The Double-Chapter 425 - 140 Orders_3

In truth, she found it difficult to treat Jiang Bingji, whom she had raised herself, the same as before, let alone Jiang Youyao.

"Old madam... Several days have passed, what do you intend to do with Lady Ji?" the old nursemaid asked.

Madam Jiang the Elder paused slightly in her movements.

After a long silence, the old nursemaid almost thought Madam Jiang the Elder had fallen asleep when her calm voice finally said, "Administer the medicine."

The old nursemaid’s hands trembled. It had been many years since the Jiang Family had administered poison to anyone. Although the old madam was strict with people, she seldom resorted to taking lives. Unless it was a servant who had committed a serious offense, they would not be killed outright. It was evident how much she hated Ji Shuran, to the point where she wanted her dead.

"What? You think I’m being too harsh?" Madam Jiang the Elder, noticing the hesitation, didn’t wait for the old nursemaid to respond, and said with self-mockery, "I still think I’m letting her off too easily. Not to mention her affair with the adulterer and conceiving an illegitimate child, our Jiang Family also lost three lives. Three lives." She murmured, "How cruel-hearted must one be to even lay hands on one’s own children."

"I had told Yuan Bai long ago that there was no need to marry an overly intelligent wife. With the Jiang Family’s status, we needn’t seek to cling to others. Lady Ye’s family might be a step lower, but what’s important is that the person is straightforward and gentle. Looking back now, I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a curse. Perhaps it was because Lady Ye was too lenient on a daily basis that her subordinates grew rebellious, and she was deceived by Lady Ji, losing her life. However, this is also a fault of my poor household management. If I had paid more attention back then, Lady Ye might not have fallen for Lady Ji’s traps."

"Old madam, you shouldn’t blame yourself too much." the old nursemaid said, "Who could have known that while Lady Ye was still around, Lady Ji had set her sights on her position and harbored evil intentions? Such an incident is unheard of in Yanjing City."

"I also failed to take good care of her daughter, Second Miss." Madam Jiang the Elder’s laugh was somewhat bitter, "At that time, Second Miss insisted she didn’t push Lady Ji, but I only believed my own eyes and never considered it might have been all an act by Lady Ji. I just never thought that Lady Ji could so readily abandon her own flesh and blood."

When the old nursemaid thought of this, she couldn’t help feeling terrified. That was flesh from one’s own body—even if it were an illegitimate child, one would still be blood-related. Lady Ji actually abandoned the child without hesitation, just to frame Jiang Li. She deceived everyone under their watchful eyes.

"Second Miss has been on Green City Mountain for eight years, and now she has returned. Have you noticed whether she has grown close to anyone in this mansion?" Madam Jiang the Elder asked.

The old nursemaid found herself speechless.

Second Miss conducted herself with gentle manners, but to say that she was particularly close to anyone, no, not even with Jiang Yuanbai, towards whom she was merely polite.

"She visits the Ye Family every day; not to mention anything else, she’s much closer to an outsider who has lost his senses than to any of us. This is the consequence of our own actions. We abandoned her back then, and naturally, she doesn’t hold us in high regard now." freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Madam Jiang the Elder said all this with sorrow, causing the old nursemaid to feel a twinge in her nose, and she consoled, "Second Miss has just returned to the Jiang Family, and hasn’t been here long. She has grudges in her heart. Now that the truth about Lady Ji’s matter has come to light, her grievances have also been resolved. As time goes on, things will naturally get better. You and the master are her kin, if she does not grow close to you, who else can she grow close to?"

Madam Jiang the Elder shook her head, "I’ve lived such a long life, one foot already in the coffin. I’ve seen all sorts of people, and at this age, it’s rare for me to misjudge someone. Second Miss won’t grow close to us anymore; her heart has hardened. Nothing we do now will help. It’s too late."

Her tone left no room for doubt.

Before the old nursemaid could speak, Madam Jiang the Elder’s voice came again: "But it’s just as well. In this way, she won’t be bullied like her mother was. Having a tougher heart and being more cautious in everything will ensure she doesn’t bare her heart to just anyone she meets and won’t get cheated in the future. With this, I can rest easy."

After thinking for a moment, the old nursemaid said, "Old madam, there’s no need to speak so definitively. Everyone has a heart made of flesh; as long as we start treating Second Miss well now, one day, she will see it."

Madam Jiang the Elder waved her hand, "Forget it. I don’t know if I’ll live to see that day. Has Second Miss not returned to the mansion yet?"

"She went to visit the Ye Family." the old nursemaid replied.

"When she returns, have her go see Lady Ji. Whatever she wants to say to Lady Ji, let her say it."

"Old madam, is this..." the old nursemaid was startled.