Part 1: A Dream Within A Dream / Rebirth of Ill Fated Concubine

Chapter 036 Please (Begging in Silent)

"You came here today, not just to see me, your grandmother, but also for something else?" said Madam Jiang. 

Long before Jiang Ruan arrived, a maid had come to report what happened outside the gate of Yanhua Garden. Jiang Ruan proposed to ask her to solve the matter. 

Madam Jiang was also very surprised, and then she understood that since this eldest girl was not liked by Jiang Quan, and her stepmother was not a kind person, she thought that relying on her grandmother was the only way out. However, if she wanted to please her to help Nanny Zhou, she was unwilling.

Before Jiang Ruan opened her mouth, she heard a maid outside reporting: "Madam is here." Then, a crisp voice rang out: "Grandmother!"

Jiang Ruan did not look back, but saw a figure in white running by her side, climbing onto Madam Jiang's couch familiarly, and snuggling up to Madam Jiang like a cat, and said happily: "Grandma, look, I brought your favourite almond cake." After that, she put the small straw basket in his hand on the table like a treasure.

"Susu, look at what you are like. What if you disturb grandma?" Xia Yan's voice sounded from behind.

Jiang Susu curled her lips: "What does it matter? Grandma won't blame me."

"You are such a monkey." Old Madam Jiang scolded, but a smile appeared on her face: "If you don't know the rules like this, you will be laughed at when you get married in the future."

"What are you talking about, grandma?" Jiang Susu blushed, and turned her head as if she had just found Jiang Ruan, and said in surprise: "Big sister is here too."

Jiang Ruan nodded with a smile.

Jiang Susu looked at Old Madam Jiang, then at Jiang Ruan, and suddenly said: "Grandma, did you and Big Sister whisper something behind Susu's back? Susu also wants to listen, Big Sister, what did you do just now?" 

She blinked, her eyes as hazy as clouds and mist were lively and affectionate, her bright red tear mole was like a small flower, her posture was innocent, as if she was a fairy who fell into the world, making people feel pity.

Old Madam Jiang didn't say anything, but just cast a faint gaze at Jiang Ruan.

Cai Que glanced at Jiang Ruan with some concern. The room was bustling, but the young lady seemed to be alone. It was cold and quiet, with no one to help or talk to.

Xia Yan smiled: "Susu, don't talk nonsense, your elder sister..."

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Ruan sighed softly, her voice was soft and gentle, and she said slowly: "Susu is wrong, I came here today just to see my grandmother. Susu, you also know that I have been in the manor for six years, and I haven't seen my grandmother for six years." 
 
"The Buddhist scriptures emphasize perfection. I think the most perfect thing in the world is family reunion. I am not like you, Susu, who can enjoy such perfection all the time. For me, today's meeting is the most perfect moment in six years. My grandmother and I didn't say anything in private. I... just want to see my relatives."

The room was surprisingly quiet. Jiang Ruan stood there quietly, with a faint smile on her face, but her eyes seemed to reveal a layer of sadness. Compared with Jiang Susu's pitiful appearance, her silence made people want to explore more.

Xia Yan's smile had frozen on her face, and her hands in her sleeves were clenched into fists. Jiang Ruan's words seemed to be nothing, but she calmly accused Jiang Susu of being rude. Who could embarrass a girl who had just returned home and longed for family affection? 

Sure enough, she saw that Madam Jiang's eyes looked at Jiang Ruan softer. Before Jiang Susu could react, she heard Madam Jiang's unhappy voice: "Susu, your elder sister has just returned home. It is natural for her to come to see me, your grandmother. Don't make trouble." 

Jiang Susu was stunned for a moment. Although her words just now were deliberately directed at Jiang Ruan, she was also sure that Madam Jiang would not blame her. She had been well-behaved and sensible for so many years, and Madam Jiang loved her very much. Today was the first time she got angry with her. After all, she was still young, and Jiang Susu was reluctant to cover up. 

She smiled and said, "I'm sorry, elder sister, Susu didn't mean it. Please don't be angry, elder sister." 

"You and I are sisters, how can I be angry." Jiang Ruan replied gently. 

Madam Jiang was even more satisfied and said, "You two sisters should support each other more. The eldest girl did a good job today." 

Xia Yan smiled and walked forward: "Ruan Niang is naturally a good person, but Ruan Niang, I heard that Lin Lang made you angry today, apparently because of a servant, and the old lady had to make the decision. What's going on?" 

Jiang Susu still stayed beside Madam Jiang, but her posture was not as natural as when just entered the room. Madam Jiang also looked at her, obviously waiting for her to say something. Jiang Ruan then told the whole story outside Yanhuayuan. 

Her tone was steady, and she even repeated her conversation with Lin Lang word for word. There was no embellishment, which made people more convincing. After saying that, she looked at Madam Jiang: "Madam, when my mother passed away, I was bedridden. I only heard that Nanny Zhou had left the house, but I didn't expect to see it today. I think some bold maid said something wrong at that time. But I don't know, Nanny Zhou is my wet nurse, how could she end up like this now?"

Xia Yan sighed softly: "Ruan Niang, you are young, there are some things I don't want to tell you. In fact, when my sister passed away, Nanny Zhou didn't leave the house, but stole my sister's jewellery and prepared to leave. The Jiang Mansion can't tolerate servants with dirty hands and feet the most, and Nanny Zhou is your wet nurse. I was afraid that your illness would worsen due to sadness and disappointment, so I discussed with the master and punished Nanny Zhou first without telling you."

Xia Yan looked at her sincerely: "Now you know, mother apologizes to you here, but this servant really deserves to be punished. Even if you misunderstand me, I don't regret my decision at the time."

Cai Que and Du Juan both lowered their heads and listened silently. They had no right to speak here. They just thought to themselves. Madam's words were really watertight. After her speech, the young lady had nothing to say.

Jiang Ruan shook her head: "Although mother dealt with the servants of Meiqingyuan on her own and never told me for six years, it was all for my sake. How could I blame mother?"

Xia Yan looked unhappy, but she saw that Jiang Ruan's expression was more sincere than hers. It seemed that she didn't notice the sarcasm in her words at all, and she held her breath in her heart. 

Jiang Ruan said again: "But there is one thing I still don't understand, that is, the servants who stole the master's money and jewellery don't seem to be punished by gouging out their eyes and eating night incense. The Jiang family is also a family of scholars, how can they do such a bloody thing?"

"Gouging out eyes and eating night incense?" Old Madam Jiang frowned: "What's going on?" 

She is a Buddhist and has her own opinions on some things. She has always turned a blind eye to Xia Yan's methods. She knows that Xia Yan is not a good person, but she doesn't want this woman who usually speaks softly to treat an unarmed wet nurse so viciously. This has touched her bottom line.

Xia Yan's voice was still gentle: "It's not like that. It's because I thought that Nanny Zhou was Ruan Niang's wet nurse, so I couldn't bear to punish her too severely, so I sent her to the laundry room. But Nanny Zhou still had the habit of stealing in the laundry room, and she had a dispute with other servants in the laundry room, and someone gouged out her eyes. The laundry room couldn't tolerate her anymore, and she could only do the job of a night incense burner." 

(End of this chapter)

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