Chapter 18 Hidden Truth: Jiang Yueyi’s Smile Conceals a Knife

Chapter 18: Hidden Feelings – Jiang Yueyi's Smile Conceals a Dagger

"I don't want to." Jiang Yueyi let out a soft laugh.

If Qi Hao truly had the heart to fake his death, then why should she eagerly await his return?

Regardless of how things stood between her and Qi Hao, but when it comes down to it, Feng Shi was still his mother. Even if it was Feng Shi's fault for opposing his relationship with Su Hengniang, Qi Hao knew full well that he was Feng Shi's pillar in this life. To come up with such a cruel method to sever everything—even a cold-hearted observer would feel a chill.

In the early days, Jiang Yueyi was indeed at a loss because of Qi Hao's death, unsure of what path to take next. But as she knelt day after day, she began to gradually recover. By the time she realized Qi Hao might still be alive, her mind had become completely clear.

If Qi Hao wanted to leave, just let him go. Why force him back?

Just as Qi Hao had once promised her, she would always be Lady Chengping. What did it matter whether Qi Hao was still around?

When Qi Hao said those words, he probably thought the same, didn't he?

On the contrary, if she exposed that Qi Hao might not be dead, Feng Shi would search heaven and earth for him, forcing him to show up. When Qi Hao reappeared, his affair with Su Hengniang couldn't be hidden. By then, Feng Shi, having regained a lost son, would surely comply with his wishes, perhaps even agreeing to let Su Hengniang enter the family.

That would leave Jiang Yueyi with no foothold at all.

Qi Hao was willing to abandon all status and fame for Su Hengniang, to live as an ordinary couple. How could he agree to let Su Hengniang be beneath her, merely as a concubine?

Qi Hao could abandon Feng Shi, and he could divorce her as well.

The child in her belly wasn't even Qi Hao's. It would be easy for him to find a reason.

So Jiang Yueyi didn't want Qi Hao to come back at all.

Seeing that Jiang Yueyi had made up her mind, Qing Lan and the others stopped trying to persuade her. Jiang Yueyi had her own strong opinions, and no one's advice would change them.

Qing Lan took a hot towel and applied it to Jiang Yueyi's legs and feet. After several applications, the swelling finally subsided somewhat. Qing Lan said, "Madam, you should rest well today. These past few days, you've been leaving before dawn and only returning late at night. You can endure it, but the child can't."

Jiang Yueyi shook her head, but her mind was on another matter. She murmured, "There's one more person I need to send off as soon as possible."

Qing Lan asked, "Is it the Second Master?"

"Who else could it be?" Jiang Yueyi frowned. "He came back when he heard about the events at the manor. Though it was well-intentioned, we must still be cautious."

For a moment, Qing Lan lowered her head and said nothing. Cui Mei, unaware of the details, followed Jiang Yueyi's lead and chimed in, "That's right, I think so too. He may not have good intentions. Now that our manor has lost the eldest master, and the title is still unclaimed, what if he's trying to get a share? How can Madam contend with him?"

Jiang Yueyi's mind began to grow troubled. She rubbed her temples and sighed, "Our old lady doesn't like him either. Right now, he's probably the last person she wants to see. It's best to send him away as soon as possible. He should know that the manor doesn't welcome him."

With that, she took a sip of ginseng tea and sat up from the couch.

"Madam won't rest a bit longer?"

"No, I'm going to the mourning hall."

As Jiang Yueyi walked out through the courtyard, she heard Feng Shi still sobbing softly inside. She thought for a moment, then walked to the door and said through it, "Mother, the Second Master has arrived. He is currently keeping vigil for the eldest master."

The sobbing inside abruptly stopped, followed by the sound of porcelain shattering. Then came Feng Shi's hoarse voice: "Tell him to get out!"

Jiang Yueyi concealed her smile and replied softly, "Yes."

She walked slowly all the way, the sky already dark. Along the path, she saw servants hanging white lanterns in the corridors. Even though Jiang Yueyi was holding a hand warmer, she still felt a chilling cold.

In the mourning hall, there were even fewer people than during the day. It was mealtime, and many had left to eat, leaving only a few scattered figures kneeling.

Qi Yuan was still kneeling obediently in the same spot, his posture upright.

Jiang Yueyi gave Cui Mei a signal. Cui Mei stepped forward ahead of her, approached Qi Yuan, gave a brief curtsy, and said, "Second Master, our madam has returned. Please go and have your meal first."

Qi Yuan was still holding the paper money he was about to burn for Qi Hao. He turned his head at her words but didn't rise. Seeing Jiang Yueyi standing not far behind, he said, "I will keep vigil for my elder brother tonight. Sister-in-law need not worry."

Hearing this, Jiang Yueyi first nodded, then slowly walked over to Qi Yuan and said, "There's no need to trouble you, Second Master. Will you be returning tomorrow?"

"Naturally, I will wait until my brother's funeral." Qi Yuan answered without hesitation.

"I see..." Jiang Yueyi's slender hand flickered before Qi Yuan's eyes, taking the paper money from his grasp. "The old lady knows you've returned. She fears you'll delay your own affairs and wants you to go back soon."

Her voice was the softest and sweetest, yet it cut into Qi Yuan's ears like blades, leaving a bitter taste.

But Jiang Yueyi clearly had her eyes demurely lowered, so Qi Yuan thought he might be overthinking.

Feng Shi had always detested him; he had known that since childhood. His return now did invite suspicion, but Qi Yuan didn't care. He came back for Qi Hao's sake, and he didn't care what others thought.

After a moment's thought, he said, "I'll decide when to leave."

Jiang Yueyi's hand flicked, sending several sheets of paper money into the brazier. They curled up in the flames, turning to ashes in a flash of light.

"I don't want to speak too plainly and hurt everyone's dignity, but it seems you don't understand," Jiang Yueyi said, word by word. "The old lady wants you to leave. She doesn't want to see you."

Qi Yuan finally stood up, facing Jiang Yueyi. He was a head taller than her, forcing her to tilt her head and look up at him.

Her eyes sparkled, as if holding a pool of clear spring water. A thought flashed through Qi Yuan's mind, and he felt a strange familiarity.

This time, he directly thought of Yaoyao.

Those sticky, damp memories instantly enveloped him, pulling him back into the past.

But this was clearly not the time to dwell on the past. The person before him was Lady Chengping, his sister-in-law Jiang Yueyi, not the lowly maid Yaoyao of the manor.

Jiang Yueyi's smile concealed a dagger; she could not compare to Yaoyao at all.

Qi Yuan's gaze quickly turned cold.

He said to Jiang Yueyi, "Qi Hao was my elder brother. It's only right that I stay until he is laid to rest. Moreover, there is something I must explain to you, sister-in-law. My brother's death was suspicious, and I came back to investigate the cause."

"So Lord Qi suspects that the eldest master's death was not as it seemed?" Jiang Yueyi spoke without surprise.

Qi Yuan was so far away, yet he had still seen through it.

Qi Yuan said, "As for the old lady, I will explain it to her myself."

"Does Lord Qi intend to exhume the body for an autopsy?" Jiang Yueyi said blandly, then wiped a tear. "The old lady won't agree."

Qi Yuan didn't answer.

He had been quietly observing Jiang Yueyi.

Ever since she entered and spoke to him, she didn't seem particularly grieved.

His gaze slid to her protruding belly, then quickly moved away. It was too inappropriate. For Jiang Yueyi, Qi Hao's death should have been like the sky collapsing. Yet she was neither panicked nor heartbroken; instead, she was sparring with him.

And an ordinary wife, upon learning of her husband's suspicious death, would never react this way.

Qi Yuan suppressed his doubts, unwilling to argue with Jiang Yueyi. He said, "I'll go eat now. Sister-in-law, please do as you wish."

Jiang Yueyi only nodded slightly but said nothing.

Only after Qi Yuan had left did she slowly kneel down at the spot where he had just been, continuing to burn paper money one by one.

No, she couldn’t let Qi Yuan investigate Qi Hao’s death—if he found out that Qi Hao was still alive, she would be in deep trouble.

Barely half an hour later, Qi Yuan reappeared, true to his word, coming at night to keep vigil for Qi Hao.

Jiang Yueyi knew it was time for her to leave. Seeing Qi Yuan arrive, she quietly withdrew on her own. The two had no further interaction, each keeping their own thoughts to themselves.

Even at this late hour, faint crying could still be heard from Shuyu Courtyard. Jiang Yueyi pressed her temples, while her eyes reflected the swaying white lanterns and suddenly lit up.

She hadn’t entered during the day, but now Jiang Yueyi pressed heavily on her eyes, moistening her dry eyes again. Her steps became more unsteady as she made her way inside.

Feng Shi had been too weary to see anyone these past few days, including Jiang Yueyi. But since Jiang Yueyi had come, she didn’t resist; the two simply held each other and wept for a while.

After crying, Jiang Yueyi personally attended to Feng Shi, washing and wiping her face, and even coaxing her into eating some food. Then, sitting beside Feng Shi, she spoke softly, “Mother, I’ve just come back from my husband’s wake.”

Feng Shi, having washed her face and eaten, had somewhat recovered her senses. Hearing this, she immediately asked, “Is that person still there?”

“Yes,” Jiang Yueyi nodded, then hesitated, “I conveyed your wishes to him, but he… refuses to leave.”

Feng Shi snorted coldly and glanced furtively at Jiang Yueyi. Seeing her with lowered eyes and folded hands, looking very obedient, she asked, “What did he say?”

Jiang Yueyi turned her head aside, covered her face with her handkerchief, and started sobbing again.

At this point, Qing Lan stepped forward to comfort her, “Madam, don’t cry anymore. Crying like this won’t help the master rest in peace… ah…”

But Jiang Yueyi kept crying regardless. If Qing Lan hadn’t said anything, it might have been better, but her words only made Jiang Yueyi weep even harder.

“Old Madam, you must stand up for our madam! The master has barely been gone, and the Second Master is already stirring up trouble,” Qing Lan said, her own eyes moist. “Our madam kindly urged him to leave—this was originally your wish too, but since you were ill, it fell to her to speak. But he not only refused to listen, he even went against her. Just now, he told our madam that he wanted to open the coffin and perform an autopsy!”