Madam Wang Mingyi had poured all her tenderness of these years into the little girl in front of her.
Rarely had she spoken so cautiously, fearing that a harsh tone might make the girl even sadder...
Jiang Sihe sniffled and said, "Mother, you've been so kind to me. I don't know how to repay you..."
Hearing this, Madam Wang let out a sigh of relief. She had been worried about the girl, but it turned out to be because of this.
"Sihe, actually, when you said that your stepmother didn't like you that day, I didn't know much about her... Ah, forget it. Since she doesn't cherish you, I will!"
"Repay or not, if you hadn't blocked the glazed tile for me that day, I'm afraid I wouldn't be here unharmed..."
She stood up, pulled the delicate girl into her arms, and gently patted her on the back. "Ahe, some things can't be forced. Take me for example. I've been longing day and night to have my own child, but over the past decade or more, I've tried countless prescriptions, to no avail..."
She looked down at Jiang Sihe's fair face nestled in her arms. Somehow, she felt that perhaps this was the child God had bestowed upon her.
It was only natural that they should have this mother - daughter bond!
"From now on, you're my child, and I'm your mother. There's still a long way to go. Let's walk forward together as mother and daughter..."
She stroked Jiang Sihe's head, and there was a hint of anticipation in her tone for the days to come...
"Okay, Mother. I'm your daughter from now on!"
Jiang Sihe nestled in Madam Wang's arms, with a touch of determination in her eyes.
Seeing that Jiang Sihe had calmed down, Madam Wang said again, "These days, you've been injured and staying cooped up in the room, so you must feel stuffy. Three days from now is a good day. We'll choose that day for the adoption and hold a recognition banquet so that you can meet more people. It'll cheer you up..."
Jiang Sihe nodded. "Okay, daughter will follow mother's arrangement!"
...
Three days later, the Jiang Mansion was bustling with preparations for a banquet.
Madam Wang had invited the collateral branches of the Jiang family and some relatives from her natal family.
Madam Anyang, Madam Wang's elder sister, had come early with her son and daughter to congratulate her.
"Sister, now that you have this daughter, you might get pregnant soon..."
There was a saying among the people that if a woman couldn't have children, adopting one from a collateral branch might bring good luck and make it easier to conceive.
Madam Wang had been trying to have a child for almost ten years and had already become somewhat indifferent. If it weren't for the gossips, she really thought there was no need to drink those so - called decoctions anymore.
"Sihe is well - behaved. Having her makes me very content. We can't force the matter of having children. Let everything follow its natural course!"
Madam Anyang nodded. "Over the years, you've suffered a lot trying to have a child. Adopting a daughter now will give you some peace of mind..."
Madam Wang didn't tell her sister about the fates between her and Jiang Sihe. She just nodded.
"I heard that brother - in - law brought Lord Pei here?"
Madam Wang thought of the guests today. If Lord Pei was going to stay, she had to make new arrangements.
"It's a coincidence. When we were leaving home, we just ran into Lord Pei."
"Now Lord Pei is already the vice - minister of the Ministry of Justice. The position of the minister of the Ministry of Justice will be his sooner or later..." Madam Anyang said in a low voice.
"I remember that the Emperor attended Lord Pei's coming - of - age ceremony three years ago. He's so young. Could it be that the Emperor really wants to promote him to be the minister..."
Madam Wang thought it was unlikely, but thinking about his status, the one who had accompanied the Emperor all the way up, it wasn't impossible.
"You don't think far enough. In a few years, after he has some experience in the Ministry of Justice... He's talented and a favorite of the Emperor. My husband is also in the Ministry of Justice now. It seems that in the future..."
Madam Anyang didn't dare to say the rest of the words. Her husband said that this man might one day hold power over the whole court...
Seeing this, Madam Wang didn't ask further. She just changed the topic. "He also came to the birthday banquet for my husband last time. I saw such a brilliant person that day. His future is limitless..."
"He has connections with our Wang family and is also on good terms with my elder brother. It's only natural for him to attend my husband's birthday banquet. It's just a coincidence today, so we invited him to come together..."
"Then I'll make good arrangements later. We mustn't neglect this person!"
Madam Anyang nodded. "Naturally, we mustn't neglect him!"
After the two ladies finished talking, they introduced the younger generation to each other.
Madam Anyang was blessed with a son and a daughter. She had always felt sorry for her sister for not having a child. Now that her sister had adopted a daughter, she naturally wanted her children to get close to Jiang Sihe.
"Sihe, this is your cousin Qin Yue!"
Jiang Sihe saw Qin Yue's bright and generous appearance. She looked a bit like Madam Wang and Madam Anyang.
"Cousin!" Jiang Sihe greeted Qin Yue, and Qin Yue returned the greeting.
"Cousin!"
After introducing Qin Yue, Madam Anyang turned to point at the young man who was eating snacks.
"This is your cousin, the heir of the Marquis of Anyang, Qin Lang!"
Jiang Sihe saw a young man standing beside the table. He was dressed in a noble dark purple brocade robe, with his hair tied up in a jade crown and the ends hanging on one side. When the handsome young man with star - like eyebrows and sword - like eyes looked up, he had a pair of peach - blossom eyes when he smiled.
"Aunt, the snacks in your Jiang Mansion are really good..."
Madam Wang smiled indulgently and pointed at the snacks. "You're so picky. These are the snacks Sihe made for me with her own hands..."
Hearing this, Qin Lang shifted his peach - blossom eyes to Jiang Sihe, sized her up, and said with a hint of a smile, "They were actually made by my cousin?"
Jiang Sihe bowed to him. "Sihe pays respects to the heir..."
Madam Anyang said with a smile, "This child is still so polite. Just call him cousin!"
Madam Wang nodded at her, and only then did she say again, "Cousin Qin, greetings!"
"Cousin, you're welcome!"
Qin Lang was a few years older than them but hadn't reached the age of adulthood. He still had a childlike nature and was very cheerful. The only thing that gave Madam Anyang a headache was that he was very fond of desserts...
After they talked for a while, a maid came to the door. "Madam, everything is ready in the ancestral hall!"
Madam Wang nodded and told the servants to clean up first. They would go there later.
"Sihe, go back to your room and change your clothes. We'll go to the ancestral hall soon."
Hearing Madam Wang's words, Jiang Sihe nodded.
Madam Anyang also stood up and said, "I'll take the two of them to the guest hall first..."
"Okay, you go to the guest hall first. There shouldn't be too many people in the ancestral hall..."
They all walked out together.
When Qin Lang reached the door, he casually picked up another piece of pastry. Madam Anyang gently slapped the back of his hand. "Eat less sweets..."
Qin Yue behind him also pushed Qin Lang. "Hurry up, you glutton..."
Qin Lang turned around and raised his arm, about to tap Qin Yue on the forehead. "Busybody, are you itching for a spanking?"
Qin Yue jumped to avoid Qin Lang's hand but bumped into Jiang Sihe behind her.
"You rascal, be careful. Your cousin still has an old injury. What if you bump into her wound..."
Madam Anyang had walked over and softly asked Jiang Sihe, "Sihe, did you get bumped?"
Jiang Sihe shook her head. "No, cousin had already slowed down..."
Qin Yue smiled at Jiang Sihe!