Chapter Six: Madam Jiang the Second was momentarily stunned, a wave of deep suspicion rising within her.

The Qiao family has Noble Consort Qiao, and the Hua family has Virtuous Consort Hua. If the Jiang family could also have a daughter make a name for herself in the palace, the family would surely rise to even greater heights!

Second Madam Jiang’s eyes flickered. No wonder her sister-in-law in the capital didn't want Jiang Nian to return. This little wretch was already competing with Jiang Yu for the status of the legitimate eldest daughter; if she were to enter the palace as a consort, she would surely be riding high above them all!

Lost in thought, she reached the small reception parlor and saw Nanny Zhou, who had come from the Wei family to deliver an invitation. Nanny Zhou was the trusted confidante of the Prefect’s wife, Meng Qing, and she bowed quite courteously upon seeing Second Madam Jiang.

Second Madam Jiang stepped forward to help her up, her face a mask of distress. "That girl has been unruly since she was small. I fear she must have caused the Prefect’s wife some trouble? I have already punished her severely. Is the Prefect’s wife quite alright?"

Nanny Zhou looked at her, somewhat surprised. Seeing the strange expression on the woman's face, Second Madam Jiang felt even more agitated. "The girl’s behavior is truly atrocious; no matter how I punish her, her temperament never improves!"

Nanny Zhou’s smile faltered. "Madam, what do you mean by that?"

Second Madam Jiang’s complaints were cut short, and her expression grew even more annoyed than before. "Could it be that she offended the Prefect’s wife in some other way?"

Nanny Zhou furrowed her brow. It seemed this Third Miss Jiang was not favored in her own home! She cleared her throat and said clearly, "Miss Jiang has superb skills and saved our mistress’s life. Our mistress has invited Miss Jiang to the residence for a visit."

Superb skills? Second Madam Jiang nearly laughed aloud. "She is just an ignorant girl—what could she possibly know about saving lives? She must have swindled the Prefect’s wife. I shall certainly teach her a harsh lesson!"

Nanny Zhou grew anxious. Was this woman incapable of understanding plain speech? "Second Madam! Our mistress is sincere in inviting Miss Jiang to be a guest at the residence. The carriage is waiting right outside..."

Second Madam Jiang was stunned, filled with deep suspicion. "In that case... Nanny, wait a moment. I will go and bring her out."

What on earth had that little wretch done to make the Prefect’s wife actually invite her over?

Second Madam Jiang marched straight to Jiang Nian’s living quarters. The moment she stepped inside, she barked coldly, "What kind of disaster have you caused to have the Wei family knocking at our door?"

Striking first was always Second Madam Jiang’s signature tactic.

Jiang Nian curled her lips into a cold sneer, pretending not to hear, and continued to calmly apply an egg to Qing’er’s face to soothe her skin.

Second Madam Jiang stepped forward. "Don't play these tricks with me! If you’ve really caused a catastrophe, I fear there will be no way out for you!"

"Did the Wei family say they wanted my life?" Jiang Nian glanced at her indifferently. "If they did, wouldn't you have already come at me with a stick?"

Stung by being called out, Second Madam Jiang grew even more furious. "Are you going to tell me or not!"

"There is nothing I cannot say. I saved the Prefect’s wife, and the Wei family owes me a favor, so they have come to invite me as a guest..." Jiang Nian smiled. "Second Aunt, do you want me to go and see the guests?"

Second Madam Jiang had long since lost her patience. "Stop the nonsense and go at once!"

Jiang Nian remained seated, unmoved. "Second Aunt, do you remember what I said after you struck Qing’er?"

She had told her to beg.

Second Madam Jiang narrowed her eyes and sneered. "Don't push your luck! What power do you have that could make me beg you?"

Jiang Nian smiled. "I have no such power. Then I shall trouble you, Second Aunt, to go and turn the guests away yourself."

That would never do! The Prefect still had an unsettled case on his desk that concerned her; she absolutely could not offend Prefect Wei, let alone Meng Qing, the granddaughter of the Chief Grand Secretary.

Second Madam Jiang gritted her teeth, holding back her rage. "What exactly do you want?!"

"Is Second Aunt deaf, or just foolish?"

Veins bulged on Second Madam Jiang’s forehead. Her sharp fingernails almost poked at Jiang Nian’s nose. "You little wretch, are you trying to revolt?"

Jiang Nian glanced at Nanny Fang, who was standing to the side with a sneer on her face, and suddenly laughed. "How about this, let’s try a different way... When my little sister was ill, Qing’er went to beg Nanny Fang to call a doctor. What exactly did Nanny Fang say back then?"

Nanny Fang was startled. She recalled what she had said offhandedly—that if Qing’er knelt down, crawled like a dog, and barked like one, she would go and send word. Her expression turned rigid.

"Second Aunt, the Wei family is currently in need of me, and it is a matter of life and death. If they don't see me today, I wonder if they will hold a grudge against you for standing in the way?"

Jiang Nian watched Second Madam Jiang’s crumbling face and let out a dark chuckle. "Either Nanny Fang crawls out there in public and barks like a dog, or I shall sit here and wait for you to offend the Wei family."

Outside, someone came to urge them again.

Second Madam Jiang knitted her brows tightly. She looked at the stunned Nanny Fang and made her decision quickly. This wretched girl held a grudge for the years of harsh treatment; she wanted to vent her anger. If this could be resolved by sacrificing the dignity of a servant, what difficulty was there in that?

She looked at Nanny Fang and said in a deep voice, "Nanny Fang, you dared to bully the mistress of the house behind my back... This punishment is one you deserve!"

Jiang Nian watched Second Madam Jiang with a faint smile. Second Madam Jiang, being manipulated by a junior she had always looked down upon, felt as if her head were about to burst with rage.

Nanny Fang’s expression shifted through many colors. Finally, she had no choice but to drop to the ground, gritting her teeth as she crawled out while barking like a dog.

Second Madam Jiang felt a lump rise in her chest, unable to go up or down, leaving her with a dull, aching pain. If a trusted servant lost face, what dignity did she have left?

Nanny Fang kept her head bowed the entire way. In the household, even if she wasn't exactly glorious, she was a woman of high standing and rarely received reprimands. To be forced to bark and crawl like a dog—how would she hold her head high in the future? How would she manage the maids and nannies who lived to fawn over the powerful and trample the weak? The thought of being mocked by those lowly creatures made her feel as if her skin were crawling.

By the time she reached the mansion gate, Nanny Fang’s knees were giving out. Seeing Jiang Nian and Nanny Zhou board the carriage, her eyes were dark enough to drip ink.

***

Jiang Nian followed Nanny Zhou to the Wei residence. Prefect’s wife Meng Qing came out to greet her personally. "Miss Jiang, yesterday was too hurried; I haven't had the chance to thank you for saving my life."

"You are too kind, Madam. I just happened to know a way to soothe this condition, and how could I stand by and watch someone suffer?"

Beside her, Nanny Zhou sighed. "Our mistress has had this condition since childhood, and unfortunately, the young master of the house has it as well. Our mistress often worries for the child, and recently, it has been getting worse."

Jiang Nian nodded. "I once happened to meet a nun whose young disciple was abandoned by her family for having this allergy. She taught me this soothing method, which can help the afflicted calm down very quickly. I can teach it to you, Madam."

"Truly?" Meng Qing’s eyes lit up, and she began to wipe away tears. "Miss Jiang, you are truly a kind-hearted person. This is a tremendous help."

"To tell you the truth, there is something I would like to ask of you, Madam."

Meng Qing immediately replied, "You saved my life, and I should repay you. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Jiang Nian pondered before saying, "Actually, I was hoping you could help me get an introduction to Master Yingjue. My sister has contracted a strange illness that is difficult to cure, and I have heard that Master Yingjue possesses profound medical skills..."

"Is that all? This small matter is nothing compared to the favor of saving my life!"