Jiang Sihe got off the carriage and rushed into the mansion in a hurry.
She didn't even hear Pei Yanchao telling Yan Lin to call her.
When she got off the carriage, she casually grabbed the brocade box, which only contained the red coral hairpin, while her own silk ribbon had fallen under the table.
Pei Yanchao reached out and picked up the silk ribbon. Pinching the cyan ribbon between his fingers, he noticed that its color was very similar to the cyan gauze dress she was wearing that day.
He gently stroked it as if caressing a precious treasure. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his dark eyes were swirling with emotions.
...
Jiang Sihe ran into the mansion. After taking a slight breath to calm down, she slowed down and walked towards her own courtyard.
After returning to the mansion, she learned that Pei Yanchao had taken her away in the name of Mrs. Mei. The eldest mistress even praised her for being hard - working and coming back so late after studying!
Jiang Sihe didn't dare to say much and quickly returned to her room.
She opened the brocade box and took a look...
"Why is there only a hairpin? Where's my silk ribbon?"
Jiang Sihe was on the verge of tears. She remembered that she had taken out the silk ribbon on the carriage and placed it on the table.
It must have been blown under the table by the wind when she got off to watch the fireworks.
It seemed that she would have to ask Pei Yanchao for it again tomorrow!
...
Early the next morning, Jiang Sihe got up with two dark circles under her eyes. Xiuyue was surprised when she saw her and asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"
"I didn't sleep well!"
Jiang Sihe replied listlessly.
All night long, every time she had a dream and looked back, she saw Pei Yanchao's face. After being woken up several times, she simply couldn't fall asleep anymore.
Why on earth had she watched the fireworks with him yesterday?
Was that something she could watch with him?
She could only blame herself for being too naive. After being so frightened by him before, she still harbored inappropriate thoughts about him...
It was all because he had a handsome face.
Jiang Sihe propped her chin with both hands, drooping her eyebrows and looking at herself in the bronze mirror.
She secretly warned herself that there was no possibility between them. First of all, their ages were not suitable. He was a full eight years older than her. He was too old...
Secondly, considering his status and identity, don't think that just because you now have the title of the legitimate daughter of the Jiang Mansion, you can have wild fantasies.
Thirdly, Pei Yanchao was going to be a powerful figure in the court in the future. Don't think that just because you've been of some help to him now and he's shown you a bit of kindness, you can get carried away...
Based on the above points, the conclusion was that there was absolutely no possibility. She should stop right now!
After giving herself this mental pep - talk, Jiang Sihe felt a bit better.
Xiuyue brought a bowl of peach blossom four - herb soup. This soup was great for improving one's complexion and was just right for Jiang Sihe at the moment.
"Miss, you look pale today. Drink this soup quickly to replenish your energy!"
Jiang Sihe drank the soup. Then Xiuyue applied the jade skin cream from Fuyu Pavilion on her. After she put on makeup, there was no sign that she hadn't slept well the night before.
"Xiuyue, you're really resourceful. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have been able to show my face today!"
Xiuyue looked at Jiang Sihe in the bronze mirror and smiled, covering her mouth. "It's still because the miss has good features. Otherwise, no matter how much we try to remedy it, we couldn't turn you into a great beauty!"
"You're the only one with such a sweet tongue!"
Jiang Sihe got up and tapped her on the forehead.
When she went to pay respects to the eldest mistress, she heard her discussing with Nanny Qiu about what birthday gift to send...
Seeing her come in, the eldest mistress waved. "Just in time. Come and give us some advice. Which one should we choose as the birthday gift for Mrs. Pei?"
"Mrs. Pei? Which Mrs. Pei?"
The eldest mistress said with a smile, "Child, why is your memory so bad? Which other Mrs. Pei could it be? It's the mother of Grand Tutor Pei!"
No way! What a coincidence! Mrs. Pei was having a birthday? Didn't that mean she'd have to go to the Pei Mansion with her mother!
Maybe she could find an excuse not to go...
Just as this thought formed in her mind, the eldest mistress said with a smile, "You'll have to go with me then. Last time when we went to the He Mansion for a banquet, those ladies were so envious of me. They said I was so lucky to have picked up such a beautiful and well - behaved daughter!"
"Yes, if the second miss goes with the mistress, the mistress will be extremely happy!"
Well, it seemed she couldn't find an excuse not to go!
Anyway, this time, no matter how much Pei Xueji called her, she wouldn't eavesdrop on others!
The eldest mistress pulled the still - daydreaming Jiang Sihe over and showed her the birthday gifts they had picked out for Mrs. Pei.
"Quickly take a look. Is this agate peach symbolizing longevity better, or this mutton - fat white jade ruyi?"
Jiang Sihe took a look. Both gifts were extremely valuable. No matter which one was sent, the recipient couldn't find any fault.
But since the eldest mistress had asked her, she thought for a while and said, "Daughter thinks the agate peach is better. It has a better meaning..."
The eldest mistress said proudly to Nanny Qiu with a smile, "See, I knew A He would have the same taste as me!"
"Yes, yes... The eldest mistress and the second miss are so in tune. This servant can't compare to the second miss now!"
Nanny Qiu replied to the eldest mistress with a smile.
The two of them laughed, but Jiang Sihe couldn't muster a smile.
She didn't want to go to the Pei Mansion because she always felt that something unexpected was going to happen again...
Before going out, Jiang Sihe remembered the hairpin she had brought back yesterday. She went back to her room to get it. She planned to return it to Pei Yanchao when she saw him in the evening and ask for her silk ribbon back.
She had just entered the academy when Pei Xueji stuffed a post into her hand.
"It's my second grandmother's birthday. This is the post I specially prepared for you. I'm delivering it to you in person. You must come!"
Jiang Sihe pinched the post, feeling helpless. It seemed she had no choice but to go to the Pei Mansion.
"Of course. Since it's a post from Xiao Qi, I will definitely take it seriously!"
Even though she didn't want to go in her heart, she couldn't disrespect Pei Xueji.
Pei Xueji was very happy to see Jiang Sihe agree so readily.
"A He, you're my best sister in the capital. From now on, we'll share weal and woe!"
Jiang Sihe said awkwardly upon hearing this, "I don't think it's really necessary..."
Pei Xueji put her arm around her. "You're just cousins with Qin Yue. From now on, we'll be sisters who can trust each other with our lives..."
Jiang Sihe grabbed her arm and slowly moved it away. "Okay, okay. Let's go in for class first!"
Apparently, Pei Xueji was still angry about what Qin Yue had said yesterday, that they weren't related.
After a day of classes, she still went up the mountain to Mrs. Mei's place to continue her studies.
What Mrs. Mei taught her that day benefited her greatly. It made her realize that as a woman, she didn't have to belittle herself and could also hold up a piece of the sky!
It was no wonder that a woman like Mrs. Mei would later sacrifice herself for the country.
Since in this lifetime, the two of them had a master - disciple relationship, could she help her change her ending and prevent her from falling into the same tragic fate as in the previous life!
When coming down from the mountain, Mrs. Mei specially gave her the peaches she had planted in her yard.
"Only two peaches grew on the tree this year. You're lucky!"
It was getting dark. When Jiang Sihe came down the mountain, she saw Yan Lin standing next to the carriage with his back to her. She had the idea of teasing him.
"Yan Lin, catch!"
Jiang Sihe threw a peach in her hand towards Yan Lin.
Yan Lin reacted quickly. With his back to Jiang Sihe, he caught the peach with his backhand.
Jiang Sihe smiled playfully.
"Your skills are pretty good!"