Chapter 3: No One Worried About Her, It Was All Wishful Thinking

As soon as Jiang Lingyao was about to voice her grievances, Song Lianer cut in first, sounding wounded. “It’s all my fault. I broke my younger sister’s things and made her unhappy. Sister, breaking your hairpin was my mistake. I know you like Xie... so later I’ll give you the hairpin Brother Xie gave me as compensation. Will you forgive me?”

Jiang Lingyao curled her lips faintly. Looking at this all too familiar scene, she suddenly lost the will to argue.

When Pei Xingzhi heard the words “Brother Xie,” his expression turned cold at once. “No need to give it to her! Jiang Lingyao, how old are you, and you’re still throwing little fits?”

“You owe Lianer so much. You should repay her sooner or later.”

Jiang Lingyao only felt a chill seep through her entire body. Meeting his gaze and seeing the utter stillness in his eyes, she tightened her sleeve.

When Song Lianer saw the tenderness he showed Jiang Lingyao, her face changed, and she looked toward Jiang Xiuyuan as if seeking rescue.

Jiang Xiuyuan frowned. “Brother Pei, your timing is perfect. I have something to say. Jiang Lingyao is willful, selfish, and vicious. If the marriage goes through, I fear the Jiang and Pei families will become enemies.

“Lianer, however, is obedient and sensible, pure and kind-hearted. Today I will make the decision for all of us and ask whether you would be willing to marry Lianer as a secondary wife as well.

“As long as you agree, Lianer will be married out with the full bearing of a legitimate daughter of the duke’s household. As compensation, Jiang Lingyao’s dowry will go to her too. What do you think?”

Her dowry too, to Song Lianer?!

Jiang Lingyao already understood Jiang Xiuyuan’s bias, but hearing it with her own ears still made her vision go black.

She was cold and starving, and the wound on her knee hurt as though it had been severed with a blade. She could not speak.

So when she was being tormented in the monastery, her own family had been planning to hand over the marriage that should have been hers to Song Lianer.

No wonder Jiang Xiuyuan had rushed to the dining hall just now. He had been hurrying there to discuss this with their mother.

Jiang Lingyao finally understood. Panic welled up in her chest, and she tugged at the corners of her mouth with forced calm, finding her former self somewhat laughable.

Seeing that Pei Xingzhi did not respond, Jiang Xiuyuan immediately added, “In truth, Lianer is magnanimous and proper, kind and gentle. Such character is what truly suits a mistress of the household.”

There was a hint of regret in his tone, as though it were a pity that Song Lianer could only be a secondary wife, while Jiang Lingyao could be the principal one.

Pei Xingzhi gave a sardonic laugh, his meaning unclear. “Indeed, Lianer has a fine and benevolent character. A woman like that is fit to be the mistress of the marquis’s household.”

Though he was speaking of Song Lianer, his gaze was fixed on Jiang Lingyao. Seeing that she still had no reaction, his face grew colder.

Rage churned in Pei Xingzhi’s eyes. He no longer paid attention to Song Lianer’s attempts to speak, not even having the patience to remain any longer. He said coldly to Jiang Lingyao, “I have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”

After Pei Xingzhi left, Jiang Lingyao trembled so hard her stomach turned sour, and she could no longer even feel the pain in her body.

All she could think was how ridiculous this was. She lifted her eyes to this farce and suddenly said, “Big brother, Mother, today is my birthday too.”

Jiang Xiuyuan and Madam Jiang froze, their expressions shifting almost at once.

“We’ll make it up to you.”

Jiang Xiuyuan was annoyed that Jiang Lingyao had brought it up in front of Pei Xingzhi. He felt she was deliberately rebuking him for his neglect in front of an outsider, and his tone grew even colder. “Why must you compare everything with Lianer?”

At that, Song Lianer immediately burst into tears, interrupting the two of them. “Why? Why does everything I like have to be stolen by my younger sister? Today is my birthday, and you still want to drive Brother Pei away too.”

The next moment, Song Lianer fainted, and before she fell, she shot Jiang Lingyao a contemptuous glance.

Jiang Xiuyuan panicked at once. He scooped her up and said in alarm and fury, “Someone, go fetch the imperial physician at once!”

“Someone, lock Jiang Lingyao up! She starts bullying Lianer the moment she comes home. If anything happens to her, you won’t get off easy either!”

The group hurried away in a flurry, and Jiang Lingyao was left forgotten in place.

Suddenly, she burst into tears, but no tears came. Her face looked wild, almost deranged.

Were these her family?

She could only be glad now that she had finally resolved to leave. If she stayed in the manor, what kind of ruin would she be worn down into in the future?

The maid did not dare approach. Only after Jiang Lingyao had calmed down did she say softly from a short distance away, “Sixth Miss, this servant will take you back.”

After much hesitation, she stepped forward, struggling to help Jiang Lingyao up and escorting her back to Bright Pearl Courtyard.

“Sixth Miss, First Young Master has ordered you to remain in the courtyard. This servant can only bring you this far.”

With a creak, the door shut. Jiang Lingyao collapsed in the room, her throat suddenly itching so violently that she coughed until her heart seemed to split.

Then, all at once, a mouthful of blood came up. Her vision went black, but she forced herself to stay awake.

She did not know how long passed before the door was kicked open.

“Jiang Lingyao! The moment you came back, you made Lianer fall ill with anger. Do you have no shame?!”

Two boys who looked exactly alike hauled her upright, their faces full only of anger.

It was Jiang Xiushu and Jiang Xiumo, her third and fourth brothers.

“Apologize to Lianer, now!”

They brutally dragged her all the way to Song Lianer’s bedside. Jiang Lingyao bit hard into the hand beside her.

Jiang Xiumo gasped in pain and loosened his grip, letting her go. “Jiang Lingyao, have you lost your mind?”

But the room was bright, and when they looked down and saw Jiang Lingyao’s pallor and the blood staining her collar, the disgust on their faces stiffened. They immediately panicked and hurried to help her to the table to sit down.