Chapter 21: Making a ComplaintThis…This wasn’t just a rejection of Jiang Mingzhu; it was also an accusation of her cruelty.Jiang Mingzhu’s face flushed even redder.Not from shyness, but from humiliation.Jiang Mingjiao couldn’t help but freeze in surprise.Count Jingnan’s attempt to flatter had backfired, leaving him visibly embarrassed.Yet Ji Shuhuai was a man of power and influence, a rare talent in the capital.Securing such a person would bring immense benefits to the entire Count Jingnan estate.He forced a smile and said, “Mingzhu is also a kind-hearted person. Most of the time, she uses fallen petals for tea.”“Yes, this time, Second Sister was just too eager to make flower tea for Grandmother, so she picked fresh flowers,” Jiang Mingjiao added.Ji Shuhuai silently glanced at the flower basket carried by the maid.Half a basket of flower buds was clearly visible.Count Jingnan could no longer argue.Jiang Mingjiao’s expression turned sour.Jiang Mingzhu gritted her teeth in secret, never expecting the Marchioness of Zhenbei to be so finicky!Seeing the three of them embarrassed, Jiang Yiyue secretly rejoiced.Ji Shuhuai spoke up, “Count, shall we continue viewing the Hundred Flowers Garden?”“Yes, yes, of course. Please, Heir Ji.” Count Jingnan gestured for him to proceed.Ji Shuhuai continued walking into the Hundred Flowers Garden.Count Jingnan glanced at the flower buds in the basket, feeling somewhat annoyed.Without another word to Jiang Mingzhu or Jiang Mingjiao, he strode ahead.Jiang Yiyue followed.Jiang Mingjiao curtsied and said, “Grandfather, take care. Heir Ji, take care.”Jiang Mingzhu stood silently in place.Jiang Mingjiao looked back and called, “Second Sister.”With a sharp “smack,” Jiang Mingzhu knocked the flower basket from the maid’s hands.All the flower buds scattered on the ground.The two maids immediately knelt. “Second Young Miss, please calm your anger.”“Second Sister, don’t be like this. Grandfather and the others haven’t gone far yet,” Jiang Mingjiao urged.Jiang Mingzhu was about to turn eighteen.One by one, her close friends had found their matches.She wasn’t envious of their marriages, as she looked down on their husbands.She was simply anxious that she remained alone.She had long heard of Ji Shuhuai’s talent and good looks, as well as the emperor’s favor toward him, and had always been intrigued.However, Ji Shuhuai rarely attended banquets or social gatherings.Thus, she had never seen his true face.Coincidentally, her grandfather had invited Ji Shuhuai to visit today, and her grandmother had arranged for her to “coincidentally” meet him.She had instantly fallen for Ji Shuhuai.Engagement, marriage, wedding night, children… she had envisioned it all in her mind.By then, her friends would surely be green with envy.Yet, before any spark could ignite between her and Ji Shuhuai, it had already been extinguished.She couldn’t accept it!She refused to give up!“Hurry and clean this up!” Jiang Mingjiao ordered the two maids.“Yes,” the maids quickly gathered the flower buds.Jiang Mingjiao turned to Jiang Mingzhu and said, “Second Sister, don’t be angry.”Jiang Mingzhu remained silent.Jiang Mingjiao tried to console her, “Since Heir Ji has no interest, just let it go. After all, there are plenty of men in the world—”“You have Cui Lianqing now, so you can afford to say such things?” Jiang Mingzhu retorted resentfully.Jiang Mingjiao was left speechless.Jiang Mingzhu looked up at Jiang Yiyue’s retreating figure and suddenly realized, “So that’s why she lost interest in your Cui Lianqing.“So it turns out.“So it turns out.“She has feelings for Ji Shuhuai.”Jiang Mingjiao said, “Mother said that Fourth Sister and Ji Shuhuai share a bond forged through hardship. We mustn’t offend them.”“A bond forged through hardship? Is she worthy?” Jiang Mingzhu turned and walked away.“Second Sister, where are you going?” Jiang Mingjiao hurried after her.Jiang Yiyue continued accompanying Ji Shuhuai and Count Jingnan as they toured the Count Jingnan estate.Before long, a maid approached. "This servant greets the Count and Heir Ji.""What is it?" Count Jingnan asked."The Countess is looking for the Fourth Young Miss," the maid replied."What does she want with her?""This servant does not know."Count Jingnan turned to Jiang Yiyue and said, "You may go."Jiang Yiyue was also curious about what the Countess of Jingnan wanted, so she bid farewell to Ji Shuhuai.Ji Shuhuai nodded.Jiang Yiyue followed the maid to Qinghe Hall.The Countess of Jingnan was sitting at a stone table in the courtyard with Jiang Mingzhu and Jiang Mingjiao, doing handicrafts.Jiang Mingzhu and Jiang Mingjiao moved quickly—they were already at Qinghe Hall?She stepped forward and bowed. "Your granddaughter greets Grandmother."The Countess of Jingnan, without looking up, fiddled with a bamboo tube and said, "Rise.""Yes." Jiang Yiyue stood before the Countess."Did you thank Heir Ji?" the Countess asked."I did," Jiang Yiyue replied."Then why didn’t you come back to report?" the Countess questioned.Jiang Yiyue was slightly taken aback.Jiang Mingzhu glanced at Jiang Yiyue with a smug look.Jiang Mingjiao sat quietly to the side, saying nothing."Staying there all that time—what kind of behavior is that?" the Countess expressed her displeasure.Jiang Yiyue suddenly realized Jiang Mingzhu had spoken ill of her.She glanced at the stone table.Besides tools like a small knife, bamboo tubes, and bamboo strips, there was also a bowl of dark brown, thick liquid.An idea came to her, and she said, "Your granddaughter was so captivated by Ji Shuhuai’s words."Jiang Mingzhu scoffed. "Fourth Sister, you can say that in front of us."But don’t say it outside."Otherwise, outsiders might think the young ladies of our Jingnan Estate are improper."Improper?The Countess of Jingnan immediately recalled Jiang Yiyue’s previous reputation.Her recent goodwill toward Jiang Yiyue suddenly faded, and her expression turned stern.Seeing this, Jiang Mingzhu’s lips curled into a slight smile.Jiang Yiyue spoke up. "If outsiders were to know, they would surely say I am filial."Stubborn as a dead duck!Jiang Mingzhu shot Jiang Yiyue a glare.Jiang Yiyue continued, "I listened for Grandmother’s sake."Both the Countess of Jingnan and Jiang Mingjiao looked at her in surprise.Jiang Yiyue turned to the Countess. "Your granddaughter knows Grandmother enjoys handicrafts."Your granddaughter does too."Just now, I heard Ji Shuhuai mention that in the south, some people make utensils from bamboo to hold thick liquids."The Countess of Jingnan looked at the bowl of thick liquid."What’s so difficult about holding thick liquid? A porcelain bottle can do it too," Jiang Mingzhu said dismissively."But a porcelain bottle isn’t easy to pour from," Jiang Yiyue countered.The Countess of Jingnan suddenly grew interested. "Can you make such an utensil?""Your granddaughter listened very carefully. I should be able to make it," Jiang Yiyue replied."Listen once and you can make it? Who do you think you are?" Jiang Mingzhu tried to undermine her.The Countess of Jingnan was eager to know what such an utensil looked like and said, "You try making it.""If you can’t make it, you’ll be held accountable!" Jiang Mingzhu threatened.Jiang Yiyue turned to Jiang Mingzhu. "If I succeed, what will Second Sister do?"Jiang Mingzhu snorted, unwilling to respond.Jiang Yiyue pressed on. "If I succeed, how about Second Sister gives me ten taels of silver?""Make it first, then we’ll talk," Jiang Mingzhu insisted, convinced Jiang Yiyue was useless.Making utensils?She probably doesn’t even know what an utensil is!"I’ll be waiting for Second Sister’s ten taels of silver," Jiang Yiyue said, then sat down beside the Countess of Jingnan.She examined the items on the table carefully.Suddenly, she pulled a hairpin from her head.Jiang Mingzhu instantly became wary: "What are you trying to do?"

The Aloof Grand Minister Doted on Her Until She Cried