Chapter 328 - 328: Is This Really Me?
The next day, Qiao Mai went to Penglai Pavilion.
“Grandmother, about Jiaru’s situation, I went to see her last night. It’s still the same. Her temperament hasn’t changed.”
“Sigh, when someone is set on something, it’s impossible to change their mind even if they know it’s wrong. You’ve had a hard time. Just let it be.” “She looks like fifty. If we don’t do something, she might pass away early.”
Old Mistress Wang became anxious, “What should we do? She is my granddaughter, after all.”
“I gave her the Forget Dust Pill. All her memories have been erased.”
“What?”
“She won’t remember anything from her past. It’s like starting anew. You can take her in, and maybe with some re-education, there’s hope?”
Upon hearing this, Old Mistress Wang knelt.
“Girl, I thank you!”
Qiao Mai quickly helped her up. “Alright. My abilities are limited, and this is the best I can do.”
“That’s already good enough. Do you agree to us bringing her over?”
“Now that she doesn’t remember anything, there won’t be any conflicts. Why should I hold a grudge against her?”
“You’re a good child. You’ve done a great favor to our Wang family.”
“Go to Prince Shunqin’s mansion and submit the request. Try to bring her as soon as possible. Zihan’s wedding is just around the corner, and we hope she can attend together.”
“Alright!” Old Master Wang’s eyes were also red as he looked at her. “Child, thank you.”
“Go quickly.”
The couple quickly changed their clothes, arranged for a carriage, and headed to Prince Shunqin’s mansion.
As for how they negotiated with Prince Shunqin, that was their business. Qiao Mai didn’t intervene.
The experienced couple managed to handle matters. They went to the Prince Shunqin’s mansion. Not long after, they brought Jiaru back with them before lunchtime.
Accompanying her were some old servants who used to serve her. Penglai Pavilion was spacious, so Old Mistress Wang arranged for them to stay there.
When Jiaru woke up, she didn’t recognize anyone and was frightened.
Fortunately, the maids attending to her were kind. After comforting her, they quickly reported the situation to the Old Princess Consort.
The Old Princess Consort rushed over with the house physician, but the diagnosis was inconclusive. So, she summoned the imperial physician from the palace.
They concluded Jiaru had amnesia, a condition that couldn’t be faked.
No matter how one tries to conceal it, their true colors will eventually show. With so many people surrounding Wang Jiaru, she screamed when she saw a group of unfamiliar faces.
Only those who made her feel familiar could calm her down momentarily.
Moreover, she regarded everyone as strangers. This couldn’t escape the discerning eyes of the Old Princess Consort. Coincidentally, the old couple arrived at Prince Shunqin’s Mansion.
When Old Master and Mistress Wang saw Jiaru, they used her illness as an excuse and requested to let Jiaru come with them.
In the west wing of the Penglai Pavilion, Wang Jiaru sat on a chair, staring blankly at Old Master and Mistress Wang.
“Who are you?” “I am your grandmother, and I am your grandfather!”
“Really?”
“Of course. You are sick, so we brought you back to recover.”
“Sick? Am I sick?”
The maid brought a mirror. “Miss, take a look. Do you think you are sick in this condition
When Wang Jiaru saw herself in the mirror, she instinctively threw it on the ground.
“Why am I so ugly? Is this really me?”
Old Mistress Wang gently comforted her. “Because you are sick. You need to eat well to restore your previous beauty.”
“I just need to eat well?”
“Of course!”
She now resembled a child. Everything needed to be taught from scratch. For Old Mistress Wang, who was already in her old age, the pressure was indeed great.
But no matter how difficult it was, she insisted on personally teaching. She was determined not to let Jiaru return to her previous state and entrust Jiaru to her daughter-in-law.
Upon hearing the news, Qiao Mai did not go to visit. Old Master and Mistress Wang did not bring up the matter with her.
Having her stay in Lucky Garden was already good enough; they didn’t dare to have any more extravagant hopes. They knew that Qiao Mai’s kindness to them far exceeded the favor of teaching her children.
Several days flew by quickly. A day before the wedding, the chefs and ingredients from Lucky Garden had not yet arrived at Bichun Garden.
Madam Wang was in a state of anxiety when the people from Jixiang Yuan arrived.
“Madam Wang, our mistress asked me to tell you that the ingredients and personnel will arrive at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Remember to have someone open the door.”
“Why do they have to arrive at that time? Couldn’t it be today?”
“It’s too hot during the day. If the ingredients are transported too early, they won’t be fresh.’
“I see. Understood.”
Madam Wang was somewhat displeased. Who is Qiao Mai looking down upon? They also had an ice cellar; it’s just not as large as theirs.
On that night, Old Master Wang brought Old Mistress Wang and Wang Jiaru to Bichun Garden.
Seeing her daughter, Madam Wang joyfully embraced her and burst into tears, frightening Jiaru, who looked at Old Mistress Wang for reassurance.
“Grandmother, who is she?”
“She is your mother. Don’t you see how much you resemble each other?” Jiaru looked at her mother in confusion and tentatively called out.
“Mother?”
“Daughter, what’s wrong with you?”
“She has amnesia. She doesn’t remember anyone.”
Qiao Mai was not mentioned. The couple didn’t want the sensitive Madam Wang to misunderstand Qiao Mai.
“They bullied her too much in Prince Shunqin’s mansion. How could they have tortured my good daughter into this state?”
“No one bullied her. She had three meals a day and didn’t suffer any losses.” “Then why did my daughter become like this and lose her memory?” “She refused to eat and lay in bed. When she woke up, she became like this.”
“How is that possible?”
“It is. Just ask Jiaru’s maids.”
“Humph, they must have been bribed by Prince Shunqin’s mansion.”
Old Mistress Wang slapped her. “Wake up. Setting aside her character, consider whether Prince Shunqin’s mansion needs to bribe anyone. You won’t even dare to say anything if they kill her.”
Madam Wang covered her face. “I…”
“From now on, Jiaru will live with me. The environment there is better. I’ll take care of her daily life.”
“No, I am her mother. Taking care of her is my responsibility.”
“Take care of her? And make her return to her previous state?”
“Mother, I have changed. Please let…”
“Shut up. Based on your careless remarks earlier, talking about Prince Shunqin’s mansion without understanding the situation, you haven’t changed.”
“Mother…”
“This matter is settled. If you still want Jiaru to attend Zihan’s wedding, don’t say anything more. If not, we’ll take her back.”
Seeing her daughter relying on her mother-in-law like this, Madam Wang wiped away her tears and went to arrange their accommodations.
The next day, as promised, the ingredients and chefs from Lucky Garden arrived at Bichun Garden before dawn.
Upon entering the kitchen, the previous chef was asked to leave because the menu and recipes were involved. He couldn’t stay there.
More than a dozen people, including chefs and helpers, arrived. Madam Wang went to check on them after settling down the old couple and Jiaru.
“Make it as grand as the feast during Haichuan’s wedding.”
“Madam Wang, rest assured. We brought the menu from that day, and the ingredients prepared were more than enough. We won’t delay your affair.”
“That’s about right.”
Before leaving, she gave the chef a stern look, leaving him grumbling.
“Our mistress treated her so well. Who would have thought she’s such an ungrateful person?”
“That’s right. If it weren’t for Old Master and Mistress Wang, our mistress definitely wouldn’t have paid her any attention. What nonsense.”
The chefs and helpers couldn’t help but vent their frustration, criticizing Madam Wang behind her back. Madam Wang was currently in the front hall welcoming guests with Wang Zongsheng.
The Wang family’s celebration attracted many guests, most of whom came because of the relationship between the Wang family and the Duke of Blessing.
Only a small portion were their relatives and friends..