Quick Transmigration: The Mad Beauty Refuses to Be the Scapegoat!-Chapter 381 - 3: The General Mansion’s Cast-Off Scapegoat Wife (Part 3)
Fortunately, Jiang Lai didn’t complain any further and silently accepted it.
After clarifying the plot and her task, Jiang Lai lay back down and slept for a long time until she was finally woken up by a slap.
Opening her eyes, Madam Zhao’s face was right in front of her. An oval face with willow-leaf eyebrows and a pair of slightly long almond-shaped eyes, she was a rare beauty, bearing a five-part resemblance to the heroine. If one could think in that direction, they’d find the two increasingly look like mother and daughter.
Unfortunately, no one in the Marquis Mansion was smart enough to notice.
"How dare you still sleep here! The whole family is so worried about you that they can’t even eat. How nice for you! If I were you, I’d wish to be dead!"
In front of the Marquis, Madam Zhao was a delicate concubine; in front of the Madam, she was a meek and submissive invisible person. But in front of Jiang Lai, she turned into a sharp-tongued, sarcastic mother.
Jiang Lai’s mind was already in a daze, and after this scolding, she frowned and sighed at the woman in front of her, speaking in a hoarse voice.
"The whole family is too worried to eat? Well, coincidentally, I’m hungry too. Arrange some food for me."
Last night should have been her wedding night. After being busy all day, she hadn’t even had a sip of water before running back by herself. After a night of high fever, she was now so hungry that her chest was sticking to her back, and her chest felt a bit stuffy.
Madam Zhao furrowed her brows, about to explode, but then heard Jiang Lai faintly say,
"The General wants Jiang Yu. If I starve to death, it would have to be her to go instead, alas..."
At these words, Madam Zhao immediately calmed down.
The urgent matter now was to quickly send Jiang Lai back, properly apologize to the General, and if this blew up in the Capital City, the Marquis Mansion’s reputation would be gone, and it would certainly affect Yu’er.
The next second, she changed her expression and started crying, holding a handkerchief, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at Jiang Lai.
"Mother is just worried about you. You, a young lady, ran back to your maiden home on your wedding night. If others knew, what would they say behind our backs? You are my only child. If something happened to you, I couldn’t live either!"
A stick and a sweet, Madam Zhao’s usual means, especially effective on the original character.
Jiang Lai didn’t rush to expose her.
"I’m hungry. Have the kitchen prepare some light food for me. I want stewed venison and pigeon stewed with ginseng, and also..."
"Where do you expect to get venison and pigeon, child, have you gone mad."
Jiang Lai looked at her with calm eyes.
"Mother, I heard this morning by the window that there’s fresh venison and pigeon in the kitchen. The aroma is wafting over here. Such good things must be prepared for me, after all, I am your biological daughter. Hurry up, I’m starving."
Listening to this, Madam Zhao silently gritted her teeth.
This damn girl’s ears are so good? She had overheard the instructions she just gave the servants outside the window.
Indeed, there was venison and pigeon in the kitchen, but it was something she went through great pains to buy from outside, intended to nourish her own daughter’s health!
"The kitchen has it, but it is for your sister. She has been exhausting herself for the matters of the Marquis Mansion these days. Yesterday, she busily prepared for your marriage, and her body is worn out.
You will soon head to the General Mansion for a good life, and there will certainly be plenty of good things waiting for you. I’ll have the kitchen make some porridge for you to eat before you hurry back."
Madam Zhao was unwilling to let such good things be wasted on Jiang Lai.
But Jiang Lai simply lay back on the bed.
"Mother, your biological daughter has been in the rain all night and now can’t even get out of bed because of her illness, yet you only care about the pampered daughter of the Madam. There’s no such logic in this world. Since sister is so capable, let her handle the General; I can’t go."
"Jiang Lai! How can you be so unreasonable! Just for a mouthful of food, you are being this obstinate!"
Jiang Lai raised her eyes and gave her a cold, sideways glance, just about to speak when a young maid came in from outside to report.
"Second Madam, the eldest Miss is here, saying she came to see how Second Miss is recovering now."
Madam Zhao immediately stood up with a smile, rushing out to greet her.
At this time, Jiang Lai watched as Jiang Yu came walking in from outside, in a light blue long dress, her eyebrows painted like a picture, with a serene temperament, and a slender, elegant figure like a blooming orchid, quiet and graceful. She was indeed the eldest Miss brought up by a noble family.
Seeing Jiang Lai, she slowly walked over and sat down.
"How is your health?"
"Nothing much, she has already seen a doctor."
Madam Zhao answered on behalf of Jiang Lai, afraid that Jiang Lai might speak nonsense and displease Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu nodded, with a bit of worry in her eyes, indeed having not rested well these past few days, yet compared to Jiang Lai, who was sick in bed and had no color on her face, she was completely vibrant and lively.
"Father was very upset last night; I persuaded him all night. I know little sister was just confused for a moment and made some mistakes, but there are ways to make up for it. Now, Father has forgiven you, so you need not worry."
"Mistake? What mistake did I make?"
Jiang Lai’s tone was indifferent. This sudden question left Jiang Yu a bit surprised. In the past, Jiang Lai was timid and never said more than needed. Why is her attitude so domineering today?
"You got married but returned home without permission. I understand you feel some grievances in your heart. I regret not marrying in your place then; otherwise, you wouldn’t bear resentment and run back, nor would the Marquis Mansion need to worry and be afraid."
One word of grievance, one word of resentment, calling out Jiang Lai’s immaturity, because she didn’t know how to consider the big picture, leading the whole Marquis Mansion to suffer.
Madam Zhao furrowed her brow with dissatisfaction in her heart.
She thought Jiang Lai would feel unbearably guilty, but unexpectedly, Jiang Lai calmly said,
"Indeed, I am immature, unlike you who considers the bigger picture. But there’s still time now. If you marry the Iron General, he surely wouldn’t blame our Marquis Mansion. Mother, don’t you agree?"
"What nonsense are you saying? Your sister is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis Mansion; do you think it’s as simple as you marrying?"
Madam Zhao was thoroughly enraged. How dare Jiang Lai suggest Jiang Yu’s marriage plan? Truly clueless!
Jiang Yu also frowned.
"Jiang Lai, marriage isn’t child’s play. How can you speak so recklessly? You are now the General’s wife; what else is there to be unsatisfied with?"
"You also know I am now the General’s wife? The Great General holds a first-grade position, and I am now a First-Rank Lady. What should you do when you see a First-Rank Lady?"
Jiang Yu first showed a surprised expression, followed by a hint of sneer in her eyes, then got up and bowed to Jiang Lai.
"Today is not like before, so I wish my sister will continue to be majestic every day henceforth."
After speaking, Jiang Yu turned and left, her sleeves flowing with a faint, elegant orchid fragrance, truly composed and adaptable.
Madam Zhao’s gaze at Jiang Lai was filled with anger.
