The First Madam had already removed her makeup, and a maidservant beside her was combing her hair with a wooden comb.
She raised her hand to stop the maid and asked, "What do you need the Yellow Book for?"
Jiang Jiaojiao looked up at the First Madam's tired face, pretending not to notice.
Smiling, she gave a graceful bow. "Madam, you may not know this, but today Father sent someone to say that Aunt is going to Qinglian Temple outside the city to offer incense and pray for blessings. Father asked me to accompany Aunt."
"Has your aunt's relationship with your father improved?" The First Madam had no doubts. In noble families, it was not uncommon for aunts to be promoted to the position of principal wife or demoted to concubines after the death of the wife.
If Jiang Jiaojiao's aunt becomes the legal wife again, Jiang Jiaojiao will naturally regain her status as the legitimate daughter, and the Wei family will provide Jiang Jiaojiao with a betrothal gift and marriage certificate in advance.
It's perfectly normal for couples to argue in bed and then make up before they get out of bed.
Jiang Jiaojiao smiled slightly, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. My father and aunt have always had a good relationship. It was my marriage that caused a rift between them. I feel extremely guilty. My father sent someone to tell me that as a daughter, I dare not disobey him. I will take this opportunity to go back and try to mend things with my father."
"It's what we should do as children."
The First Madam waved to the head maid in the room, "Go and fetch Concubine Jiang's official register."
The maid frowned and said, "Someone from Aunt Jiang's family came to deliver a message, why didn't the steward report it?"
All matters concerning the inner quarters of the mansion must be reported to the First Madam; this has always been the rule of the Prime Minister's residence.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiaojiao quickly explained, "I was suffering from severe morning sickness today, so I thought I'd go to the street to buy some sour fruit to calm myself down. I never expected to run into my family as soon as I stepped out the door."
"What a coincidence!" The First Madam's questioning gaze swept back and forth between the mistress and her servant.
Caiyan dared not speak, and kept nodding vigorously.
Jiang Jiaojiao was filled with anxiety and silently chanted Amitabha Buddha.
Her mind was in turmoil, but she had to pretend to be calm on the surface, for fear that the First Madam would take it seriously and send the gatekeeper to question her.
“Since your father has sent someone, I can’t stop him. You are pregnant now and it’s not good for you to go out. If you have morning sickness, you can go to the family doctor for medicine. I will send someone to inform the family doctor tomorrow so you can see him anytime.”
"Thank you for your understanding, Madam."
Upon hearing the First Madam's words, Jiang Jiaojiao bowed slightly. When she looked up, she saw the head maid turn to fetch the yellow register, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
As the maid handed over the yellow book, Jiang Jiaojiao's heart jumped into her throat again.
Fearing that the First Madam might notice something and suddenly change her mind, she pretended to be calm and slowly accepted the yellow book.
"Go back and see how your father is doing lately. The new emperor has only recently ascended the throne and is very busy."
Jiang Jiaojiao could easily understand what the First Madam meant.
She casually tucked the yellow book into her sleeve and gave a slight curtsy. "Thank you for your concern, Madam. When I went back last time, I saw that my father had lost a lot of weight. There are too many trivial matters in the Ministry of Revenue. My aunt said that my father is often busy in the palace until very late before he comes home."
"Tomorrow I will have the steward prepare a gift for you. If you go back to your parents' home empty-handed, Lord Jiang will misunderstand and think that I, as the mistress of the house, am mistreating you."
The First Madam spoke softly, maintaining her usual virtuous and gentle demeanor. Anyone who did not know her character would praise her as a truly virtuous mistress of the house.
Jiang Jiaojiao could see right through her.
The First Madam was personally selected by Old Madam Wei as the matriarch of the clan.
The First Madam was once a lady from a prestigious family, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
She had a dignified and elegant appearance, was adept at putting on a show, and was just as shrewd and skillful as the old lady. She managed the huge Prime Minister's mansion in an orderly manner.
"Thank you, Madam. It's getting late, you should rest." Jiang Jiaojiao and Caiyan stepped back and bowed, preparing to take their leave.
Gifts or not, once she has the Yellow Book, she can go wherever she wants. As for whether the Wei family is exiled or dismissed, that's none of her business.
Thinking that the Wei family might be in deep trouble, Jiang Jiaojiao wished she could turn around and run away.
"Wait, aren't you having severe morning sickness? Take this plate of fruit back. It's a little sweet, but it's better than feeling nauseous." The First Madam pointed to the fruit plate on the coffee table.
Next to the fruit platter was a plate full of walnut shortbread.
Jiang Jiaojiao swallowed hard, then smiled awkwardly and said, "Thank you for your generosity, Madam. I get hungry quickly while pregnant, and the walnut pastries won't be crispy tomorrow. Why don't you give them to me as well?"
The maid standing to the side looked at him with a mocking gaze.
Madam Wei naturally knew what the allowances were for the concubines' quarters. She said to the head maid in the room, "Take them all with her. Tomorrow, have the steward give Wangchun Courtyard an extra portion of pastries."
The maidservant fetched a food box and poured all the food from the small table into it.
Caiyan remained expressionless, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Her second young lady used to live a life no worse than the young ladies in the Prime Minister's mansion when she was in the Minister's mansion.
Silk and satin, gold hairpins and jade rings—how could they ever stoop so low for a bite to eat?
Even as a servant, she never needed to shamelessly beg her mistress for pastries; the second young lady would naturally reward them after tasting them.
Caiyan felt embarrassed, but she still forced herself to accept the food box.
Once outside the courtyard gate, Jiang Jiaojiao felt a great sense of relief and took the shortest path in the garden to walk back.
Seeing the second young lady running away in a panic, Caiyan followed her with tears in her eyes.
"A concubine's daughter is just a concubine's daughter, something that can't be presented to the public." The head maid curled her lip in disdain as she watched the two walk away.
"Shut up, watch your words. The Prime Minister's residence also has illegitimate daughters. If people hear what you've said, they'll say that I, as the mistress, look down on illegitimate children." The First Madam scolded softly.
The head maidservant quickly lowered her head and admitted her mistake, "Madam is right to reprimand me; it was my fault for speaking out of turn."
"Go and call Aunt Chen over tomorrow. She has been embezzling Wangchun Courtyard's allowance without permission. She needs to make up for it. From now on, Wangchun Courtyard's allowance will be sent directly to Wangchun Courtyard."
The maidservant acknowledged the order and withdrew, thinking to herself that the First Madam was truly kind, caring so much about even the concubines in the illegitimate household.
The maids had no idea what the First Madam was thinking. In the past, the Wei family could wield immense power in the court and even the entire capital, like oil being poured on a raging fire.
From the death of the empress to the change of dynasties, the Wei family declined at a visible pace.
Even the second and third wives started making their own plans in private, showing signs of disintegration.
Jiang Zhengming was, after all, a third-rank official in the imperial court, and having this marriage alliance was certainly a useful asset.
...
"Second Miss, watch your step."
Just as they reached the outside of Wangchun Courtyard, Caiyan saw Jiang Jiaojiao stumble and quickly reached out to help her.
"Don't worry about me, hurry back to the yard." Jiang Jiaojiao was panting, and before she could even stand properly, she pushed open the yard gate.
Caiyan followed closely behind, and Jiang Jiaojiao turned around and put down the door bar.
"Miss, why are you closing the door? The maids will be coming early tomorrow morning to sweep up the fallen leaves in the yard."
Wangchun Courtyard was secluded, and there were no valuables inside. To make it easier for maids to come and go, the courtyard gate was usually left ajar and not closed properly.
Jiang Jiaojiao strode into the house, saying as she went, "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and pack your things. We need to escape quickly, or it will be too late."
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