Chapter Six: Jiang Lingyao, You're Bullying Lian'er Again!

Wen Lu sighed, ignoring Wen Xiu’s anger as he looked at Jiang Lingyao. “What do you think?”

Jiang Lingyao gave a half-smile and patted Wen Xiu’s shoulder, signaling her to step back. “Bring me the soup.”

Wen Lu immediately smiled, but Jiang Lingyao continued, “I want a double portion of the medicine. If you dare to skimp on it or I find it unsatisfactory, I will definitely tell Jiang Xiuyuan that you, a servant, threatened me with Wen Qiu’s name. That’s disrespecting your master.”

Cold sweat broke out on Wen Lu’s forehead as he hurriedly nodded.

How had the Sixth Miss changed so much?

In just a year, the once gentle and cheerful Sixth Miss had become so cold and unapproachable.

Wen Lu’s heart trembled secretly as he hurried with Jiang Lingyao toward Jiang Xiuyuan’s residence.

“Sixth Miss, Master will be back soon. Please wait in the study.”

After the recent incident, Wen Lu’s attitude toward Jiang Lingyao was noticeably more respectful. He was probably the first in the Jiang household to sense the change in her. Now, he only regretted taking this task today.

Jiang Lingyao’s expression was cold as she nodded and walked toward the study.

She hadn’t set foot in the study for a long time. As she pushed open the door, she paused, smelling the scent of lotus flowers. Her long-silent heart suddenly trembled.

It turned out that she had loved osmanthus most of all. After Jiang Xiuyuan learned this, he had people prepare osmanthus sachets every year and changed them daily. The fragrance of osmanthus, enduring and unfading, blended with the scent of books, becoming an old memory of her studying calligraphy alongside her elder brother.

But in just one year, the osmanthus that had filled the study for more than ten years was replaced by the scent of lotus, just like Jiang Xiuyuan himself—no longer holding his sister in his heart.

Jiang Lingyao suddenly sneered at herself for being distressed by these old memories. She deliberately ignored the lotus fragrance, stepped inside the study, and sat down impatiently, waiting for Jiang Xiuyuan’s return.

Suddenly, the door opened.

“Jiang Lingyao?”

Song Lian’er’s face darkened briefly but then brightened as if surprised and approached. Seeing the porcelain jar in Jiang Lingyao’s hand, she smiled. “Sister, have you come to deliver soup to Brother?”

She blinked, her smile deepening. “Don’t you know? While you’ve been at the temple all this time, Brother has only been drinking the soup I make. He even says it tastes much better than yours. I’m here to deliver soup today as well, so it seems your trip was pointless.”

Jiang Lingyao withdrew her gaze indifferently, ignoring Song Lian’er’s provocation.

Song Lian’er immediately frowned and asked tentatively, “Hearing Brother say that, aren’t you upset?”

If Jiang Lingyao heard Brother say she wasn’t as good as her, she’d surely be heartbroken for a while, pitiful like a stray dog.

Song Lian’er raised her eyebrows. Though she had transmigrated into this world, she could easily manipulate everyone in the noble household and trample Jiang Lingyao, once the family’s precious pearl, underfoot. How could she not feel proud?

Thinking back, her smile deepened. Jiang Lingyao was still foolishly trying to please Jiang Xiuyuan, just as before—a truly dimwit.

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Song Lian’er sneered and violently smashed the soup jar in her hand onto the ground, shards scattering. She cried out, “Sister! Why are you stealing my soup?!”

The next moment, the footsteps outside grew heavy. Before Jiang Xiuyuan even entered, his furious voice rang out, “Jiang Lingyao, you’re bullying Lian’er again!”

Weary, Jiang Lingyao lowered her eyes, a deep sense of exhaustion settling in her heart.

Taking a deep breath, she didn’t want to argue further and said plainly, “Brother, this is the lung-nourishing soup I made. You’ll know after tasting it. I specially sought out this recipe, and the flavor is unique.”

Though she spoke calmly, a faint hope flickered in her heart. This soup held a special meaning for both of them, containing a cherished memory from their past.