After Madam Xiao returned to the Guogong Fu, Second Madam Gu Shi went to the Old Madam with an exaggerated account of events.
“Foolish!” Madam Xiao slammed the table. “As the elder sister-in-law, withholding her sister-in-law’s dowry—what is she trying to do?”
Gu Shi wore a sycophantic smile and hinted meaningfully:
“Perhaps the illness Elder Sister-in-law suffered last winter hasn’t fully healed, leaving her confused and causing all these ridiculous mistakes.”
“She may not be as clever and capable as you,” Madam Xiao shot her a sidelong glance, directly exposing her intentions, “but she is still the head daughter-in-law of this household. Our fates are intertwined—when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. You shouldn’t always wish for her downfall.”
Second Madam Gu Shi immediately looked embarrassed: “Yes.”
After a pause, Madam Xiao softened her tone: “However, you did well today helping Fourth Madam retrieve her dowry. From now on, you shall manage affairs at the Family School.”
Having gained some authority after all, Second Madam brightened up: “Yes, Mother!”
In her view, seizing control of household management must be done bit by bit.
Jiang Lingzhi watched the courtyard filled to the brim with her dowry. After having servants check everything against the dowry list, she stored it all in the warehouse.
If things didn’t go as hoped… this would be her security for the rest of her life!
Before dinner, the imperial decree conferring Jiang Lingzhi the title of First-Rank Imperial Noblewoman arrived at the Guogong Fu.
Upon hearing the news, each household branch inevitably came to offer congratulations with gifts.
Though Lu Shi remained displeased and reluctant, she ultimately sent someone over with a congratulatory gift.
The maid Chun Xing delivered the items and presented a gift list for Jiang Lingzhi’s review: “Fourth Madam, this is the gift list for your bridal return tomorrow. Our Madam requests you check if anything seems inappropriate.”
Lu Shi had originally been fuming with resentment, wanting to abandon her duties. But the thought of Second Madam Gu Shi made her swallow her anger and brace herself.
If she didn’t handle this, Second Madam Gu Shi would eagerly step in!
Besides, preparing bridal return gifts wasn’t difficult—they had been prepared earlier.
Although originally intended for a daughter-in-law, now that she was a sister-in-law, they could still be used.
Jiang Lingzhi was still splitting bamboo. Without looking up from her chopping, she said: “Elder Sister-in-law has managed the household for years—her arrangements are naturally proper. No need to review it.”
Hah, sending gifts to the Jiang family—she couldn’t be bothered to put any thought into it.
Her casual attitude made things easier for Lu Shi.
Just when everyone thought the bridal return gifts were settled, Madam Xiao reviewed the list and deemed it unworthy of a First-Rank Imperial Noblewoman’s status. She selected several chests from her private treasury and instructed Lu Shi to add them to the gift list.
This wouldn’t normally be an issue.
But after seeing those chests of gifts, Lu Shi grew thoroughly displeased. Why should all the fine things go to Fourth Madam?
Running her hands over a snow-white fox fur cloak, she complained to Xiao Jingping:
“Look how biased the Old Madam is! Among all the daughters-in-law in this household, she only favors Fourth Brother’s wife! First, she secured an imperial title for her, now such extravagant bridal return gifts. Look at this fox fur cloak—not a single stray hair! This must be an imperial gift from the palace!”
Xiao Jingping impatiently retorted: “Here you go again? Seizing her dowry by day, coveting her bridal gifts by night—are you trying to get punished by the Old Madam?”
Seeing her husband undermining her like this, Lu Shi said with exasperation, “What kind of nonsense are you talking? Have you forgotten who I’m doing all this for?! Without that dowry, I’ll have to find another way to scrape together those hundred thousand taels for you!”
Xiao Jingping’s eyes flickered, and he quickly softened his tone: “Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I won’t say anymore. Don’t be angry, okay?”
“Hmph, at least you have some conscience!”
Lu Shi stroked the fox fur cloak repeatedly, her tone dripping with envy: “Do you think Old Madam has lost her mind? The fourth wife was someone our Yan didn’t want, yet now she’s treated like a treasure!
When she served tea, Old Madam gave her the family heirloom Jadeite Jade Ring;
With just a few words of provocation from her, the Duke punished Yan to suffer hardship;
And you—husband, she’s only seventeen and already granted an official title, while you’re almost forty and still not named Heir Apparent!”
“Why are you dragging my succession into this again?” Xiao Jingping couldn’t stand how Lu Shi always knew exactly where to hit where it hurt. Impatiently, he said, “Take your time packing.”
With that, he flung his sleeves and left.
Lu Shi rolled her eyes in frustration, wondering what sin she had committed in her past life!
But soon, her attention was captured by the fox fur cloak again.
She caressed it over and over, savoring the luxurious softness of the fine fur between her fingers, and eventually couldn’t resist the temptation:
“Chun Xing, take out my squirrel fur robe and exchange it for this one.”
After all, these were meant for the Jiang family—she doubted Madam Jiang would dare say anything!
…
Night fell.
Jiang Lingzhi knelt by the bed, giving Xiao Jingyi a full-body massage.
Doctor Mu had instructed that without massage and movement, even the best muscles and skin would atrophy.
So she started from his fingers, kneading bit by bit up to his shoulders, then moving down to press his chest, thighs, and calves, finally working his joints a few times.
Xiao Jingyi felt terribly conflicted, as if he were a lump of dough being repeatedly kneaded and manipulated by this country girl.
But occasionally, a tingling sensation would flash through his body, and he’d feel a spark of joy at these fleeting moments of awareness, quietly lessening his resistance.
He secretly resolved that if she could truly massage him back to consciousness, he would compensate her with a great deal of silver.
Exhausted, Jiang Lingzhi collapsed beside him, panting heavily, and couldn’t help complaining: “I knew it would be tiring, but I didn’t expect it to be this exhausting. A girl like me just doesn’t have enough strength. Tomorrow, I’ll have the servant boy massage you instead.”
The sliver of gratitude Xiao Jingyi had felt for her vanished instantly.
Forget it—he’d save that silver!
“After all, my strength is precious—I need to save it for our wedding night,” Jiang Lingzhi declared, never one to mince words.
Xiao Jingyi’s mind erupted in turmoil.
What?!
He couldn’t even move a finger, and this country girl actually planned to take advantage of his vulnerable state to steal his innocence?!
He had always maintained his integrity, never keeping any concubines or maidservants by his side. Through years of campaigning, his only thought was pacifying the northwest—he hadn’t even exchanged more than a few words with women.
He had imagined that after the war ended, he would return to the capital and marry a beautiful, elegant bride from a noble family.
Now he was being targeted by some rustic village girl!
He desperately wanted to wake up immediately and throw this impudent woman out!!!
After her rambling, Jiang Lingzhi felt somewhat guilty herself. She tilted her head to glance at him and, seeing he remained unconscious, felt considerably relieved.
She couldn’t help but sigh again:
“Actually, it’s not so bad being unconscious like you—you can avoid doing things you don’t want to do. If I were like you, I wouldn’t have to go back to the Jiang family tomorrow for the bridal return.”
Then she quickly added: “But avoiding things isn’t good either, General. You should wake up soon. Just like how, even though I don’t like Lord Jiang’s residence, my mother’s spirit tablet is still there, so I have to go back.”
Xiao Jingyi sneered inwardly. Hah, a little village girl lecturing him, a general?!
…Wait, Lord Jiang’s residence?
He naturally knew about the marriage agreement between the Jiang and Xiao families.
He also knew that the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family’s first wife had been raised in the countryside. It was only because his father, out of respect for the late Grand Tutor Jiang, had pressured the Jiang family to bring the girl back to the capital.
But that eldest Miss Jiang was supposed to marry his eldest nephew, wasn’t she???
The thought that the village girl who had just felt him all over was originally meant to be his nephew’s wife made Xiao Jingyi wish he could leap three feet into the air and flee the bed immediately.
Yet he couldn’t move a muscle.
He desperately wanted to know what was going on, but this village girl… no, this eldest Miss Jiang—she stopped talking.
Jiang Lingzhi had fallen asleep, exhausted.
Xiao Jingyi: “…”
He spent the entire night lying there with his eyes closed, wide awake.