Chapter 443 - 442: Old Illness

Chapter 443: Chapter 442: Old Illness

Jiang Yunuan cried sorrowfully, her knees aching faintly.

She hadn’t knelt for long, just a brief moment, compared to the countless times before, it was nothing but a drop in the ocean.

Perhaps it was the rejection and discomfort engraved in her bones since childhood, or perhaps it was the pressure brought upon her by Mrs. Jiang Fang, but she felt the cold and chill in her knees, a pain seeping from her bones.

This was her old ailment.

That year, during the New Year, she knelt for far too long in the snow outside the ancestral hall, the cold seeping into her bones, causing severe pain in her knees and legs whenever the weather turned cold and damp.

Jiang Yunuan mentioned it to Mrs. Jiang Fang.

Mrs. Jiang Fang invited a medical woman over, who said this had become a root of disease, and thereafter, she would have to rely on moxa fumigation and hot water bags all year round, but it would never be completely cured.

Only by Jiang Yunuan being more cautious herself, avoiding cold, and not injuring her knees again.

Mrs. Jiang Fang was full of worry, sent off the medical woman, and returned to give a scolding.

She scolded Jiang Yunuan for being slow-witted, not clever, saying that if she obediently listened, how would Mrs. Jiang Fang let her kneel in the snow?

Now, having left behind a root of disease, it was entirely Jiang Yunuan’s own fault.

Mrs. Jiang Fang had someone carefully nurse her back to health for two years, not out of concern for her suffering, but because once coldness accumulated in the body, having children later would be difficult.

For Jiang Yunuan to bear children, Mrs. Jiang Fang put in a great deal of effort.

But in the end, it wasn’t cured at the root.

Even to this day, even though Jiang Yunuan had Sister Niang, her legs still hadn’t gotten better.

Usually, Jiang Yunuan was careful to take care of her knees, but when faced with Mrs. Jiang Fang, if she had to kneel, she would kneel indefinitely if not permitted to rise.

Just now, after being reproached by Mrs. Jiang Fang, Jiang Yunuan felt a bitterness in her heart, as if the bone-piercing chill of that snowy day had returned.

She sat up, head lowered, gritting her teeth, rubbing her knees with her hands repeatedly.

Nanny Wang came in carrying a basin of water, saw Jiang Yunuan rubbing her legs and quickly put the basin on the table, knelt by the Arhat Bed, and carefully started massaging Jiang Yunuan.

"Madam, take care of your body. Madame’s words, you..." Nanny Wang sighed.

Jiang Yunuan smiled bitterly, blinking her tear-filled eyes, "Mother is doing it for my own good, for my own good..."

Her voice was low and deep, repeating over and over, not knowing whether she wanted to explain to Nanny Wang or convince herself.

Nanny Wang’s heart ached, she had served Jiang Yunuan for many years, had seen the methods and ways Mrs. Jiang Fang used to educate Jiang Yunuan, every time ending with Jiang Yunuan’s tears, compromise, and Mrs. Jiang Fang’s ultimate victory.

She had heard it even while standing in the central room just now.

The reason seemed sound, but Mrs. Jiang Fang’s words were too heavy, crushing Jiang Yunuan’s heart, as they had every time before.

Mrs. Jiang Fang kept saying it was for Jiang Yunuan’s own good, but Nanny Wang didn’t believe a word of it.

Among her siblings, which one did Mrs. Jiang Fang claim to cherish the most?

Nanny Wang, having raised a son and daughter herself, understood a mother’s intentions, and she saw through Mrs. Jiang Fang’s thoughts clearly.

When Mrs. Jiang Fang was pregnant with Jiang Yunuan, she wanted another son, everyone humored her, saying this time it was sure to be a boy.

But unexpectedly, a girl was born, and Mrs. Jiang Fang couldn’t even bear to look at her.

Fortunately, the Old Madam of the Jiang Family showed Jiang Yunuan some care.

Until Mrs. Jiang Fang’s cousin, Mrs. Xu, mentioned the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, where there was only one girl, and Madam Wu, fearing the girl would have no companions, wanted to bring another girl into the Marquis Mansion to eat, live, and study together, serving as a companion reader.

Only then did Mrs. Jiang Fang remember the long-neglected Jiang Yunuan.

For no other reason than Jiang Yunuan being the right age, as her elder sister was four years older than her.

Mrs. Jiang Fang sent Jiang Yunuan to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, and Nanny Wang could see her intention clearly, wanting Jiang Yunuan to stay in the Marquis Mansion under the guise of being a companion reader.

The Jiang Family had already declined, how could the household revive without relying on a favorable marriage alliance?

The Lian Family was the first to speak to Madam Wu.

The Marquis Mansion hinted at an agreement, making the whole Jiang Family rejoice, but before any marriage could be arranged, the Old Madam of the Jiang Family passed away.

During the mourning of the family, Jiang Yunuan returned home for the funeral, and due to the mourning period, the marriage discussions were delayed.

Privately, Mrs. Jiang Fang complained more than once about the untimely death of the Old Madam of the Jiang Family.

Nanny Wang knew of Jiang Yunuan’s affection for Mu Liankang and encouraged her to speak with Mrs. Jiang Fang.

Mrs. Jiang Fang didn’t object, as long as it was the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, whoever she married made no difference, since whether it was Mu Liankang or Mu Liancheng, it was all the same.

Besides, Mu Liankang was Mrs. Xu’s biological son, with that relationship present, Jiang Yunuan would likely be more attentive to her family, and Mrs. Xu would probably turn a blind eye.

More than a year after the Old Madam of the Jiang Family’s death, Mrs. Jiang Fang revealed her intentions to Madam Wu, only to receive a vague response of "consideration."

But man proposes, God disposes, something unexpected happened.

The Old Marquis and his two sons died in battle at the border, Mu Liankang disappeared while escorting the coffins back.

Recalling Jiang Yunuan’s tears at the time, Nanny Wang’s heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.

Had she known, she wouldn’t have encouraged Jiang Yunuan.

Jiang Yunuan’s affection had always been buried deep, she wouldn’t have approached Mrs. Jiang Fang had things not gone wrong, she was accustomed to silence, to not fighting for herself.

Then she could have peacefully married Mu Liancheng, wouldn’t have blurted out to mourn Mu Liankang, wouldn’t have been forced to kneel in the snow, wouldn’t have developed a root of disease, wouldn’t have been disliked by Mrs. Xu.

Nanny Wang felt sorry for Jiang Yunuan, but for Mrs. Jiang Fang who constantly claimed to be wholehearted, Nanny Wang couldn’t see any genuine concern.

Mrs. Jiang Fang’s original intention was never truly for Jiang Yunuan’s good.

But to directly tell this to Jiang Yunuan, Nanny Wang found herself unable to be so ruthless.

Jiang Yunuan was already very troubled, tearing open her carefully wrapped wound, forcing her to confront it, would be too cruel.

In life, it’s precious to be a little unclear.

Being unclear, at least there’s some comfort.

Nanny Wang stood up, wrung the cloth, and gently wiped Jiang Yunuan’s face.

Jiang Yunuan held Nanny Wang’s hand and said, "Mama, I don’t blame her, why would I blame her? I’m just sad.

He’s alive, and I’m as happy as Third Aunt. I wouldn’t wish him to die.

Despite the joy, there’s an ache in my heart, it’s been over eight years, and everything has changed.

I used to silently like him in my heart, to observe him secretly, and now I don’t even have that privilege anymore.

I can’t do that; I don’t want to make the Second Master sad, don’t want to let him down.

I’m really living well, everything he hopes for me to do perfectly, I’ve been trying my best to do..."

Nanny Wang wrapped her arms around Jiang Yunuan, holding her tightly, "Madam, I know, I know, you’re just feeling sentimental for the moment.

Even for an ordinary acquaintance, if there’s suddenly news after over eight years, it’s inevitable to recall some past memories.

Once thought of, just let it go again."

Jiang Yunuan lay against Nanny Wang and nodded slowly.