Seeing Jiang Yucheng and Qiao Shi fall into silence, Jing Yiniang thought they were feeling guilty and immediately regained her usual calm and composed demeanor.
After waiting for a long while without hearing Jiang Xianian speak, both Jiang Yucheng and Qiao Shi grew anxious.
Just as the two thought Jiang Xianian wouldn’t find anything, they heard a whistle sound: [Found it. I didn’t expect there to be some twists in this: The matchmaker deceived both sides to reap benefits. Both parties were victims… No wonder matchmakers and brokers were considered low-class professions in ancient times. That matchmaker, Granny Wang, told Jing Yiniang’s family that the Marquis Manor had taken a liking to their daughter, while telling the Marquis Manor that there was a respectable family’s daughter wishing to enter a noble household as a concubine. Both sides thought they were the passive party.]
Jiang Yucheng’s eyes immediately turned icy cold as he loudly ordered the guards: “Go! Find Granny Wang, the one who arranged Jing Yiniang’s entry into the manor back then!”
Someone immediately accepted the order and left.
Jing Yiniang showed slight surprise but maintained her composed expression.
Qiao Shi gently patted her husband’s hand to soothe his emotions.
Jiang Xianian couldn’t help but grumble angrily: [Why did Father have to take a concubine when he and Mother have such a good relationship? Without concubines, there wouldn’t be all these troubles that nearly ruined my entire life. If Yao Zhaodi had succeeded in switching me, I’d rather have dashed my head against a wall and died early to be reincarnated sooner.]
This startled Jiang Yucheng, Qiao Shi, and their eldest daughter Jiang Qiaonian. Qiao Shi quickly patted her daughter to comfort her.
Jiang Yucheng also felt deep regret and guilt in his heart. He had only thought of Ru’er, but taking a concubine had brought no benefits and nearly harmed his own daughter.
Worried that her young daughter might overthink, Qiao Shi quickly pretended to comfort her husband to reassure their daughter: “Yucheng, you don’t need to blame yourself. We were all deceived. You taking a concubine was also for my reputation. If there wasn’t anyone in your chamber, Old Madam might have used that as an excuse to make me suffer many losses.”
Jiang Yucheng held Qiao Shi, his voice filled with regret: “I’m also at fault here. If Jing Yiniang resents me for ruining her good marriage prospect, she should have come at me instead of targeting our daughter.”
Qiao Shi could somewhat understand: “Jing Yiniang is just a woman in the inner quarters, dependent on men for survival. Coming after you might implicate her family…”
[Wah… Mother is so gentle and understanding! As a victim, she can still empathize with Jing Yiniang’s difficulties as a woman. She’s truly the kindest and most wonderful person! I must never let Mother reach the outcome of hanging herself to follow Father in death. A scummy father who takes concubines isn’t worth it, hmph!]
Hearing Jiang Xianian say that his wife would end up hanging herself to follow him in death, Jiang Yucheng’s heart ached. He wouldn’t allow it either!
As for his daughter calling him a scummy father, Jiang Yucheng simply ignored it. He would prove to his young daughter through actions that he wasn’t a scumbag!
[Jing Yiniang is also somewhat pitiful,] Jiang Xianian continued muttering: [Even if she hadn’t become Father’s concubine, with her lover’s cowardly and irresponsible nature, marrying him wouldn’t have been good either. Jing Yiniang probably doesn’t know that this scoundrel used the silver she gave him to hook up with a girl from the Flower House, keeping her outside and even saying he would marry her. Another lust-blinded dog.]
Jiang Yucheng’s heart stirred, and he instructed the guards a few more words.
By the time the first group of guards came to report, Jiang Xianian was feeling rather drowsy.
“Reporting to the Lord and Madam, the matchmaker Madam Wang, who served as the intermediary back then, died two winters ago after drinking too much and falling into a ditch where she drowned.”
A key witness was gone! Jiang Yucheng frowned.
“Then go investigate what family members Madam Wang has left and whether they can be brought here!”
“Yes!”
Jiang Xianian had already finished eating her melon and, being young and lacking energy, had fallen asleep.
Seeing that the matter wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon, Qiao Shi informed Jiang Yucheng and, carrying her younger daughter and leading her elder daughter, returned home first.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Jiang Yucheng’s sister, Jiang Yurong, waiting there.
“Eldest Sister! I didn’t know you were visiting at this time and kept you waiting,” Qiao Shi greeted proactively.
Jiang Yurong replied, “I just arrived a short while ago and haven’t even finished a cup of tea, so it wasn’t long. I came to see Little Niannian. Was she frightened by what happened yesterday?”
Qiao Shi brought Jiang Xianian closer to her and said, “She was indeed a bit frightened yesterday, but thankfully, she has recovered.”
Jiang Yurong casually took Jiang Xianian into her arms and continued asking, “Has the matter been clarified? We can’t keep anyone with ill intentions around our Niannian.”
“It’s still under investigation, but it’s almost done.”
After exchanging a few casual words, Jiang Yurong took out an amulet and said, “The day before yesterday, I went to White Horse Temple and obtained a peace amulet. I originally intended to give it to my second brother, but now I’ll give it to Niannian instead, to bless our Niannian with a safe and peaceful growth.”
“Thank you, Sister!” Qiao Shi said gratefully.
After a brief inspection to ensure there was no issue, Qiao Shi casually hung it on Jiang Xianian’s lapel.
Jiang Xianian was sleeping soundly when she suddenly caught a whiff of a smell. Though it was faint and mixed with the scent of sandalwood, she found it rather nauseating and woke up instantly.
Seeing her open her eyes, Jiang Yurong exclaimed in surprise, “Niannian is awake. Was our conversation too loud?”
Qiao Shi took her little daughter and checked her over. Seeing that she was awake, her bright black-and-white eyes darting around adorably, without any fussing or whimpering, she knew she was fine.
“She just woke up on her own,” Qiao Shi said.
Jiang Xianian twitched her little nose and sniffed for a while, finally confirming that the strange smell came from the peace amulet on her. She immediately became unhappy: [Why did Mother hang such a smelly thing on me? It smells so disgusting! But if I cry, they won’t understand why I’m crying, right? How can I get this nasty thing removed?!]
Hearing Jiang Xianian’s inner thoughts, Qiao Shi instinctively observed Jiang Yurong’s reaction. Seeing that her expression hadn’t changed, she guessed that Jiang Yurong couldn’t hear and felt slightly relieved.
However, she couldn’t remove the peace amulet immediately, as it would upset her sister-in-law. So, with a quick thought, Qiao Shi turned to Jiang Xianian and said, “This peace amulet was specially given to you by your Eldest Aunt to bless you with safety. Quickly thank your Eldest Aunt.”
Jiang Xianian immediately frowned, on the verge of crying: [I should cry while they’re talking about the peace amulet so Mother knows I don’t like it! Even though Eldest Aunt means well, she’s done a bad thing!]
Qiao Shi hadn’t expected her little daughter to be so shrewd and clear about gratitude and grudges.
“It seems Niannian doesn’t like this peace amulet, what a pity,” Qiao Shi said.
Jiang Yurong wasn’t particularly concerned: “If Niannian doesn’t like it, just take it off. This wasn’t specially requested for Niannian anyway, so it probably isn’t very effective. It would be better for you to personally make a trip to White Horse Temple to request one later. I can take this back for Second Master instead – it’s all the same.”
Grateful for her elder sister-in-law’s reasonableness, Qiao Shi quickly removed the peace amulet and returned it to Jiang Yurong.
Jiang Xianian immediately breathed a huge sigh of relief, making Qiao Shi find it amusing. But before she could laugh aloud, she heard Jiang Xianian continue: 【Eldest Aunt is so wonderful, it’s such a pity that such a good person married such a scoundrel.】
Qiao Shi’s heart tightened. Although Jiang Yurong was a concubine’s daughter, as the Old Marquis’s first daughter, she was still quite valued. Her husband had also been carefully selected by the Old Marquis himself. The Old Marquis had specifically chosen a subordinate, hoping that Jiang Yurong’s husband would treat her well out of consideration for needing the Marquis Manor’s support.
So Qiao Shi tentatively asked: “Sister, have you been well recently? Is Second Master Jiang treating you well?”
Jiang Yurong answered without hesitation: “Of course! Didn’t you just see how he treats me yesterday? With Father and my brothers around, how would he dare bully me.”
Qiao Shi thought for a moment, then asked: “What about your mother-in-law…”
“Ah, it’s just because I gave birth to a daughter that she nags a bit. I just let it go in one ear and out the other. Anyway, Second Master won’t take a concubine – we’ll definitely have a son eventually.”
Qiao Shi had heard such things many times before and began to wonder: Could Niannian be wrong?
【He won’t take a concubine, but he keeps a mistress outside!!】 Jiang Xianian screamed inwardly, growing increasingly frustrated with her inability to speak and warn Eldest Aunt. After all, Eldest Aunt had given her an enormous gold peace lock yesterday, more valuable than the gifts from Fourth and Fifth Uncle, which had greatly endeared her to Jiang Xianian.
Qiao Shi was startled by her words, not only because the matter was so shocking, but also because Jiang Xianian’s voice was extremely loud.
The tone and volume made clear how angry her daughter was.
【Ahhh… What does she mean ‘gave birth to a daughter’? Eldest Aunt has already given birth to two sons! But that scumbag Jiang swapped them with daughters born to his mistress! In his view, they’re all his children – whether raised in the manor or outside makes no difference. But if she can’t produce a son, he can let his mother use this to constantly suppress Eldest Aunt, making her feel guilty. The Marquis Manor would then have to treat him better, allocating resources to him preferentially so he can climb higher more smoothly! Ah—that damned scoundrel!】
Qiao Shi was utterly shaken. She never imagined that her brother-in-law, who always appeared to wait on Eldest Aunt hand and foot, would do such things! She felt like she was about to fall apart!
This Jiang Yizhen usually put on quite an act!
Seeing that Qiao Shi had fallen silent with an increasingly grim expression, Jiang Yurong thought she had offended her and stood to leave: “I’ve seen Niannian now, and since Niannian is fine, I’ll take my leave.”
Qiao Shi’s mind was in turmoil. She desperately wanted to tell Eldest Aunt everything she had just heard, but she couldn’t say it came from Niannian. Though she wished to warn her, when she opened her mouth she didn’t know where to begin. If she spoke bluntly, Jiang Yurong, who remained completely unaware, would likely think she was talking nonsense.
Jiang Yurong had slowly walked out of the courtyard. Qiao Shi pressed a hand to her chest before gradually sitting down. No, she couldn’t act hastily. This matter needed to be discussed with her husband first. They should gather evidence before figuring out how to broach the subject with Eldest Aunt.
The revelation that their own daughter had been swapped by a wet nurse bribed by a concubine was shocking enough—who could have imagined her husband would personally exchange his own child!