Jiang Danyun walked to the stove and gently shifted the lid of the earthenware pot a crack. With her other hand extended, she gave a slight tremble, causing seven or eight pitch-black pills to roll from her sleeve and fall entirely into the medicine pot. Jiang Danyun felt her mouth dry and her limbs numb when suddenly something flew in through the window, landing with a "thud" right at her feet. Startled, she let out a cry, her legs weak and trembling uncontrollably, nearly collapsing to the ground. One pill fell from her sleeve and rolled away, disappearing to who knows where.
Jiang Xiyun and Chun Ling were both taken aback.
Chaolu poked her head in through the window, shrinking back timidly, and said, "My shuttlecock—"
Chun Ling scolded her sharply, "You reckless little wench, kicking it into the room! If it falls into the medicine pot and breaks, you'll be in for it!"
Without even retrieving her shuttlecock, Chaolu scurried away in a flash.
Jiang Xiyun hurried into the room, taking Jiang Danyun's arm, and said with a smile, "That startled you just now, Fourth Sister. Look at the sweat on your forehead." She noticed Jiang Danyun trembling all over, her face as pale as gold leaf, and upon touching her hand, found it ice-cold. Jiang Xiyun then said, "Since Sister Xianglan isn't here, we should head back. We'll come another day to chat with her." With that, she tugged Jiang Danyun along to leave.
Jiang Danyun hesitated, glancing back repeatedly at the medicine pot. Through the window, she saw Chun Ling lift the lid of the earthenware pot, strain the liquid through a cloth, and slowly pour the decoction into a mung bean-glazed lotus leaf bowl. Jiang Danyun felt her heart pounding wildly, a wave of weakness washing over her. Her conscience struggled in vain, leaving her bewildered and dazed as she followed Jiang Xiyun away.
As for Chun Ling, being wholly devoted to Jiang Xiyun, she was not particularly diligent in her tasks. The medicine that should have been simmered for half an hour was hastily poured out after just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. She placed it on a Foreign Lacquer tray and carried it to the room. Just then, Xianglan returned from the garden with De Ge'er, who was hurriedly holding a flower to put in a vase. Xiao Juan took the medicine bowl and asked, "It's ready so quickly?" Chun Ling lowered her eyelids and gave a noncommittal "Hmm" before turning to leave.
Xiao Juan snorted coldly and brought the medicine to Xianglan. Previously, Shuran had personally supervised Xianglan taking her medicine, but as Xianglan appeared obedient and drank it without fuss each time, Shuran gradually entrusted the task to Xiao Juan and others. Xiao Juan was careless, and the other maids dared not watch Xianglan too closely. Sometimes Xianglan would secretly pour the medicine into a flowerpot or a spittoon, skipping doses here and there. Today, she intended to send Xiao Juan away so she could dispose of the medicine.
Unexpectedly, the door curtain rustled as Lin Jinlou entered to fetch something. De Ge'er rushed over and called out cheerfully, "Uncle Lin!" Lin Jinlou patted his head and said with a laugh, "Good lad." Then he looked up at Xianglan, his eyes scanning the room until they fell on the medicine on the table. "Why haven't you drunk it yet? It'll get cold soon," he said, handing the bowl to Xianglan himself.
Xianglan had no choice but to take it. Lin Jinlou opened a chest, selected a sword, and was about to leave when he noticed Xianglan still holding the bowl in a daze. Frowning, he asked, "Why aren't you drinking it?"
Xianglan had no alternative but to take a few sips. As Lin Jinlou turned to leave, he muttered to himself, "Silly girl, always causing worry." Once he was gone, Xianglan immediately set the bowl down and poured the remaining half-bowl of medicine into the spittoon. Seeing De Ge'er watching her with bright, wide eyes, she winked at him and whispered with a smile, "This medicine is too bitter. Auntie Lan doesn't like it. Don't tell anyone, alright?"De Ge’er immediately took out the small sachet from his waist and emptied its contents onto the bed. Picking out a Beauty’s Shoulder bottle, he handed it over and said, “I have pine nut candy here. If you eat this, it won’t taste bitter anymore.”
Xianglan’s heart warmed and softened all at once. She pulled De Ge’er into her arms and kissed his head.
Meanwhile, when the Jiang Sisters returned to Dream Fragrance Courtyard, Jiang Danyun was dazed and disoriented, her spirit seemingly lost, her mind blank. She sat absently on her own bed, lost in thought. After all, she was not a malicious person. Having done this deed, she did not feel the satisfaction she had imagined; instead, she was filled with fear and anxiety. Unconsciously, tears streamed down her face as she sat rigidly, her mind a whirl of countless thoughts and turmoil, unsure of what to do. Just then, Qingfen entered from outside, holding her needlework, and announced, “The embroidery pattern you asked me to work on is finished.” Noticing Jiang Danyun staring blankly, her face flushed and swollen in deep thought, Qingfen asked in confusion, “What’s wrong with you, Miss?” She stepped forward and touched Jiang Danyun’s head, only to find it covered in cold sweat. Startled, she shook Jiang Danyun vigorously and cried out in alarm, “Miss! Miss! What’s happened to you?”
Jiang Danyun finally snapped out of her daze and couldn’t help but let out a cry of “Aiya!” She clung to Qingfen’s arm and burst into tears. For now, we’ll leave it at that.
Jiang Xiyun, on the other hand, went straight to Grandmother Jiang’s room. Grandmother Jiang had already met with her eldest grandson and felt reassured in her heart. Moreover, with Jiang Shangxian’s visit concerning Jiang Xiyun’s marriage, it seemed the matter was nearly settled. Her emotions were a mix of joy and worry, yet her complexion had regained its rosy glow. She sat cross-legged on the heated brick bed, eyes closed, fingering her prayer beads and murmuring softly. Jiang Xiyun kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, burying herself in Grandmother Jiang’s embrace. Grandmother Jiang opened her arms to hold her, patting her back intermittently.
Jiang Xiyun murmured gloomily, “Grandmother, I—I feel so stifled and miserable inside—have I become wicked? I heard from Liusu long ago that Fourth Sister had picked up some infertility poison from Second Cousin-in-law. Fourth Sister is jealous by nature and envies my marriage. I was afraid she would try to poison me, so I guarded against her day and night. Several times, she failed to succeed. Eldest Cousin goes out of his way to praise Xianglan, and of course, I don’t like her! What’s more, Aunt also protects her. If I marry into the family, I might not be able to control her, and I fear my life would be constrained at every turn, like a puppet. So—so I deliberately hinted to Fourth Sister that Xianglan takes medicine every day and made sure to lead her there during Chun Ling’s shift. Since Fourth Sister couldn’t poison me and had no outlet for her resentment—given her vengeful nature—she would likely poison Xianglan to frame me and ruin this marriage. I used her as a tool—I schemed against someone, but—but I didn’t want to do this either!” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, and she sobbed uncontrollably.
Grandmother Jiang lovingly stroked Jiang Xiyun’s shoulder and whispered soothingly, “Xi’er, don’t cry, my dear granddaughter—Grandmother knows everything, everything. Liusu told me long ago.” She cupped her young granddaughter’s flower-like, tear-streaked face and said, “Who in this world doesn’t wish to live honorably and peacefully? But how many actually can?”Jiang Xiyun stared straight at Grandmother Jiang, noticing her weathered face had gained several more wrinkles, making her appear increasingly aged. Her heart ached, and tears once again streamed down like rolling melon seeds. Ever since she realized Chen Xianglan held an exceptional position, she had been constantly pondering. That girl was born beautiful, accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Although Jiang Xiyun considered such romantic pursuits utterly useless, Lin Jinlou favored them, and Xianglan's strengths happened to be her own weaknesses. How could such a distinguished Concubine not make her sit on pins and needles? She had originally planned to deal with it gradually after marrying into the family, but Qin Shi's defense of Xianglan that day had poured cold water over her head, completely dashing her hopes. Hence, she had devised this plan—
Feeling desolate and resentful for having led Jiang Danyu into such actions, Jiang Xiyun wept, "This matter must be resolved. If we are to preserve the Jiang Family's reputation, Chun Ling will have to take the blame. She was originally devoted to me, yet I—plotted against her—"
Grandmother Jiang said nonchalantly, "There's no other way."
Jiang Xiyun was startled.
A sharp glint flashed in Grandmother Jiang's eyes as she said, "Let me ask you, if Chun Ling hadn't betrayed her master, would you have acted this way? With Chun Ling's temperament, would you dare use her in the future? If our Jiang Family's status were on par with the Lin Family, would a mere Concubine still make you so apprehensive?"
Jiang Xiyun sobbed, "Of course not. Among Xianglan's maids, she was the only one who actively approached me. Someone like that, your granddaughter naturally wouldn't dare use—if our family were like the Lin Family, Grandmother would naturally speak with the Lin Family's Taitai. Even if we didn't have Chen Xianglan dismissed, we wouldn't allow her to be elevated to such a position."
Grandmother Jiang's expression remained calm as she spoke slowly, "At least your mind is clearing up. Our Jiang Family is already somewhat inferior to the Lin Family, and now we've suffered further losses. You, a girl Born of a Concubine, lack strong maternal family support, your legal mother isn't close to you, your birth mother is of low status, your own brother is far away in Zhejiang, and I am already an old bone. Your father still hopes to leverage your connection with the Lin Family to foster goodwill and uplift the entire family in the future. You should understand these layers of stakes clearly. After marrying into the Lin Family, if you want to live comfortably, you must keep your eyes sharp."
Jiang Xiyun was stunned, forgetting to wipe the tears from her cheeks, and stood there dumbfounded.
Grandmother Jiang reached out and slowly wiped the tears from her young granddaughter's face, her gaze full of affection, saying, "Lin Jinlou is infatuated with Chen Xianglan, wholeheartedly wanting her to bear children, completely disregarding our family's face. If she later gives birth to a firstborn son of a concubine, how awkward would that be for you? If you don't scheme, would you be willing to live a life of compromise, enduring and yielding everywhere, lowering your head in humility?"
Jiang Xiyun trembled, her lips unable to form words.Grandmother Jiang let out a long sigh, then suddenly straightened up with renewed vigor and said coldly, "There's no need to feel guilty about scheming against others. The medicine was administered by your fourth sister—it has nothing to do with you. You didn't deliberately harm anyone. At worst, it's just that maid Chun Ling and that Chen Xianglan. No one else lost a piece of flesh—hah! You have more cunning than Chen Xianglan, and your comprehension is superior too. Since childhood, you've known how to read people's expressions and build connections. What does she know? All she does is bury herself in her room, scribbling a few characters, painting a few worthless pictures, then shedding tears in the wind—always acting aggrieved, timid and restrained, stubborn and obstinate. So what if she's honest and simple-minded? Even if she's also a young lady from a wealthy family, ask yourself—which noble household would seek a woman like her as a wife? Let me ask you: if you had a daughter in the future, would you want her to be like her or like you? If you had a son seeking a bride, would you want someone like Chen Xianglan or someone like you?"
Jiang Xiyun was utterly dumbfounded, her lips trembling without producing a single sound.
Grandmother Jiang continued slowly, "It's just that Chen Xianglan is quite skilled at winning people's favor. Think carefully about how you'll manage her after you marry into the family."
Jiang Xiyun murmured blankly, "She probably won't be able to bear children anymore—she's just a decorative vase—"
(Another update coming later)
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