Yu’er checked through the dishes in the food box, then moved the unfinished bricks, mud, and clutter off to the side before glancing worriedly at the tightly shut door.
No matter what, the young madam was still just a woman. What had happened earlier must have frightened her.
Even now, Yu’er’s own heart was still pounding fast.
After waiting for a long while, just as she could not help wanting to ask, the door finally opened from inside.
Seeing Jiang Jiaran’s expression remain normal, Yu’er relaxed.
Thinking back to what the steward had said and the sudden change in attitude, she still found it hard to believe. But once she thought about how the young madam would no longer have to worry about meals or go hungry again, joy instantly bubbled up inside her.
It was because of Young Master Lou.
So that Young Master Lou actually cared about the young madam?
That was exactly what Jiang Jiaran was puzzled about.
Even after the sky darkened and dinner was served, she still could not figure it out. Somehow, she felt as though every dish on the table hid murderous intent.
Fortunately, before the meal was over, Lier came running over again.
Only after the little fellow puffed up his chest and proudly claimed credit did Jiang Jiaran finally understand. She instantly relaxed.
Judging from it, this villain neighbor next door seemed quite tolerant toward his adopted younger brother. Lier had only made a small fuss once, and Ying Zhaolou had already indulged him.
Halfway through speaking, Lier suddenly noticed the half-finished construction in the courtyard. He darted over at once and asked, “Sister-in-law, what’s this?”
“Building a stove,” Jiang Jiaran replied.
Originally, it had been a survival project. But now that food and drink were suddenly no longer a concern, it had turned into half a recreational hobby.
Having a pot set up in the courtyard would always make it easier to cook whatever she wanted to eat.
The moment Lier heard that, his eyes lit up. Tugging on her sleeve, he said, “How do you do it? Sister-in-law, teach me.”
“Sure.” Jiang Jiaran agreed readily.
She did not brush him off or tell him children should stop fooling around and go play somewhere else. Instead, she seriously nodded, then crouched down and taught him step by step while working. Her tone was gentle and patient.
Ying Li squatted beside her and looked up at her intently. The little tyrant who ruled the manor like a tiny devil rarely showed such a childlike smile.
His newly acknowledged sister-in-law was truly different from everyone else.
The night deepened as large clouds drifted over and covered the moonlight.
A maid adjusted the candlewick, and the room instantly brightened.
Suddenly, the door creaked open and a delicate figure rushed inside.
“Mother, they’ve gone too far!”
Ying Xueshuang had finally managed to see her mother. She threw herself into her arms and clung tightly to her, tears shimmering in her eyes as though she had suffered a tremendous grievance.
Ever since the marriage alliance with the Jiang family had been arranged, her father, mother, and eldest uncle had suddenly become incredibly busy. For the past two days, they had been leaving early and returning late, making it hard for her to even catch sight of them.
“What happened to my Shuangshuang?” Second Madam hugged her daughter and signaled for the servants to close the door as they left.
Ying Xueshuang immediately complained about everything Ying Li had done.
Ever since before the new emperor ascended the throne, the capital had remained turbulent. The Ying family had long since declined and could only barely cling to the ranks of noble households. Yet precisely because of that, they had escaped disaster.
Still, although they had not collapsed, they were barely holding on.
Second Master Ying had already been exhausted from running around everywhere these past days. Hearing her cry and complain only made his head ache with irritation.
“Enough already. Stop making a fuss over such a small matter. He’s only a child.”
Ying Xueshuang shot him a glance before burying her head back into her mother’s embrace.
How was she making a fuss?
Back then, her father had been the one causing trouble. If not for Ying Zhaolou’s existence, she would not have been bullied by that “Young Madam Lou” and a child. The manor would not have remained so restless either.
She had only just learned from Cousin Xu that all of this had been Jiang Jiaran’s doing.
Was it not enough that the Ying family had to suffer because of that cripple? Now even the woman married into the family was an evil shrew!
Second Madam listened quietly while patting her daughter’s back soothingly.
“Yes, only a child. Though who knows whose child it is, making people unable to eat or sleep peacefully for all these years.”
Second Master Ying immediately understood whom she meant and looked embarrassed.
That child born from his affair with an outside woman had nothing to do with her.
Back then, that bastard child had suddenly risen to become the Commander of the Wing Guard and forcibly moved into the Ying residence, leaving the entire household fearful and uneasy.
Now the heavens had changed, yet he had gone and angered the emperor. Even after becoming crippled and staying in a remote courtyard, they still had to live in fear of being implicated by him. What sins had they committed?
After comforting her daughter and sending her away, Second Madam turned to glare at Second Master Ying.
“So this is the kind of person the Jiang family married into our house.”
Second Master Ying did not dare argue and only said, “The important thing is the marriage alliance.”
The Jiang family had claimed that the Second Miss suddenly fell gravely ill and could not marry, so she had been sent to recuperate at an estate, forcing them to substitute the Third Miss instead. Clearly, Master Jiang had planned this from the beginning.
But so what? As long as someone married into the family and they became related to the Jiangs, there were benefits to gain.
Ying Zhaolou had always possessed a strange temperament. Back when he insisted on moving into the Ying residence, it was obviously to disgust them.
When Emperor Xuchang still sat firmly on the throne and Ying Zhaolou held immense power as one of his trusted subordinates, he had never once supported the family. Instead, he constantly brought trouble upon them.
Now even the emperor himself had become a captured former ruler, yet Ying Zhaolou might still go mad and drag the entire Ying family down with him.
Unlike the Jiang family, who had seized the opportunity to attach themselves to Grand Secretary Zhan, they did not want to simply sit and wait for death. They could only think of ways to build connections everywhere.
That was when Elder Brother suddenly remembered the marriage agreement between the Jiang and Ying families. After searching through the storage vault, they unexpectedly discovered an old marriage contract.
Back in the generation of their great-grandfathers, the Jiang and Ying families had been equal in status, and the two heads of the families had gotten along exceptionally well. During one cheerful conversation, they arranged a marriage between their descendants.
Later, due to various reasons, the matter was never mentioned again. As both families rose and fell over the generations, the agreement was gradually forgotten.
Although the arrangement had been made for future descendants and no names were written down at the time, the marriage contract had been formally drafted and included the names of three generations, making it entirely valid.
So Elder Brother decided to use it to rekindle old ties with the Jiang family.
Unexpectedly, the old relationship truly had been restored, though complications arose midway and the marriage ended up landing on Ying Zhaolou. The whole situation became difficult to describe.
Meanwhile, among the Jiang family, only the Second Miss was of marriageable age.
No wonder Master Jiang had agreed so readily. He had already prepared a backup plan.
Overnight, the Second Miss supposedly became too ill to marry, while the wedding procession was already waiting outside the gates. Since Jiang Jiaran was not truly of Jiang blood, she could only become the Substitute Bride.
They needed the Jiang family’s influence, so they could only express endless gratitude.
Fortunately, thanks to their recent interactions because of this matter, things had finally begun to improve.
Second Madam understood his meaning, but she still felt disgusted.
“That still doesn’t mean my daughter should suffer grievances.”
Anything related to that bastard always made people sick.
She would handle this matter herself. Since she did not need to go out tomorrow, she would summon Jiang Jiaran for a meeting.
The next morning, while Yu’er was sweeping the courtyard, servants from the kitchen arrived again.
The previous night, when they had come to collect the dishes and bowls, they had already been asked to provide cooking utensils and plenty of firewood. Now they had even delivered fresh ingredients.
Clearly, no one dared slack off anymore.
Yu’er directed them to place everything in the courtyard. Once they left, she turned around with sparkling eyes.
The servants were now extremely polite toward her, calling her “Sister Yu’er” one after another.
The feeling was incredibly novel.
At the moment, Jiang Jiaran was sitting in the courtyard under the sun, leisurely studying the medical system.
Every item inside was something she wanted badly, especially in a world where medicine remained underdeveloped. Unfortunately, judging from how slowly the values had risen yesterday, she could not even exchange enough points for a bottle of cold medicine.
That could wait for now.
While considering her future plans, Jiang Jiaran suddenly said, “Yu’er, I want to return to the Jiang residence.”
Yu’er froze for a moment before understanding what she meant.
“Should this servant ask for permission?” she asked, then hesitated awkwardly. “But Master and Madam both seem very busy lately. They’re often not in the manor.”
Once married, a woman could not simply return to her maiden home whenever she wished. The husband’s family had to approve it first, and the maiden family also had to be informed in advance.
“Then forget it. We’ll just go ourselves.” Jiang Jiaran suddenly clapped her hands after recalling something. “Isn’t there a custom about returning home after marriage? We’ll just treat it as that.”
Yu’er no longer knew what to say.
There were no prepared gifts, no husband accompanying her, and the proper return-day had already passed. Could this really still count as a return visit?
Yet Yu’er also did not think the young madam was joking.
So many things these past few days had already felt both incomprehensible and somehow perfectly reasonable.
Swallowing back all her attempted persuasion, she seriously began considering it instead.
“If we just go out like this, the gatekeepers will definitely question us.” Given her status as Young Madam Lou, they would probably stop her and report it to the masters first.
“That is troublesome.” Jiang Jiaran suddenly remembered something. “Weren’t you familiar with a woman from the gatekeeper’s family? The one who gave you the sweet potatoes.”
“Ah, Sister-in-law Luo? But her husband watches the small side gate.”
“As long as it’s a gate, that’s enough. Go ask whether she can help make things convenient.”
“…But what about transportation?”
“The Jiang residence shouldn’t be too far away. Let’s just walk there.” Jiang Jiaran searched through the original owner’s memories. Back when she was pushed into the bridal sedan, the trip to the Ying residence had not taken long at all.
Since it was close, strolling through the streets along the way sounded rather nice too. She had not even seen the scenery beyond these courtyard walls yet.
“Ah… yes.” Yu’er completely gave up trying to think and simply nodded along. Whatever the young madam said was fine.
Thus, the plan to return to the Jiang residence was settled in only a few sentences.
Jiang Jiaran thought to herself that since the Ying family clearly had no intention of meeting her, it did not matter. But the Jiang residence was still the place where she had lived for over ten years. Since she had left in such a hurry, she would inevitably need to return sooner or later.
In her memories, aside from the late old master, the Old Madam had treated her kindly as well.
However, after the Old Master passed away, the Old Madam’s health steadily worsened. She frequently became confused and sometimes could not even recognize people anymore. Later, the First Madam used the excuse of the Old Madam needing rest and recuperation to forbid Jiang Jiaran from seeing her.
After losing the affection of the only people who cared for her, Jiang Jiaran gradually became isolated and mistreated throughout the Jiang household.
The eldest master and his wife had gone too far as well. Seeing the Old Madam’s increasing confusion, they simply confined her within her courtyard. Under the pretense of filial care, they completely cut off her involvement in household affairs.
They had certainly hidden the Substitute Bride matter from her. Jiang Jiaran did not know whether the Old Madam had learned about it by now.
Besides checking on the Old Madam’s condition, she also needed to search for the belongings she had left behind.
After receiving instructions, Yu’er hurried off to prepare things. But Jiang Jiaran suddenly remembered something and said there was no rush. She decided it was better to eat first before leaving.
She had no idea what kind of situation awaited her at the Jiang residence, and she was not truly returning as part of a proper post-marriage visit. If they refused to feed her by mealtime, she would suffer a terrible loss.
Rolling up her sleeves, Jiang Jiaran tested out the new stove and soon began simmering a pot of pickled fish soup.
Lier seemed to possess a dog’s nose. Whenever there was food, he always managed to follow the scent over.
Jiang Jiaran lifted the lid, and fragrant steam billowed outward straight into his face.
The little fellow immediately licked his lips and asked eagerly, “Sister-in-law, can we eat now?”
By the time the dish was served, Ying Li looked ready to bury his entire head inside the bowl.
Jiang Jiaran could not help laughing.
To her, it was merely ordinary home cooking.
But this was an entirely different world. Their cooking styles, ingredients, and culinary traditions differed greatly. Naturally, the flavors tasted uniquely novel and unforgettable to them.
While she cooked, the rich fragrance drifted through the wind little by little into the neighboring courtyard.
Inside the room, Ying Zhaolou sat lazily by the wide-open window, basking in the sunlight as though dozing.
Then his closed eyes slowly opened, their color appearing unusually pale beneath the sunlight.
Ying Zhaolou frowned slightly.
“Uncle Feng, where’s that smell coming from?”
Shi Feng appeared soundlessly from somewhere unknown and quietly answered him.
Ying Zhaolou immediately clicked his tongue in disgust again.
“Freeloading food and drinks. Really promising.”
Looks like he needed another round of leg-training exercises.
“Lier is still young,” Shi Feng said.
Seeing Ying Zhaolou close his eyes again, he quietly moved over and shut the window.
Though the sect master appeared to be sleeping, he was actually circulating his internal energy and regulating his breathing. Interruptions were unwise.
Still, even with the window closed, the enticing fragrance continued slipping inside bit by bit.
Ying Zhaolou’s thoughts stirred slightly.
To be honest, the smell really was far too fragrant.
What exactly was she cooking?