Lier came over to have a taste of her fish soup. She smacked her lips as if still wanting more, then suddenly remembered something, said she still had homework, and quickly ran off again.
After hearing this, Jiang Jiaran realized something.
Ying Li always came and went like the wind, impossible to catch, and often so subtle that people barely noticed his presence.
She had originally only thought the child was small and full of energy. Now that she looked more carefully, she realized his movements were much faster than ordinary children.
Perhaps Ying Zhaolou had taught him some kind of technique.
It was getting late, so Jiang Jiaran asked Yu’er to pack some valuable small jewelry and carry it with her.
She had previously taken stock of her assets. Her cash savings were pitifully small. She had originally planned to pawn something on this trip out, but felt that carrying a large bundle would be too conspicuous.
She stared at the wedding dress for a long time, almost tempted, then sighed inwardly and gave up.
She would deal with it next time.
She needed to escape this bleak financial situation as soon as possible and achieve basic financial freedom.
The courtyard was not far from the side gate. Yu’er went to speak with Sister-in-law Luo at the gatehouse as instructed by the young madam.
She explained that the young madam’s grandmother was ill and she was anxious and wanted to go back to see her. She also said that since she had just married in and was still unfamiliar with everything, she wanted to go out to buy some necessities.
Sister-in-law Luo did not dare refuse. However, in her heart she thought that marrying someone like Young Master Lou, who was so ruthless, must be very unfortunate. Even though she held the status of a young madam, she looked quite pitiful.
Worried about her grandmother, yet only able to sneak out quietly.
Sister-in-law Luo touched the hairpin at her temple and felt a little sorry for her. She seemed like such a good person.
In the end, she persuaded the gatekeeper to open the small side gate and reminded them to return early.
The capital was laid out in a perfectly square design. The streets were mostly straight, making directions easy to recognize.
In her memory, when her grandfather was still healthy, he often took her out on the streets. So finding her way back to the Jiang residence was still familiar to Jiang Jiaran after a little辨认.
However, she first went to a nearby pawnshop.
Yu’er followed her inside and only then understood what the young madam had meant by packing those items.
Before she even had time to feel sad for her, she saw Jiang Jiaran negotiate a few words with the shopkeeper and sell the jewelry at a good price.
This is for you.
After they left the pawnshop, a small piece of silver was tossed into Yu’er’s palm.
It was the first time she had ever received a reward from her mistress, and such a generous one at that. Yu’er could not help but feel happy.
Jiang Jiaran tucked the money away and walked toward the Jiang residence while casually browsing street stalls along the way.
The main streets during the day were bustling. Walking through them felt like being inside a wave of sound and rhythm, with voices of vendors, wheels of carts, footsteps, and laughter overlapping in chaotic harmony.
Although different from what Jiang Jiaran had seen before, the lively atmosphere of the marketplace felt familiar.
She could not remember the last time she had strolled so leisurely, as if it had been two lifetimes ago.
She felt a little excited and quickened her steps, weaving through the crowd to look at this and touch that. When she saw something she liked, she bought it. Then she came across a hawker selling candied hawthorns and bought two sticks.
She bit into one. The sugar shell cracked between her teeth, mixing sweetness and tartness as it melted in layers.
Satisfied, Jiang Jiaran narrowed her eyes slightly. Without stopping, she turned and walked backward while handing the other stick to Yu’er.
At that moment, someone ahead had just finished buying something. Neither of them noticed the other and turned at the same time, nearly bumping into each other.
Fortunately, the other person stepped aside in time, and they avoided falling.
However, the paper package in his arms dropped two steaming buns, rolling on the ground.
“I am sorry,” Jiang Jiaran quickly apologized. “It was my fault. I will compensate you.”
Only then did she notice that the person was wearing a worn Daoist robe. He was a young Daoist priest.
The Daoist waved his hand. “No need, madam. I was also too hurried and did not pay attention.”
Halfway through speaking, he finally realized she was a married woman with her hair properly arranged, so he corrected himself.
It was not that his eyesight was poor. Jiang Jiaran had styled herself deliberately.
Married women had different hairstyles from unmarried girls. Yu’er had tried several styles for her, but Jiang Jiaran found them all too mature.
She felt she was still young.
Fortunately, Yu’er’s skill in styling hair was excellent. In the end, she chose a style that was not overly formal and made her look younger.
The Daoist picked up the buns, brushed off the dust, and blew away what he could.
Jiang Jiaran hurriedly tried to stop him.
It had already fallen on the ground. It was too unhygienic to still eat them.
“It is fine. It would be a waste otherwise,” the Daoist said with a gentle smile.
He had clean and refined features. When he smiled, he looked even more pure.
Jiang Jiaran watched as he crossed the street and stopped at the entrance of a narrow alley.
Only then did she notice that there were many beggars sitting in the dim corner, some of them elderly.
The Daoist handed them the paper package, and they thanked him repeatedly.
He then placed the remaining buns down. Soon a stray dog came over, sniffed cautiously, then started eating and wagging its tail happily.
Yu’er said, “That Daoist is truly a good person.”
Jiang Jiaran nodded.
Only now did she realize that within the bustling main streets, there were still dark narrow alleys where people lived in poverty without proper food or clothing.
As if noticing her gaze, the Daoist turned back and nodded with a smile.
Jiang Jiaran returned a smile.
“Let’s go,” she said.
She did not continue browsing afterward.
The Jiang residence was already close anyway.
By the time she slowly finished her candied hawthorn one by one, the gate of the Jiang residence appeared ahead.
The gatekeeper opened the door after hearing the knock.
Jiang Jiaran nodded and walked straight in without saying a word.
“Wait, you…” the gatekeeper tried to stop her at first, but then recognized her as the married Third Miss and froze in surprise.
“Does it not look like I belong here?” Jiang Jiaran asked calmly.
He was surprised because she had returned unexpectedly. He had not received any orders about her coming back today.
“Why has Third Miss suddenly returned?” he asked.
She was still a member of the Jiang family. Naturally, she could come and go.
Jiang Jiaran ignored him and headed straight toward her former courtyard with Yu’er.
The servants did not dare truly stop her and immediately sent someone to report to First Madam.
“She has returned. What is she doing here?” First Madam set down her teacup, the lid clinking sharply against the rim.
She had only just been married off and already rushed back home. What would people think if they saw this? What would the Ying family think?
A servant woman beside her said, “They say no carriage was seen. It looks like she walked back.”
First Madam frowned. If it were the Ying family sending her, there would be no way they would not provide a carriage. So she had come back on her own without informing the Ying residence.
What was this situation? Truly ungrateful and impossible to manage.
She had raised her for so many years. Without the Jiang family, she would have been just an orphan. How could she have married into such a noble household?
What more could she possibly be dissatisfied with?
“Come. Let us go and see,” First Madam said.
Jiang Jiaran quickly found her old courtyard based on her memory.
She had grown up living with Old Master Jiang and Old Madam Jiang. After the old master passed away, the Jiang family found an excuse to move her into this smaller courtyard.
Although not much time had passed, all her belongings from before marriage should still be here.
She walked in. The courtyard was cold and empty, as if it had been left vacant the moment she left.
“Third Miss?”
Suddenly she heard a clear voice calling her.
She turned and saw a young maid under the corridor.
The maid first looked confused, then suddenly realized who she was and ran over happily.
She stopped a few steps away, suddenly remembering herself and stepping back again.
“It really is Third Miss!”
Jiang Jiaran paused, then matched the face to a memory and asked, “You are Chun Zhi?”
The maid became excited. “Third Miss actually remembers me!”
In truth, Jiang Jiaran only remembered her name.
The maid had always served in this courtyard since Jiang Jiaran moved in.
Because she was not skilled enough, she never became a close attendant and only did outer courtyard chores.
She rarely had a chance to speak directly with the Third Miss.
To her, the Third Miss was like a bright moon. She never expected to be remembered, so she was overwhelmed with joy.
Jiang Jiaran remained silent.
Why was she being looked at with such starry-eyed admiration?
She ignored it and asked, “Is only you here?”
Chun Zhi quickly explained.
After she married into the Ying residence, First Madam reassigned all the servants in the courtyard. All her belongings were also cleared out. Valuable items were taken, usable ones moved away, and everything else was discarded. The courtyard had been left empty ever since.
Chun Zhi had only come back to retrieve something she had forgotten in the servant quarters, which was why she happened to be here.
“I thought I would never see Third Miss again,” she said sadly.
Jiang Jiaran did not have time to comfort her and instead pushed open the door to the room, scanning the interior. Her expression darkened slightly.
She searched the entire room but came out empty-handed.
Everything had been cleared out completely.
“Jiang Jiaran, why have you returned?”
Just as she stepped out, the once empty courtyard suddenly became crowded.
Footsteps approached as First Madam arrived with several servants, her face cold as she questioned her.
At the same time, the system interface in Jiang Jiaran’s vision showed a steadily rising value.
As expected, her adoptive mother’s hostility was quite high right now.
In contrast, Jiang Jiaran’s earlier displeasure eased significantly. She closed the interface and felt that the Jiang family truly was a good place.
“I came back because I remembered I left a small item I liked and wanted to find it,” she said.
First Madam frowned. “Is that all?”
“Otherwise, what does Madam think I came here for? To cause trouble?”
A servant behind her glanced at Jiang Jiaran.
She was already calling her Madam instead of Mother, as she used to. Although it had always been a nominal relationship, the change was noticeable.
First Madam studied her again. Jiang Jiaran had not spoken to her like this before. But perhaps this was her true nature finally showing now that she had married out.
“Did you find it?” she asked.
“No. It was probably taken by dishonest servants.”
In truth, she did not care much about the other trinkets. What she cared about was the gold chain she had worn since childhood. But she did not think asking First Madam would result in its return.
The rising system value made it clear that her adoptive mother disliked her.
If she asked, even if the chain were with her, it would likely not be returned.
First Madam frowned. What servants? She did not want to waste time on such trivial matters.
“You rushed back without even sending word. Do you not realize you are already married?” she scolded. “Do you not know what kind of marriage this is?”
Just this act alone was enough to cause gossip. How would the Ying family see this?
“I know,” Jiang Jiaran said indifferently. “A forced marriage where the Jiang family pushed me to replace someone else, pressured and tricked into it.”
First Madam’s expression darkened.
She felt that Jiang Jiaran was being ungrateful. She had raised her, yet received no appreciation in return.
Before she could speak further, Steward Shen, who had been serving Old Madam Jiang, hurried into the courtyard.
After greeting First Madam, she looked at Jiang Jiaran and said, “First Madam, Old Madam Jiang wishes to see Jiaran.”