Chapter 61: The Fourth Sister's Jealousy Breeds Bitter Fate

Jokes aside, they knew better than anyone that they could not call the shots regarding their own marriages. No matter how unruly they usually were, they would never truly flirt with anyone improper outside, terrified of ruining their reputations beyond redemption.

However, seeing his sworn brother Wang Kuan looking somewhat hopelessly infatuated, Qiu Bojun could not help but ask, "No way, you actually have your eyes on the Jiang family's daughter?"

Wang Kuan could not explain himself clearly for a moment, so he waved his hand with a feigned casual air and retorted, "Stop talking nonsense. I am leaving for Hanzhou tomorrow; shouldn't you brothers give me a proper send-off? Once I make something of myself this time, I will surely soar above the common crowd. Shouldn't you guys start currying favor with me now?"

Hearing him speak thus, the brothers let out a collective scoff, then threw their arms around each other's shoulders and dragged him off to drink. They wanted to see if this "soaring dragon" would beg for mercy today!

With that, their attention drifted, and they all hurried off to drink.

Meanwhile, Fourth Miss Jiang Shiyue, who followed behind Old Madam Jiang, had naturally come out of the estate with a purpose. She looked around anxiously, trying to catch a glimpse of her eldest sister, and soon spotted her. She excitedly said to the old madam, "Grandmother, Eldest Sister is over there. Let's go over."

"Wouldn't that be improper? Eldest Sister is talking to Young General Pei. Wouldn't our going over be rather intrusive?"

Jiang Shiyue cast a dissatisfied glance at Jiang Shishu beside her. What was she putting on airs for? If she was someone who truly disliked standing out, why had she gone to the princess's manor to embroider congratulatory gifts? Now that she had finally managed to attend such a prestigious banquet, Jiang Shishu was actually trying to hold her back. Therefore, she replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Young General Pei will be our future brother-in-law anyway; it's nothing strange to exchange a few words with him. Besides, the families attending today are either wealthy or noble, and Third Sister and I are both approaching the age of pinning up our hair. If Grandmother has to worry about every single thing, wouldn't it tire out her old self? If you and I can stand out more and catch the eye of those madams, wouldn't that forge a bright future for the Jiang family and ourselves?"

Her words were blunt and reeked of ambition, making Third Miss Jiang deeply disapprove.

Yet clearly, these words sounded entirely reasonable to Old Madam Jiang. The two granddaughters by her side could not compare to her eldest and second granddaughters in terms of birth, appearance, or talent, but fortunately, they were still neat and pleasing.

Not to mention aiming for a top-tier family, even just having the chance to show their faces was a good thing. Thus, she nodded and said to Jiang Shiyue,

"Xiaoyue makes sense. Let's go over."

Seeing that obstruction was futile, Jiang Shishu could only follow, though her face showed helplessness and worry.

Standing in the corridor and seeing the old madam leading her younger granddaughters over, Jiang Shiran could read their different expressions at a single glance, roughly guessing what they had in mind. Maintaining a serene smile on her face, she stepped forward and curtsied to Old Madam Jiang.

"Greetings, Grandmother."

"Zisu greets the Old Madam."

Since the two of them were not yet formally married, their forms of address had to remain as before. However, facing these female relatives of the Jiang family, he clearly lacked any warmth, unconsciously radiating a chilling aloofness that discouraged any further approach.

"Eldest Sister, Young General Pei, it is truly wonderful to see you both. This is my first time at the Marquis of Wenyuan's estate, and everything looks so novel. I wonder if Eldest Sister could take us around for a stroll, so that this younger sister may broaden her horizons?"

Jiang Shiyue's affected demeanor made her intentions transparent at a glance. Jiang Shiran was not so haughty as to think that her cousin ought not to harbor such aspirations; she merely felt that every single madam present today was a seasoned veteran. What she herself could see clearly would surely be perceived even more intuitively by those madams. With this in mind, she offered a reminder.

"There are too many people today, and I am afraid I cannot spare much time as I must accompany my sister-in-law in hosting guests. If you wish to look around, I can assign a maid to guide you. How about that?"

Touring the marquis's estate was merely an excuse for Jiang Shiyue.

Her true purpose was to stand beside her eldest sister and brother-in-law Pei. Only then would the madams notice her intimacy with the couple and be prompted to strike up a conversation. Pretending not to understand, she replied, "In that case, this younger sister will stay and accompany Eldest Sister. The marquis's estate can be toured anytime."

As soon as these words left her mouth, let alone Jiang Shiran, even Pei Zisu felt her audacity was far too excessive. When was it ever her turn—a nameless little girl from a branch of the Jiang family—to act as a companion to guests? His expression darkened, but Jiang Shishu stepped in to smooth things over.

"Eldest Sister is busy with matters today; we shouldn't disturb her. I have only been to the marquis's estate once before and never really had a good look around. Fourth Sister, if you want to tour, I will accompany you. It is better for us sisters to look after each other."

Hearing this, Jiang Shiyue's anger grew deeper.

Why did this person cling like a plaster, constantly trying to ruin her good deeds?

Usually, she put on an air of detachment from worldly affairs—what had gotten into her today? Could it be that she saw her own potential for sudden success and was deliberately trying to obstruct her?

Thinking of this, she sneered inwardly with disdain, though outwardly she had to maintain an innocent and generous expression as she said to Jiang Shishu,

"Third Sister, today is Aunt's birthday after all. You and I used to live far away and didn't visit often, but on an occasion like this, shouldn't we pay our respects? If we only know how to wander around the gardens, won't people laugh at the Jiang family's lack of decorum? Therefore, keeping Eldest Sister company to host guests is the proper course of action."

Hearing such words, Jiang Shishu's face instantly flushed red.

She was not a fool; naturally, she understood her fourth sister's intentions. Yet she was clumsy with words, and unable to retort, she could only swallow all her grievances. Seeing her so submissive, Jiang Shiran looked at Fourth Sister Jiang Shiyue, her expression losing its previous calm.

Brushing away the arm Jiang Shiyue had affectionately linked with hers, she said with a stern expression,

"Fourth Sister has overstepped. Strictly speaking, Aunt has no relation to you whatsoever. You were able to come today because you followed Grandmother, but I heard from Father that Second Aunt seems to have intentions of moving out. Though you and I belong to different branches, looking after one another is only right; however, the Marquis of Wenyuan's estate has no ties to the Jiang family's second branch. Therefore, hosting guests is the duty of the Pei family's cousin, isn't it?"

Her words stripped Jiang Shiyue of both her pride and her dignity. Being young and having suffered such a grievance, her eyes instantly reddened, and she made a show of tears about to fall. Unfortunately for her, before she could even begin her performance, Princess Qinghuan and Pei Ziyao walked out, followed by a number of madams who looked over with curious expressions.

Jiang Shiyue knew that the golden opportunity was right before her. If she could not win the eldest sister's favor, she would simply climb upward by stepping on her eldest sister. Fueled by this ambition, she wept with aggrieved vulnerability, even tinging her voice with panic and terror as she blurted out,

"Eldest Sister, I was wrong. I shouldn't have displeased Third Sister, nor should I have displeased you. This younger sister knows her background is humble, and the Marchioness of Wenyuan is not someone I can casually converse with, but I truly only wanted to help you, nothing more. If you dislike it, I will never dare do it again."

Right in front of so many people, she was attempting to pin the charge of mistreating her younger sister onto Jiang Shiran. She certainly calculated well. Jiang Shiran's gaze turned icy; she truly gained a brand-new appreciation for this cousin from the second branch.