Xia Zhiyu pretended to be embarrassed and explained, "Sister Shu, please don't misunderstand me. I do have a deep affection for my cousin and I will not marry anyone else, but our relationship is pure and innocent. He simply hugged me once, but he didn't truly regard me as his sister."
At this moment, the bead curtain was gently lifted, and Jiang Yuyao's mocking laughter spread throughout the room.
"Your ugly face is covered with pockmarks. Even if your uncle has poor eyesight, he wouldn't mistake you for your aunt!"
Jiang Yuyao's purpose for this trip was to pay her respects to the old lady. Seeing how much the Xu family was suppressing her, she was even more eager to win the old lady's favor. However, as soon as she stepped into Rongxi Garden, she heard Xia Zhiyu's shameless remarks.
Thinking back to when she first visited the Duke's Mansion, she had no favorable impression of this cousin and always felt that she intended to seduce her father.
Xia Zhiyu glanced at Jiang Yuyao, a hint of sarcasm hanging on the corner of his mouth: "Oh, isn't this Miss Yuyao? I heard that the emperor personally arranged the marriage. You will soon become the fourth prince's concubine. Congratulations."
She deliberately emphasized the word "concubine", which made Jiang Yuyao even more furious. She glared at Jiang Shu and said, "Aunt, your temper is too good. You actually tolerate such a shameless person being so shameless in front of you. In my opinion, she should be kicked out."
Jiang Yuyao understood that Jiang Shu also felt disgusted with Hao Ren's cousin, so she helped Jiang Shu accuse Xia Zhiyu, hoping to regain Jiang Shu's favor.
However, to the surprise of Jiang Yuyao and Xia Zhiyu, Jiang Shu actually frowned slightly and rebuked Jiang Yuyao in a low voice: "Yuyao, don't be rude in front of your elders."
Since learning that Hao Ren had conceived a stillborn child for her, even sacrificing the lives of his three daughters to keep his mother alive, Jiang Shu's feelings for Hao Ren have been completely shattered, though she hasn't yet been completely blinded by love. Jiang Yuyao's reaction to Xia Zhiyu and Hao Ren's close encounter was noticeably more intense than Jiang Shu's. However, Jiang Yuyao's anger likely stemmed not just from Jiang Shu's feelings, but more from her concern for her mistress's mother. She secretly wondered what kind of drama would unfold when Hao Ren's mistress met this cousin.
Jiang Songyi sat quietly aside, his eyes focused and immersed in the drama.
Jiang Yuyao stared at Jiang Shu in astonishment, "Aunt, which elder of mine is she?"
Xia Zhiyu also felt that Jiang Shu was unusually strange today.
At that moment, Jiang Shu suddenly grasped her hand tightly, her entire body shrouded in a virtuous aura. "Sister Zhiyu, I've always understood your deep affection for the Duke. In the past, I was indeed too overbearing and authoritarian. But now, after much reflection, I'd feel a little more at ease if you could stay by the Duke's side and take good care of him."
Xia Zhiyu stood there in a daze, and asked in confusion: "You, what do you mean?"
Jiang Shu said in a serious tone, "Sister Zhiyu, I intend to welcome you into the family with great honor for our master, and make you an honored concubine."
Xia Yu and Jiang Yuyao were dumbfounded and shocked.
Jiang Songyi raised her eyebrows slightly. "Jiang Shu's thoughts coincide with mine. It seems she's planning to extricate herself from the Duke's Mansion. If she does this, won't the Liao family suffer even more trouble?"
Jiang Yuyao felt that Jiang Shu was simply crazy. Others were eager to kick out the concubines and maids, but she took the initiative to propose to take a concubine for her husband?
What made her even more unacceptable was that Jiang Shu had not even arranged a status for her mother, and her mother had not yet entered the family. How could her father agree to accept a concubine at this time?
She objected vehemently: "Absolutely not! Aunt, my uncle has no interest in her at all. If he wanted to take a concubine, he would have done so long ago. Why do you have to make such a decision? My uncle only has you in his heart!"
Jiang Yuyao's words made Xia Zhiyu's eyes flash with bitterness. That's right, if his cousin really wanted to take her as a concubine, he would have done it long ago.
"Yuyao, you still don't understand. Hao Ren has given so much to me over the years. I can no longer rest easy enjoying his love without expecting anything in return. He and Cousin Zhiyu have already had physical intimacy, so taking her as a concubine is only natural. Moreover, my mother-in-law is seriously ill now. She has wanted to accept Cousin Zhiyu as a concubine for Hao Ren more than once. As a daughter-in-law, I can't be by her side to fulfill my filial duty. I shouldn't disappoint her even on this small wish."
Such considerate words coming from Jiang Shu's mouth made everyone present feel an indescribable shock and touched their hearts.
Jiang Yuyao and Xia Zhiyu both felt that her behavior was extremely strange, as if she was possessed by a demon.
However, Xia Zhiyu felt that Jiang Shu's eccentricity was just right!
She hadn't been able to marry that cousin for many years, wasn't it because of Jiang Shu's obstruction? Now that Jiang Shu had finally agreed, her cousin naturally had nothing to say!
Jiang Shu opened her red lips and asked, "Sister Zhiyu, are you willing to become the Duke's concubine?"
"I am willing to serve!" Xia Zhiyu nodded repeatedly, his heart beating like a drum. It was an ecstasy that his long-cherished wish had finally come true.
In her excessive excitement, the lead powder on her face fell off, even the pockmarks on her nose were exposed.
Jiang Yuyao saw this scene and felt sick. "Xia Zhiyu, why don't you look at yourself in the mirror? Even if your aunt is kind enough to let you in, your uncle will be disgusted when he sees your face. How could he have the slightest desire to get close to you?"
Xia Zhiyu recalled what happened that night and his hands involuntarily clenched the hem of his clothes.
Yes, that night, the cousin clearly had true feelings for her, but when he saw her face in the candlelight, he pushed her off the bed.
As everyone watched in silence, Jiang Songyi suddenly spoke up, "Miss Xia's pockmarks aren't a problem. I once saw a folk remedy in Xinghua Village that can effectively treat them, eliminating the pockmarks and restoring your skin to a smooth, jade-like appearance."
As soon as Jiang Songyi finished speaking, Xia Zhiyu looked at her expectantly, "Is it really effective?"
"Xiang Zhu, go get the Jade Dew Cream from my dressing box."
In a moment, Xiang Zhu returned from Jinghong Courtyard, holding a jade bottle in his hand and handed it to Xia Zhiyu.
Jiang Songyi gently unscrewed the lid of the jade bottle and poured out a milky white liquid that exuded a faint herbal fragrance. "I brewed this jade dew cream according to an ancient recipe. It's very effective. Just apply it to your face for a few days and it will significantly reduce dark spots and scars. Within a month, your skin will be rejuvenated, smooth and delicate."
Jiang Yuyao naturally didn't want to see the blemish on Xia Zhiyu's face disappear. She immediately retorted, "Sister Songyi is naturally beautiful and radiant. Why would she need this kind of folk remedy? What if this folk remedy not only fails to remove the blemish but also damages Miss Xia's appearance? What will we do then?"
The bottle of Jade Dew Cream in Jiang Songyi's hand was naturally not prepared for herself, but was prepared to be given to others.
She knew very well that in the near future a nobleman would need it, so she prepared it early, intending to offer this favor at a critical moment and reserve a way out for herself in the future.
Now, it seems that we can take it out and let Xia Zhiyu try it out. In this way, we can create a vivid advertisement and make Jiang Yuyao and Liao unhappy.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
