Wangyou glared angrily at Jiang Zhenzhou’s retreating figure, “Mingming, you are his biological sister—”
“Wangyou!” Jiang Zhiyu sternly interrupted Wangyou, “Don’t say such things again!”
If the people in this Marquis’s mansion were truly in love with her, how could she have run away with the family heirloom jade pendant?
This is good!
Although Wangyou didn’t know what Jiang Zhiyu was planning, she was always obedient, and whatever Jiang Zhiyu said went.
“Yes! Don’t worry, Miss, I won’t say it again!”
Jiang Zhiyu was finally satisfied. “Send a message to Steward Yang, tell him not to give the medicine after three days, delay it for ten days or half a month first.”
After a pause, Jiang Zhiyu changed her mind.
“Forget it, two times is enough, don’t push the Marquis and his wife too far. If they think Jiang Jingshu can’t recover and can’t enter the palace for the selection, they might turn their attention to me, which would be troublesome.”
Wangyou quickly agreed, “Yes!”
…
Jiang Jingshu was poisoned and confined to her room.
Jiang Jibai was recuperating and also confined to his quarters.
The Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion already had few masters, and with two fewer, it became even quieter.
Jiang Zhenzhou, however, was constantly busy, diligently questioning every servant and guard.
But in the end, he found nothing.
Only then did he fully believe that Jiang Zhiyu hadn’t poisoned him.
On the day of the poetry gathering, Jiang Zhenz hou dressed impeccably, and his attitude towards Jiang Zhiyu improved somewhat.
“Mother asked me to accompany you to the poetry gathering. Don’t be shy! It’s best not to try to steal the spotlight; just make an appearance, and come back early.”
Looking at Jiang Zhenzhou in his red attire, Jiang Zhiyu asked after a long while, “Do you only have red clothes?”
“How did you know?” Jiang Zhenzhou raised his chin, “This young master is just suited to wearing red!”
This flamboyant and showy manner certainly suited red!
Jiang Zhiyu nodded in deep agreement, “You’re right!”
Jiang Zhenzhou was surprised, but also delighted, “I didn’t realize you had such good taste!”
Jiang Zhiyu, “…”
It must be that Jiang Jibai had finished reading all the books in the Marquis’s mansion, which was why Jiang Zhenzhou’s mind was blank!
Jiang Zhiyu didn’t say anything more and turned to get into the carriage.
Jiang Zhenzhou didn’t care and still mounted his horse with his chin held high.
His unrestrained and flamboyant appearance as he rode his tall horse was indeed quite pleasing to the eye.
Jiang Zhiyu glanced at him and then looked away.
Half an hour later.
Xu Mansion.
Xu Wanqing had sent invitations to all the high-ranking families in the capital, and there were indeed quite a few people who came today, with carriages and horses flowing outside the mansion gate.
Jiang Zhiyu got off the carriage and walked inside with Jiang Zhenzhou.
Before long, they were led to the garden by the servants of the Xu family.
Grand Tutor Xu was extremely talented and had many students.
As Grand Tutor Xu’s eldest daughter, Xu Wanqing had been influenced by him from a young age and was also quite literate.
Although the Xu family’s garden wasn’t as extravagant as the imperial garden, it was still picturesque, elegant and unique, clearly the garden of a scholar.
The garden was already quite crowded, filled with lively young men and women.
Before Jiang Zhiyu and Jiang Zhenzhou even approached, a man in a moon-white robe greeted them with a smile, “Brother Zhenzhou! Why are you so late!”
Jiang Zhenzhou lowered his voice, “This is Xu Yanqing, the only son of Grand Tutor Xu and Xu Wanqing’s older brother.”
He quickly said this and walked towards Xu Yanqing.
“Brother Yanqing, how could I be late? They’re clearly early!”
Xu Yanqing had a thin face and an air of scholarly refinement; his smile was radiant.
“Brother Zhenzhou is right! Please come in!”
Xu Yanqing led the two to their seats, and as soon as they sat down, many people looked over.
While others scrutinized and inquired, only one pretty woman spoke up.
“Young Master Jiang, Sister Wanqing clearly sent an invitation to your elder sister, so why is it a cousin who came?”
The voice was sweet but full of criticism, clearly meant to cause trouble.
Jiang Zhiyu looked in the direction of the voice and recognized the person immediately.
She had seen her at the flower-viewing banquet in the palace a few days ago; this was the eldest daughter of Grand Tutor Ruan, named Ruan Qingwu.
“I heard that the Empress Dowager ordered Miss Ruan to copy the ‘Women’s Virtues’ a hundred times. Miss Ruan’s presence here now suggests that you have already finished?”
Ruan Qingwu hated it when people brought up this matter, and her face immediately turned ugly upon hearing Jiang Zhiyu’s words.
“Why does Miss Ruan look so unwell? Are you tired from copying the ‘Women’s Virtues’?” Jiang Zhiyu asked with a smile.
“You!”
Ruan Qingwu’s face turned ashen, staring at Jiang Zhiyu speechless.
Jiang Zhiyu was merely a cousin of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family, and from the countryside at that—just a village girl!
How dare she speak to her like that!
“How dare you speak to me like that! Whose power are you relying on? The Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion?”
Jiang Zhiyu nodded matter-of-factly.
“Of course! My aunt and uncle said my biological parents are both gone, and I’m so pitiful. They told me to treat the Marquis’s mansion like my own home, like their own daughter! They said that if anyone bullies me, they are bullying the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion! They will never let it go!”
Jiang Zhenzhou was dumbfounded.
When did his father and mother ever say such a thing?
Why was she telling everyone that her biological parents were gone?
Others might not know, but surely she knew? Her parents were clearly alive and well!
Not only was she cursing her parents, but she was also using their names to intimidate them!
And in this situation, he couldn’t expose her!
Xiao Yanchen, who had just entered the garden, overheard Jiang Zhiyu’s words, a playful glint in his eyes.
Just how much did Jiang Zhiyu hate the Marquis of Zhongyong and his wife?
Why was she telling everyone that her biological parents were dead?
And yet, the Marquis of Zhongyong and his wife could only endure it.
Who told them to say Jiang Zhiyu was their cousin!
They truly brought it upon themselves!
Ruan Qingwu, after hearing Jiang Zhiyu’s words, didn’t quite believe it and subconsciously looked at Jiang Zhenzhou.
She refused to believe that the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family would offend her, the daughter of the Grand Tutor, for the sake of a cousin.
But Ruan Qingwu was disappointed.
Jiang Zhenzhou remained silent, clearly acknowledging Jiang Zhiyu’s statement.
This put Ruan Qingwu in a difficult position. After all,
the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family was a marquis’s family, and Jiang Zhong held considerable power; they couldn’t easily offend him.
Just as Ruan Qingwu was at a loss for what to do, Xu Wanqing approached.
Xu Wanqing wore a white dress embroidered with intricate patterns, the embroidery made of silver thread wrapped in the same color.
As she moved, the embroidery shimmered in the sunlight, bathing her in a radiant glow. Her
naturally aloof demeanor, coupled with the silver sheen, made her appear even more unapproachable.
“Everyone here was invited by Wanqing, so please give Wanqing some face,”
Ruan Qingwu said, seizing the opportunity.
“Then I’ll give Wanqing face and not stoop to her level. But, Wanqing, do you think this country girl can write poetry? Does she even know what ‘Ode to the Lotus’ means?”
Before Xu Wanqing could answer, Ruan Qingwu covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes constantly glancing towards Jiang Zhiyu.
Xu Wanqing didn’t speak, but a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes.
She had already offered a way out, yet Ruan Qingwu still dared to provoke her.
This was not only disrespectful to Jiang Zhiyu, but also an insult to her!
Just then, Jiang Zhiyu spoke calmly.
“Qingwu, take your seat!” Xu Wanqing said, pulling her hand away and walking straight to her seat, leaving Ruan Qingwu standing alone.
Ruan Qingwu stood there alone, a fleeting moment of embarrassment crossing her face, before quickly returning to her seat.
As soon as she sat down, she looked up and saw Xiao Yanchen standing by the moon gate, her eyes immediately lighting up with surprise.
“Your Highness! What brings you here?”
Everyone turned to look at the voice.
When they saw it was Xiao Yanchen, everyone was shocked.
This Prince Chen, that fiend, probably only knew how to kill, and knew nothing about poetry, so why was he at the poetry gathering?
Under everyone’s gaze, Xiao Yanchen’s expression remained unchanged.
He strode forward and soon reached Jiang Zhiyu’s side.
“My mother heard you were coming to the poetry gathering and specially sent me to see you, lest you be bullied by someone who doesn’t know what’s good for you.”
He spoke to Jiang Zhiyu, his eyes fixed on her.
Everyone present knew that Xiao Yanchen’s last words were directed at Ruan Qingwu.
Ruan Qingwu was the one who had no sense of propriety.
Ruan Qingwu’s face turned deathly pale, and she swayed precariously.
Everyone knew she had feelings for Prince Chen.
Yet, Prince Chen had spoken of her like this in front of everyone—where did she put her face?
Jiang Zhiyu looked at Xiao Yanchen, smiling gently, “Then if someone really has no sense of propriety and bullies me, what does Your Highness intend to do?”
“My mother is merciful; she only makes those who have no sense of propriety copy the ‘Women’s Virtues and Precepts.’ I don’t like literary pursuits, but I enjoy inviting people for tea and conversation. If someone truly offends me, I will naturally invite them back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters for tea and a chat.”
Ruan Qingwu was sitting, but upon hearing this, her body went limp, and she braced herself against the low table in front of her to avoid falling to the ground.
Who didn’t know what the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters was?
Anyone invited there for tea and a chat would be severely punished, if not killed!
Prince Chen was actually protecting Jiang Zhiyu like this?
Was it following the Empress Dowager’s decree, or had he developed feelings for Jiang Zhiyu?
Dozens of young masters and ladies sat in the garden, along with even more maids, servants, and old women, yet not a single person dared to speak; the entire garden was eerily quiet.
After a moment, Jiang Zhiyu’s clear laughter rang out, “Then thank you very much, Your Highness! Relying on Your Highness’s influence, I’d like to see who dares to deliberately make things difficult for me today!”
Everyone fell silent.
Ruan Qingwu, looking at Jiang Zhiyu’s radiant smile, gritted her teeth.
This country
bumpkin! Bullying
others with her power! A petty person
who has achieved her goal! But Jiang Zhiyu was relying on Prince Chen’s influence!
In the entire capital, apart from the Empress Dowager and the Empress, Prince Chen showed no respect to anyone.
Even the fathers of everyone present would give him a wide berth, let alone them?
Everyone remained silent, and Xiao Yanchen didn’t seem to care.
He gave Ling Shuang a look, and Ling Shuang immediately set up a table next to Jiang Zhiyu.
Xiao Yanchen casually sat down. “You may continue the poetry gathering. You don’t need to pay attention to me.”
Everyone
was speechless. With such a powerful and imposing figure sitting there, who would dare to ignore him?