Chapter 6: Aunt Yang Worries Much for Her Daughter

After leaving Tingxuan Pavilion, Jiang Huaishan returned to his own Huaixin Courtyard.

This place was the central courtyard of the Jiang Mansion, boasting a spacious layout. Against the wall by the entrance grew a grove of bamboo. Whenever a gentle breeze swept through, the fragrance of the bamboo would drift into one's nose with the wind, instantly refreshing and gladdening the heart.

As soon as Jiang Huaishan stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw Concubine Yang waiting there, holding a food box. She looked gentle and delicate, exuding the tender grace typical of women from the southern regions.

"This humble maid greets the master."

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Not very long. These past two days, the Third Young Miss has been craving iced fermented milk and rice wine dessert, so this maid made some. Imagining that the master also enjoys sweets, I brought a bowl over for you to taste."

As they spoke, the two lifted the beaded curtain and entered the room. Ice had been placed inside, making it much cooler than the outside.

Concubine Yang placed the food box on the Eight Immortals table and immediately stepped forward to help Jiang Huaishan change into a cooler, lightweight linen robe. Only after he had taken a seat did she open the bowl of iced dessert for him to sample a few bites.

"Your culinary creations are always delicious. However, craving too much cold in the summer will upset the stomach. In the future, make less of this for Shu'er. Take better care of her health so she suffers less hardship down the road."

"Yes, this maid understands."

The Shu'er whom Jiang Huaishan referred to was naturally Jiang Shishu, the Third Young Miss of the Jiang Mansion, born to Concubine Yang.

With a sickly eldest sister and a prominent second sister in the mansion, she, the third in line, grew increasingly inconspicuous. When Jiang Shianyue's mother, Lady Wang, was still alive, she frequently brought the sisters to various social occasions and never discriminated against them based on whether they were born to the primary wife or concubines. Therefore, Concubine Yang had been grateful to the First Mistress from the bottom of her heart.

However, those good days did not last long before the First Mistress passed away.

The inner courtyard fell under the management of the Old Madam. Prompted by the instigation of the Second Mistress, Lady Zhang, the Old Madam often looked down upon the concubines and the children they bore. Leaving aside arranging formal marriage prospects for them in the aristocratic circles, she never even considered bringing them along to social gatherings to show their faces. Because of this, Concubine Yang grew deeply anxious.

Seeing her daughter grow older year by year—she would reach the coming-of-age capping ceremony at this time next year—yet without a single person inquiring about marriage prospects for her, how could a mother not worry?

She twisted her handkerchief in her hands, yet still failed to utter a complete sentence. Having served as an official in the imperial court for decades, Jiang Huaishan possessed a certain knack for reading people's expressions. Seeing the person before him hesitating with unspoken words, he roughly guessed her thoughts.

"What is it? Is something the matter with Shu'er?"

Concubine Yang gave a bitter smile. Letting go of her lingering reservations, she spoke with a grievance in her tone.

"The Second Young Miss in the mansion was married off last month, and this maid has only the Third Young Miss as her sole child. Naturally, I hope she can find a good husband. I do not ask for immense wealth or high status; as long as her family background is reputable and her husband is considerate and motivated, that would be enough. But I have gone to see the Old Madam several times, only to be dismissed each time. With no mistress of the house to manage matters, this issue has dragged on indefinitely without resolution. I truly had no idea who else to turn to for help, which is why I came to beg the master for your mercy. The Third Young Miss will undergo her coming-of-age ceremony next year. Her birth already places her at a slight disadvantage; if her age is dragged out even further, I fear good families will overlook her."

As she spoke, tears welled in her eyes, held back with great restraint. Seeing this, Jiang Huaishan felt a pang of guilt. Sighing, he said,

"It is my fault for being occupied with official duties outside every day, making me forget that Shu'er has also reached the age for marriage discussions."

He was not a man given to sensual indulgence; in this life, he had only one wife and one concubine.

Ever since his wife passed away, he had put aside any thoughts of remarrying. With the attentive and considerate Concubine Yang tending to his chambers, his days had simply flowed on day after day. Had she not come today to plead in tears, he truly would not have remembered these matters.

Reaching out, he pulled her closer so she sat before him. Concubine Yang felt it was improper according to propriety and tried to refuse, but she could not break free from the master's grip. Thus, she ended up sitting gingerly on the edge of the round stool, looking slightly unsettled.

"Today I am taking A-Nian to the Marquis's Mansion to pay respects to her maternal grandmother. If Shu'er has nothing pressing to do, let her come along. Ever since A-Nian returned, the two sisters haven't spent much time together. Come to think of it, they should look out for each other more."

"Not at all, not at all! The Third Young Miss knows nothing; if anyone is to look out for anyone, it can only be that the Eldest Young Miss is kind-hearted enough to look after her younger sister."

Concubine Yang never overstepped her bounds. Coming from a respectable concubine background, had her family not fallen into decline, she would never have entered the household as a concubine. Therefore, for over a decade, she had never played any schemes or used any tricks within this courtyard. Jiang Huaishan saw this clearly.

"In a few days, the scholars arriving in the capital for the imperial examinations will gather in Xijing City. I will have someone carefully inquire and select a few with clean family backgrounds and kind dispositions for us to review. If any of them prove capable, Shu'er's future life will be much easier."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Yang felt an urge to kowtow to the master, Jiang Huaishan. With eyes full of grateful tears, she said,

"Thank you so much, Master. This maid does not care how substantial the family background is, as long as the Third Young Miss is spared from hardship."

Her demands had never been high, and Jiang Huaishan understood this. Therefore, after helping her to her feet, he offered a parting instruction:

"Go back and tell Shu'er now. Today is the Marquis's Mansion's family banquet, and we cannot afford any delays."

"Yes, yes, this maid will go right away."

When Concubine Yang departed, she was so overjoyed that she even forgot to take the food box. Walking with brisk steps, she hurried to the Third Young Miss's Yunshu Pavilion to share the good news, swiftly and efficiently dressed and groomed her daughter, and then brought her along to Tingxuan Pavilion.

In the main room, Jiang Shianyue felt somewhat startled upon hearing that her Third Younger Sister had arrived. However, with the sun beating down so fiercely, leaving them waiting outside was out of the question, so she instructed her maid, Liuhua:

"Invite the Third Younger Sister and Concubine Yang in to speak."

"Understood, Miss."

Concubine Yang felt rather nervous. Ever since paying her respects on the day the Eldest Young Miss returned to the mansion, she had not dared to draw near again, fearing outsiders would accuse her of clinging to the legitimate daughter. Bringing her daughter here now still felt somewhat improper to her. Yet, things having reached this point, she had to cast aside her most worthless pride and dignity, hoping only that the Eldest Young Miss would prove as kind-hearted as the former First Mistress and offer some protection to the Third Young Miss.

Upon entering, Concubine Yang and the Third Young Miss, Jiang Shishu, stepped forward to offer their greetings:

"This humble maid greets the Eldest Young Miss."

"This younger sister greets the Eldest Elder Sister."

Mother and daughter both possessed the gentlest of dispositions. This reminded Jiang Shianyue of past events; back when she was sickly and unskilled in embroidery, her wedding robes had been collaboratively stitched by Concubine Yang and her Third Younger Sister.

The stitches were meticulous, and the color palette exquisite.

For years afterward, people still praised her wedding robes as a work of divine craftsmanship. She had harbored the intention to show her gratitude, but hearing later that her Third Younger Sister had been married far away to Wangzhou and that Concubine Yang had passed away from illness, she had shelved those plans.

Seeing them both appear before her now stirred those memories once more.

A smile touched the corners of her mouth as she rose to support them both, motioning for Liuhua and Lülu to bring stools over, before asking in a light and cheerful tone:

"Why do Concubine Yang and the Third Younger Sister have the leisure to come here today?"

"This maid... this maid heard that the master is taking the Eldest Young Miss out, so she begged the master to let the Third Young Miss accompany you to see the world outside. Ever since the First Mistress passed away, this child has rarely stepped out, having been cooped up in her room until she has grown somewhat timid around strangers."