Chapter 34: The Lotus

Still after Jiang Yishi married into the Meng family, Shui Lu told her a few secret things about the big house in order to flatter her, including this incident. She realized that it turned out to be a private meeting between Jiang Jin and one of Great Grandma Jiang’s maids, and when Great Grandma Jiang found out about it the maid jumped down a well in fear. In order not to affect Jiang Jin’s reputation, Jiang big madam came up with the bad idea of taking Jiang Xun’s top cylinder ……

Thinking of those past events, Jiang Yishi was so angry that her chest ached.

This is how orphans are bullied!

Jiang big madam bad, Jiang Jin couple aided and abetted, the old lady, Jiang uncle knew the truth but accompanied them to act …… Maybe the third house also knew the truth, but it was not good to say it, chose to stand by and watch.

He himself is even more confused, in Jiang Xun’s most isolated and helpless time, did not help him, trust him. Jiang Xun is who, is his own brother, just thirteen years old, he should protect him, but let him suffer so much.

Nowadays, Qin mom serves Jiang Xun, not necessarily let him go to the garden to burn paper in the middle of the night, but Jiang Yishi is still not at ease. Not letting Jiang Xun take sides while getting another thing done.

She forced herself not to shed tears, suppressing them so hard that she exhaled a few deep ragged breaths.

“What’s wrong with the girl?” Sister Wu asked.

Jiang Yishi shook her head, “I’m fine, just a little hot.”

The curtains on both sides of the carriage had been fully opened, and it was still sweltering.

The large bushel fan in Sister Wu’s hand fanned a few points faster. She was a bit puzzled, the girl had already gone cold to the old lady, why did she still run back to the capital to celebrate her birthday despite the heat.

They reached the Jiang Mansion at three minutes past shenzhen, and all the guests had left.

Uncle Jiang and Third Master Jiang had taken leave and were in Ruyi Hall with the old lady, laughing and joking.

Jiang Yishi went in and kowtowed three times to the old lady, saying, “I wish my grandmother good fortune like the East Sea and longevity like the South Mountain.”

The old lady laughed and asked, “Listen to the third child said, that pot of orchids is the old Duke Meng sent you?”

Jiang Yishi smiled and said, “Yes. The Old Grand Duke cherishes the fact that my brother and I don’t have a father, and would occasionally send Huzhuang some flowers and plants.”

First Lady Jiang smiled and asked, “I heard that Meng Shizi is also recuperating in Mengjiazhuang, girl shi is very familiar with him, right?”

This was not a nice thing to say.

Jiang Yishi was already angry with the First Lady, and her words were not polite. Laughing coldly, she said, “Look at what eldest aunt said, besides going to Zhaoming nunnery to offer incense, I’m at the manor copying scriptures and reading books, even if I wanted to go and get acquainted with people I don’t know, I don’t have the time or opportunity to do so.”

The old dowager was also not satisfied with her eldest daughter-in-law’s words. No matter what, Shiyatou was also a Jiang family girl, and a bad reputation would affect all the girls in the Jiang family. Besides, she hoped that Jiang Yishi could really maintain a good relationship with Elder Duke Meng, which would be very beneficial to the future of her two sons.

She glared at the First Lady, wanting to scold but feeling that she had to save face for her eldest son and grandchildren, so she couldn’t do so in public.

She could only say, ”Shiyatou knows what to do and what not to do, how can she get acquainted with foreign men. Elder Duke Meng is an elder, and has helped eldest son and third son a lot, occasionally go to do filial piety, is also just right.”

Mrs. Jiang blushed, busy laughing, “daughter-in-law is also concerned about the girl. Concern is messy, and I asked in haste.”

Jiang Yishi ignored the first lady, and laughed with the old lady, “The old master is addicted to sweets, sometimes the manor made snacks, they will send some to his old man, he likes it very much. He likes it very much. When my younger brother came to the manor, he would even let us go to Meng’s house to play and guide my younger brother to practice martial arts.”

Jiang Xun also laughed, “Not only did he guide me in practicing martial arts, he also gave me a lecture on military strategy, which benefited me a lot.”

The third master said, “Xun’s son must cherish this opportunity. How many generals in the army wanted to ask Old Master how to fight, but they never had the chance. Of course, that includes me.” After saying that, he even stroked his beard and laughed twice.

Jiang Xun solemnly said, “Yes, my nephew keeps in mind the teachings of third uncle.”

Jiang Yishi looked at the young teenager, much more composed than before.

The old lady nodded happily and looked at Jiang Xun with a softer gaze.

The people joked for a while, then went to the compartment for dinner. The old lady unprecedentedly let people to scoop a bowl of Longjing Bamboo Fungus Soup to Jiang Yishi drink, this treatment is the first time the second house has.

After the meal, each went back to their own houses, Jiang Yishi and Jiang Yirou walked back hand in hand. They whispered with their ears attached, and from time to time, a few soft laughs came from them.

During the days at the manor, Jiang Yishi had Jiang Xun bring a few things to Jiang Yirou, including two Ruyi fans and a jasmine core bamboo pillow. All three were sent by Li Zhenbao, made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The fact that the things were good was secondary, but the key gift giver was County Prefect Zhenbao.

Seeing the attitude of the Third Master and Third Lady towards their siblings, it was clear that they appreciated the sentiment and were more than willing to make good relations with Jiang Yishi.

Jiang Xun followed behind them, he had something he wanted his sister to say.

When they arrived at the door of the scorching courtyard, Jiang Yirou still wanted to follow them in to play, but when she saw Jiang Xun following them, she knew that the siblings wanted to whisper, so she had to go back to her own courtyard.

Jiang Xun talked about the things in the house, and then said, “Sister, tomorrow is mother’s thirty-second birthday, when the sky is late, let’s go to the garden to burn paper for mother. I’ve also written a letter to mother, so let’s burn it to her together.”

Hu was not treated well by the old lady, and she had to burn paper for her in secret.

Jiang Yishi asked, “Did mother Qin agree to you going to the back garden to burn paper in the middle of the night?”

Jiang Xun shook his head and said, “Qin mother is not willing, said I am half a big boy, late in the day to go to the back garden is not good, let me burn in my yard. But I’m not willing, the back garden is empty and less crowded, paper money is more likely to be received by mother. It just so happens that sister is back, we’ll go together.”

Jiang Yi shi was satisfied that Qin mother had thought it through. Said, “I already went to Zhaoming nunnery two days ago to burn incense for mother, and also copied scriptures to burn to her.”

Jiang Xun was stubborn, “Sister burning is sister’s filial piety, I want to do my own filial piety.”

Jiang Yishi then pulled him up, “Let’s go now, why wait until late in the day.”

“Grandmother will be upset if she knows.”

“We can’t do anything if she’s not happy, it doesn’t make sense that we have to look at other people’s faces when we’re doing our filial piety to our mother.”

Jiang Xun asked Shui Ling to go to the outer courtyard to find Qin mother to get paper money, she and Jiang Yishi walked towards the garden.

At this time, the sky was not yet dark, the evening sun in the west was already dark red, the melting orange light flowed between heaven and earth, the back garden in the twilight was even more beautiful and peaceful.

There is a big banyan tree at the garden side, the tree crown is like a huge umbrella, covering the twilight light, under the tree is pitch-black.

Here, it was exactly where Jiang Jin and that girl had their rendezvous.

Jiang Yishi pulled Jiang Xun to walk under the road, her drooping hand dropped a purse in the grass at the root of the tree.

Jiang Xun didn’t notice, Shui Xiang who followed them saw it. She did not know why the girl threw a purse here, but knew that if the girl did it on purpose, there was a reason for the girl to do it, so she also pretended not to see it.

Walking through the garden and past a bamboo forest, they reached the backyard wall.

Encountered a matron on patrol, Shui Xiang told the girl and the second master came to burn paper for the second lady.

The granny didn’t dare to say that you are not allowed to burn, but only instructed to extinguish the candle flame before leaving.

Shui Xiang smiled, “Grandma don’t worry, we know.”