Who is your daughter? Ask yourself, why ask her?
Ye Yunniang remained silent and continued walking forward.
"Stop!" The maid chased after her, trying to grab Ye Yunniang.
Qiu Shuang grabbed the maid and twisted her backward.
His hands were pinned behind his back.
"Ouch, it hurts! Let go!" the maid cried out in pain.
At this moment, another maid came over and bowed to Ye Yunniang.
"Greetings, Madam Jiang. Please forgive Hongluo's rudeness. My young lady sincerely wishes to see you. She has said that she can help with whatever you ask."
Ye Yunniang followed a maid who called herself Hongling to the teahouse in front, to a private room on the second floor.
Two maids stood guard outside the private room.
"Please wait a moment, Madam Jiang."
Hongling entered the private room and quickly came out, saying, "Madam Jiang, please come in."
Ye Yunniang entered the private room.
"You can't come in."
Turning around, Qiu Shuang was stopped at the door.
"Get out of the way." Qiu Shuang had been instructed by Jiang Mingzhe to protect Ye Yunniang at all times and not let Ye Yunniang out of her sight.
"Let her in," the girl inside said.
The maid guarding the gate stepped aside.
Qiu Shuang walked to Ye Yunniang's side.
Ye Yunniang entered the room and was greeted by a beautiful and intelligent young woman.
"Please have a seat, Madam Jiang."
Ye Yunniang sat down and heard the girl opposite her speak.
"Madam Jiang, please allow me to introduce myself. My surname is Zhong, and my given name is Zhaoli."
Zhong Zhaoli was born into the Zhongguogong Mansion. Her father was the Duke of Zhongguogong and her mother was the Duchess of Zhongguogong.
He has two older brothers, both of whom hold important positions in the imperial court.
As the youngest daughter, Zhong Zhaoli was very favored.
Given the Zhong family's status, all the fine young men in the capital were lining up to be chosen by her.
Zhong Zhaoli disliked those people, but she was particularly attracted to the unruly Tong Mo.
Tong Mo disliked Zhong Zhaoli completely. Faced with Zhong Zhaoli's persistent advances, he left the capital and followed Bao Min to serve as an official in a local area.
Zhong Zhaoli was not giving up and secretly inquired about Tong Mo's whereabouts.
Tong Mo made no attempt to hide his feelings for Ye Yunniang.
Zhong Zhaoli soon found out and arranged for someone to inquire about Ye Yunniang.
The information found that Ye Yunniang was a few years older than Tong Mo, a widow with three children in tow.
Zhong Zhaoli couldn't understand why Tong Mo would fall for an older woman, and why he wouldn't even look at her.
Zhong Zhaoli sized up Ye Yunniang; her appearance was barely above average. She had a petty, unsophisticated air about her, far inferior to her own.
It's not attractive at all.
"How did Tong Mo fall for you?"
"Miss Zhong should ask Tong Mo."
"Is Madam Jiang very pleased with herself?"
"Where did Miss Zhong see that I was smug?" Ye Yunniang asked, puzzled.
"Sharp-tongued and quick-witted."
"You flatter me," Ye Yunniang said, taking it as a compliment to herself.
"You're being rude to me, aren't you afraid I'll cause you trouble?" Zhong Zhaoli's pretty face hardened.
"If I flatter you, will you help me?" Ye Yunniang retorted.
“No.” If Ye Yunniang were to be obsequious, respectful, and humble towards her, Zhong Zhaoli would feel insulted.
The boy she had a crush on liked this kind of girl.
"Now I understand a little why Tong Mo likes you."
"I'm already married, I don't need any other man's affection." Tong Mo's affection is not a good thing for Ye Yunniang.
"A handsome young man admires you and is infatuated with you. Aren't you happy?"
"It's troublesome."
"You never had feelings for Tong Mo?"
"I've been asked this question before."
"What did you say?" Zhong Zhaoli was eager to know.
"It happened, but it quickly faded away." Ye Yunniang knew what kind of life she wanted. Tong Mo could never give her what she wanted.
The present scene is a perfect example.
“You treat me like a nuisance,” Zhong Zhaoli said unhappily.
"When we were downstairs, I thought you were a nuisance."
"Now, I feel that you are my benefactor." Ye Yunniang's words made Zhong Zhaoli smile.
"I've started to like you a little too."
"My pleasure."
Ye Yunniang readily accepted his affection, which surprised and intrigued Zhong Zhaoli.
"Your answer surprised me."
"My mother taught me not to be shy about receiving compliments from others, but to accept them generously."
"Your mother is also very special; I really want to meet her." Zhong Zhaoli was curious about the mother Ye Yunniang mentioned.
Although Madam Zhong doted on her youngest daughter, she also required her to be humble, cautious, and well-mannered.
"My mother has been poisoned by the Thousand Days of Sleep." Ye Yunniang's face showed worry as she said this.
"The Imperial Physician Gu in the Imperial Medical Academy is quite knowledgeable about detoxification. He is a good friend of my uncle. I can ask him to go to the Jiang residence to treat your mother."
After hearing this, Ye Yunniang stood up and bowed.
"Thank you so much, Miss Zhong. I will never forget your great kindness."
“I also have conditions,” Zhong Zhaoli interrupted Ye Yunniang’s gratitude.
"You must make Tong Mo marry me."
After listening, Ye Yunniang sat down and said, "I'm sorry, I can't do that."
Ye Yunniang's refusal surprised Zhong Zhaoli.
"You don't want to save your mother anymore?"
“Miss Zhong, if you asked me to take my life today, I would agree without batting an eye. But if you want me to persuade Tong Mo to marry you, I’m sorry, I cannot agree.”
"Why?"
I don't want you to suffer for the rest of your life.
Knowing Tong Mo as she did, Ye Yunniang believed that if she made the request herself, Tong Mo would agree to marry Zhong Zhaoli.
If the proposal wasn't sincere, Zhong Zhaoli would have a grudge, and so would Tong Mo.
Based on Ye Yunniang's understanding of Tong Mo, he wouldn't take the initiative to resolve these issues.
Zhong Zhaoli was pampered since childhood. Because she liked him, she could indulge Tong Mo for a while, but a lifetime is long.
“I have children, and I understand that no mother would want her daughter to suffer. I cannot agree to your conditions.”
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