Chapter 22: She is nothing but a snob; she only has eyes for the eldest brother.
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Jiang Lingyao was almost laughing from sheer exasperation. She raised a hand to rub her brow, her voice edged with anger. “What, is Song Lian’er made of gold? Does everyone in this world have to like her?”
Utterly unreasonable.
She had cried herself to exhaustion that day and did not wish to waste any more words on them. Turning, she walked away.
She sneered inwardly. Jiang Xiushu and Jiang Xiumo had been nowhere to be seen these past few days, yet the only two times they had shown themselves were to stand up for Song Lian’er. What fine “brothers” they were.
“Jiang Lingyao!”
Jiang Xiushu strode forward and seized her sleeve. A tearing pain shot through the injury on Jiang Lingyao’s arm, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Without hesitation, she flung his hand away and took a step back.
He stared at her, then flushed with fury. “You actually find me repulsive?”
Jiang Lingyao unconsciously clenched her hand. Under his furious glare, she lifted her eyes and said coldly, “You pulled on the wound in my arm.”
At that, Jiang Xiushu’s expression changed. Flustered and helpless, he hurriedly said, “I… Mingzhu, Third Brother didn’t mean to. I didn’t know you were hurt. Where were you injured? Who dared hurt you? Tell me, and Third Brother will deal with him!”
Jiang Lingyao merely regarded him with a cool, distant gaze.
She looked at him as though he were a stranger.
Jiang Xiushu grew anxious. Eager to cover up the awkward incident and afraid that she would leave again, he rolled his eyes around until they landed on the osmanthus tree. He quickly said, “Mingzhu, I didn’t mean to pull you just now. I only wanted to tell you that although you weren’t at the estate last year, Xiumo and I followed our usual custom and picked the osmanthus blossoms from the tree and dried them. We’ll have them sent over to you later.”
Jiang Lingyao looked up instinctively. Summer was about to arrive, yet this year the osmanthus tree had grown poorly. Its leaves were withered and sparse, its branches gaunt and bare. Since neither Grandmother nor she had been at the estate, no one had tended to it.
She and the twins were close in age, and they had always loved taking her up the tree to play.
In the past, the three of them had adored this tree. Around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Xiumo would climb up first and shake the branches in his arms, sending the osmanthus blossoms raining down, while Jiang Lingyao caught them below with Jiang Xiushu.
She could not help wondering whether, as she laughed beneath the tree in those days, she had ever imagined that one day she and her Third and Fourth Brothers would stand opposed beneath it.
The stinging pain in her palm brought Jiang Lingyao back to herself. She tugged at the corner of her mouth.
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“Third Brother, the osmanthus blossoms you and Fourth Brother sent to me—I’ll take them to little sister right away.”
Song Lian’er wiped her tears with her sleeve, looking aggrieved. “If there’s anything of mine that little sister likes, she only has to take it.”
Jiang Lingyao almost laughed, but as she looked at the withered osmanthus tree, bitterness spread from her heart into her mouth, choking back every word.
From the moment everyone began to show their displeasure toward her, she had struggled, reflected, and loathed herself. She could not understand how the family who had once treated her as a pearl could become so heartless. Had she done something wrong? Was she simply not good enough, and that was why they no longer liked her?
Again and again, she had tried her utmost to please them, only to exchange her efforts for torment at the temple.
She had never found an answer. She had never understood why they treated her that way.
But now she understood: it was not her fault.
Nor did she need an answer anymore. She no longer cared about them. Soon, she would leave this place and soar free.
When she came back to herself, the twins were, as always, flustered. They coaxed the tearful Song Lian’er, saying, “No, what was given to you is yours, so keep it properly. Jiang Lingyao owes you so much—how could she have the nerve to fight you for anything?”
Jiang Lingyao did not want to take part in their little performance. While the twins soothed Song Lian’er’s tears, she quietly slipped away.
When she returned to her quarters, Wen Qiu was pinching both her cheeks with her hands. Her cheeks were flushed, and she paced back and forth across the courtyard, viciously grinding fallen leaves beneath her shoes.
Jiang Lingyao was amused by her lively appearance. The coldness in her eyes eased somewhat, and she asked gently, “Who upset you?”
Wen Qiu quickly looked up, gathered her skirts, and ran over to stand before her. Rolling her eyes in anger, she said, “The Third and Fourth Young Masters have sent their assignments here again, expecting you to do them for them.”
No wonder Wen Qiu was so furious.
Jiang Lingyao nodded and waved her hand indifferently. “It’s fine. Send them back to wherever they came from.”
Wen Qiu froze for a moment, then hurried into the room, saying “Yes” as she ran. She was afraid Jiang Lingyao might change her mind and spend another sleepless night doing the two men’s work.
The assignments had piled up into a huge stack. Wen Qiu carried them in her arms, nearly blocking her view, and Jiang Lingyao could not help reminding her, “There are too many. Put some down first. Be careful—you can’t see where you’re going, and you might fall.”
Wen Qiu hurriedly shook her head. “No, I can’t! What if you change your mind, miss? They’re far too much. This whole stack is so heavy, and every time you spend several days exhausted over their work. After all that, you don’t even get a word of thanks from them!”
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“This time, let them stay up all night themselves. I hope they fail to finish and get thoroughly scolded by their tutor!”
Hearing Wen Qiu defend her, Jiang Lingyao felt a warmth in her heart. She curved her lips into a smile, then sighed once the smile faded.
How much had she done in the past to win the favor of everyone in the duke’s household?
Even Wen Qiu, who served at her side, could no longer bear to watch. Did those people truly feel nothing at all?
…
By the time the twins came to their senses, Jiang Lingyao was already gone.
Song Lian’er pressed her lips together. “Is little sister angry? She actually slipped away without a word.”
Jiang Xiushu’s face darkened. “Hmph. Jiang Lingyao was spoiled rotten. After one trip to the temple, she’s even learned to throw her displeasure in people’s faces!”
Jiang Xiumo said nothing, but his gaze remained fixed on Jiang Lingyao’s quarters, dark and heavy as water.
“A few days ago, little sister even sent Eldest Brother a lung-soothing soup, yet today she refuses to speak with you two. Lian’er truly…”
The twins turned toward her in unison. Song Lian’er covered her mouth, her expression troubled. “Lian’er didn’t mean to say it aloud, but little sister is being so unfair. I feel sorry for Third and Fourth Brothers! If you two were my own brothers, you would certainly be the ones I loved most.”
“Bang!”
Jiang Xiushu clenched his fist and slammed it against the osmanthus tree. His expression vicious, he snarled, “What right does she have to look down on us? In what way are we inferior to Eldest Brother? If I were the eldest legitimate son of the duke’s household, then…”
Jiang Xiumo frowned and said sternly, “Third Brother, watch your tongue!”
“I’ll say it if I want to! Why does Jiang Lingyao treat Eldest Brother better? Is it only because he’s the eldest legitimate son and can inherit the title? The older she gets, the more snobbish she becomes. She isn’t half as sensible as Lian’er.”
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