"Jiang Sihe, are you humiliating me?"
The concubine lifted her finger, pointing at the box of gold and shouting angrily.
"Concubine Mother, I... I just thought that now that I've followed the First Lady, I won't have to worry about food and clothing in the future. But you and Sister..."
"Jiang Sihe, how could I have given birth to such a spineless money-grubber like you? Now you turn around and humiliate me with these vulgar things..."
Concubine Ruan's plain face was full of anger. She raised her arm and pointed at Jiang Sihe, scolding loudly.
Jiang Jingshu also quickly stepped forward and pushed the box in Danfeng's hand.
"Clang..."
The box of gold scattered all over the ground. A glint of amusement flashed in Jiang Sihe's eyes. Just as she thought, Concubine Mother and Sister would think this was an insult to them.
"Sister values these gold and silver so much, but Mother and I won't. Sister is just insulting us..."
When Jiang Sihe looked up, her expression was aggrieved. "How could I want to insult Concubine Mother? I just thought gold and silver would be more practical for you..."
The commotion here was so loud that it attracted many servants in the mansion. They hid outside the courtyard and whispered secretly.
"This Concubine Ruan is really so high and mighty. She doesn't even want such a big box of gold..."
"Exactly. The Second Miss is so considerate. What else does she want her to do..."
An older nanny beside them, holding a handful of melon seeds in her hand, said with a smile, "You may not know that this Concubine Ruan is the most high and mighty one in our mansion..."
"What's the use of being high and mighty? It's most important to have money at hand..."
Jiang Sihe caught a glimpse of the servants gathering at the door from the corner of her eye. She frowned slightly and waited for Concubine Mother's reaction.
"Jiang Sihe... Oh, I should call you Second Miss. Take back these vulgar things and get out of my courtyard. From today on, you enjoy your glory and wealth, and I'll guard my simple and peaceful life..."
After Concubine Ruan finished speaking, she took off a jade hairpin from her head and broke it in two in front of Jiang Sihe and the people outside the courtyard.
"The mother - daughter bond between you and me is broken like this hairpin!"
Jiang Sihe looked at the hairpin broken into two pieces by Concubine Mother and gave a cold smile.
"Concubine Mother means that you won't have any contact with your daughter in the future?"
Concubine Ruan looked at her coldly. "I'll just pretend I never gave birth to you..."
Just as she finished saying this, the First Lady and Nanny Qiu happened to enter the door.
The tears in Jiang Sihe's eyes, who was kneeling on the ground, rolled down onto the back of her hand. She glanced at her tears mockingly. At this moment, she was still sad because of Concubine Mother's heartless words.
"Concubine Ruan, what do you mean?"
The First Lady's voice stunned Jiang Sihe. She slowly turned her head. The First Lady had already walked in quickly.
When Concubine Ruan saw the First Lady, she bowed to her with a cold face. But the First Lady ignored her and walked straight towards Jiang Sihe.
"Why let the Second Miss kneel on the ground? Hurry up and help her up..."
As soon as the First Lady gave the order, Danfeng and Xiuyue immediately reached out to help Jiang Sihe up.
Concubine Ruan watched coldly as the First Lady interacted with her eldest daughter. Her face turned even colder.
"My child, your wounds have just healed. How could you kneel on the ground? You should take better care of your body..."
The First Lady said this on purpose for Concubine Ruan to hear. Didn't her own biological daughter deserve more care?
Unfortunately, the First Lady misunderstood. Concubine Ruan watched coldly without showing the slightest bit of concern.
"Mother, why did you come?"
Jiang Sihe asked in a hoarse voice.
The First Lady sighed. How could she not know what was going on in the mansion...
As soon as she entered the door, she saw the gold scattered in the courtyard and understood what was going on.
"Concubine Mother... She may have misunderstood me. I just wanted to give her some money..."
Before Jiang Sihe could finish her words, the First Lady gently comforted her. "Good child, don't worry. I'll handle it for you!"
After the First Lady comforted Jiang Sihe, she gave a look to Nanny Qiu. Nanny Qiu then stepped forward to support Jiang Sihe and retreated to the back.
"Concubine Ruan, are you not satisfied that I've adopted your daughter?"
Concubine Ruan lowered her cold eyes and said respectfully, "I wouldn't dare..."
"If you wouldn't dare, then why are you doing this?"
The First Lady pointed at the gold on the ground and asked coldly.
"Replying to the First Lady, I don't care about these worldly possessions. I only like peace. When the First Lady entered the mansion back then, I already stated my attitude. I wouldn't compete with the First Lady..."
After Concubine Ruan finished speaking, she glanced at Jiang Sihe who was hanging her head in the back.
"Since the First Lady thinks she's good, just adopt her. Why use these vulgar things to insult me..."
The First Lady really didn't expect that when Jiang Sihe said her concubine mother didn't like her, it was actually this kind of dislike!
"Also, today I'll make it clear to the First Lady. From now on, since she's adopted by the First Lady, I won't pester her. Whether she lives well or not has nothing to do with me..."
These words were so heartless that everyone sighed silently in their hearts. They never thought that the Second Miss was so disliked by her concubine mother.
Hearing this, the First Lady couldn't help but look back at Jiang Sihe who was standing beside her with her head down. Her delicate shoulders seemed to be trembling. Being disliked by her biological mother like this would surely make anyone sad, right?
Poor child...
The First Lady sighed slightly and looked back at Concubine Ruan. "Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I won't say more. Whether it's the mother - daughter bond or something else, it can't be forced..."
"Today I'll also make it clear. Jiang Sihe is the Second Miss of the Jiang Mansion. Since she's adopted under my name, she's my daughter. From now on, she has nothing to do with you either..."
After saying that, she turned around and was about to take Jiang Sihe away.
"Wait a minute..."
Concubine Ruan called out coldly.
"Please, First Lady, ask someone to take away these vulgar things on the ground..."
The First Lady glanced at the gold on the ground. "Nanny Qiu, ask someone to collect it!"
Seeing this, Jiang Jingshu quickly stepped forward to support Concubine Mother and said coldly, "Sister, you insulted Concubine Mother first today and then pressured her with the support of the First Lady. You just want to draw a clear line from us. From today on, we'll have nothing to do with you. I hope Sister won't regret it in the future..."
The First Lady looked at Jiang Jingshu coldly and replied in a cold voice, "Who knows who will regret in the future?"
"What's going on today? This quiet courtyard has become so lively..."
Before the person appeared, a gentle and clear voice was heard.
Nanny Qiu and the others who were already walking to the door were blocked at the door by a fragrant breeze.
At the door stood a woman wearing a peach - colored cross - collared wide - sleeved embroidered hibiscus dress with gold - threaded edges. There was a pair of gold - inlaid pearl hairpins on her head. With such a charming face and this kind of dressing, there was an indescribable sense of disharmony...
"Concubine Wei, why aren't you staying in your Canglan Courtyard? Why are you coming here to join the fun?"
Nanny Qiu didn't have a good impression of Concubine Wei.
Only then did Jiang Sihe know that the woman in front of her was Concubine Wei, whom she had often heard about in recent days.
"I saw Nanny Qiu here and thought the First Lady must be here too. So I came in to pay my respects to the First Lady..."
Nanny Qiu snorted. Usually, she never saw Concubine Wei come to pay respects to the First Lady. But she came at this time.
Paying respects? She must be here to cause trouble!