Being a second wife is difficult

After seeing Dr. Li off, the old lady had someone call Jiang Wan back, and they talked for a while behind closed doors.

When she came out of Songhe Hall, the sunlight under the eaves was high.

Although the matter of the dregs from the medicine has been confirmed, the old lady's intention is very clear: do not make it public yet.

Jiang Wan returned to her room and sat at the table for almost half an hour without moving.

Qinghe brought in fresh tea. Seeing her somber expression, she didn't dare ask any questions. She simply placed the teacup on the table and stepped aside.

After a while, Jiang Wan picked up her teacup and took a sip. The tea was warm, not too hot, and the dryness in her throat eased a little when she swallowed it.

She knew in her heart what the old lady was afraid of.

If word gets out that Gu Shi died of poisoning, the Gu family will be the first to be restless.

Mrs. Gu's family was from Qingzhou, a prominent and well-connected family. When Mrs. Gu was seriously ill, the Gu family sent people to search the entire courtyard, even prying up the floor tiles to inspect them.

If they were to find out that their daughter had been poisoned, given the temperament of the matriarch of the Gu family, she would probably lead a group of people to storm into the Earl's mansion to demand an explanation.

If the two families fall out, it will be the Yongchang Earl's Mansion that suffers the most, since the person died in the Earl's Mansion. No matter who poisoned the person, the Earl's Mansion will not be able to escape responsibility.

The old lady said "Don't make a fuss yet" because she was afraid of alerting the enemy, and also because she was afraid that if the Gu family made the first move, things would get out of control.

Jiang Wan put down her teacup, stood up, straightened her clothes, and said to Qinghe, "Send someone to ask if things are settled at the guest house. If Doctor Li needs anything, have Qiutang get it from the storeroom."

Qinghe responded and went out.

Jiang Wan walked to the cabinet, took the pottery jar out of the wooden box, glanced at it, put it back, sealed the lid, and locked it deep inside the cabinet.

My mind was still replaying the conversation at Songhetang. Besides telling me to keep the dregs of the medicine under control, the old lady also mentioned moving the courtyard, saying that since everything was almost packed up, we should move there while the weather was nice these next few days.

The fact that these words came from the old lady made it clear that she could move in.

Jiang Wan responded, knowing in her heart that this matter was crucial for her to gain a foothold in the mansion. It would probably not be long before everyone who needed to know would find out, and many people would come to congratulate her.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before things started to get lively outside the courtyard gate.

Qiu Tang came in first to announce that Aunt Zhou and Aunt Liu had arrived, followed by Concubine Zhao. They said they had heard that Madam was moving courtyards and came to see if they could help in any way.

Jiang Wan let them in. Aunt Zhou walked in first, carrying a food box containing a plate of freshly made osmanthus cakes. Aunt Liu carried a piece of plain cotton cloth, and Concubine Zhao brought two pairs of newly made, thick insoles.

Aunt Zhou placed the osmanthus cake on the table and spoke first: "I heard that Madam is moving to the east courtyard. I thought that Madam was busy packing and probably wouldn't have time to eat, so I made a plate of pastries and brought it over."

"Madam, please have something to eat first, don't go hungry."

Aunt Liu placed the bolt of cotton cloth on a chair beside her. Her voice was softer than Aunt Zhou's, but it was filled with genuine enthusiasm: "Madam, I acquired this bolt of cloth a few days ago. It's a simple color and would be suitable for making curtains or drapes."

"If you need anything in the new courtyard, please just ask. I may not have many other skills, but I can lend a hand with needlework."

Zhao Tongfang stood at the back, and only after Aunt Liu finished speaking did she step forward, take out two pairs of insoles from her sleeve, and hand them over with both hands.

"Madam, this is what I've been working on these past few days. It's all rough stitches, but please don't mind. The new courtyard is spacious, and we'll be moving around a lot, so it's always good to have comfortable shoes."

Jiang Wan took the insoles and examined them. The stitches were fine and the edges were neatly finished, much better than the ones she bought in the shop.

She nodded: "You're so kind. I haven't finished packing my things yet. Once I move in, please come over and have a chat. The new courtyard will be lively then."

Aunt Zhou chuckled, "That's wonderful! Madam's new courtyard is more spacious than this one. Then we sisters will have a place to talk instead of crowding in the corridor."

Aunt Liu nodded in agreement, then, as if she had just thought of something, added, "I heard that the courtyard on the east side leads to a garden, and the storeroom is just a few steps away. It's much more convenient than it is now. After Madam moves there, she won't have to walk around most of the mansion to get anything."

Zhao Tongfang didn't speak, but stood to the side and nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Aunt Liu's words.

After chatting for a while, Aunt Zhou asked a few questions about the move. Jiang Wan said that most of the things had been packed, and the rest were just odds and ends, so there was no rush.

Aunt Zhou then said that if there weren't enough people, her two maids could come and help out.

Jiang Wan thanked her and said that she would use what she had first, and ask again if she needed more.

When they left, there was still more than half a plate of osmanthus cake left. Jiang Wan asked Qinghe to wrap it up and save it for a late-night snack.

After the person left, the room became quiet.

Jiang Wan sat at the table for a while, spread out a piece of paper, ground the ink, and began to write a letter.

The letter was written to his father, Jiang Huaiyuan.

She thought for a long time before putting pen to paper, trying to find a way to phrase her words without sounding too hasty, and without making her father think she was asking about something she shouldn't be asking.

"Father, I am doing well in the Earl's Mansion. Everything in the family is going smoothly. The old lady treats me kindly, and all the branches of the family live in harmony."

"Recently, due to matters concerning the household, I overheard some old stories related to the Gu family of Qingzhou. I have some doubts in my mind and would like to ask Father to keep an eye out for any unusual interactions between the Gu family and Huzhou over the years."

"I have heard people mention this a few times while I am moving around inside and outside the Earl's mansion, but I do not know if it is true or not. I think that Father has been in the court for many years and has a wide network of information. If you have any news, please let me know."

She wrote with great restraint, without mentioning the dregs of the medicine, the poison, or the lotus seeds. She only said that she had "heard it by chance" and had "doubts in her heart," as if a daughter were asking her father about something not very important.

At the end of the letter, she added, "Your daughter is well, please do not worry, Father." Then she dried the letter, folded it, and sealed it.

When Qinghe brought in the tea, she saw that Madam had already put the letter away. Without asking any questions, she simply said, "Madam, shall we send it out?"

Jiang Wan nodded: "Call Xiaoman over."

Xiaoman arrived quickly, and stood with her hands at her sides after entering the room, waiting for Jiang Wan's instructions.

Jiang Wan handed over the letter without explaining further, only saying, "Deliver it to Juxian Teahouse in the south of the city and give it to the owner, Chen Si. He knows what to do. Be careful on the road and don't let anyone follow you."

Xiaoman took the letter, tucked it into her sleeve, and replied, "Don't worry, Madam. I'll go out through the side gate, take a detour, and then go back to the main street. No one will notice."

After she finished speaking, she turned and left.

The footsteps echoed a few steps under the eaves before quickly disappearing at the courtyard gate.

Jiang Wan stood by the window, watching Xiao Man's back as she walked through the courtyard, turned out through the side gate, and the gate closed, blocking the view from outside.

She stood there for a while before looking away.

As evening fell, a breeze picked up in the courtyard.

Jiang Wan came out of the house and stood on the porch for a moment.

She lived in that room, which was converted from a study, for more than half a year. The window faced north, and the room got dark early in the afternoon. She wasn't used to it when she first arrived, but she gradually got used to it.

The orchid on the windowsill has been growing for so long, from its leaves turning yellow to sprouting new buds, and now it's growing very well.

She walked down the steps and stood in the courtyard for a while.

The osmanthus tree is still there, its branches reaching over the courtyard wall, swaying gently in the wind.

The tree was there the day she entered the house. At that time, the yard was empty, and even Qinghe walked carefully, as if afraid of crushing something.

The courtyard is still the same courtyard, but she is no longer as cautious as she was when she first arrived.

She stood there for a moment, then turned and went back into the house.

Qinghe was packing trunks in the inner room when she saw her come in and asked, "Madam, the furniture in the new courtyard has been put in place. Qiutang just came over and said that the things in the storeroom are almost sorted out, and we can move them over tomorrow."

Jiang Wan sat down at the table: "Where is Qiu Tang?"

"She's waiting in the corridor."

Jiang Wan gestured with her chin toward the door: "Let her in to talk."

When Qiu Tang came in, her hands were still a little dusty, as if she had just come from the warehouse.

She stopped by the door, bowed to Jiang Wan, and then said, "Madam, I have already taken stock of the things in the storeroom. The chests, cabinets, and dressing cases that need to be moved have all been put into a separate pile."

"The usual bedding, clothes, and tea set are in a separate pile. We'll move the frequently used items over first tomorrow, and then move the rest over slowly, so as not to delay Madam from moving in."

Jiang Wan nodded: "Thank you for your hard work. Tomorrow morning, have two people from the warehouse come over to help carry the boxes. Keep an eye on them and make sure they don't get bumped or knocked over."

Qiu Tang responded and added, "Madam, the window paper in the new courtyard has been pasted up, the floor has been swept twice, the bed frame has been replaced with a new one, which is more spacious than the old one, and the wardrobe is a modified old one that has been repainted and looks almost new."

"If you're not satisfied when you go over tomorrow, Madam, we'll have the carpenter come and make changes."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan's tone softened somewhat: "You're always meticulous in your work, so I trust you."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tang's expression relaxed somewhat. She then said, "If Madam has no further instructions, I will return now and come back first thing tomorrow morning," before leaving.

The room fell silent.

Qinghe lit a lamp and placed it on the table. She then added some more lamp oil. The flame flickered inside the lampshade for a moment before settling down.

She brought over some hot water and placed it beside Jiang Wan. After a pause, she spoke, her voice lower than before: "Madam, I still don't understand what Doctor Li said today. He said that Qingzhou has the most bitter roots. What did he mean?"

Jiang Wan took the hot water and warmed her hands before answering.

She looked down at the steam rising from the rim of the cup, and after a few moments spoke: "It means that the person who poisoned it wasn't just anyone."

"Although bitter root is everywhere in Qingzhou, people from other places may not recognize it, let alone know the difference between male and female roots."

"The fact that the person who poisoned the medicine was able to put the bitter root into the medicine, and precisely avoid the female root and use the male root, shows that the person who poisoned the medicine was knowledgeable about medicine, could obtain things from Qingzhou, and had a way to move freely in the mansion without arousing suspicion."

She paused for a moment, her tone as calm as if she were talking about something ordinary: "There aren't many people who can meet these three requirements: knowledge of medicine, access to Qingzhou, and freedom of movement within the manor."

After listening, Qinghe remained silent for a while before whispering, "The person behind Lianxin..."

"Lianxin is just someone who does things for others."

Jiang Wan put down her water glass and ran her fingertip along the rim. "She was able to do all that because someone was paving the way for her, getting the medicine in, transferring her to Mrs. Gu's side, and covering for her."

She glanced at Qinghe, her tone unchanged, but her gaze was a few degrees darker than before: "These things need to be investigated not only inside the manor, but also outside."

Qinghe didn't ask any more questions.

She took the water glass away, turned up the lamp wick on the table, and went to the outer room.

Jiang Wan sat under the lamp. The leaves of the orchid on the windowsill swayed gently in the night breeze. She watched for a moment, then got up and closed the window.

The next morning, Qiu Tang indeed arrived with two servants.

Several chests and boxes were placed in the courtyard. The cabinets and dressing cases had already been packed. Qinghe was inside the house checking the last batch of odds and ends, marking each item on the list as it was packed.

Qiu Tang stood under the eaves directing two servants to carry the trunk, repeatedly reminding them, "Slow down, slow down, don't bump the corners," her voice not loud, but every word was earnest.

Jiang Wan stood aside and watched for a while without intervening.

She saw Qinghe carry a box out of the house. It was the wooden box that contained the pottery jar. It was wrapped in several layers of cloth and carefully placed in the topmost chest.

The sun had risen higher, and the gate to the courtyard on the east side was already open. The window paper was newly pasted, and the paint on the door frame was freshly applied.

Two clumps of unidentified low shrubs were planted at the base of the courtyard wall. Their leaves were lush and green, and they hadn't been pruned yet, but they looked quite vibrant.

Qinghe peeked out from the courtyard gate, then turned to Jiang Wan and said, "Madam, the new courtyard is much brighter than this one."

Jiang Wan didn't reply, but stepped over the threshold and went inside. Sunlight streamed in through the window, making the room warm.

She stood in the center of the room and looked around. The windowsill was wide enough to hold the orchid.

The cabinet is made of old materials with new paint; the color is calm and not garish.

She reached out and touched the windowsill; her fingertips were spotless and clean, clearly having been wiped beforehand.

Qiu Tang was indeed very dedicated. Entrusting her with the task of moving the courtyard went smoothly without any problems.

It seems that she not only handled the moving process very well, but also tidied up the new yard in advance.

Footsteps sounded outside, and Aunt Zhou's voice rang out at the courtyard gate: "Madam has moved in? I've come to see if there's anything I can help with."

Aunt Liu followed behind her, carrying a plate of green rice dumplings, as if she had just come from the kitchen.

Zhao Tongfang also arrived, her sleeves rolled up, as if she was ready to help pack.

Jiang Wan came out of the house, stood on the porch, glanced at them, and smiled: "You two seem more anxious than I am."