Chapter 12

When Jiang Gui woke, she was already at the Jiang family residence.

Her birth mother, Aunt Liu, sat beside the bed wiping away tears, crying and scolding her at the same time.

“I told you to be cautious. How could you cause such a disaster? The Madam returned home in a fury—what are we to do now?”

Aunt Liu was a maid brought in as part of the dowry for Madam Xie. She was not a lifelong, deeply attached personal maid, but rather one purchased specifically to serve as a concubine’s attendant before marriage.

She knew well that if she and her daughter wanted to live peacefully, they must never defy Madam Xie or provoke her anger. Fortunately, Madam Xie had been somewhat lenient with her because of her usual obedience.

But today, it seemed Madam Xie’s anger was directed squarely at her. She was terrified, fearing she might be sold off and that her daughter would be rejected by Madam Xie, ruining any chance of a good marriage in the future.

Jiang Gui was about to speak when Madam Xie swept aside the curtain and entered.

“So, tell me, what exactly happened?”

Before this, Madam Xie had already questioned Jiang Ji.

Jiang Ji had answered, “Auntie, I’m just as puzzled. I was talking with Fourth Sister, and somehow, when I turned around, she fell into the water.”

Madam Xie found this explanation credible.

After all, in her eyes, Jiang Ji was just a simple-minded child.

But compared to Jiang Ji, Madam Xie distrusted Jiang Gui.

As a grown young lady, especially a daughter of a concubine, she was naturally more cunning.

“Your Fourth Sister says that she turned around and you fell into the water. Were you deliberate about it?”

Jiang Gui coughed violently, her face paling. “Mother, if I said it was Fifth Sister who pushed me in, would you believe me?”

“Ridiculous!” Madam Xie scolded her. “Why would Fifth Sister push you? Isn’t this just your scheming to seize the alliance with the Duke’s family?”

“No!” she shook her head desperately but couldn’t say she disliked the Third Young Master. “Mother, it was Third Sister. When I spoke of this marriage proposal, she seemed envious. She must have pushed me into the water to take my place.”

Her words caused Madam Xie to hesitate somewhat.

This marriage alliance with the Duke’s household sounded very promising. Being from a third branch family, they had no connections to reach such a high-ranking noble house.

Could she have truly misjudged that Fifth Sister?

At that moment, a servant arrived and reported that someone from the Marquis’s estate had come.

Madam Xie was startled, fearing something had happened to her daughter. But after inquiry, she learned that the Duke’s household had sent a reply, agreeing to discuss the marriage.

“That quickly?”

Jiang Gui, straining to listen, caught some of the words and steeled herself. She knelt before Madam Xie.

“Mother, I met the Third Young Master of the Fang family earlier. He is not a responsible man. I... I do not want to marry him!”

Aunt Liu trembled violently upon hearing this.

How could a concubine’s daughter defy the legitimate mother? If she angered the Madam, she would suffer greatly. She knelt down as well, pressing herself to the ground, as lowly as dust.

“Marriage is decided by the parents. Fourth Miss, why haven’t you apologized to Madam yet? Whoever the Madam chooses, you will marry. There’s no room for picking and choosing.”

“Mother!” Jiang Gui seemed not to hear Aunt Liu’s words, looking at Madam Xie with pleading eyes.

Aunt Liu had always been obedient over the years—though beautiful, she never competed for favor and always followed the matron’s arrangements. Madam Xie was quite satisfied with that.

Frowning, Madam Xie said to Jiang Gui, “Get up. He’s not interested in you.”

The Third Young Master favored Fifth Sister and seemed very satisfied, or he wouldn’t have responded so urgently.

Jiang Gui was stunned. It was one thing not to want the marriage, but another to be rejected outright—and by the one she hated most.

“Mother, this is Fifth Sister’s true intention. Believe me, she really pushed me into the water!”

At this point, Madam Xie was unsure who was telling the truth.

She personally visited the third branch to inform Madam Gu of the Duke’s interest in the match. Madam Gu did not appear pleased but cautiously said she would discuss it with Jiang Shen.

That night.

Lights burned brightly.

Jiang Shen was delayed by official duties and had not returned.

Madam Gu had been waiting at the door but decided to visit her daughter first. After all, if the engagement was to be settled, they needed the daughter’s consent.

In Jiang Ji’s room, the fire burned warmly as usual.

Her hair was loose, draped in a white fox fur cloak. She leaned against the bedpost reading a book. Seeing her mother enter, she dropped the book and cuddled close.

Madam Gu tightened the cloak around her daughter and softly asked, “Yuge, did you see the young master who was shouting for help earlier today?”

“Yes,” Jiang Ji feigned innocence but understood her meaning. “Who is he?”

“He is the Third Young Master of the Duke’s household, born of a concubine,” Madam Gu said with a fond yet helpless smile, holding her daughter close. “Yuge, tell me, what do you think of this Third Young Master Fang?”

“He looks quite simple-minded.”

Madam Gu sighed. She too had noticed. The Third Young Master was not only naive but also emotionally unstable. Coupled with his status as a concubine’s son, it would be difficult to protect her daughter.

But now that her daughter was grown, marriage was inevitable. Whether the match succeeded or not, the daughter needed to understand.

“Yuge, your Auntie came earlier to say that the Third Young Master Fang has taken a liking to you and wishes to propose a marriage alliance.”

“Mother, I don’t want to marry,” Jiang Ji lifted her head from her mother’s embrace, large eyes filled with attachment and reluctance. “I don’t want to leave you, or Father, or my second brother.”

Madam Gu held her daughter tighter. She too did not want to let her go. Stroking her hair, her gaze overflowed with tenderness.

“Yuge, girls must marry someday.”

Jiang Ji snuggled closer but understood that her mother was truly considering this.

“Mother, what if I never marry?”

Madam Gu thought it was childish whining and indulged her, “Alright, then I’ll take care of you for life.”

For a lifetime?

So this was what it felt like to be unconditionally loved and spoiled by one’s parents.

Jiang Ji looked up. “Mother, really?”

Madam Gu was taken aback.

“Child, what have you been listening to?”

The original owner of this body was frail and had been immersed in medicine since childhood. Those closest to her looked on with endless pity and sorrow. Yet there were always ill-intentioned people, openly and covertly saying she would not live long.

“I did hear something,” Jiang Ji said, making Madam Gu anxious and furious at the same time.

“Yuge, don’t listen to gossip. You have recovered well and grown stronger—you will live to a ripe old age and prove them wrong!”

“Mother, of course I intend to live a long life,” Jiang Ji said to soothe her, “But Prince Fang Ye privately told me I carry a curse—that I am destined to bring misfortune to my husband.”

“What!” Madam Gu cried out in shock, thinking she’d misheard. She asked repeatedly, receiving the same reply, her expression darkening with sorrow.

Had these words come from anyone else, she would have stormed their door in anger.

But it was Prince Fang Ye!

After a moment, her expression grew resolute.

“Then we simply won’t marry! Father and Mother will support you for life!”

That shocking news kept her awake most of the night.

When she went to meet Madam Xie, heavily powdered, Madam Xie could not ignore the dark circles under her eyes and mistakenly thought she was overjoyed, staying awake all night herself.

“Think carefully about the marriage proposal. There’s no need to rush your answer. It’s a lifelong matter and must not be taken lightly.”

Though polite, Madam Xie was inwardly displeased.

Jiang Gui was her concubine daughter, from the main household. The match was arranged through contacts of the main house, yet the alliance ended up with the third branch. It felt like a slap in the face.

Madam Gu shook her head softly and quietly replied, “Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. But my Yuge has been frail since childhood. I want to keep her here a little longer and help strengthen her health.”

Madam Xie was surprised and pressed on, “Have you asked Fifth Sister what she thinks?”

“You know my Yuge is still a child. She doesn’t understand marriage yet; she only wants to stay with her parents and hopes never to marry.”

So that was the truth.

Madam Xie’s wavering heart grew firm again. She had been right about that Fifth Sister.

When Madam Gu left, she said coldly, “Come out.”

From behind the folding screen emerged Jiang Gui.