What happened in the North Court soon spread to the West Court.
Hu Xiayun directly threw the freshly brewed hot tea onto the ground. The scalding tea splashed onto Qiuyi, who was kneeling on the ground. Qiuyi could not control herself for a moment and let out a scream. After she came to her senses, she kowtowed, trembling all over: "Have mercy, Madam. This servant did not mean it."
Hu Xiayun watched Qiuyi's series of reactions coldly. The jealousy and hatred in her heart seemed about to burn her whole body, and for a long time she could not calm down.
"You really saw Third Master hand Jiang Yanzhi a piece of jade?" Hu Xiayun asked again uncertainly. "Are you sure you did not see wrong?"
Qiuyi's eyes held tears. "This servant did not see wrong. Third Master indeed gave Young Master Yanzhi that piece of jade."
Hu Xiayun suddenly clenched the armrest of the chair, gritted her teeth, and said, word by word, "Third Master has never given Qi'er a piece of jade."
Qiuyi endured the pain of the burns on both legs and forced out a smile, echoing, "Third Master also did not know what had come over
What nonsense. But I guess this is just Third Master putting on a show; it cannot be taken seriously."
Hu Xiayun stood up somewhat irritably. She took two steps, her face full of frustration. "Nonsense! What do you know? That piece of jade of Third Master's was brought back from the Imperial City by the Old Madam's order. Never mind anything else—the meaning behind it alone…"
Before she could finish, Hu Xiayun stopped speaking, her face covered in gloom.
Third Master Jiang had given Jiang Yanzhi a piece of jade, but he had never given one to her Qi'er. How could such special treatment possibly let Hu Xiayun feel at ease?
Qiuyi tactfully got up from the ground and quietly left the room.
The Old Madam, who had already gone to bed early, only learned of this the next day. When she learned what Third Master Jiang had done, she immediately sent a servant to call Third Master Jiang back while he was still handling affairs at the government office.
Early in the morning, Third Master Jiang was hurriedly called back by the Old Madam. He thought it was some urgent matter, and without even taking off his official robes, he went straight into the West Courtyard.
The Old Madam sat on a low couch, wrapped in a soft quilt. She lowered her eyes and said nothing for a long while.
Third Master Jiang, who had been ignored by the Old Madam all this time, finally came to his senses and ventured, "Mother, are you angry about what your son did last night?"
Only then did the Old Madam lift her eyes and sweep a lukewarm glance over Third Master Jiang. Her eyes were full of reproach, but even more of helplessness. "What you did last night—do you not know in your heart?"
Third Master Jiang rubbed his temple awkwardly and said, "Mother, this is the second time I have seen Yanzhi. Last time I saw him, he was still in swaddling clothes. As his third uncle, I had never given him anything."
"I know you do not want to give outsiders a chance to gossip," the Old Madam said, growing even angrier at the mention of this. "But in this life, it is impossible to do everything flawlessly. Moreover, why did you have to give that piece of jade, of all things?"
Third Master Jiang gave a helpless smile and resignedly listened to the Old Madam's nagging.
The Old Madam nattered on: "That piece of jade was specially brought back from the Imperial City by my order, and I invited an eminent monk to consecrate it. It was meant to ensure your future official career would be smooth. Tell me, why give it to a little child who understands nothing?"
Third Master Jiang laughed carelessly. "The thing has already been given away, so let us not bring it up again."
The Old Madam gave a snort of laughter, seemingly mocking Third Master Jiang's naivety. Third Master Jiang was a man, and a scholar devoted solely to reading the books of sages; how could he understand the rights and wrongs among the women in the inner quarters?
Sure enough, Third Master Jiang did not think he had done anything wrong.
"You only gave something to Jiang Yanzhi, but not to Qi'er. My youngest, how do you think this makes Xiayun feel?" The Old Madam lowered her eyes and said no more.
Third Master Jiang thought the Old Madam was worrying too much. Hu Xiayun lacked no money, so how could she possibly mind a piece of jade? He said, "Qi'er has not lacked jade these years, so Elder Sister-in-law probably will not mind. Mother is worrying too much."
The Old Madam waved her hand, not wanting to argue with her foolish son. She said, "Since that jade has been given, it is given. But my youngest, remember this: from now on, no matter what you have, you must give it to Qi'er first. There is no need to pay much attention to anyone else."
Third Master Jiang pressed his lips together. Because of matters from the previous generation, his mother had never liked Jiang Linzhi. He had not thought much of it before, but now he felt his mother had gone too far.
Even if Jiang Linzhi's mother had done outrageous things, that was all in the past. It should not drag down Jiang Linzhi, and still less Jiang Yanzhi.
But Third Master Jiang did not speak up to persuade the Old Madam. After a while, he said, "Very well, your son will remember."
Only then did the Old Madam show a satisfied smile. "After some time, I will give another piece of jade to the eminent monk to consecrate, and also have him calculate your marriage fate."
Third Master Jiang was startled for a moment, then nodded with his expression as usual.
After this matter was discussed, the mother and son chatted casually about some other things. Before long, however, the Old Madam grew sleepy, so Third Master Jiang had no choice but to rise and leave.
East Courtyard.
Pei Cheng must have caught a chill last night, because when he got up this morning, his head ached and his body felt unwell, but he did not take it seriously. Sanxi came over carrying a plate of pastries just taken from the pot, still steaming. He set it on the desk in front of Pei Cheng, who was reading, and said softly, "The cook has just steamed these pastries and sent them over. Would Madam like to try some?"
Pei Cheng's hand, just about to turn the page, paused. He looked at Sanxi and said, "These pastries were sent over specially as soon as they came out of the pot?"
Sanxi immediately understood and hurriedly added, "Yes. This servant just asked the servant who delivered the pastries. He said the Second Master gave orders early this morning that from now on the cook will specially deliver freshly steamed sweet cakes to the courtyard every day."
Pei Cheng pressed his lips together and for a long while could not speak. By the time he came back to himself, Sanxi had already tactfully gone to stand by the door.
The sweet cakes placed before him were still giving off steam.
Pei Cheng stared at the sweet cakes for a while, then reached out, picked one up, and put it into his mouth while it was still hot.
A sweet, rich taste immediately filled his mouth. Pei Cheng unconsciously narrowed his eyes, his face full of enjoyment.
Perhaps because he had rarely been able to eat sweets as a child, or perhaps because his days had been too bitter, in any case Pei Cheng loved sweets; the sweeter, the better.
After eating three in a row, Pei Cheng could not eat any more. He looked at the plate before him and pressed his lips together. Thinking of Jiang Yanzhi in the neighboring courtyard still learning characters with Jiang Linzhi, he stood up and walked toward the courtyard gate.
Sanxi, who had just been about to follow Pei Cheng, was called back. Pei Cheng said, "Have the cook send a plate of sweet cakes and a plate of savory cakes to the Second Master's courtyard."
Pei Cheng could still tell that Jiang Linzhi did not like sweet cakes.
Sanxi answered, and after watching Pei Cheng leave, he curled his lip and ran quickly toward the kitchen. Pei Cheng stood at the doorway and raised a hand to stop Donglai, who was about to go in and announce him, saying softly, "I have come to take a look. Do not disturb the Second Master."
Donglai did not hesitate in the slightest and nodded at once. Ever since he had been called by the Second Master early this morning and instructed to have the kitchen specially steam sweet cakes for Pei Cheng, he had not dared show Pei Cheng any improper attitude.
Pei Cheng stood at the door, listening to the sounds coming from inside.
Jiang Linzhi held a book, read a passage, and after briefly explaining its meaning, his gaze swept toward the doorway. The corners of his mouth pressed downward as he said, "Write the characters I just taught you."
Jiang Yanzhi did not touch the pen shaft before him. He placed both hands on the desk and looked up at Jiang Linzhi with a serious expression.
Jiang Linzhi frowned and said, "Why are you not writing?"
His patience with Jiang Yanzhi was only because the child carried his blood. If not for that, he would absolutely not waste his time teaching a little child who understood nothing—even if this little child was very sensible and would not cause trouble.
But Jiang Linzhi still did not have much fondness for Jiang Yanzhi.
Jiang Yanzhi stiffened for an instant. Jiang Linzhi had no fondness for him, and he felt no differently toward Jiang Linzhi.
When Jiang Linzhi grew impatient, Jiang Yanzhi finally said softly, "Father, how do you write Daddy's name?"
The implication was that he did not want to learn the few characters Jiang Linzhi had taught him today, but instead wanted to write Pei Cheng's name.
How could Jiang Linzhi fail to hear the meaning in Jiang Yanzhi's words? He narrowed his eyes, a flicker of deep thought passing through them, and then walked over to Jiang Yanzhi, picked up the pen, and wrote two characters with swift strokes.
People say handwriting reflects the person, but Jiang Linzhi's writing was different from the impression he gave others. His strokes were vigorous and powerful, not at all like those of someone long afflicted by illness.
Jiang Yanzhi held the pen and, imitating Jiang Linzhi's characters in a rather convincing manner, wrote on the paper. What he wrote was Pei Cheng's name.
Pei Cheng had listened for a long while without hearing anything in particular. He was just about to turn and leave when he heard Sanxi, who had followed behind him, say, "Madam, the sweet cakes and savory cakes are both steamed."
Pei Cheng: "…"
With a click, Jiang Linzhi stood at the doorway. His expressionless face somehow made Pei Cheng feel that Jiang Linzhi was very happy right now.
Sanxi held the tray. Compared with Pei Cheng, he feared the moody Jiang Linzhi even more. Sanxi bowed respectfully, the tray in his hands very steady, and said, "Second Master."
Jiang Linzhi glanced at the several people, and finally his gaze settled on Pei Cheng. He said, "Why are you not coming in?"
Pei Cheng awkwardly touched his nose. From beginning to end, he had never intended to come in, but since Jiang Linzhi had spoken, he could not embarrass Jiang Linzhi in front of everyone. So he went along with him and said, "Mm. I came to see you two."
Jiang Yanzhi, sitting behind the desk, brightened. He could not help looking toward the doorway; he had heard Pei Cheng's voice. Sanxi placed the plates containing the savory cakes and sweet cakes on the table inside the room. He said "Greetings, Young Master Yanzhi," then bent at the waist and quietly withdrew.
Pei Cheng walked over to Jiang Yanzhi on his own. Before he could speak, he saw two characters on the paper, written in bold, flamboyant strokes, and immediately froze in place, unable to react for quite a while.
Jiang Yanzhi thought he was angry. Uneasy, he put down the pen and waited dejectedly for Pei Cheng to scold him.
Pei Cheng did not scold him.
Jiang Linzhi, standing to the side, took in every bit of the complicated expression on Pei Cheng's face, then silently picked up a piece of savory cake and put it in his mouth.
The next second, Jiang Linzhi's brows furrowed. He quickened his chewing and swallowed rapidly.
He did not like sweet cakes, and he did not like savory cakes either.
He had thought that after so many years, his tastes might have changed with time, but now it seemed that certain dislikes engraved in the bones would not change with time at all.
