Rules were paramount in a noble and affluent residence; once the banquet began, no one spoke anymore.
Sitting next to Old Madam Jiang, Jiang Yao felt completely ill at ease. Although she was determined to cultivate a good relationship with Old Madam Jiang, she was unsure exactly how to proceed…
Jiang Yao’s gaze settled on one dish.
She remembered that the book had mentioned Old Madam Jiang loved crispy fried lotus root patties (sūzhà ǒuhé) the most, but as she grew older, she could no longer chew them. The female protagonist, Jiang Ying, had even cooked an improved version herself.
“Grandmother, Yao’er remembers you love eating this the most.”
Jiang Yao hesitated for a moment in her heart, then used her chopsticks to place a piece for Old Madam Jiang, her tone carrying a trace of barely perceptible nervousness. After carefully setting down the lotus root patty, she immediately withdrew her hand, as if afraid of being noticed, and lowered her head, shoving a large mouthful of rice into her own mouth.
She was attempting to mask her inner unease and tension. She failed to notice, however, that both Old Madam Jiang and Yuzhu behind her were briefly stunned.
Old Madam Jiang’s gaze fell upon the lotus root patty on her plate, and she felt a prickle of emotion in her eyes.
“Good, you eat too.” Old Madam Jiang also placed a piece on Jiang Yao’s plate.
The atmosphere was a rare moment of harmony.
Seeing this, Madam Liu’s smile froze on her lips. Her eyes darted between Jiang Yao and Old Madam Jiang, and a sense of annoyance flared up in her heart. What is going on? Normally, the two of them could barely exchange half a sensible sentence before parting on bad terms. Why was it like this now…?
“Your father will return later. Since your health is now much better, sit down and have a proper talk with him, and do not behave as you did last time.” Old Madam Jiang spoke after finishing her meal, her tone calm but carrying an undeniable seriousness.
Jiang Yao quickly nodded. “Grandmother, Yao’er understands.”
With that, Old Madam Jiang seemed a little tired. After only a few more words, she waved her hand, dismissing them all to return to their own quarters.
Even after returning to her own bedroom, Old Madam Jiang’s thoughts seemed to linger on the scene she had just witnessed.
She sat on the couch, lost in thought for a moment, and then her mouth unconsciously curled upward into a faint smile. She even looked at Yuzhu beside her with a trace of excitement, as if confirming that she wasn’t dreaming.
“Yuzhu, did you see that just now?” Her voice held a slight tremor.
Yuzhu smiled. “Yes, I did! The Third Miss even remembered what you like to eat!”
Not only that, Yuzhu also brought out the box of ointment and described the conversation that had just taken place to Old Madam Jiang in detail.
“Yao girl… she doesn’t resent me anymore?” Old Madam Jiang murmured to herself.
The candlelight in the room was bright. The tall-handled lamp standing by the couch cast a soft glow on Old Madam Jiang’s face, faintly reflecting an indescribable sense of loneliness on her countenance.
“The Third Miss is grown up now and naturally understands the Old Madam’s heartfelt difficulties concerning her,” Yuzhu said, half comforting and half persuading. “It’s getting late, Old Madam. You should rest now. There are still many days ahead.”
While Jingya Hall was a scene of peace and serenity, Jinxiu Courtyard, where Madam Liu resided, seemed shrouded in dark clouds.
Watching Madam Liu stomp into the room with a face full of fury, the servants in the courtyard were all hushed in fear, moving gingerly for fear of inadvertently bringing trouble upon themselves.
“Momo Feng, what exactly is going on?” Madam Liu’s voice was laced with suppressed rage, her eyes gloomy, and a cold sneer on her lips.
Momo Feng was also baffled after returning from the main hall. “Since that incident, the Third Miss has always been very cold towards the Old Madam. This old servant doesn’t know what came over her today…” The grandmother and granddaughter, who usually couldn’t exchange three sensible sentences, had actually shared a harmonious meal.
Madam Liu’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed. “Where is Momo Chu? Wasn’t she instructed to stay by Jiang Yao’s side? Why didn’t I see her today?”
“Momo Chu’s daughter-in-law gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and she took leave to return home,” Momo Feng’s voice was low and cautious.
“Send for her to come back immediately,” a flash of ruthlessness crossed Madam Liu’s eyes. “If she doesn’t return, she can forget about ever seeing her grandson again.”
“This old servant will send someone to relay the message right away.”
Momo Feng quickly agreed. Knowing Madam Liu’s temper, she dared not delay in the slightest and immediately began arranging for someone to notify Momo Chu.
Madam Liu’s gaze pulled back from Momo Feng’s receding figure, turning to Cuiliu who was waiting nearby. Her brow slightly furrowed, and she seemed to let out a sigh. “How is the Second Miss doing?”
Cuiliu lowered her head, her voice respectful. “The Miss has been taking her medicinal soup on time these past few days. Her complexion is much better than before, and her spirits have recovered somewhat.”
Hearing Cuiliu’s words, Madam Liu’s brow finally relaxed a little, and a look of relief appeared on her face.
“That’s good. The third day of the eighth month is the Marquis Xuanyang’s birthday; we absolutely cannot be delayed.” The Marquis Xuanyang’s family was prominent. If the Second Girl could gain the favor of the Marquis Xuanyang’s heir and be accepted into the Marquis Xuanyang Residence, it would also benefit Wencan’s future…
“Cuiliu, go personally and ensure that the Second Girl’s attire and makeup are perfectly prepared; there must be no mistakes.” Madam Liu’s voice held an undeniable resolve. She had placed high hopes on this flower viewing banquet and would not permit any accidents.
Cuiliu immediately responded, “Yes, Madam. Your servant will go prepare now.”
After Jiang Yao returned to her courtyard, she sat quietly on her bed, her gaze slightly lowered, staring blankly at the storybook in her hand. She hadn’t turned a single page for a long time.
Chunlan brought water to help Jiang Yao wash and change, but seeing her mistress like this, she felt puzzled. Perhaps the recent change in the Miss had emboldened Chunlan somewhat; she softly asked, “Miss, what are you thinking about?”
Hearing Chunlan’s voice, Jiang Yao came back to herself. “Chunlan, did I… used to have a very good relationship with Grandmother?” The soft moonlight filtering through the window paper shone on Jiang Yao’s face, revealing a slightly puzzled expression.
The past few days, whether it was Jiang Ying or Old Madam Jiang, they were all… different from what she had imagined.
According to the book, the original host was supposed to be a pampered, arrogant, and vicious cannon fodder character. But Old Madam Jiang’s subconscious reaction couldn’t be faked. She even eventually told her to sit down and have a proper talk with her father.
“Miss, have you forgotten? When you were little, you were raised by the Old Madam’s side,” Chunlan explained while placing the basin of water on the stand. “However, by the time your servant arrived, you were no longer in the Old Madam’s courtyard; you only had Momo Chu by your side.”
In those years, after the Old Master retired from office, Jiang Mingji had to attend to court affairs after returning to the capital, and Madam Shen had to look after the young Jiang Ying while also managing the entire Jiang family. They had no choice but to hand the infant Jiang Yao over to the Old Madam.
“Oh, it must be the after-effects of the fever; I still feel a bit muddled. Did I move out on my own when I grew up?”
“Something like that… Miss, you received information from somewhere claiming that the Old Madam was responsible for your birth mother’s death, and you moved out after having a huge argument with the Old Madam.”
Jiang Yao frowned. So that’s how it was. She felt there must be something suspicious about this matter.