Standing at the front was Jiang Wei, Jiang Lingyuan’s eldest uncle. Who is now a fourth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue and was about the only member of the Jiang family with any respectable official standing left.
At the moment, Jiang Wei was speaking to Lu Yun with an ingratiating smile, showing none of the dignity expected of an elder.
Jiang Lingyuan found the sight painful to watch and simply turned her head away, deciding that what she couldn’t see couldn’t bother her. As for whether it embarrassed her in front of Lu Yun, she couldn’t have cared less. In the eyes of everyone at Duke Yu Manor, she herself wasn’t considered much of a worthy match anyway.
Even without looking, however, she could sense Lu Yun growing increasingly impatient.
After a few polite exchanges, the men and women separated.
Dealing with the sharp-tongued Old Madam Jiang and the group of sisters and cousins, none of whom had ever been close to her but were now forced to curry favor with her, was hardly an easy task either.
Deep lines framed Old Madam Jiang’s mouth, making her look even less kind. She showed Jiang Lingyuan no warmth whatsoever, speaking instead in a lecturing tone.
“The Jiang family has spent many years raising you. We even secured such an excellent marriage for you. You must remember to be grateful.”
Jiang Lingyuan knew perfectly well that this marriage had nothing to do with the Jiang family, but she had no intention of arguing with people determined to deceive themselves. She merely smiled without speaking.
Second Madam Jiang frowned.
“Lingyuan, what do you mean by staying silent?”
A marriage into Duke Yu Manor, even to an illegitimate son, was something she would gladly have arranged for her own daughter. Back then, she had even tried to substitute another girl, only for Duke Yu Manor to reject the proposal outright. Naturally, she had no goodwill toward Jiang Lingyuan.
Looking around at everyone present, Jiang Lingyuan answered unhurriedly,”I’ll naturally do my best. But I was raised in the countryside since childhood, so I’m really not particularly clever.”
It was almost as though Old Madam Jiang had been waiting for exactly that response.
“Speaking of which, I never expected the people your grandmother left behind to be so incompetent. Then your father passed away early, and your mother never concerned herself with household affairs. This old woman has had to shoulder all the responsibility.”
She paused before continuing,”How about this? When you leave today, take Nanny Hong with you. From now on, simply follow everything she tells you.”
Nanny Hong was Old Madam Jiang’s personal attendant.
Jiang Lingyuan didn’t need to think to know what her life would become if she brought Old Madam Jiang’s trusted servant into Duke Yu Manor.
Naturally, she wasn’t about to invite trouble into her own household.
Yet she deliberately put on an expression of delight.
“Grandmother is so considerate toward me. I’m deeply grateful. However, bringing someone into my husband’s household isn’t a decision I dare make on my own. Why don’t Grandmother discuss it personally with Fourth Young Master?”
In the Jiang family’s eyes, Jiang Lingyuan held little authority.
But no one in the Jiang household was willing to offend Lu Yun.
As expected, the room fell silent the moment she finished speaking.
Seeing Old Madam Jiang on the verge of losing her temper, Jiang Lingyuan immediately stood.
“Grandmother, I’d like to visit the Buddhist hall and see Mother.”
There was no point continuing the conversation with these people.
The Buddhist hall in the rear courtyard consisted of only three small rooms and felt cold and deserted.
After her husband, Jiang Hang, died, Jiang Lingyuan’s mother had voluntarily moved there, spending her days chanting scriptures and praying for his soul.
Thirteen years had passed.
During those thirteen years, Jiang Lingyuan could count on one hand the number of times she had seen her mother.
Only after waiting for some time did Second Madam Jiang finally appear.
She wore a loose dark gray cotton robe with wide sleeves. Her hair, already streaked with white, was arranged into a neat round bun secured by nothing more than a sandalwood hairpin. Apart from that single hairpin, she wore no ornaments at all.
Perhaps because she had eaten only vegetarian food for years, her complexion had become slightly sallow, and her eyes seemed devoid of vitality.
The Second Master of the Jiang family had died thirteen years earlier.
And for those same thirteen years, Second Madam Jiang had remained in the family temple praying for him.
To this day, Jiang Lingyuan found it difficult to understand how her mother could remain so deeply devoted to a man who had possessed neither remarkable talent nor restraint in his pursuit of beautiful women.
But she wasn’t particularly curious, nor did she wish to investigate further.
Upon seeing her mother, she rose and bowed with flawless grace, every movement smooth and measured, like a painted court lady stepping out of a scroll.
Yet Second Madam Jiang frowned at the sight.
The girl’s bearing reminded her too much of her own mother, who had always imposed countless rules upon her.
Now her daughter had become exactly like that woman.
Instinctively, she disliked it.
“No need to stand on ceremony,” Second Madam Jiang said coolly. “Sit.”
After sitting down, mother and daughter found themselves with nothing to say.
After a long pause, Jiang Lingyuan finally spoke. “Mother, please take care of your health.”
Second Madam Jiang’s expression remained unchanged.
“Mm. You’ve finally endured enough hardship to see brighter days. But don’t forget your elder brother.”
“He has the same talent your father did. He’s simply never been given the opportunity to display it. Now that you’ve married into Duke Yu Manor, help him secure an official appointment at court.”
“Don’t worry. Your brother will never disgrace you. In the future, he’ll be someone you can rely on.”
Listening to those words, Jiang Lingyuan felt nothing but emptiness.
This was the Jiang family.
They naturally assumed that marrying into Duke Yu Manor meant she could now live without worries.
They naturally assumed she should devote herself entirely to advancing the Jiang family’s interests.
But…
Why?
She bore the surname Jiang.
Yet she had been raised by the Shen family.
Smiling faintly, though there wasn’t the slightest warmth in her eyes, Jiang Lingyuan replied,
“Mother, Half Brother is talented. If he succeeds through the imperial examinations, he’ll surely have a brilliant future.”
Second Madam Jiang frowned deeply. “What do you mean by ‘Half brother’? He’s already been registered under my name. Are you really going to let your father go without a legitimate heir?”
If they continued talking, the conversation would likely become a full-blown argument.
Jiang Lingyuan stood. “Mother, please take good care of yourself. I’ll go see Grandmother.”
Behind her, Second Madam Jiang suddenly raised her voice. “So, are you agreeing or not?”
Jiang Lingyuan paused for only a moment. In the end, she said nothing and walked away.
The moment she stepped out of the family temple, Xunxia hurried over.
“Miss, something’s wrong! Fourth Young Master is leaving right now!”
Jiang Lingyuan frowned. “What happened?”
Disgust filled Xunxia’s face. “Fourth Miss deliberately went to the front courtyard to serve Fourth Young Master tea and ended up spilling it all over his clothes.”
Jiang Lingyuan closed her eyes briefly. She must have picked the wrong day to leave the house. Nothing was going right today.
She hurried to the front courtyard.
The situation there had already reached a stalemate.
The Eldest Madam Jiang immediately grabbed Jiang Lingyuan with exaggerated warmth. “Lingyuan! Hurry and explain things to Fourth Young Master. Your Fourth Sister didn’t do it on purpose.”
Jiang Lingyuan first glanced at Lu Yun.
He stood there expressionless, but the impatience radiating from him was unmistakable.
Only then did she smile sweetly. “Aunt, are there no maids left in the household? Why did Fourth Sister have to serve tea personally?”
The Eldest Madam Jiang froze. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
Everyone understood the real intention behind what had happened. But saying it aloud was another matter entirely.
As though oblivious to her embarrassment, Jiang Lingyuan continued,”Besides, neither of us expected Fourth Master’s clothes to become soaked. We won’t be staying for lunch after all. We’ll return home now.”
Without giving the Eldest Madam another chance to speak, Jiang Lingyuan hurried after Lu Yun.
Watching them leave, the Eldest Madam Jiang ground her teeth in anger. “So what if she’s married into a ducal household? What’s there to be so proud of? Without her natal family to support her, she’s nothing!”
Once they boarded the carriage, Lu Yun sat quietly without sparing Jiang Lingyuan so much as a glance.
She smiled bitterly.
The fragile peace she had finally managed to establish between them had completely fallen apart.
She still didn’t know when she would find an opportunity to explain that matter to him.
After thinking for a moment, she was about to speak.
Instead, Lu Yun spoke first. “We’re going to Hongyue Tower.”