After leaving Tingshi Pavilion, Jiang Huaishan returned to his own residence, Huaixin Courtyard.
The courtyard was situated in the very center of the Jiang estate, boasting an open and expansive layout. A dense thicket of bamboo had been planted along the wall near the entrance. Whenever a gentle breeze swept through, the crisp, refreshing scent of bamboo would drift into one’s nose, bringing a profound sense of tranquility to the mind.
As soon as Jiang Huaishan entered the gate, he saw Concubine Yang waiting for him. She held a food box in her hand, her demeanor gentle and elegant, radiating the soft grace typical of women from the South.
“This servant greets the Master,” she said softly.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“Only a short while. The Third Young Lady has been clamoring for iced buttermilk curd these past two days, so I prepared some. Knowing the Master also enjoys sweets, I brought a bowl for you to taste.”
As they spoke, they lifted the door curtain and entered the room. The interior was cooled with ice, making it significantly more pleasant than the sweltering heat outside.
Concubine Yang placed the food box on the octagonal table and immediately stepped forward to help Jiang Huaishan change his clothes. Once he was settled into a refreshing, thin summer robe, he took his seat and sampled a few spoonfuls of the iced buttermilk.
“Your handiwork is always excellent,” he remarked. “However, overindulging in cold treats during summer can upset the stomach. Don’t make it for Shu’er so often in the future. She should take better care of her health now to avoid suffering later.”
“Yes, this servant understands.”
The “Shu’er” Jiang Huaishan referred to was, of course, the third daughter of the Jiang household, Jiang Shishu, whom Concubine Yang had raised.
With a sickly eldest sister and a prominent second sister in the house, Shishu, as the third daughter, had become increasingly overlooked. When Jiang Shiyuan’s mother, Madam Wang, was still alive, she had often taken all the sisters to various social occasions, never discriminating between legitimate and concubine-born children. For this, Concubine Yang was deeply grateful to the late First Madam from the bottom of her heart.
However, those good days did not last long; the First Madam passed away.
The inner chambers fell under the management of the Old Madam. Influenced by the instigations of the Second Madam, Madam Zhang, the Old Madam often looked down upon the concubines and their children. Not only did she fail to arrange potential suitors to visit the estate, but she also never considered bringing them along to social gatherings to show their faces. Because of this, Concubine Yang had grown increasingly anxious.
Watching her daughter grow older year by year—knowing she would reach her hair-pinning ceremony by this time next year—yet seeing not a single soul come to inquire about a marriage alliance, how could she as a mother not worry?
She fidgeted with the handkerchief in her hands, unable to voice a full sentence. Having served as an official in the imperial court for decades, Jiang Huaishan had developed a knack for reading people. Seeing her hesitation, he more or less guessed what was on her mind.
“What is it? Is something the matter with Shu’er?”
Concubine Yang let out a bitter smile. Setting aside her reservations, she spoke with a hint of grievance.
“The Second Young Lady was married off last month. This servant has only this one child, the Third Young Lady, and I only hope she can find a good husband. I do not ask for great wealth or status; as long as the family is of clean repute and the man is considerate and ambitious, that would be enough. However, I have visited the Old Madam several times, only to be sent away. There is no mistress in this courtyard to manage these affairs, and the matter has been dragged on without a conclusion. I truly did not know who else to turn to for help, so I have come to beg for the Master’s mercy. The Third Young Lady will reach marriageable age next year. Her birth status is already somewhat low; if we delay any longer and she grows older, I fear no good family will want her.”
As she spoke, she fought back tears. Jiang Huaishan saw this, and a sense of guilt welled up within him. He sighed.
“It is my fault for being preoccupied with official business every day. I forgot that Shu’er has reached the age to discuss marriage.”
He was not a lecherous man; in this life, he had only one wife and one concubine. Since his wife passed away, he had lost interest in remarrying. With the attentive Concubine Yang looking after his needs, the days had simply slipped by. Had she not come today to plead her case, he truly might not have remembered these matters.
He reached out and took her hand, pulling her to sit before him. Concubine Yang felt it was against the rules and tried to decline, but she could not break free from the Master’s grip. She had no choice but to sit partially on the round stool, looking somewhat uneasy.
“Today, I am taking A’nian to the Marquis’s estate to visit her grandmother. If Shu’er has nothing to do, let her come along. Since A’nian returned, the two sisters haven’t spent much time together. It is only right that they look out for one another.”
“Oh, you are too kind. The Third Young Lady knows nothing; if there is any ‘looking out’ to be done, it would be the Eldest Young Lady showing kindness to her younger sister.”
Concubine Yang never overstepped her bounds. Born of a commoner family, she would never have entered the manor as a concubine if her family’s fortunes hadn’t declined. Consequently, for over a decade, she had never played games or used schemes within the courtyard—a fact Jiang Huaishan appreciated clearly.
“In a few days, the scholars coming for the imperial examinations will gather in the capital. I will have someone look into them thoroughly and pick a few from clean backgrounds who are kind-hearted for her to meet. If we find a capable one, Shu’er’s life will be much easier in the future.”
Hearing this, Concubine Yang felt like prostrating herself before Jiang Huaishan. Overcome with tears of gratitude, she said, “Thank you, Master. This servant does not ask for a wealthy family, only that the Third Young Lady does not have to suffer.”
Her demands were never high, and Jiang Huaishan knew it. Helping her up, he gave a final instruction.
“Go back and tell Shu’er. Today is a family banquet at the Marquis’s estate; we cannot be late.”
“Yes, yes, this servant will go at once.”
When Concubine Yang left, she was so happy she even forgot to take the food box. she hurried to the Yunshu Pavilion to tell her daughter the good news. After briskly helping her daughter dress and groom herself, she led her to Tingshi Pavilion.
Inside the main room, Jiang Shiyuan was slightly startled to hear that her third sister had arrived. However, since the sun was so high and hot, it wouldn’t do to leave them waiting outside. She gave an order to her maid, Liuhua.
“Please invite the Third Sister and Concubine Yang in to speak.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Concubine Yang was somewhat nervous. She had only paid her respects once on the day the Eldest Young Lady returned and had not approached since, fearing people would say she was trying to cling to the legitimate daughter. Bringing her daughter to the door now felt somewhat inappropriate.
But things had come to this; she could only discard her pride and dignity. She hoped the Eldest Young Lady would be as kind-hearted as the late First Madam and offer the Third Young Lady some protection.
Entering the room, Concubine Yang and Jiang Shishu stepped forward to offer their greetings.
“This servant greets the Eldest Young Lady.”
“Little sister greets Big Sister.”
Both mother and daughter possessed the gentlest of temperaments, which triggered memories for Jiang Shiyuan. Back then, she had been sickly and unskilled in needlework, so her wedding dress had actually been embroidered by Concubine Yang and her third sister.
The stitching had been fine, and the colors meticulously chosen.
Many years later, people still spoke of how her wedding dress that year had been a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship. She had intended to show her gratitude, but she later heard that her third sister had been married off to a distant place in Wangzhou, and Concubine Yang had passed away shortly after from illness. Only then did she let the matter rest.
Seeing the two of them appear together now brought those memories rushing back.
With a smile on her lips, she rose to help them up. She signaled Liuhua and Lvluo to bring stools for them and asked in a light tone:
“What brings the Concubine and Third Sister here today?”
“This servant… this servant heard that the Master is taking the Eldest Young Lady out, so I begged the Master to take the Third Young Lady along to see the world. Ever since the First Madam passed away, this child hasn’t been out much. Being shut up in her room all the time, she’s grown a bit shy around strangers.”