singers. Had she claimed he appeared in a dream concerning some famous courtesan, the old madam might have believed it. But suggesting he came to warn about the family’s survival? The old madam would almost certainly dismiss it.
The old madam’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Life and death? Calamity? But forming marital ties with the Duke Chengguo Estate is clearly a favorable development. How exactly did your father phrase this? Explain thoroughly, omitting nothing.”
Her hand clutching the prayer beads trembled violently, the veins on its back starkly visible. Though the dream visit explanation seemed far-fetched, the previous two predictions had proven true, making her hesitant to dismiss it.
Jiang Yixi took a deep breath and spoke slowly, “This is what my father said: ‘On the evening of March 26th, heavy rain will fall from the heavens. Your eldest uncle will kneel in apology before the ancestors at the entrance ahead of time. Xixi’s falling into water and the eldest uncle’s apology foretell that the Jiang family’s survival hangs in the balance.’
‘On March 27th, the Duke Chengguo will come to propose marriage between Third Young Master Meng and Xixi. This match must absolutely not be accepted. Otherwise, Xixi will drown, and the estate will be framed, resulting in confiscation and execution of the entire family.’ Grandmother, today is March 26th.”
Jiang Yixi knew she had to emphasize severe consequences to make the old madam and the current master take this seriously. She also needed them to understand that misguided decisions by the family head were the root cause of ruin. By framing her accidental fall into water as an “omen,” she hoped to prevent the old madam and the main branch from using that incident to torment her further.
Her voice grew progressively weaker. When she uttered “Xixi,” her eyes reddened. Among all her relatives, only her father and mother had called her by that pet name.
She couldn’t remember her mother calling her “Xixi”—her father had told her about it.
Even across two lifetimes, thinking of Jiang Chen’s devotion to her and his early death on the battlefield still brought Jiang Yixi to the verge of tears.
Old Madam Jiang was both shocked and terrified. Her hand clenched involuntarily, snapping the prayer bead string. Beads scattered across the floor, bouncing and rolling in all directions.
“Preposterous!” she snapped. “My eldest son merely took a fall! How could that be ‘advance apology’! My eldest and third sons hold minor posts—they couldn’t possibly commit crimes warranting family extermination!”
Such extreme punishments typically resulted from treason or defying the emperor. Given the Jiang master and third master’s current positions, they lacked even the opportunity to commit such offenses.
Jiang Yixi feigned confusion. “I don’t know either. That’s just what my father said.”
The old madam raised her voice. “Attendants!”
Baozan, the maid waiting in the corridor outside, hurried in. “Your servant is here. What are your orders, madam?”
“Go. Inquire how exactly the master fell.”
Baozan accepted the order and left.
The old madam’s hands shook uncontrollably. She deliberately ignored the part about Jiang Yixi potentially drowning, fearing the estate might truly be doomed by her eldest son’s actions.
A little over fifteen minutes later, Baozan returned.
“Reporting to the madam: According to Old Man Hua at the gate, the master slipped while alighting from the carriage, landing on both knees and hands.”
Knees and hands touching the ground—wasn’t that precisely the posture of kowtowing?
Could it truly be an advance apology?
The old madam looked at Jiang Yixi, her expression now grave, and waved Baozan away.
“Xi girl, what else did your father say?”
The tone had softened considerably.
Jiang Yixi replied, “That was all he said. I got scared and woke up, and when I fell back asleep, I didn’t dream of my father again.”