Zeng Baozhu was not willing at all!

She had lived for sixteen years and had never bowed or lowered her head to anyone other than her own elders. Now, asking her to apologize to a lowly noblewoman was absolutely impossible!

But when she saw the three words Jiang uttered with a slight movement of her lips, her rebellious spirit instantly softened.

Zeng Baozhu looked at Jiang Segu reluctantly, her lips moving as if she were saying "I'm sorry," but it was as if she didn't say anything at all.

Jiang then mediated, pulling Jiang Segu aside and saying, "Azi, I really spoil your sister Baozhu. But you saw it, she really wants to apologize to you, but she's too proud to do so right now."

For Aunt Zeng's sake, could you forgive her this time? Aunt Zeng promises you that such a thing will never happen again!

The wife of the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion made Jiang Segu call her aunt, and had her daughter, who was a princess, call Jiang Segu younger sister. She even apologized to Jiang Segu in front of all the guests. This was giving Jiang Segu a lot of face!

Many people were secretly jealous, thinking that if Jiang Segu knew what was good for her, she should have stepped forward and said that it was all a misunderstanding. This would have saved face for the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo and shown the guests the magnanimity of the Jiang family!

Of course, there are also a small number of clear-headed people who will scoff at Jiang's actions!

Using one's own identity to win over and mislead a child who has not yet reached marriageable age is not a good method!

Moreover, if Jiang Segu were to forgive Zeng Baozhu's apology in front of everyone, it wouldn't be a demonstration of tolerance, but rather an indication of his own incompetence and weakness!

If it were Jiang Segu in his previous life, he might have turned this big problem into a small one and then forgotten about it.

But now...

Jiang Segu smiled brightly and took Jiang's hand, saying, "I thought someone of your status would be arrogant and look down on ordinary families! I never expected you to be such a humble person!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang felt contempt for Jiang Segu, but her face remained kind and amiable. Just as she was about to reply, Jiang Segu said, "Someone as knowledgeable and reasonable as you would surely not hold it against me if I did anything out of line, right?"

Jiang's heart skipped a beat, and her face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

“Someone as well-mannered and knowledgeable as A-Zi, who has been taught by the palace maids, would not do anything out of line! Besides, today is the old lady's birthday, and you have always been favored by the old lady. Even for the old lady's sake, why would A-Zi cause trouble!”

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Jiang Segu's eyes; this was a signal for her to back down!

But she refused!

“Aunt Zeng is right. Of course I won’t cause trouble, but I’m truly worried about Aunt Zeng and Sister Baozhu…” As she spoke, Jiang Segu turned around and pulled Qingying over. “Aunt Zeng wasn’t here just now, so you don’t know, you see…”

She unfolded Qingying's hand, which had been marked with red welts from the whip, and, fearing that Jiang Shi might not see it clearly, she stretched Qingying's hand out in front of Jiang Shi.

"If it weren't for my Qingying's agility, this whip would have struck my face! Originally, Sister Baozhu was a princess, and I was just a girl from a small marquis's mansion. I shouldn't have overestimated myself and argued with Sister Baozhu."

But I'm also worried that Sister Baozhu might be misled and become arrogant and domineering, someone that everyone in the capital would talk about and shake their heads in disdain!

She spoke with great earnestness, and her face conveyed an expression that said, "I'm not trying to hold a grudge, I'm just worried about your daughter's reputation," which made Madam Jiang angry but dare not show it in the slightest!

"Baozhu, look what you've done to that maid! Luckily, your sixth sister is kind and generous and doesn't hold it against you. She's even worried about your reputation. If it were anyone else, they would have retaliated! Azi, tomorrow your aunt will definitely have your sister Baozhu personally come to apologize to you!"

"No way! Someone as precious as Sister Baozhu shouldn't apologize to me! Besides, I wasn't injured!"

The implication was clear: Zeng Baozhu was to apologize to Qingying!

Such a young girl, yet she has quite the ambition!

They actually dared to expect her precious daughter to apologize to a maid!

If word gets out, how will her daughter Baozhu ever face anyone again!

"Azi, I'm relieved to hear you say that! In that case, your sister Baozhu and I won't keep you from entertaining the guests any longer!"

Jiang Segu smiled and said, "If Aunt Zeng wants to leave, of course I can't stop her! Ladies and young ladies, please make way for Aunt Zeng, so you don't accidentally bump into her and Sister Baozhu and cause any misunderstandings!"

By making all the guests give way to Madam Jiang and Zeng Baozhu, and then saying such things, isn't that just publicly telling everyone how arrogant this mother and daughter are?

Jiang could no longer maintain her friendly demeanor; her gaze towards Jiang Segu was as if it were poisoned.

"Aunt Zeng, why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"

Jiang Segu looked cautious, but his eyes were full of determination!

Seeing the ladies and noblewomen whispering among themselves, Madam Jiang suppressed her anger and forced a smile, saying, "It wasn't that Azi misspoke, it was just that your aunt was confused for a moment! Baozhu, come here and apologize to your sixth sister!"

"Mother, didn't she say she wasn't hurt and didn't want me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang slapped him across the face.

This foolish daughter, if she doesn't apologize to Jiang Segu, does she really expect a princess to bow and beg a maid?!

Zeng Baozhu, unaware of Jiang's intentions, looked at her incredulously, "Mother, you hit me? You hit me for an outsider?"

Jiang's hands hurt, but her heart ached even more.

This is the first time she has ever laid a hand on her daughter!

But now is not the time to feel sorry for them!

"Baozhu, quickly apologize to your sixth sister!"

"I don't!"

Zeng Baozhu threw down two words and stormed off in anger!

"Why aren't you all hurrying after the princess!"

Jiang Segu did not stop her. Anyway, with the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo's heir present, she was not afraid that no one would apologize to Qingying!

"I'm so sorry, it's all my fault for not raising my daughter well, making her a laughing stock in front of everyone!"

Jiang bowed to the crowd.

Some of the young women and grandmothers quickly turned to the side.

"Azi, this is all your sister Baozhu's fault. I'll make sure she comes to apologize to you later." Saying this, she pulled Qingying and said, "You know how to protect your master, that's really a good thing. It's all because of my wretched child's nonsense that you were implicated!"

As she spoke, she took off a multi-jeweled red gold bracelet from her hand and put it on Qingying's wrist.

Qingying tried to pull her hand back.

Jiang said, "Don't refuse, consider this an apology!"

Thus, the farce that started because of Zhu Qingyou's words finally came to an end.

After politely seeing Jiang off, Jiang Segu realized that Zhu Qingying and her sister had disappeared.

In that moment, she couldn't even comfort Qingying, so she ordered Qiaolian and Qingying to go find someone...