Chapter 29: Do You Understand?

Jiang Jin ate slowly and leisurely, showing no urgency at all.

Furong watched from the side and did not urge her either.

After all, since the lady had treated her own daughter that way earlier, and having grown up with her young mistress since childhood, she naturally would not stand on the opposite side.

Thus, the more composed things were at Qinghe Courtyard, the more anxious Lady Shen became at Xuesong Studio.

She asked Nanny Lin, “Are you sure you delivered the message clearly? Why hasn’t she come yet?”

Nanny Lin nodded firmly and said, “The message was delivered clearly. Furong was present at the time, so she couldn’t have missed it.”

Lady Shen frowned. Nanny Lin wouldn’t lie to her, so there was only one possibility—Jin’er was deliberately stalling!

Could it be that she was still holding a grudge over what happened earlier?

Lady Shen thought to herself as she raised her hand.

It was with this right hand that she had slapped her own daughter!

Although she knew Jin’er was not at fault, under those circumstances, she had no choice.

She… had no other way!

Moreover, Jin’er shouldn’t have said those things at the time.

No matter how much resentment she felt, she shouldn’t have voiced it in front of outsiders.

Besides, the betrothal gifts from Yong’an Marquis Mansion had already been delivered. If she didn’t handle this matter properly, word would spread that she had failed to teach her daughter properly, that the Jiang family’s daughter lacked upbringing.

She couldn’t ruin the entire family’s reputation for the sake of one daughter!

Seeing Lady Shen’s distress, Nanny Lin quickly tried to comfort her: “Madam, don’t worry. Third Young Lady might already be on her way.”

“What happened this morning, you had no choice but to do it. Third Young Lady is still young and can’t fully understand your well-intentioned efforts just yet.”

She poured tea for Lady Shen and handed it to her before continuing, “There’s no lasting resentment between mother and daughter. When Third Young Lady arrives later, this old servant will try to reason with her a bit more. She’ll come to understand your intentions!”

“Later, please don’t be angry with Third Young Lady either. After all… from what this old servant saw, the Second Lady of Yong’an Marquis Household also lacks tact. Even though you tried so hard to maintain appearances, she didn’t know how to say anything to comfort Third Young Lady.”

Lady Shen took the teacup and sipped slowly.

“If she had any tact, that would truly be strange! I’ve heard that Lady Yong’an openly and secretly suppresses the second branch. The Second Lady probably came unwillingly.”

“Otherwise, when County Princess Rongjia told her to leave, she wouldn’t have left so decisively, without even a hint of curiosity.”

Speaking of County Princess Rongjia, Lady Shen suddenly felt a headache coming on.

She had initially thought the County Princess had come to offer congratulations, but who would have thought… she was actually here to deliver a message from the Empress Dowager.

However, County Princess Rongjia spoke ambiguously, only mentioning that the marriage should proceed, yet also adding, “I find Third Young Lady quite remarkable, and she shares some connection with the Empress Dowager. Regarding her marriage, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has other instructions.”

Unable to decipher the Empress Dowager’s intentions, Lady Shen could only summon Jiang Jin to inquire further.

Seeing Lady Shen’s frown deepen, Nanny Lin hurriedly said, “Madam, please don’t worry. Since County Princess Rongjia said the marriage will proceed, perhaps… Her Majesty the Empress Dowager simply wishes to add to our Third Young Lady’s dowry.”

“Our Third Young Lady is also blessed with good fortune. Didn’t she save Ning Wang not long ago? Now that Ning Wang is injured, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager might also wish to pray for his recovery and accumulate more goodwill.”

Listening to this, Lady Shen found it somewhat reasonable.

After all, she didn’t believe that a single visit to the palace by Jiang Jin could truly win the Empress Dowager’s favor.

Even if it were truly obtained, rewards should have been bestowed at that time.

Moreover, a single favorable glance would hardly be enough to make the Empress Dowager genuinely consider arranging a marriage.

What’s more, today the Yong’an Marquis Mansion has already come to deliver the betrothal gifts.

This matter is already set in stone—how could it possibly change so easily!

When Jiang Jin arrived at Xuesong Studio, Lady Shen had already refilled her teacup three or four times.

Upon the maid’s announcement, she hurriedly set the teacup down.

Jiang Jin entered the main hall and obediently paid her respects to Lady Shen.

“Mother.”

Yet her eyes were calm and unruffled, showing neither joy nor anger, much less resentment or hatred.

It was as if… that slap earlier had truly never happened.

But precisely because of this, the ointment on her face constantly reminded Lady Shen that she had indeed slapped her!

Lady Shen looked at Jiang Jin and asked, “Did you have a good lunch?”

Jiang Jin nodded. “Yes, the food from the main kitchen was as usual.”

She left the rest unsaid.

But for once, Lady Shen surprisingly understood. She furrowed her brows—Jiang Jin was clearly expressing her discontent.

Under normal circumstances, she would have simply thought the main kitchen’s food was truly unpalatable. But now, she could only interpret it as Jiang Jin’s complaint, rather than an issue with the main kitchen.

Lady Shen cleared her throat softly. “Next time, if there’s something specific you’d like to eat, instruct the main kitchen in advance to prepare it.”

Jiang Jin nodded. “I understand, Mother.”

There was no use saying anything more; why trouble herself unnecessarily?

Jiang Jin suppressed her emotions and looked at Lady Shen. “What did Mother summon me here to discuss?”

Lady Shen replied, “There is something I wish to ask you.”

“Please go ahead, Mother,” Jiang Jin said calmly. “I will answer truthfully.”

Lady Shen was somewhat surprised. She had expected to expend some effort in persuasion, but she hadn’t anticipated it would go so smoothly.

Yet this was fitting—after all, Jiang Jin was her most obedient and sensible daughter.

Perhaps the Jiang Jin who had confronted her earlier was merely an exception.

“Do you know what County Princess Rongjia said to me after you left?”

“No, I don’t. I had never met County Princess Rongjia before. Earlier, when she defended me… it was only out of pity for me.”

Lady Shen paused for a moment, once again recalling the slap she had given Jiang Jin earlier.

Although Jiang Jin hadn’t said a word about it, for some reason, Lady Shen felt as if every sentence Jiang Jin spoke was pointing to that incident.

Lady Shen sighed helplessly. “What happened earlier, Mother did for your own good.”

Fearing that Jiang Jin might not understand her intentions, she patiently explained in detail: “You must understand that the Yong’an Marquis Mansion has already delivered the betrothal gifts, and everyone outside knows that our family is forming another marriage alliance with them.”

“If this marriage were to suddenly encounter problems, it would harm the reputations of both families.”

“Moreover, the person who came today was the Second Lady of the Yong’an Marquis Household. She is not the head mistress of the marquis estate and certainly cannot make decisions. If you continue to cause difficulties, you might end up with an unfavorable reputation.”

“For a woman in this world, reputation is of utmost importance!”

As she spoke, Lady Shen suddenly took Jiang Jin’s hand and clasped it tightly.

“And Jin’er, you will also become the head mistress of a household in the future. You should understand that within a family, all of us share in both glory and disgrace.”

“If this marriage encounters any mishap, it won’t just affect you—it will also impact your younger brothers and sisters. Even more so… it will affect your cousins who are far away in Jingzhou.”

“This world has always been unfair to women. Even if you are completely in the right, what does it matter? The Yong’an Marquis Mansion is not short of potential brides. If we do not proceed with this marriage, there are still plenty of noble young ladies who would be willing to become the successor wife.”

“But you, Jin’er, are different. If this engagement is broken off, it will be difficult for you to find a more suitable match for at least a year or two.”

“Do you now understand Mother’s approach?”