Hearing her elder sister's words, Jiang Jingshu's chest heaved with anger. It was obvious that she had been infuriated by Jiang Sihe.
"If elder sister is so obstinate, I won't say any more. I just hope elder sister won't regret it in the future..."
Jiang Jingshu flicked her sleeve and quickly left. As she walked, she scorned her elder sister in her heart. How could she be so spineless? Recognizing someone else as her mother for wealth and honor was truly... truly too base.
Danfeng and Xiuyue came in and saw Jiang Sihe sitting quietly on the soft couch. They wanted to go over and offer some words of comfort, but didn't know how to start.
"Danfeng, go and see if she's going back to the annex. If so... prepare a carriage for her!"
Danfeng quickly nodded. "Yes, Second Miss!"
Xiuyue saw that Jiang Sihe was slightly frowning and knew that the Second Miss was feeling bad at the moment, so she didn't say a word.
When Jiang Jingshu reached the door, a young servant came forward to salute her.
"Fourth Miss, here's a carriage prepared for you to take you back to the annex!"
Jiang Jingshu was taken aback. She knew that the First Lady didn't like her and her mother, so it was impossible for the lady to think of preparing a carriage for her.
She was just about to ask who had prepared the carriage when the old woman guarding the door asked the young servant, "Did the master just come back?"
"Yes, the master just came in!"
Jiang Jingshu immediately thought that it must be her father who knew she had come back and had someone prepare the carriage for her.
Father still cared about her and her stepmother.
...
During dinner in the evening, the First Lady specially invited Jiang Sihe over.
Jiang Zongyuan took a moment to react when he saw this daughter, then a smile appeared on his face. "Sihe, is your injury better?"
"Replying to Father, it's much better!"
Jiang Sihe had seen her father only a few times in her two lifetimes, let alone having such a kind conversation with him.
Jiang Zongyuan had been staying in the Chunhua Pavilion for more than ten days. Naturally, he knew that his wife had brought this eldest daughter into the courtyard, but he didn't really care about it.
"Master, now that Sihe is fully recovered, after she's adopted into my name, she'll be the legitimate daughter of our main branch. I'm thinking that we should hold a recognition banquet and invite all the other branches to come and meet her. It'll be easier for us to handle things in the future..."
A daughter was dispensable. Adopting her under the main wife's name wouldn't have much impact. As long as it could make his wife happy and she would say some good words for him when she returned to her natal family, the Shangshu Mansion, which would be beneficial to his official career, why not do it?
"Very good. Madam can also invite some relatives and friends from the Shangshu Mansion to come and celebrate. It's a happy occasion for Madam, so it should definitely be a grand event!"
Hearing her father's strong approval, Jiang Sihe knew how important it was to have a powerful natal family.
The First Lady had been childless for many years, but even so, no one in the Jiang family dared to question the main wife to her face.
"Master, I have another matter..."
Jiang Zongyuan paced to the side, lifted his robe and sat down. "What else is it, Madam? Just say it."
"I've adopted Concubine Ruan's daughter. I think I should compensate her a little. I wonder what the master thinks..."
Hearing this, Jiang Zongyuan frowned and pondered. She was just a concubine. Her daughter being adopted into the main wife's name should make her happy. Did she still need compensation?
Looking up and seeing Jiang Sihe standing obediently below, he said, "Sihe, what do you think we should compensate your stepmother with?"
Jiang Sihe was stunned by the question. Why was this question thrown to her? But it was just right. She might as well give her stepmother and younger sister a surprise.
The First Lady didn't expect Jiang Zongyuan to throw the question to Jiang Sihe. After a moment of reaction, she said with a smile.
"Yes, Sihe must know better what Concubine Ruan likes. It's better for her to say it..."
Jiang Sihe composed herself and said crisply, "Father, Mother, Stepmother and younger sister have a simple and unassuming personality. If we give them some manors and shops, they won't be able to manage them. So I think it's better to convert them into silver so that Stepmother will have some money for her own use..."
Jiang Sihe's words were so direct that Jiang Zongyuan and the First Lady didn't know how to respond.
"Stepmother is as pure as a chrysanthemum and doesn't fight for anything. So I thought more about her future. Money is the most practical. If I'm wrong, Father will surely have a more suitable consideration..."
After Jiang Sihe finished speaking, she lowered her head, looking like someone who had done something wrong and said something wrong...
Seeing this, the First Lady felt a little pity in her heart. She quickly defended her, "I think Sihe is right. One can't move forward without money. Money is the most practical..."
Jiang Zongyuan didn't want to interfere too much in the affairs of the inner courtyard, so he just nodded. "Then Madam can make the arrangements as you see fit..."
The First Lady nodded. "I'll surely not treat Concubine Ruan unfairly..."
Hearing this, Jiang Zongyuan frowned tightly. He remembered that when he had just welcomed the First Lady into the mansion, Concubine Ruan had shown her displeasure and voluntarily asked to go to the annex, which had made the newly - arrived First Lady bear the name of a jealous woman and had made him the laughingstock of his colleagues.
However, at the birthday banquet this time, Concubine Ruan in her plain white dress, looking so aloof and cold, had made his heart skip a beat. Later, with Concubine Wei's constant pestering, he had forgotten about it. But seeing this eldest daughter today, he remembered it again...
"I remember Concubine Ruan has been living in the annex for more than ten years?"
Hearing this, the First Lady was stunned for a moment and already understood the implication.
"Yes, it's been more than ten years..."
"In that case, let's also invite her and her daughter back to live!"
Jiang Zongyuan's casual words made the First Lady frown.
Jiang Sihe naturally also saw what her father meant. She didn't expect that because of her, things in this life had changed and her father had remembered her stepmother?
During the whole dinner, the three of them had their own thoughts.
Finally, Jiang Sihe excused herself and left. The First Lady chased after her, and the two of them talked in the corridor.
"Sihe, Concubine Ruan is your biological mother. You asked for some money for her today, which shows that you still have some feelings for her. If you want to get closer to her in the future, I won't object..."
Hearing this, Jiang Sihe gently saluted the First Lady. "Mother, actually... I have some words in my heart that I want to tell you..."
Seeing Jiang Sihe looking dejected, the First Lady softened her tone.
"Just say whatever you want. Don't be so restrained..."
Jiang Sihe choked back her sobs before she spoke.
"Stepmother doesn't like me. My personality doesn't please her. When I was in the annex, it was always my younger sister who accompanied Stepmother. I never knew what it felt like to be loved until I got injured this time. Seeing Mother worrying about my health and caring for me in every way, I finally knew that I could also be loved like this..."
Jiang Sihe's words were somewhat sincere. The First Lady had indeed taken good care of her in the past ten - odd days.
After hearing Jiang Sihe's words, the First Lady more or less understood that this child didn't have a deep relationship with her stepmother.
"So today, when I asked for money for Stepmother, it was also to thank her for giving birth to me..."
The First Lady gently hugged her into her arms. This child was kind - hearted and loyal. If she had completely forgotten about her stepmother and younger sister after being adopted into her name, the First Lady would have thought her too heartless.
Seeing her like this now, she knew that even though this child had been wronged, she still thought about her stepmother. She was a good child.
Now seeing her small face nestled in her arms, the First Lady's motherly love overflowed. She wished she could give her all the best and most precious things in the future and spoil her into the most delicate young lady in the capital.
"Good child, tomorrow I'll have someone invite your stepmother and younger sister back. You can personally give that money to your stepmother to reassure her!"
Jiang Sihe nodded obediently, but a glint flashed in her eyes.
She suddenly looked forward to seeing what expression her stepmother would have when she presented the money to her tomorrow...