Concubine Wei craned her neck forward with a beaming smile. "Is the First Lady inside?"
Nanny Qiu stepped forward immediately to block her. "Concubine Wei, you're becoming increasingly disrespectful!"
Concubine Wei shook the fan in her hand with a smile. "Nanny Qiu, what you said. I just wanted to see if the First Lady was inside so I could go in and pay my respects..."
"Hey, this charming little girl. Isn't she the Second Young Lady?"
Jiang Sihe noticed her scrutiny but didn't react.
"I heard that the Second Young Lady is going to be adopted into the First Lady's name. From now on, she'll be the legitimate daughter of our eldest branch. Being so timid won't do..."
Seeing this, Nanny Qiu couldn't help but step forward with a cold snort. "Concubine Wei, the Second Young Lady is still a master. You're just a concubine. Talking like this shows you really have no sense of propriety..."
"Oops, it's just that I rarely go out on weekdays and don't know the rules well. I'm Concubine Wei. Greetings to the Second Young Lady..."
This Concubine Wei was quite humble. After being scolded, she immediately changed her expression.
Nanny Qiu was annoyed by her slippery look and let out a cold snort. "Concubine Wei, step aside!"
Concubine Wei still wanted to peek inside, but after Nanny Qiu's cold snort, she had to take a few steps back.
Nanny Qiu cleared the way at the door, and the First Lady walked out.
When Concubine Wei saw the First Lady, she immediately changed her attitude to one of deference. "I pay my respects to the First Lady!"
The First Lady gave Concubine Wei a cold look. "Why are you here?"
Concubine Wei restrained her previous attitude and looked very obedient. "Reporting to the First Lady, Yu'er caught a cricket, but it accidentally escaped. I followed the trail and ended up here..."
"Master Yu is already ten years old and still so playful. You, as his concubine mother, don't even worry about his studies..."
Concubine Wei quickly lowered her head and replied, "It's just that the tutor just made him read The Enlightenment of Children for half a day. The tutor told him to take a break..."
The First Lady only said this much. She remembered that the master didn't allow Jiang Zhiyu to be adopted into her name back then. If she said too much, Concubine Wei would surely gossip to the master.
"First Lady, the master said that after summer, he wants Yu'er to go to Bailu Academy. I wonder what the First Lady thinks?"
Seeing that the First Lady was about to leave, Concubine Wei quickly followed and asked in a low voice.
"First Lady, I was thinking that since the Second Branch has Yuanzhang in Bailu Academy, he can take care of his cousin if the cousin goes there..."
Bailu Academy was the most famous academy in the capital, and it wasn't easy for an ordinary family to get in.
But the First Lady was different. Back then, she just said a word to her father, the Minister of Rites, when she returned to the mansion, and the legitimate son of the Second Branch, Jiang Yuanzhang, got into Bailu Academy. Now that it was a child from her own eldest branch, she should be willing to talk to the Minister of Rites, right?
"Yu'er may not have the aptitude..."
Hearing this from the First Lady, Concubine Wei's face darkened.
"First Lady, don't tell me you don't want to make arrangements for Yu'er just because he's a concubine son?"
Concubine Wei said sourly, feeling even more indignant in her heart. The First Lady had a grudge against the Second Lady but still was willing to arrange everything for the Second Lady's son. Why was she so reluctant when it came to her Yu'er?
The First Lady looked back at Concubine Wei and softened her tone. "The master has mentioned this to me. I have it in mind. You don't need to say any more..."
"But, First Lady..."
Concubine Wei still wanted to catch up and talk, but was blocked by Nanny Qiu. "Concubine Wei, you'd better go back quickly and take care of the Fifth Young Master!"
Blocked by Nanny Qiu, the First Lady had already walked far away with Jiang Sihe. Concubine Wei had no choice but to give up.
Concubine Wei looked back at Concubine Ruan's courtyard. She had heard the news today and rushed over specifically to watch the show. Unexpectedly, she didn't see the show and didn't gain any advantage either.
Concubine Ruan had already closed the courtyard door, clearly not wanting to see anyone. She didn't want to be annoying.
There was a slender maid behind her, wearing a green dress. Seeing Concubine Wei frowning, the maid stepped forward. "My lady, Cuiwei thinks this matter can't be rushed. The more you force the First Lady, the more reluctant she'll be..."
"Humph, the Second Lady treated her so badly, but she still eagerly arranged everything for the Second Lady's son. When it comes to the master's child, she starts to be picky?"
"I think it's because she can adopt a daughter. She thinks she has an heir now, so she doesn't take our Yu'er seriously..."
Hearing this, Cuiwei's bright eyes flashed, and she lowered her voice. "My lady, the Eldest Young Lady's illness has flared up again recently. How about..."
Hearing this, Concubine Wei looked back at Cuiwei, with a hint of calculation in her eyes.
"Go to Songyu Residence later!"
Cuiwei nodded. "This servant understands!"
...
The First Lady took Jiang Sihe back to Chunhua Pavilion and directly led her into her own room.
"Sihe, sit on the soft couch first." Then she turned to Jinsu. "Go and get that bottle of bruise - removing medicine for me..."
Jinsu nodded and turned to get the medicine bottle.
"You've knelt on your knees for so long. You must apply some bruise - removing ointment, or your knees will turn blue tomorrow..."
Jiang Sihe was a little confused. Why was her biological mother so cruel, while this First Lady, who seemed hard to get along with, was so kind to her?
"Your face is a bit messy. Ask Danfeng to fetch you a basin of water to wash your face..."
Every word was full of concern, making her feel more and more dazed...
It wasn't until Nanny Qiu applied the bruise - removing ointment on her knees that she came to her senses...
Maybe God saw that she had a sparse family relationship and specially bestowed this mother - daughter relationship on her...
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn't hold them back. A tear dropped on the knee where Nanny Qiu was applying the ointment.
"Oops, why is the Second Young Lady crying? Did I press too hard?"
Nanny Qiu quickly asked. Hearing this, the First Lady also walked over to check.
"Nanny Qiu, you must have pressed too hard. Sihe isn't delicate. Step aside. I'll do it..."
The First Lady would apply the ointment to the Second Young Lady herself?
Nanny Qiu was stunned for a moment. The First Lady had already snatched the medicine bottle from her hand, dug out a bit with her fingertips, and squatted down to gently apply it on Jiang Sihe's knees.
Seeing this, Jiang Sihe felt even more uncomfortable. This First Lady, whom she had only known for a dozen days, treated her like a biological daughter, while her biological mother couldn't wait to push her away...
Thinking like this, her tears flowed even more uncontrollably, dropping one by one.
The First Lady noticed and looked up. The little girl was crying like a tearful mess...
"What's wrong? Does the wound on your body hurt?"
The First Lady softened her tone even more, afraid that if her tone was a bit harsher, it would make the little girl even more sad...
"Mother, I..." Jiang Sihe wanted to say something, but then she remembered that she had only been interested in the identity of the legitimate daughter at first and didn't expect the First Lady to be so kind to her. For a moment, she didn't know how to speak...
The First Lady noticed Jiang Sihe's embarrassment and turned to ask Nanny Qiu to take all the servants in the room out.
"Good child, do you have something to say? Maybe if you say it out, you'll feel better and won't be so sad..."