From beginning to end, Jiang Zhiyu wore a smile.
Jiang Jingshu, on the other hand, was not only furious, her cheeks flushed red, but her expression was also somewhat distorted.
Jiang Zhenzhou had never seen Jiang Jingshu like this before, and quickly tried to comfort her, “Elder sister, don’t be angry! Don’t listen to her nonsense!”
As he spoke, Jiang Zhenzhou glared at Jiang Zhiyu.
“Why did you bring up that family? Don’t compare those peasants to my elder sister! They don’t even deserve it!”
Jiang Zhenzhou thought he was standing up for Jiang Jingshu, but he didn’t notice that when he said this, a complex look flashed quickly in Jiang Jingshu’s eyes.
The peasant whom Jiang Zhenzhou looked down upon was actually related to her by blood…
Did Jiang Zhenzhou, and even the others in the Zhongyong Marquis’s mansion, also feel a slight disdain for her?
Jiang Zhiyu looked at Jiang Zhenzhou with a look of realization, “So they’re not good enough? Cousin thinks so too? Why didn’t you say so sooner! I shouldn’t have brought it up! This is so disappointing!”
“Alright, alright!” Jiang Zhenzhou interrupted Jiang Zhiyu impatiently, “It’s not too late for you to know now, don’t mention it again! Can’t you see my elder sister is unhappy?”
“I won’t mention it! It’s not like I wanted to!”
Jiang Zhiyu shrugged and looked towards the door.
“Why is the waiter so slow? Even if the food can’t be ready right away, a pot of tea would be fine!”
Before she could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in!” Jiang Zhenzhou said.
The door was pushed open silently, and the waiter entered with an apologetic expression. “Miss Jiang, Young Master Jiang, I’m so sorry, but the food you ordered can’t be served!”
Jiang Zhenzhou’s face darkened with displeasure, and his voice instantly rose. “What did you say? What do you mean? Are you looking down on us? Or on the Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence?”
Although he disapproved of Jiang Zhiyu’s nouveau riche behavior of ordering a book, he couldn’t tolerate the waiter
‘s disrespect towards the Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence. Jiang Zhenzhou had a fiery temper and was prone to violence at the slightest provocation, a fact known to most people in the capital, including the waiter.
Seeing Jiang Zhenzhou’s anger, the waiter trembled and quickly explained, “Young Master Jiang, you misunderstand. It’s not that I want to disrespect the Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence, it’s just… Prince Chen is here! He said he wants to book the entire Zhexianlou!” It
was Prince Chen who wanted to book the entire Zhexianlou. If Jiang Zhenzhou had any complaints, he should go and talk to Prince Chen; making things difficult for a mere waiter was useless.
Jiang Zhenzhou, of course, understood the waiter’s meaning.
It was precisely because he understood that he was in a dilemma.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t have any reservations and would definitely have asked for clarification.
But this fearsome Prince Chen, even if he was incredibly arrogant, he wouldn’t dare to provoke him easily.
Jiang Jingshu frowned slightly, “Why did Prince Chen book the entire Zhexian Tower?”
Zhexian Tower was so large; booking the whole place, even for just one night, would cost at least ten or twenty thousand taels of silver.
Prince Chen was wealthy, but there must be a reason for such extravagant spending, right?
The waiter shook his head repeatedly, “This is not something I could know. I’ve delivered the message, I’ll be leaving now.”
As soon as the waiter left, Jiang Zhenzhou kicked a stool, “You ran fast!”
Jiang Zhiyu looked at Jiang Zhenzhou with interest, “If he had run slower, would you have kicked him instead?”
Jiang Zhenzhou, “…”
Kicking a waiter was nothing; what was there to be afraid of?
“But!
This waiter is delivering a message for Prince Chen.
If we kick this waiter, what’s the difference between that and slapping Prince Chen in the face?
” Jiang Zhenzhou refused to admit that he was afraid of Prince Chen. “If you can’t speak properly, shut up! Do you know who Prince Chen is? If you dare to spout nonsense again, be careful he’ll have your tongue cut out!”
Jiang Jingshu also said softly, “Cousin, you’ve just arrived in the capital, you may not have heard of Prince Chen. Prince Chen is not someone to be trifled with, so be careful what you say, or you might cause trouble for the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion!”
“Is that so?” Jiang Zhiyu looked at Jiang Jingshu curiously, “So, Prince Chen is much more powerful than the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion?”
Hearing Jiang Zhiyu’s question, Jiang Jingshu and Jiang Zhenzhou both fell silent.
How were they supposed to answer that?
Could they admit to Jiang Zhiyu that the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion was less powerful than Prince Chen?
Jiang Jingshu’s expression stiffened. She forced a smile and tried to speak in a normal voice, “Prince Chen is the Empress Dowager’s youngest son, a member of the royal family, highly valued by the Emperor, and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He has the power to monitor all officials and cannot be easily offended.”
Jiang Zhenzhou snorted coldly, “Not only that, Prince Chen also investigates the law. Anyone who commits a crime and falls into his hands will die a very gruesome death. You’d better behave yourself! Otherwise, even your father can’t save you!”
Jiang Zhiyu suddenly realized, “I understand!” “If you understand,
then—”
“Prince Chen is indeed much more powerful than the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion!”
Before Jiang Zhenzhou could finish speaking, he heard Jiang Zhiyu’s last sentence, and his fair face instantly turned red.
“You! You don’t know anything!”
Jiang Zhiyu looked completely innocent, “But isn’t that what you two just said? Did I misunderstand? Or is it that the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion has much more power than Prince Chen?”
Jiang Zhenzhou wanted to refute, but he didn’t know how to start.
Finally, she just glared at Jiang Zhiyu resentfully, “I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”
Jiang Jingshu stepped in to smooth things over, “Since we can’t eat here, let’s go! I’ll treat my cousin to another restaurant! The food there is pretty good too!”
Jiang Zhiyu shook her head. “I’m not leaving. Since I’m here, I’m eating here today!”
“Heh!”
Jiang Zhenzhou sneered. “Didn’t you hear what the waiter just said? The entire Zhexianlou Restaurant has been booked by Prince Chen. They’re too busy currying favor with him to have time to entertain you. You think too highly of yourself!”
Jiang Zhiyu blinked. “How about we make a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
“We’ll bet on whether I can eat here today. If I win, you have to grant me one request, and vice versa. How about it?”
Jiang Zhenzhou agreed without hesitation. “Okay! I’ll bet with you!”
Hearing Jiang Zhenzhou’s agreement, a sly glint flashed in Jiang Zhiyu’s eyes.
From the moment she provoked Jiang Zhenzhou, she was preparing for this bet.
Jiang Zhenzhou has a fiery temper and acts impulsively; he’s taken the bait!
Jiang Jingshu looked at Jiang Zhiyu but ultimately said nothing.
Jiang Zhiyu dared to make a bet; perhaps she had some backing.
She wanted to see how deep Jiang Zhiyu’s defenses were!
Jiang Zhenzhou crossed her arms, raised her chin, and asked, “What do you plan to do?”
“Just wait and see!”
Jiang Zhiyu said, turning and walking out the door.
The Immortal Pavilion was even more lively than when they had entered.
Standing on the railing and looking down, they could clearly see the courtesans dancing on the stage on the first floor.
In the main seat below the stage sat a man in a black robe with a cold, stern face. The moment
Jiang Zhiyu’s gaze fell on him, he looked up at her.
Even though they were far apart, his eyes were sharp, as if he wanted to see right through Jiang Zhiyu.