"Really?" Old Mrs. Li quickly put down the sapphire blue satin and went to examine the other fabrics.

Jiayin brought in a plate of dried meat from outside, smiling as she stuffed a piece into the mouths of both Grandma and Madam Wen.

"Grandma, Auntie, how does it taste?"

“My mother and third aunt are still making it. It weighs about five or six jin. Tomorrow, my second uncle and the others will take it into the city and deliver it to my brother Jiayi.”

"This butcher shop is very filling. If it's inconvenient for Yi-ge to eat inside, he can just chew a couple of pieces and it will keep him full for a while."

Old Mrs. Li sneered, "He's doing a good deed by going to jail; the family will have to prepare extra food for him."

That's what she said, but she added, "Make more spicy ones, Jiayi likes strong flavors."

Madam Wen and Jiayin couldn't help but laugh when they heard this.

Just then, Zhao Yuru came in from outside and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Mother, most of them are spicy, and only a small portion are sweet."

With such a major event happening at home, it was natural to send a message to Luo An.

Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru rushed back last night.

Li Laosan took over the household and village affairs, allowing his two older brothers to focus on their work in the city.

Zhao Yuru stayed at home to take care of the elderly and children and to lend a hand to Tao Hongying.

Grandma Li pulled Zhao Yuru to sit down, then called to Jiayin, "Go and tell your mother to come in and rest for a while. She's been busy all morning."

Jiayin agreed and was about to leave when a maidservant rushed in. "Master, news came from the second village that a young lady has come to visit the princess with a group of people, but she refuses to give her name, only saying that she is the third child in her family."

Everyone was puzzled, but Jiayin was quick-witted and immediately guessed the identity of the person who had come. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let the Second Village let them in. Don't neglect the proper etiquette!"

"Yes, Princess." The little maidservant quickly ran back.

Old Mrs. Li asked, "Fu Niu'er, who's here?"

Jiayin replied, "Grandma, it should be the third princess from the palace."

The Third Princess?

Everyone was startled.

Zhao Yuru frowned and asked, "What is the Third Princess doing here at this time? Is she here to interrogate me?"

Old Mrs. Li and Madam Wen also looked unwell.

No matter how you look at it, the Third Princess's visit can't possibly be anything good...

Jiayin smiled and comforted them, "Grandma, don't worry."

“This is our home. No matter what her purpose is, we won’t let her bully us.”

Grandma Li and the others nodded, their brows slightly relaxed.

Soon, the Third Princess brought two nannies into the Li family courtyard.

Perhaps not wanting outsiders to know, the Third Princess dressed very plainly, even wearing a large cloak that completely covered her head and face.

Seeing her like this, the Li family treated her as an ordinary guest, offering simple greetings and serving tea and snacks.

The third princess was not angry at all; instead, she greeted everyone with a smile.

This made Jiayin secretly sigh.

She wasn't the only one who grew up; the Third Princess also shed her childhood arrogance and finally developed some composure.

Old Mrs. Li was elderly and the most senior member of the Li family, so she was keeping the princess company while they exchanged pleasantries.

What about the cold winter weather? Are there many people in the new capital shopping for New Year's goods? What kind of pastries does the princess like to eat? How much care is put into making the pastries at home...?

The Third Princess patiently agreed for a few moments, but eventually couldn't hold back any longer and turned to Jiayin, saying, "Jiayin, could we speak to each other alone for a few minutes?"

Hearing her address so affectionately, Jiayin secretly shuddered and said, "Alright, Princess, please come to my room for a while!"

After saying that, she was about to lead the Third Princess to the backyard.

Grandma Li, Zhao Yuru, and the others were worried and got up to try to stop her, but Jiayin waved her hand, so they had no choice but to stay.

Perhaps to show that she meant no harm, the Third Princess left the two nannies in the front courtyard as well.

Jiayin led the Third Princess to the backyard and into her suite.

Jiayin has been staying here these past few days to keep her grandmother company.

Therefore, on the kang (heated brick bed) where she usually lived, there were travelogues she often read, boxes full of snacks, and even a plate of golden-red oranges.

Two pots of camellias in full bloom hung on the wall by the window, faintly emitting a delicate fragrance.

The kang (heated brick bed) was warm and cozy, covered with a brand-new straw mat.

Two thick cotton cushions, embroidered with a憨厚 (honest and simple) and 逗逗 (among) big polar bears, were placed next to the kang table, and two plush cats leaned against the side...

The third princess looked around carefully, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.

Her palace was much larger and more luxurious than this room, but it couldn't compare to the comfort and warmth of this place.

Jiayin invited her to sit down and peeled an orange for her herself, but didn't say a word.

The third princess took the orange, and after a moment of awkwardness, she forced herself to say, "Sister Jiayin, I came here today... hoping you can do me a favor."

Jiayin pretended to be naive, "Princess, you are joking. I am just a little girl from a farming family."

“You are a princess, a dignified princess, and I am but a humble person with little influence. I am afraid I cannot help you.”

The third princess panicked and quickly said, "No, you can definitely help. Father Emperor likes you more than me. If you help him plead for mercy, Father Emperor will definitely let him go..."

She was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly met Jiayin's cold expression and couldn't continue.

Jiayin put down her teacup and asked, "Why did the princess stop talking? Perhaps the princess knows how unreasonable it is that she asked me to do this favor?"

The third princess bit her lip and said with a forced smile, "I know that my mother and maternal grandparents have angered your family, but they were just acting on impulse."

"Besides, you weren't...you weren't injured, so can't you be magnanimous and forgive them?"

"Hmph!" Jiayin sneered angrily, almost smashing her teacup, and retorted, "Princess, since you say so, you must know what your mother and the Wu family did, right?"

"Princess, you've studied for so many years, can't you even understand the meaning of reason?"

"Put yourself in their shoes. If someone wanted to do that to you, would you forgive them?"

The third princess, who rarely bowed her head for her mother's sake, became angry when pressed for an answer and shouted, "Why won't you forgive me?"

"My mother and the Wu family were just trying to scare you! You're still alive, aren't you? Your family has already killed my cousin, why do you have to go and wipe them all out?"

"Is it so hard to just let you say a few words to my father and then let the matter drop?!"

"I promise that my mother and maternal grandparents will never bully you or cause trouble for your family again, okay?"

"No way!" Jiayin was also annoyed and slammed her hand on the table. "They want to kill me, why should I plead for them?"

"Whatever suffering they endure, they deserve it. Who made them do bad things? This is called karmic retribution!"

"Also, I thought that the princess had grown a few years older and should have become more shrewd, but I didn't expect her to still be just as stupid."

"Are you really the Emperor's daughter? How come you haven't inherited any of his wisdom?"

"You!" The Third Princess's face turned ashen from the scolding, and she stood up, ready to unleash her fury.

Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open, and Old Lady Li led Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru in from outside.

When Jiayin saw what Old Lady Li was holding, she was startled, and the Third Princess's legs went weak...

Served at midnight~~