Jiang Wei's teacup, which she had just placed to her lips, trembled, and tea spilled onto her chin and onto the table.
Xiao Zhan took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her face, saying, "How could you be so careless?"
He leaned closer to take a look, and his chin wasn't red from the heat. "It's alright, the tea isn't too hot."
Xiao wiped very carefully, cleaning her chin. Then he noticed tea stains on her clothes and reached out to wipe them away.
Seeing his hand move down, Jiang Wei quickly snatched the handkerchief from Xiao Zhan's hand, saying, "I can do it myself."
Xiao Zhan was stunned for a moment, then withdrew his hand and put it behind his back, feeling extremely embarrassed.
He was used to being surrounded by men in the military camp and never shied away from these things, so…
Xiao Zhan saw Jiang Wei wiping away tea stains, and his eyes would inadvertently drift to her heaving chest.
His face flushed red, and he thought of his teacher's teachings: "Do not listen to or look at what is improper." He quickly looked away.
"I'm leaving now. I'll come find you again next time. Change your clothes so you don't catch a cold." Xiao Zhan turned around and left with these words, his body burning with heat.
After having lunch at the Jiang residence, Lady Chang'an hurriedly left.
Inside the carriage, Song Fangfang complained to the Lady of Chang'an, "Mother, look at that wretched woman, she's really smug. She clearly has venison and other game sent by the Chen family, but she just won't bring them out to entertain us."
Look what we're being fed!
These are just ordinary, home-style dishes; we're not being treated like honored guests.
Lady Chang'an patted her, and Song Fangfang comforted her with the back of her hand.
She was furious. She was, after all, the mistress of the Chang'an Marquis's mansion, yet she was only given those kinds of food.
Seeing the leg of venison and the two bags of wild game, she had already hinted that she wanted to eat some or take some back, but the lowly maidservant beside Jiang Wei actually said that it was for her young lady.
They wouldn't give her a single penny, and even openly and subtly accused her of being a freeloader.
She almost became Jiang Wei's mother-in-law, yet she showed no regard for their past friendship.
She hadn't noticed; he used to be so good at helping those in need, but now…
"It's just a petty person getting ahead, why are you so anxious?" Lady Chang'an said to Song Fangfang.
"It's not certain yet!" Song Fangfang said.
Song Fangfang looked at the clothes she was wearing, which she had bought last year and were already out of style.
He hated Jiang Wei even more.
"What are you saying?" asked the Lady of Chang'an.
"Mother... Eldest brother only said that the First Prince has this plan, it hasn't been implemented at all yet, and she might not even be taken back by the First Prince!" Song Fangfang said coquettishly, "A concubine? Mother, do you think she's worthy?"
Lady Chang'an looked at Song Fangfang with suspicion, "What are your plans?"
As your own daughter, you know best what she means by her words.
"Mother, how about I become a concubine for the eldest prince?"
"You?" Lady Chang'an was incredulous. Her legitimate daughter, who was perfectly well-behaved in the Marquis's mansion, was going to become someone else's concubine?
"No, Mother will find you a good family to be your principal wife, someone who can make the decisions in the household," Lady Chang'an Marquis refused directly.
“Mother… although being a concubine to the eldest prince is the same as being a concubine, think about it, that’s the royal family. When the eldest prince…” Song Fangfang pointed her index finger upwards, “I am… not to mention a noble consort, I’ll at least have a position in the palace.”
"Brother, you'd be better off relying on me than an outsider."
Lady Chang'an thought about it and agreed. She wavered a little. The concubines of the royal family were not comparable to those of ordinary families. When the emperor selected concubines, they were all daughters of officials.
"But... I heard that ever since the princess passed away, the emperor has tried several times to choose a new wife for the eldest prince, but he has refused, saying that he still misses his first wife..."
"Mother..." Seeing that the Lady of Chang'an was somewhat relenting, and fearing that she might have a lot of concerns, Song Fangfang interrupted her, "Mother, isn't he relenting? He doesn't even mind the abandoned wife of our Marquis's mansion. Your daughter is as beautiful as a flower, does he still have a reason to refuse?"
Although Lady Chang'an had a soft spot for her daughter, she was still not as confident as Song Fangfang.
"Let's go home and discuss it with your older brother first!"
That's how it's supposed to be done, but your older brother will still have to help you with it.
Seeing that her mother had agreed, Song Fangfang obediently said yes.
She clung to the arm of the Lady of Chang'an, her heart filled with hatred for Jiang Wei. She was determined to snatch the eldest prince away, to make Jiang Wei's hopes dashed, and to leave her a disgraced old maid who would never be able to marry.
At Jiang Rou's insistence, Jiang Zai Shui followed her to the place where Aunt Liu lived.
The old woman guarding the gate hurried off to inform Jiang Wei.
Jiang Wei smiled coldly, "Let them in, let them have a proper reunion."
The old women let them in without worry.
Jiang Rou knelt by the bedside, "Mother... Father has come to see you."
The room reeked of a foul stench, and Jiang Zaishui frowned, feeling nauseous. Standing a distance away, she said, "In a few days, the Marquis of Chang'an's mansion will be coming to take her away. If you can still get up, help her with the arrangements. If you can't get up, just rest. Jiang Wei will take care of everything."
Aunt Liu lay on the bed, furious, but she didn't utter a sound of complaint. She knew that in her current state, complaining wouldn't make any difference.
With Jiang Rou's help, she sat up and said, "I will definitely take care of everything for my daughter, please rest assured, sir."
"But the dowry... the master knows that..."
"I'll take care of the dowry," Jiang Zaishui said, "Then you should rest!"
After saying that, Jiang Zai Shui turned and left.
Aunt Liu's voice rang out behind him, "Master, the people guarding the courtyard can leave now!"
Jiang Zai Shui instructed the old women outside the courtyard to leave. The old women looked at each other, then saw Jiang Zai Shui's wide, angry eyes.
He had no choice but to pretend to step aside, and after he left, he stood back down, and someone went to report to Jiang Wei.
When the old woman returned, the other old women dispersed.
They also brought Ah Jing and Granny Li back.
The master and his servants were all covered in injuries that had not yet fully healed.
Seeing this, they couldn't help but feel sad, and they hugged each other and cried bitterly.
After a short while, Aunt Liu called out, "Someone come here, I want to take a bath."
After calling for a long time without anyone coming, Ah Jing went out to inquire despite his injuries and learned that Jiang Wei had already sold off all of Aunt Liu's maids and servants, and now only Granny Li was left by her side.
Jiang Rou couldn't sell her things, so she had to arrange for them to fetch water for Aunt Liu to bathe in.
Aunt Liu felt alive again after comfortably changing into clean clothes.
She touched Jiang Rou's belly and said, "You're pregnant now, so you need to be careful."
Jiang Rou nodded happily.
Aunt Liu glanced at the doorway and tears streamed down her face.
Seeing Jiang Rou looking at her, she stroked her face with her hand, "Mother knows you love me the most, but he is still your brother. We can't just abandon him. Only if he is well can you stand firm in your husband's family in the future."
Because of her pregnancy, Jiang Rou seemed to have developed maternal instincts. She touched her lower abdomen and said, "Hmm, my little brother is still small."
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