Fan Suwan was quite interested, even a little expectant.
Jiang Zhenzhou, on the other hand, was full of surprise, even somewhat unwilling to believe it.
Only Jiang Jingshu, digging her nails into her palms, could calm herself down.
Jiang Zhiyu had actually learned the rules in just one morning?
She didn’t want to believe it!
Jiang Jingshu initially held a skeptical attitude.
But soon, she was shocked to discover that Jiang Zhiyu had truly learned the rules!
Every move, every word, was dignified and elegant.
If it weren’t for the fact that Jiang Zhiyu had only been brought back to the Marquis’s residence yesterday, Jiang Jingshu would have even thought that Jiang Zhiyu had been carefully raised and educated in the Marquis’s residence.
Fan Suwan looked at Jiang Zhiyu with eyes full of surprise, and her satisfaction was undisguised.
“Not bad!” Fan Suwan praised directly, “You haven’t disgraced the Marquis’s bloodline. I’ve already had the sewing room prepare clothes for you. Dress up nicely for the flower viewing banquet the day after tomorrow, don’t tarnish the Marquis’s reputation…”
Before Fan Suwan could finish speaking, Jiang Zhiyu slowly exhaled, her straight back slumped, and she lost her composure, becoming more casual.
“Aunt, you shouldn’t be saying these things to me! You should be saying them to my cousin! She is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis’s family! She represents the face of the Marquis’s family! How can I, a mere cousin, represent the Marquis’s family?”
After saying this, Jiang Zhiyu picked up her chopsticks and began to eat, completely different from before.
Fan Suwan’s eyelids twitched violently at Jiang Zhiyu’s sudden change.
She had just begun to change her opinion of Jiang Zhiyu, and Jiang Zhiyu had already slapped her in the face!
She was simply… incorrigible! Her bad habits were hard to change!
Jiang Jingshu secretly breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Jiang Zhiyu eating with relish.
It was all an act!
Rules can be learned, but one’s nature is hard to change!
Jiang Zhiyu could pretend for a while, but her true colors were revealed as soon as she spoke!
She was just too nervous, actually thinking Jiang Zhiyu was a threat.
Jiang Zhenzhou looked at Jiang Zhiyu with complicated eyes, “You were really good at pretending just now!”
Jiang Zhiyu was focused on eating, and when she heard Jiang Zhenzhou speak, she looked up at him with a strange expression, “What did you say? What do you mean ‘remarkable’? Remarkable what?”
Looking at the puzzled Jiang Zhiyu, Jiang Zhenzhou rolled his eyes in annoyance.
“Nothing! Just eat!”
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
Jiang Zhiyu then looked at Fan Suwan and Jiang Jingshu.
“You’re not going to eat either?”
They were all sitting at the table, but she was the only one actually eating?
Jiang Jingshu smiled, “Cousin has quite a good appetite!”
Jiang Zhiyu nodded, “Indeed!”
“A good appetite is a good thing, but we women should eat less. If we get fat, people will laugh at us. I know you’ve just entered the manor and find the food delicious, so you’ve eaten a bit more. But for the sake of the manor’s reputation and your own, I advise you to eat less!”
Jiang Jingshu spoke earnestly, seemingly a truly caring cousin.
Hearing this, Fan Suwan’s mood improved, and her gaze towards Jiang Jingshu became increasingly satisfied.
No wonder she was personally raised by her!
Even if she didn’t have the blood of the manor, she wasn’t far behind.
And look at Jiang Zhiyu!
All she does all day is eat!
Fan Suwan was about to scold her when Jiang Zhiyu spoke first.
“Cousin, is what you just said true?”
“The Marquis’s reputation is actually maintained by starving women?”
“What kind of noodles are these?”
“Starvation noodles?”
Jiang Zhiyu put down her chopsticks.
“Since I’m living in the Marquis’s mansion now, for the sake of the mansion’s reputation, I’d better eat less!”
Jiang Zhiyu’s words left the three of them dumbfounded.
Fan Suwan felt her brow throbbing uncontrollably, and her vision blurred.
Where did she find a biological daughter?
She clearly found a debt collector!
Jiang Zhiyu was going to infuriate her!
“You!” Fan Suwan pointed at Jiang Zhiyu, “What did Granny Bai teach you this morning? You must speak properly and respect your elders. Where did you learn all that?”
Jiang Zhiyu looked innocent and confused. “What did I do? Wasn’t I just going along with my cousin’s words?
My cousin’s words are considered sensible and considerate. My words are considered inappropriate and disrespectful to my elders?
I understand! After all, my cousin is the eldest daughter of the Marquis’s family, so whatever she says is right. I’m just a cousin seeking protection in this mansion, living under someone else’s roof, with little influence. The more
I say, the more mistakes I make… If you don’t want me to speak, I won’t speak. If you don’t want me to eat, I won’t eat! ”
Jiang Zhiyu stood up and performed a very graceful curtsy. “Aunt, if I stay, I’ll only annoy you. So I’ll take my leave!”
Before Fan Suwan could say anything, Jiang Zhiyu turned and left.
After taking a few steps, she lowered her head slightly and wiped her face with a handkerchief.
Watching Jiang Zhiyu’s departing figure, Fan Suwan was shocked and deeply moved.
Jiang Zhenzhou thought for a moment, “Mother, it seems she was indeed following in my elder sister’s footsteps…”
Fan Suwan thought about it carefully and then realized with a start that Jiang Zhiyu really hadn’t said anything wrong.
She had merely repeated Jiang Jingshu’s words, and her wording was slightly inappropriate.
But Jiang Zhiyu grew up in the mountains and certainly hadn’t received much education, so it was understandable that her wording was a little off.
She had been a bit too harsh on Jiang Zhiyu just now!
Fan Suwan sighed, “Granny Bai, have the kitchen prepare some extra food and send it to her. We can’t let her feel like she’s not even getting enough to eat at home.”
“Yes! This old servant will go right away!”
Granny Bai hurriedly left.
Jiang Jingshu looked at Fan Suwan with red eyes, “Mother, it’s all my fault! I said the wrong thing! If you want to blame someone, blame me!”
Fan Suwan held Jiang Jingshu’s hand in hers, “How can you blame yourself! You were only doing it for her own good! However, she is different from you. She grew up in the countryside and probably doesn’t eat well on a daily basis. She also has to help with farm work. She definitely won’t have the strength if she doesn’t eat enough. She’s gotten used to it over the years. You are delicate and need to be carefully nourished, so you can’t just eat whatever you want.” “You two can’t be judged the same. This isn’t your fault, so don’t overthink it!”
Jiang Jingshu nodded. “Yes! Jingshu understands! Mother, at the flower viewing banquet the day after tomorrow, will the Empress Dowager ask us to perform some talents? Do you think I should compose lyrics or paint that day?”
Fan Suwan gently patted the back of Jiang Jingshu’s hand. “Have you forgotten the clothes I specially prepared for you? Dancing is natur ally the best choice! Jingshu’s dance is like a fairy descending to earth; the Emperor will surely be captivated by it!”
“Mother!”
Jiang Jingshu called out coquettishly, lowering her head slightly, her face full of shyness.
Fan Suwan affectionately stroked Jiang Jingshu’s cheek. “Jingshu, don’t be shy. This is your chance, and also the chance for the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion. We’ve been preparing for this for years. We can’t let shyness cause us to miss this opportunity!”
“Jingshu understands!” Jiang Jingshu nodded. “I won’t let Mother down!”
Jiang Jingshu’s eyes were full of ambition and determination.
She would definitely enter the palace! She
would definitely become a
favored concubine! Not for the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion
, but for herself!
After they finished speaking, they realized that Jiang Zhenzhou had already left sometime earlier.
Jiang Jingshu was a little worried, “Why did Zhenzhou leave so suddenly? He hasn’t even eaten yet…”
Fan Suwan didn’t seem to care, “Don’t worry about him. He’s a grown man, surely he wouldn’t let himself go hungry? Eat something first, then we’ll go to the study to find your father. The flower viewing banquet is the day after tomorrow, and your second brother needs to go too. If he doesn’t show up, who knows what rumors will spread.”
Hearing Fan Suwan mention Jiang Jibai, Jiang Jingshu’s face showed a hint of worry.
“Mother, Jibai is so straightforward, won’t he—”
Before she could finish, Fan Suwan interrupted her.
“Jingshu, I know what you’re worried about. But don’t worry, I’ll talk to Jibai properly. He respects you as his elder sister very much and won’t joke about your future or your life. Don’t worry!”
Fan Suwan’s tone was gentle, but her meaning was firm.
She was determined to make sure Jiang Jibai went to the flower viewing banquet.
Knowing the outcome was unchangeable, Jiang Jingshu could only smile and nod, “Alright! I’ll go with Mother in a bit!”
Hearing Jiang Jingshu’s gentle words, Fan Suwan smiled even more contentedly.
Jingshu was so obedient!
Unlike Jiang Zhiyu, who was wild and untamed!
…
Jiang Zhiyu returned to the guest courtyard and immediately lay down on the chaise longue by the window.
Wangyou and Rendong immediately came over, squatted beside the chaise longue, and looked up at Jiang Zhiyu with worried expressions.
“Miss, you haven’t eaten yet! Why don’t we go out to eat? How about to the Zhexian Tower?”
“Yes, Miss! You can’t not eat because you’re angry or sad! What if you get hungry!”
Looking at the two worried maids, Jiang Zhiyu smiled and pinched their cheeks.
“What are you worrying about! Your young lady isn’t sad or angry at all! Just wait, someone will bring food soon!”
Wangyou and Rendong looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion, but they didn’t ask anything.
Whatever their young lady said was law!
Anyway, what Miss said was never wrong!
Not long after, Granny Bai arrived with her entourage.
“Miss, Madam was worried that you hadn’t eaten enough, so she specially asked me to prepare some food and bring it over!”
Granny Bai’s attitude was respectful, and her words were polite.
Jiang Zhiyu looked worried. “Granny, can I eat this? Won’t it embarrass the Marquis’s mansion?”
Granny Bai’s lips twitched, but she quickly recovered. “Of course you can eat this, Miss! Madam specially asked me to bring it! If you have nothing else to do, Miss, I’ll take my leave now. Madam still needs me to serve her.”
Granny Bai really wanted to leave. She dared not say anything more to Jiang Zhiyu! Even the eldest young lady and Madam
couldn’t win against Jiang Zhiyu, so she had no chance. If she said the wrong thing and Jiang Zhiyu caught her in the act, she would be finished! “Granny, do you not want to talk to me anymore?” Jiang Zhiyu sighed. “In that case, I won’t keep you any longer, Granny. You may go now!” Granny Bai said, “…”