After returning from the Pei family's mountain villa, Jiang Sihe stayed in bed in the mansion for a full three days.
This really worried the First Lady. She kept scolding her.
"You child, if you have this illness, you should have sent someone back to report that day. Mother would have sent someone to pick you up from Madam Mei's place!"
Pei Yanchao still used Madam Mei as a cover for her.
The First Lady naturally didn't have any doubts.
"Okay, daughter will know next time!"
Jiang Sihe wrapped her arm around the First Lady's and rubbed her shoulder.
"You look even thinner this time. How about taking a good rest in the mansion after the academy exam next month!"
Jiang Sihe nestled against the First Lady and listened to her nagging. She couldn't help but blame herself. She had been mourning for those so - called love affairs and stayed in bed for three days, forgetting about her mother who loved her.
There was also the Second Branch, who wanted to harm her mother, eyeing them covetously. So far, not all the scented incense related to her elder sister had been found. And love only hindered her ability to get things done.
After lying in bed for three days, on the morning of the fourth day, as soon as Jiang Sihe got up, Xiuyue trotted in and whispered in her ear.
"Miss, the things you asked for are all ready, and we've also found out about the situation of the Second Branch."
Jiang Sihe nodded. She asked Xiuyue to do up her hair, picked up the wooden sword she had prepared the day before, and headed to the back - garden.
She had seen Madam Mei practicing sword in the yard before and on a whim, had learned a little from her.
After lying in bed for several days, she felt her body had become sore. She really needed to exercise!
It just so happened that she had time today... She could not only practice sword but also do some other things.
Xiuyue stood by, holding Jiang Sihe's outer robe. She couldn't help but be surprised.
"Miss, when did you learn swordsmanship? It looks quite impressive!"
Jiang Sihe stopped and wiped the sweat off with a handkerchief.
"I'm just fooling around with these amateur moves..."
But Xiuyue shook her head. "That's not necessarily true. Maybe one day, miss will become a female general!"
Jiang Sihe couldn't help but laugh.
Just as they were talking, a figure ran over.
"Xiaohe...? It's really you!"
Jiang Ningwei lifted her skirt and tilted her head to look at Jiang Sihe.
Jiang Sihe exchanged a look with Xiuyue. They knew their plan was going smoothly.
"Second Miss, the Second Lady doesn't allow the Eldest Miss to run around..."
The maids who trotted over later were all new faces, not the ones who used to be around Jiang Ningwei.
"I've come here to look for you many times, but you were never here..." There was a hint of displeasure on Jiang Ningwei's face.
Jiang Sihe smiled apologetically. "Elder sister, I'm sorry. I've been feeling unwell these days, so I didn't come..."
Jiang Ningwei quickly looked her up and down. "What's wrong with you? Where do you feel unwell? Did you also drink really bitter medicine?"
Hearing Jiang Ningwei's immediate concern for her health, Jiang Sihe felt a twinge of guilt again.
She couldn't help thinking that she was going to use her elder sister again!
But there was no other way. If she wanted to find out if there was something wrong with what happened to her elder sister back then, she had to start with her.
"Thank you for your concern, elder sister. I'm already better. I did drink really bitter medicine!"
Jiang Ningwei frowned. "I'll give you some candied fruits later. I always eat them when I drink bitter medicine..."
Touched by Jiang Ningwei's innocence and kindness, Jiang Sihe asked softly.
"Is your health better, elder sister?"
Jiang Ningwei nodded. "I'm already better. Do you want to play hide - and - seek with me?"
Jiang Sihe handed the wooden sword in her hand to Xiuyue, put on her outer robe, and pulled Jiang Ningwei towards the pavilion.
"We won't play hide - and - seek today. Let's play something else..."
"Second Miss... The Eldest Miss still has to go back to drink medicine. She can't..."
The maid quickly blocked them and didn't let them leave.
Jiang Sihe smiled. "Drinking medicine?"
The maid nodded quickly.
Jiang Sihe pointed at Jiang Ningwei's skirt, which was covered in mud spots.
"I wonder what the Second Aunt will do to you if I tell her what the Eldest Sister looks like now. You're so careless in taking care of her..."
The maid quickly lowered her head and didn't dare to say another word.
Just now, these maids were being lazy. They didn't watch the Eldest Miss closely for a moment, and she secretly went to play with mud by the lake. When they found her and wanted to take her back to change clothes, the Second Lady was just at the courtyard gate.
They were afraid of being caught and punished, so they planned to take the Eldest Miss to the back - garden to hide for a while.
Who would have thought that they would run into the Second Miss. As soon as the Eldest Miss saw the Second Miss, she ran over, and they couldn't even catch up.
These maids had all heard from Yunzhu before how powerful the Second Miss was. She was not only the apple of the First Lady's eye but also dared to confront the Second Lady head - on.
In the mansion, the people of the First Branch respected her, and the people of the Second Branch were afraid of her!
The maids obediently stepped back.
Jiang Ningwei asked excitedly, "What game are you going to play with me, Xiaohe?"
"Let's play a scent - smelling game. Do you know how to play it, elder sister?"
Jiang Ningwei frowned first. "I don't like incense. There's always incense in my room. It smells so bad!"
Jiang Sihe guessed that the daily incense Jiang Ningwei mentioned might be the calming incense that Doctor Zhang had mentioned.
But there were only a few types of calming incense, and she had inquired about some of them. They shouldn't have a pungent smell.
Why did Jiang Ningwei say it smelled bad?
If there was something wrong with the incense, wouldn't the Second Lady notice at all?
She pulled Jiang Ningwei into the pavilion, squatted down, and slowly wiped the mud off her skirt with a handkerchief.
"Elder sister, after you play with mud in the future, you should clean it up. Otherwise, such a beautiful skirt will look dirty..."
Jiang Ningwei looked down at Jiang Sihe who was squatting to help her clean the clothes. Her eyes curved.
"Xiaohe, you're so nice..."
Jiang Sihe smiled. "Is this considered being nice?"
"Yes. Actually, I know they all dislike me and don't want to touch me..."
By "they", Jiang Sihe guessed that Jiang Ningwei meant the servants.
"They're nice to me when Mother is around, but they're not nice when Mother is away or when there's no one else. When they're not nice to me, they'll give me delicious food and ask me not to tell Mother..."
Hearing this, Jiang Sihe glanced at the maids standing outside.
"Moreover, the people around me are always changing. Sometimes, after I've known them for a few days and finally remembered them, they're gone in a few days. Xiaohe, will you also disappear?"
Jiang Sihe guessed from Jiang Ningwei's rambling words that the maids around her were always being replaced.
She didn't see Yunzhu this time.
"I won't. From now on, as long as you want to see me, just tie a red silk on the crabapple tree at the garden gate one day in advance!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ningwei thought it was very interesting and clapped her hands happily. "Yes, it sounds like fun. I like this method!"
"Then do you want to play the scent - smelling game with me now, elder sister?"
Jiang Ningwei nodded. "Let's play!"
Jiang Sihe nodded at Xiuyue.
Xiuyue took out several sachets from her waist. These were the ones they had prepared in advance when they came.