Several years had passed since their last meeting, and upon once again stepping through the gates of the Marquis of Yiguang's residence, Zhao Shu was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She recalled how, years ago, she had told Jiang Huiji, "Only family can call me 'A-Jun'."

Now, Jiang Suiji must resent her, making him bear the name of a heartless man and imprisoning Jiang Yue in the dungeon of Guanzhou Prefecture for several years. No matter what, she is just his granddaughter, while Jiang Yue is his flesh and blood.

Ultimately, there was a barrier between them.

Her arrival startled the servants of the Marquis's residence. It was too sudden. The gatekeeper bowed and said, "Please come in, Princess." One person led her inside, while another ran to report.

Zhao Shu nodded without speaking. After walking for about a quarter of an hour, Jiang Yangshi led her maids and servants to greet her. "Why didn't you let anyone come and tell me, Auntie? I haven't prepared any food for you yet." She smiled, looking even more kind. Over the years, she had supported the Yiguang Marquis's Mansion with great difficulty, and she looked much older than she had a few years ago.

"This servant greets the Princess. May the Princess be blessed with ten thousand years of happiness and good health." The maids and servants behind Jiang Yangshi curtsied in greeting.

"Ah Jun greets Aunt." Zhao Shufang curtsied, but before she could finish speaking, Jiang Yangshi helped her up. She looked Zhao Shufang up and down and said, "It's been many years since I last saw you. Ah Jun has grown up. Aunt was planning to visit you tomorrow, but I didn't expect you to come here so soon."

The old woman behind her, fearing that Zhao Shu would be angry, chimed in to explain, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but your uncle has just given birth to a healthy baby boy, and your wife just returned from Shuoyang yesterday."

Shuoyang is home to a branch of the Yang family, which can also be considered the birthplace of the Yang family. Among the aristocratic Yang families, the Shuoyang Yang family is the most prosperous, and naturally, it is now the largest Yang family in the capital.

Jiang Yangshi was born into a collateral branch of the Yang family. Zhao Shu's eyes lit up and she came up with a plan. She smiled and said, "Congratulations on the birth of your nephew, Aunt. However, Shuoyang is too far from the capital. If it were closer, I would definitely go and share in the joy."

Zhao Shu was not angry. Jiang Yangshi and the maids and servants behind her all breathed a sigh of relief. She pointed to Green Ivy and said, "Ah Jun has grown up. If I hadn't seen this girl just now, I definitely wouldn't have recognized her. She used to look like a little fairy, but now she looks like a fairy."

“My aunt said I look like a little fairy. Could it be that Ah Jun looked like a boy when she was little?” Zhao Shu teased.

Jiang Yangshi couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, and the gloom in her eyes faded considerably. As she spoke, she arrived at the front hall of the main courtyard and met Jiang Huaixiang, who had just received the news and rushed over.

Jiang Huaixiang's features hadn't changed much, except that he had grown from a boy into a man. Upon seeing Zhao Shu, he blushed and bowed from a distance, saying, "Cousin."

"Greetings, cousin," Zhao Shu bowed in return, casually changing the subject, "Why haven't I seen my older cousin?"

"She's still in Shuoyang. When she returns, my cousin told her to come talk to you," Jiang Huai quickly explained.

"I see." Zhao Shu didn't ask any more questions after hearing that. "Is my cousin still studying at the academy?"

"Yes, I still miss it." He was quite embarrassed, and his face turned even redder after he said that.

Seeing his appearance, Zhao Shu felt that the son of the Marquis of Yiguang was not well-mannered and lacked confidence. He was not like this when she saw him before. Back then, the Crown Prince... Let's not talk about those days.

"Does my cousin not want to go to the Imperial Academy?"

"Huh?" Jiang Huai was startled, then said with great uncertainty, "The Imperial Academy's requirements are too high."

"Cousin, do you think you're not good enough? Others are human, not gods. If others can go, why can't you? Don't think you can't do it before you've even tried." She had been in a bad mood lately, and when she was in a bad mood, she became extremely rude. She had tried to change this habit, but hadn't managed to.

Jiang Huai was young and inexperienced. He was slightly annoyed by Zhao Shu's sharp rebuke. When had he ever been lectured by a woman? Even his mother had never spoken to him so harshly.

Seeing her foolish son getting stuck on something again, Jiang Yangshi quickly changed the subject, "Your cousin is right, why don't you thank her?"

Upon hearing Jiang Yangshi's words, Zhao Shu sighed, softened her tone, and changed the subject, "I wonder if my uncle is here?"

“Your uncle went to Jiangbei, saying he was visiting a friend. He’s been gone for over two months and didn’t know you were returning to the capital this year, so he didn’t wait for you at home.” As Jiang Yangshi spoke, she didn’t forget to give Jiang Huai Xiangshi a meaningful look.

Jiang Huai had no choice but to bow and say, "Please don't be angry, cousin. I was not in a good mood just now. You only spoke up to persuade me because you thought I was your brother. I didn't understand your good intentions and had many misunderstandings. I was really wrong. Thank you very much, cousin."

“Cousin, there’s no need for that.” Zhao Shu didn’t want to dwell on the topic any longer, so she turned to Jiang Yangshi and asked, “Aunt, where is Grandfather?”

“Your maternal grandfather has always lived at Jiaolan Academy and only returns to the Marquis’s residence once every six months.” Jiang Yang’s expression turned a little unwell as she said this, but she quickly recovered. “Ah Jun, come and have some tea. This is Jiuhua Maofeng tea that your aunt brought back from Shuoyang. It’s very delicious to have a taste now and then.”

Zhao Shu smiled and took a sip. It was indeed fresh, mellow, and rich, with a high and refreshing aroma and a sweet aftertaste. Her gaze fell on the thick calluses on Jiang Yang's hands. She was familiar with these calluses, which were left from embroidery.

As she slowly moved her hand up, Jiang Yangshi looked somewhat haggard. Although she tried her best to appear happy, it was clear that she had something on her mind. Many people in the family were not around, and she had to support the entire Marquis's mansion by herself, which must have been very difficult.

"Aunt, I'd like to speak with you alone, is that alright?"

"Alright." Jiang Yang smiled suddenly. "Look at me, I'd completely forgotten that A-Jun has grown into a young lady." Then she turned to Jiang Huai and said, "Didn't you say you still had lessons to review?"

"Yes, Mother." He bowed extremely respectfully. "Cousin, I take my leave."

Zhao Shu watched him leave with a smile, and only after his figure had completely disappeared and the maids and servants had stood far away did she say, "Aunt, my grandfather must have received the Empress Dowager's edict. I wonder if he is angry with me?"

“Oh, why would your grandfather be angry with his granddaughter? Ah Jun, don’t overthink it. You are your grandfather’s only granddaughter. He dotes on you, so why would he be angry?” Jiang Yangshi said with a smile, as she poured herself a cup of tea. She looked down at the teacup, avoiding eye contact with Zhao Shu.

Zhao Shu didn't miss the unease in her eyes and immediately asked, "Really? Then why hasn't my maternal grandfather written to me all these years? If my memory were a little bad, I would have almost forgotten that I even have a maternal family."

Jiang Yangshi paused for a moment, her hand holding the teapot pausing before she extended a wider smile and looked at Zhao Shu, "A-Jun knows, the Marquis's mansion is not what it used to be, and your maternal grandfather is also devoted to the academy..."

“My aunt also blames me for letting my uncle go to find my brother, the Crown Prince, and crippling his hand.” Zhao Shu interrupted her. “So, my aunt and maternal grandfather both blame me. I came here today to inform my maternal grandfather that I will immediately avenge my mother and brother. If he disowns me as his granddaughter because of this, I will not blame him. I also feel very guilty that my uncle’s hand was crippled. If my aunt is willing, I can find a way to get my cousin into the Imperial Academy.”