Jiang Jingyan retorted angrily, “So what if she grew up in the countryside? If it were you raised in the countryside, you probably wouldn’t even compare to her!”
Yu Qingwan took a deep breath, raised her chin slightly, and said smugly, “Unfortunately, I grew up in the capital, a noble lady raised in comfort and luxury, something those who grew up in the countryside can’t match.”
“You…” Jiang Jingyan was furious, but he couldn’t refute her.
According to his grandmother, Qingxu Temple was a small, remote Taoist temple. When he first saw Jiang Yunxi that day, she was dressed in a Taoist robe, and indeed, she couldn’t compare to these glamorous noble ladies.
“Which family’s young lady are you?” Jiang Yunxi asked with a smile after studying the other’s face.
“My father is the Vice Minister of Revenue,” Yu Qingwan said, stating her identity.
Jiang Yunxi laughed. “The daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue? I thought your father was the Minister of Revenue. How dare the daughter of a third-rank official compare herself to me? My father, the Duke of Yingguo, holds a first-rank position, two ranks higher than your father!”
As she spoke, her tone was full of disdain.
Comparing status and flaunting fathers, was it?
Her status was higher, and her father’s official rank was higher too!
Yu Qingwan gritted her teeth inwardly and said scornfully, “So what if your father is the Duke of Yingguo? You didn’t grow up at home. Who knows if he even likes you? I heard that Madam Mu, the Duchess of Yingguo, doesn’t like you.”
As she spoke, her face wore a mocking expression.
They had heard that Madam Mu didn’t like this daughter and favored Jiang Chenyu instead.
“What if she doesn’t like me? It still doesn’t change the fact that I am the legitimate eldest daughter of Yingguo Gongfu. I am nobler than you.” Jiang Yunxi’s coldly beautiful face showed arrogance, and she exuded an undeniable, powerful aura.
Everyone present was stunned.
They had assumed Jiang Yunxi, coming from the countryside and lacking worldly experience, would be timid, cowardly, and unfit for high society. They never expected her to be so imposing.
“Just an empty title,” Yu Qingwan sneered. So what if she was the legitimate eldest daughter of Yingguo Gongfu? Which noble lady in the capital would look up to her?
“I am still nobler than you,” Jiang Yunxi smiled.
Yu Qingwan was inwardly frantic. In terms of status alone, as the legitimate eldest daughter of Yingguo Gongfu, she was indeed nobler. “What’s there to be proud of? Look at yourself—a Taoist from some unheard-of little temple.”
Jiang Yunxi said cheerfully, “I am still nobler than you.”
Yu Qingwan was frantic again. “Can’t you say anything besides that?”
Jiang Yunxi thought for a moment and declared loudly, “I, Jiang Yunxi, am nobler than you!”
Jiang Jingyan couldn’t help but chuckle.
His sister seemed quite interesting.
Yu Qingwan completely lost her composure, her face filled with disdain as she angrily said, “How can someone as scheming as you be noble? Who knows what tricks you used to bear Prince Han’s child? No wonder Prince Han won’t marry you.”
“So what if he won’t marry me? I am still the mother of his child. And you? You are nothing!” Jiang Yunxi gave her a big, dismissive glare.
“You… you… you…” Yu Qingwan was so angry she almost wanted to hit someone, but seeing Jiang Jingyan, she ultimately held back.
“Be more virtuous with your words in the future, or you’ll easily bring misfortune upon yourself.” After saying this meaningfully, Jiang Yunxi turned to pick out hairpins.
Jiang Jingyan quickly followed her.
Yu Qingwan stomped her feet in anger, her eyes blazing with fury.
The other noble ladies watched Jiang Yunxi’s departing figure with indignation. They hadn’t expected that someone from a small, remote place—who didn’t even know to lower her posture and build good relations with them—would act so arrogantly and haughtily.
She must be relying on the fact that she gave the heirless Prince Han a pair of dragon and phoenix twins.
She thinks too highly of herself.
Prince Han doesn’t care for her at all.
Jiang Yunxi chose a smooth, plain white hairpin without any decorations or carvings—so ordinary it couldn’t be more ordinary. She had no particular interest in accessories and preferred simple hairpins for their convenience in styling her hair.
Jiang Jingyan was stunned by her choice. “Are you sure you only want this hairpin?”
“Sure. Go pay for it.” Jiang Yunxi directly inserted the hairpin into her bun.
Jiang Jingyan: “…”
Just as they stepped out of the shop.
“I want to eat tanghulu,” Jiang Yunxi said, spotting a tanghulu vendor passing by.
“Isn’t that something Momo and Mianmian like to eat?”
“I’m tasting it for them to see if it’s good.”
Jiang Jingyan: “…”
The siblings walked along, each eating a tanghulu stick.
Along the way, Jiang Jingyan asked Jiang Yunxi if she wanted anything else, saying he could buy whatever she liked.
Jiang Yunxi said she didn’t need anything for now. Her material desires were inherently low, and knowing she didn’t have much life left, she felt even less need to buy things. She wouldn’t indulge in revenge spending just because she was about to die—after all, she would still undergo Reincarnation.
Upon returning to Yingguo Gongfu, Jiang Yunxi went straight to Grandmother’s courtyard. As soon as she entered, she heard cheerful laughter inside.
“Grandmother, is Chenyu’s massage comfortable? This is a new technique I learned—it can relieve fatigue.” Jiang Chenyu stood behind Grandmother, gently massaging her neck and shoulders with her hands. That day, Grandmother had spoken with her.
She knew then that Grandmother truly cared for her.
After all, she had been by her side since childhood.
Grandmother told her to get along well with Jiang Yunxi. As for titles, Jiang Yunxi was the Third Young Miss, while she remained Miss Chenyu, and she could continue living in Yingguo Gongfu. Even if her biological parents were found in the future, this would still be her home.
Hearing this, she was deeply moved. Before, she had worried that Grandmother would favor Jiang Yunxi and drive her away.
But Grandmother also told her that Jiang Yunxi had suffered greatly after being lost since childhood. Now that she had returned, Yingguo Gongfu would treat her well.
“Comfortable, very comfortable. Your skills have improved again,” Grandmother praised with a smile.
“As long as Grandmother likes it,” Jiang Chenyu replied softly. Now, in Yingguo Gongfu, she would make Grandmother, Mother, Father, Eldest Brother, and Second Brother like her even more.
Grandmother reached out and patted her hand. “You’re very thoughtful. Sit down and rest for a while.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Come, sit. Grandmother has something to say to you.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chenyu sat down beside her. “Grandmother, what did you want to say?”
Grandmother looked at her with a kind smile. “Yunxi already has two children. You’re the same age as her and should marry. Grandmother isn’t asking you to leave Yingguo Gongfu—I want you to be happy.”
Jiang Chenyu lowered her head. “At my age, who would be willing to marry me? I don’t want to marry either. I want to stay by Grandmother’s side for the rest of my life.”
“Silly girl, how could Grandmother delay your whole life? You’re a daughter of Yingguo Gongfu—beautiful and clever. Countless noble young men would want to marry you,” Grandmother said with a bright smile. Before, when she didn’t want to marry, Grandmother thought nothing of it.
But now, it seemed best for her to marry.
She would prepare her dowry as if marrying off a daughter from Yingguo Gongfu. After raising her for twenty-two years, there was still affection. She would not treat her coldly or as an outsider just because she had found her biological granddaughter.
When the mix-up happened, she was just an infant—innocent in all of this.
“Grandmother.” Jiang Yunxi stepped inside.
She was puzzled. Why was Jiang Chenyu unwilling to marry and instead insisted on staying at Yingguo Gongfu?
Was it infatuation?
She didn’t seem the type.