Chapter 3
Jiang Mian fell asleep and dreamed of her grandmother when she was still alive.
At that time, she had just lost both her parents and lived alone in a courtyard deep in Xueyi Lane. The plague had just passed, and no one in the neighborhood dared to approach her. Some even said behind her back that she was a little jinx who had killed Wen Shi's brother and now had killed her parents.
Before her father died, he entrusted her to her eldest uncle's family, but her eldest uncle only came once in a hurry on the day of the burial, and in the days that followed, he seemed to have completely forgotten about Jiang Mian.
Although Jiang Mian didn't understand, she could roughly guess that her uncle didn't want to take her back. Her uncle had failed the imperial examinations for ten years and was now working as a tutor in a merchant's house. Her aunt was always materialistic and had three children to support. Adding her would mean adding more bowls and chopsticks and more food.
Her aunt refused, so she simply ignored her and refused to see her at all.
Those few days were truly the darkest days of Jiang Mian's life.
In those few days, she went from being a carefree, pampered young lady to learning to read people's expressions and understanding the sorrow of living under someone else's roof.
It was at that time that her grandmother, who had always lived in seclusion, suddenly appeared and took her in.
Later, Jiang Mian learned that her grandmother had been living in seclusion all these years because she had been heartbroken by the world.
When she was young, her grandmother was the daughter of a merchant. Her family ran several tea gardens and they lived a good life in the early years. However, she never expected that the bad news would begin after she got married. Jiang Mian had no memory of her grandfather. She only vaguely remembered that not long after her father was born, her grandfather lost his life in an accident.
Over the years, her grandmother raised her eldest brother and father alone, but after the two brothers got married, they gradually developed a rift and began to covet their grandmother's property. When she was young, Jiang Mian did not understand, and only felt that her father and mother in her memory were exceptionally tall. But later, after experiencing the world, she suddenly realized that they were just two insignificant ordinary people in the ups and downs of life.
But the cautious Jiang Mian couldn't care less about any of that. Everyone says that a home is only a home when parents are alive. Since her parents were dead, she had no home anymore.
She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, covered her lips, and dared not make a sound.
Until her grandmother suddenly appeared and draped a robe over her shoulders.
"Child, if you feel bad, just cry it out. You'll feel better if you cry it out."
A wrinkled hand brushed away the stray hairs from her forehead. In that instant, Jiang Mian saw a pair of loving eyes, filled with tenderness, heartache, worry, helplessness... all sorts of complex emotions gathered together, and her tears fell as easily as if they were worthless onto the back of her grandmother's hand.
"Grandmother...I have no home...no...home..."
As she repeated those words over and over, Jiang Mian felt as if the sky was about to fall.
Fortunately, those hands, just like that person's, were gentle and loving. They held her in their arms as she was heartbroken and comforted her softly: "Don't be afraid, Grandma is here with you. No matter what happens, Grandma will be with you."
That night, the grandmother and granddaughter talked for a long time. Since her mother passed away, her grandmother had been the kindest person in the world to her, but she never expected that her grandmother would leave so soon.
This hurt her even more than when her parents left. That feeling of being adrift and helpless, with no one to rely on, returned to Jiang Mian's heart, so much so that she was distracted by her aunt's sudden kindness and almost fell into the abyss again.
"Grandmother...don't go..."
Jiang Mian murmured softly in her sleep, tears involuntarily streaming down her face. Yun Ji, who was beside her, sighed, tucked the blanket around Jiang Mian, and wiped away the tear stains on her cheeks.
During her time in Jeju, she had been on the run, not daring to waste a moment. Yunji closed her eyes, but the scene of seeing Jiang Mian at the magistrate's mansion that night remained vivid in her mind.
Her back was covered in wounds, her skin torn and bleeding, and she had almost lost half her life. Yunji had never seen Jiang Mian suffer such a great injustice, and her legs immediately went weak and she knelt down on the ground.
Even though she was extremely weak, Jiang Mian still calmly made arrangements for the next steps.
They could no longer return to the Jiang residence; they had to find a new way out.
Yunji suddenly realized that the little girl who had always been loved and cared for had somehow become calm in such a critical moment. Perhaps she had neglected something over the years, or perhaps the successive deaths of her loved ones had made even the most naive person grow up quickly.
If possible, Yunji still hopes that Jiang Mian will remain a little girl forever.
Growing up is too painful, but both master and servant know that no one can stay young forever.
**
It was already late at night at Shou'an Hall.
After helping the old lady take the medicine, Granny Xin turned around and ordered someone to clean up all the dregs.
"What did you think of the child today?"
"The Fifth Miss is intelligent and quick-witted. If she is properly nurtured, she will not be inferior to anyone in the future."
Granny Xin massaged the old lady's forehead, her mind drifting to that cautious woman. She had met many people, from princesses in the palace to ordinary people on the street, and she could guess a person's character from the first meeting.
As for Jiang Mian, Granny Xin always felt that she had too much potential and possibilities. She might surprise people or turn the tide. She could never see through or guess what kind of person she was.
With her eyes closed, Madam Shen softly replied, "You're right, she does resemble my deceased sister quite a bit."
This was a secret matter within the palace, and Granny Xin lowered her head consciously, neither asking nor thinking about it.
Back when Madam Shen was still a young lady, she had a very good relationship with Princess Xunyang. The two grew up together and their relationship was extraordinary. However, when Princess Xunyang was traveling south, she fell in love with a scholar who had not yet entered officialdom. Moreover, after returning, she became pregnant.
Princess Xunyang dared not return to the capital, so she entrusted her illegitimate daughter to the care of Madam Shen, who was now the wife of the Shen family in Jizhou. That child was Jiang Mian's mother, Shen Yun.
Madam Shen kept this secret very well. Back then, she only gave birth to one child, but claimed to the outside world that they were twins, a boy and a girl. Even Old Master Shen never suspected anything. Over the years, he has carefully raised and treated Shen Yun as his own daughter. But he never expected that twenty years ago, this usually docile and obedient child would sever her mother-daughter relationship for an outsider.
At that time, when Old Mrs. Shen thought about how Xunyang had entrusted this infant child to her, she was filled with regret and resentment. She could have been a princess, but for a man, she willingly fell into depravity and spent the rest of her life in seclusion, never to return to the way things were before.
Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. Xunyang has never come to Jizhou again, and Yunniang does not know that her beloved mother was never her biological mother.
This secret had been buried in her heart for many years until she met Jiang Mian today. The child was well-behaved and sensible, and her features resembled Yun Niang's by four or five points. However, the clever and quick-witted spirit in her eyes reminded her of Princess Xunyang, who was once the most outstanding princess in the capital. She was also just as clever and exquisite.
Unfortunately, six years ago, news spread from the temple that the benefactor Miaozhu had passed away.
That same year, she summoned Yunniang to her residence, feigning illness, and made her kneel before the Buddha for a month.
The tea had gone cold, so Granny Xin replaced it with a cup of hot tea. She couldn't help but think of what had just happened: "From what I've observed, the eldest young master treats the fifth young lady quite well."
After Granny Xin recounted everything about Songyuan's affairs that day, Old Madam Shen paused in her tea drinking, a hint of surprise suddenly appearing in her cloudy eyes.
"Forget it, let them be. I'm old and can't get involved in my children's and grandchildren's affairs anymore. The Shen family has been declining for so many years, and the turning point may lie with these younger generations."
Granny Xin sighed. The Shen clan was once so glorious. Two prime ministers came from the clan. Even the Song family of the current dynasty had to give them some respect. If it weren't for the rebellion of Prince Xie Yong of Yong'an more than 20 years ago, which implicated the Shen clan and forced them to move to Jizhou, the Shen clan would not have declined more and more in the future.
Over the years, the Second Master failed in his studies and used his wealth to buy a position as a sub-prefect. Meanwhile, the Second Madam, Madam Jiang, came from a merchant family but had lofty ambitions. She not only married off her daughter, Mian'er, to a man in the capital, but also wanted to pin her own career advancement on the marriages of her children.
Granny Xin couldn't help but guess that perhaps the reason for being so enthusiastic towards the Fifth Miss today was because she was attracted by the Fifth Miss's talent and beauty. Such outstanding looks would be the icing on the cake for a wealthy family, but for ordinary people, it would be like having gold in their pockets, and everyone would want a share.
In the entire Shen family mansion, only the old lady can protect the Fifth Miss now.
But if the old lady passes away in the future, the fifth young lady will be like a piece of duckweed, with little chance of turning things around.
**
Jiang Mian slept soundly all night. Although she experienced many things in her dreams, this was indeed the longest and most restful sleep she had ever had. She didn't have to worry about her aunt taking her back to force her to marry, nor did she have to fear the magistrate's whipping that would leave deep wounds.
Even though she had to live cautiously in the Shen family, after yesterday's experience, she understood that no matter how terrifying the Shen family was, they did a very good job of putting on a show. For example, Shen Tang, who had ridiculed and scrutinized her six years ago, now suppressed his temper and affectionately called her Fifth Sister.
"Fifth Sister!"
Suddenly, a girl's startled cry came from outside the window.
Jiang Mian was startled. She looked up and saw Shen Yan, whom she had met just last night, standing in front of her. When they first met yesterday, she thought that her cousin was cute and naive. But now it seemed that the other woman's eyes were bright and she was not as dull as she had imagined.
But this is not what Jiang Mian is considering right now. She is new here and cannot afford to let anyone find fault with her. Even with Shen Yan, whom she is least wary of, she still puts on a kind and approachable face and raises her eyes at just the right moment.
"Fourth sister?"
Shen Yan put down the small bag she was carrying at her waist, casually found a round stool in the room and sat down. She blinked her bright eyes, then took out a plate of pastries from the bulging bag: "I'll share half with you."
Jiang Mian was stunned.
No one had ever treated her like this before. She couldn't help but take a good look at her fourth sister, who was raised in a prestigious family. She wasn't the kind of gentle and beautiful woman. Compared to her third sister, she seemed rather ordinary, but she looked very approachable.
"Thank you, Fourth Sister."
"Don't mention thanks. From now on, we're family. In a few days, the tutor will come to our mansion to teach. Second sister has already left the school, but Grandmother said that when Tutor Zhou arrives, all the eligible young ladies and gentlemen of Jizhou can come to listen to his lessons. Then, we'll be classmates."
As she spoke, Chen Yan broke the pastry in half and put it in her mouth, but even so, she still choked. Jiang Mian quickly poured her a cup of hot tea: "Fourth sister, slow down, no one will take it from you."
“You speak just like my mother. I was curious when I saw you yesterday. You are a few months younger than me, but you speak and act just like my older sister, Mian’er. Are you an only child in your family?”
Shen Yan asked curiously.
Jiang Mian suddenly stopped what she was doing. She remained silent for a while, then nodded gently.
Shen Yan suddenly realized something, and her bright eyes were now filled with helplessness: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up your sad memories."
"It's alright, Fourth Sister, it's all over now."
"From now on, in this Shen family mansion, you have me, you have your grandmother, we are all your family." Shen Yan suddenly grasped her hand, looking at her solemnly as if making some kind of vow.
Since her grandmother passed away, Jiang Mian has rarely felt this sense of dependence. At this moment, the promise made by the person in front of her, though perhaps unintentional, is a sentiment she cherishes deeply.
She nodded emphatically. No matter what happens in the future, this moment of sincerity is enough.
It was night, and Jiang Mian had just finished taking a bath.
Suddenly, she heard a soft meow from outside the window. She frowned, a series of unpleasant images flashing through her mind. She braced herself against the side, feeling uneasy.
"Yunji?"
"This servant is here."
"Why are there cats in Birouyuan?"
Yunji stepped out to check, and soon returned: "It's the same one from last night."
Granny Xin's words suddenly came to mind: the eldest young master's cat likes to run around, which is probably because there are rats around here.
Jiang Mian tried her best to clear her mind of those distracting thoughts. During the day, cats were indeed gentle, obedient, and amusing animals, but at night, they always reminded her of some unpleasant scenes.
Murder in the snow, cats meowing on the eaves.
And the hand that tightly covered her lips in the darkness.
It was like a nightmare.
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