Xiu Yue, having received her young lady's praise, couldn't help but say proudly,
"Miss, if you want to know anything else, this servant can find it out for you..."
Jiang Si He gently stirred the water in the bathtub with her finger and smiled.
"No need. This is enough. But I'll need your help tomorrow..."
"How should I do it?"
Jiang Si He waved for Xiu Yue to come closer. Xiu Yue bent her head and leaned in.
After hearing Jiang Si He's words, Xiu Yue frowned tightly and couldn't help asking, "Will this work? Won't the Second Branch suspect you, Miss...?"
"No. I'm just borrowing the Second Branch's methods. Even if she senses something, she'll only blame herself for what she did back then, which harmed the eldest sister..."
Xiu Yue nodded. "This servant understands!"
After the bath, Xiu Yue carefully applied floral lotion on Jiang Si He from head to toe, taking good care of every part to make her feel comfortable...
Leaning on the soft couch, Jiang Si He felt a bit drowsy. She couldn't help but wonder if starting with her eldest sister would help her find out something...
Just as she was about to fall asleep, Xiu Yue finally finished.
"Miss, if you don't want to move, this servant will get you a quilt and you can sleep on the couch first!"
Jiang Si He got up from the couch and waved her hand. "I can't sleep yet. I have to go to the old steward and get something..."
"This servant can go and get it. Why do you have to go in person?"
Jiang Si He looked back at her and shook her head.
"None of you can get that thing. I have to go myself!"
"Then let this servant accompany you, Miss!"
Jiang Si He had already taken a cloak. Xiu Yue quickly came over to help her put it on.
"No. I can get that thing alone. You stay in the room obediently and wait for me!"
Xiu Yue couldn't persuade Jiang Si He, so she had to hold a wind - proof lantern for her and wait in the room.
Jiang Si He was out for about half an hour and came back carrying a straw - woven cage.
Xiu Yue stepped forward to take it, but Jiang Si He dodged.
"Don't touch it..."
Seeing this, Xiu Yue was even more curious about what was inside.
Jiang Si He carefully placed the straw cage in the corner and stood up, clapping her hands.
"Alright. Tomorrow, you just do as I've told you and place this in the designated position!"
Xiu Yue whispered, "Miss, this servant is dying of curiosity. What on earth is inside?"
Seeing her curiosity, Jiang Si He was afraid that she would be even more scared when she saw it tomorrow. So she might as well let her build up her courage first.
She waved. "Come here and take a look..."
Xiu Yue scurried over and looked down into the straw cage with the lid opened by Jiang Si He.
Instantly, she was so scared that she took several steps back. Her face turned pale and she covered her chest.
"Miss, this... this... if..."
"Shh!" Seeing that she could hardly speak clearly, Jiang Si He made a gesture to her.
"Keep your voice down. Don't be afraid. I've fed them something. They won't bite!"
But even so, Xiu Yue still turned pale with fright.
"Miss, won't there be any accidents..."
Jiang Si He patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. There won't be any problems. You just do as I've told you tomorrow!"
Although Xiu Yue frowned, she still nodded.
...
Jiang Jing Shu was sent back. Concubine Ruan learned that she had fought with someone in the He Mansion. She was very angry. Ignoring the injuries on her body, she made Jiang Jing Shu kneel in the yard to reflect.
It was not until midnight that she was allowed to enter the house.
"Mother, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have lost my dignity. But it was all because of elder sister. She instigated the young miss of the He Mansion to target me!"
Even at this moment, Jiang Jing Shu still didn't think she was wrong. She still whole - heartedly believed that Jiang Si He looked down on her and deliberately made Yuan Qing Yun deal with her...
Concubine Ruan had a cold and pale face. She said coldly, "I originally thought your personality was most like mine. But since your elder sister left, you've changed completely. You used to be noble and aloof, but now? Every word of yours is about your elder sister..."
Jiang Jing Shu knelt and moved forward a few steps. She knelt in front of Concubine Ruan.
"Mother, no. It's since elder sister recognized the First Lady that she's always found all kinds of reasons to target me..."
"Stop talking. No matter how much you try to justify yourself now, your face has been completely lost outside. Tomorrow, I'll leave the mansion and go back to the villa!"
Jiang Jing Shu was a bit flustered. She quickly hugged Concubine Ruan's leg and sobbed,
"Mother, father won't let me go back to the villa with you. Please don't leave me alone..."
Concubine Ruan remained unmoved. She turned her head and didn't look at her again. Jiang Jing Shu became even more flustered!
She had nothing but her mother's favor. But now, even her mother didn't want her. What should she do?
"Mother, next month is my coming - of - age ceremony. Won't you even be by my side for that?"
Hearing this, Concubine Ruan's expression softened a bit.
"I'll come back to comb your hair when you come of age next month. I won't stay in this mansion for another day. You should reflect on yourself these days. Don't disappoint me in the future!"
Hearing her mother's softened tone, Jiang Jing Shu quickly nodded. "Mother, don't worry. Father wants me to learn the rules. I'll surely obey father and stay in the mansion to learn the rules well!"
Concubine Ruan nodded. "Good. If you've learned well after your coming - of - age ceremony, I'll naturally talk to your father and take you back to the villa!"
"Good. Daughter will surely not disappoint mother!"
...
Early the next morning, when Jiang Si He went to pay respects to the First Lady, she happened to run into Concubine Ruan, who was coming to ask the First Lady to allow her to go back to the villa.
"Mother!"
Jiang Si He saluted first, but Concubine Ruan gave her a cold look and ignored her.
Jiang Si He didn't care. She passed by her and entered the First Lady's room.
"Mother, Sister Su Jin said that you only had a bowl of porridge for breakfast..."
Hearing Jiang Si He's concerned tone, Concubine Ruan couldn't help but stop and stand at the door.
"It's a bit hot this morning. I don't have much of an appetite... It's just that Su Jin talks too much..."
The First Lady also spoke with a smile.
Even someone as cold - tempered as Concubine Ruan could sense the deep affection in their relationship...
How could this be? The First Lady had no parenting grace towards her, and they had only been together for a little over a month. Why were they as close as real mother and daughter...?
"A He, I know you like cool things. I've asked the kitchen to prepare some iced drinks. But don't drink too much!"
"Mother, you're the best. I've been sweating all over since early this morning. I've been craving iced drinks for a while now!"
The conversation between the mother and daughter in the room all fell into Concubine Ruan's ears. She inexplicably felt a bit ironic. She, as her biological mother, was like a stranger to her...
Concubine Ruan quickly walked down the steps and left Chunhua Pavilion with a pale face.
Jiang Si He saw Concubine Ruan's flustered figure leaving from the door. She inexplicably felt a bit elated...
Would her mother feel a bit regretful when she saw the First Lady's care and love for her?