Jiang Yucheng and Qiao Shi immediately stiffened, nearly failing to maintain their composure and reveal their flaws.
Qiao Shi quickly pretended nothing was wrong and said, “Today, the Twelfth Prince came to our residence and helped us retrieve the items returned by Madame Xu, saving us a lot of effort.”
“R-really?” Jiang Yucheng stammered, almost biting his tongue. His mind raced faster than during his first imperial audience, feeling even more nervous. “Did Madame Xu return everything?”
“No, only sixty percent!” Qiao Shi replied.
[The rest was settled with a contract. If any remaining items cannot be found, they must be compensated with equivalent silver!]
Qiao Shi collected herself and continued, “The Twelfth Prince is very meticulous. He specially served as a witness and had Madame Xu sign a contract, agreeing that if any of the remaining items cannot be found, they will be compensated with silver.”
Only then did Jiang Yucheng slightly relax and said, “That’s a good method. I never expected the Twelfth Prince to be so clever at just four years old.”
Jiang Xianian was half-convinced, half-doubtful: [It seems they really can’t hear me?]
Afterward, Jiang Xianian tested them several more times. Jiang Yucheng and Qiao Shi responded with bated breath, managing not to expose themselves.
It wasn’t until drowsiness set in that Jiang Xianian yawned and pondered: [It appears that for now, only Little Twelve can hear my thoughts. Since he promised to keep it secret, I’ll trust him for the time being. Having an obedient little mouthpiece isn’t such a bad thing.]
After Jiang Xianian fell asleep again, Jiang Yucheng repeatedly confirmed she was truly asleep before finally relaxing completely.
“Niannian is such a clever little thing. Several times I almost couldn’t hold back and would have exposed us!” Jiang Yucheng patted his chest, feeling somewhat apprehensive.
Qiao Shi also looked relieved: “This child has always been more clever than others. Haven’t we noticed that long ago? I need to send word to Qiao’er, Xunnian, and Danian. Who knows when Niannian might test them too!”
After saying this, Qiao Shi hesitated before adding, “Actually, let’s have Danian avoid coming before me these days. He’s not as smart as his two older brothers and might easily be discovered by Niannian.”
Jiang Yucheng agreed without much thought: “Indeed, Danian would be the easiest to expose. I’ll send someone to deliver letters to the second and third sons!”
Remembering how her two sons were indeed more afraid of their father, Qiao Shi nodded.
After arranging the message delivery, Jiang Yucheng finally remembered to get angry: “So the Twelfth Prince can really hear Niannian’s thoughts?”
The thought that some other family’s boy could hear his sweet, soft daughter’s innermost thoughts like her closest blood relative made Jiang Yucheng’s fists clench. The only reason he didn’t directly confront the boy was because he was a prince!
Qiao Shi nodded: “Didn’t Niannian confirm it too? He really can hear. Many of the words the Twelfth Prince used to lecture Madame Xu today were learned from Niannian. The contract matter was also Niannian’s idea, though it was proposed through the Twelfth Prince’s mouth.”
Jiang Yucheng thought for a moment and said helplessly, “No wonder Niannian calls him her little mouthpiece. He speaks all the thoughts in Niannian’s heart.”
Hmph! Her own father could be a mouthpiece too!
Qiao Shi comforted, “What’s done is done. Since we don’t know why the Twelfth Prince can hear Niannian’s thoughts, we can’t stop him from doing so. Now that he has promised Niannian he would keep it a secret, let’s trust him for the time being. If he has any ulterior motives, Niannian will likely find out, and it won’t be difficult for us to take precautions then.”
Jiang Yucheng nodded with difficulty. Rationally, he knew the situation couldn’t be changed, but as a father, he still felt intensely jealous.
Before the Old Marquis had even stepped through the gates of the Marquis Manor, someone had already informed him of everything that had transpired in Ruian Hall regarding the Twelfth Prince’s visit that day.
Upon hearing the account, the Old Marquis’s face darkened considerably. Without even changing out of his official robes, he went straight to Ruian Hall.
Before the Old Madam could speak, the Old Marquis took the lead in questioning her, “When Madam Xu came today to return our eldest granddaughter’s belongings, and our eldest son’s wife arrived, you actually sided with an outsider to make her lose face?”
The Old Madam panicked immediately, inwardly cursing the unknown informant who had reported such trivial matters to the Old Marquis.
“My Lord, when Madam Xu came to return the items, she was indeed full of resentment. I was merely showing some courtesy to a guest! Besides, later Madam Xu returned everything properly, and I didn’t say a word,” the Old Madam hurriedly defended herself.
The Old Marquis snorted coldly, “Don’t think I’m unaware of the Twelfth Prince’s visit to the manor today! If the Twelfth Prince hadn’t been present to maintain order, who knows how far you would have gone in helping outsiders undermine our own family! Zhang Zhihe, don’t forget what I’ve told you before. Since you’re not the birth mother of the eldest and second sons, stay out of their household affairs! In the future, the eldest and second sons might still assist the fourth and fifth sons out of brotherly affection since they share the same father. Don’t ruin what little fraternal bond remains with your meddling!”
The Old Madam’s face flushed crimson with humiliation. She felt utterly heartbroken and wronged, but faced with the Old Marquis’s fury, she couldn’t utter a single word.
“And,” the Old Marquis continued without waiting for her response, “keep your niece in check! Don’t indulge her any further in bringing shame upon the Marquis Manor!”
With that, the Old Marquis flung his sleeve and strode out of Ruian Hall.
The Old Madam pointed at his retreating back, “You… you…”
Before she could form a complete sentence, she fainted.
Chaos immediately erupted in Ruian Hall. Maids and elderly servants rushed forward, carrying the Old Madam to her couch. They pinched her philtrum, fetched medicine, and massaged her chest in a flurry of activity. After much commotion, the Old Madam gradually regained consciousness, two streams of murky tears rolling down her cheeks. “What sin have I committed to deserve this!” she wailed.
Hua Momo, who was massaging the Old Madam’s back, couldn’t help but think to herself: It’s all because you yourself were blinded by your own schemes, insisting on marrying your niece to your son. After the marriage, you refused to properly guide her, spoiling her until she didn’t know her place, even daring to covet a four-year-old prince.
After dismissing everyone else, the Old Madam wept for a long time before mustering some energy to ask, “Hua Momo, have you arranged for the personnel at the temple?”
Hua Momo nodded, “Old Madam, everything has been arranged!”
“And what about the stables…”
“Don’t worry about that, it’s almost all set too. We’re just waiting for the right moment!” Hua Momo replied.
Old Madam finally felt somewhat better, her tone venomous as she said, “Hmph… Since that old fool won’t give me, the Marquess’s wife, the respect I deserve, I’ll make those brothers fight to the death. Let’s see who that old fool will help then!”
Over at Zhaiyun Courtyard, the entire family was on edge, constantly preparing for Niannian’s probing.
Niannian was truly cunning, always choosing the most unexpected moments for her tests. Jiang Xunnian felt grateful that his foolish younger brother had been sent away—with his reaction speed, he would have been exposed by Niannian in an instant.
A few days later, Qiao Shi selected an auspicious day for travel according to the almanac and took Jiang Qiaonian and Jiang Xianian to the highly popular White Horse Temple to pray for peace.
Just as Qiao Shi, carrying Jiang Xianian, and Jiang Qiaonian reached the mansion’s entrance, they encountered He Shi from the fifth branch.
He Shi greeted them, “Eldest sister-in-law, where are you headed?”
Qiao Shi nodded slightly in response, “Going to the temple to offer incense. Are you heading out too?”
He Shi immediately brightened, “What a coincidence! My Yaoyao hasn’t been sleeping well lately, always having nightmares. I was planning to go to the temple to get a talisman to place under her pillow for protection. Shall we go together? That way we can look out for each other!”
Qiao Shi had no particular objection, so they set off together.
Throughout the journey, Jiang Xianian slept soundly, not even waking when Qiao Shi took her into the main hall to offer incense and donate incense money to the Bodhisattva.
It wasn’t until Qiao Shi brought Jiang Qiaonian to rest in the side chamber that Jiang Xianian slowly woke up.
Finding herself in an unfamiliar place, Jiang Xianian felt somewhat disoriented: [Where is this?]
Hearing this, Jiang Qiaonian had an idea and said to Qiao Shi, “Mother, I’ve heard the vegetarian food at White Horse Temple is quite excellent. We should try it today.”
Qiao Shi understood that Jiang Qiaonian was using this opportunity to tell Niannian they were at White Horse Temple. She nodded and said, “Good idea. Later we’ll have someone bring food from the vegetarian hall.”
Jiang Xianian wondered: [This place sounds so familiar! Did something important happen here? Let me think.]
Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian immediately fell silent, waiting for Jiang Xianian’s inner thoughts.
After a moment, Jiang Xianian exclaimed with great surprise: [So that’s it! This is where it all began? My intuition wasn’t wrong after all.]
Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian grew anxious internally: Just tell us what happened!
[This White Horse Temple—isn’t this where my eldest sister was set up and later forced to marry that scumbag from the Duke’s mansion? My sister should be fourteen this year—could it be happening today?!]
Jiang Qiaonian immediately felt her hair stand on end. This was actually related to her marriage? And it was happening today?
Qiao Shi also felt a chill. The Duke’s mansion—which Duke’s mansion? Neither she nor her husband had any intention of having their daughter marry above their station—they would never aspire to a Duke’s mansion! So what exactly was going to happen?
Mother and daughter felt as if their hearts were frying in oil, but they didn’t dare rush Jiang Xianian, forcing themselves to wait patiently.
[This Duke’s mansion clearly looks down on everyone and places great importance on lineage and bloodline, yet they would “stoop so low” as to scheme against my sister, a concubine-born daughter they’ve always despised. Even considering the domestic violence issue, it shouldn’t warrant such elaborate efforts targeting my sister. Let me see what dirty secrets they’re hiding.]
Qiao Shi immediately began pondering—there were only a few ducal mansions in Fuking, and among them, two or three particularly valued lineage…
Jiang Qiaonian tightened her grip on her handkerchief. Though “domestic violence” was a novel term, she could grasp its meaning. Could it be that even in prestigious households like ducal mansions, husbands would beat their wives?!
Meanwhile, in the neighboring courtyard, Huimin Princess had just taken a few steps when she heard a familiar childish voice. Her heart lifted with faint delight as she asked the young monk leading the way, “Are the people next door from Weiyuan Marquis Estate?”
Author’s note:
Huh? Not even leaving me one comment now? Wilted…