Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuqin was instantly enraged.
"The Marquis's mansion is a prestigious and powerful family with many rules and regulations. How could a country girl like you possibly understand them? How dare you laugh at me?"
Jiang Huaiyu spread her hands, her tone calm, "Why are you angry, sister? I was just concerned."
"What right do you have to care!"
Madam Hao gently scolded, "Alright, stop arguing. What kind of behavior is this?"
She was biased towards her biological daughter, but Jiang Shuqin's temperament was indeed too impetuous. With just a few words, she was easily provoked into a rage by Jiang Huaiyu.
In contrast, Jiang Huaiyu remained calm and composed.
Madam Hao sighed inwardly and decided to change the subject, asking gently, "Shuqin, you once said that the Crown Prince had recovered, so why hasn't he returned with you today?"
To this day, she has yet to see the face of her distinguished son-in-law from a noble family.
Jiang Shuqin glanced at Jiang Huaiyu with dissatisfaction before slowly speaking: "Prince Qin's health has improved significantly. Yesterday, Mother took him to an ancient temple to fulfill a vow. He will need to stay for several days before returning to the capital, so he was unable to come with me to visit Mother."
Her eyes gleamed with pride, as if she were showing off her achievements.
"My mother made it clear that Prince Qin's recovery was entirely due to my meticulous care, so she specifically instructed me to stay at my parents' home for a while longer, and to personally come and fetch me when Prince Qin returns!"
"Amitabha!"
Upon hearing this, Hao, who had never believed in gods or Buddhas, couldn't help but silently recite a Buddhist chant.
"The improvement in Prince Qin's condition is truly thanks to the Buddha's blessing. Shuqin, you have finally ushered in the day when your suffering ends and your happiness returns. As your mother, I can finally put my mind at ease!"
Hao's face was beaming with joy, and she felt genuinely proud of Jiang Shuqin.
In the past, when their daughter proposed a marriage exchange, she and her husband were firmly against it, fearing that the prince's illness would not be cured and would ruin their daughter's life.
Fortunately, the Prince of Qin recovered.
In this way, her daughter would be able to sit securely on the throne of the heir apparent's wife in the future, and when the heir apparent of Qin inherited the title, she would be able to become the Marquis's wife and rule the entire Marquis's mansion.
At this moment, Mrs. Hao felt that her daughter indeed possessed extraordinary insight.
If the arranged marriage hadn't happened, Jiang Huaiyu would be enjoying wealth and luxury now, while her own daughter would be forced to marry far away in the countryside.
As the year drew to a close, Madam Hao couldn't help but sigh, secretly rejoicing in her heart.
This supreme blessing can only belong to his own daughter!
However, compared to the joy on Hao's face, Jiang Shuqin's eyes revealed a hint of doubt. Her gaze became deep, and she couldn't help but steal a glance at Jiang Huaiyu, seemingly full of questions, but she remained silent.
Madam Hao noticed her unusual behavior and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Shuqin, what's wrong? Did you suffer any injustice at the Marquis's residence?"
Jiang Shuqin first shook her head slightly, then slowly nodded.
Hao anxiously pressed, "What exactly happened?"
Jiang Shuqin sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness, "Mother, the Marquis's mansion is indeed prestigious in every way, but there are just too many formalities and procedures, which always make people feel constrained."
Mrs. Hao embraced her tightly with great affection.
She comforted her gently, saying, "Shuqin, the aura of a noble family is indeed different from others. I understand your suffering. You don't like that Granny Cui, but your mother-in-law is doing this to mold you into a talented woman so that you can inherit the Marquis's mansion in the future. Don't forget, the Qin family's vast fortune is not something that can be easily managed."
"That's true!"
A hint of joy flashed in Jiang Shuqin's eyes. She lifted her head from Hao Shi's embrace and showed her the gold-threaded, ruby-inlaid double phoenix hairpin in her hair.
"Mother, this gold-threaded double phoenix hairpin inlaid with rubies was specially selected from her collection by my mother-in-law when she learned that I was returning to my parents' home today. Don't you think it's beautiful?"
Mrs. Hao nodded in delight, praising, "Extremely beautiful! I have never seen such a dazzling ruby!"
Jiang Shuqin's face beamed with pride. "Mother, you're right. The young master has recovered, and I see hope. What is a mere hairpin? All the glory of the Jingyuan Marquis's mansion will ultimately belong to me!"
With a smile playing on her lips, Madam Hao gave her a light, reproachful glance.
"It's best to say less of that. Your primary task now is to win the prince's favor and be a good son-in-law."
"I see."
The mother and daughter were engrossed in a heartwarming conversation, leaving Jiang Huaiyu standing aside.
However, Jiang Huaiyu had already become accustomed to such a scene, and her heart remained calm as she quietly sipped her tea.
It was quite some time before Hao noticed her presence.
Thinking that she had to save face, she casually asked, "Huaiyu, you've been married for a long time now, and today is your first time visiting your parents' home. Tell your mother how you've been doing at the Bai family's house."
Jiang Huaiyu gently put down her teacup and said in a calm tone, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I am living quite well in the Bai family."
"Excellent, excellent."
Hao did not investigate further.
After all, when Jiang Huaiyu got married, they did not give her any dowry. Apart from a few boxes of books and some clothes, there was nothing else for her to take away from the Jiang family.
Her life will inevitably be difficult once she enters the Bai family.
If Jiang Huaiyu were to confide her grievances at her parents' home today, Hao Shi would probably be quite impatient.
Fortunately, Jiang Huaiyu was quite pragmatic and did not reveal those inappropriate grievances. Considering the bond between mother and daughter over the years, Madam Hao still felt a sliver of satisfaction with her.
Jiang Shuqin revealed a mocking smile.
“Jiang Huaiyu, you do have some self-awareness, not revealing those sordid things to avoid upsetting your mother. Even if you had, the Jiang family wouldn't have offered you any help. A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup, and besides, you're just an imposter, so the Jiang family has no reason to bother with you! Remember that?”
In her previous life, when Jiang Shuqin had just returned to the Jiang family and their identities were revealed, Jiang Huaiyu initially found it hard to bear the disparity in their status.
But as time went by, she gradually accepted her position, and her heart could no longer be stirred.
Having lived two lifetimes, she has come to understand many of the truths of the world.
These harsh words did not move her at all.
Jiang Huaiyu smiled and nodded, "I will always remember my sister's teachings."
Jiang Shuqin felt as if she had hit soft cotton. She hated Jiang Huaiyu's indifferent attitude towards fame and fortune, as if he was indifferent to everything.
A slight, sarcastic smile played on her lips as she looked at Madam Hao and said, "Mother, you probably don't know the truth. When she arrived at the Bai family that day, she was stopped at the door. The old woman from the Bai family even threatened to divorce her. I don't know what she did to incur such hatred. If she is divorced before even entering the family, wouldn't that bring shame to the Jiang family?"
Hao was completely unaware of these details, and upon hearing this, he was also taken aback.
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