"Miss, this servant does not think it is Young Master Su who has arrived."

If it were Young Master Su who had arrived, how could the maidservant have made her mistress guess?

Qiuju looked around but couldn't see Gao Mu and Suisui. She guessed, "Miss, could it be the Emperor?"

"How could that be? His Majesty has been very busy lately. The position of Prime Minister is vacant, and he needs to find someone capable of taking on this important role. He also needs to review the examination papers for the imperial examinations. How could he possibly be running to our residence all the time?" Jiang Shuyue said as she strode towards Xingyue Courtyard.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard silvery laughter coming from inside the house.

"It's Miss Du!"

As soon as Jiang Shuyue stepped into the courtyard, Du Yutong rushed out of the house like a gust of wind.

She stepped forward and hugged Jiang Shuyue's arm, winking playfully: "Sister Yue'er, how is it? Are you surprised to see me?"

"It's Xi, why are you acting like a child? You even told the maid not to tell me, making it all so mysterious. I thought it was A-Jin and Nan-Nan who had come to the capital." Jiang Shuyue said, reaching out her finger to gently stroke the tip of Xi's slightly upturned nose.

"Sister Yue'er, I haven't seen you for several days and I miss you so much. Father rejected Aunt's marriage proposal, and I'm so happy that I thought I'd come and tell you."

Qiuju chimed in, "Actually, even if Miss Du didn't say it, Miss already knew that Aunt Du's marriage wouldn't work out."

Seeing Jiang Shuyue nod, he said, "Lord Du isn't stupid. Minister Jiang has been demoted to a minor post. With his career in such a bad way, what future does he have? No matter how persuasive the matchmaker is, your father won't agree to this marriage."

"Sister Yue'er is so wise and insightful. My father was right too. A good-for-nothing like him wants to climb the social ladder. Dream on." Du Yutong pulled Jiang Shuyue's arm and walked towards the flower hall.

She never held back in front of Jiang Shuyue, speaking her mind freely, completely disregarding her father's reputation.

After they were seated, a maid brought in tea, and Qiuju went to check what dishes were available in the kitchen that day.

Knowing that Su Jin and Su Nan would be arriving in the next few days, she specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare extra food.

In the flower hall, Du Yutong pushed an exquisite wooden box toward Jiang Shuyue, "Here, your aunt made this especially for you. Do you like it? If you do, we'll make this fragrance next time."

Even before the lid was opened, a faint fragrance filled the air.

"I like rose scented incense." Jiang Shuyue took the wooden box, opened it, and sure enough, there was a box of incense inside.

“My aunt made these herself. Her incense is even better than the ones sold in shops. Try them tonight.”

Jiang Shuyue picked it up and sniffed it. "The fragrance is just right. I have gardenia-scented incense and jasmine incense in my room. The only thing missing is rose fragrance."

Seeing Jiang Shuyue's obvious delight, Du Yutong said happily, "I knew Sister Yue'er would like it. One of my aunt's dowry shops sells incense. My aunt originally knew how to make incense, and later she hired a shop assistant who also knew how to make incense. Some of the incense-making techniques were taught to my aunt by that shop assistant."

"Sister Yue'er, have you heard? Jiang Zhengming's marriage proposal to Aunt was rejected, so he made one of his concubines his legal wife."

Seeing Du Yutong's gossipy expression, Jiang Shuyue looked incredulous. "Is that so? Could it be that they've made that concubine Yang their official wife again?"

Du Yutong shook her head and pursed her lips, "No, it's the mother of that eldest son from a concubine. I heard that woman transformed into the legal wife and completely suppressed Aunt Yang. She even sold off the maids in Aunt Yang's room."

Jiang Shuyue was not the original owner of this body, so she was completely unmoved when she heard about Jiang Zhengming.

She casually put away the incense and analyzed it as if it were none of her business, "It's understandable. Once someone has been bullied and has turned the tables, of course they'll retaliate tenfold."

In the original owner's memory, Jiang Shuyue didn't have much of an impression of Jiang Zhengming's other two concubines, perhaps because they had little contact with them.

"Also, the plaque on the main gate of the Minister's Mansion has been taken down. I heard from the maids in the mansion that the Jiang family has moved to the north of the city." Du Yutong rested her chin on her hand as she talked about the latest gossip in the capital.

"Yes, the official position is gone, but the mansion belongs to the imperial court, so it naturally has to be taken back." Jiang Shuyue nodded slightly, expressionless, as if discussing the weather today.

Du Yutong leaned forward slightly and said mysteriously, "Sister Yue'er, do you know that Lord Jiang has secretly committed the crime of deceiving the emperor?"

"No way? Shouldn't the crime of deceiving the emperor be punished by arrest and trial? How come he was only demoted?"

Jiang Shuyue had her doubts; Jiang Zhengming shouldn't have the guts to deceive the emperor.

“He has hidden Jiang Jiaojiao away. If the Emperor investigates, this would be tantamount to deceiving the Emperor.”

Jiang Shuyue's eyes widened. "You know that?"

"Of course, the maids sold by the Jiang family happened to know the maids in the mansion. I heard this from the maids. But you could say it wasn't deceiving the emperor, since the emperor only dismissed the family members of the prime minister's mansion."

After gossiping, Du Yutong produced a gold lock necklace as if by magic.

"Sister Yue'er, this is a gift for my dear nephew. Where is he?"

"You've gone to too much trouble. I'll thank Auntie on behalf of Sui Sui. He and Nangong Zeyue went to the city gate to welcome Su Jin and Su Nan. They probably won't be back by noon." Jiang Shuyue didn't stand on ceremony and took the heavy gold lock, playing with it in her hands.

"It's okay, I'll wait for him to come back. I already told my mother when I left that I would be home late."

"Miss, Miss Du, please try the freshly baked pastries."

As the two were talking, Lan'er walked in carrying a plate of crispy pear cakes, interrupting their conversation.

The pear cake tastes best when it's hot. Jiang Shuyue placed the gold lock on the incense box, took the handkerchief handed to her by Lan'er, wiped her hands, and said to Du Yutong, "Try it quickly. This cake is good for the lungs and relieves autumn dryness. It's a health-preserving cake."

Du Yutong didn't stand on ceremony either. She picked up another handkerchief, wiped her hands, picked up a piece, and put it in her mouth.

"Sister Yue'er, I must come to your residence often. The pastries made in your kitchen are so unique, they are both delicious and nourishing."

"These pastries are nothing. I'll treat you to a big meal in a few days."

"It's a pity that the most famous Juxian Pavilion in the capital has closed down. If Juxian Pavilion were still open, I would like to take Sui Sui there to eat their traditional crispy duck. That dish is so delicious."

Seeing Du Yutong's regretful expression, Jiang Shuyue smiled without saying a word.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Immediately afterwards, Sui Sui ran in quickly and jumped into her mother's arms.

"Mother, we're back."

"Did you pick up your uncle?" Jiang Shuyue asked, stroking Sui Sui's little face.

"No, Uncle Gao is still waiting outside the city. Uncle Nangong and I came back first." After Sui Sui finished speaking, she turned her head and saw a pretty girl staring at her with wide eyes and curiosity.

"Quickly call her Auntie."

"Hello, pretty auntie!" Du Yutong couldn't help but want to reach out and pinch Sui Sui's little cheeks because of his adorable appearance.

"Sister Yue'er, Sui Sui is so handsome. His father must be a good-looking man. Why don't you want him? It's such a waste."

"Cough cough..."