Rong An Hall.
The Duke and Madam Xiao had finished their morning meal and were enjoying flowers and tea in the courtyard.
The Second Master and Second Madam were also present.
Second Master Xiao Jinghui enjoyed cultivating flowers and raising birds, with a particular fondness for peonies.
He had filled his own courtyard with various peony varieties, and now that they were in bloom, he had brought over several pots of precious Yao Huang Peonies and Wei Zi Peonies, enthusiastically describing them with animated expressions.
The Duke leaned on his Golden Phoebe Dragon Head Cane, watching cheerfully.
Among his sons, he felt most at ease with the second son—though lacking ambition, he never caused trouble.
Suddenly, an announcement came from outside: “The General and Fourth Madam have arrived!”
With a clatter, the teacup lid slipped from Madam Xiao’s trembling hand. She stared blankly for a moment, wondering if she had misheard.
Jing Yi was still unconscious… how could he possibly come…
The Old Duke also froze, while Second Madam Gu Shi frowned and asked, “Did the servant relay the message incorrectly?”
“It’s true! It really is the General and Fourth Madam!” The messenger maid couldn’t explain further, quickly stepping aside to clear the path.
Only then did the group see Jiang Lingzhi pushing Xiao Jingyi into the courtyard entrance. They stared in shock: “Jing Yi…”
Then they noticed his eyes remained closed.
Jiang Lingzhi smiled and greeted everyone, explaining:
“Paying respects to Father and Mother. Second Brother, good day. Doctor Mu just examined him and said the General has regained sensation. I brought him here so Father and Mother could see for yourselves.”
Madam Xiao’s eyes instantly reddened.
Jiang Lingzhi grew flustered: “Mother, please don’t be sad. It was presumptuous of me…”
“You did well, very well,” the Old Madam hastily wiped her tears, gesturing for her to bring the Plain Litter closer. “Mother is just overjoyed. Good child, you are truly good…”
As she spoke, she reached out to touch Xiao Jingyi’s face, sighing emotionally: “Jing Yi, your mother has found you a wonderful wife!”
Jiang Lingzhi dared not claim credit: “Mother, please don’t say that. I am the fortunate one to marry the General.”
“Yours is a marriage predestined by fate,”
Madam Xiao grew even fonder of this delightful and sincere daughter-in-law, taking her hand with a smile: “With you here, Mother believes Jing Yi will surely wake up. You will have children, and your future will grow brighter each day.”
Jiang Lingzhi lowered her eyes with a faint smile.
Of course she wanted the Duke and Old Madam to be pleased—after all, who would refuse more allies?
Second Madam Gu Shi’s eyes shifted craftily as she tentatively suggested: “Father, Mother, Fourth Brother must grow weary staying indoors all day. Since the peonies are blooming so beautifully, why don’t we host a Peony Banquet in the estate? Let Fourth Sister-in-law bring Fourth Brother out to enjoy the festivities.”
The Duke immediately agreed cheerfully: “Excellent idea. Second Daughter-in-law, you shall handle this.”
Gu Shi grinned from ear to ear.
House authority must be seized bit by bit.
She promptly assured: “Yes, Father rest assured, this daughter-in-law will organize it perfectly!”
Madam Xiao offered no objection.
Jiang Lingzhi naturally recognized Gu Shi’s calculations, but ultimately this wouldn’t harm Xiao Jingyi… and might even inconvenience Lu Shi. So she let it be.
“Then I shall look forward to it. When the time comes, I will certainly bring my husband out to join the festivities.”
The courtyard was filled with joyful laughter, and Xiao Jingyi also felt his spirits lift.
When they left Rong An Hall, Xueying could barely hold all the rewards in her hands.
Jiang Lingzhi knew that Old Madam was giving her tangible benefits because she saw Xiao Jingyi’s condition improving.
While pushing Xiao Jingyi back to Shun Yuan, she couldn’t resist touching his face, thinking to herself: This isn’t just my husband – he’s practically the God of Wealth!
In her delight, she even began humming a little tune: “Peach leaves point sharp, willow leaves shade the sky, you honorable gentlemen in attendance, listen closely to what I say…”
Feeling the warmth on his cheek and hearing the melodious but off-key tune beside him, Xiao Jingyi grew increasingly emotional.
Did she not realize he could hear her?
She was singing completely out of tune!
……
At Jiang Minister Residence.
Jiang Lingyuan’s eyes brimmed with tears: “Mother, I heard that Xiao Yan was punished to kneel in the Ancestral Hall yesterday. He no longer has any say in the household affairs. What should we do now?”
It seemed impossible to target Jiang Lingzhi directly.
She had no choice but to approach Xiao Yan yesterday, but he proved to be too reckless. Instead of persuading Lu Shi, he went to confront Jiang Lingzhi and ended up being punished in the Ancestral Hall.
It was truly beyond words.
The frown between Chu Shi’s eyebrows deepened. After a long while, she came up with another idea:
“Don’t panic. Madam Xiao simply wants more dowry.
Mother has no silver left, but your second brother does!
He still has hundreds of shops left by that wretched woman Wei Lan. Go beg him – just a few shops leaking through his fingers would be more substantial than your original dowry!”
Jiang Lingyuan finally wiped her tears but still felt deeply wronged: “A Niang, why would Madam Xiao insist on focusing on her daughter-in-law’s dowry when Duke Xiao’s household is already so wealthy?”
In Da Yong, if a mother-in-law seized her daughter-in-law’s dowry, not only would it become a laughingstock, but in serious cases, she could even be arrested by the authorities and paraded through the streets.
She couldn’t understand why Lu Shi, as the reigning mistress of Duke Xiao’s household, would care so much about such vulgar things?
“This…” Chu Shi was also puzzled. After some thought, she sighed: “Perhaps it’s because Xiao Yan likes you, but she looks down on you being just an adopted daughter without noble status. So she wants more dowry to balance her feelings.”
Thinking it over, Jiang Lingyuan felt this might be the only explanation.
But understanding this only made her more distressed.
“Alright, dry your tears and freshen up. Your father has returned from the government office, and your second brother just went to his study. Bring some food over and have a good talk with your second brother.”
“I understand, A Niang.”