Seeing Xie Heng’s spinelessness, Old Imperial Uncle Rong had no desire to say more and simply stood up, instructing the steward to see the guest out.
Having gained an advantage, Xie Heng felt relaxed. Although Old Imperial Uncle’s attitude toward him wasn’t particularly friendly, it was far milder than he had expected. Thus, his steps as he left were remarkably light and cheerful.
What put him even more at ease wasn’t just having handled Old Imperial Uncle, but the wild girl who had suddenly appeared in his household. For now, it seemed she meant no harm!
It appeared he had misunderstood her before!
As for the silver that girl spent yesterday… well, let it be spent. He could just consider it as money used to buy an official position for his son!
Xie Heng was not one skilled at concealing his emotions; the joy in his eyes and brows was impossible to suppress. No sooner had he stepped out of the gates of Prince Rong’s mansion than Old Imperial Uncle heard from the steward just how delighted Xie Heng had been.
Faced with this brainless Xie Heng, Old Imperial Uncle couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness.
“Grandfather! I heard that Marquis Xie was just here? Did he come to apologize to you? You mustn’t forgive him!” Not long after Xie Heng left, County Princess Zhaokang arrived.
“He is, after all, a Marquis. Why are you giving him such a hard time? You must learn propriety,” Old Imperial Uncle said, tapping his granddaughter’s forehead with a smile.
With his headache gone, he truly felt at ease.
“I’m not deliberately picking on him! His family is already a laughingstock! That Xie Er beheaded the physician you needed, only to turn around and become family with that same physician. How could such a coincidence exist in this world? In my opinion, none of them are any good. One is trying every means to escape punishment, while the other is just climbing the social ladder—birds of a feather flocking together, hoping to gain benefits from you!” County Princess Zhaokang immediately protested indignantly.
Old Imperial Uncle looked at his granddaughter with a gentle smile.
“You used to care only about clothes and jewelry, child. Why are you so concerned about the Xie family today? Who has been filling your ears with such dirty-hearted talk?” Old Imperial Uncle asked leisurely.
He had many sons, but only one legitimate heir. Unfortunately, years ago, his legitimate son was ordered to serve as an army supervisor to quell unrest in the southern wilderness and fell ill and died on the journey, leaving behind only a son and a daughter.
To prevent anyone from harming his grandchildren in pursuit of his princely title, he had driven all his illegitimate sons out of the house.
Zhaokang was raised by him and inherited his temperament—only a bit more pronounced.
But this child had a simple mind; as long as she had the finest food and clothing, she could be the happiest girl in the world.
Hearing this, the princess’s maid lowered her head, while County Princess Zhaokang pouted. “I didn’t just hear about it—I saw it with my own eyes!”
“Grandfather, didn’t you say before that Jiang Tan’er was a good girl? You praised her pastries. I wanted to make you happy, so I took the cook with me to learn a thing or two from her. But before we even entered, I happened to see that plump girl from the Hua family going to see her. She said she had promised to give her Weight Loss Tea, but guess what!?”
“This Jiang Tan’er was flustered and blushing, saying that the person who made the Weight Loss Tea had become the Xie family’s young lady, so the tea couldn’t be made anymore!”
“She clearly promised, but then she went back on her word. Someone so untrustworthy can’t be any good!” Zhaokang added immediately.
Listening to her, Old Imperial Uncle looked at her helplessly. “And how do you know that girl from the Xie family is unwilling to provide the Weight Loss Tea? I heard that girl has only just returned to the Xie family, and these past two days she’s been preparing pain-relief pills for me. Perhaps she simply hasn’t had the time yet?”
“But ever since that physician went to the Xie family, she hasn’t paid any attention to the Jiang family at all. Once she climbed up the social ladder, she didn’t want to have anything to do with ordinary commoners like the Jiang family anymore!
Especially these past few days, with the Jiang family busy preparing to open a pastry shop and everyone working so hard, we haven’t seen Miss Xie send anyone to lend a hand.” County Princess Zhaokang said while eating the pastries Jiang Tan’er had sent over early this morning.
The Jiang family’s pastries truly tasted excellent, filled with a milky fragrance.
There weren’t many of these milk-flavored cakes, but they were truly delicious—sweet but not cloying.
Even though the flavor was already so good, Jiang Tan’er still felt it wasn’t enough, saying the color of the sugar wasn’t attractive enough and that it would be even better if it were pure white and flawless!
She seemed flighty at first glance, but who would have thought she’d be so reliable and interesting in her work. Once the shop opens, I’ll definitely go support her.
Listening to his granddaughter’s words, Old Imperial Uncle frowned slightly.
“Just the other day, Songyin injured her hand, and you got the news. Now that Jiang and Xie are at odds, you know about that too… Zhaokang, you’re spending too much of your energy on these trivial matters.” Old Imperial Uncle’s expression grew a bit more serious.
That Jiang girl was indeed interesting.
But no matter how interesting, she was still just an insignificant person.
Such people could be praised or rewarded, but one shouldn’t lose sight of priorities by revolving around her.
“What’s wrong, Grandfather? Weren’t you the one always praising Jiang Tan’er in front of me? Now that I think she’s quite nice, you’re scolding me again. Hmph!” County Princess Zhaokang felt a bit wronged.
Seeing his granddaughter’s puffed-up, angry expression, Old Imperial Uncle sighed helplessly.
He had praised Jiang Tan’er for being interesting because he felt that little girl had courage, was full of vitality, had many ideas, and was quite capable.
Though Jiang Tan’er came from a humble background, she didn’t wallow in self-pity. Instead, she was lively and brave, never acting subservient. Even as a mere commoner, she dared to flirt with the Seventh Prince without backing down—unlike ordinary women, she truly stood out.
If his granddaughter could learn a bit more from her, she wouldn’t have her head filled every day with those melodramatic stories about noble ladies and scholars!
“Stay out of the Xie family’s affairs,” Old Imperial Uncle began to instruct.
“That Miss Xie wandered the jianghu in her earlier years, making a living as a physician. Healing and saving lives were her means of survival. Now that she’s a noble daughter of a marquis’ household, what’s wrong if she no longer does the work of brewing medicine and concocting decoctions? Do you think everyone can be like your grandfather, with the authority to force the Xie family to hand over medicinal pills? Though Xie Heng may be incompetent, he’s still someone His Majesty promoted. He shouldn’t have to curry favor with those insignificant people! Tell me, would you, a dignified princess, be willing to serve tea and water in front of the Jiang and Hua family girls?”
County Princess Zhaokang was taken aback.
She had been raised by her grandfather and naturally listened to him most.
What Grandfather said made sense, but… he seemed a bit different today.
“Why are you talking so much today?” Zhaokang tilted her head and asked curiously.
“Strangely enough, Grandfather’s headache is gone. Those medicinal pills from the Xie family are truly effective—just one pill, and the effect is this good… That little girl has time to make that Weight Loss Tea, but she’d be better off making more medicinal pills instead. If you really care about your grandfather, stay out of the affairs of that Hua family’s chubby girl!” Old Imperial Uncle grinned, quite attached to the feeling of being completely relaxed at the moment.
“I know, Grandfather, but this time it’s also thanks to Jiang Tan’er’s recommendation, isn’t it? If not for her, no matter how skilled Miss Xie’s medical arts are, you wouldn’t have been able to benefit from them. Considering how wholeheartedly she thinks of you, Grandfather, when her pastry shop opens, I’ll have someone send some gifts as a token of gratitude!” County Princess Zhaokang said with a cheerful smile.
Old Imperial Uncle listened and did not object.
Jiang Tan’er could make his granddaughter happy, and now these medicinal pills owed some credit to her as well. It was only right to show her some favor.