Yuan Qi gave Xiao Ran a paper doll, and to make it easier for him to play with, he added eyes and a mouth to the paper doll and imbued it with spiritual power.
Xiao Ran was having a great time playing by herself.
After performing a few divinations in the afternoon, Yuan Qi headed home.
As soon as she entered the backyard, she noticed that the servants looked a little off; they were all busy gossiping and even their greetings to her were a bit slow.
Yuan Qi caught up with the most gossipy servant and asked, "Everyone's acting like they've been injected with adrenaline, what happened?"
The servant reported earnestly, "Seventh Miss, the Third Young Master has been forced to kneel by Concubine Li."
The third young master is Jiang Junyu. Jiang Junyu is the strategist of Consort Li. Consort Li usually asks Jiang Junyu for advice on everything. He even helps with Jiang Junjing's affairs.
For example, Jiang Junjing's marriage was the result of Jiang Junyu's planning; otherwise, Jiang Junjing might have married a merchant's daughter.
Yuan Qi also found it strange. Who would be punished by kneeling? Jiang Junyu was full of ideas and bad intentions, so why would she let herself be punished by kneeling?
Why?
The servant continued to gossip to Yuan Qi: "I heard that it's because of the Third Young Master's marriage. Concubine Li has taken a fancy to the Ninth Miss of the Bai family, and the Bai family is willing to marry the Ninth Miss to the Third Young Master. However, the Third Young Master said that he would never get married in his life. Concubine Li was very angry and made him kneel down, saying that he could only get up when he agreed to the marriage."
Yuan Qi said, "Oh, I see."
Not far ahead was Consort Li's courtyard. Yuan Qi peered through the gate and saw Jiang Junyu kneeling there. Dressed in white, she stood ramrod straight with a cold expression. She showed no sign of being disheveled from kneeling; instead, she exuded an air of dignity.
"Third Brother..." Yuan Qi tiptoed over.
Jiang Junyu turned around: "Seventh Sister, are you trying to persuade me too?"
Yuan Qi quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no, I'm not here to persuade you, I'm here to tell you that your resistance is useless."
Jiang Junyu and Jiang Junjing look exactly alike, but their temperaments are different. Jiang Junjing has more of a romantic and dashing air and the shrewdness and sophistication of a businessman.
Jiang Junyu has a cold and aloof demeanor, unlike Jiang Junjing who is more talkative. However, his eyes reveal a cunning and calculating nature. He is calm and indifferent, dislikes making friends with others, and even more so, dislikes close contact with people.
Yuan Qi turned his face around and told him seriously, "Third brother, your resistance is useless. Your face shows that you already have a wife and many children. Stop making futile resistance and just give in to Aunt Li."
Jiang Junyu glared at her, annoyed: "I was counting on you to give me a good idea to persuade my aunt, but I didn't expect you to say such heartless things. I have already sworn that I will never marry in this life, and I don't even have a concubine. You are still a child, mind your own business and get out of here."
Yuan Qi clicked his tongue twice: "What? I'm not a child anymore. I want to say that you, Third Brother, are so resourceful that you don't need my advice. I'm just telling you your fate so you can save some effort."
Just then, Jiang Junjing arrived. Seeing Yuan Qi making fun of Jiang Junyu, he chuckled twice and walked over.
"Third brother, you've finally met your match. Seventh brother is right, just go along with it, there's nothing wrong with getting married."
Jiang Junyu angrily rebuked the two of them: "Stop kicking me when I'm down, go do what you're supposed to do."
Yuan Qi was too lazy to pay attention to him, and just said, "Go ahead and be stubborn. In the end, you'll suffer and still have to listen to Aunt Li. Why bother?"
The weather was hot and humid, and dark clouds gradually gathered overhead. It started to rain in less than half an hour.
Jiang Junyu stubbornly stood in the rain. Li Guiqie felt sorry for her son and told him to come back and stop kneeling, but he refused and insisted on continuing to kneel.
Li Guifei had no choice but to compromise.
Fortunately, Jiang Junyu was in good health and didn't catch a cold. A few days later, the Bai family held a tea party, inviting young gentlemen and ladies from the capital to enjoy tea and chat.
Yuan Qi, Jiang Jiulu, and Jiang Songlu all went, and even Jiang Junjing went.
The Bai family had originally invited Jiang Junyu, but Jiang Junyu had already seen through the scheme. It was set up for him and the ninth young lady of the Bai family, with the aim of arranging for them to meet.
He refused to go no matter what she said, and Consort Li had no choice but to cry, make a scene, and threaten suicide. Under such coercion, Jiang Junyu had no choice but to go to the Bai residence.
The ninth young lady of the Bai family is Bai Fujun's half-sister. Although she is an illegitimate daughter, she has been taught to be dignified and polite, and is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is very well-mannered, and there is a long line of noble young men in the capital who want to marry her.
However, Bai Zhiyan, the ninth young lady of the Bai family, had recently attended the Seventh Prince's poetry gathering with her brother. She met Jiang Junyu at the gathering and fell in love with him at first sight. She then begged her grandfather to let her marry Jiang Junyu.
Old Master Bai felt that this marriage was a good match. Bai Zhiyan was an illegitimate daughter, and Jiang Junyu was an illegitimate son. The two were of similar status, and both were very talented and good-looking.
Old Master Bai sent Old Madam Bai to the Jiang family to propose marriage. Concubine Li agreed on the spot. As an illegitimate son, it would be a good match for her son to marry a woman from the Bai family. If Xiangli Mingzhu were to arrange a marriage for Jiang Junyu, she might be betrothed to a merchant's daughter.
She asked Jiang Zhengqing for help, and the two families immediately agreed to the marriage, which would take place six months later.
To everyone's surprise, Jiang Junyu was stubborn and refused to agree no matter what.
Inside the spacious carriage, the Jiang siblings chatted animatedly.
The Jiang siblings visited the Bai family quite often, because the Jiang family matriarch was a member of the Bai family, so they had a very close relationship.
The central topic of their conversation was, of course, the Sixth Young Master, Bai Fujun.
Yuan Qi stood by, and the others were practically praising Bai Fujun to the skies.
The carriage stopped in front of the Bai family's house shortly afterward.
Upon seeing Yuan Qi in the carriage, Bai Youhui was the first to rush over: "Seventh Sister, it's been so long! Did you miss me?"
"Cough cough..." Xiangli Youming also came over and unceremoniously pulled Bai Youhui away, "What are you saying? What do you mean Seventh Sister misses you? What is your relationship with Seventh Sister?"
Bai Youhui was very angry. He walked back and said, "Young Master Jiu, I was talking to Seventh Sister. Why are you interfering?"
While they were talking, Yuan Qi came downstairs and asked Bai Youhui, "What have you been busy with lately? Why haven't I seen you come to my stall to visit me?"
Bai Youhui slumped down: "Don't even mention it. Grandpa won't let me go out. He wants me to study hard. It's driving me crazy. Seventh Sister, you know me. I get a headache as soon as I see a book. Do you have any medicine that can make me remember everything I see?"
Xiangli Youming mocked him: "There is no such medicine in the world. If there were, everyone would be a learned scholar. What would be the point?"
Bai Youhui retorted, unconvinced: "What if there is?"
The two stood on either side of Yuan Qi, one on each side.
Bai Youhui was very puzzled: "I say, Ninth Master, this is the Bai family, this is my home, I am the host. It is only right and proper for me to entertain Seventh Sister. Why are you acting so big-headed?"
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