Chapter Five: Even the Imperial Physicians Are Helpless, Yet My Brothers...

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Upon hearing this, Jiang Lingyao’s expression changed the moment she saw Wen Qiu’s gaunt face. Before she was locked away in the temple, her one and only request to Jiang Xiuyuan had been to take good care of Wen Qiu. Yet, he had failed.

"Miss!" Wen Qiu looked up as if suddenly awakened, her voice breaking as she trembled, reaching out to touch Jiang Lingyao’s face. "How did you end up like this?"

Before Jiang Lingyao could speak, Wen Lu urged, "Sixth Miss, the servant you requested has arrived. Please hurry to start the soup."

"I’ll go! I’ll go make it!" Wen Qiu hurried toward the small kitchen in the courtyard. "How could the Miss do such a thing?"

"The Miss is the noble daughter of the Marquis’s household, not some cook for you to order around!"

Wen Qiu shot a glare, but Jiang Lingyao gently patted the back of her hand, her tone soothing.

What was there to argue about? Now, she was in a worse state than the cooks in the manor. At least the cooks were well fed and clothed, without the fear of being bullied by their masters.

Hearing this, Wen Lu frowned and thought silently that Jiang Lingyao seemed like a different person now. His tone grew firmer, "Sixth Miss, you just agreed to this."

Jiang Lingyao glanced at him, took the ingredients from his hands, and said, "Alright, I’ll make it. Let her assist."

Wen Lu let out a relieved smile. "Then this servant will wait right outside."

Once inside the small kitchen, Jiang Lingyao skillfully lit the fire and fetched water, leaving Wen Qiu stunned.

Her face immediately turned pale as she stepped forward to pull Jiang Lingyao aside. "When did you learn to do these things? Let me handle it; you just watch."

She felt tears welling up just thinking about how much her Miss must have suffered to become so thin over the past year.

Jiang Lingyao, who had long gone without genuine care, felt a sharp ache in her nose and warmth in her eyes. "Brother speaks sharply, but he knows what’s right."

Even Wen Qiu, who served her, could see how much she had endured, yet those who called themselves family remained oblivious.

With a sigh, Jiang Lingyao fell silent.

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Wen Qiu, still crying, pulled her away firmly. "Servant... servant will make the fire, you just wait here for the soup."

She dared not ask what Miss had gone through that year.

Jiang Lingyao had only stood a moment before her knees began to tremble. She asked softly, "Wen Qiu, during the year I was gone, when did Song Lian’er take a liking to Pei Xingzhi?"

Wen Qiu’s hand shook. "On your birthday, Young Master Pei had just returned from Jiangnan. Unaware of your situation, he came to the manor looking for you and happened to meet Song Lian’er."

Her birthday?

Jiang Lingyao fell silent, her hands trembling.

So on the day she was tormented even more fiercely for receiving birthday gifts, Song Lian’er had already set her sights on her fiancé.

No wonder Pei Xingzhi had told her not to bully Song Lian’er just yesterday when she pitied her.

She paused, recalling that Pei Xingzhi had promised to visit her in the temple. Unable to resist, she asked,

"Then why didn’t he come to see me?"

Hearing this, Wen Qiu burst into tears, choking out, "It was the eldest young master. He said you had made a mistake and that since you would be the future mistress of the Marquis’s household, you needed to be taught a lesson. He forbade the Duke of Pei from visiting you."

So that was it.

A cold certainty grew in Jiang Lingyao’s heart. She had been cruelly bullied, desperately hoping Pei Xingzhi’s arrival would make them ease off.

But now she saw his promises were empty. She was alone and pitiful, clinging to him as a last straw, only to be shattered.

After handing the soup to Wen Lu waiting at the door, she finally exhaled.

Wen Lu bit his lip, his expression slightly uneasy. "Fifth Miss, the master wants you to personally deliver the soup."

Jiang Lingyao gave a wry smile and said, "I won’t go."

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She did not want to see him.

Besides, she had recently been tormented so severely that her old injuries flared up. If the imperial physician hadn’t taken pity and left her some medicine before she left, she might not even be able to stand now.

Did Jiang Xiuyuan not know she was injured?

Jiang Lingyao thought he must know, but he wanted to torment her because she had taken Song Lian’er’s fiancé.

"Fifth Miss!"

Wen Lu grew anxious, seeing she had no intention of going. He hurriedly hinted, "Miss Song hasn’t visited the master these past few days. If you go today, the master will surely be happy."

"You go. Since Miss Song hasn’t gone, the master will surely compare and recognize your kindness, won’t he?"

Jiang Lingyao glanced coldly at him and reached out to close the door.

Even the servants were hinting for him to compete with Song Lian’er for favor. Jiang Lingyao felt both ridiculous and tragic in hindsight, her heart numb.

"Hey!" Wen Lu quickly placed his hand against the door. "Sixth Miss, listen! I dare speak boldly—if you go, I’ll find you some medicine. Wen Qiu is badly injured, and you’re under house arrest, so it’s inconvenient to go out. You can’t let these injuries linger."

Jiang Lingyao’s gaze darkened sharply. Wen Qiu gritted her teeth and stood protectively before her. "No, thank you. I’m just a lowly servant; Sixth Miss needn’t worry about me. This small injury will heal in a few days."

"I’ll take the soup to Sixth Miss!" Wen Qiu’s eyes were red with anger. "Wen Lu, you shamelessly threatened Sixth Miss using me. How bold you are! Who is the real master here?"

"Oh, servant would never dare threaten Sixth Miss."