Jiang Yao's personality changed drastically.

Recently, he even got involved with the Crown Princess and set up a workshop in the suburbs of Beijing with her brother, where he collected a lot of wool and hired many women.

The wool workshops were bustling with activity all day long, but no one knew what they were doing. The management was too strict, and outsiders couldn't get in at all. The women who worked there couldn't easily go home either, but because the pay was generous, they were all eager to work there.

"Speaking of which, your sister is just as extraordinary as you. She can write poetry and make ice. Now she has started a wool workshop. Many people say that ice making is a celestial art. Could it be that you two sisters are truly fairies descended to earth?"

These words are truly devastating; aside from the royal family, who would dare to associate themselves with the heavens?

Jiang Shuwan chuckled and continued cracking melon seeds. "Your Highness is too kind. It's just a clever trick. If I were a fairy, I wouldn't be at your mercy."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengyun immediately frowned unhappily, "Did my invitation to the opera cause you any problems?"

"You're forcing me; I didn't do it willingly."

As Jiang Shuwan spoke, she moved closer to the window. Li Chengyun was so big that he almost completely occupied the window area.

Jiang Shuwan raised her hand and patted Li Chengyun's arm, then gestured for him to stand to the side.

"You're so casual..."

With a cold snort, Li Chengyun's handsome face showed a displeased expression, but he still moved to the side.

Jiang Shuwan immediately squeezed through and just happened to see Jiang Yao accompanying the Crown Princess out of the jewelry store. The Crown Princess was saying something, and Jiang Yao nodded in agreement.

Jiang Shuwan stared at the two women, her gaze tracing back and forth across their faces.

As she was pondering, her arm was suddenly poked by the paper fan in Li Chengyun's hand.

"Why didn't you dodge..."

"Why would I hide? You're not afraid of being seen, so why should I be?"

Jiang Shuwan subconsciously retorted, then looked back down and saw that the Crown Princess and Jiang Yao had already spotted her at the entrance of the jewelry store across the street.

A jinx...

She stomped hard on Li Chengyun's foot, ignoring his angry grimaces, and with a smile on her face, Jiang Shuwan leaned against the window and waved to Jiang Yao and the Crown Princess downstairs.

Jiang Yao snorted coldly and immediately turned her head away, pretending not to see anything. The Crown Princess looked at her in surprise, especially at the handsome man beside her who was waving a peony fan.

"I finally managed to leave the palace, and I never expected to run into the county princess."

Entering the private room on the second floor of the opera house, the Crown Princess greeted Jiang Shuwan with a smile and said, "Your Highness is the daughter of the General Pingxi, who guards the border. You are always dignified and have a heroic spirit that the daughters of the capital do not possess."

She greeted Jiang Shuwan politely, then turned her gaze to another person in the room.

The other person was dressed in a dazzling purple robe, with a jeweled jade belt around their waist, showing off their broad shoulders and narrow waist, and their graceful figure. They also wore a crown of eight treasures and pearls in red gold, with red and blue gems shining brightly on the crown.

The dazzling gemstones reflected his androgynous face, making it impossible not to linger on his features.

Almost every time I see him, I'm always amazed by his beauty.

Clearing her throat, the Crown Princess smiled and asked, "Is Fourth Brother here too?"

Li Chengyun moved over and said with a smile, "Greetings, Your Highness. Is there anything Your Highness wishes to buy? If you see anything you like, please feel free to tell me."

Does this mean they're going to pay for the Crown Princess's meal?

As Jiang Shuwan listened, she glanced at Li Chengyun.

With the new commercial tax and the new land reform, neither the eldest prince nor the crown prince lacked money. Li Chengyun, on the other hand, was very generous.

However, this scoundrel is indeed not short of money. He has Song Huaizhang to make money for him, and he is also a playboy by imperial decree.

"Then I'll thank you in advance, Fourth Brother." The Crown Princess didn't stand on ceremony and replied with a smile.

The four entered the room, and a servant brought up fresh tea.

A group of people sat by the window, mostly Li Chengyun and the Crown Princess talking, while Jiang Shuwan and Jiang Yao just sat and drank tea.

The Crown Princess clearly noticed the strained relationship between the two sisters, especially Jiang Yao's deep hostility towards Jiang Shuwan. Just then, someone downstairs ordered a performance of The Legend of the White Snake, which happened to be showing the scene where the White Snake and Green Snake had finished arguing, and the Green Snake encountered trouble, with the White Snake coming to her rescue.

The Crown Princess sighed.

"When I saw this play, I thought of my home. I grew up on the border. The western border was not peaceful and there were always foreign enemies coming to harass us. Once, I don't know how, a few foreign enemies sneaked in and tied me up. Fortunately, my brother saved me."

"If you ask me, there's no one more reliable in this world than your brothers and sisters, don't you think, Mrs. Uncle?"

Jiang Yao's face stiffened slightly when her name was called.

The next second, she lowered her head and said, "What the Crown Princess says is true. My elder sister has always taken good care of me, and I am very grateful."

The Crown Princess immediately smiled with satisfaction, but Jiang Shuwan frowned.

Given Jiang Yao's previous temper, she would have flipped the table long ago if anyone dared to say such things, but now she's obedient.

The Jiang family is still connected by blood, so it's good that she's made progress; it's just like trying to get something from a tiger...

"..."

A glint flashed in her eyes, and Jiang Shuwan turned around, holding her teacup. She spoke softly, "I heard that Second Sister is currently doing business with the Crown Princess. If the Crown Princess needs any help, she can ask."

"It's just a small business, and my younger brother is managing it now, so there's no need to trouble the county magistrate. However, if there's any need, we'll have to trouble the county magistrate."

The Crown Princess then instructed her servants to bring her younger brother up.

The Crown Princess's younger brother is named Ye Jingyu. He is about the same age as Jiang Shuwan. He is the third son of the General of Pingxi, and has no right to inherit the family business. He is also not good at studying and is not very bright. Jiang Shuwan will have to take care of him in the future.

"Greetings, County Princess; greetings, Fourth Prince." Upon seeing Jiang Shuwan, Li Chengyun, and Ye Jingyu, they bowed respectfully.

Jiang Shuwan smiled and said, "We're all family, please have a seat, Third Brother."

As she spoke, she pointed to the spot next to her.

Ye Jingyu lowered his head and obediently sat down. Throughout the conversation, Ye Jingyu remained docile and listened attentively, never interrupting. He would answer Jiang Shuwan's questions, and silently drink his tea if she didn't ask.

Jiang Shuwan stared at him with a mysterious and inscrutable expression.

Although the Crown Princess kept saying that Ye Jingyu was bad at studying and stupid.

However, the fact that he was able to marry into the capital with the Crown Princess speaks volumes about his abilities.

...

On the other side, the Crown Princess was also observing Jiang Shuwan.

She had met Jiang Shuwan a few times, but they weren't very familiar with each other. Li Chengyun, on the other hand, had been in more contact with Jiang Shuwan recently.

Thinking this, the Crown Princess glanced at Li Chengyun across from her.

Li Chengyun was sitting to Jiang Shuwan's right, and at that moment he was holding a teapot and adding tea to Jiang Shuwan's cup.

The Crown Princess's gaze immediately widened, her eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

She had never seen Li Chengyun pour tea for anyone, including the Crown Prince.