Despite his reluctance, Su Sheng still walked up to her. After all, he was a man of his word, willing to accept defeat. He was definitely not the kind of person who couldn't stand losing! He would never let Jiang Songyi look down on him!
Jiang Songyi mocked him mercilessly: "There's really no difference between you and me. I just like calling you Xiao Shengzi."
Su Sheng clenched his fists, his teeth chattering. "Okay, Jiang Songyi, I'll take note."
Jiang Songyi smiled, his eyes full of provocation: "Then, call me master."
Su Sheng's face was filled with humiliation, and he almost squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "Master."
He secretly swore in his heart that the humiliation he suffered today would be repaid a hundredfold in the future!
Jiang Yuyao, who was standing aside, was stunned and extremely shocked.
Su Sheng, who has always been extremely proud, actually willingly calls Jiang Songyi his master?
Was this a dream, or was she still half awake this morning?
"Come on, Xiao Shengzi, drive the carriage for me."
Jiang Songyi turned around and personally helped Xu into the carriage.
Su Sheng had no choice but to follow her and take over the role of the coachman to drive the carriage for her.
At this moment, his mind was filled with thoughts of revenge against Jiang Songyi, and he was so furious that he didn't even care about Jiang Yuyao beside him.
Jiang Yuyao's heart burned with jealousy. Although Su Sheng had a special liking for her, he had never done so much for her. She couldn't help but wonder what Jiang Songyi had done to make him surrender so much!
This doubt made her panic even more. She was afraid that Jiang Songyi would take the Fourth Prince away as well.
Old Madam Jiang had already learned from Jiang Jinzhao what Jiang Songyi and Su Sheng had done in Rong'en Temple. She was surprised at Jiang Songyi's outstanding archery talent, but also felt helpless about her boldness and carefulness.
However, with the new policies implemented by the Queen Mother, the customs of the Western Jin Dynasty gradually became more open, and the restrictions on noble women were also relaxed. In addition, with the presence of elders, Jiang Songyi and Su Sheng's bet was not too extreme.
So she turned a blind eye to the "games" of the younger generation.
…
The carriage slowly drove into the majestic gatehouse of the imperial palace.
The carriage from the Yongding Marquis's Mansion caused a small commotion in the palace, and many officials and their families avoided it.
The palace maids and eunuchs had been waiting for a long time. They led the Jiang family forward.
During the Lantern Festival, the palace was decorated like a fairyland. Colorful silks were wrapped around every branch of flowers and trees, and all kinds of colored glass lanterns were hung everywhere, making the entire imperial city sparkle.
The Yongding Marquis Mansion was at its peak of glory, and the seats were quite prestigious.
On that day, Marquis Yongding and other officials were accompanying the emperor. They had already taken their seats early and were leisurely savoring the fine wine.
Jiang Songyi followed Xu, followed closely behind the old lady, and slowly walked into the banquet.
At this moment, a noble lady dressed in the attire of a third-rank imperial official walked up to them with light steps.
This noble lady had a heroic look between her eyebrows. She was half a head taller than Xu and had a strong physique, showing the style of a person from a military family.
As she approached, she held Xu's hand tightly and asked excitedly, "Sister Xu, is it really you?"
A happy light also appeared on Xu's face. "Sister Ling, long time no see."
Jiang Yuyao immediately understood: [This is the wife of the Minister of Justice, the nemesis of the Marquis of Yongding?]
Xu recalled that Jiang Yuyao had previously suspected Ling of having cast a curse on her, and she couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Madam Ling turned her gaze to Jiang Yuyao with a bright smile, "This girl is gorgeous and dazzling, just like you in your youth. Could it be that you are my sister's long-lost eldest daughter?"
Xu turned to look at Jiang Songyi: "Songyi, this is mother's confidant. You should call her Aunt Ling."
After she finished speaking, she prayed silently in her heart, hoping that the person who cast the curse was not Ling.
However, Jiang Yuyao cast a complicated look at Madam Ling.
Xu's heart tightened, and then she heard Jiang Yuyao's inner voice: "Aunt Ling? What a joke. She should have been called Uncle Ling."
Xu was like being struck by lightning, she stood there in a daze, unable to move.
"Song Yi meets Aunt Ling."
Jiang Songyi politely saluted Ling on the surface, but in her heart she couldn't help but secretly complain:
[Really? The circle of power and influence in Jindu is so complicated. Even my mother probably never imagined that her best friend of many years would be a man.]
Jiang Songyi means that Ling is actually a man?
Xu had never considered this possibility before, but after hearing Jiang Songyi's thoughts and observing Ling carefully, he couldn't help but feel more and more horrified.
Ling's facial features were very heroic, and her figure was much stronger than that of ordinary women. She looked a bit rough in the imperial robes, and her chest was flat. She was often privately teased by the noble ladies in Jindu as a "tomboy".
But if such facial features and body shape were given to a man, it would not seem out of place.
"Good boy, you've suffered a lot over the years."
Ling looked at Jiang Songyi with eyes full of affection. As she spoke, she took off a jade bracelet of clear, emerald green from her wrist and prepared to put it on her. "Auntie was in a hurry and was unable to prepare a thoughtful gift for you. This is a small token of my appreciation."
Mrs. Xu quickly reached out to stop him: "Sister Ling, you are truly too polite. We have been close friends for many years, so why would we need such a precious gift..."
Ling, however, glanced at her with a coquettish expression, firmly thrust the jade bracelet into her hand, held her hand tightly, and put the bracelet firmly on her wrist. "Because of this, your beloved daughter who was lost and found again, how can I be stingy with this gift."
Xu thought to herself that Jiang Songyi once said that Ling was a man and it would be inconvenient for him to get too involved with her, so she reluctantly let Jiang Songyi take the jade bracelet.
Jiang Songyi's sharp eyes immediately recognized the extraordinary quality of the jade bracelet. The corners of her lips curled up slightly as she smiled and said, "Thank you, Aunt Ling."
"Although Ling is a man, he doesn't seem to harbor any ill will toward Mother. Furthermore, I used my spiritual power to investigate him, but I didn't find any trace of the poisonous insect. So, who planted the poisonous insect that's causing Mother's headaches? Could it be one of those noble ladies with whom Mother has close ties?"
Jiang Songyi's inner monologue made Xu secretly relieved.
Ling seemed to have noticed her loss of composure, so she gently took her arm and asked softly, "Sister Xu, do you seem a little unwell?"
Xu instinctively wanted to pull her arm away, but when she saw Ling's familiar face and voice, as well as that all-too-familiar expression, she let him gently hold her arm.
"No problem."
Maybe Sister Ling was just born into a man's body by mistake.
However, she has been married to the Minister of Justice for several years, which makes people wonder whether the Minister of Justice knows his true identity and how he has kept the secret until now?
Xu was confused, and Jiang Songyi was also puzzled. But for Jiang Songyi, as long as Ling had no ill will towards her mother, that was enough.
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