Jiang Sihe had Xiuyue buy some spices from the perfume - making shops in the capital. After they were bought back, she put them into sachets.
For someone like Jiang Ningwei who had been scented with incense all year round, even if her mind was not very clear, she would surely react as long as she smelled a familiar scent.
Jiang Sihe took out the first sachet and placed it on the stone table.
"Elder sister, let Xiuyue count to ten. After the tenth number, we'll grab the sachet and then smell it... If you've smelled it before, nod. If not, shake your head. Finally, the one who has smelled more sachets wins!"
Jiang Ningwei was very delighted upon hearing this. "Fun, fun..."
Jiang Sihe nodded at Xiuyue.
"One, two, three..."
When Xiuyue counted to ten, Jiang Sihe deliberately slowed down, allowing Jiang Ningwei to grab the sachet.
Jiang Ningwei eagerly picked up the sachet and smelled it.
"I've smelled this before. There's this scent in my room..."
Hearing this, Jiang Sihe nodded at Xiuyue, signaling her to put away the sachet.
Then another sachet was placed.
This time, Jiang Sihe still let Jiang Ningwei grab it. With her child - like personality, she was extremely happy when she grabbed the sachet and didn't realize that Jiang Sihe was giving way to her at all.
After several sachets had been placed in succession, Jiang Sihe managed to grab one.
She smelled the sachet and shook her head. "Elder sister, I finally managed to grab one, but it turns out to be a scent I've never smelled before..."
Jiang Ningwei snatched it away. "I want to smell it, I want to smell it... I've smelled this one too..."
Jiang Sihe glanced at the sachet snatched away by Jiang Ningwei. Xiuyue had made a mark on it.
This marked sachet was one that she had specially asked a perfume - making master to prepare after looking at Jiang Ningwei's medical records. It contained several kinds of spices that should not be used together.
Xiuyue took out another marked sachet, and Jiang Ningwei grabbed it again.
"I have this scent in my room too. I've smelled it... I've smelled so many, while Xiaohe has only smelled one or two. Have I won?"
Jiang Ningwei jumped up and clapped her hands.
"You're really amazing, elder sister. I admit defeat!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ningwei was even happier. "I'm amazing... I'm amazing..."
Seeing her as happy as a child, Jiang Sihe couldn't help but be infected by her, and her gloomy mood improved a lot.
Actually, would it be better if elder sister could just be care - free like this?
When sending Jiang Ningwei back, she was too tired to walk. Several maidservants were supporting her, and she still looked at Jiang Sihe.
"Xiaohe, I want to play with you again tomorrow!"
"Elder sister, I'm going to the academy tomorrow. I'll play with you in a few days..."
"The academy? A Yuan is also in the academy. You're in the academy too. Do you know A Yuan then?"
Jiang Sihe knew that the A Yuan she was referring to was the legitimate son of the second branch, the third young master of the Jiang family, Jiang Zhiyuan, who was Jiang Ningwei's younger brother.
Jiang Zhiyuan...?
How could she have forgotten about this person? He was the future head of the Jiang family. When she was imprisoned in the dark room of the marquis's mansion, the servants guarding her had whispered to each other.
They mentioned that if it weren't for the third young master, the current head of the Jiang family, who was capable and had become a high - ranking official, how could Jiang Jingshu, a concubine, have been promoted to the main wife by the marquis.
At that time, her heart was already dead. She didn't want to care about the Jiang mansion or what happened to Jiang Jingshu. She didn't listen to what they said later.
Now, when she thought about it, she suddenly realized that there must have been earth - shattering changes outside when she was locked in the dark room.
But no matter how hard she tried to think, she still couldn't remember what else the servants had said or if they had ever mentioned what happened to the first mistress...
Since Jiang Zhiyuan became the head of the Jiang mansion later, did it mean that the second branch would surely overpower the first branch? Then how could the second mistress let the first mistress go...
So what was the end of the first mistress in her previous life?
She suddenly felt a bit self - reproachful. Why didn't she listen more and remember more at that time?
"Xiaohe, why are you unhappy?"
Jiang Ningwei tilted her head and looked at Jiang Sihe, wondering why her face suddenly looked so bad.
"No, I might be tired..."
Jiang Ningwei grabbed her. "Then go back to sleep quickly. You won't be tired after sleeping!"
"Okay, I'll watch elder sister go back first!"
After saying that, she turned around and looked at Jiang Ningwei's maidservants.
"Whatever I did and said with elder sister today, if it gets to the second mistress's ears, you know my methods. Think it over carefully!"
Jiang Sihe's bad reputation in the second branch made the maidservants quickly nod in fear.
"Second young lady, we understand!"
They didn't dare to provoke someone who had poisoned the eldest young lady and threatened the second mistress.
...
When Jiang Sihe returned to Chunhua Pavilion, the first mistress was having the servants carry things out.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
"Your grandmother's health has improved. Your father wants to bring her back, so he asked me to clean up Shou'an Hall. The time is a bit tight, so I thought I'd first move the good things from here to the old mistress's place for her to use!"
After saying that, the first mistress quickly pointed at the maidservant carrying the box. "Carry it gently. The things inside are fragile!"
"Grandmother is coming back?"
The first mistress nodded. "Yes. The Wen family has taken good care of her, so her health has improved a lot!"
"The Wen family?"
The first mistress explained with a smile. "You may not know. She's the old mistress's niece and your father's cousin. You should call her Aunt Wen!"
Was there such a person in the mansion in her previous life? Why didn't she remember at all?
"Mother, why is Aunt Wen taking care of grandmother in our family?"
Since Jiang Sihe had doubts in her heart, she asked directly.
"The Wen family became a widow early. She has no children, and her husband's family disliked her and sent her back home. But her sister - in - law in her natal family also disliked her and didn't want her. Your grandmother felt sorry for her and had her brought to our mansion. Since then, she has whole - heartedly served your grandmother and doesn't want to remarry..."
"So that's how it is..."
The first mistress gently wiped the sweat off Jiang Sihe's forehead with a handkerchief. "Where have you been? Why are you sweating so much?"
"Your daughter went to the back garden to practice sword for a while!"
Looking at Jiang Sihe's rosy cheeks, the first mistress finally felt relieved. She had been really worried about her when she was sick a few days ago.
"It's almost noon. Go into the room and have lunch first. I'll clean up Shou'an Hall this afternoon, and we'll bring your grandmother and Aunt Wen back tomorrow!"
Jiang Sihe remembered that the old mansion where her grandmother lived wasn't very far from here.
It was a two - courtyard mansion. When her grandmother was young, she liked elegance and gave the old mansion an elegant name...
Songyu Residence!
...
"The two from Songyu Residence are said to be returning to the mansion today?"
Concubine Wei was arranging flowers in her hand. Without even raising her eyelids, she asked Cuiwei who was standing beside her.
"Yes. At this time, the first mistress should have already sent the carriage there!"
"What a troubled time!"
Concubine Wei threw the flower in her hand into the vase. She lifted her eyelids and looked at the autumn wind blowing outside. The cool air had already started to seep into the room.
"It seems that if we don't take drastic measures, some things might be exposed!"
Cuiwei's fingers hanging by her side stiffened slightly.
"Isn't the first mistress going to Yuquan Temple to fulfill her vow in a few days?"
"Yes. Chunhe, whom we placed in the first mistress's courtyard, said that the first mistress will go to Yuquan Temple on the fifteenth of next month!"
Concubine Wei pointed at a bright red peony beside the table. "Throw it away. Didn't I say that I hate bright red peonies the most? They're an eyesore!"