However, every time she went to pay her respects to Xu, she was always met with Xu's impatience, making her wait outside the door in the wind and rain for a whole hour. Later, she tactfully complained to her grandmother, and her grandmother finally exempted her from the formalities of paying her respects.
Although Madam Jiang and Xu's relationship wasn't harmonious, she still wanted to see Xu improve. "Songyi is truly filial. Xu, as the mistress of the Marquisate, you should also interact more with the other ladies. If nothing else, you should consider Songyi's future."
Such words were undoubtedly a reminder to Mrs. Xu to pay attention to Jiang Songyi's marriage.
"Mother-in-law is absolutely right."
Deep down in her heart, Mrs. Xu was indeed reluctant to let her daughter go as she had just returned to her.
Jiang Yuyao couldn't help but feel proud at the mention of marriage. "Indeed, Mother. There are so many talented young men at the palace banquet today. You must carefully select a perfect match for my sister. It's not right for my younger sister to be engaged while my older sister is still unmarried."
Xu's eyes swept over Jiang Yuyao coldly, "Since there is no such reason, then you should return the marriage to Song Yi."
Jiang Yuyao sighed softly, looked at her mother helplessly and said, "Mother, I tried to persuade the Fourth Prince with both soft and hard tactics, but he was determined to marry me. Your reputation has plummeted to the bottom. Even among the noble families in Jindu, I'm afraid no one wants to have anything to do with her. I'm truly worried about you."
She has already worn the crown of the future Fourth Prince's Consort and has long been immune to the intimidation of the Xu family.
The anger on Xu's face was obvious.
However, Jiang Songyi stopped her in time and said to Jiang Yuyao gently, "Sister, why don't you worry less about me and pay more attention to your biological mother, Liao. The Lantern Festival is a time of great joy for the whole world, and I am reunited with my mother, while your biological mother can only live out her days in a cold and desolate prison."
Jiang Yuyao's smile gradually froze.
Jiang Songyi smiled and continued, "Sister, I'm truly worried about you. Beneath the glittering facade lies a multitude of dangers. While the Fourth Prince and Concubine Yang can accept that you aren't the legitimate daughter of the Marquisate, can they tolerate your having a mother imprisoned?"
Jiang Yuyao forced a smile. "Sister, didn't you hear it clearly at the Naji ceremony? The Fourth Prince and I are in love. He only cares about me as a person, not anything else."
However, Jiang Yuyao knew in her heart that even she herself did not believe these words, and they were just a facade in front of her sister.
She lowered her eyes slightly, tightly holding the sachet given to her by Liao, and secretly made up her mind that she must gain more bargaining chips for herself.
At this moment, outside the Marquis's Mansion, the whispered voices of the gatekeepers drifted in with the wind.
"Hey, isn't that Master Su Sheng from the Princess's residence? Why is he not attending the palace banquet today and instead riding a white horse to our residence?"
"Do I even need to ask? Young Master Su Sheng is the Fourth Prince's cousin, and he's always had a soft spot for our Second Young Miss. This time, he must have been ordered by the Fourth Prince to bring the Second Young Miss into the palace via a different route. Otherwise, with the long queue of carriages from the civil and military officials, the Fourth Prince would have to wait for who knows how long before he could meet the Second Young Miss."
When Jiang Yuyao heard Su Sheng's name, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, and she was convinced in her heart that he came for her.
If Jiang Songyi knew that in addition to the love of the Fourth Prince, Jiang Yuyao was also admired by many young men from famous families in Jindu, she would probably be jealous to death, right?
Jiang Yuyao gently adjusted the pearl hairpins on her hair, gently rolled up her sleeves, and watched the young man leaping off the white horse with a smile.
She spoke softly, bowing slightly, "Mr. Su, long time no see."
Su Sheng politely bowed and responded, "Second Miss Jiang."
Jiang Songyi, who was standing behind Jiang Yuyao, covered his mouth and coughed lightly.
Su Sheng raised his eyes and secretly glared at Jiang Yuyao through her, but thinking of their previous bet, he could only swallow his anger and endure it silently.
Jiang Yuyao didn't notice the subtle interaction between the two people in the air. She still stood stubbornly in front of Jiang Songyi and asked doubtfully, "Mr. Su, what exactly brings you here?"
She deliberately let Jiang Songyi witness the special favor that the Fourth Prince and Su Sheng showed to her.
At this moment, Jiang Songyi, standing behind her, seemed a little surprised and whispered, "Oh? Could it be that Master Su came here specifically to visit Sister Yuyao, and not to look for me?"
Jiang Yuyao almost laughed out loud.
Jiang Songyi still had no self-respect, always bringing shame upon herself. Wasn't her previous lesson from the Fourth Prince enough? Did she really think that with her gorgeous looks, she could make everyone fall at her feet?
"Sister Songyi, stop joking. This Master Su is the beloved son of Princess Linchuan and the Minister of War. You've never met him before. How could he have come specifically to see you?"
Jiang Yuyao began to lecture Jiang Songyi with a hint of pride in her tone. Then she turned to Su Sheng and said apologetically, "Mr. Su, I just want to compete with me in everything. I didn't mean to offend you. Please forgive me."
Su Sheng faced Jiang Yuyao with a hint of embarrassment on his face, but he felt more embarrassed for her. "Second Miss Jiang, I am indeed here for the eldest Miss Jiang."
Jiang Yuyao's smile froze instantly, and she stood there in a daze.
Su Sheng didn't come for her, but for Jiang Songyi?
How could this be possible? Hadn't Su Sheng always admired her? Whenever one of the noble ladies of Jindu became her enemy, hadn't Su Sheng always stepped forward to rescue her? How could he possibly be here just for her arch-rival, Jiang Songyi?
At this moment, Jiang Yuyao thought back to what she had said before, and felt her face burning and embarrassed.
To break the awkwardness, she could only look between Jiang Songyi and Su Sheng, and asked dryly, "Mr. Su, how did you get to know my sister?"
For Su Sheng, this was indeed not something worth bragging about. A hint of unnaturalness flashed across his face. "We met by chance in the temple."
Jiang Yuyao felt aggrieved. Are all men really lustful?
Just because of an accidental encounter in a temple, Su Sheng started to look at Jiang Songyi with new respect?
Jiang Songyi, with a hint of joking, witnessed Jiang Yuyao's embarrassing situation, then he hooked his finger at Su Sheng frivolously and said in a tone that seemed to control him as he wished: "Xiao Shengzi, come here."
When Jiang Yuyao heard this, she was secretly delighted.
After hearing Jiang Yuyao's words, Su Sheng's handsome face instantly became distorted and gloomy, "Jiang Songyi, don't go too far, I'm not your little eunuch."
Jiang Yuyao immediately chimed in: "That's right, Sister Songyi, your behavior is too rude."
The next moment, Jiang Yuyao suddenly heard Su Sheng's gloomy voice, almost gritting his teeth as he said, "I am just one of your servants."
At this moment, Jiang Yuyao's heart was filled with shock. What on earth had she heard? Su Sheng, the always arrogant and conceited man, actually claimed to be Jiang Songyi's servant?
What's the difference between this and becoming her personal eunuch?
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