She had rarely stepped out of the house during her time in Xuzhou, and even less so since arriving in Xijing. Consequently, she had never heard of places like Lanyue Tower or events like the Qiqiao Festival. Had her eldest sister not mentioned it today, her father likely would not have thought of it either.
She cast a grateful glance at Jiang Shiyuan before speaking respectfully to Jiang Huaishan. “I shall follow your and Big Sister’s lead, Father.”
She had always been well-behaved and never caused Jiang Huaishan any worry. Seeing her gentle and humble demeanor, Jiang Huaishan could not help but reach out to stroke her hair, saying considerately, “The Old Madam rules the inner chambers; I am aware that you and your mother have suffered many grievances. Tomorrow, I will send someone to the tailor’s to pick out a few sets of beautiful dresses for you. Summer is here, and there will be many banquets. A young lady cannot do without such things.”
“If Father is giving clothes, then I shall send over a box of jewelry,” Jiang Shiyuan added. “With my lazy temperament, I usually dread wearing those trinkets. Leaving them in my room would only be a waste; I only hope Third Sister won’t find them distasteful.”
Hearing this, Jiang Shishu immediately waved her hands, her eyes filled with a trace of unease. She replied at once, “How could I dare find Father’s and Big Sister’s kindness distasteful? It is just that I am a young girl who rarely goes out; wearing such things would be far too ostentatious. It is better to forget it; my current clothes and jewelry are already quite good.”
Jiang Shishu was content by nature, a trait she shared with Concubine Yang.
However, Jiang Shiyuan did not wish for her sister to remain so plain during her prime years. Especially after seeing her aunt and cousin-in-law, she felt in her heart that women should be like that—pampered and carefully protected, whether in their natal home or their husband’s house.
Thus, a sense of pity welled up within her, and her gaze toward Jiang Shishu grew more comforting. “We are family, so let’s skip the empty pleasantries. You must accept them, Third Sister. At your blossoming age, it is only natural to dress up.”
Jiang Shishu was moved beyond words.
She had not met her eldest sister many times, yet this level of care was rare and precious. Previously in the inner chambers, she had heard her grandmother and second aunt describe her eldest sister as a sickly and unapproachable noble lady. She had not expected her to be so humble and kind, and she naturally felt a sense of closeness toward her.
As the father and daughters chatted, they soon arrived.
As Jiang Shiyuan’s group stepped out of the carriage, they saw the butler, Uncle Qing, who had been waiting at the gate for some time. Seeing the Jiang family arrive, his face lit up with a smile as he immediately stepped forward to pay his respects.
“This old servant greets the Minister and the Eldest Young Lady.”
His gaze then swept over Jiang Shishu for a moment before he asked respectfully, “And this is…?”
“Uncle Qing, this is my third sister from home. She is joining us today to pay her respects to Grandmother.”
“I see. This old servant greets the Third Miss Jiang.”
“Greetings, Uncle Qing.”
Jiang Shishu was somewhat nervous and immediately returned a half-bow, deeply afraid that any lapse in etiquette would cause the people of the Marquis’s mansion to look down on her.
In contrast to her sister’s restraint, Jiang Shiyuan felt like a fish returning to water.
Gazing at this familiar place, her face was radiant with a bright smile. As a naturally beautiful woman, her smile was even more captivating and incomparable.
“Has Grandmother been well these past few days?”
“All is well, all is well. It’s just that the Old Madam was always fretting over you, and her appetite was smaller than before. But since the young masters from the Pei family and the Third Young Master returned, they’ve been amusing her so much that she can eat a large bowl of rice at every meal again.”
Hearing this, Jiang Shiyuan chuckled softly. “Grandmother is still as childlike as ever.”
“You are right, Eldest Young Lady. Please, come inside. The Marquis, the Madam, and the Young Masters have been waiting for a long time.”
“Very well.”
With that, the three of them were led into the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion by Uncle Qing.
Unlike the elegant and simple layout of the Jiang manor, the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion exuded an immediate air of opulence. Before their eyes were elaborate pavilions and towers; every step revealed a new scene, and every winding stream and carved pillar spoke of grand wealth.
The ancestors of the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion had once managed the Salt Transport Bureau, which was a very lucrative position.
Forty years ago, the old Marquis had taken over this post, traveling alone to Jiangnan for inspections. He faced many dangers on the road but remained fiercely loyal to the throne, eventually helping the national treasury recover nearly eighty percent of the profits—a significant achievement.
The old Emperor naturally took note of this, knowing the Marquis had not used his position for personal gain, and thus bestowed many generous rewards. Coupled with the mansion’s previous accumulation, they were truly incredibly wealthy.
The group entered the Festooned Gate, where covered corridors lined both sides. In the middle of the hall stood a red sandalwood screen inset with marble. Beyond the screen lay the main courtyard.
Although Jiang Huaishan was the son-in-law of the house, it was not appropriate for him to go directly to the back courtyard. He remained in the front hall to wait for the Marquis and his nephews, while Jiang Shiyuan continued forward with her sister, Jiang Shishu.
Beyond the front hall was a row of side rooms connected by corridors. Five main rooms stood grandly before them, with many maids and older servants standing by the doors. Upon seeing them approach, the servants immediately bowed and offered greetings with strict discipline.
Among them, a familiar-looking maid walked a few steps forward with a smile. After a graceful bow, she spoke.
“The Old Madam was just wondering why the Eldest Young Lady hadn’t arrived yet. How timely—speak of the devil.”
“Huamei, your tongue is truly sweet. It seems all the honey in Grandmother’s room must have been given to you,” Jiang Shiyuan teased.
The maid, Huamei, was not offended. She quickly lifted the curtain to invite them in and called out, “The Eldest Young Lady has arrived.”
The two sisters entered the room and saw an old lady with silver-white hair sitting in the center, listening to her daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law. Upon seeing Jiang Shiyuan enter, before the girl could even pay her respects, the old lady rushed forward to pull her into her arms, calling her “dear heart” and “precious soul.”
“You little heartless thing! You promised to visit your grandmother after a few days at home, but you’ve been gone for half a month without even sending a message. Aren’t you afraid your grandmother would miss you to death?”
Old Madam Wang appeared affluent and healthy, with a rounded, pleasant face.
She carried the aura of a matriarch from a peak noble family. Her eyes were full of love as she gazed at Jiang Shiyuan, and as she looked, tears actually began to fall. Jiang Shiyuan immediately took out a handkerchief to wipe them away.
“Grandmother, please be at ease. Hasn’t your granddaughter come now?”
Her aunt, Madam Pei, and her cousin-in-law, Madam Xiang, stepped forward together to comfort Old Madam Wang.
“Today is a day for reunion; the Old Madam shouldn’t be sad. If your eyes get red from crying, those boys outside will surely cause a fuss trying to find strange things to cheer you up.”
Hearing this, Jiang Shiyuan asked with a smile, “I heard from Uncle Qing that since Third Cousin and Cousin Pei arrived, Grandmother has been so happy she eats a large bowl of rice every day. It seems Grandmother’s claim of missing me was just a passing thought.”
At these words, Old Madam Wang laughed and scolded, “Those two have the temperaments of mischievous monkeys, constantly performing before me. I’d be forced to laugh even if I didn’t want to. Once I’m tired from laughing, I naturally eat a few more bites. Since you’ve returned today, you should see for yourself what kind of toys they’ve brought out this time.”
As Old Madam Wang spoke, everyone in the room joined in the laughter. The family spoke animatedly, leaving only Jiang Shishu standing to the side, looking restless and slightly ill at ease.