Chapter 9: Between Siblings

After waking up from a nap, the first thing Jiang Yuan did was to prop herself up and look around the round table in the room.

Sure enough, she saw several packages wrapped in lotus leaves and tied with hemp thread, containing some common snacks from the market. A smile slowly crept onto her face.

Chunying helped her up and joyfully said, "I knew it, Miss. As soon as you wake up, you must be looking for the snacks that Second Master brought back." She pointed to the unopened pastries and described each one to her. "These were sent by Fushun from Kuanzhai Alley. This is the osmanthus cake from Tongji. And here are the chrysanthemum-scented tea leaves that you love, and the tofu rolls that you've been craving for a long time."

"At least Second Brother is considerate." Jiang Yuan was helped by Lv Fu to freshen up, and she didn't even wait for Cui Mama to arrange the porcelain plates. She reached out and grabbed a piece of tofu roll from the opened lotus leaves, and started eating without hesitation.

"You only remember Second Master's kindness at this time. Don't be too eager to see him and end up arguing with him again." Chunying handed her a handkerchief and watched her clean her hands. Cui Mama was very familiar with the situation when her own daughter met Second Master.

The two siblings were both born of the same mother, and they had a very close relationship. If they didn't see each other for a few days, they would miss each other. But when they did meet, they would clash at every turn. It was rare that when it came to serious matters, Second Master would give her a stern look, and Seventh Miss would have to obediently listen to him. This situation was truly amusing.

"Don't be mad at him. I'm going to find Second Brother to talk to him!" With the help of Chunying, Jiang Yuan went to Second Master's study in the Jiang residence.

Before entering the courtyard, they heard the laughter of Fifth Miss coming from inside, calling out "Second Brother" softly and gently.

"Miss, Fifth Miss is also here." Chunying frowned, showing a hint of helplessness in her eyes. Why did Fifth Miss always rush ahead of her own Miss, instead of sitting in the main courtyard, and instead cling to Second Master as soon as he returned home, without even giving him a moment to catch his breath?

"Since Fifth Sister is here, I suppose she must have dragged Big Brother over." Understanding the situation, Jiang Yuan had someone announce her arrival and was already accustomed to Fifth Miss's behavior.

The siblings were very close, and their harmonious relationship was beneficial to Jiang Yu's prospects of entering officialdom, which pleased their father. Therefore, Jiang Yuan was happy to maintain this relationship.

"Seventh Sister is here." Fourteen-year-old Jiang Nan had well-defined features and a broad forehead, which was said to resemble the late Lady Ji.

She had a kind and honest nature, and she was still talking to Jiang Rou when she turned to look at Jiang Yuan upon hearing the announcement.

"It's been a few days, and Big Brother looks very spirited." When they were alone, the siblings were quite casual with each other. Jiang Yuan sat down on a stool next to Jiang Yu and looked at the young man next to her. She leaned in and gestured, feeling deflated.

"Second Brother has grown taller again." Even sitting down, it was obvious.

Although he was only a year older than her, she had to stand on tiptoe just to reach his nose.

Glancing at her, he had someone bring a plate of melon seeds and pushed it in front of her. "It's different from you, who just lazes around in the garden."

Jiang Yu's slightly thin face had clear and bright eyes, and his long, slender eyebrows slanted into his temples. At first glance, he exuded a sharpness and a scholarly elegance. Even when teasing her, he remained calm and composed.

With a light chuckle, Jiang Rou covered her mouth and stared at Jiang Yuan's round and plump face, which was truly fair and tender, exuding a youthful innocence. It was no wonder that Jiang Yu teased her in this way.

Unhappy, Jiang Yuan picked up a melon seed and put it in her mouth, responding lightly, "Second Brother's face is even fairer." Knowing that he detested being called a "fair-faced scholar," she deliberately challenged him with her words.

Jiang Yuan had always longed for an affectionate elder brother, but ever since Jiang Yu learned to speak, he had never fulfilled her wish!

When they were young, this rascal would drag her around, causing her soft body to stumble and fall as her legs were not yet agile enough to keep up with him.

As they grew older, Jiang Yu took it upon himself to "take care" of her in everything. He even fed her with a spoon, making a mess of her face. The little girl was so upset that she couldn't even cry out with her mouth full of rice.

When Jiang Yu started his studies, his temperament changed drastically, becoming extremely active and then extremely calm, making it difficult for Jiang Yuan to adapt, and she suffered greatly.

Every afternoon, Jiang Yuan had to sit obediently in the small study room of the Si Fang Zhai, holding a scroll of "Ji Xian Ji" that was larger than her face. She would read one, and he would write one. If she made a mistake, Second Master Jiang Yu would be very displeased and would snort through his nose.

During that time, Jiang Yuan shed many bitter tears. The majority of the texts in the Great Zhou Dynasty were in small seal script, followed by cursive script. At the age of four and a half, Jiang Yu found it difficult to learn, and it was hard for her, who was just weaned, to accompany Second Master in his diligent study. What was even more annoying was that he complained that she was holding back his progress!

Having such an elder brother, Jiang Yuan found it difficult to only argue with him verbally.

What pained her the most was that in the eyes of others, they were naturally compatible as siblings. The county magistrate and Madam Xu were pleased to see this, and they praised Jiang Yuan for being able to keep up with Jiang Yu, who was still a half-grown boy, and encouraged Jiang Yu, allowing him to understand the heavy burden on his shoulders.

Growing up in such a loving atmosphere, Jiang Yu became increasingly strict, and Jiang Yuan understood better than anyone else what it meant to have an "elder brother as a father"!

In recent years, Jiang Yu had accumulated a great deal of authority, and Jiang Yuan rarely opposed him on serious matters. The only way she could save face was with her verbal skills, where she was not inferior to him.

As the two locked eyes and silently competed with each other, Jiang Nan, with a smile, poured hot tea for everyone and brought up a topic that interested everyone. "Do you know the identity of the distinguished guest our residence is inviting tomorrow, Seventh Sister?"

"The madam didn't say," she picked up the teacup and took a sip, then leaned in with a smile and asked Jiang Yu, "Does Second Brother know about it?"

Jiang Yu reached out and took the tea lid from her fingertips, and scolded her in the usual manner, "Have you learned nothing about manners?" It wasn't until he saw her obediently straighten up and sit properly that he pondered for a moment and told her the truth.

"The visitor has some connections with the mansion. However, their social status is unattainably high."

Jiang Nan had intended to start a conversation and join in the fun with his siblings, but he hadn't expected Jiang Yu to take it seriously.

Jiang Yuan also hadn't expected that her casual question would elicit a serious response from Jiang Yu. It seemed that her father was eager to have the two of them talk.

As for this matter, Jiang Yuan felt helpless. Even though she was favored by the county governor, she couldn't surpass the ancestral rule of "women should not be involved in external affairs." Therefore, whenever there were important matters in the mansion, the county governor would only inform the legitimate eldest son and the second son in person. The several young ladies in the mansion, including Madam Xu, were only responsible for living a peaceful and stable life.

"Who is the visitor? Why did they say they have some connection with the mansion?" Before Jiang Yuan could speak, Jiang Rou couldn't contain her curiosity and looked at Jiang Nan.

Unlike the Seventh Miss, who was praised by everyone in the mansion, Jiang Rou knew from the first day she addressed Madam Xu as "Madam Xu" that she was no longer the legitimate daughter who couldn't be replaced from the second wife's chamber.

Her mother passed away early, and she lost her birth mother before she was a year old. If it weren't for the maid Zhang Mama, who had stayed by Jiang Nan's side, occasionally mentioning the kindness of the former madam, she might have been raised by Madam Xu and forgotten her birth mother's kindness.

Before Zhang Mama was sent to the countryside, she lay alone in bed, holding Jiang Rou's hand. The forty-year-old woman had wrinkles all over her face and gray hair. Her eyes were swollen, and she repeatedly warned Jiang Rou to be cautious of Madam Xu and to plan for the master and herself.

Jiang Rou remembered in her heart that she valued everything that could help her in the future and was unwilling to miss any opportunity.