Returning from the Imperial City gate, it has already been three days.
Jiang Sheng did not say a word about what happened when she went to the Jiang Family, and no one from the Jiang Family had come to fetch her. They only left He Rui to pitifully squat at the gate of the small second courtyard with the luxurious carriage,
Auntie Zhang felt bad for him and let him squeeze together to sleep in the same room as Jiang San and Jiang Si. The meals she cooked every day also had a portion for him.
He Rui almost believed that was how things would stay. He had even secretly lamented the fate of the young miss.
It was not until Jiang Sheng said, "Take me to the Jiang Family."
What a good young lady, she finally decided to accept the prosperity and wealth of the Jiang Family.
Before He Rui could be ecstatic, he suddenly remembered that Jiang Sheng had said "go" instead of "return." He suppressed his joy again and asked with a bitter face, "Are you really going, Young Miss?"
Jiang Sheng calmly nodded.
Beside her were her three cousins who clenched their fists and Auntie Zhang who could cry at any moment.
He Rui could only timidly pull out the reins and timidly lead the horse, waiting timidly at the gate of the small second courtyard.
"Jiang Sheng," Xu Moqing's light voice concealed heartache. "If the price of me retaking the exam is you doing something against your will, then I would rather give up my good results."
"Younger sister, will I not get to see you again?" Wen Zhiyun brimmed with tears as her pulse-taking hand kept shaking.
Chang Yan pressed his lips. "We can thank the Jiang Family in other ways."
We don't necessarily have to sacrifice a young lady to them.
The reason humans are called humans is because we have feelings and the ability to choose.
People are not objects. Once given away, they cannot be taken back or picked up to bring home.
In former years, kidnappers had tricked countless children away from their parents and sold them to other families. It would take upwards of ten years before the children could be found again, or they may never be found.
Those who could not find their children were immersed in grief, but what about those who did find them?
The most beloved child would look like a stranger, calling others father and mother. When faced with their blood relatives again, they would only ask in puzzlement, "Who are you looking for?"
This was helpless, but it was also reality.
Jiang Sheng had stumbled along haplessly for seven years. She had spent four years with her older brothers. Her life did not belong to the Jiang Family or to those lofty towers and pavilions behind high walls.
Even if the Fang Family would not let things rest next year, even if there were countless difficulties awaiting ahead, the siblings could join hands to overcome them.
"Don't go, don't go, little Jiang Sheng," Zhang Xianglian choked out.
It looked like Chang Yan's and Xu Mo's eyes were also reddening. Wang Xiaozhu and Jiang San and Jiang Si were secretly wiping away tears.
Jiang Sheng suddenly put her hands on her hips. "It's not like I'm never coming back. Why are you all being so sentimental? Does the Jiang Family eat children? Do they eat one with every one that enters?"
Zhang Xianglian was instantly torn between laughter and tears. The tears on her face wouldn't fall or be wiped away.
Wen Zhiyun finally stopped crying as she sniffed.
Xu Mo and Chang Yan, who had the deepest thoughts, also showed obvious helplessness.
"That's right. Loosen up. Wait for me to gain some more experience at the Jiang House and then I'll share it with all of you," said the little lady as she patted her chest. Not daring to look back, she hurriedly boarded the Jiang Family’s luxurious carriage.
Someone called out from behind.
"Jiang Sheng."
But she just blankly sat there, letting the voice gradually fade away until she could no longer hear it.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when He Rui stopped the carriage and gently reminded her, "Young Miss, we've arrived at the Jiang Estate."
Jiang Sheng awoke from her daze and checked that her outfit had no flaws before lightly jumping down from the carriage.
He Rui had already gone forward to knock on the door. It was still the same gatekeeper of the Jiang House who only opened a crack in the door and pressed his voice to ask, "Who are you looking for?"
"We're not looking for anyone. Just say the Jiang Family’s daughter is back," He Rui said sternly, completely different than his usual slick self.
The gatekeeper was given a fright. He turned and ran back inside without regard for anything else, passing by several maidservants and giving them a shock as well. They clamored in confusion, "Running like this inside the estate, what decency!"
The gatekeeper hurriedly threw out a few words as he disappeared around the corner, "The Young Miss has returned."
"The Young Miss returned?" The Purple Clothed Maidservant was puzzled. "Did the Young Miss go out?"
The Yellow Clothed Maidservant shook her head. "The Young Miss didn't go out. Ever since she fell ill earlier, she hasn't stepped out once. She's even been talking less."
"This gatekeeper is spouting nonsense again," said the Pink Clothed Maidservant holding a cup of bird's nest. "I came to fetch bird's nest for the Young Miss. I can confirm she's been with Lady Jiang the whole time."
Chatting and laughing, they walked onto the azure stone path leading straight to the front gate.
Jiang Sheng and He Rui stood quietly in front of the wide open estate gate, waiting.
There was an unwritten rule in wealthy households: esteemed guests would be directly invited into the main hall to wait; familiar guests would be led straight to the host’s courtyard; ordinary guests would be invited for the gatekeeper to attend to.
Since Jiang Sheng and He Rui were waiting outside the gate dressed especially ordinarily, they could only be shabby relatives coming to ask for handouts.
"Who knows which family they're from, coming through the front gate like this," they whispered to each other disdainfully. "Those asking for handouts should use the back door."
"Oh well, it's better to mind less business than more. At least they aren't asking us for handouts," one said with a laugh.
Still tinkling noisily, they left the gate area.
Returning to the main courtyard,
The Pink Clothed Maidservant was the first to carefully carry in the bird's nest.
The Purple Clothed Maidservant and Yellow Clothed Maidservant were still chattering about the shabby relatives who came asking for handouts.
"What secretive things are you laughing about so happily?" Lady Jiang snipped some flower branches absent-mindedly. "Tell Third Young Miss and help her beat the boredom."
The Pink Clothed Maidservant was blowing on the bird's nest to cool it for the sickly pale Jiang Chenghua.
The Purple Clothed Maidservant had already started narrating eloquently, "When we passed the front gate just now, we saw a pair of destitute relatives who came asking for handouts. They were dressed in tattered clothing but looked quite fat—they must get a lot of handouts. Who knows which family's poor things they are, their monthly allowance has probably all been begged away."
Lady Jiang smiled without comment.
Jiang Chenghua, who had just taken the bird's nest bowl, shuddered so hard that most of the carefully prepared bird's nest spilled onto the quilt and rolled to the floor, cracking into five pieces.
The Young Miss has returned.
She really came back.
Old Lady Jiang at the De Ren Courtyard also received the news.
Tan Yue was searching for black hair in the silver threads when she was suddenly startled by the gatekeeper's shouting. Her hand jerked and pulled out one of the only two black hairs Old Lady Jiang had left.
She didn't even have time to feel regret, let alone apologize. Supporting the over fifty-years-old Old Lady Jiang, she swiftly headed out in her embroidered shoes.
"Slow down, My Lady. There's no rush," said Tan Yue, who was quite fit herself yet still struggling to keep up.
Old Lady Jiang didn't say a word as she strode forward determinedly.
Finally, after walking from De Ren Courtyard to the Jiang Estate entrance, across the rising sun, the radiant young lady at long last crossed the threshold, transcending time and space to arrive before her. She greeted Old Lady Jiang with a curtsey and called her one thing.
"Grandmother."
