Jiang Danyun walked to the stove and gently shifted the lid of the clay pot a crack. With her other hand extended, she gave a slight tremble, and seven or eight pitch-black pills rolled out from her sleeve, all dropping 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 from sight.
Jiang Xiyun and Chunling were both taken aback.
Chaolu poked her head in through the window, timidly saying, "My shuttlecock..."
Chunling immediately scolded her sharply, "You reckless little wench, kicking it into the room! If it had landed in the medicine pot and shattered it, you'd 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 with a smile. "That startled you just now, Fourth Sister. Look at all the sweat on your forehead." She noticed Jiang Danyun trembling all over, her face as pale as gold leaf, and her hands icy cold to the touch. Jiang Xiyun then said, "Since Sister Xianglan isn't here, let's 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 Chunling lift the lid of the clay pot, using a cloth strainer to slowly pour the medicine into a green-glazed lotus leaf bowl. Jiang Danyun's heart pounded fiercely in her chest, and she felt a wave of weakness. Her conscience struggled, but she was lost in confusion, drifting along as if in a daze as she followed Jiang Xiyun away.
As for Chunling, being partial to Jiang Xiyun, she was not particularly diligent in her tasks. The medicine, which should have been decocted for two quarters of an hour, was hastily poured out after just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. She placed it on a lacquered tray and delivered it to the room. Just then, Xianglan returned from the garden with De Ge'er. De Ge'er, holding a flower, hurried off to arrange it in a vase. Xiao Juan took the medicine bowl and asked, "It's ready so quickly?" Chunling lowered her eyelids and gave a noncommittal "Hmm" before turning to leave.
Xiao Juan snorted coldly and brought the medicine to Xianglan. Previously, Shu Ran had personally supervised Xianglan taking her medicine, but as Xianglan appeared obedient and took her doses without complaint, Shu Ran 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 planned 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, upon seeing him, rushed over and called out brightly, "Uncle Lin!" Lin Jinlou patted his head and smiled, "Good lad." Then, lifting his eyes to Xianglan, his gaze swept over and landed on the medicine on the table. "Why haven't you drunk it yet? It'll get cold soon," he said, handing the bowl to her himself.
Xianglan had no choice but to take it. Lin Jinlou opened a chest and selected a sword, preparing to leave. Noticing Xianglan still holding the bowl in a daze, he frowned and said, "Why aren't you drinking it?"
Xianglan had no choice 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 wide, bright 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 pouch from his waist, dumping its contents onto the bed in one go. He picked out a delicate "Beauty's Shoulder" vial and handed it over, saying, "I have pine nut candies here. Eating these will make the bitterness go away."
Xianglan's heart instantly warmed and softened. She pulled De Ge'er into her embrace and kissed his head.
Meanwhile, the Jiang sisters returned to Mengfang 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 truly malicious person. Having done this deed, she found it brought none of the satisfaction she had imagined. Instead, she felt frightened and uneasy. Unconsciously, tears began to fall as she sat rigidly, her mind swirling with countless thoughts and turmoil, unsure of what to do next. Just then, Qingfen entered carrying her embroidery, announcing, "The floral pattern you asked me to embroider is finished, Miss." Noticing Jiang Danyun staring blankly with a flushed, purplish complexion, Qingfen asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you, Miss?" She stepped forward and touched Jiang Danyun's forehead, finding it cold and clammy with sweat. Startled, she shook Jiang Danyun vigorously and exclaimed, "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!" before clinging to Qingfen's arm and weeping. For now, we shall leave her there.
Jiang Xiyun went straight to Mother Jiang's room. Mother Jiang had already seen her eldest grandson and felt reassured in her heart. Moreover, Jiang Shangxian's visit regarding Jiang Xiyun's marriage prospects indicated that 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 kang with her eyes closed, fingering her prayer beads and murmuring incantations. Jiang Xiyun kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the kang, burying herself in Mother Jiang's embrace. Mother Jiang opened her arms to hold her, patting her back intermittently.
Jiang Xiyun mumbled tearfully, "Grandmother, I... I feel so stifled and awful inside... Have I become wicked? I heard from Liu Su long ago that Fourth Sister had obtained a sterilization drug from Second Cousin's wife. Fourth Sister is jealous by nature and envies my marriage prospects. I feared she would try to drug me, so I guarded against her day and night. Several times she attempted but failed. Now Eldest Cousin is desperately promoting Xianglan—of course I dislike her! Moreover, Auntie also protects her. If I marry into this family, I might not be able to control her, and my life could be constrained at every turn, like a puppet. So... I deliberately hinted to Fourth Sister that Xianglan takes medicine daily and made sure to lead her there during Chunling's shift. Since Fourth Sister couldn't drug me, her pent-up resentment had no outlet. Given her vengeful nature, she'd likely drug Xianglan to frame me and ruin this marriage. Thus, 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.
Mother Jiang lovingly stroked Jiang Xiyun's shoulder, soothing her softly, "Xi'er, don't cry, my dear granddaughter... Grandmother knows everything, everything... Liu Su told me long ago." She cupped her young granddaughter's beautiful, 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 directly at Jiang Mu, noticing her weathered face now bore additional wrinkles, making her appear increasingly aged. A pang of sorrow struck Jiang Xiyun’s heart, and tears streamed down her cheeks like rolling melon seeds. Ever since she realized Chen Xianglan’s exceptional status, she had been constantly preoccupied with thoughts. That girl was exceptionally beautiful, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Although Jiang Xiyun considered such romantic and artistic pursuits utterly useless, Lin Jinlou adored them, and Xianglan’s strengths happened to be her own weaknesses. How could such a high-ranking concubine not make her feel as if sitting on pins and needles? She had originally planned to deal with the situation gradually after marrying into the family, but Qin Shi’s defense of Xianglan that day felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, completely extinguishing her hopes. That was why she had devised this plan…
Feeling desolate and resentful for having led Jiang Danyun to commit such an act, Jiang Xiyun sobbed, “This matter must be resolved. If we are to preserve the Jiang family’s reputation, Chunling will have to take the blame. She was always loyal to me, and yet I… schemed against her…”
Jiang Mu replied nonchalantly, “There’s no other way.”
Jiang Xiyun was taken aback.
A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Mu’s eyes as she said, “Let me ask you, if Chunling had not betrayed her master, would you have acted this way? With Chunling’s temperament, would you dare to use her in the future? If our Jiang family’s status were on par with the Lin family’s, would a mere concubine make you so apprehensive?”
Jiang Xiyun choked back tears and said, “Of course not. Among Xianglan’s maids, Chunling was the only one who actively approached me. Someone like that, your granddaughter would naturally not dare to employ… If our family were as influential as the Lin family, Grandmother would surely speak with Madam Lin. Even if we couldn’t have Chen Xianglan dismissed, we wouldn’t allow her to be elevated to such a position.”
Jiang Mu’s expression remained calm as she spoke slowly, “At least your mind is starting to clear. Our Jiang family has always been slightly inferior to the Lin family, and now we’ve suffered further setbacks. You, a daughter born of a concubine, lack strong maternal support. Your legal mother is not close to you, your birth mother is of humble status, and your own brother is far away in Zhejiang. I am already an old woman, and your father hopes to leverage your marriage to forge closer ties with the Lin family, so that they may uplift our entire household in the future. You must understand these layers of interests clearly. After you marry into the Lin family, if you wish to live comfortably, you must keep your eyes wide open.”
Jiang Xiyun was stunned, forgetting to wipe the tears from her cheeks as she stood there dumbfounded.
Jiang Mu reached out and gently wiped the tears from her young granddaughter’s face, her gaze filled with affection. “Lin Jinlou is infatuated with Chen Xianglan and is determined to have her bear his child, completely disregarding our family’s dignity. If she were to give birth to a firstborn son, how awkward would your position be? If you don’t scheme, you’ll have to live a life of compromise, constantly yielding and humbling yourself. Would you be willing to endure that?”
Jiang Xiyun trembled, her lips quivering, unable to utter a word.Mother Jiang heaved a long sigh, then suddenly roused her spirits and said coldly, "There's nothing to feel guilty about when 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 Chunling, and that Chen Xianglan. No one else lost a piece of flesh... Hmph, you have more cunning than Chen Xianglan, and your comprehension is higher than hers. Since childhood, you've known how to read people's expressions and make connections. What does she know? All she does is shut herself in her room writing a few characters, painting a few worthless pictures, then shedding a few tears in the wind, acting aggrieved and timid, stubborn and obstinate. So what if she's honest and guileless? Even if she's also a young lady from a wealthy family, ask yourself—which noble family would seek such a woman as a wife? Let me ask you: if you have a daughter in the future, would you want her to be like her or like you? If you have a son seeking a daughter-in-law, would you want one like Chen Xianglan or one like you?"
Jiang Xiyun was already dumbstruck, stammering without being able to utter a single sound.
Mother Jiang continued slowly, "It's just that Chen Xianglan is quite skilled at winning people's hearts. Think carefully about how you'll manage her after you marry into the family."
Jiang Xiyun murmured blankly, "She likely won't be able to bear children in the future—she's nothing but a decorative vase..."
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