” Sister-in-law, don’t think of me as just a concubine’s son,” Jiang Cheng said. “I’m not afraid to tell you, Sister-in-law, after all these years, I’ve long since cultivated my own influence. I wouldn’t dare say much else, but protecting you is no problem.”
” Truly?” Zhao E was overjoyed, her hands behind her back as she quietly signaled to Ling Feng.
Her goal had been achieved; she no longer had the patience to continue playing along with Jiang Cheng.
” Naturally it’s true, I…” Jiang Cheng was about to say more.
” Miss, someone is coming,” Ling Feng said, catching on.
” Uncle, hurry and leave, don’t let anyone misunderstand again.” Zhao E glanced around, putting on a panicked expression.
” I’ll leave now. Sister-in-law, please don’t do anything foolish. You have me for everything.” Jiang Cheng gave one last reminder, then quickly left.
Zhao E watched him disappear behind the flowers and trees, let out a scoff, and sat down leaning against the railing.
The maids hurriedly brought over piping hot eggs.
Xiyu and Xishi both set to work, peeling the eggs and wrapping them in fine gauze, gently dabbing at the red marks on her face.
After three rounds of eggs, Zhao E grew impatient: ” Isn’t it done yet?”
” Just a little more,” Xiyu replied.
” Miss, you’re attending the Qiqiao Yan tomorrow. You can’t leave any marks,” Xishi added.
” Hurry up, then.” Zhao E reined in her patience.
” Miss, Princess Jiang has arrived,” Ling Feng reported quietly.
Zhao E opened her eyes to take a look, but stayed leaning against the railing without moving.
” Jinjin.” Princess Jiang spoke with considerable affection.
Zhao E’s lips curved slightly. She tilted her head and glanced at her, but said nothing.
She hadn’t risen to pay her respects, yet Princess Jiang neither got angry nor moved, and even called her so intimately. It seemed she had something to ask of her.
” Your grandmother wishes to see you.” Princess Jiang stepped closer, discussing it with her: ” Will you come with me to meet her?”
She was someone who could bide her time. Even if she harbored a hundred desires to do away with Zhao E, her face betrayed not the slightest hint.
” Does Mother-in-law know what this is?” Zhao E smiled and pointed to the red marks on her face.
” That Zhanwen, so reckless.” Princess Jiang said angrily: ” I know you’re innocent. I’ll teach him a lesson for you later…”
” Then have him come and apologize to me.” Zhao E stood up, cutting off her words, and walked out without even turning her head.
” First Madam, First Madam…” A young servant came running from afar: ” Bad news, the young master got into an argument with someone at the teahouse and they started fighting!”
” What?” Princess Jiang was greatly alarmed: ” Where? Take me there at once.”
Princess Jiang could no longer bother with Zhao E and hurried off.
That night, Zhao E took a calming tonic and, hugging her beloved little soft blanket, was about to go to sleep when Ling Feng came in: ” Miss, Jiang Huaifu has returned.”
” Did you find out what it was about?” Zhao E asked, eyes half-closed.
” Yes.” Ling Feng said: ” He went to the teahouse and happened to hear people discussing how useless he is. He flew into a rage and started fighting with them.”
” That’s all it took to fly into a rage?” Zhao E laughed. This was only the beginning.
But then again, Jiang Huaifu had so quickly become teahouse gossip. It was likely his aunt, Madam Jiang Chen, had played no small part. The move to leak the information to Madam Jiang Chen had been the right one.
” You may go.” She hugged her little soft blanket and closed her eyes.
Since Ling Feng arrived, she had been sleeping better than before.
＊
The Autumn Equinox Banquet was held at Taiyi Yuan.
Taiyi Yuan was an imperial garden, lush with trees, flowers, and plants, filled with rare and exotic flora. It had carved railings and jade steps, layered artificial mountains, and a winding clear stream flowing through it—truly a picturesque scene.
On ordinary days, Taiyi Yuan was heavily guarded and outsiders were not permitted to enter.
Only Princess Le Tao, as the sister of the current emperor, had the privilege of hosting banquets in the imperial garden.
Zhao E stepped down from the carriage and looked around. The hitching area was already filled with carriages from various families.
Holding a round fan, she walked out slowly.
“Eldest Young Miss.”
Not far away, someone bowed to her respectfully.
“Is there something?” Zhao E’s gaze shifted, and she asked with a smile.
She recognized this maidservant—she was Jiang Qingrou’s trusted confidante, named Sheng Yun.
It was rather amusing. Her mother was named Sheng Xue, and Jiang Qingrou’s two personal maidservants were either Sheng Yun or Sheng Yue—both always one level above “Xue.”
“The Madam requests the Eldest Young Miss to come over. She has something to say.” Sheng Yun was polite and respectful.
“Lead the way.” Zhao E turned her head and instructed, “Ling Feng, just follow me.”
“Yes.” Xiyu and the other maidservants all stopped in their tracks.
Sheng Yun led Zhao E to the entrance of the side hall of Taiyi Dian. “Please, Eldest Young Miss. The Madam and the two young ladies are all inside.”
Zhao E brought Ling Feng and walked in.
Taiyi Dian was magnificent. Even the side hall had carved beams and painted rafters, decorated most luxuriously.
“Mother.”
Zhao E stepped forward and bowed with a smile.
“Eldest Girl has come.” Jiang Qingrou had a pair of willow-leaf eyes. When she smiled, she appeared gentle and kind, yet she also carried the bearing of a matriarch. “Come sit quickly. Have you not yet greeted your eldest sister?”
“Eldest Sister.” Zhao Yuehua’s features resembled hers by six or seven parts, and the smile on her face was exactly the same.
One could tell at a glance that she had been carefully trained by Jiang Qingrou.
Zhao Ruxiu harbored a grudge against Zhao E. The wound on her hand still hurt. She was sullen and awkward—how could she be willing to bow?
It was already good enough that she did not curse her outright.
“We are sisters of the same family. No need for formalities.” Zhao E’s lips curved slightly as she discreetly sized them up.
“Eldest Girl, it has been nearly a month since you left the boudoir. Why have you not returned home to visit?” Jiang Qingrou gazed at Zhao E with a smile. “Could it be that because I was strict in teaching you before, you hold a grudge?”
“Mother did everything for my sake. How could there be grudges within a family?” Zhao E chuckled softly.
Whether one hated or not was never determined by words alone.
“That is what I say as well.” Jiang Qingrou spoke earnestly and meaningfully. “When I entered the household, I became a stepmother. I had children of my own. When I disciplined you siblings, I was somewhat strict, but not excessively so.
After all, you do not have even half a scar on your body.”
“Mother sent someone to call me here—it was not for the sake of reminiscing, was it?” The smile at the corner of Zhao E’s lips never faded, yet deep within her dark eyes hid a chill.
Jiang Qingrou had countless methods to make her suffer unbearably without leaving scars—such as wrapping a stick in a long cloth, or holding her down in filthy water, or using Neijin during punishment…
She had endured too much and never dared to forget.
“Naturally not.” Jiang Qingrou looked toward Zhao Ruxiu. “I heard that you had a conflict with your younger sister?”
“Since Mother heard, then you should know the cause and effect of the matter.” Zhao E gripped her round fan and slowly took a seat.
“Eldest Girl.” Jiang Qingrou wore a look of disappointment. “Back then, I taught you that since you are older, you should yield to your younger siblings. Why can you not remember that lesson?”
“Oh?” Zhao E raised an eyebrow slightly. “Mother, how do you think I should yield?”
“You pricked her hand—that is understandable,” Jiang Qingrou sighed. “But no matter how much you hate her, you should not have shattered her wrist bone!”
“So it was only cracked?” Zhao E blinked. She had thought it was broken.
“What? You think it is not serious enough?” Zhao Ruxiu, emboldened by Jiang Qingrou’s support, was especially arrogant and overbearing. “Mother, quickly order someone to break her arm!”
“Eldest girl, how do you plan to settle this matter?” Jiang Qingrou looked at Zhao E and asked.
“Mother, the injury to little sister’s wrist has nothing to do with me.” Zhao E rose. “If there is nothing else, I will take my leave first.”
“Zhao E.” Jiang Qingrou also stood up. Her tone was not harsh, but her attitude was firm. “Xiuer has a witness. You cannot deny it.
Do not think that just because you are married, your mother cannot discipline you. Do not forget, the Fuguo Duke’s Residence is my natal family.”
Just then, the door was pushed open from outside.
Everyone turned back and saw Zhou Yu, his expression cold, his posture straight, stepping in.
Zhao E curved her eyes and smiled lightly. “The witness has arrived.”