Chapter 10

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“How did we get off topic?” Jiang Ruohua chuckled. “Not wanting me to marry well is just part of the reason. Setting aside his character and our unhappy past, Prince Ying is one of the most likely candidates to become the crown prince.”

Seeing the two maids fuming, Jiang Ruohua felt a bit helpless. She understood their anger; she herself hated Prince Ying. If the Third Lady’s manipulations caused him to despise her, then her father’s and grandfather’s deaths and the tragic fate of the child, who called her mother and was strangled by his own father, were all Prince Ying’s doing. Even though she had considered it might just be a dream, too many things were coming true, and she had no choice but to believe it!

Despite all this, she had to stay calm and consider everything rationally, not letting emotions cloud her judgment.

“He still doesn’t deserve you, Miss,” Hua Chan said angrily.

“You might not care about his face, but others do,” Jiang Ruohua sipped some tea, feeling more composed. “When I get married, my mother’s dowry will be added to what the Duke’s Mansion prepares for me. Moreover, as my aunt, the Third Lady must also contribute in the name of the Third House. This isn’t a small amount, and not a single item can be missing. Otherwise, entering the royal family with an incomplete dowry would disgrace the Duke’s Mansion.”

“The Third Lady raised me to be submissive, while grooming her own daughter to be poised and composed. She even hired a governess from the palace to teach her etiquette. She’s waiting for Prince Ying to despise me completely, so her daughter, who is the polar opposite of me, can take my place as the princess and potentially the empress, taking everything that was meant for me.”

This revelation made the two maids shiver. Yin Qiu hesitated before saying, “No wonder the Third Lady is so concerned about your marriage…”

The Third House held no significant official positions. Only because they hadn’t split from the Duke’s Mansion was Jiang Ruoting considered a legitimate lady of the house. Compared to Jiang Ruohua, the daughter of a general with military power, Jiang Ruoting was nothing. The Third House’s plan was to eliminate her grandfather and father, then push Jiang Ruoting to become empress. They would inherit the Duke’s Mansion, gain the emperor’s favor, and elevate their status.

Behind the shiny exterior, they were drinking the blood and stepping on the corpses of the Jiang family. They were heartless, cruel wolves!

“Keep this to yourselves,” Jiang Ruohua instructed, seeing their outrage. She didn’t want their voices to be overheard by other maids in the courtyard.

Hua Chan lowered her voice, “The Third House is despicable, and it’s unfair to you, Miss.”

“Why be upset?” Jiang Ruohua smiled at her. “Now that we’ve discovered their plans, I’ll make sure they repay everything they’ve taken from me.”

She stopped chatting and focused on copying the scriptures. With a few days left, she had to speed up. At her current pace, she would finish by tomorrow afternoon.

Sure enough, the next day, news spread that Concubine Yuan was pregnant. She was nearly four months along. Jiang Ruohua prepared some nutritious food for pregnant women and, along with Hua Chan and Yin Qiu, went to the east courtyard where the Third House resided.

As they walked, servants praised the Third Lady’s kindness and generosity. Hearing of Concubine Yuan’s pregnancy, she had been more concerned than if she herself were pregnant, providing care and medicine. Which household had such a virtuous mistress as the Third Lady?

“How ironic,” Yin Qiu muttered. “Everyone thinks she’s perfect.”

“No one is perfect,” Jiang Ruohua sighed. “Being too perfect is suspicious.”

They went straight to Concubine Yuan’s small courtyard, which was now bustling. Other concubines from the Third House and several young ladies from the mansion were present.

Before entering, Jiang Ruohua rubbed ginger on her eyes to make it look like she had been crying, even reddening her nose a bit. When she entered, she forced a slightly awkward smile. “I came as soon as I heard. I didn’t expect Aunt and the others to be here already. I’m late.”

“Hua’er is here,” the Third Lady said with a smile, reaching out to Jiang Ruohua. “Now that you’re here, I’m relieved. I was just thinking of visiting you later. Concubine Yuan is pregnant, and soon you’ll have another sibling!”

“Really?” Jiang Ruohua feigned surprise. “That’s wonderful! After visiting Grandfather yesterday, I ran into Concubine Yuan’s maid, who said she was unwell, so I brought a doctor. I didn’t realize she was pregnant. Congratulations!”

“You visited your grandfather?” The Third Lady asked casually.

“Yes,” Jiang Ruohua nodded, but her smile faded slightly. “Perhaps I was too abrupt. I didn’t stay long…”

Implying that the Duke was displeased.

“Father’s illness makes him irritable,” the Third Lady sighed. “Don’t take it to heart. He used to dote on you when you were little.”

“I remember, Aunt,” Jiang Ruohua nodded. “You were the one most worried when I lost the engagement. If only I had heeded your advice back then.”

“Silly child.”

The Third Lady stroked her head gently. “We’re family. There’s no need to be so formal. Look at you, crying again last night. Don’t worry; Aunt will think of something.”

“You’re so good to me, Aunt!” Jiang Ruohua said, snuggling into her embrace. The Third Lady, outwardly, was indeed kinder to her than her own daughter. Even Jiang Ruoting never acted so affectionately with her mother.

She sat by the bed, maintaining the appearance of a close-knit family. “But I’m not a child anymore. I feel bad making you worry about my marriage. Tell me what I can do to help. After all, I’m a daughter of the Jiang family. I can’t let you bear all the burdens alone.”

Her words were meant to make the Third Lady seem like a real mother. The Third Lady had been suspicious since the engagement was called off. She had investigated but found nothing unusual. She knew Jiang Ruohua had visited the Duke yesterday, but nothing seemed amiss.

Perhaps she was just overthinking because of the annulment.

“With Hua’er being so considerate, I’m very pleased,” the Third Lady said, not wanting Jiang Ruohua involved in household affairs. With her natural cleverness, she would quickly notice if something was wrong.

Jiang Ruohua felt a pang of grievance. “Aunt, you’re lying. You have dark circles under your eyes. You must be exhausted, worrying about me and Concubine Yuan. You’ve always taught me to be helpful. Isn’t this the time to put that into practice?”