Xiao Yan wanted to say more, but Jiang Lingyuan, seeing Lu Shi’s sharp and furious expression, quickly stopped him, fearing it would further provoke her.
Remembering her mother’s instructions, she hurriedly said, “Please don’t be angry, Madam. My mother said that the over one hundred dowry chests previously sent to Guogong Fu were all prepared in my sister’s name for my sake. I am willing to offer them to you, hoping it will ease your anger.”
Her mother had told her that Lu Shi was greedy for wealth. With such a generous dowry, even if she were furious, she wouldn’t make things too difficult for her.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Lu Shi cursed a few more times but ultimately suppressed her rage. “At least you know what’s proper.”
Jiang Lingyuan quickly smiled ingratiatingly. “As long as you’re pleased, Madam.”
Lu Shi said irritably, “Second Miss Jiang, I can hold onto the dowry for you for now. However, without a formal matchmaker or betrothal gifts, it’s improper for you to stay in Yan’er’s courtyard. I’ll have someone escort you back to the Jiang residence. In due time, we will send a matchmaker to propose marriage.”
The dowry was one thing, but after all, he was her own son. No matter how resentful she felt, she couldn’t allow people to gossip behind their backs.
Jiang Lingyuan was overjoyed.
She and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with affection. Soon, she would be his properly wedded wife.
After she left, Lu Shi looked at her son and finally managed to calm down.
A smile gradually returned to her face. “Yan’er, Old Madam has already suppressed yesterday’s incident. There won’t be any rumors spreading outside, so you can rest easy. Your grandfather has arranged an official post for you—go and take it up for now. Once his anger subsides, this matter will be completely behind us.”
Xiao Yan looked utterly dejected. “Mother! I’m the legitimate eldest grandson of Guogong Fu, and you really want me to patrol the streets and guard the city gates? I don’t want to go! As the old saying goes, one should start a family before building a career. Can’t I wait until I’ve married Lingyuan before I start striving for success?”
Lu Shi was so angry she nearly fainted. She patiently broke it down for her son:
“Yan’er, let me remind you—your father hasn’t been named Heir Apparent yet. Your fourth uncle doesn’t have long to live, so that’s one thing, but your second and third uncles are both eyeing the position eagerly. If you act willfully at such a critical moment, do you still want to inherit the title in the future?”
Xiao Yan took this to heart.
Compared to marrying Jiang Lingyuan, inheriting the title was undoubtedly more important. That way, he’d never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of his life!
So he nodded. “You’re right, Mother. I’ll do as you say.”
Only then did Lu Shi cheer up. “Good son, I knew you were the most sensible.”
…
When Jiang Lingzhi returned to Shun Yuan, Yunrou had already prepared breakfast for her.
Bird’s Nest Porridge, Duck Meat Porridge, Golden Thread Silver Rolls, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, Eggplant Ao, Water Chestnut Cake, Chicken Marrow Bamboo Shoots, Drunken Goose Feet, Sour Bamboo Shoot Chicken Skin Soup… The table was laden with dishes.
Each one was something she had never eaten or even seen before.
Yunrou said respectfully, “Fourth Madam, this is all Old Madam’s doing. She instructed the kitchen to send one of every breakfast dish they prepared, saying they weren’t sure what you liked and asking you to try them all first.”
Jiang Lingzhi nodded, too preoccupied to speak. She sat down at the table, picked up her chopsticks, and carefully sampled each dish.
The flavors were so exquisite she felt she could swallow her own tongue.
And from now on, these would be the most common dishes on her dining table.
Just after finishing breakfast, the mansion’s seamstress arrived, saying that according to the mansion’s rules, she needed to take measurements to make clothes for the new madam.
Jiang Lingzhi looked at the delivered silks, all of which were the most fashionable Yunjin Brocade in the capital—soft, luxurious, and brightly colored. She was genuinely fond of them and selected several pieces, discussing the styles with the seamstress to have four sets of inner and outer garments made.
Naturally, she hadn’t forgotten that such good days were only possible thanks to Xiao Jingyi, so she also had the seamstress make several comfortable sleepwear sets for him.
Shortly after the seamstress left, the estate steward arrived: “Fourth Madam, this old servant has come to assign some servants to Shun Yuan.”
Jiang Lingzhi understood.
In the past, Xiao Jingyi had spent years on the battlefield, so Shun Yuan only had a few guards and cleaning maids.
But now that he lay unconscious in bed all day, he naturally needed more personal attendants to bathe him, change his clothes, turn him over, and feed him daily.
Doctor Mu had already instructed that the general must be turned every two hours to prevent bedsores, fed only soft liquid foods for easier digestion, and checked frequently for soiling, with prompt cleaning and clothing changes.
These were extremely tedious and exhausting tasks.
After asking a few questions, Jiang Lingzhi selected four maids and four servants, all appearing steady, diligent, and efficient, and carefully assigned them their duties.
She also settled Xiao Jingyi’s personal guards, Di Qing and Di Hong, since Shun Yuan was spacious enough.
Seeing her wholehearted devotion to the general, the steward admired her and grew even more respectful: “Fourth Madam, please don’t only think of the general. According to the rules of Guogong Fu, besides Xueying and Yunrou, you may also choose two senior maids, four second-rank maids, and eight third-rank maids.”
Jiang Lingzhi smiled. Having been accustomed to a life of toiling in the fields, how could she need so many maids? With just Xueying and Yunrou, it was already sufficient.
“Let’s keep it like this for now. I think it’s enough. If I need more people later, I’ll come find you.”
The steward had no intention of contradicting her: “Yes.”
With new servants just arriving and assigned to such tasks, she, as the mistress, ought to give some reward money to win them over and reassure them.
It was then that Jiang Lingzhi remembered—the dowry given by the Jiang family was still stored in the main household’s courtyard.
“Steward, there’s one matter I must trouble you with. My dowry of over a hundred cases is still in the main household’s courtyard. Could you send someone to move it here for me? Hmm, the dowry list was sent to the estate earlier, wasn’t it?”
Strangely enough, since she was brought back to the Jiang family last year, her stepmother had resented her, furious that she had stolen Jiang Lingyuan’s marriage.
Yet, when it came to preparing her dowry, her stepmother had been unusually enthusiastic, arranging a full 108 cases that were carried into Duke Xiao’s estate before she stepped into the bridal sedan.
Since she had switched marriages and married Xiao Jingyi, there was no reason to leave her dowry in the main household’s storeroom.
“Yes, yes.”
The steward found this request entirely reasonable and agreed immediately: “Fourth Madam, rest assured. This old servant will send people to move the dowry right away.”
Jiang Lingzhi nodded. After the steward left, she instructed Xueying to familiarize the new servants with their duties.
Her heart now felt as if a fire had been lit.
Since she had begun living such a good life, she must ensure it continued.
So, from the bottom of her heart, she truly hoped he would wake up.
After all, continuing the lineage relied seventy percent on effort and thirty percent on fate.
As long as he lived, she could live comfortably without worry in Guogong Fu!
Inside the room.
Xiao Jingyi, in a state of confusion, heard the sound of women chatting and laughing in the courtyard.
He felt his consciousness gradually calming down as it followed the chattering, lark-like voices.
His senses slowly cleared, and he struggled to open his eyes to see or ask who she was, but in the end, he found himself completely unable to move, powerless to control his own body.
Yes, he remembered—he had fallen off a cliff and must be severely injured now.
Unable to move at all, he could only listen.
“Such beautiful spring scenery—it would be perfect for the General to come out and bask in the sun,”
Jiang Lingzhi was instructing Yunrou: “Find a craftsman skilled in bamboo weaving to make a Plain Litter for the General. I’ve seen a type of bamboo-woven recliner in the countryside that’s very lightweight and soft… Never mind, bring some Spotted Bamboo, I’ll weave it myself.”
Xueying asked with a mix of surprise and admiration, “Fourth Madam, how do you even know how to do this?”
Jiang Lingzhi replied cheerfully, “What’s so special about that? I even know how to slaughter pigs.”
Xueying also chimed in with exclamations of amazement.
Xiao Jingyi naturally didn’t miss the term “Fourth Madam.”
He was astonished—he was the Fourth Master of Duke Xiao’s Guogong Fu, so this “Fourth Madam” must be his wife?!
He was currently unconscious—had his father and mother arranged for this girl to marry him in hopes of reviving his health?
Xiao Jingyi couldn’t help but feel resistant.
He, the esteemed General Zhenbei, who struck fear into the hearts of enemies on the battlefield, had now fallen so low as to rely on a woman to save his life?
Moreover, from what the girl said, she seemed to be a country woman brought in from the estate.
Such a woman must be greedy for wealth to agree to marry an unconscious patient like him.
Thinking this, Xiao Jingyi felt contempt and naturally dismissed this “revival bride” as insignificant.
He remembered he had more urgent matters to attend to.
On his way back to the capital after the campaign, he had been ambushed, forced to watch as two hundred vanguard soldiers were brutally killed, the scene a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Surrounded by dozens of attackers, he was severely wounded, fell off a cliff, and ended up in this state.
If he did not avenge this, he swore he would not be human!
He must recover.