Chapter 53: Jiang Shijin's Dissatisfaction and Jealousy

Her tone carried an unconscious trace of interrogation, but Jiang Shiyuan did not indulge her. Her expression remained calm, yet the aloofness in her eyes was palpable.

"What of having no children? What of having many? Since neither the Pei family nor I mind this matter, the Crown Princess need not concern herself with it. I am indeed very exhausted today and cannot host the Crown Princess. Since you are now with child, you are someone the Prince Chun's Estate must treat with high regard, so you should return early to properly care for your pregnancy."

The implication of dismissal in her words could not have been more obvious. Unfortunately, Jiang Shijun was least afraid of hearing such cold remarks.

Compared to these words from her eldest sister, what she usually heard her mother-in-law nag about in the manor was far more severe. Thus, pretending not to understand, she glanced at her maid Lingzhi, who then produced a Dongting bamboo flute, smiling with utmost hypocrisy.

"I remember that Elder Sister is fond of music. This Dongting flute is a rare treasure. My bringing it today counts as celebrating Sister's engagement joy, and I must ask Sister to graciously accept it."

A single Dongting flute stirred a trace of sorrow in Jiang Shiyuan.

This item had originally been bought by the Heir to pander to her tastes, and she had once cherished it as something she could not bear to part with. Yet now, looking at this object felt just like looking at Heir Song—filled with utter disdain. She thus chilled her expression and said,

"I accept your good intentions, Sister, but you should take the flute back. It takes some effort for me even to speak now, let alone play this long flute."

Jiang Shijun could sense that she had struck her eldest sister's sore spot. A flash of triumphant gratification crossed her eyes, and her tone grew significantly lighter.

"Very well, I shall take the flute back. But since the herbal prescription has been given to you, whether to use it or not is entirely Sister's affair. There are matters waiting at Prince Chun's Estate, so this younger sister will take her leave first."

With those words, Jiang Shijun departed.

As she left, she held her head high as if returning in triumph, yet deep down she was not nearly as resolute and confident as she appeared!

Her mind kept replaying the affairs of the Pei family. In her past life, she had possessed very little understanding of the Pei people, which was why she could not fathom for a moment how her eldest sister could face the issue of childlessness with such calm indifference.

Puzzled and unable to find an answer, Jiang Shijun could only quietly return to Prince Chun's Estate first.

Putting these matters aside along the way, her mind was entirely consumed by how to let her mother-in-law and the Heir learn of her pregnancy sooner. Not only did they need to know, but the timing had to be chosen exceptionally well. Consequently, she remained silent the entire journey, deep in calm contemplation.

Inside Tingxuan Pavilion.

Liuhua looked at the medicinal prescription, wondering whether she should keep it or discard it. Just as she was hesitating, Luoluo snatched it away and made a motion to tear it to pieces, only to be stopped by Jiang Shiyuan. With a wave of her hand, Jiang Shiyuan calmly gave an instruction.

"Later on, send this prescription back to Second Aunt. Keeping this thing is useless to me, and it might even become a handle for them to manipulate me with in the future."

"Miss, the people of the Second Branch harbor impure motives, but the prescription itself may not necessarily be flawed. Why doesn't this servant make a copy to keep just in case we need to prepare for both eventualities?" Liuhua suggested.

Alas, Jiang Shiyuan truly wished to have no further entanglements with them. She merely shook her head and uttered a single sentence: "Just do as I say." Afterward, she went to sleep.

Seeing this, the two maids found it inappropriate to disturb her further and withdrew from the bedchamber.

"Hmph! I reckon the Second Branch harbors no good intentions. Knowing full well that our young miss is in delicate health, they still brazenly use this prescription to mock people. I am going to return it right now. With the capabilities of the Marquis's Estate and the Pei family, what precious prescriptions can't be found? There's no need to let them play the cat wishing the mouse a Happy New Year!" Luoluo said with indignation.

Liuhua was a shade more vigilant than her.

"You take the prescription back first. This matter may not be as simple as it appears on the surface; let's wait and see for now."

Nodding, Luoluo took the hot potato of a prescription and headed toward Jinfang Pavilion, her strides bold and forceful. Meanwhile, hearing that all movement inside the room had ceased, Liuhua began to tally the betrothal gifts sent by the Pei family today.

Hearing that the outside had quieted down, Jiang Shiyuan inside the room let out a sigh.

Although she was lying down at this moment, her emotions were not as steady as she had just portrayed. Today should have naturally been a joyous day, yet because Jiang Shijun had paid a visit, her good mood had turned somewhat complicated.

Compared to the question of whether she would have children, right now she felt a stronger sense of sheer bewilderment.

She always felt as though her second younger sister acted as if she knew something. Otherwise, given her scheming nature, she would never have achieved such "letting go of past grudges" nor deliberately delivered a secret recipe for bearing children. Therefore, either she was certain that her own body had problems and that sending this prescription or not sending it would yield no children, or the difficulties and troubles she currently faced at Prince Chun's Estate far outweighed the necessity of bowing her head to Jiang Shiyuan, driving her to act thus.

Regardless of the reason, it boded no good for Jiang Shiyuan, for it meant this second younger sister, who had now become the Crown Princess, would not let the matter rest easily. Mulling over these thoughts in silence, Jiang Shiyuan did not sleep very peacefully.

In contrast, Pei Zizi, who had gotten his wish, was far more at ease.

In Ning'an Garden.

The mother and her three children were seated in the Yiran Pavilion, leisurely enjoying the exquisitely arranged scenery of the courtyard.

"This garden is far more elegant and interesting than the one our Pei family had in Hanzhou. It is truly worthy of being graciously ceded by Princess Qinghuan. Elder Brother, buying this garden was an exceptional choice. This way, we will finally have a place to settle down in Xijing City from now on."

The speaker was Pei Ziyao. She had been wandering around this garden since yesterday, yet a full day had passed and she had covered less than thirty percent of it. One can easily imagine the vastness of the garden and the wonder of its scenery.

Although Madam Pei had not spoken much, her expression showed that she was satisfied with the garden. Yet, there remained that lingering concern: when subjects reside in such a place, is there any guilt of overstepping one's bounds? Thus, she raised a question aloud.

"What on earth is Princess Qinghuan thinking? Why is she helping you like this—selling a garden and even lending imperial honor guards? She seems exceptionally attentive to this marriage of yours."

Hitting the nail on the head, as the matriarch of the Pei family, she was indeed able to cut straight to the core most swiftly.

Madam Pei's words caused the faces of the Pei siblings, who had been happily touring the garden just moments before, to suddenly darken. Their eyes filled with doubt and worry as they looked simultaneously toward their elder brother. Pei Zizi, however, remained entirely calm; because his wish had been fulfilled today, a faint smile even lingered consistently on his lips.

"Mother is right. Princess Qinghuan naturally has her own agenda."

"What does Elder Brother mean by that?"

Before Pei Zizi could speak further, Pei Ziyao's complexion turned considerably uglier. She looked around vigilantly at her surroundings. The scenery, which had just seemed filled with fine hills and clear waters, now appeared to her eyes as obnoxious as if spies were lurking within.

"Rest assured, after taking over the garden, I thoroughly searched it from top to bottom. It is very clean now."

"That is good."

For many years, the members of the Pei family had served in the military, and such habits were deeply ingrained in their bones. After all, cautious sailing lasts ten thousand years; a moment of carelessness could mean the loss of their lives. Therefore, the Pei siblings both maintained grim expressions as they listened to Pei Zizi continue his explanation.

"Hanzhou is vast and rich in resources. The Emperor and the royal family's wariness toward Hanzhou is not a matter of a year or two. For so many years, haven't they constantly wanted to meddle in or suppress the forces of Hanzhou? Unfortunately, they can never grasp a single shred of evidence against the Prince. Naturally, they want to start with our Pei family to see if they can find some opening to thoroughly deal with us and regain imperial power. But given their current situation, if they were to force a direct rift, it might not end well. Therefore, the best method is to have me marry a noble lady whom they believe poses no threat, yet through whose family background they can keep me in check. Thus, A-Nian became Princess Qinghuan's primary choice."