Chapter 8: Another Nightmare?

The words were heavy with ambiguity, yet Jiang Li’s gaze remained clear and guileless.

Nan Yan stared at him for a long while, confirming that his intentions were not what she had initially suspected; he truly seemed to want to help her. She asked, puzzled, "Are you not afraid of offending Meng Boji? Or the Meng family?"

Jiang Li spread his hands as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Why should I be?"

His audacity left Nan Yan stunned. "Are you two... not close friends?"

"Merely chance acquaintances. He extended a warm invitation, and as I have just arrived in the capital, I am unfamiliar with my surroundings."

So, he and Meng Boji were nothing more than strangers!

"Since you are new to the capital and unfamiliar with the city, are you not afraid that offending the Meng family will leave you unable to take a single step?"

Jiang Li remained indifferent. "The capital is under the Emperor's feet. If he relies on his status to bully others, his position as a Hanlin scholar will not last long."

*Hah.* He was even capable of threatening them in return. Seeing him as fragile as a jade figurine, she had never expected his mind to be so profound. Still, it was for the best; at least she need not worry about him being implicated because of her.

Nan Yan smiled and sighed softly, "As long as I am Meng Boji’s wife, I cannot follow another man. I could never stoop to the wanton behavior of Xia Qingfei..."

In the end, it was the burden of reputation that shackled a woman for a lifetime. Jiang Li fell silent, lowering his gaze. It was true—if Nan Yan were to leave with him now, she would be branded with the stigma of adultery and infidelity for the rest of her life. He might not care, but Nan Yan and the Duke of Rong’s mansion could not afford to be so reckless.

After a long silence, Jiang Li weighed his words before asking, "Then... do you intend to agree to let Xia Qingfei enter the household as a concubine?"

Nan Yan did not speak. Her gaze fixed on a single point, her reddened eyes shimmering with moisture. "I do not agree, but... do I have a choice?"

Jiang Li understood and nodded. Many things were no longer within Nan Yan’s control. Letting the matter drop, he refrained from pressing further and cautioned, "You must rest well these days, and avoid agitation or overexertion..." He paused, fixing his eyes on hers. "Have you been sleeping poorly lately, plagued by dreams and easily startled awake?"

Nan Yan shuddered slightly. Recalling what she had seen and heard just moments ago, her face turned pale. If her dreams were to come true, and she had dreamt of her brother being arrested tonight, then... She gripped her silk handkerchief so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Jiang Li observed this silently, his brow furrowing. "Did you have a nightmare again?"

The question struck at the heart of her fear, causing her to gasp. The last trace of color vanished from her face. She looked at Jiang Li, her eyes flickering as she struggled to mask the panic and terror within, unaware that it was already plain to him. It was true; she had dreamt again. She had dreamt of her brother with a blade at his throat, falsely accused of treason. The previous two dreams had come true—would this one follow suit?

The more she thought, the more terrified she became. Subconsciously, she blurted out a denial: "No! I did not... I had no dream!"

How could such a performance convince Jiang Li? He watched her every micro-expression, noting how she was nearly shredding the fine silk handkerchief in her hands. Just as he was about to speak, Nan Yan cut him off.

"The night is deep. Master Jiang, please get some rest."

She turned and fled as if escaping. Jiang Li’s words remained unspoken, his brows knitted as he watched her retreating figure.

***

A day had passed, and Nan Yan felt utterly exhausted. After returning last night, her sleep had been fractured by recurring nightmares. No matter how stubbornly she had denied it to Jiang Li, she could not change reality. Waking up, she felt even more drained.

She did not rise early today. She no longer wished to tend to the needs of the Meng household. For three years, she had given her heart and soul to managing their affairs, yet not a single person in the Meng family cared for her. In an instant, her dedication had become a joke, leaving her bone-weary.

After yesterday's events, Biezhi and Mother Su did not urge her to rise.

"The faces of the Matriarch and the eldest mistress are truly chilling. They need to be shown who this household really depends on!" Mother Su sighed softly. "If you don't manage things, the kitchen won't even boil water for tea this morning, let alone breakfast. They’ll be disheveled and unkempt! And the young master... his heart is cold indeed. You are his legal wife, yet he protects that vixen and forbids you from even seeing a doctor! The Matriarch and the eldest mistress were in such a rage this morning; they will surely scold you again!"

As their words reached Nan Yan’s ears, her heart ached, and her eyes reddened again. Mother Su nudged Biezhi with her elbow, and the two fell silent, retreating quietly.

Before long, they returned together. Biezhi pouted, "Mistress, the third and fourth aunts-in-law have sent word, inviting you to the garden to admire the flowers! I don't know what kind of wind is blowing today, but the first and second aunts-in-law have returned to their maiden home as well, and they are all feasting in the garden!"

Mother Su, being experienced, sensed the underlying motive. "The first and second aunts returning to their maiden home so coincidentally, and sitting with the third and fourth... Mistress, this is likely a 'Hongmen Banquet.' The Matriarch and the eldest mistress have invited them to act as lobbyists for Xia Qingfei!"

Biezhi was shocked. "Then you cannot go! They are all daughters of the eldest mistress; they will surely side with her!"

Nan Yan, however, seemed entirely unsurprised, her expression indifferent. "Since they have come, can I avoid it? If they come looking for me personally, it will be even harder to deal with. Let us go and see."

Biezhi and Mother Su exchanged stunned glances: how did their mistress seem to have known this was coming?

The garden was indeed bustling. The four married sisters were gathered together and greeted Nan Yan from afar the moment they saw her. Meng Boji had four elder sisters and three younger sisters, all with names ending in 'Di'—Wang, Pan, Nian, Meng, Lai, Ying, and Huai. Madam Meng had been desperate for a son, bearing four daughters before finally giving birth to one. Even then, she was not satisfied, and had three more. When the sixth and seventh daughters arrived, Madam Meng gave birth to twins, but the toll on her body was such that she finally stopped.

The Matriarch had immediately tried to arrange for concubines for Meng Boji’s father to produce more heirs, but he lacked the fortune; he passed away before any of them could enter the house. It must be said, Madam Meng felt a sense of relief. As the only son, Meng Boji became the family’s entire hope, treated by the Matriarch like the apple of her eye. By comparison, the seven daughters were treated with utter indifference. Once their father, the pillar of the household, collapsed, the family struggled to put food on the table, relying on the labor of the sisters to survive. Fortunately, Meng Boji achieved high marks in the exams, and they, basking in his glory, were finally able to marry off.

The eldest sister was the most obsequious, rising from a distance to welcome them and pulling Nan Yan into the pavilion. "Look at this! It has been so long, our sister-in-law has grown even more enchanting! Look at that delicate face—who could see it and not feel a pang of pity?"

The second sister added with a sour tone, "Youth is truly a treasure... Three years as a wife, and yet she remains so fresh and vibrant. It truly makes one envious!"