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Shen Peirong’s expression was strange—what Xiao Wei said echoed exactly what her father had warned her about in last night’s dream.
Could it really be that Xiao Yan emptied her own room and tried to frame Xiao Wei?
She found it hard to accept that her “perfect” eldest daughter could do something so ridiculous.
No… it had to be a coincidence.
In the dream, her father mentioned that Jiang Dahai would use the opportunity to bring up giving out gold—but he hadn’t done so…
“Alright, let’s stop speculating and hurting the bond between you sisters. In this chaotic world, lost items can always be replaced. Madam, I’ve been busy with work lately and don’t have the time—please help the eldest girl replace her belongings.”
Shen Peirong’s heart sank. It was exactly as in the dream.
Still unwilling to give up, she asked, “What about the silver we’ll have to spend?”
“What do you mean by that?” Jiang Dahai suddenly snapped. “Xiao Yan is your own daughter. She’s always been the most filial to you, and now that she needs a few new things, you’re unwilling to help?
Or… is it because the second girl is back, and you’ve started to look down on the eldest?”
“Father, don’t blame Mother,” Jiang Yan interrupted, weak and pitiful. “It’s my body that failed me. If I had a choice, I would have rather been the one to absorb the nutrients in the womb. That way, I’d have been sent to the countryside, and Sister wouldn’t have been separated from you and Mother for so many years. Cough, cough, cough…” She coughed out a glob of black, sticky goo.
Jiang Wei discreetly glanced at it—it was the very mud she had scraped off and hidden last night.
Disgusting.
“Don’t overthink it.” Shen Peirong hurried to comfort her. “You are most important in my heart. Don’t be upset over a few missing things—I’ll get you new ones right away.”
After speaking, she remembered her younger daughter was also present. To appear fair, she added, “Xiao Wei, since you’ll be marrying into the Gu family soon, we should also prepare some suitable clothes for you.”
“Thank you, Mother. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
The clothes Jiang Wei was wearing now were the patched-up rags Jiang Yan had “enthusiastically” given her when she first returned to the Jiang household.
The Jiang family was wealthy—even the maids wouldn’t wear clothes with patches, let alone the most favored eldest daughter.
Anyone with eyes could see that Jiang Yan had deliberately sewn patches onto the clothes to humiliate the original Jiang Wei.
But their foolish parents couldn’t see it. All they saw was their precious daughter who absorbed their fortune, always telling the original Jiang Wei to be understanding of her sister’s difficulties.
The original Jiang Wei was too naive. She had been bullied for so long that even Jiang Yan’s crumbs felt like grace, and for those crumbs, she had done many things that harmed the Gu family.
Jiang Wei agreed to the marriage for three reasons:
“You’re also my daughter. When you marry, I’ll prepare five gold bars as your dowry.”
Jiang Wei’s gentle, well-behaved manner made Shen Peirong feel ashamed. She decided to make up for the lack of love with money.
Five bars? That was two more than in the dream.
Not bad—progress.
Jiang Wei smiled sweetly. She wanted it all.
Jiang Yan hadn’t expected Shen Peirong to promise five gold bars to Jiang Wei. With false kindness, she grabbed Jiang Wei’s hand. “Sister, I’ve just been robbed and have nothing to give you, but I’ve already given you my fiancé.
Also, I used to worry Gu Ting would dislike your looks and refuse the marriage, but now that you’ve become prettier, I can finally relax.”
Gu Ting was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. If it weren’t for learning in advance that the Gu family would soon fall from power, she wouldn’t have given him up so easily.
Jiang Wei blushed. “It’s all thanks to the chicken soup from Third Concubine. That’s what made me so pretty.”
Jiang Yan’s expression twisted for a moment.
That chicken soup had been her idea—she had told Third Concubine to give it to Jiang Wei.
So, Jiang Wei’s newfound beauty was because of her?! Damn it! She tried to harm her, but instead helped her!
“But…” Jiang Wei smiled shyly. “Compared to Sister, I’m just not ugly. It’s Sister’s face, which resembles Second Concubine, that is truly beautiful and enchanting—no wonder Father favors you.”
Instantly, Jiang Dahai, Shen Peirong, Chen Xiaolian, and Jiang Yan all had different expressions, their faces turning colorful.
Third Concubine Chen Yiyi nearly burst out laughing at their expressions, like they had eaten dung.
Watching them suffer for the first time, she felt a surge of hope.
Perhaps… this Second Miss from the countryside was the lucky star that could free her from her fate.
Shen Peirong frowned. Everyone in the household knew that while the Master respected her as the first wife, his true affection lay with the Second Madam, his childhood sweetheart.
She had always believed the reason Jiang Dahai doted on Xiao Yan was because of her own favor toward her.
But now, her younger daughter’s words had made her realize—Jiang Dahai liked Xiao Yan because she looked just like the younger version of the Second Concubine.
Shen Peirong was furious.
Jiang Yan noticed and hurriedly changed the subject. “Mother, sorry to trouble you over my matters.
I had the kitchen prepare pig brain soup, which is good for your health. You and Father should drink it to nourish yourselves. I’ll stay with Sister and convince her to wait patiently for her marriage.”
The Second Concubine, not wanting trouble to land on her, followed along, “Yes, Madam, you and the Master have been busy all day—you should rest.
Just look how thoughtful the eldest miss is. She knew you weren’t feeling well and specially told the kitchen to make soup for you. Not like my foolish son, who only knows how to play with mud and marbles.”
“My daughter is certainly better than your son,” Shen Peirong responded coldly, now finding her more and more displeasing.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Second Concubine said obediently. He wasn’t her real son anyway. Shen Peirong could scold him however she wanted—the harsher the better.
Jiang Wei saw through Second Concubine’s thoughts and sneered, “Mother, look how much Second Aunt likes Sister. Just to flatter her, she even called Big Brother a dumb fool. What kind of mother insults her own son?”
“No real mother would be that stupid.” Shen Peirong’s voice turned cold. She, as a woman, deeply understood how much sons meant. When she lost the ability to have more children due to complications with Jiang Wei, she had no choice but to send the second girl to the countryside.
If she had a son of her own, she’d die for him—no mother would despise her own child. Unless… Yun He isn’t actually Second Concubine’s son.
Now was the time—Jiang Wei added fuel to the fire. “Mother, weren’t you and Second Aunt in labor on the same day? Could it be… that someone took advantage of your unconsciousness and switched Sister and Brother?”
“I don’t know…” Shen Peirong tried to remember. “When I gave birth to you, I fell into a coma due to complications. When I woke up, both you and your sister were already beside me.”
The seed of suspicion had already taken root in Shen Peirong’s heart. Once they found the midwife from that year, the truth would come out.
“You’re spouting nonsense!” Jiang Dahai suddenly exploded and lunged forward to hit her. “I’ll beat the nonsense out of you, you wicked girl!”
“Father, why are you panicking?” Jiang Wei stepped back, calm and unafraid. “No matter whose child Big Brother is, he’s still your son. Instead of letting him stay as a concubine’s child in Second Branch, why not register him under Mother’s name as a legitimate son?
That would benefit everyone. So why are you and Second Aunt so against the idea?”