Seeing that everyone had arrived, Song Ying signaled Nanny Li to bring over a tray bearing a jade hairpin and a jade bracelet.
“All right, let’s not talk about that anymore. Youning, your Uncle and Cousin have rendered meritorious service in battle this time, and His Majesty has rewarded them. Everyone in the manor has benefited from it. These are for you.”
Jiang Youning looked at the jade hairpin and bracelet on the tray, a mocking expression rising in her eyes.
The hairpin and bracelet on the tray were nothing more than ordinary-quality jewelry. Even Chenbi, the senior maid standing beside Madam Xu, wore things far better than these. How could His Majesty possibly reward meritorious soldiers with items of such poor quality?
In her previous life, she had suddenly become an orphan and grown deeply dependent on her Aunt Song Ying. She obeyed and trusted her in everything. No matter what Song Ying gave her, she regarded it as a token of affection and happily accepted it.
Now that she thought about it, there had been signs of everything all along. She had treated Song Ying as her mother, but Song Ying had looked down on her from the very beginning. She could only blame herself for having trusted people too easily back then.
“Thank you, Aunt. Qingyang, take these and sell them.”
Song Ying’s expression changed drastically. She shouted angrily, “Jiang Youning, what do you mean?”
Jiang Youning had actually announced in front of everyone that she wanted to sell the things Song Ying had given her. Wasn’t she plainly telling everyone that she looked down on them?
“Aunt, I’m doing this for your sake. Everyone in the capital now knows that I’m an orphan adopted by the Protector-General’s Manor. When I go out, I represent the Xu Family’s reputation as well.
“Aunt, what do you think people will say if I wear a hairpin and bracelet like these outside?
“Let’s not even mention what Second Miss Yalan wears. Even a maid like Chenbi wears things better than these. Those who know the truth will understand that this is a token of your affection—that even though the gift is modest, your feelings are sincere. With your thoughtfulness in mind, I would be happy even if you gave me a leaf.
“But those who don’t know the truth might misunderstand and think that you mistreat me.
“Wouldn’t it be better to have Qingyang sell them, then donate the money under your name? That way, you could gain a good reputation.”
Song Ying was rendered speechless.
She looked at Jiang Youning as though she were a stranger. For some reason, she felt that Jiang Youning had changed, especially the way she looked at her.
Before, her eyes had been filled with dependence and trust. Now, however, they were cool and distant, mixed with something Song Ying could not decipher. It made her feel vaguely uneasy.
Putting those thoughts aside, Song Ying had to admit that Jiang Youning was right. If the little girl really wore these things outside and went around saying they had been given to her by Song Ying, what would outsiders say about the Protector-General’s Manor?
If word got out that they mistreated the orphan of a fallen comrade, what would become of the general’s manor’s reputation?
Before Song Ying could say anything, Jiang Youning let out a deep sigh and continued, “Perhaps I was mistaken and upset you, Aunt. Qingyang, put the things away. They are, after all, a token of Aunt’s affection. I’ll wear them every day from now on.”
At those words, Song Ying felt as though her chest were being constricted.
Jiang Youning had never liked wearing too much jewelry. Over the years, she had continued wearing the things she had brought with her from the Jiang Residence.
The things Song Ying had given Jiang Youning in the past had been about the same quality as this jade hairpin and bracelet. Jiang Youning had always accepted them happily, but she had never worn them, nor had she been afraid of letting others see them.
But if she really wore these things outside now, it would be the Xu Family’s reputation that suffered.
That wretched girl—when had she become so difficult to deal with?
Song Ying took a deep breath and suppressed the vexation in her heart before scolding, “Nanny Li, you old fool! How did you manage to take the wrong things I gave Youning? Hurry and go exchange them!”
Nanny Li was indeed Song Ying’s trusted aide. She immediately understood and hurriedly admitted her mistake. “I’m sorry, Madam. This old servant’s eyesight has grown poor, and I took the wrong items. I’ll go exchange them right away.”
With that, Nanny Li withdrew into the inner room and brought out another jade hairpin and bracelet.
The items this time could not be considered top-quality, but they were passable. No one would say anything if they were worn outside.
Jiang Youning smiled faintly. “Thank you, Aunt.”
Qinghe stepped forward to take the things from the tray, but Jiang Youning spoke up. “Qingyang, put them away.”
Since her young mistress had named her, Qinghe naturally could not move again.
She shot Qingyang a resentful look. These tasks had always been hers before.
Although the things Madam gave were not particularly good, they were still much better than what ordinary maids wore. Many times, after accepting the items, she would deliberately forget to give them to her young mistress. After enough time passed, they became hers.
Or she would show how much she liked the things, and her young mistress would simply reward them to her.
Now that Qingyang had snatched this task away, how was she supposed to make the things her own?
Song Ying maintained her graceful smile. “Youning, don’t blame Nanny Li. There have simply been too many matters in the manor these past few days. Everyone in the manor received rewards, so it was inevitable that a mistake would be made.”
Jiang Youning smiled. “Aunt, you’re joking. Nanny Li is advanced in years, so it’s only natural for her to make a mistake when she’s busy. How could I make things difficult for an old servant of the manor?”
She placed heavy emphasis on the word “old.”
What woman, from ancient times to the present, would be happy to be called old?
Although Nanny Li was addressed as Nanny, she was actually two years younger than Song Ying. She was only thirty-six this year. When the Protector-General’s Manor had first been established, Xu Yuanshan had found her specifically to serve Song Ying.
Over the years, she had become Song Ying’s trusted aide. Because she helped Song Ying manage the entire Protector-General’s Manor, everyone in the manor respectfully addressed her as Nanny Li.
Yet now Jiang Youning had called her old in front of everyone. The expression on Nanny Li’s face twitched, and she cursed Jiang Youning inwardly.
Seeing this, Song Xiuyi spoke up. “Sister Jiang, Nanny Li didn’t do it on purpose. How about this? I’ll give you mine. Don’t be angry anymore.”
As she spoke, Song Xiuyi removed the bracelet from her wrist, took the two hairpins from her hair and her earrings from her ears, then held them out to Jiang Youning with both hands. Her eyes were moist, and she looked somewhat frightened and helpless.
The things Song Xiuyi had given up were far better than the ones Nanny Li had brought out after exchanging them.
Jiang Youning looked at Song Xiuyi’s cautious, aggrieved expression and let out a derisive laugh. “Since Miss Song is so generous, then I’ll accept them. Qingyang.”
Qingyang stepped forward and took the items from Song Xiuyi’s hands.
Song Xiuyi froze completely.
She had only intended to put on a performance so that everyone would see her generosity, making Jiang Youning look unreasonable by comparison.
Normally, in a situation like this, Jiang Youning absolutely would have been too embarrassed to accept her things.
Who could have imagined that Jiang Youning would refuse to follow convention and actually accept them?
Song Xiuyi had been born in the countryside and had suffered a great deal. When had she ever worn such fine jewelry? She had not even worn it for half an hour before Jiang Youning took it away from her.
Song Xiuyi felt as though her heart were bleeding. But since she had been the one to offer the things, she still had to keep a smile on her face. The smile was merely somewhat twisted.
Nearby, Concubine Qin watched this scene with the corners of her lips slightly raised. This Miss Jiang was rather interesting.
With a single sentence, she had turned what was clearly her disdain for Madam’s gifts into consideration for Madam’s sake. Now she had directly struck Song Xiuyi in the face.
The Protector-General’s Manor seemed to be getting interesting.
“Youning, how could you accept Xiuyi’s things? Hurry and give them back to her,” Song Ying said, attempting to stop her.
“Aunt, Miss Song gave them to me willingly. Why can’t I have them?”
“You…”
“Greetings, General. Greetings, Young General.”
Before Madam Xu could say anything else, a maid’s voice came from outside as she offered her greetings.
“Oh, Madam, what a lively gathering you have here.” Xu Yuanshan entered with Xu Qiming.
Song Ying hurriedly rose to greet him. “General, what brings you here?”
“I finished my work, so I came over to take a look. What are all of you doing? It certainly is lively.” Xu Yuanshan smiled and sat down in the seat of honor.
Xu Qiming appeared to glance casually at Song Xiuyi, only to see that she was looking at him as well, her eyes full of grievance. He could not help frowning.
Had someone bullied Yier?