“Yes, Miss Jiang comes from a wealthy family and doesn’t want to get married.” It’s said that if you eat someone’s food, you’re obligated to do so; if you take someone’s money, you’re obligated to do so. Wang the matchmaker felt that Miss Jiang’s words made perfect sense.
In Wanling Kingdom, there is an unwritten rule that a son-in-law who marries into the family will not take a concubine.
Miss Jiang's cousin has entered officialdom and is now wealthy and powerful. No one would want to marry into another family and be forced to take a concubine by their mother-in-law.
The old lady gasped. There weren't many male grandchildren in the Zhen family, and her eldest grandson was exceptionally talented; there was no reason for him to marry into the family.
It took the old lady a while to calm down and then she had someone give Wang the matchmaker a reward and send her out of the mansion.
Upon learning this news, Zhen Jingxiu silently returned to his room.
Su Jin and Xie Yunchen only learned that he had fallen ill from a cold when they went to meet him the next day.
For several days in a row, matchmakers came to the door from time to time, but the doorman politely declined and did not report them again.
Jiang Shuyue later had the gatekeeper tell the matchmaker that the Jiang family had already chosen a son-in-law.
This matter has really troubled Qiuju.
The matchmakers who came to propose marriage were all from noble families in the capital, and Qiuju understood all of that.
Three days later, the mansion was finally quiet again. After returning from the clinic, Jiang Shuyue wrote the mooncake recipe in the flower hall.
Qiuju carried the tea inside, and the afterglow of the setting sun made the leaves outside the window appear even more yellow.
Jiang Shuyue put down her pen and stretched her arms. Qiuju poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to her.
"Miss, we've announced to the public that you're already engaged, so there won't be any more chances for you to throw the bridal bouquet. Don't you already have your ideal candidate in mind?"
"No." Jiang Shuyue shook her head gently, but for some reason, that devilish face involuntarily popped into her mind.
Qiu Ju's eyes darted around. "The restaurant has been doing very well these past few days. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the inn isn't getting many guests. Is Young Master Nangong planning to return to his residence for the festival?"
"Probably. He said he was coming back a few days ago, but he hasn't come back since he found out that Sui Sui went to the palace."
Qiuju asked again, "Miss, tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Suisui should be back by then, right?"
Jiang Shuyue looked out the window. Without Sui Sui's cheerful laughter in the garden, she felt that something was missing.
When Su Sui was not at home, she would stay indoors reading and writing the rest of the time, except when she went to the dining room to eat.
Su Jin has been almost nowhere to be seen these past few days. Zhen Jingxiu is ill, and Lin Xiangzhi and Xie Yunchen have taken him to a gathering with other scholars. In just a few days, he has met many talented young men.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Shuyue said uncertainly, "He should let Sui Sui go home for the holiday, right?"
"Miss, I heard that Young Master Zhen is ill. Shall we send him a gift to express our condolences?"
Jiang Shuyue quickly waved her hand, "No! Please don't! The gatekeeper said that the matchmaker Wang went straight to the Zhen residence after leaving the gate. I suspect she came to help the Zhen family with matchmaking."
On that day, although the private matchmakers did not reveal the names of the young men from the host family, they almost all mentioned the host family's identity and background. However, the matchmaker Wang did not explain why the host family had come to act as matchmakers.
Jiang Shuyue understood perfectly well why the others hadn't been able to invite official media; someone else had simply gotten there first.
Hearing from the gatekeeper that Matchmaker Wang had gone to the Zhen residence, she had a vague idea in her mind.
Qiuju blinked. "Miss, could it be that Matchmaker Wang really came to arrange a marriage for Young Master Zhen? If I remember correctly, Young Master Zhen should be two or three years younger than you."
Jiang Shuyue thought to herself, "What a terrible thing to do!"
Her eyes flickered: "It's hard to say. Perhaps the Zhen family has other young masters. This matter should be put behind us and not brought up again. Keep your distance from the Zhen family in the future and don't get too close to avoid causing misunderstandings."
After saying that, he cursed Xiao Jingzhao in his heart again, it was all that bastard's fault.
If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have bothered to get close to the Zhen family in the first place. This misunderstanding has caused so much awkwardness when we meet again.
As expected, Sui Sui stayed in the palace for one more night before being sent back.
Princess Chang Le, who was carrying a bundle, also came along.
"Sister Jiang, you don't mind that I'm here again, do you?" Chang Le found the kitchen with practiced ease.
"May Princess be well."
When the cooks saw Chang Le appear at the door, they all put down what they were doing and bowed to her in greeting.
Chang Le smiled and said to everyone, "No need for formalities."
Jiang Shuyue was in the kitchen teaching the cooks how to bake mooncakes. The newly built baking stove was modeled after the ones in the pastry shop.
In this era without ovens, the fact that Jiang Shuyue understood the principles of baking was already astonishing.
Perhaps this principle was brought by that time-traveling predecessor. Many years have passed, and it is impossible to verify. Jiang Shuyue was already very happy to be able to eat the delicious mooncakes.
"How could I mind? The Jiang family welcomes Chang Le to visit anytime."
Jiang Shuyue finished making a mooncake and put it down, then looked towards Chang Le. The little tail behind her didn't follow. Sui Sui had returned to the mansion, so Shu Moxuan must have gone to find Su Nan.
Seeing that Jiang Shuyue's mooncakes were even more exquisite than those made by the imperial chefs, Chang Le couldn't help but swallow hard: "Sister Jiang, these pastries look so delicious. If you put some flower petals inside, one bite will leave your mouth with a fragrant aroma."
Jiang Shuyue knew immediately that Chang Le was a seasoned foodie, just like her.
She nodded with a smile, "There are peanut and pine nut fillings, as well as osmanthus and ham fillings."
What she regrets is that she is too busy on weekdays and has not had time to teach the cook how to make salted duck eggs.
Just thinking about those mooncakes with egg yolk filling makes her mouth water.
Chang Le smiled with her phoenix eyes like a greedy cat, smacked her lips and said, "Luckily I didn't listen to my second brother and stay in the palace for the festival, otherwise I would have missed Sister Jiang's delicious food today."
After watching Jiang Shuyue's demonstration, one of the cooks suggested, "Miss, the kitchen is smoky and noisy. You and the princess should rest in the flower hall. I can manage."
Jiang Shuyue stepped aside and said, "Come and try it. It's very simple. You can control the baking time yourselves. Start by baking a small batch."
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