Chapter 10: Mother Would Never Harm You

Cuiju knelt on the ground. When she heard Jiang Jin was willing to give her a chance, the light that had dimmed in her eyes slowly returned.

She dug her nails tightly into her palms, frantically searching her mind for any useful skills she possessed.

After much thought…

She turned her hands over, looking at the thin calluses on her thumb and index finger, and suddenly understood something!

She raised her head, her tone firm: “Third Miss, this servant once learned a double-sided embroidery technique. Among the estate’s embroiderers, no one else knows this besides me!”

Hearing this, Jiang Jin’s lips curved into a smile.

Exactly!

Jiang Jin looked at Cuiju: “Oh? Then how can you prove it?”

Seeing Jiang Jin was genuinely interested, Cuiju knew she had gambled correctly.

She quickly retrieved a handkerchief from her sleeve, stood up, and respectfully presented it to Jiang Jin.

Jiang Jin took the handkerchief. In its corner was embroidered a lotus flower. Just this side alone was enough to show Cuiju’s exquisite embroidery skills.

She flipped the handkerchief over and saw that the back of the lotus had transformed into a peony.

Her eyes widened in surprise—it was even double-sided with different patterns!

Jiang Jin lowered her lashes, quickly concealing the astonishment in her eyes.

She returned the handkerchief to Cuiju. “Double-sided with different patterns—your embroidery skills are impressive!”

Then she waved her hand. “Go find your mother. Pack your things and move here in a couple of days.”

As the words fell, Cuiju’s hands trembled uncontrollably, nearly dropping her handkerchief.

She took a deep breath, clenched her teeth, and bowed gratefully to Jiang Jin.

“Thank you, Third Miss, for saving my life!”

————

At dusk, Lady Shen, Jiang Jin’s mother, sent over a set of gold filigree hair ornaments inlaid with rubies.

Jiang Jin looked at the hair ornaments on the tray and nodded for Furong to accept them.

In her previous life, Mother had gifted her this same set of hair ornaments.

When it came to material possessions, Mother rarely showed favoritism.

However, the difference between something specially prepared and something casually bought was still quite significant.

It was just that she hadn’t known it before!

Recalling the words she had overheard at Huaihe Tower, Jiang Jin frowned and pressed her hand tightly against her chest.

“Huff!”

“Huff!”

“Huff!”

She kept breathing heavily, trying to alleviate the tightness and pain in her chest.

Furong hurried over and, seeing her in such distress, quickly poured a cup of water and handed it to Jiang Jin.

“Miss, please drink some hot tea.”

Jiang Jin took the tea and slowly sipped it.

Furong watched her nervously. Seeing Jiang Jin’s condition improve slightly, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

However, as Jiang Jin leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes to relax, Furong couldn’t resist saying: “Miss, why not write a letter to Jingzhou and ask Doctor Mo to send some more medicinal pills?”

Jiang Jin, having recovered somewhat, only shook her head. “No need. I know my own body—it’s nothing serious.”

“Besides, even if we sent a letter, it wouldn’t reach Jingzhou anytime soon. And if the letter did arrive, Grandmother and Aunt would only worry!”

Unable to bear seeing Jiang Jin suffer, Furong suggested again: “Then should this servant call a physician to examine you?”

Jiang Jin didn’t respond immediately. After pondering for a moment, she said: “Let’s wait a few more days.”

She knew why she was suffering, and she knew that only by resolving the marriage arrangement with the marquis estate could she truly find peace.

It had been the same in her previous life. Before her marriage, she hadn’t perceived her parents’ excessive favoritism, so her heart ailment rarely flared up while she was in the Jiang household.

But after marrying into the marquis estate, one distressing event after another followed, and her heart ailment had flared up countless times.

Every time it happened, they always said she was pretending to be ill, that she was difficult to get along with, that she was being overly sensitive…

But if she could have a healthy body like ordinary people, who would wish to suffer from this heart ailment?

Jiang Jin took a deep breath, concealing the resentment in her heart.

She looked up at Furong and was about to speak when she heard a commotion in the courtyard.

“Third Young Lady, the Madam is here.”

As soon the maid’s voice fell, Jiang Jin saw Lady Shen walking in hurriedly.

Lady Shen sat down beside Jiang Jin and waved everyone away.

Only after the door closed did Lady Shen turn to Jiang Jin with a worried expression.

She sighed deeply, her lips trembling slightly, unsure how to begin.

Jiang Jin sensed her hesitation and asked curiously, “Mother, what’s wrong?”

Lady Shen: “Jin’er, Mother wants to ask you something. When did you and Ning Wang… become acquainted?”

“You never liked going out before, and I never heard of you having any interaction with Ning Wang. But today, the Zhangshi from Prince Ning’s Mansion said you had done Ning Wang a favor. Tell me, what exactly is going on?”

Jiang Jin blinked. So it was about this.

“Mother, it’s just a trivial matter. It’s only because Ning Wang is being gracious and the Zhangshi is kind that such words have spread.”

Jiang Jin spoke calmly, then asked instead, “But Mother, even if I know Ning Wang, it would only bring me benefits and no harm. Why… do you have such an expression?”

Lady Shen frowned: “Ning Wang is not a good person. Your father is an upright official. I’m afraid Ning Wang might use you and have ulterior motives toward our family!”

“And your marriage…”

Meeting Jiang Jin’s gaze, Lady Shen suddenly found herself unable to continue.

She turned away, looking at the screen in the distance, and said helplessly, “In short, from now on, you should avoid contact with anyone from Prince Ning’s Mansion!”

“If you need anything, just send someone to tell me. The household will never short you of anything.”

Then, as if remembering something, she added:

“As for the senior maid missing from your courtyard, I’m also selecting one for you. Someone will be assigned within the next few days!”

Jiang Jin chuckled softly, “Mother, you overestimate your daughter.”

“Besides, if Ning Wang wants to do something, what ability do I have to deal with him?”

“Then feign illness!” Lady Shen said firmly, turning to grasp Jiang Jin’s hand and patting it gently. “You are my own daughter. You must believe that Mother would never harm you!”

When Jiang Jin heard those last words, her expression suddenly changed.

The smile faded from her face as she said calmly, “Mother, your daughter understands.”

Seeing her so sensible, Lady Shen felt greatly relieved.

She smiled gently, reaching out to tuck the stray hairs at Jiang Jin’s forehead behind her ear, and said softly, “That’s good. Mother always knew that my Jin’er is the most sensible.”

“Mother, there is one more thing your daughter would like to discuss with you.” Jiang Jin spoke slowly.

“What is it?”

“I would like to ask you for a maid!” Jiang Jin took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to Lady Shen.

Lady Shen took it and glanced at it casually.

It was just an ordinary handkerchief, made of common fabric, unlike what Jiang Jin usually used.

Frowning, Lady Shen was about to ask when Jiang Jin explained: “This handkerchief belongs to a young maid. The material is nothing special, but the embroidery on it is an unusual double-sided stitch.”

“Your daughter liked it and took it from her. I wanted to have one made, so I asked the embroidery workshop in the household. They all said only one person could do it.”

“But… this person was previously taken by Second Brother.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Shen instinctively wanted to refuse.

Yet Jiang Jin looked up again, her clear, beautiful eyes now gazing at her with childlike adoration, making Lady Shen’s heart tighten, almost wishing to agree immediately.