Jiang Sheng's eyes widened at that time as she glared over fiercely. The purple-clothed maid trembled in fear but forced herself not to retreat. Amidst the noisy and chaotic environment, Jiang Sheng kept her head lowered without saying a word. Even Old Lady Jiang stood up in puzzlement, wanting to walk over and ask what was going on. Filial piety comes first; no matter what, parents still have to be recognized. But before she could open her mouth, Mrs. Liao put away her cold smile and shoved over the item in her hand, saying indifferently, "Since you are unwilling to recognize me as your mother, I won't force you either. This is your greeting gift."
The cold silver ingots felt a bit rough in her hands. Based on Jiang Sheng's experience keeping accounts for the Jiu Zhen Store, there were about fifty taels.
She pursed her lips.
The nearby Mrs. Liao seemed to have her feelings hurt as she kept dabbing the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief.
Jiang Chengyuan comforted her in a low voice, mixing in a few pleading words.
Jiang Sheng sighed softly, her fair and tender palm opening to reveal the plump, rounded yet somewhat chilled silver ingots.
She still wore the beaded necklace given by Jiang Chengyu around her neck, gold bangles on her wrists from the Second Lady, and in the other hand pinched a hairpin with a hidden mechanism, while revealing one corner of a five hundred tael banknote peeking out from her bosom.
The contrast between gold and silver, the difference between multiple zeros and fewer zeros.
Old Lady Jiang halted her steps, disappointment brimming on her face.
The Second Branch held their breaths, not daring to interrupt.
Jiang Chengyuan was still comforting his mother when he suddenly looked back to see those fifty taels of silver ingots and nearly jumped up. "The deed, where did the deed go?"
Mrs. Liao's movement of dabbing the corners of her eyes paused.
"Mother, why would it be fifty taels of silver ingots?" Jiang Chengyuan's lips began to tremble. "Why, oh why?"
Jiang Chengfeng felt a little sympathy from the side and was about to speak when he got grabbed back by the Second Lady.
"What do you mean why?" Mrs. Liao regained her composure. "I was keeping the deed for you until you get married before giving it to your new daughter-in-law. You know our household is also going through financial difficulties. These fifty taels were scraped together from stopping Cheng Huan's medication."
Was that really the case?
Jiang Chengyuan was already at a loss for words as he saw the gold bangles on Jiang Sheng's wrists, the hairpin she was clutching, the beaded necklace she wore, and the banknote peeking out from her bosom.
Even his cousins could take out gold, while he as the Eldest Young Master combined with Eldest Madam only presented fifty taels of silver.
Feelings of guilt overwhelmed him. He had been so happy just earlier, but now he was utterly ashamed with no place to hide.
That desire to make amends, in the end, was completely shattered. Jiang Chengyuan didn't even dare look at Little Jiang Sheng anymore as he wandered off in a daze from the Virtuous Courtyard, leaving without glancing back.
How could there be so many whys.
It was nothing more than a deliberate scheme by one and naivety bordering foolishness by the other.
Jiang Sheng stared blankly at the fifty taels of silver ingots. Actually, this was not a small sum at all. Whether during the time wandering and begging or through years of hard work and striving, getting fifty taels would have made her secretly delighted to the point she couldn't fall asleep all night.
But now, she didn't want these taels of silver at all.
Just like she didn't yearn even a tiny bit for that so-called motherly love.
The little girl who used to wipe her tears and wish for her father and stepmother to come save her when bullied in childhood had understood upon finding out about her background yet no one coming to claim her that perhaps she wasn't truly cherished.
The accidental eavesdropping behind the doors of the Virtuous Courtyard merely proved that everything was real.
Fortunately, Jiang Sheng had never been greedy.
Just being able to meet her older brothers was already using up all her luck.
As for other people, each one who showed up was a blessing, and she would still feel grateful for any more who came along.
If there were none, it wouldn't matter either.
Jiang Sheng revealed an earnest and content smile. She took two steps forward and stuffed the fifty taels back under everyone's eyes. "Thank you Lady Jiang, but the medication is more important. You should drink that first."
Aside from addressing her as "Lady Jiang", she was truly proper and well-behaved.
Old Lady Jiang tightened her grip on her cane as tears welled up in Tan Yue's eyes.
Even the Second Lady let out a long sigh, clutching Jiang Chengyu's hand.
"Are you looking down on this for being too little?" Mrs. Liao resumed her cold mocking. "If you feel the Second Branch are closer kin for giving you more, then go acknowledge the Second Lady."
Having said that, she flounced off.
The Virtuous Courtyard regained its silence, everyone remaining wordless with solemn expressions, looking as if they were attending a funeral.
Jiang Sheng found it funny as she snuggled up to Old Lady Jiang coquettishly. "Grandmother, I'm hungry."
Old Lady Jiang came back to her senses, forcibly smiling. "Hungry is good. The main kitchen has long prepared meals that can be served anytime."
Jiang Chengyu struggled free of his mother's hold and also went over to snuggle. "Grandmother, you can't show favoritism. I want to eat too."
"Alright, alright, all can eat, everyone stays to eat." Old Lady Jiang revealed a genuine smile. "Second Branch, you two also stay and have a meal. Today, the chefs of the main kitchen specially prepared nice meat and dishes for Little Jiang Sheng."
As the ancients said, the favorite of chefs is the rice bucket.
Upon hearing that the young miss had finished four or five entire plates of their cooking, the chefs of the main kitchen became ecstatic. They spent an entire afternoon roasting a whole lamb, and apparently there was also deboned fish and three sets of duck ruined from several senior chefs.
Such culinary skill was rare to sample.
The Second Lady covered her smile. "Today we are also basking in Little Jiang Sheng's glory. Second Young Master, how about some wine?"
"Let's drink." Jiang Jizong also showed a smile. "Welcome home, Little Jiang Sheng."
The meal progressed cheerily with wine flowing. Father and son of the Second Branch got drunk while the two girls also ate until their bellies bulged.
The Second Lady called over six sturdy servant women to take those three away.
The Virtuous Courtyard finally regained its peace and quiet.
Jiang Sheng stuck out her little tongue, sprawling on the soft couch refusing to get up no matter what.
"Young Miss, let's go back to Cloud Lodge to sleep," the talkative little maid nagged. "It's not good to sleep here, easily catching a chill. What if you throw up in the middle of the night?"
Yet Jiang Sheng persisted in not getting up, and the maid couldn't budge her, about to cry from anxiety.
Old Lady Jiang returned from washing up and saw this with a smile reaching her eyes. "If you don't want to get up then don't force it, just sleep here."
Tan Yue brought over hot water and towels, first letting Jiang Sheng rinse and spit, then wiping her hands and feet clean before taking off her outer robe.
Jiang Sheng slowly shuffled from the couch onto Old Lady Jiang's bed, finally nestling into the warm embrace.
After a while, she muffled out, "Grandmother, did the Jiang family get it wrong again?"
Old Lady Jiang's expression froze, heart wrenching.
In the end, she was a girl of only eleven. How could she not yearn for maternal love and affection?
Yet tonight there was too much disappointment.
Old Lady Jiang could only try her utmost to comfort her. "One mistake doesn't mean repeated mistakes. The Jiang family has its own capabilities and would absolutely not wrongly recognize again."
So she really was Lady Jiang's child?
Jiang Sheng became even more bewildered. Drowsiness after the meal swept over her, and in her groggy state she still didn't forget to argue. "Grandmother, don't misunderstand, I'm not sad, I just don't really understand."
It wasn't only her who didn't really understand, everyone felt the same.
There would be endless discussions in the Second Branch after they left, and the maids of the East Courtyard even more so whispering to each other.
Old Lady Jiang concealed the coldness in her eyes, gently patting Jiang Sheng to sleep.
The next day, dawn broke.
The plump little girl was still fast asleep. Old Lady Jiang got up early and changed into a set of clothes before hurrying to Lady Jiang's main courtyard.
For her mother-in-law, Mrs. Liao was still rather respectful. She finished freshening up and came over to pay her respects. "Greetings to Mother. Mother seems to be..."
She didn't get to finish her sentence.
An extremely fierce and heavy slap came flying over, sending Lady Jiang crashing to the ground.
The maids and servants let out shrieks in unison, yet no one dared come over to help her up.
Because the one who struck was precisely the most dignified and stern Old Lady Jiang of the Jiang family.
