Jiang Xianian found it ridiculous, but Jiang Qiaonian was deeply shocked. Xu Lin had always taken the initiative to befriend her and was willing to share many heartfelt thoughts, so how could Xu Lin be jealous of her? She had thought Xu Lin was someone who didn’t care about legitimacy or illegitimacy at all, but in reality, did Xu Lin look down on her as an illegitimate daughter?
Jiang Qiaonian’s mind was in turmoil; she felt both shocked and hurt.
Unaware of her elder sister’s thoughts, Jiang Xianian continued to enjoy the drama: It must be so hard for her. She clearly hates illegitimate children because of her own illegitimate sister, yet she forces herself to act like a good friend and bestie to my elder sister. She’s all friendly and sweet to her face, but the moment she turns around, she’s rolling her eyes and cursing. Isn’t that too two-faced? Doesn’t she find it exhausting?
Jiang Qiaonian lowered her head, trembling slightly. The person she had considered her best friend actually despised her to the core, all because she was illegitimate!
Xu Lin felt something was off and glanced at Jiang Qiaonian again, only to meet Jiang Xianian’s dark, gleaming eyes. For some reason, she felt as if those eyes could see right through her. She shuddered involuntarily and quickly averted her gaze.
Oh, no wonder she’s willing to endure it—my sister is very generous and lends her clothes and jewelry. But every time she wears them out, she never mentions they’re my sister’s. When others ask, she avoids giving a direct answer and uses clever words to make people think they’re hers. Some even suspect my sister of stealing her things?! Jiang Xianian’s voice trembled with shock. How is that even possible?
My sister’s best friend is toxic! How can I warn her? Someone so vain and hypocritical is bound to drag my sister down someday! Jiang Xianian grew anxious inwardly.
By this point, Jiang Qiaonian couldn’t bear to listen any longer. She picked up Jiang Xianian and stood, heading toward Qiao Shi.
Since the seating for the ladies and young misses was only separated by a curtain, Qiao Shi had also overheard Jiang Xianian’s inner thoughts clearly.
When Jiang Qiaonian reached her side, Qiao Shi noticed her red-rimmed eyes and sighed softly.
In truth, Qiao Shi had long felt that Xu Lin was not a good influence. She had tried to subtly hint to Jiang Qiaonian to keep her distance a few times, but Jiang Qiaonian never grasped her meaning. She had been pondering how to convey the message in a way that Jiang Qiaonian would understand without creating a rift between them. Unexpectedly, her younger daughter had laid it all out so bluntly.
Qiao Shi gently patted Jiang Qiaonian’s hand, and the latter could no longer hold back her tears. She had genuinely considered Xu Lin her best friend!
Just as Qiao Shi was about to offer some comfort, a voice tinged with mockery chimed in, “Oh my! What’s wrong with Qiaonian? Did someone bully you over there?”
It was none other than Xu Lin’s mother!
Jiang Qiaonan wiped her tears and replied, “It’s nothing. Just some dust in my eyes. I wanted my mother to blow it out for me.”
Madam Xu let out an ambiguous chuckle.
Seeing her inwardly criticize Jiang Qiaonian for calling Qiao Shi “Mother” instead of “Madam,” Jiang Xianian couldn’t help but feel disgusted: [No wonder they’re biological mother and daughter—this mean-spirited, jealous temperament is carved from the same mold. My mother should stay away from that Madam Xu too. After all, my mother is so beautiful, so deeply in love with Father, and so wealthy—there are far too many reasons for envy.]
Hearing Jiang Xianian unexpectedly shift to praising Qiao Shi, the slight anger in Qiao Shi’s heart instantly dissipated, and much of the discomfort and resentment in Jiang Qiaonian’s heart smoothed away as well.
Exactly—their family had everything. It should be the Xu mother and daughter who were furious.
“Qiao’er, would you like to sit by Mother and help watch your sister?” Qiao Shi asked.
After a brief moment of thought, Jiang Qiaonian shook her head: “Mother, I can keep an eye on Sister from over there too.”
After her brief low spirits, Jiang Qiaonian quickly realized that aside from Xu Lin, the other girls were also her friends! She shouldn’t give up the chance to interact with them just because of Xu Lin. Moreover, her younger sister had already helped her see Xu Lin’s true character—she would simply keep her distance and be more guarded in the future.
Seeing Jiang Qiaonian come to her senses so quickly, Qiao Shi felt relieved—this daughter of hers had truly grown up.
“Then go ahead. If you get tired, just bring your sister back to me,” Qiao Shi said gently.
“Alright, Mother.”
By the time Jiang Qiaonian returned to the group of girls, her expression had returned to normal.
Xu Lin kept feeling there was something off about Jiang Qiaonian, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
After playing for a while, the girls grew restless. Miss Qu Wanting suggested going to play in the garden: “You’ve already seen that pot of Yao Huang peonies, but there are plenty of other flowers blooming beautifully in our garden! My mother put great effort into tending them—you’d regret missing them!”
The young girls quickly agreed to go play in the garden. Having already heard her younger sister’s eager thoughts, Jiang Qiaonian informed Qiao Shi, then followed the group to the garden with Jiang Xianian in her arms, accompanied by maids.
The Qu family’s garden was indeed impressive. Jiang Xianian marveled at the sight: [This layout, this color coordination, this artful arrangement of heights—if this was all designed by Madam Qu, then she truly is a master of landscape gardening!]
Jiang Qiaonian’s heart stirred, and she asked Qu Wanting, “Was this entire garden arranged by your mother?”
Qu Wanting nodded proudly: “Of course! Which plants should go where, when to prune each tree and how to shape them, which flowers or trees have withered and need replacing—every decision was made by my mother!”
Jiang Qiaonian praised sincerely: “Madam Qu is truly remarkable. The overall design, how the flower colors complement each other, and how the view changes beautifully from different angles and distances—it’s all extraordinary!”
Qu Wanting beamed with delight and pride: “I’ll tell Mother what you said later—she’ll be so pleased!”
Just then, Jiang Xianian suddenly thought: [No way? Is she jealous just because my sister said something nice? Thinks my sister is being ingratiating? If you want to please people, say nice things yourself! Why envy my sister?!]
Jiang Qiaonian froze for a moment, realizing her sister was referring to Xu Lin, and felt equally exasperated.
How had she never noticed before how easily Xu Lin grew jealous of others?
[Huh? She actually planned to fake a fall on the steps ahead and then claim my sister bumped into her or pushed her? Is she insane? Oh, so she’s eyeing my sister’s new gold-wire and pearl hairpin and wants to borrow it by exploiting my sister’s guilt, then pretend she forgot and never return it.] Jiang Xianian was also shocked by such a shameless money-making scheme. Could people really pull off something like this?
That hairpin of Jiang Qiaonian’s was pure gold adorned with perfectly round, luminous genuine pearls! A piece of jewelry worth hundreds of taels of silver, and she planned to just pocket it like that?
Jiang Qiaonian couldn’t help but touch her hair. This hairpin was specially made for her by Qiao Shi—unavailable elsewhere—and it looked both elegant and eye-catching. No wonder Xu Lin wanted it.
Recalling how she had previously given or lent Xu Lin many things after accidentally stepping on or bumping into her, Jiang Qiaonian realized it had all been part of Xu Lin’s calculations?
Jiang Qiaonian felt utterly furious.
With only a few steps left before the stairs, Jiang Qiaonian had a sudden idea. She pulled Qu Wanting aside to admire and discuss a slanting magnolia branch, conveniently stopping in her tracks.
Sure enough, a moment later, there was a “thud,” followed by Xu Lin’s coquettish complaint, “Qiaonian, why did you push me?”
Jiang Qiaonian pretended to have just noticed what happened and exclaimed in surprise, “Huh? I pushed you? Why are you falsely accusing me?”
Qu Wanting added, “Linlin, don’t talk nonsense. Qiaonian has been right beside me, several feet away from you. There’s no way she pushed you.”
Only then did Xu Lin realize the conditions for framing someone were insufficient! Her face instantly flushed bright red. “I… I must have been mistaken. I thought it was Qiaonian behind me…”
Watching Xu Lin’s feigned behavior, Jiang Qiaonian began to doubt herself. How had she been deceived by such clumsy acting before? Had she really been so blind?
[I hadn’t even figured out how to warn my sister, and she already dodged this disaster. What luck! Sis, you really need to be more careful! You might not be so lucky next time.] Jiang Xianian felt a lingering fear.
Jiang Qiaonian thought her sister’s words made sense. She needed to be more vigilant from now on.
The young ladies hurried to help Xu Lin up, but before she could steady herself, she began moaning and groaning.
Startled, the girls helping her loosened their grip, and Xu Lin fell back down, wailing even louder.
Jiang Qiaonian didn’t dare approach, afraid of being blamed again. She watched from a distance but was curious about what was happening. Her adorable little sister immediately provided the answer: [Hahaha… This is hilarious! Xu Lin tried to fake a fall to frame my sister and covet her things, but she actually sprained her ankle for real! She went for wool and came back shorn! Serves her right!]
Jiang Qiaonian was infected by Jiang Xianian’s joyful tone and couldn’t help curling her lips into a slight smile, though she didn’t dare laugh too openly.
Even at this point, Xu Lin still tried to pull Jiang Qiaonian into it: “Qiaonian, come help me!”
Jiang Qiaonian refused without hesitation: “I’m holding my sister. I can’t help you. Wan Ting has already sent for a physician. Just bear with it a little longer!”
Then Jiang Qiaonian heard her sister praising her—though she didn’t understand what “giving a like” meant, she knew her sister was approving and complimenting her! Instantly, she felt refreshed and cheerful.
Soon after, the Qu residence arranged for sturdy maids to carry Xu Lin away. After a physician examined her, Xu Lin was sent home, with Madam Xu accompanying her.
Once that mother-daughter pair departed, the atmosphere at the tea party seemed to lighten considerably.
In the carriage on their way back to the residence, Qiao Shi comforted Jiang Qiaonian. Though still feeling somewhat upset inside, Jiang Qiaonian had stopped crying and said, “Mother, I’m fine now. Please don’t worry about me.”
Qiao Shi patted her head and replied, “That’s good. Do you want to retrieve all those items you previously lent out?”
Jiang Qiaonian immediately responded with determination, “Of course I want them back! But I’ve accumulated so many things over the years that I can’t recall everything at once.”
Qiao Shi suggested, “Then take your time to think carefully. When we get back, make a list. For anything you can’t remember, ask your maidservants. If some things truly slip your mind, just let them go—consider it a lesson learned.”
Jiang Qiaonian nodded, “I’ll follow your advice, Mother. Do you think I’ve been terribly wasteful?”