Chapter 12: Cousin

The Pingyuan Marquis Manor was not far from the Jiang family, and the carriage took about half an hour to arrive after a brief delay in the bustling streets.

However, despite the short distance, Shen Tang had only managed to visit the Jiang family once in a year.

Thus, when the gatekeeper saw the Pingyuan Marquis Manor’s carriage, he was momentarily stunned, thinking he might be seeing things. It wasn’t until the carriage stopped at the Jiang family’s entrance and he saw Shen Tang’s familiar face that he burst into excitement, shouting, “Quick, hurry and inform the Old Madam that our cousin has arrived!”

Such an urgent call made Shen Tang’s eyes glisten with emotion.

Even the servants of the Jiang family knew how much her grandparents longed for her visits.

Because her elder brother had gone missing during the Lantern Festival alongside their uncle and cousin, the Old Madam had blamed the Jiang family for inadequate care and harbored resentment. The mother was heartbroken over the brother’s disappearance, which led to a miscarriage, and yet no one believed that she had given birth to twins, insisting instead that the mother had gone mad from grief. After the mother’s death, the Pingyuan Marquis Manor and the Jiang family had almost completely cut off communications.

Normally, the Old Madam wouldn’t allow her to visit the Jiang family, only relenting during her grandparents’ birthdays. Last year, her grandfather had hosted a grand birthday banquet, but on the day before, Shen Tang had inexplicably woken up with a stomachache, preventing her from attending.

The Old Madam wouldn’t openly deny her access to the Jiang family but would subtly block her. Second Madam was narrow-minded and vengeful; surely, she had sought to make things difficult for the Jiang family.

The mother had sought to retrieve the younger brother who had been switched at birth and had been determined to avenge him by attempting to harm Shen Juan, who was Second Madam’s own daughter. How could Second Madam not hold a grudge against her mother and seek revenge against the Jiang family?

Shen Tang had managed to visit the Jiang family only once a year, while Shen Juan hadn’t set foot in the Jiang family for fifteen years. She probably didn’t even know which direction the Jiang family’s gate faced.

However, the Jiang family treated her and Shen Juan equally; whatever Shen Tang had, Shen Juan would have as well.

Although Shen Juan never visited the Jiang family, she accepted every gift sent by them.

No one believed her mother had given birth to twins, not the Pingyuan Marquis Manor, nor the Jiang family. The more her mother insisted, the guiltier the Jiang family felt.

Upon stepping down from the carriage, Shen Tang walked toward the Jiang family, where every servant present looked at her with disbelief.

After all, the person who hadn’t even come to celebrate her grandfather’s birthday was now here, and everyone knew she had been injured and had fainted outside Pine Crane Hall just days ago. How could she have possibly come to the Jiang family?

Shen Tang was not familiar with the route to the Jiang family, having rarely visited, so she had to rely on the maid to lead her.

The maid guided Shen Tang through the second gate, heading toward the Cuibai Courtyard where the Old Madam resided.

Halfway there, Shen Tang spotted two lovely figures rushing toward her; they were her two cousins.

Shen Tang was quite familiar with them. Although she seldom visited the Jiang family, she had attended many banquets held by noble families in the capital. She had met her cousins at various gatherings and exchanged pleasantries.

Upon seeing Shen Tang, Second Jiang exclaimed, “The maid reported that our cousin has arrived! I didn’t dare believe it until I saw you!”

Shen Tang asked, “How is Grandmother?”

Second Jiang replied, “Grandmother was heartbroken when she heard that you injured yourself to avoid marrying Prince Jingyang’s son. She has cried for two days. Now that she knows you’re here, she is so happy that tears of joy have come to her eyes.”

Shen Tang was aware that her grandmother cared for her.

Every time she visited, her grandmother would embrace her tightly and not let go for a long time.

“I will go to pay my respects to Grandmother now,” Shen Tang said.

As she lifted her foot to head toward the Cuibai Courtyard, Second Jiang grabbed her sleeve. “Wait! You can’t go yet.”

Shen Tang looked at Second Jiang. “Is someone visiting?”

Second Jiang giggled, “It seems that soon, our elder sister will be getting married.”

Jiang Li’s face flushed as she pretended to swat Second Jiang.

The two sisters were playfully bantering, but Shen Tang felt as if a cloud had settled over her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.

Shen Tang asked, “Is it the wife of the Earl of Yongning who has come to propose marriage?”

Second Jiang nodded. “The Earl of Yongning’s wife is here to ask for a marriage for Young Master Li.”

As she spoke, Second Jiang found it odd.

Just a moment ago, her cousin seemed unaware that guests were visiting. How did she guess it was the Earl of Yongning’s wife?

Shen Tang clenched her sleeves tightly. “I need to see Grandmother.”

She turned to leave.

Why had she come to the Jiang family despite her injuries?

It was for her cousin Jiang Li’s marriage!

In her previous life, when she married Xie Guimo for the auspicious ceremony, he woke up that same night, causing quite a stir in the capital. Everyone said the auspicious ceremony worked, which led many families with sick members to consider using it as a means to recover.

The Earl of Yongning’s family was one of them.

The Earl of Yongning’s son had fallen ill with a serious lung disease and was bedridden, having never married or made any betrothals. Shen Juan’s engagement to Prince Jingyang’s son had been arranged six months ago, and she was afraid of becoming a widow. How could she be willing to marry now, knowing that the Earl of Yongning’s son was sick?

The Earl of Yongning’s wife, desperate for her son’s recovery, was willing to resort to trickery.

Under the guise of seeking a marriage for her legitimate second son, Young Master Li, the Earl of Yongning’s wife had come. The Earl’s son likely wouldn’t live long, and in her previous life, he had passed away less than two months after marrying. The title fell on Young Master Li.

When the Earl of Yongning’s wife came to propose for Young Master Li, how could the Jiang family possibly refuse? They gladly accept.

However, on the wedding day, it was discovered that the Earl of Yongning heir and Young Master Li were marrying on the same day. Jiang Li was sent to the Earl of Yongning heir’s bridal chamber, while the girl who was supposed to marry the Earl of Yongning ended up with Young Master Li instead.

The Earl’s family claimed it was a mistake made by their servants, and they offered apologies, but the matter was set in stone, and they could only go along with it.

Unfortunately, this error ruined Jiang Li’s life.

The Earl of Yongning’s son passed away less than a month after the wedding, and Jiang Li found herself a widow without having even consummated the marriage. Later, when the Jiang family encountered misfortunes, she fell ill and took her own life with a white silk scarf.

In her previous life, Shen Tang had always felt guilty, believing that her marriage to Xie Guimo had caused Jiang Li’s misfortune. This time, she hoped that by not marrying, such a fate wouldn’t befall Jiang Li.

But now, she feared that regardless of her intentions, the Earl of Yongning’s wife would still set her sights on Jiang Li!

The Earl of Yongning’s wife had a daughter of her own, and Shen Tang wondered if she could bring herself to marry her daughter to a man who wouldn’t live long.

The Earl of Yongning’s wife wanted to bring good luck to her son, but was afraid that it would not work, so she did not dare to let anyone take her position as the wife of the Earl of Yongning’s heir. So she chose the Jiang family, which had a clean family background and no support in the court.

As Shen Tang’s mind filled with anger, her steps quickened, and Ginkgo hurried to keep up.

Jiang Li and Second Jiang exchanged glances, unsure why Shen Tang was so eager to see the Old Madam, and quickly followed her.