The two of them felt as if they had been pardoned. They kowtowed and expressed their gratitude, saying over and over, "Thank you, Queen Dowager, for your grace. Thank you, Queen Dowager, for your grace..." Then, they stood up dejectedly, lowered their heads, and hurriedly left the Cining Palace.
The Queen Mother watched them flee in disarray, gently shaking her head, a flicker of helplessness and regret in her eyes. Seeing this, a nearby maid softly asked, "Queen Mother, are you letting them off so easily?" The Queen Mother smiled faintly, a hint of meaning flashing in her eyes as she slowly said, "No rush. Once Jinli gets married, there will be plenty of opportunities to deal with them. If I punish them harshly now, it would seem petty and would spoil the children's fun. It won't be too late to settle accounts with them later after the wedding."
Elsewhere, inside the Zhuangyuan Mansion, Su Jinli was happily helping Jiang Yan organize his study. Inside, bookshelves filled with a wide variety of books filled the air, the faint scent of ink lingering. Su Jinli moved between the shelves, returning scattered books to their proper places and meticulously wiping the dust from the desk. Jiang Yan stood quietly by, watching her busy figure, his heart filled with happiness and satisfaction.
He walked over lightly, as if afraid of disturbing a beautiful butterfly, and gently hugged Su Jinli from behind, burying his head in her neck, and whispered, "Jinli, thank you for your hard work. With you by my side, I feel like the happiest person in the world."
Su Jinli froze for a moment, then relaxed. A playful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth as she said softly, "Who made you the stupid top scholar? You can't even clean up your study. If I don't come to help, who knows how messy it will be."
Jiang Yan chuckled softly, and the laughter sounded like the pleasant sound of a piano, ringing in Su Jinli's ears: "Stupid top scholar only listens to you. As long as it is what you say, I am willing to do it." The voice was gentle and affectionate, as if to melt the whole world in this love.
The two were immersed in this sweet atmosphere when suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the window: "Brother Jiang Yan! If you dare to bully my sister, I will chop you down!"
Su Jinli and Jiang Yan were startled at the same time and turned to look out the window. They saw Young Marquis Su struggling to lean on the wall, his little face flushed red. He held the toy sword high in his hand and stared at Jiang Yan seriously. It seemed that if Jiang Yan dared to say "no", he would immediately jump in and fight Jiang Yan to the death.
Jiang Yan shook his head helplessly, but with a doting smile on his face, he said loudly: "I know, young marquis. Don't worry, I love your sister so much, how could I bully her."
Su Jinli also laughed and shouted, "Come down quickly, be careful not to fall! You little rascal, why are you climbing up the wall again?"
Young Marquis Su made a face at them, then rolled over and swiftly jumped down. A moment later, he was seen bounding into the study, followed by Su Qingyao. Su Qingyao, holding a piece of freshly made rouge, said with a smile, "Jinli, try this color. I made it especially for you. It's called 'Zhuangyuan Red,' which symbolizes a prosperous life after your wedding to Jiang Yan. It's perfect for your wedding."
Su Jinli took the rouge and looked at the gorgeous color, her heart filled with emotion. She watched her brother and elder sister busying around, then turned to look at Jiang Yan, who was smiling at her, his eyes full of love. At this moment, Su Jinli's heart was filled with emotion, and tears welled up in her eyes. She knew that in this life, she was no longer the lonely and helpless daughter of the firstborn. Now, she had the meticulous love of her family and the unwavering care of her lover. Such a life was really good.
In the days that followed, preparations for Su Jinli and Jiang Yan's wedding proceeded intensively. Su Jinli shuttled daily between the Prime Minister's Residence and the No. 1 Scholar's Residence, helping her choose wedding attire and decorate the bridal chamber, personally attending to every detail. Jiang Yan, in turn, rushed around preparing all the necessary wedding items, from exquisite jewelry to gorgeous furniture, meticulously selecting each one to give Su Jinli a dream wedding.
At Prime Minister Su's residence, Prime Minister Su was also bustling with activity. He had invited numerous dignitaries from across the capital, hoping to add luster to his daughter's wedding. Young Marquis Su was so excited that he couldn't sleep, pestering Su Jinli and Jiang Yan daily with questions, worrying about the food being tasty enough and the bridal chamber being beautiful enough. Su Qingyao meticulously prepared a dowry for Su Jinli, from silk fabrics to gold and silver jewelry, each piece imbued with her deep affection for her sister.
However, just days before the wedding, rumors suddenly spread throughout the capital. Some claimed that Jiang Yan had forced Su Jinli's marriage to Jiang Yan by clinging to the powerful; others claimed that Su Jinli's behavior was improper and unworthy of Jiang Yan. These rumors, like an undercurrent, quietly surged through every corner of the capital, attempting to sabotage Su Jinli and Jiang Yan's wedding.
Su Jinli was furious when she heard these rumors. Her brow furrowed, her eyes gleaming with anger as she asked, "How could these people distort the truth and maliciously slander us? What is their motive?"
Jiang Yan gently held Su Jinli's hand, his eyes firm and gentle, and comforted her: "Jinli, don't be angry. These rumors are just deliberately spread by those with ill intentions. They can't bear to see us happy and want to ruin our wedding. We can't let them succeed."
Su Jinli took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and said, "Then what should we do? Let these rumors continue to spread?"
Jiang Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Let's not panic. I'll investigate right away to see who's behind this. At the same time, we can ask some influential people to help us clarify the rumors. You can also write an article detailing how we met and how we got to know each other, so that everyone can understand the truth of the matter."
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