Perhaps because her beloved grandson had finally come out of the ancestral hall, Old Madam Jiang felt much better. She sat half-upright on the bed, holding Jiang Segu's hand, and just watched her smile with relief and sigh, unable to say a word for a long time.
Jiang Segu laughed and said, "Grandmother, do you not recognize Azi anymore? Or is it that you have an older sister now and have long forgotten about Azi? Grandmother, do you know that in the plays, your behavior is that of a fickle and unfaithful man!"
"You little rascal, you haven't calmed down at all these days in the ancestral hall!" Old Madam Jiang scolded, then pinched her round little face and said two words that no one else agreed with, "You've lost weight!"
Jiang Segu's lips twitched suddenly, and she rested her chin on her hands. "My dear grandmother, in your heart, how much does Azi have to eat to be considered not thin?"
"It's good for a daughter to be plump; it'll be better for her to have children in the future!"
Jiang Segu blushed at those words and said coquettishly, "Grandmother!"
Madam Jiang chuckled, "You've really grown up; you've even learned to be ashamed!"
Jiang Segu huffed, "I'm not talking to Grandmother anymore, Azi is going out!"
"You just came out of the ancestral hall, why are you going out again! Your grandfather has put you under house arrest, forbidding you from leaving the house!"
"Oh? Grandmother, I've been locked up for more than ten days, please let me go out for a walk!"
Jiang Segu shook Old Madam Jiang's hand back and forth until she had no choice but to agree, instructing her, "Don't stay out too long, you must be back within an hour! Otherwise, don't expect this old woman to plead for you!"
"Grandma still loves Azi the most!"
Jiang Segu stood up and was about to leave when he remembered something and asked Zhou Mama, who was standing to the side, "Zhou Mama, do you know that poinsettias are poisonous!"
Madam Zhou was taken aback at first, and then she realized, "I know, Second Madam told me about it when she gave me the prescription!"
"Does your second aunt know medicine?"
Madam Zhou laughed and said, "Miss, have you forgotten? Second Madam's father was a traveling doctor. Second Master's life was saved by Second Madam's father. It was out of gratitude that Second Master married Second Madam!"
Jiang Segu then remembered the background of Jiang Er's grandmother.
Grandma Jiang was the daughter of a peasant doctor.
Outside of the busy farming season, her father would carry his medicine box, ring a bell, and travel to surrounding villages and towns to treat the sick.
Although they also treat illnesses and save lives, they are not as respected as doctors who hold consultations.
Jiang Er Nai Nai was not well-off, and had many brothers and sisters who often came to her door to beg for money. Therefore, after marrying into the Changping Marquis's mansion, she was like an invisible person.
"It's good that Aunt Zhou knows it's poisonous, but please be extra careful in your daily life! The case in Shunde, where the younger brother poisoned his older brother with poinsettia toxins, still makes me feel scared when I hear about it!"
Whether it was because she was shocked by what Jiang Segu said, or because she felt that Jiang Segu was not allowing her to plant poinsettias in the Changping Marquis's mansion, Zhou's mother looked somewhat unnatural.
"Alright, Zhou's mother is very meticulous, why do you need to remind her! You should take care of yourself and stop worrying about other people's business!"
"Grandmother, I meant well! Humph, if you don't appreciate it, fine, Azi is going out!"
***
Jiangse Valley's carriage went to the north city.
"Qiaolian, go down and ask where you can buy savory pork rice dumplings here."
Yesterday, she saw Gu Songhan eating the zongzi with great relish, so she figured it must be to his liking.
I've received so much kindness from him over the past few days, I should at least repay him in some way.
Savory pork-filled rice dumplings are not uncommon in Beijing, but Qiaolian knew that if her daughter was thinking about them, they must taste exceptional. So when she asked, she added "the best ones" and quickly got the answer.
The rice dumplings weren't sold from a shop, but from an old lady who wrapped and cooked them at home and then pushed a cart to sell them.
The old lady's surname was Sun, and the people in the neighborhood called her Aunt Sun.
Grandma Sun's zongzi cart doesn't usually have a fixed location, so buying one really depends on luck.
Jiang Segu had nothing else to do, so he ordered the driver to proceed slowly.
"Young lady, the old lady specifically told you to return within an hour..."
"Are you serious? As long as I don't cause trouble, Grandma won't restrict my outings!"
Jiang Segu didn't seem to care at all. As she spoke, she lifted the curtain, and the sunlight outside the carriage made her squint.
Having been confined for so long, I didn't expect the spring sunshine to be so intense.
After its eyes adjusted to the outside light, it began to look around.
Qiaolian, who was following beside the carriage, hurriedly advised, "Miss, please lower the curtain quickly. I will keep an eye on it for you and make sure that Aunt Sun's dumpling cart doesn't get away from me!"
"I'll just lift it a little bit, it'll be fine! Besides, it's stuffy sitting in the carriage, this will help me get some fresh air!"
Just then, she suddenly spotted several people in military armor, and her eyes lit up. "Qiaolian, look, aren't those people from the Northern City Military Command?"
Qiaolian's eyes flickered slightly. "Miss, how would this servant know what kind of clothes the people from the Northern City Military Command wear!"
Jiang Segu absentmindedly gave an "oh," but his eyes never left those people.
She only lowered the carriage curtain in disappointment after several soldiers turned away.
Indeed, Young Master Gu is, after all, a deputy commander; he wouldn't wear the same clothes as a mere minor official!
As soon as she lowered the curtain, several minor officials jostled each other, grinning mischievously as they walked toward the carriage!
Although Qiaolian was flustered, she still took two steps forward and asked gently, "May I ask what business you gentlemen have?"
"Oh, nothing! I just noticed the young lady in the carriage was staring at us, so I came to ask if she has taken a liking to one of us?"
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