Madam Jiang could no longer keep Jiang Xiu Yi locked in the woodshed, so she quickly ordered someone to bring Jiang Xiu Yi out.
After a few days, Jiang Xiu Yi had become much thinner. After all, she hadn't eaten properly these past few days, but she hadn't been starved to death.
"Xiu Yi," Madam Jiang said faintly, looking at Jiang Xiu Yi.
Jiang Xiu Yi looked up at Madam Jiang and grinned, "How is it? Is Father coming soon?"
"Jiang Xiu Yi, do you think that just because my brother is coming, I can't do anything to you?" Madam Jiang said angrily.
Jiang Xiu Yi chuckled at her words, "Yes, Father is coming. You can still do whatever you want to me. But in the end, I am a member of the Jiang family. Father will consider the Jiang family, just as Auntie considers the Meng family. So, what do you think Father can do?"
"Jiang Xiu Yi, you are still stubbornly refusing to mend your ways," Madam Jiang said furiously.
"Auntie, you are the one who has been stubbornly refusing to mend your ways," Jiang Xiu Yi replied.
"How have I been stubbornly refusing to mend my ways?" Madam Jiang asked coldly, looking at Jiang Xiu Yi.
Jiang Xiu Yi said, "Auntie, I am a member of the Jiang family, and so are you. Don't you want to see the Jiang family truly rise? Do you want to beg for the Meng family's wealth your entire life? Auntie, I know you'll say I'm dreaming, but you've also seen why Consort An is so overbearing. Even if she made a mistake, His Majesty only confined her."
"You know?" Madam Jiang asked.
Jiang Xiu Yi replied, "Of course I know. That's because Consort An has the capital to be overbearing. Because she has her family to back her up. After all, Auntie, you are the Madam of the Duke of Ning's estate, a first-rank lady of the court. This is something no one can obtain if they don't want it."
"Jiang Xiu Yi, what exactly are you trying to say?" Madam Jiang asked.
"Auntie, what I'm saying is very simple. What if the Jiang family were like that? Wouldn't your status then soar?"
Madam Jiang sneered, "Jiang Xiu Yi, you are delusional. What can the Jiang family compare to?"
Jiang Xiu Yi said, "The Jiang family may not have much power, but the Jiang family has something they can use for negotiation."
"What negotiation?" Madam Jiang asked.
Jiang Xiu Yi said, "The Jiang family has nothing else but a lot of money, and what His Majesty lacks the most is money."
Madam Jiang trembled, looking at Jiang Xiu Yi, "You..."
"Auntie, don't ask me how I know. I just want to get a fortune for Auntie, for the Jiang family. After all, wealth without power is useless," Jiang Xiu Yi said, word by word.
Madam Jiang furrowed her brows slightly and looked at Jiang Xiu Yi, "So, the reason my brother is coming this time is not for you?"
Jiang Xiu Yi smiled, "Auntie thinks too highly of Xiu Yi. What ability does Xiu Yi have to make Father change for me?"
Madam Jiang breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't deny that what Jiang Xiu Yi said was not wrong.
"If that's the case, then you should know that some things can be said, and some things cannot," Madam Jiang said coldly.
Jiang Xiu Yi heard this and said, "Auntie, don't worry, Xiu Yi knows." She didn't want to be just a concubine; she wanted to be like Madam Jiang, at least a first-rank lady of the court. This was what she desired.
Feng Jiu heard the conversation between Jiang Xiu Yi and Madam Jiang word for word and informed Xue Xing Yue, "Your Highness, this Jiang Xiu Yi is truly not to be underestimated."
Xue Xing Yue smiled, "Indeed. However, this idea is unlikely to have come solely from Jiang Xiu Yi. After all, if she had such ideas, she wouldn't have waited until now, after becoming like this, to conceive them."
Feng Jiu was taken aback, "Your Highness believes someone is behind Jiang Xiu Yi?"
Xue Xing Yue nodded, "I suspected it before, but now I can be sure someone is definitely involved."
Feng Jiu asked, "Who could it be? Someone who is helping Jiang Xiu Yi?" If he found out, he would show no mercy.
"This matter might be a good thing for my elder brother, so Feng Jiu, you cannot act rashly," Xiao Xue Luo said.
Feng Jiu replied, "Yes, your subordinate understands."
Soon, the elder master of the Jiang family, Jiang Xi Feng, arrived at the Duke of Ning's estate. The Duke of Ning had gone to court. Madam Jiang, with Jiang Xiu Yi, came to greet him. They saw a man descend from the carriage. He was handsome, appearing to be around thirty years old, dressed in brocade robes, with precious jade adorning his waist. He exuded a refined aura.
"Your Highness, this is Jiang Xi Feng," Xue Xing Yue said from inside the carriage, observing the arriving elder master of the Jiang family.
"Brother, you are here," Madam Jiang stepped forward and curtsied slightly.
Jiang Xi Feng stepped forward and helped Madam Jiang up, "Sister, you are too polite. Your brother has no official position and cannot accept such a salute from you."
Madam Jiang said, "Brother, please enter the estate quickly!"
Jiang Xi Feng nodded. When he looked at Jiang Xiu Yi, his expression turned cold, "Xiu Yi, come here."
Jiang Xiu Yi was slightly taken aback, then walked over and curtsied, "Father."
Jiang Xi Feng said, "Why don't you come and pay your respects to your father?"
Jiang Xiu Yi said, "Father, why did you come so late? You could have come earlier." Jiang Xiu Yi said with some dissatisfaction.
Jiang Xi Feng placed his hand on Jiang Xiu Yi's head and said, "Your father had some matters to attend to. Are you unhappy because I came late?"
Jiang Xiu Yi replied, "How would I dare to be angry with Father?"
Jiang Xi Feng chuckled heartily and said, "Sister, this mischievous one must have caused you a lot of trouble, right?"
Madam Jiang said, "How could she? Xiu Yi is well-behaved and obedient. She pleases me greatly."
Jiang Xi Feng saw this and said, "If that's the case, then when will Jiang Xiu Yi's matter with Jiang Ming be settled?"
Madam Jiang was stunned. She had not expected her brother to bring it up so directly.
Madam Jiang said, "Brother, let's discuss it inside!"
Jiang Xi Feng nodded, "Alright."
Upon entering the estate, Jiang Xi Feng sat on a chair. Jiang Xiu Yi also sat to his left and right. Jiang Xi Feng said, "Princess Xing Yue has also entered the Duke of Ning's estate. Isn't it time to consider Jiang Xiu Yi's matter with Jiang Ming?"
Madam Jiang said, "Brother, I know you are anxious, and I am anxious too. But this matter cannot be settled just by me saying so."
Jiang Xi Feng was somewhat displeased, "If Xiu Yi were the main wife, I wouldn't say anything more, as there are still procedures to follow. But Xiu Yi is being wronged to become a concubine, and you, sister, are also making excuses like this. Do you think the Jiang family has no one left, that the Duke of Ning's estate can bully my Xiu Yi like this?"
Seeing her brother getting angry, Madam Jiang quickly said, "Brother, I didn't mean that. I just think we shouldn't rush. After all, Princess Xing Yue has just entered the estate. If we are in such a hurry to arrange the marriage between Jiang Ming and Xiu Yi, it seems inappropriate."
"Inappropriate? What's inappropriate? Sister, if you put it that way, your brother is truly unhappy. Xiu Yi has been with you for several years, and she and Jiang Ming have grown up together. If you can't help Xiu Yi, fine, but how can you bear to see Xiu Yi staying in the estate like this? Jiang Ming is already married, and Xiu Yi's position here is very awkward."