Chapter 8: Secretly Loving Me

“Jie mei really is a beauty.” Mrs. Qiao looked at Jiang Rong with a slight appraisal before smiling and praising:

“Grandmother used to introduce suitors to the heir, but he wasn’t fond of any. I was curious what kind of celestial being could make the heir proactively seek marriage. Now that I’ve seen Jie mei, my doubts are cleared.”

Mrs. Qiao deliberately flattered her, her eyes glinting with a meaningful glance toward Chen Caiwei beside her.

As a clever person, she naturally wouldn’t be the one to step forward first.

The Grand Dowager Empress cared deeply for Chen Caiwei; she once wanted to match her with Xie Lingxi. But Xie Lingxi refused.

None of this was known to outsiders.

And Mrs. Qiao’s words just kicked the hornet’s nest in Chen Caiwei’s heart.

“Big Sister-in-law’s praise is too much.” Jiang Rong cooperated, her delicate face showing a touch of shyness:

“You all are beautiful women…”

“Oh, no, it’s not as good as you.” Mrs. Qiao pretended to modestly downplay herself, but also admitted that her younger sisters weren’t as charming as her.

This made Chen Caiwei itch with anger.

Mrs. Qiao was a master of words, and she shifted the topic to others, exuding the air of a senior wife. The atmosphere in the room immediately turned harmonious.

After tea, the third cup had been served.

The Grand Dowager Empress looked at everyone and said:

“Now that Brother Xi is getting married, our Xie family finally has a proper heir’s wife. Starting today, I will no longer manage affairs; all the estate’s assets will be handed over to Rong’er.”

Since the death of the original wife, the Beiwang Residence had been run by the Grand Dowager Empress, assisted by two concubines.

Li’s concubine was usually a mouthpiece for Zhao’s concubine, and since the Grand Dowager Empress was aging and less involved, real power had fallen into Zhao’s concubine’s hands.

“Mother! Absolutely not!” Zhao’s concubine was anxious but maintained a worried expression: “The heir’s wife has never managed household affairs, nor is she familiar with the accounts. Our vast estate, suddenly handed over to her — what if something goes wrong? Wouldn’t she become the scapegoat for our family?”

Zhao’s concubine was very perceptive and could see that the Grand Dowager Empress liked her granddaughter-in-law. Her words sounded like they were for Jiang Rong’s benefit.

Hearing this, the Grand Dowager Empress hesitated.

“Zhao Fei’s words make sense.” Jiang Rong calmly took over the conversation, looking at the Grand Dowager Empress:

“The granddaughter-in-law has never looked at the accounts, and I worry about risking the family’s assets. Why not let her first handle her dowry to get some practice… I won’t hide from grandmother, when I was at home, everything was managed by my second aunt. The granddaughter-in-law truly has no experience and dares not take on such responsibilities.”

The Grand Dowager Empress was increasingly pleased. This girl was truly a treasure.

Such a responsible and honest girl—if someone else had such an opportunity, who knew what lies they might tell to seize power.

“Good, I agree with you.” The Grand Dowager Empress smiled and nodded.

Zhao’s concubine sighed in relief.

Only YiXia, standing nearby, felt terrified. The dowry of the second young lady was all in the hands of the second Madam…

How could the second young lady manage? Could she possibly snatch her dowry from the second Madam?

The Grand Dowager Empress had her guests finish breakfast and then dismissed everyone.

The courtyard of Beiwang Residence was large. Jiang Rong and Xie Lingxi returned together to their residence—Jin Yu Yuan.

They strolled along winding garden paths.

At Xie Lingxi’s usual walking speed, he quickly left Jiang Rong behind.

“Husband, wait for me—” Jiang Rong gently grasped the corner of Xie Lingxi’s sleeve, tilting her little face to look at him obediently:

“Husband, our home is too big. I don’t know the way. I’ll follow you back.”

Xie Lingxi looked back at her with a cold expression. “Servant girl knows the way.”

Besides YiXia, there were four maids from Jin Yu Yuan accompanying her.

Despite this, his steps slowed noticeably, accommodating her pace.

Jiang Rong’s eyes curved slightly; she pretended to ask the maid to lead the way, but then he slowed down to wait for her.

Secretly loving me, huh? You’ve caught me now, huh! Hmph!

They returned to Jin Yu Yuan.

The head maid, Feicui, immediately came forward with a steaming bowl of medicinal soup, handing it to Jiang Rong:

“Young Madam, this is the tonic prepared by the heir for you—”

Xie Lingxi looked at Jiang Rong, waiting for her to question or doubt. If she asked, he would tell her about the poison from the Huangquan Lotus.

But she wouldn’t believe him anyway.

In her previous life, Jiang Rong did ask, but she didn’t believe him. She later fell and broke the second pill he painstakingly prepared a month later…

He had never said how precious each medicinal herb was, casually handing it to her as if nothing.

She had never appreciated it before.

Tears welled up in Jiang Rong’s eyes unconsciously…

“Don’t want to drink? Why are you crying?” Xie Lingxi raised his sharp eyebrows slightly.

For the first time, he realized a little girl could cry so much, with red-rimmed eyes from time to time.

He truly had no way to deal with this little crybaby.

“I don’t not want to drink.” Jiang Rong looked up at him, her eyes still bright red like a rabbit. She shook her small hand, waving his sleeve:

“It’s just… because it’s bitter…”

She made up an excuse to cover herself.

She took the medicinal soup handed by Feicui and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing her increasingly red eyes, Xie Lingxi wondered how bitter the Tian Shan Snow Lotus must be to make her tears almost fall.

“Thank you, Husband, for your concern.” The girl, tears still in her eyes, finished the soup and expressed her gratitude to him.

Xie Lingxi was silent for a moment, then turned and went to Mo Yan Zhai.

“Young Master, the dried preserved crabapples from the Sun family on Shifang Street have been bought!” Jing Zhe burst in like a whirlwind, holding a small bag of snacks and handing it to Xie Lingxi.

Xie Lingxi barely glanced at it and said lightly, “Send it to her.”

Who is she?

Jing Zhe was momentarily confused.

But Xiao Nanxing reacted quickly and praised, “Heard that the Tian Shan Snow Lotus was so bitter that the future Young Madam almost cried. Our Young Master is really considerate!”

“Since I asked her to take the medicine, and it’s so bitter, I should compensate her,” Xie Lingxi said slowly.

Xiao Nanxing was momentarily tangled in his logic.

Wait, wait—our Young Master, we’ve already given her the precious Tian Shan Snow Lotus Bai. What else is there to compensate? What did she do wrong?

Then he realized—oh, the Young Madam is the Young Master’s beloved.

Then it’s fine.

Yes, she should be compensated. Sorry for making up reasons to fool me—talking about how the King of Tongue-Twisters spoils his wife, right?